'Shocking, absolutely shocking!' ArthurTheGooner.
Apr 18th, 2010 by 'holic
You know me ‘holics. I don’t like to be overly critical, so I think I will leave this one to you. These are ‘holics, who have backed Arsene and Arsenal through eight roller coaster months and enjoyed the ride, until today. That was unacceptable in every way, shape, or form. Please God, that lack of effort, concentration, and focus must never happen again.
‘Winning against Wigan tomorrow is absolutely vital to keep the pressure from below away from us but I am far from confident that we will.’ Lars.
‘Things are getting interesting again it’s a shame we don’t have a solid defence so we better just hope for one more goal than the oppo.’ Joy of Cesc.
‘I haven’t really lost faith, it’s just that playing games requires that we have at least eleven players to put out there…’ Lars.
‘just like Fran Merida who now appears “officially” to be going to Atletico…..so, I’m not expecting to see much of him over the next four games’ Bergkamp the Man.
‘This is, without exception, the weirdest, most absurd season in memory. Whose world am I living in, and what have they done with mine?.’ Dadric.
‘Win the next game and we are 3 points closer to where we want to be, it’s that simple so let’s give it the effort it deserves.’ behind the 8 ball but not nasri.
‘PLEASE let RvP be “1? fit, and “2? allowed to start at Wigan. Considering nothing else changed when he came on at Sp*rs, the difference he made to the entire team was unbelievable.’ Trev.
‘Every player out there should be accountable if they give anything less, as so many of the wise people who post on this blog and myself will accept bad form but we will not accept lazy players who show no commitment.’ Arsenal1971.
‘Fabianski makes me more nervous than Almunia.’ behind the 8 ball but not nasri.
‘Me too.’ ‘holic.
‘Just before Walcott’s goal I was thinking he was looking dangerous on inside runs.’ behind the 8 ball but nor nasri.
‘Sol, you mark Fabianski now.’ ‘holic.
‘Eastmond is doing quite well.’ Toby.
‘‘Holic, Maybe your pocket was itching because you had a feeling Silvestre was gonna score a goal.’ behind the 8 ball but not nasri.
‘Clichy, just kick it clear.’ ‘holic on the sofa, 1-2.
‘Oh, for fucks sake, Fabianski you clown.’ ‘holic on the sofa, 2-2.
‘Shocking absolutely shocking!’ ArthurTheGooner.
‘Well that’s another day ruined then.’ Toby.
‘Just to clarify – I’m fucking fuming.’ Toby.
‘How can you be 2 nil up and give it away like this, it’s SHOCKING!’ ArthurTheGooner.
‘Fabianski must never play for our club again.’ Tim.
‘Not bringing Van Persie on with 20 mins to go……Why? This was the lowest point.’ MT89.
‘One thing that bemused me were Wenger’s substitutions which seemed to hand the initiative back to Wigan?’ jar0909.
‘That is a disgrace. A complete and utter disgrace. How we managed to throw that away god only knows. They should be made to fucking walk back after that.’ Steve T
‘Please don’t just blame Fabianski the first goal should have never been allowed to start with.’ ArthurTheGooner.
‘the whole second half felt like we were playing scared. Rafa style, playing not to lose rather than to win.’ Dadric.
‘3 goals in last 10 minutes against wigan??? sorry… as much as i love this team, i find that hard to swallow.’ 49.
‘Does anyone know why Merida came on at all when he is rumoured to be off to Spain any time soon? Surely 10 minutes aren’t going to change his mind?’ jar0909.
‘The way some of the players coasted through that second half was disgusting.’ Chris.
‘I sense the dark cloud of the BBB gathering… and, for once, I might be seduced by the darkside myself. I have seen retreats, I have seen capitulations, and I have seen out and out laydowns before, but nothing compares to this side’s performance lo the past three weeks.’ Lone Star Gooner.
‘what’s going on…must be the volcano.’ Tim.
‘Listening to their constant jabbering will be quite unbearable.’ Sajit.
‘Am I the only one who is actually worried about us not making third place? Our remaining games are not at all guaranteed wins considering what remains of our squad.’ Lars.
‘What the fuck was that?’ Mayor of Hiroshima, 1945.
280 Responses to “'Shocking, absolutely shocking!' ArthurTheGooner.”
Ugh.
wow…
Let’s not just blame fabianski. He was shit but the players infront of him were “shitter” with the exception of …er er em nobody!
Now we officially become Spuds.( Sorry)
On the bright side though, we pushed Hull further down to religation….
We seem a bit allergic to success- we can fight so hard to come back, but shy away from landing the decisive blow. Aside from the all to obvious keeper situation we’ve dealt with all season, I think our lack of bite comes from the other end of the field. We simply do not have strikers (sans Robin) hungry or skilled enough to score and score.
A bit off topic today- just trying to fucking think about anything else.
I’m talking about our season as a whole- maybe that’s obvious- not today.
Feel sorry for AW today. He’s been let down badly by the players he believed in.
I’m with pires is king on this one. Whatever can be said about our keeper and back four situation, the simple reality is that we’re supposed to be a team built to win by possessing and scoring, and we’re not scoring nearly enough. The late winners against Hull and Wolves were exciting, but even with the injuries we had, it should never have come to that.
What we’re so often missing is easily summed up in two words: “killer instinct.”
The season as a whole is ok, pires, but there are odd days now and again where they have to be made to understand that it is not acceptable to just turn up and not earn their excessive salaries.
Fulham last season, Sheffield United three years ago (?), standout abysmal performances. The support deserves better. I know we are missing key players. All the more reason for those on the fringe to come in and sweat blood for the cause, not amble about without a care in the world when we are in with a shout of taking the title race to the last day.
Bgun,
I’m afraid I’ve really got not one ounce of sympathy for him today, he all to often wraps his players in fluffy cotton wool never critizes or drops them unless they have a make beleive injury bad wrist my ars, he for once needs to come out and say these players are playing for their future at the club as those out there today were A disgrace to the shirt for the second time in a week, I have no real time for fergusson but I can assure you he wouldn’t accept the lack of effort certain players have displayed over these 2 games he would bomb them out of old trafford.
The most astonishing thing about today’s performance was the lack of desire for much of the game. We were the poorer team for the first 30 and they clearly wanted it more than us at the start of the game. We did enough to earn the lead that Theo’s goal gave us. However in truth when we took the 2-0 lead, we had not earned it. Then we began to stroll when we should have killed them off and then we let them back in and the rest was a disaster.
The lack of desire for much of this game was shocking, the slack possession in midfield was unprofessional and the defending was amateur. The lack of personnel contributed to this result but I am appalled by the poor attitude displayed today when they should have been up for a last chance to get itno the mix for the title.
On a plus point thought young eastmond done pretty well till getting tired, for a young upcoming fm his positional play us very very good.
He had quite a lot to do as well, Chippy, given the fact we couldn’t keep the ball up top. He was a definite positive. Probably the only one today.
I can only echo all these comments and add that at 2-0 I never felt comfortable as the performance suggested that we had switched off completely at 2-0 up.
For some reason Diaby and Rosicky offended me more than most as given the injury list they should be the senior players looking to drive the team onwards. Instead they got caught in possession time and time again and for Wigan’s first goal Diaby did a Denilson-versus-Stoke jog back when he should have been busting a gut to get back to defend.
No one seems to want to stand up and be counted apart from Campbell and Clichy who I thought seemed to take almost unnecessary risks in bombing forward today just to give the team some dynamism.
Ah bollocks, I don’t know why or how we went so badly wrong today, but I feel the same sense of anger and hurt as everyone else and wanted to add my two pennith worth. Sorry for ranting!
Thanks ‘Holic,
I needed the laugh provided by the mayor of Hiroshima’s quote. I’m still quite in the dumps (and still posting on your last thread), but I had to say thanks, boss!
Honestly cannot believe we lost that game today. I was gutted on Wednesday but at least spurs are a decent side, as they showed against Chelsea yesterday.
Today felt twice as bad.
chelski let us right back in the race…..and we responded by starting fabianski….dont think he should have been played in such a high pressure situation…substitutions were funny too
oh well….its was a hell of a ride….and i cant wait to welcome adebayor next week..the damn ash better clear up
According to .com “you can’t blame the keeper for today’s loss”
Fine then AW, I’m blaming YOU then!
Pathetic.
absolute disgrace. wake up arsene. the youngster and old pensioners need to go.they are not good enough.we need a goaly,defenders midfielders and forwards.
Holic,
indeed it was a good performanc,as you say he was probably busier than expected to,
He shamed a good few of his senior teammates this afternoon, he defo needs some time in the gym but hopefully he will add some bulk to that frame but he’s pretty strong for his size,
It’s such a shame the likes of wilshere,bartley,jet an so forth are out on loan as I would have no hesitation in throwing them in for the remaining games it would be good to see if they’ve got what’s required mentally,
oh and if anyone that reads this site knows Wenger please please ask him not to mention beleif and mental strength in anymore interviews till next year at the earliest 🙂
sorry for some of my spelling to I’m on my mobile and it substitutes words and letters at points!
Having journeyed to the JJB on Puffing Billy, Arsenal were turned into Puffing Williams by the time a comfortable trundle up the tracks descended into a train wreck, minutes before the station master’s whistle signaled red at a critical crossing, and parked the team bus in a Great North Western siding of despair, on a cheap away day, non-return ticket.
Needing the Wizard of the Hogwart Express, Arsenal got the Wobbler from Warsaw, as the season turned to volcanic ash, and the Runaway Train ran down the hill and they “blew, blew, blew, blew, blew” it. The little train who thought he could, disappointed at the end of the line, with too many of his regular rivets missing and steamy stammered to a stuttering halt at the crossroads of the careers of both of Arsenal’s keepers.
In the absence of a Flying Scotsman, Arsenal deployed their Flying Englishman down the right. Theo seemed well fired up with a good head of steam in his boiler. At times he was electrified. With travelling Gooners hoping for a first class ticket from him, and even railway banking on him for the first goal, he didn’t disappoint. A great first chance went off the rails before he shunted home a second before a third flashed past the goalkeeping station without stopping.
Silvester, the fat red train than most Gooners think should have been parked in the railway museum in York, got up a head of steam to steam a header for two nil. And, right then, it should have been goodnight on the Midnight Express! Arsenal should have circled their wagons and taken Wigan for a long trip of Orient Express magnitude. The guardsman should have been thinking, “a bit more puff and we can do our goal difference a favour here”.
But before we knew it, the old Wigan Six – Five Special was running right down the line and Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna and Silvester were all caught in its headlights, more static than Platform 1 at Liverpool Street Station. When a bit of Locomotion was needed our defense was as effective as Hair Lotion on Big Stuart’s head.
With only minutes to go, our bullet train emerged from the sidings, unleashed on a miracle hunt, as a last act of desperation, by a manager pulling all of the final levers in the signalbox of shunted dreams. None were sufficient to give Arsenal the electric line of life they craved, and on the day, the blue sparks of Wigan deserved the points that would have kept Arsenal in the train race. Now all we can hope is that our ticket for third place will be firmly punched on the clickety clack to conclusion.
Sam, the Fat Controller will be greasing his bearings in anticipation of another bang in the buffers of Arsenal’s season at Blackburn. The Great Emmanuel will be hoping Silvester plays against him next Saturday.
Whatever poison you’re stoking your boiler with, Mr Engine Driver.
Just how many mistakes did Mad Jens make before he was well and truly dumpred? It is so utterly incomprehensible it’s (almost) funny.
Eastmond looked good. If Song is injured he should step in every time.
Going to go and cook dinner and earn some credit. Maybe I’ll get lucky in other ways tonight..
I posted a real rant in the drinks under the last post so no point in doing the same again but I agree with Essexpieboy, I rarely feel offended by players but the attitude of Rosicky and Diaby today was appalling. I can take a loss any day or against any opposition as long as the players tries their best. But today… well I better stop there or it will be another screenful of anger so if anyone’s interested you can read my post-game post in the last thread.
I hope we can finish 3rd. That would be an accomplishment. Come on The Arsenal.
Keep playing like this and we’re going to get overhauled by both Sp*rs and Man City all the way to the ‘Europa’.
First … Fabianski? Almunia better have a real dicky wrist.
Second … Silvestre … a toofer … scored one gave two away.
Third … Eastmond? Mediocre at best. Really mediocre. Wasn’t Merida a better option?
Fourth … Diaby … better than Wednesday, but that isn’t saying much.
Fifth … Bendtner … good pass, but can’t anyone teach him how to first-touch a football or hold the ball up without falling over?
Sixth … Theo? ‘Nuff said.
Seventh … Wenger himself by not introducing RVP with 25 minutes to go. What? Why? WTF?
I thought both Nasri and Rosicky didn’t do as badly as the rest, but all-in-all a shocker of an afternoon from a side that looked and felt like it was playing in the Carling Cup … and we just went out.
RIP 2009/10
Oh, BtM, I needed that. Just about cooling down now, and you have helped, but this has been a hell of a fortnight.
A pint of the finest on your turntable!
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mike Leighty, Shin Ryujin. Shin Ryujin said: ‘Shocking, absolutely shocking!’ ArthurTheGooner.: You know me ‘holics. I don’t like to be overly critical… http://bit.ly/cAL18q #Arsenal […]
Please forgive me as i am an eternal optimist…but i foresee this match having positive effects which heavily outweigh the negatives. after reading wengers post match reaction i think he’s as disgusted with the performance as the fans are and I’m pretty sure that the players will get a proper roasting from him in the dressing room and at practice.
On the other hand it could have opened his eyes to the frailties within the team. I honestly think we will be busy in the transfer market and that we have overachieved this season.
Cheers.
I’m actually glad we lost. A win might have confirmed Wenger’s delusions that we have enough depth in the squad. Perhaps Wenger might actually spend some money this summer (on more than just Chamkha.) David James, perhaps?
Lars… I’m beginning to worry you may be right about 4th spot! Can’t think about it now. My head hurts too much.
@ Catalan Gunner- hey, let’s leave Jens out of this! Invincibles he was!
(‘Cept that draw at Spurs, he can fuck off for that one! And how I shuddered every time there was a back pass… oh well.)
One thing he was very good at though (at least comparatively) was organizing our back line. Plus, I never totally minded the crazy foot stomp antics… bizarre muthaf’a he was.
Anyways, back to the dismal waste that is the rest of this day.
THis was just very embarrasing. I am an arsenal fan and i even really like Wenger but this??!!
Embarrasing, embarrasing, embarrasing! The team that lined up today should be more than cabable of beating Wigan! Even with the entire first team missing we should be able to win tonite against a bottom 5 team. But as other stated today, the senior players did not do their job in this match. Some played great but it was clear that the midfield did not work at all. Nasri and Diaby lookd lost. Rosicky has not had a good season imo.
Our strongpoint has always been posession and keeping the ball. when we cannot even do that, well then you get results like this.
Sky sports statistics showd possesion Arsenal 51 Wigan 49!! I mean what happed? Where did it all go wrong? The only ting missing now is CIty and Tottenham winning all their remaining games, we loosing and and ending up as no 5 :p
@ Pires. Maybe you misread me – I am on Jens’ side!
I meant to draw comparison with how he was treated to the way a couple of other goalies seem to be allowed to carry on regardless……
@ Catalan- I stand corrected. Anyways, I was just trying to have some fun as it was. It’s a bright and shinny 10am here and my head feels rocked- have no idea how to pull off the next 12 hours…
Regarding Jens, I don’t know why AW was never that ruthless with Almunia or Fabianski. It’s strange.
@ Pires is King. I would suggest a few beers. After all it’s drinking time here in Europe. 🙂
Going on to a different subject – the attitude being wrong. Maybe letting Gilberto go was a mistake for this reason also? He was an absolute gent who would have passed on to Denilson, Diaby et al how to win World Cups, let alone how to close out a 2-0 lead!
Now I’ve burnt the chicken!
I agree with baudze (28) on this one. The fact that the team can’t do well without a few key players shows our lack of depth. A choice Wenger has talked about at the beginning of each season. Well with our continuous injuries and 5-6 players who should not be given as many chances as they have, I’d say his philosophy has failed. In each of the last three seasons we, as a squad, have failed on the big occasion. It’s like he has put on the kids gloves with these twats. Where did his ruthless streak go?! Every single one of the players looks so fucking casual because their place in the team is absolutely guaranteed. Which in my eyes is the biggest mistake.
The reason why he didn’t bring on RVP was simple. He is looking to see who deserves to be on this squad, without RVP glossing over the obvious Grand Canyon sized cracks.
(Just shoot the morphine straight into my head, I need something stronger than gin.)
roll on man city, where we will be exposed, again. I do fear for 3rd spot now that is a reality.
@ Catalan But your point is an interesting one- Wenger showed a bit of a ruthless capacity with Jens, which, although I liked Lehman plenty, was good to know he was capable of. Yet this is something that he has been utterly unwilling to do of late with hardly ANY player. I hope Wenger is not increasing in stubbornness with age. The team got blasted ridiculously for not being ‘good enough’ to win the trophy in 07-08, even though we were hands down by far the superior team in the league for more than the first half of the season. I wonder if Wenger hasn’t recognized the biased and unfounded criticisms in the past towards his team and has cemented himself a bit in a defensive position, rather than a critical one.
Ah, who the fuck am I to know? I just want to see some heart- the trophy is far less important to me (though of course it’s glorious).
i,m with baudze
what a bunch of over paid idiots. give the money back.i would not blame King cesc or robin for lookin else where. the team on the pitch today are not fit to be bootboys (sorry for insulting all bootboys)
Not sure what to say about that really. It has taken me almost 3 hours to bring myself to a pc.
A disgraceful performance.
Strange substitutions by the manager.
Even allowing for the injuries, serious questions need to be asked about some of the players in the squad right now who obviously are not good enough. A lot of money is going to be required in the summer to fix the defense and shore up the midfield.
Shocking and disgraceful. I hope AW reads the riot act to the players.
Barman, if you will- double shot of tequila for Catalan, and anyone else to join us. That should wallop my brains for a bit.
Whatever the issues with our current keepers, I really cannot see a bid for Calamity James as being a viable and improving alternative.
A pint of what BtM’s having please barman.
Sigh…
Was talking to my gooner friend – and I asked him , if Wiltord, Keown and Parlour where on the pitch ( backups towards the autumns of their careers) would we have lost the game?
These guys werent as talented as some of the players on the pitch today but they were winners – who had immense pride in wearing the badge.
What we see today is a joke. Highly paid, over hyped bunch but dont have what matters the most – the attitude of a winner.
Sob sob sob
Why were my not so vitriolic comments not immortalised in Holics post 🙁
I know I’m not exactly a positive Gunner, But I allowed myself to be swayed by performances that were less than convincing but got results and I even refused to blame certain players due to the fact that they were coming back off of injury.
But come on…..no way in hell does Wenger keep getting away with such poor performances, He is very clearly not a motivational manager and his tactical decisions have been beyond poor for quite a while now.
I have said in the past and stand by my comments now that Wenger is tactically naive and his refusal to see something has been going wrong borders on massive arrogance and ineptitude.
I will always, ALWAYS be an Arsenal fan, But I stopped being an Arsene fan quite a while ago.
were* on the.
crap.. looks like Im typing without thinking..effects of a bad day
the other half of n london must be laughin their asses off
@9 Chippy: I think that he’s one of those people who doesn’t believe in washing their dirty laundry in public and we have to just live with that. Hopefully, he does tell them what’s wrong in the training ground or in one-on-one meetings. It’s a different management style from Ferguson’s which is more of the I’ll-spank-you-if-you-cross-me.
I think that he genuinely believed that this team was capable of winning the league and he’s said more than once that he’d relook at the team if they don’t succeed, so he will. If he doesn’t address the problems this summer, then we’re in trouble but you have to think that he will.
Can we get the Mayor of Hiroshima over to lift the squad before the citeh game? Oh!
painful, painful, painful and unnecesaary. I m sorry about Wenger. I think he is now more convinced in adding top player to his youthfull squad. Injury is a reason for our pain today but of course not excuse. Van persie will play from the beginning of every game of the remaining three if he stays fit
enough said, barman please i will have what you gave fabianski earlier!
Don’t do it balala, you’ll drop everything you touch!
@ Pires. Cheers, don’t mind if I do…
Bgun,
I hope your right with regards signings this summer but he said exactly the same at the end of last season and all through the summer only to sell 2 players so I’m not as confident as you,
I understand him keeping certain stuff in house but it’s not working the same players are on auto pilot game after game and need a serious kick up the arse or moving on, as a team we make the same mistakes game after game and season after season so whatever he’s saying is not working they need a serios shaking up in my view hence they need telling they are playing for there futures,
4000 travelling fans spent money I’d guess most couldn’t really afford to make that trip today and were treatedto yet another gutless performance bar 1 or 2 it’s simply not good enough for The Arsenal.
Problem with the Le Prof is that he says the right things at the end of every season and then doesn’t follow through with making the necessary adjustments, additions etc. Now I know he could be after certain players and the management haven’t backed him but that doesn’t excuse Wenger for being myopic about getting players who can contribute now.
Off the top of my head a few players better than the ones on the park today:
Kranjcar – 2 million
distin – 2 million
kaboul – 6 million
lucio – 6 million, I would have bit your hand off for this guy!!!!!!
van buyten – 4-5 million, and he said he wanted to come to Arsenal two summers ago but no it would hurt Djourou or Senderos’ development. Where are these two players now?!
R.Dunne – 4 million
This is the downside to our manager’s narrow vision and developmental project. We miss out on very talented first team and valuable squad players but who happen to be older. However for a small fee as illustrated above, where is the harm. These players, and I admit the majority of them might be squad players, have out performed ( in each of their respective teams) our squad players who were on the field today. This is what I am tired of, false promise of the future. Continue selling our “young squad will only get better”, which is hope not fact. Also our squad is not so young anymore, some of these players need to be doing the business.
Absolute dogshit. The most unprofessional last 10 minutes of football i have witnessed. I hope they refund all the travelling support. The players were a fucking disgrace today. I will post a proper reply tomorrow. At the moment i and fucking fuming.
Keep the faith? Is that what i normally say? Keep the fucking faith? Do me a favour. Tonight i have little faith. These fuckers need to wake up tomorrow morning and try and remember why they actually pull on an arsenal shirt. If they cant do that then there’ the fucking door. Make sure you close it on the way out.
No fate. No faith.
Evening Holic & Holic`s My god I feel Your Pain.
Shocking ! Possibly the biggest understatement of the season !
Pathetic, abysmal, farcical and dam right unacceptable !
I did not watch to the end of the programme as I was in no mood to listen to wengers post match mentally,physically, overall good team spirit bollocks. The lows of this past couple of weeks have reached a boiling point today. Reading the posts today at least i know i am not alone with enough is enough. Any gooner will feel the same and trying to find a plus from this performance is a effort in futility. A few have mentioned Eastmond as a slight positive and maybe tomorrow or in 4 weeks i might join you, but at this moment my anger is unbelievable.
And this time its not only the team who should be ridicule but also the manager. WTF was he thinking in his subtitions, this was a game that had to be won no excuses and his subs made no sense at all and leaving our only crown jewel left on the bench until the 89th minute you tell me as i dont get it. If he was fit for 20 minutes at the lane how was he not fit for this game or at least a half. A chance to improve his match fitness for the very hard game against man shitty coming up. I DONT GET IT.
I believe it was Lars who said a few days ago that he was worried about us keeping 3rd place, well lars im with you, i am also worried about it now as well. With the 2 teams behind us on great form and yes that hurt to say as well as type. Man shitty & spuds win their game in hand and beat us the weekend which is looking increasingly possible there will be 1 point between us and then who knows we might end up in 5th place. Highly unlikely but possible and that really pisses me off.
Holic, i tip my hat to you sir if this was my blog i would have given the team both barrels and then some. But being the eternal optimist and gentleman you are you let us all have a good old rant without the guilty feelings that sometimes we may have felt. Well played sir well played. That is why I only read yours and Arseblog as without doubt the 2 very best blogs in the world full of true and honest gooners with great views and points.
Barman a bottle of what ever every gooner on here wants as they deserve it and 2 bottles for yourself for putting up with this rant and previous rants on my behalf.
I Believe ( But not today, sorry )
Steve T,
take it you were not impressed mate!
Couldn’t agree more, Wigan fucking Wigan cut us to ribbons in that last 10 minutes I was on the verge of laughing when the 3rd went in, We are like a classic school boy bully fine when we are on top and bullying the oppo but as soon as they turn round and fight back we turn to jelly and get a pasting if it wasn’t so gutting it would be funny!
I see Wengers done his normal it wasn’t the keepers fault in his press conference of cause not Arsene it happens to all top keepers in every match they play just a shame you didn’t see fit to sign A proper keeper even tho every man and his dog knew almunia was shot before Xmas!
I think the patience of the gunners has ran out, anywhere in the world!
For fuck’s sake 2-0 in 80’s I’m going to take a nice deserved shit and it’s 3-2 what the fuck, we’re worst then hull
71,
I touched on the subs in the last post what the hell was that all about? Walcott looked our main danger and with Wigan pushing on his pace in behind could well have got us another and as for vp sitting twiddling his thumbs fuck only knows totally bizarre in the extreme maybe he was saving him for later in the season 😉
I won’t even get started on our defending,seriously bar burnley I struggle to think of a more disorganised back 4 they need some serious hours spent on the training field learning their roles,
in the words of cartman, fuck fuckety fuck
“I do not want to use the injuries as an excuse. When you are 2-0 up and you play for Arsenal Football Club I believe you would not use the injuries as an excuse when you lose the game.” Arsene
I hope tomorrow on my way to work I’m going to see the likes of Merida, Denilson, Fabiansky etc wiped by arsene while tracting a carriage on Caledonian Road with all the travelling fans from this season.
waaaaay too early to drink over here, and yet, here i am drunk. i blame chelsea for losing and making me stay up to watch this game. i’m afraid of looking at the table, though i know exactly how it looks.
god what a mindfuck those last 10 minutes was… and the entire second half leading up to it… abysmal. embarrassing. you’ve said it all. i can see how arsene may have been trying to see who belongs on the squad, but clearly, that was not the right time or place. and if it was a test, a good many failed miserably.
fabiansky blew it. not blaming, but really this was his chance to redeem himself as well as earn some respect from the fans as he had none, but he totally blew it. at no point will i even consider feeling safe with him between the sticks unless we’re up 4-0, since 2-0 is obviously not enough. even if he’s still around years from now, this game will be testament to how he blew it. that being said, if he learns something from it, cool. good for him.
silvestre… leaves soon. eastmond… is ok (which made him look above par out there today). great. but diaby… i think his performances broke my heart this week. i was banking on his inconsistency to kick in and crush the opposition since tottenham. instead he consistently crushed my hopes. all in all, our midfield disappoints w/o cesc, and i don’t want it to (unreasonable when inebriated).
bendtner needs to make way for RvP. our keeper situation is dire. money spent on defense will be well spent this summer. arsene is really pissed at the squad, which bodes well, i’d say. tough love is quite necessary after all.
plus i’m going to work in 3 hours. life sucks…
“”Even at 2-0 I never thought the game was over,” said Wenger. “I could see we were having difficulties keeping the ball, creating other chances, and when you do not create chances in football you are in trouble. After going 2-0 up our game lacked cohesion and discipline, and I always felt we could be punished.”” from the Guardian
I really don’t know why Robin wasn’t brought on then…I’m not one to point fingers at Arsene, I think this rests more on the shoulders of the players than manager, but his decision to not play Robin up front is one that I don’t understand. Alternatively, Diaby should’ve been removed much much earlier.
Oh well… I agree with Arsenal 1971’s post, its almost how I feel.
Ok heres some news to cheer us up, we are on an $10 mi bid for Joe Hart. 🙂
Cringeing thinking of Cesc watching this fiasco and thinking “I’m off”. And who would blame him?
Now then…. how are my second teams doing? Oooo…. Bournemouth could get promoted! Yes, it has come to this.
When does the cricket start?
I used to believe. Not sure now.
Cheers, ’71. I was staring at the bottom of an empty glass before you came.
I agree with Chippy. Why the fuck did he take Walcott off? He was our most effective attacking player. Why wasn’t RVP brought on at 2-0?
You could argue that their equaliser came as a dircet result of a freekick that never was but thats just clutching at straws.
Lack of ability you can understand as a fan as long as the player makes up for it with increased effort (Eboue/NB) but Diaby and Rosicky need to be docked a weeks wages for their performance’s today.
As regards the keeper, shocking.
Nearly 40 years of supporting Arsenal, two positions that we have always been blessed with were left backs and goalkeepers.
Not anymore, I’m sure that there will be some smart arses that will point too Jimmy Rimmer and George Wood. Well Jimmy Rimmer was voted Arsenal’s player of the season 74-75 and along with Alan Ball was responsible for keeping Arsenal out of the second division in the mid 70’s and George Wood was a Scottish internatioanl whom we signed from Everton.
Its taken a number of hours in an absolute fug to get round to here, Im totally depressed with this team and especially AW.
Once again the midfield did not fall back to support the back 4, (MS and GC were struggling with the long ball which was virtually the only way that Wigan knew how to play),
Easty was the only one playing his heart out,
Nasri played terribly and the only way I can explain how he didnt give a penalty away was that the ref was too close and watching the ball, so that when, in our penalty area , he pulled Watson, I think, by the arm 5 yards from the ref!!!!!! nothing was given
Rosicky was useless, Diaby didnt know how to look up and pass but kept charging into their defence
Theo was Theo good (watch his feet for his goal) and bad, dawdling when he should run (mind you the others werent looking for his runs)
But once again its AW who picked the side and didnt see that they were tiring until it was too late,
Eboue should have come on to bolster the defence for 30 minutes instead of 15 – whats wrong with a back 5 who can break out when defending a 2-0 lead, then RVP could have replace Rosicky at the same time
OK Im going on but I have to stop before I break this keyboard…..
Please improve next sat please please please
make mine a bloody big ‘un ‘holic
‘Holic has been missing for a while. I reckon he’s in the middle of a serious session! And who can blame him?
80s,
very true, My old man reckons furnell (spelling)? Was just about worse than these 2 clowns but only just, god I remember the demos for lukic when seaman was signed but gg for all his later fuck ups knew what a top top goalkeeper gave you a season and it was the right decision, I’d give my left bollock for a competent keeper at tho mo,
i’d lock Frank or Charlie G in a room with this lot for an hour or so and explain exactly what it means to represent this club as this club was always at it’s best with it’s back to the wall and up against it the odds this new batch want to play pretty football without having to earn the right,
Up to my bollocks in Guinness, Catalan.
Looks like I picked a bad week to give up spirits 🙁
Geez ‘Holic – another of those mental images I could do with out!
Something red for me please…
Someone above mentioned the cracks have been there for months now…and yes that’s very true. The number of matches we needed late goals to salvage draws and wins against ‘lesser’ opposition have been part of this mad mad season since the new year. Did it all start with that Everton 2-2 home draw?
I know injuries changed the complexion of our whole season, I think without RvP we played above our potential for weeks on end – the last 3 weeks have shown the opposite end of that spectrum it would seem. I don’t mind losing a match where you know the better or equal team matched your efforts, or got the luck all clubs need. I just can’t stand watching an Arsenal team that seems unfocused or missing desire. The last few games have been mostly about a lack of desire…I’ve never played the game at a high level of course…so it could be about exhaustion but I think our problems now are mental.
A few weeks ago I thought this season was an improvement on last season – today shouldn’t be the day I change my mind but it now looks about the same. Fabregas might be more important as captain than we ever realised.
I was raised on an Arsenal team that could defend and (usually) had a good keeper. We didn’t play the beautiful stuff we now see but we toughed out matches like today with far more conviction. We’re not suddenly a bad team – but we do look like a team that should finish 3rd to 5th (overall) I just felt we had a chance to sneak the league in a season when there is no truly great team.
Please make a world class keeper be our biggest priority this Summer…the rest we can sort out.
Diaby….you could be one of the best mate….where is your heart lately?
Final thought….I think AW is intelligent enough to know what needs to be done…..let’s give him a chance to do that.
I’m in a dark place, mate. For eight months I believed. There were good days, and a couple of not so good, but you could see the side trying and it not coming off for them on the not so good ones.
I cannot accept the last three performances. I understand five of our best six players have been missing, but the lucky bastards privileged to wear the shirt should have worked their Royal Alberts off for the only two trophies we could win.
I can accept losing, especially to Barcelona, but I cannot accept not trying, and not caring. These cunts are just going through the motions and wasting a season of hard work and real promise. They have let Arsene down, and they have let the people who spend a small fortune on following the club down. That is unforgivable.
I wouldn’t kick Fabianski out just yet, he has his best years ahead of him but what I would certainly do is send him elsewhere on loan to hopefully get a full season of English football under his belt.
Then a judgement can be made, he is 25 and keepers do not peak until late (or so they say)
I heard that in training Fabianski has outstanding reflexes and all these other stats (how fast he gets back up after making a save etc) but it certainly does appear to be a mental issue with him.
I certainly would have sent Robin on when we were winning, they were starting to leave spaces open and we were not exploiting those spaces.
Terrible result but I must admit I am not that bothered. I am about the way we lost the game but we were never really going to win the league at that stage.
The Birmingham draw felt much much worse than our last two defeats in my ever so humble of opinions.
I am happy to wipe the slate clean, get to the end of the season and work on the wrong’s in the summer with the players we have here and a few additions that can come in. Lets not forget that this was almost a semi reserve side out there, not that I am making excuses. They were good enough to win regardless.
I am however getting a little worried about Man City next week, judging by our performances in recent weeks.
At least one thing I’m really proud of was the end-product of this day. Not only did I get quoted on http://goonerholic.com once, I got quoted three times. Might not be a big cheer up for the rest of you but I at least it helped the Bordeaux help warm my stomach. Cheers.
About Mad Jens, I don’t really think it was a ruthless streak from Wenger benching him. I think many people that have been in a bad relationship that just fizzed out will know what I’m talking about when I say I think he was just looking for a reason to get a change. I think Wenger was looking for the chance to change the number one and when he got it he grabbed it. That doesn’t mean he was hoping for Jens to mess up, but I think he saw it as a good time as any to switch from an aging and somewhat erratic goalkeeper to a face for the future. Make Almunia win the place by “merit” rather than being forced to do it. That’s my tuppence.
With some (emphasis on some) hindsight I still believe in the majority of our players as skillful players, of course I do, they have brought us many happy memories throughout the last few seasons, some games have been up there with the classics. I also believe that a healthy dose of team spirit is there, if not enough by a mile. But I really do want to stress that however much I’m fuming (still am) I still believe that it’s tuning (if not as minor I might have thought a few times before) not a completely new team we need.
However we feel about them, I believe a lot of the players on the pitch have had bad thoughts about us as well, but still we ask them to give their all for us. We can only do the same for them and hope for better days and hope that this won’t be repeated for as long as this team stays together ie as far as their collective conscience will span.
We can also hope for that tuning to be done, wether it is on the training pitch, in the treatment room, or in the transfer market.
We can demand more of the players, and we can hope for more from the club and in the meantime, and this is no disrespect to anyone that had a bad thought about the team tonight (Hell I think I’ve had amongst the worst!), we should just go Pompey style and support The Arsenal through thick and thin, even if we hope for alternations, small (in my case) or big (in other peoples cases) to the team.
Keep the faith – long term (and I might well be talking about 10 years here, we’ll still be around) – we are The Arsenal after all, and for us, there will always be a new championship to win, even if we’re not spoiled at the moment.
Oh, and also, I’d love a new goalkeeper pretty please.
Top man Mean. I’ll get back, but I think I’ll wallow for the rest of tonight. I’m owed!
Lets not blame Fabianski? Lets be clear about this. This man is a a total liability, and I`m sick and tired of remarks such as `we don`t want to damage his confidence`. It is our duty to bang on about this until AW listens. It was instructive that in the recent press conference shortly after suggesting that Almunia wasn`t necessarily a permanent fixture, he chose to mention Fabianski by name; the implication being that the future could be Fabianski. Perhaps he was merely suggesting that if we didn`t like Almunia we could end up with the Pole. AW stubbornly refuses to believe that he isn`t a top class keeper in the making, and I expect we may see more and more of his cock-ups again next season.
As for the game, the team selected, indicated that AW had given up on the title, and for most of the game we played with little conviction. I know it is heresy, but the loss might not be a bad thing if it finally convinces AW to spend the money in the summer.
Finally, did I hear the radio commentator say that Campbell had outpaced Rodallega, en excellent player we have been linked with.
Dammit, sounded a bit too positive yet again. Still fuming and still hold todays game as unforgivable in the way that means “it won’t be forgiven until it’s paid back in full – by actually changing your fucking ways and delivering, heart on the sleeve, if not a trophy but at least a team to be proud of throughout a whole season, and not for short periods at a time”.
Actually that is all I ask for – a team I can be proud of for 55 games in a row, even if it comes to naught.
The saying, for a few years now, is that this young team “will learn from such disapointments”
like CLF losing to Barca
like brum away last min clichy pen (oh no it wasn’t) cue gallas sulk
like spurs at home (honestly SPURS AT HOME) 4 – 2 slipping to 4 all
like west ham away earlier this season 2 nil up 20 to play, ole is being sung, – 2 all
brum away, – nah forget that I was there and howard webb would have played on until we drew that one or sent us all off
and then that brings us to the mighty wigan today, who simply wanted to earn their 10 grand a week far more than our joggers did.
When Arsene, when?
You heard right Biscuitbum, but should not be surprised. When Sol gets a full head of steam up he can still motor.
Stopping is a bit of a problem these days, but he can still shift 🙂
But if Rodallega is an Arsenal player then I am a fucking concert pianist…
‘holic you speak for thousands…………
I’m in a dark place, mate. For eight months I believed. There were good days, and a couple of not so good, but you could see the side trying and it not coming off for them on the not so good ones.
I cannot accept the last three performances.
Biscuitbum,
good old sol sure did he gave him a 2 yard start to!! Just goes to show what a bit of heart and desire can give you! The commentators were certainly shocked to, I said at the time singing him back on was a good thing when many doubted but you couldn’t have dreamed he’d play this much and as well tbh if I was capello I’d take him to south Africa without hesitation. Kevin whitcher on the online gooner has written a very good article in which he says we over the last 3 years gave turned into the spurs of old all pretty football bit sink when the pressures on very harsh bracketing us with them cunts but not far from the truth 🙁
I normallly search for a positive to take out of a match, win lose or draw, and the only one I can now think of is that SURELY there will be no excuses once the transfer window opens now, will there?
I read during the week that Arsene was saying he has one more year left on his contract and will look at how things are going with his young proteges then.
I seriously hope not.
Mean Lean, I hear you mate. And I do think you are right. I think Fabianski might well end up being a decent or even great keeper.
But, in my own mind, in a time of transition, of nurturing a young team to the heights required to play for The Arsenal, we can’t go gung-ho on all positions.
Goalkeeper is the one position you really don’t want someone learning his trade to be whilst you are trying to teach some youngsters to win football matches.
By all means, switch the keeper when you’ve got a good back four with a few years ahead of them, or whilst the forwards outscore the opposition. Don’t go for Flapianski when you’re trying to get a new centre back pairing (Vermaelen + Djourou for next season?) and is still trying to find you’re feet elsewhere on the pitch.
I love us growing young players into great players. But we can’t do it everywhere at once. Since I do believe a lot of our outfield players still have potential and will peak sooner than our back-up goalkeepers I’m hoping for the big name signing. Yes, I admit it, I have changed my mind. I have hoped for Almunia, or Fabianski, or someone else to step up, several times throughout the season. But since it hasn’t happen, I just want someone new, so we can give all (most/some) the other super talents/pricks (depending on current mood) one more season to grow into that Barcaesque team they might still become.
Nothing wrong with Fabianski, really, I’m guessing, but now is not the time for him to learn via mistakes, in our goal.
Holic,
Defo, He was awful as was nzogbia until his scorcher, I’m pretty certain we won’t be spending 22mill on that pair well unless we won’t to enter the Europa league of course 🙂
Oh well, it’s an end of season party. Let’s have a dance.
I think we need to join together and help the club right now. Here was my first idea….
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/wan/1698307900.html
@ Tim. Heh. Good lad
Ppfffffttttt!!! Surprised you have time to watch the match ‘holic, spending so much of your time black-listing comments that hit a little close to home.
cheers ‘holic….
Train in vain indeed…
Did you Fab-i-anski? No, not at all…..
Did nothing of the sort fella. have a good look at the thread. Do you seriously think anybody was deleted? I was expecting to have to, but most explained their anger, and I was feeling it too.
Ive held off posting due to the fact i didn’t want emotions to take over from what i really think of what happened today….. but we were fucking apalling. Its the first time this season when they have properly pissed me off.
In short just not good enough and AW must realise that come summer he must spend. The reason we moved to a new ground was to increase revenue and then compete with the big boys, well whats the point if we don’t use the cash available. We may as well of stayed at Highbury.
Shit Game, Shit day, Shit week.
I was going to ask if anybody had any requests, but I fear Paul may have one 😉
Evening Holic and Holics,
First of all thank you Holic for using my comment as a title for this post.
I had to get out the house it was way too depressed to sit indoors, I treated myself to some tasty grub just to cheer my self up.
As for the game I tried to ponder about and to be honest with you I just don’t know where to begin.
I feel sorry for the people who have travelled up to Wigan today despite the result on Wednesday, I could hear them on the telly ” We Love You Arsenal We Do” and we seemed to have all the three points in the bag when Silvestre struck the second goal. For some unknown reason we then just let Wigan play and we all know what happened in the last ten minutes.
All the hard work that has been done all those months has been broken to thousand pieces this arvo.
I have no words to describe how let down I feel by almost the whole squad, they should be ashamed of themselves and should apologise to those who travelled.
If we are to challenge for anything displays like the one we saw this afternoon should be completely erased. Some playes should look deep down into their hearts and souls and think what being an Arsenal pleyer really meant to them. If it’s something they wont give their all then perhaps it’s time for some of them to move on.
I’m still pissed off and perhaps I’m being harsh but this long term project has failed with a big crash today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYeIlI3gutk
this one always helps
Cheers Tim.
One for the mods…
‘holic
I’m gutted!
I’ve just been reminded by a spud fan that they stuck NINE past Wigan the other week *shakes head in disbelief*
Have I let you down that much, Don?
Gooner with a topical ditty.
Hah, good pick ‘Holic. Let me just revive the old positive me for a few seconds then and go for a tune a tad more positive –
Speaking of which, ‘Holic, I guess this is the wrong day to ask you, but I wouldn’t mind hearing a few of you’re stories (or seeing a few of you’re photos!) from the Wigan Casino. But we might well leave that for tomorrow. We’ve heard enough marry tunes from Wigan today.
Of course the embed-link didn’t work. Mayhap it’s only the bartender that can post vids? Anyhow, here’s the link – Give it a spin!
And of course it should be “Your” not “You’re”. Twice.
Panic on the streets of Wigan, Panic on the streets of Sunderland
Hang the goalie Hang the goalie Hang the goalie
God knows what we are doing to the bandwidth, but this is a party!
Party on ‘Holics
My bbq ribs are coming straight up from all this jumping around 😉
Fuck it,The Arsenal boys are having a party so bring your vodka and your Charlie 🙂
reckon you should spin a bit of London calling for the hordes travelling back from Wigan Holic that one always livens up any do;)
Barman
A pint of Wisniowka foir everyone please, if people are still standing after that pint we’ll know it’s fake 🙂
Your wish is my command…
Heh, Chippy, and I was just about to suggest this old classic for all the really negative ‘holics out there –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Beca3auqu0U
Somehow “Go straight to hell, boys”, don’t feel that off today.
I actually tried to write a song for Eboue to the tune of this a few months back.
“If you can play as right winger
How about left midfield or goalie?”
…
etc
What a day, eh, ‘Holics?
OK lads…keep your chins up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCjglg-4b3Q
We could make quite an album…
William it was really Nothing – Gallas
Short People – Arshavin
Hairdresser on Fire – Almunia
B52’s – For NB
Rio – For Theo
Rockin’ Robin – RVP
Soul Man – Sol
Sylvester – For Sylvestre
By the way newer ‘holics, if you are enjoying the music you should also visit Tim’s very own http://www.theclashblog.com
Now, more topical end of season dancing.
This will cheer you maudlin f*ckers up!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNsshZ-V4BI&feature=related
If we let ten stupid minutes sum up our season then we might as well give up and follow some other sport.
Yes, I’m as pissed off as the rest of you, but just becasue a handful of our players forgot that they needed to apply theimselves for the full 90 minutes doesn’t mean we need to get all suicidal about the future of our beloved club. I think Arsene needs to deal with those responsible (personally I’d fine everyone on the pitch that so obviously showed a lack of commitment and desire), but how he chooses to do so will no doubt remain under wraps.
It had better hit home to them for the remaining three games though, because another turgid final 15 minutes like we saw today could see automatic qualification for the Champs league going out the door.
I know the Arsenal players do a lot for charity, but it might be worth having a few visits to fans who can tell them about how much they spend in relation to how much they earn to support this club. This might hit home to some of them that actually the money they get needs to be earned ten fold.
Ok, rant over.
I’m on whine tonigh, any sort, I’m not bothered.
Cheers.
cheers ‘holic…I’m actually putting it on a new server at present, but usually post daily – music and Arsenal are running themes…
needed to make some changes and Arsenal keep distracting me…
Tim
Chrissakes Snail, we’re depressed, not suicidal. I’ll find some Leonard Cohen if you like 😉
Time was, we would have been fine, before packing up one of the vices.
Heh, thinking about Elton John – Tiny Dancer for Ba-ba-bacary Sagna.
Other than that, last one from me, I don’t want to spam up you’re entire bar, ‘Holic, I’d suggest Johnny ‘Dizzy’ Moore – “Sudden Destruction” for everyone liking the ska out there.
For everyone that wants their ska to originate from a bit closer to home (if yer not a reader from Jamaica that is!) you might well go for Madness – Embarrassment as a good topical song for tonight you might still shake you’re two-tones to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpN_TOP9hg8
The more I think about it all, the darker my mood. I’m worse than sullen, I’ve lost hope…
(sigh.)
You holics be good. I think I am signing off until September. ‘Holic, thanks for the libations and comraderie.
It’ll always be the Arsenal for me (Sade, calls me the King of Sorrow; Sting calls me the King of Pain) … oh it’s good to be the king.
Sorry chaps, I mis-judged the extreme reactions as suicidal and not depressing.
This may cheer you up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTKS3aP5eAg
And oh, I think the Arsenal defense is in charge of my spelling today btw, sorry for that, I’ll try to sign someone new for the next drinking season… erhm… session.
Enough maudlin, already. Time to look forward, to next Saturday, volcanic ash permitting. Now that will be a party at the Grove.
Or this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oskM5XD_Yc4
Sorry I meant this… Something to look forward to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUg7OO1gZk0&feature=related
Haha,
cheers Holic,toby and all but best leave this party before it gets out if hand as a days work is in the offing,
As the old saying goes it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all these dark days will make the next triumph all the sweeter,
Up the Arse,
I like this one – it may help make sense of our season…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yBlVjJQ85c&a=bpxIkRw3ZiY&playnext_from=ML
Evening All,
Holic – cheers for the quote on your post – at last my moment of fame 🙂
We haven’t been able to name the same line up ever this season and it can’t be easy to build up that rapport with team mates with the constant disruptions.
I think the level of constant changes to our team would badly affect any team.
Training together is one thing but there is no substitute for real game time together.
There was a difinite lack of cohesion in our play (especially at the back).
I just feel sick
Too true Chippy. I’m actually getting up at 0500 tomorrow so I better be off. Fare thee well, lads and lasses, gooners and goonerettes, mods and rockers. I’ll probably have a nightmare or two, but that’s a small price to pay for all the grand dreams of the big metal pots with ears that will be coming our way shortly.
I’m signing off, but only until tomorrow. Here’s hoping to a sweet victory o’er the sky blue mancs.
I’ll leave with another musical quote from a Chelsea fan:
“Let all the wailing wail, let the drummer drum
We’re waiting for the rays of the morning sun, hey, the morning sun”
At least the name of that song is a good ‘un! (First one to guess without using Google gets whatever he/she wants from ‘Holics well-stocked bar)
I’ll bet you didn’t agree with any of that, Jackster?
Can’t say I blame you. The party is slowly bringing me out of the cloud of doom…
Apologies if this has already been said, but I would like to toss a bit of credit in the direction of Wigan and Martinez. The fact that they were able to overtake us is, I think, at least partially down to the fact that they set out every match to play real football, regardless of the opponent. Can anyone picture Blackburn, Stoke or Hull pulling that off? I can’t, and it’s because whereas at 2-0 Martinez had the balls to go for it, Allardyce and Pulis would have sat even further back, kicked even more ankles and hoped desperately to get two breaks.
We threw the game away, there’s no doubt, but a team with less backbone wouldn’t have been able to take advantage of it. Wigan showed real courage today, the kind that Fat Sam and Ryan Shawcross can only dream of.
A Taddy Porter for me, please.
If drinks are still on offer, I’ll have one, ’cause the pain of watching today’s total lack of commitment and effort (well, the last 10 mins anyway) won’t go away, and I wan’t, nay, need to forget.
@ 133 Toby
‘Tony Adams’…..by the mighty Joe Strummer
The Clash theme continues…
London Calling was recorded 250 yards from Highbury….
i’ll have a hugo lloris please, best to make it a double
It is exasperating, it is frustrating! To me there is a glaring weakness in this team which manifests itself far too often and it is this; a lack of movement off the ball, which is why we see so many backward and sideways passes because only rarely do we see players creating space for themselves so that they can receive a pass whilst moving forwards or into an attacking position. Good off the ball movement also pulls defences out of position and creates more space that way. Our other problem is a reluctance to track back in order to cover, mark opposition players and win the ball back when necessary.
Put another way this team must learn to concentrate, commit and work, work, work! Just like Man U – Oh god! why did I have to mention those w*****s?
That was like jumping on paper bag full of dog shit. Must be one of the worst surrenders I have ever seen from The Arsenal.
Something wrong that needs correcting drastially. The type of correcting that will cost us.
Shall I mention it again? We need A Keeper; A Central Defender; A Central Midfielder (defensive); A Centre Forward.
I am still fucking fuming. Massively fuming.
Pleased to see the spirits being kept up. We can still be proud of our boys this year despite the disappointment of that ten minutes.
The pressure if off for the rest of our games now, Lets see 3 wins and a signal of intent for next season. Cheers ‘Holic.
Evening Holic & Holic`s
Many hours and many more bottles of Becks later and some fantastic reading by the Holic`s today and of course some top music i still want to go to the training ground and ask the team to explain to me WTF they were thinking and doing.
Chippy has made some great points today and they have really hit home. Steve T also right on the button with his thoughts on the game. The rumblings of transfers that may or may not happen is were i will look for solace from this game, the thought of some world class players arriving to put the wind up the legions of coasters at Arsenal at the moment. When diaby,rosicky and co soon find their names well down the pecking order will that wake them up ? we all hope so.
The i wont bring players in in case it hinders the progression of the younger players is over Mr Wenger. You and us know its time for the wallet to be open. Flick out the countless dead moths and lets go to work. That work begins now ! not during the world cup ! not after the world cup ! BUT NOW. Before the 7 million pound defender costs 17 million because he had a good world cup.
I would like to thank you Holic and all Holic`s on this blog for their great writing and prospective on the past events. This blog is full very optimistic fans that is some what contagious in these dark dark days of following the best team in the world. But im sure all of us are glad to have a great place to vent among fellow gooners who understand the passion we have for this team. Every one needs to vent and get things off their chest now and again including you Holic. So when the dust settles and in a day or two when the anger has subsided we have a great place to come back too and read another one of your fantastic up beat positive blogs. By then the positive mental attitude most of us have been projecting and writing for the past 8 months will flow again, but til then no one here should feel that any of their posts have been over the top or over critical as it helps to ease the pain of the last couple of weeks and im sure we will be back tomorrow or the next day with the thoughts of who we can buy and the going on`s at the club as we are gooners til we die regardless of are league position.
Just a thought, do Arsenal know that they have the best fans in the world ?
I Believe
It is difficult sometimes. I am really a half full merchant but…
I feel much happier when I am keeping the faith – when I wake up with a spring in my step and play football manager in my mind on the way to work – picking the team to do this business on Saturday and the midweek Carling Cup side full of future promise.
There are times however when I wake with a sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach and my mind wanders to what others are calling the dark side. Tomorrow will be like that.
The similarity with the way we imploded lately v Birmingham, Sp**s and West Ham was frightening (Different from the rubbish performances Holic called out). Truth is in all those matches we saw it coming. At Birmingham it was arrogance on behalf of Hleb and others who thought we could stroll through the game – it was not in my opinion anything to do with the Eduardo injury, although that rocked us for a while. I was in fact with Gallas – furious at the way we took the foot off the pedal and lost our way. I thought against Spurs and West Ham that is was not arrogance – it was a critical lack of experience that meant we lost concentration and our shape. When the pressure came on we wilted – panicked and started chasing shadows.
Today was the same. Throughout the second half we were always struggling. We were huffing and puffing but where was the flow, the one touch passing, the control, the shape?
I really think we are close to a side that can win things – but what has really been missing over the past few years (and what we have all identified) is leadership. Sol’s resurgence has highlighted that.
Yes we need a keeper and another striker but honesty, hard work and belief is the key.
I love Arsene – but he has got to take ownership of his. I was actually ready for Thierry to go. I thought he thought he was untouchable. His attitude in games in his last couple of years was questionable. But I spat when Gilberto was ‘let go’. Gallas had only just arrived and for me Gilberto was the natural choice to help this young team evolve. Here was a world cup winner who (given a run in the team) could still play. Better still he could really lead. I remember that at a time when he was (cruely) in and out the side he still showed total commitment giving Sol like ‘common ons’ and working harder (and more honestly) than anyone else.
I will say again – we are close, but whatever happens in the summer we need quality. Not a lot. One or two genuine world class leaders who can take the strain from Cesc and help this lot grow up.
That is it – that is the phrase I have been searching for – this lot need to grow up.
Pint of Fullers.
Evening Holics
I thought it was highly appropriate that on the Lords day,a young lad named Moses is sent on late in the game and is instrumental in parting the Red defenses and helps lead his team to the promised land.!!
I happen to think Wigan paid us an enormous compliment today,as they played more like Arsenal than we did.In that last 15 mins they played some really good football and apart from Fabianski’s error,the other 2 goals we would have been proud to have scored.
Let’s not forget that Wigan have beaten Chelsea,Liverpool and now Arsenal at home.So they are no easybeats.
Roberto Martinez can rightly be proud of the way his team stuck to the task and in the end they deserved the 3 points.
I was as bemused as everyone else at the end of the game,but we have to go through these gut wrenching times of sheer misery in order to appreciate the good times when they come,and they will come.
We have punched above our weight all season and a couple of miserable performances at the wrong end of the season,cannot change the fact that i for one have thoroughly enjoyed another roller coaster season supporting the Arse.
Considering all the injuries,i personally don’t think we could have done any more than we have.
Please remember a lot of our players are still very young and to maintain a high level of performance for 9 months of a football year is simply impossible.
AW has simply been unable to rotate players due to the injury list.
I never criticise individual players,it is a pointless exercise.I trust the manager to know what changes need to be made at the end of the season.
So cheer up everyone,i have already looked into my Crystal Ball and we are 5 pts clear at the top of the table,Christmas 2010.!!
Onward and upward.
if that seemed historically painful – it was (according to the Times)
This was the first time in 11 years that Arsenal had lost a game in which they had been two goals up —
we have to go through these gut wrenching times of sheer misery in order to appreciate the good times when they come,and they will come
That’s it, Clive. That’s the reminder. Now I can sleep.
Cheers, and g’night ‘holics.
sky have just reported that Wenger has said that fabianski will be in goal for the rest of the season. For the love of all things holy, WHY? Why now? Tevez and co must be shitting their pants. I guess that officially does almunia’s time at Arsenal.
swap does for ends.
Hi Holics, I share your collective pain. I left at 2-0 and checked the score in the middle of a conference just to make sure we won. I was so devastated, I went out for a cigarette and had trouble focusing for a while. Just coming back to check the news and the fallout.
I am as angry and disappointed as anyone but we don’t need any knee jerk reactions. Fans who moan on and on about Arsene’s lack of signings should realize how tight a budget he has operated on and never made much of an excuse of it unlike other managers [Benitez prime example].
At the end of the day, it’s football. Shit happens, life goes on. We have done better than last year any which way you look at it.
I think Wenger sometimes errs on the side of being overprotective and calm overly at times. After today’s performance some of the players need to be cut a week’s wages and reminded how much faith Wenger and the fans [most of them] have put in them. We all make mistakes in life, particularly when young, but it’s becoming a bit of a habit with our team.
I have a feeling Wenger has reached a crossroad with some of these players as well.
I still trust him to do the best job for Arsenal.
…yes! Its my final…. final decision! I’m resigning from AKBs and joining D&GBs now on!……..Before i that…i have a nicely wrapped up gift that i personally deliver to the b-day boy fabianski!…..don’t worry i’m not thinking of doing anything stupid…………just yet!
@Clive Waterman
“Please remember a lot of our players are still very young and to maintain a high level of performance for 9 months of a football year is simply impossible.”
I’m sorry but that is simply not true, these are young men being paid obscene amounts of money to do something most of us would love to do for free.
When I am at work, I work DAMN HARD every single day, day in and day out, why do i do this?
Simple, I know that too many bad days will result in my being sacked and somebody else coming in to do my job, The problem with footballers (and managers) is that it no longer matters how badly they perform, they still get paid……and if they get sacked…..they still get paid.
No desire and dare I say it…..no fear of repurcussions when it all goes badly wrong.
It seems that Cesc is the last of a dying breed, A footballer who genuinely loves the club he plays for and would play until he fell over in agony…….oh yeah that actually happened 🙁
Cesc out
RVP out
Arshavin out
Gallas out
Vermaelen out
Song out
Almunia out (meh)
=
Rooney out
Berbatov out
Valencia out
Van der Sar out
Vidic out
Ferdinand out
Fletcher out
=
Drogba out
Lampard out
Malouda Out
Essien out
Terry out
Carvalho out
Cech out
Think about that for a second.
Harsh –
A fair point…and also worth noting that the list of most important players for those other two would include their goalkeeper(s)
Steve T
Fabianski needs to play end off, he will never be good if he stits on the bench all his life. I knew him before he was at Legia Warsaw and to honest with you he was a very good golie for them
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vxgsskqaEw
Every keeper will have a howler now and again but he needs playing time. There is no point if he is not going to play, might as well sell him if that is the case.
What was Sagna doing allowing Moses to cut his pass into the box? Our defence has been shaky for a long time now this needs to be addressed in the summer.
So RvP was fit but was not allowed to start – in fact not allowed to play until the 87th minute – sheer desperation having thrown away a 2 goal lead.
We all know all this already but – seeing the level of Robin’s effort for the stupidly short time he was on the pitch just made it worse. This guy has been injured 6 months, but fought and threw himself at everything he possibly could. This is Barca type talent – genuine, top level skill allied to a real work ethic. Too many of our players sadly do not possess at least the second of these qualities.
Had internet problems today so have not been reading comments as they have been added. Therefore, apologies if following thoughts have already been added by others. –
We seem to suffer from the same problems recurring time and time again. –
– Terrible individual errors that are not acceptable at a club of our stature.
– Lack of concentration.
– Lack of effort.
– Lack of communication.
I am totally fed up with hearing Wenger making excuses for these occurrences and started to really wonder about him today, reluctantly and for the first time.
However, comments he has been making about the availability of money and the need to spend it, indicate that he does, after all, recognise that displays like today’s are simply not good enough, and that we do need players.
You cannot blame the manager for individual errors, but it is the manager’s job to do something about players who keep on making the same individual errors, and show no ability to learn. Let’s hope his failure to do this has just been due to the financial situation that has now changed.
Don’t like criticising individuals but if today’s keeper is our only fit option for the remainder of the season, we may as well play with a “rush goalie”. At least that way there may be room for van Persie on the pitch.
I actually felt ill after today’s game, so a Night Nurse and hot milk, please ‘Holic.
http://blog.emiratesstadium.info/2010/04/has-wenger-and-his-youth-project-utterly-failed/
I normally don’t pick on players, but Diaby today for some reason (oh, that’s right, he had a shocker!!) got on my nerves. I too feel that the Boss was let down. Hope we can pull it together in the next 3 games and cement 3rd.
Thanks for the pick me up and great tunes, ‘Holic. That was a great way to finish this day. And Clide, your optimism was good for my system, although your cup must be a bit more than half full to keep this last week in such perspective. Cheers, everyone! Great group of supporters. As for the keepers, I’d have to play some Bob Marley- ‘Who the Cap Fit’.
G’night.
Holic, those tunes cheered me up. Thanks a lot!
Wenger needs to channel his considerable anger during the summer transfer window 🙂 . Never forget how he has been let down by the very bunch he risked his career for.
Clive, I totally appreciate your sentiments. These moments will make us cherish the trophies even more. And the trophies will come, soon.
Thanks for those tunes ‘holic and all. Train in Vain just about says it all for me. Learning from our mistakes is a hard thing to do but it helps being part of a community of like-minded people such as yourselves.
Draped in Darkness @ 152.
I understand your frustration and rage,but if you look over the 9 months as a whole,our boys have probably turned in no more than
6 or 7 performances that we can really criticise.
We’ve played probably close to 50 games and only a handful can we really say were not acceptable.
Allowing for all our injuries,i think that’s a fantastic achievement with what is still a relatively very young squad.
Give some credit to Spurs and Wigan,who’s never say die attitude and good football got them over the line.
Sure there are a few players Wenger will have noted,did not do themselves justice in those 2 games,but none of us are perfect.
Also i might point out we have lost only one league game more than
Utd and only 2 more than Chelsea,both of whom have endless resources to buy new players.
So let’s get some perspective and be proud of what we have achieved this season with very limited resources.
You should have been around in the sixties DD,when bad performances were the norm.!!
You don’t know how lucky you are.!!
best wishes
Clive
Well said Clive (not that I was around in the sixties). That’s kida made me feel a bit better.
I am sure the boss will get the hair drier out after today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXac8J4EoIE
Sums up why after every defeat and setback (which feels like a personal loss) I keep coming back for more
Thanks for the clip, Sajit. It was good to see Dennis for a second in there… ah, I do sometimes nostalgize…
We need Cesc Fabregas clones now….he is the only one (and sol) who gives a fuck about the arsenal shirt.
Here’s another one that summarizes what being a football fan is about. It is a commercial for a Swedish company that offers special savings accounts that you put money into and can access when you become an OAP (don’t know what such accounts would be called in English, but I’m sure there is something like it in England as well), and I couldn’t find it with any sound (which is “I’ll stand by you” by The Pretenders) but it’s still very good:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXZjreK5J-4
Someone mentioned giving Wigan credit for the way they played and I’ll just say I agree with that. It doesn’t, however, take the responsibility away from players like Diaby and Rosicky who, by any stretch of imagination, can not be considered young players or even inexperienced. They have both played a considerable amount of Premier League games, they have played Champions League semi-finals, difficult FA Cup games, international qualifiers and championship games and yet they think they can just turn up away to a team fighting to avoid relegation and still win. We were 2-0 up with ten minutes to go, we should have won the game, end of discussion. Cesc, Vermaelen and the others being injured is not an excuse for the ones playing not to turn up for work.
We don’t need a complete overhaul. We need a proper keeper, we need to replace Gallas who I can’t see staying (he would have signed by now if he really wanted to stay) and we need someone to cover for Alex Song or even better, compete for his place – and some players need to learn to fucking work for their wages!
Speaking of a proper keeper….You have to see these videos and i bet you’ll be begging at Wenger’s doorstep to sign this guy-Manuel neuer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1vcWr0tiQQ&feature=watch_response
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY-0xuJ0edM
He is just insane…this guy redefines keeping in my opinion.
Does this morning feel any better? No it doesn’t does it?
I have to deal with everyone at work asking me what happened, come on but Wigan and all that shyte.
In a way I think it’s a good thing we lost yesterday, it shows us we still are on the learning curve and some players are not capeable on taking things on their shoulders which is a shame really because I thought we had winners in there.
Clive,
I appreciate your optimism but these players should have never lost the game yesterday. We were two nil up and we should have parked the bus, instead we allowed them to drag us out and expose the flanks.
The only positive is that we are still young and work in progress I suppose and it takes time to develop a team.
I’m hoping for some decent activity during the summer. Le Boss needs to get his balance right between experienced players and those who are not so experienced and then just rotate the squad in a manner that will teach them and make them better players.
I hope Wenger will give them a good grilling this week, they deserve it. We still require some sort of response from them as the 3rd place is still not secure and if they have any pride and decency in them they will rise above expectations and make us feel at leat better for this shambolic end to the season.
morning Holic & Holic`s
Ok its the day after the day we wont forget for quite a long time.
Q. Do i feel any less bitter this morning ?
A. No i do not !
This stems from forcing myself to watch the game again looking for positives. Sadly i failed. All it done was make me want to call a hit man for diaby, not the desired result which was required.
On top of that i noticed that the Arsenal players didnt even go over to acknowledge the faithful Arsenal fans who once again dug deep into there pockets to follow the team. Most of the game you would think it was a home game for us as you could only hear our fans even tho they were totally out numbered. Not even a cursory glance did they receive after the game let alone a nice clap from the players. Disgusting ! I hope the players feel really down after the game at least that might show a little indifference to the game. However they got well paid to turn up and drove back in total luxury while the Arsenal fans were all out of pocket to the tune of about £100 each and taken home on train fit for animals. Well i hope you are happy with yourselves Arsenal players because on top of a performance that can only be described as a joke and not a very funny one either you then rub salt into the gaping wound. My cousin was at the game and he was furious that they made no attempt to acknowledge the fans.
Sorry to continue the rant but that is just not acceptable.
FUCK this arsenal team! i love arsenal, i love arsene, I believe, I have faith and i truly, trluy believe this team has the potential to be great!
but potenetail means FUCKALL!!! so i say FUCK this arsenal team that was on teh pitch yesterday! without even cuming near their full potential they should have won this league! but not once could they get up for the big games! NOT fucking once… Man u twice, chelsea, twice, City, Barca, sp*rs and the yesterday’s game, which was massive considering the chelsea loss!!
No heart, No desire, absolute bollocks! Cesc, TV, Sol, RVP, these players have heart and desire! but with 75% of them out of teh team i was expecting some others to stand up! but they didnt…
Either they forgot that we, the fans, existed or they just couldnt give a damn that we do!
neway, im pissed, im hurt, but Man u and chelsea may yet lose each of their last 3 games and we will take teh league by3 points…
Today feels no better for me. I have tried to calm down a tad but am still fuming. I can take losing games. I am not so arrogant that I demand and expect that we win all our games. But I do expect a team to turn up and play. And I expect them to play for 90 minutes. I expect them to be professional at all times.
I want to look at the last 3 games. Barca? Got beaten by a fantastic side when we went there with several major players missing. A week off and then it is the Spuds. We showed very little until RVP made an appearance.
Then we get to yesterday? Totally unaccaptable. I get all of this re players out, work in progress etc etc. But this sside started with 10 internationals. There is no excuse. This is Wigan away for God’s sake. This is not another trip to Barca.
I have been really disappointed with certain senior players. Nasri wasn’t to play in the role that Cesc operates in. He has created hardly anything. Rosicky I have always admired. He has not turned in a performance of note and looked decidedly lightweight. My biggest disappointment is with Diaby. I had such high hopes for him and yet again he has failed to deliver. In my opinion he has been very poor in the last 3 games. Very poor.
We played yesterday as if the game was won. We switched off. I can only imagine that those out there thought that they were that good that they did not need to bother anymore. I am still amazed at what I witnessed to be honest. I can’t remember who it was above that said we have to accept days like this to appreciate the good times. Well, quite frankly I don’t agree. We should never have to accept a performance like that. Ever. As I said, I am not too arrogant to consider it a right that we win every game. However, I do consider it a right to expect those that pull on the shirt of the club I love to be professional and put 100% effort in. Please tell me if anyone thinks I am expecting too much? I seriously hope that Arsene rips into them today. Players who earn more in a week that I earn in a year should have no excuse for that lack of professionalism. Ever.
One final thought. It would appear that the lack of investment has been a direct result of the new stadium. It also appears that this may be about to end. Here are Arsene’s comments from Sunday morning. “We have not been investing because of the stadium, but I think our financial situation is now becoming much stronger. We are now capable of buying the players we need to buy.” Fuck me, if he was ever unsure???????
Not really in the party mood yet holic to tell you the truth. My party comes on Wednesday at the Garage, Islington at a small, intimate Weller gig. Mods rule.
Onwards to Citeh. Let’s just hope that we have some good news on the injury front by then.
@Steve T
I do not think you are expecting to much for a player to pull on the shirt and give 100%, if they cant manage that then they shouldnt be allowed to wear the shirt. Very simple.
Arsene has not blamed injuries for the defeat yesterday, so nor should we.
On Arsenal.Com he said that we need to win one more match to hold onto 3rd. Love that desire.
@ Arsenal 1971. I read that as well. Makes it sound as if we are in a relegation battle.
Yesterday had nothing to do with the injuries. It was just unprofessional in the extreme.
Arsenal 1971 + Steve T,
Thanks for those posts, i woke this morning hoping to feel less down but after a good nights rest im even more angry over that display yesterday youve summed up all my thoughts in those 2 posts Certain players should feel ashamed but id guess they couldnt really give a shit as if they did they would have certainley put more effort in yesterday,
My cousin was at the game and he was furious that they made no attempt to acknowledge the fans.
This has been happening for a few seasons now when we win they are straight over but when we lost most fuck off without even a token gesture Pat Rice normally trys to usher them over but most pay no notice, Walcott for all his faults will always acknowledge the crowd as will cesc and Vp and Sol, Says alot dosnt it !!
It was only a few weeks ago that the lesson of not closing a game down was learnt to harsh reality.
Brum away.
Can our players really be that stoopid that they can’t take on board the importance of total 90 minute concentration?
It was such a beautiful day made dark by the realisation the faint hope of winning the league was truly squished out of the season.
I was listening the game on radio 5live and switched off after the third goal, not because i lost hope but i couldn’t stand Robbie Savage blatant bias against us, he was literally cheering them on.
@Chippy
That dose say it all, out of a squad of players we can only name a few that have the common courtesy to thank the fans for there support. It also says something that the ones who do acknowledge the fans are our two best players cesc & vp and that sol & theo do it who are English. I am not in a financial position to make very many away games at all, this season none. I just thought it was bang out of order and it really got my back up.
@Steve T
I agree with every point of your post, a pub team would of held onto a 2 goal lead with 10 minutes to go because of pride more than anything else. So the question is were is the teams pride ?
Actually don’t answer that i know were there pride is. In their huge wage packet and their Aston Martins parked outside. They might read one of these blogs and then hit the deck laughing while rolling around in their money.
These players need to remember that without fans there is no more fat wage packet. So don’t take the piss out of us you spineless bastards.
I think i need to calm down, its spoiling my birthday. This was supposed to be a happy day for me.
I streamed the game online and closed the app as soon as the third one went it, I was livid I punched the wall and then I thought to myself “players with no dignity, fuck em” so I sat down to watch some Star Wars Clone Wars with my son that quickly changed my mood. Despite still being very annoyed for what I have just witnessed I posted few comments but they couldn’t really describe what I was feeling at the time. I felt empty and robbed by a bunch overpaid youngsters that have no spine and no pride in wearing Red and White.
Arsenal 1971 & Steve T
I stand by you on this one my fellow Gooners, no excuse what so ever!
It really speaks volumes if after they fail they can not aknowledge their own fans who travelled mile to watch them, cheer them on and support them. Goes to show how much respect they have for us fans!
The money thing has always been a massive problem for me. Pay them all a grand a week and offer them a 50k win bonus. Then we will see who thinks it is important to protect a 2 goal lead?
Funny we mention pride. I had bottles of London Pride in my beer fridge. I actually had to put it back last night. I felt a total fraud drinking ‘London Pride’ having watched that shambles. It was just wrong.
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday Dear Arsenal 1971
Happy Birthday to you!
Something else that really got to me. As I watched those players wander off the only one that seemed remotely bothered was Sol. What does that tell you????
As for not acknowledging the fans, well that is shameful. Really is. No doubt there will be some limp wristed apology in due course that will be totally inadequate.
@Arthur The Gooner
Thanks alot mate that has just brought a big smile to my face. Thank you
Arsenal 1971. Sincere apologies my old son. A very happy birthday to you.
@Steve T
“The money thing has always been a massive problem for me. Pay them all a grand a week and offer them a 50k win bonus. Then we will see who thinks it is important to protect a 2 goal lead?”
I wonder if that would change how they play ?
Your fucking dam right it would !
@Steve T
Thank you mate, much appreciated today sir.
On another subject I’m really worried for the Citeh game already.
To those of you saying that “sleeping on it” hasn’t brought about the usual sense of perspective and calm, I’m on board. If the next three games are anything like this, the thought of a full summer being too ashamed of my squad’s effort to publicly wear an Arsenal shirt is something I might have to entertain.
Without getting too much into individuals, the worst part is the lethargy. Arseblogger got it spot on today (though I disagree about Eastmond), both the manager and the players should be ashamed. Even at 2-0 up the hesitancy to send RvP on concerned me because it was clear what the manager thought and even clearer to me that that was a dangerous game to play. Never, NEVER before have I sat and thought to myself “Arsene, I can clearly see something about this game that you can’t or don’t want to, and you’re completely wrong.” Certainly I’ve disagreed with the manager before, but never sat there and questioned his judgment so severely on something, but yesterday it happened. He was scared to play van Persie, and that’s no way to manage.
There were exceptions to the lethargy. Sol, of course. On the pitch, nobody’s classier. We need one or two of his experience this summer to teach the kids how to play.
Theo tried hard as always. Sometimes it didn’t work, but at least once it did and I was glad to see him rewarded. He’s so much better when he stops thinking so hard about what to do and just shoots instinctively.
I’ve really grown to appreciate Clichy more throughout this year. Even when he was in bad form he at least gave effort I though, and he’s been back to himself recently. I thought he played hard yesterday and he’s a true professional.
Silvestre tried but simply doesn’t have it. Eastmond wasn’t perfect but showed the urgency that playing for a place in the squad can give you, maybe some of our “first team” players need the same motivation. Bendtner…well, f*** if I can ever tell with him whether he’s working hard or not. I seriously never know.
There’s a lot to be angry about even the morning after. Maybe it’ll be a lesson to the young players but I’m tired of lessons.
71,
Birthday greetings to you mate !!
Arthur. Don’t worry just yet. As disgusted as I am with yesterday that has now gone. We can change nothing. We need to get some bodies back out of the treatment room and back on the pitch. We also need to get a whole different attitude installed into some of these players before Saturday. If a performance follows that in anyway mirrors yesterday then I dread to think of what the reaction will be.
@Arthur
I dont want to even think about that. Can you imagine man shitty comming to the grove and crapybayour getting a hat trick against us. No no no cant bare to think of it. the way we are playing and the form they have been in of late no no no it could be a slaughter.
I very nearly booked to go over on a trip to yesterday’s match from Dublin. Those trips are long and kinda expensive and, barring the football, quite unpleasant. I’m quite glad that something came up, as I’d have been genuinely tempted to riot if I’d witnessed that kind of capitulation.
This is the first time I can think of where I genuinely believe that the club should refund their travelling fans. Those people had no divine right to expect a victory, but they had every right to expect 100% effort.
Oh, and Fabianski should be sold. Buy a new keeper, let Almunia stay as back-up and give Mannone another year or two to learn his trade. But tell Fabianski to fuck off to rochdale or somewhere.
@Chippy
Thanks alot mate. Cheers
@Arsenal 1971
Just noticed all the birthday wishes, let me add mine to the pool! Difficult though it may be, put all of this nonsense out of your mind for the day and have a blast! You clearly deserve better than to have a birthday spoiled.
@Dadric
Thank you for the birthaday wishes mate, well later this will all become a blur. cheers
Many happy ones, ’71.
Cheers Holic mate
I was over it after the Birmingham game, when I realised we wouldn’t win it. Frankly, 2nd would be fine, but I’m not going to let 3rd blow my birthday candles out. We won’t be 4th.
I know it’s a squad game, but take the complete first choice spine out of ANY team on the planet and sh*t will happen. It did at Wigan.
We had it won at 80 minutes. I for one was pleased Robin was not on the field. Even at 2-1 I wouldn’t have brought him on. No problem for me with Eboue for Walcott (Theo had run out of steam). I was thinking Vela for Rosicky, but I wasn’t unhappy to see Fran (actually had hoped he might start).
I had hoped the Polish Sausage would start, but Fabianski’s blunder was, without doubt, the nail in the coffin. So mea culpa.
For 85 mins, our second string did OK. Did easily enough to win. The last 5…..well, you’ve all said it. It’s been a long season. For me it’s been 98% great.
On Sunday, many disappointed. Funny how we all see things differently. I see positive vibes around Clichy because he ran around and looked like he was trying. I think he’s been a real weak link for most of the season, nearly every attacker who takes him on gets past him easily and the ball comes in from the right. I’d start with Gibbs next season.
I thought Rosicky worked very hard, one superb tackle back in particular. Nasri was fine. Diaby – a big off day – the fact that his game is a dribbling game when Arsenal’s is a passing game is a long term problem.
Most notably, the absence of Denilson changed the entire structure of our play. There was no one, always available to receive, in the mid-field. No one to build a solid platform for forward distribution. Consequently we saw a lot of running from the mid-field that, frankly, was pretty easily snuffed out. Only Cesc, Song and Denilson seem able to provide the platform. All were missing.
Whether we win all of the remaining three will be dependent on return of Alex or the Rhythm King to the midfield. Sunday’s eleven (our strongest on the day) won’t beat City. Two changes will make a huge difference.
I’m hoping for an Adebayor hat trick, (the league would be won by now if he hadn’t gone, take a bow BBB, I agree with mr Snail – Bendy will be great in four years, but he’s very, very average now) – countered by 2 from Robin, 1 from Nasri and 1 from the Sultan of Swing.
Come on you Gunners……A nice solid finish to bring us all back next year.
Holic how are you feeling today?
Oh, ’71 – you deprived me of the 200 spot! I gues it’s only fair that the birthday boy should have it.
Holic, I don’t recall 200+ previously. A new land mark?
BtM
I think you are being harsh on Clichy he was at least trying, to me him and Rosicky were getting stuck in when Nasri and Diaby didn’t really know what to do with the ball. The fact is we couldn’t really penetrate them and ball possesion in the second half well speaks for itself.
On too late today so can’t be asked to read all the blog’s everybody have taken written, but I’m sure they are all as entertaining as usual (perhaps I’ll get time later) two things well three really.
1, didn’t see the game yesterday I was up to me ears in it all day in work yesterday & crashed when I got home so did not get round to seeing highlights (lowlights). Try tonight to make an informed view.
2, if this don’t wake-up AW nothing will!!!!
3, Holc,
More importantly I just love the choice in music today, I still miss The Lizzy
to this day, mind you another 20 odd years of them, & I would defiantly be completely deaf as apposed to just mildly now, not sure my other half would agree I’m only mildly though!!!
I admire `Holic for his stoicism. Having taken a step back during my holidays it’s funny to see the lack of perspective displayed by many.
Anyway the same thing is happening to Bordeaux who entered their death spiral as well after their CL loss and I must say their supporters display more class when facing adversity (especially considering almost everyone thought they had won the title already a few weeks ago). Perhaps some gooners should open a bottle of wine more often…
Not an excuse for not acknowledging the very hands that feed them – but could it be because they are too ashamed to face the fans that they leave without acknowledging them?
Just a thought.
Happy Birthday ’71!
Holic how are you feeling today?
Don’t ask Arthur. Some perspective provided by attending a mates funeral today. Six years older than me. Fit as a butchers dog, not too many years since he cycled from John O’Groats to Lands End, not a worrier. Massive heart attack in the garden, Goodnight Irene.
On that basis we need to win the Champions League next season to complete my set. I might not get many more chances. You saw what I saw yesterday. Still hurting big time today. Big swing in attitude required in the last three games.
The goalkeeping situation is a total embarrassment, I think AW is a great manager but he has dropped a massive bollock this season by relying on Almunia and Fabianski for the season. Between them how many goals and points have they cost us? It’s such an important position, how many teams have won important trophies with rubbish keepers? He could have signed a good experienced Premier League keeper like Jasskelainen in January to improve things, if we are unable to get some of the mooted names – Lloris, Hart, Frey etc – because they would cost too much money I think we should try and sign him this summer. He’s a million times better than the options we have presently and would be relatively cheap, probably about £6-7m. Van der Sar was signed from Fulham for £2m when he was 35 and has done a great job at Man Utd, as have some other older keepers like Friedel and Schwarzer. For crying out loud can we stop signing obscure young keepers from abroad for peanuts who patently have problems with some of the more basic elements of football, eg catching crosses and decision making. It’s so obvious and really does my head in.
Hopefully Wenger’s anger yesterday will be translated into serious action in the summer, get rid of the deadwood and underachievers – Vela, Silvestre, Almunia, Fabianski, Eduardo – remind the likes of Diaby and Arshavin that they must try their hardest at all times and bring in a few decent players (a goalie, two CBs, central midfielder and striker) who will always bust a gut when playing for us and never underestimate our opponents.
Happy Birthday ’71.
No more negativity for me this season, I think it has hit us all so hard because somehow in this most mixed up of seasons we were never out of the title race, fight after fight to the end and then bam, three games of non-stop capitulation, We all expected Barca if we are honest to win comfortably, But Spurs and then Wigan, both teams outplayed and outfought us and that is why we are so upset.
If it had been like the previous games with so much effort and never say die approach not one of us would be moaning about losing.
Let’s all look to the next season as a genuine title ambition if Arsene is to be believed :re Transfers.
A new land mark?
Probably BtM. Hardly merited really, but shared misery and all that…
Dunno about the 200 post cos I posted about 11.15am when there was 178 posts up and mine has not arrived yet? or been banned for something? doubt that, just the normal disapointed gooner stuff 🙁
I am still a bit worried about us missing out on the CL places entirely, but I realized I had made a mistake in my calculations (that can happen after three pints of Boddingtons and three goals in ten minutes, I guess…) and while a loss on Saturday is still something that must be avoided at all costs, the situation is not quite as bad as I first thought. There is actually a small chance of securing third as early as on Saturday, but that requires three points for both us and United or a win for us and a draw for United. In any case a win for United against Tottenham would be really helpful for us – which, of course, is exactly why they’ll lose to Spurs. Bet whatever money you can spare on a Spurs win on Saturday, you’ll win it back with a profit.
BUT – if ManU despite this do beat or draw v Spurs, one point for us will actually secure fourth for us because then we will be nine points ahead of City and eight/seven above Spurs, but if City win all their other three games it will mean that they have beaten Spurs who then only have two games and can then obviously not gain six points on us, and if Spurs beat City then City can’t catch us. A draw between City and Spurs would (given the above scenario, that is) secure third for us. That game is played on the Wednesday before the last weekend, by the way.
Six points for us, regardless of against whom, secures third for us no matter what. Three, four or five points, regardless of opposition, secures fourth in any possible scenario – but, as can be seen above, even one point on Saturday would almost secure at least fourth. In that case it could come down to goal difference v Man City and we are currently 12 goals better than them – but Spurs could still go above us on points.
I honestly can’t see us win on Saturday, with luck we might just scrape a draw but I seriously doubt it the way we are playing right now.
So what shall we do? Well, I am tempted to say “park the bus” but that doesn’t really feel that good, so I’ll just say “let’s all hope to whatever supernatural forces you might believe in that Alex Song and Robin van Persie can start on Saturday…”
200 is no mean feat. Great accomplishment. I’m sure you’ve been very satisfied to see the numbers build progressively, particularly this season. The occasional Spudtwit, apart, generally very good quality contributions too.
Keep up the good work and here’s to 300!
@the beast: Friedel was one name that popped up in my head today, we should have signed him when he left Blackburn – and if I remember correctly he was even out of contract and left for nothing. The same with Schwarzer, he has been rock solid for Fulham every time and could have done a good job for us for the past few seasons.
“every time I have seen them this season”, it should have read…
The gloom has lifted just got home from work put the doors on the ol stero and about to trash a cold one or 2 happy days, Heres to a better week 🙂
@pires is king & drapedindarkness
Thank you gents for the birthday wishes.
Gloom still hanging around so a good night on the brain cell killing juice is what is needed.
AA should be available for citeh
I still feel like shit. The next bloke that comes up to me and says “hi Steve, what happened to your boys yesterday?” I will lump.
BTM. I agree with you re the subs and Denilson. Don’t agree re the second string. I get your point but 10 of those players are internationals with aspirations of spending some time at least in South Africa this summer. They were 2 nil up with 10 to go. So yes, the injury list can be a factor but I do not think it is something we should rely on this week.
Holic, sorry to hear your news but it does bring a whole sense of reality to the floor. We get one chance at this. This is not a rehearsal. I kind of guess that is one of the reasons that I am so pissed off with those twats that dared pull on the famous shirt yesterday. Have they no idea how privileged they actually are?
Can’t f*cking wait the City game next week. That lanky muppet’s back, we need revenge and now the team has hopefully ordered a rocket up their arses from us at the Grove.
Holic
Very sorry about your mate, just goes to show how fragile life is and how quickly things can change.
I’m worried about the Citeh game they will get very phisical and I don’t think our boys can take it. Wigan wasn’t over phisical and we all know how well we responded.
All we are left with is if’s and but’s, however we should be here still thinking about the title and pondering how Chelski and Man U will loose points. No excuses please we have had way too many of those. Even the B team should be able to hold onto two goal lead.
I have the anti -fever pitch feeling today.
Once again (and there have been countless occasions since Jens left) we’ve been let down by poor goalkeeping errors. Can anyone remember fabianski ever having a “good game” for arsenal?
Some catching practice this week Fab – looks like ur in goal again against Citeh – Oh F**k!!!
I was cheered up (a little) when i watched that scottish goalkeepers mistake on Sunday – I think it was against Dundee
Have you got a coaching DVD out Fab? It looks like he was watching!
I have to admit even though he is a Pole like me I thought this would be his chance for him to take that place and he wasted it big time.
On the other hand I think he can’t really build on any confidence, number one and number three weren’t his fault what was Clichy and Silvestre doing on that left flank? Clichy seemed to be the first to the ball and he never went for it. then the nice little pass across the box which no one seemed to follow and wham bam it’s 3:2. We have to admit our defence is shyte end of.
Just watched all the goals again and what a terrible defending! Jesus it wasn’t just terrible it was fucking shocking. Sunday Pub league standard that is all I would give it.
mine has not arrived yet? or been banned for something?
Mark, apologies. I can’t work out why but my spam filter has taken a minor dislike to you and I haven’t got a clue why? I though my blanket ip bans on Paulie’s shit had trapped you, but no, nothing even close to your ip.
Just carry on posting and I will carry on releasing your comments until the bloody thing gets the message.
Anybody an expert on Akismet out there?
Arthur – agreed – I just has the stomach to watch the MOTD highlights….it was even worse to see a second time.
That said Theo’s goal was very nifty and…well that’s about it. Glass is about 1/5 full today…will be better tomorrow.
Holic,
Are you not blocking any similar subnet in Akismet to Marks?
‘holic
Ask Mark to submit from a different email address if he has one. Once akismet jumps on a ‘sender’ it seems to have a mind of its own…its like watching Drogba in European games…
Arthur, are you talking to me in Polish? I am a simple planner 😉
Apologies I thought Akismet blocks IP addresses as well.
I did have a go at blogging myself once upon a time in wordpress too, I hosted the side on a machine behind the sofa 😉
oops site not side lol…speaking in Polish again he he 🙂
More wisniowka, Arthur?
And here I was trying to stay off the spirits tonight at least ‘Holic, only joking just taking it easy and saving my self for saturday. I believe the game is live on ESPN.
Why did you ban paulie? The bollocks he spouts used to make me realise how lucky i was. There was little more amusing than giving him both barrels and then telling him to keep the faith. He is the only person i have come across that speaks fluent bollocks.
You know with the world cup on the horizon, we may get some freak results to the top two teams. Surly it will play on ther minds?
I know I’m clutching at very thin straws here.
Thanks to Clive-54 I to am looking forward to next season with a shiney new champions leauge quality striker. Who loves a flying header.
Come on arsenal
Is it just me or is it totally reasonable to expect RVP to tear citeh to shreads out of sheer rage and pent up ambition?
What’s the odds on RVP scoring 4?
Hello barman. Make it a mystery, please.
pires is king
If our midfiled and defence will play in the same manner like Sunday just gone (wishing to erase it from my mind completely) then no chance.
If they get a rocket up their arses this week we certainly could be in for a treat. I’m worried with those two at the back and tevez running in front of them with Adepaymemore lurking around.
Seriously though I’m not sure it will be a tough game which we need to win to put some pride back where it’s due.
Joy of cesc
Yes I’m looking forward to the new season too, touching on your other comment well stranger things have happened this season we all know that, however I’m not going to get my hopes up again to to have shattered in 10 minutes, also I’m afraid we have used up all of our chances and don’t really deserve another one.
Come on guys 60 more and we hit 300 mark, perhaps with a little bit more optimism? 😉
Post number 242 from the normal email address:
I fecking love Arsenal 🙂
Post number 243 from a different email address:
I really really Fecking love Arsenal!!
How about starting a rumour? Good way to pass the time, sometimes moss sticks to the stone as it rolls down the hill?
Arsenal make inquires as to Fernando Torres!!
Davis Villa says he admires Arsenals style of play and would like to play for them one day.
Sorry ‘holic, forgot to acknowledge the apols, no probs mate, cheers
Block 5 row 5 if you want to share an overpriced drink 🙂
What’s the value of a click theses days?
Got to see the game for the first time myself last night, not impressive from start to finish, the boys seemed to have that old “we don’t need to try against this level of opposition mentality” returning to our play again
Arthur
Of the 241 blogs so far,i reckon Holic is responsible for about 50,
but you have posted about 112.!!!
Do you actually do any work my friend.
Or are you getting carried away with your new found fame as the headline post for this blog.
If only the Arse were as enthusiastic against Wigan,as you are for Holic’s Blogs.!!
regards
Clive
Morning Holic & Holic`s
Day 2 greets me through blood shot eyes that need a full English breakfast to open them fully, the chances of that are slim so the slits that used to be were my eyes was will have to do.
A very very big game is approaching Saturday and the team need to be focused. I am hopping Song makes it in the line up to back up Sol in defence, I think Silv is just to much of a liability. Song has all the ability to just slide into defence with no problems. There is also a chance Denilson will be available so he can take up Songs mantel as the cover for are defence. We will probably see Diaby & nasri just in front of him. Now all eyes will be on Diaby & Nasri as they really need to be up for this one. I have wrote a few times that this is not a game for passengers, and surely their own pride will not let them have a repeat performance of wigan. No passengers will that happen ? I am not sure. Arsenes disappointment was clear for all to see after the wigan game and im sure the players got the tamed down version of the hair dryer treatment. So focus from the whole team ( well those who are fit to play)
Theo,Bendtner & Rosiky will probably take up the other positions. I would love to put Robins name in there but im not sure if he will start. These players need, no owe the fans a performance against a team who will be a stiff challenge in the years to come. The team may have forgot what he who shall not be named done to RVP and then sprinted the length of the pitch to rub our noses into it. If that is not enough motivation to beat them, then they should take off the shirt of shirts and hand in a transfer request which should then be accepted without a word.
These lads owe us this season as the fan support has been second to none. If they dont step up to the mark on Saturday then I think Arsene has some really big problems this summer.
I will accept a loss only if we get played off the pitch after all gave a 100%. If they dont give all then I will not accept it with a smile and ahh poor multi millionaires.
The team needs to find some grit some motivation some pride and some application towards there job. If Arsene cant get the lads motivated for this game then sadly we may have to look for a new manager. I love Arsene and written previously that are stadium and all the flair he has brought to the team is down to him and him alone. But this isnt a time to defend a team with no ambition or desire Arsene this is a time to make the hard decisions and get back on track. I am no longer going to think of what may have been or could have been, I will only call it as I see it game by game.
And this game needs us to stand up and be counted as PL challengers and not that team who used to have a go.
Clive
Did you count all my posts my firend? I do work indeed but you need a break from a computer screen now and again 🙂
Not fame either with a result like we witnessed on Sunday I would rather be remembered for the glory days, somethig like this:
Magnificent, absolutely magnificent! ArthurTheGooner
Anyway I shall get back to work now.
Just a thought, anyone here remember the uproar when Dave Sexton was sacked as Man U manager because they only finished SEVENTH??
My, how times have changed 🙂
Wigan was, and always will be, a very crap moment.
But third spot in a season riddled with injuries, won’t be.
All the other teams hang on to our shirt tails… don’t you ever go forgetting it!!
Holic,
Regarding your computer problem,
I have a very technical answer it involves a hammer and chisel when the red light flashes take hold of said hammer and smash the living daylights out of the little box until it is just a mess and tangle of wires job done, the satisfaction of your work will take hold and put a smile on your face for the rest of the day,
Anyways morning Holics, Hope the birthday piss up was a good un 71
Arthur
that makes 113.!!
We might get to 300 yet mate.
PS I was only winding you up.!!
I still think it was a massive over reaction to The Wigan game,although everyone is entitled to their opinion.
When you put young men in situations of great stress,without enough experienced older campaigners to guide and help them in their decision making,sometimes it goes horribly wrong,particularly coming on top of the debilitating defeat at Spurs 4 days earlier.
No matter how much money they make,we have to remember they are still basically children dressed up as men.
What’s that old adage;
A girl is 15 going on 30,a boy of 15 is precisely that,15 !!.
I have been following the Arse since 54,and have never in all those years,unless Holic contradicts me,seen an Arsenal team with as many ‘inexperienced immature players’.
In the current circumstances i am prepared to cut the team some slack at the end of a long gruelling season.
Cheers
Clive
Clive
This one is 114
I know you were winding me up don’t you worry. You must have been bored yourself counting all of them up.
Fair points made and taken on board, I suppose the new generation is different and has a completely different aproach. I think Arsene’s project came to a slight dead end here especially on Sunday. Yes I agree with you they are still young and need few experienced players to show them the way, however they if you look at Sol, Silvestre, Eboue, Rosicky they are not exactly young players anymore and with those in the squad they should show enough grit, determination, cohesion, discipline and desire to win the game especially when you are 2 nil up with ten minutes to go.
For me this is no excuse even Arsene said it himself.
Either way we support our club and may have different opinions on certain things, however I’m glad to have someone like you with a positive outlook on our side.
@chippy
It was a good one cheers mate, very glad i had the foresight to book this week off.
Arthur
I didn’t actually count your blogs mate ,there were so many i just plucked a figure out of the air.!!
I have said in previous blogs that Arsene along with his support staff are very aware of the players that have disappointed him when the going got tough,and that i have faith that he will make the neccessary acquisitions during the summer to rectify the problem areas.
If he doesn’t then he deserves all the criticism that comes his way.
Let’s look on the bright side,at the improvement this season,and remember 95% of Arse supporters would have happily accepted 3rd place at the start of a season which we were all concerned about considering the lack of incoming players.
A major bonus of that improvement of course is automatic entry to the CL group stages,which is vital due to this being a World Cup year with no summer rest for a lot of our players.
I am sure we will have many more conversations over the coming months Arthur,and i for one am positive many of them will be happy ones.
Cheers
Clive
I have been following the Arse since 54,and have never in all those years,unless Holic contradicts me,seen an Arsenal team with as many ‘inexperienced immature players’.
Interesting point that Clive,
and I cannot research at work, but when he cleared out the egos George Graham’s first teams would have run them close. Although they did have Kenny Sansom as an experienced campaigner to skipper them until George bombed him too.
Dixon, Adams, Bould, Thomas, Rocastle, Hayes, Merson, Groves, Quinn et al were just pups in 87.
I am with you Clive,
I had a bit of a reaction myself on Sunday – classic kick the cat moment.
There is an enormous amount of talent in the squad – with more to come and the future is bright and all that. I cannot believe that there is a lack of caring – having thought about it I now put it down to a lack of experience and, critically, a certain self-delusion.
In Rugby old pros (ones that lived through the transition from the amateur days) are now starting to say the young pros coming through act as if the world owes them a living. I have always thought that cricket (in this country) has pandered to its future stars with the result that England have had a brittle confidence for years now. I am worried that the ‘ultimate professional’ environment that our boys are part of from an early age puts them in the same category.
Having apologised to the cat and calmed down, I think the result on Sunday might have done us a huge favour. If we had won, maybe come second in the league we would flattered to deceive and probably not done the right things in the summer. Next year would be more of the same.
This side is talented, but they think they are better than they are. The losses to United & Chelsea this year and last and the loss to Barcelona have to be taken at face value. We simply do not compete to the same intensity. It is this issue that Arsene will have to address in the summer. I cannot believe he will not.
There is no need to throw babies out with the bath water. The work done over the past five years has given us a rare pipeline of talent. But I think Arsene will now change tactics and make a couple of significant additions (winners / leaders) to the squad.
Do this then at least we will have benefited from the lessons we have been taught. The past week might just be the catalyst that moves us from serial wannabes to winners able to put a our stamp on European football for years to come.
Interesting point KVC,
I had a discussion off the record with one who therefore must remain nameless (but was coaching a Premier League side at the time) and he was slaughtering the British kids coming into the youth set-ups these days.
Their attitude was the biggest problem, according to him. Well, that and the fact they are technically behind their counterparts from elsewhere because they have never worked hard on their skills.
All a lot of them want to do is roll up, put the kit on and admire themselves in the mirror, then get back to their mates and music and games, was pretty much what he said.
The sad thing is I am prepared to believe he may be largely right.
It is a worry Holic. (Not one I lose sleep over though).
You cannot help but think that life is too narrow / easy.
I also had an off the record chat with one who should not be named – no the same one that should not be named as yours I assume – and he was slaughtering the Academies. Saying that at his club they had not produced one fist teamer.
I think Arsenal is in a different class though. We are producing the technical player – Arsene et al have seen to that – but maybe the tag ‘work in progress’ has let them off the hook a bit. That and the trappings they get for being in the Arsenal set up.
Holic
I knew when i wrote that paragraph that you would find one somewhere.!!.
And every single one of them British.!!
How times have changed.
Holic,KVC,
To add to your points i believe i read in the paper that JET was pulled over for speeding on the motoway earlier this season and the car he was driving was worth over £100k at this stage i think he had made 1 first team apperance for us and had a couple of stints out on loan, Now why the hell would these kids push themselves on if they are already being rewarded in such fashion, It seem ludicrous to me that youth team players who have done nothing in the game are being treated like princes and then we wonder sometimes why players lack the heart and passion,
On another note other young players will always push themselves to become the best regardless of cash i think Players like Rooney (sorry to use a manc as an example) Messi, and Ive seen the same signs in Ramsey and wilshere now is it something that can be taught and drummed into them or do you think its the individuals themselves
Read that too Chippy.
Don’t want to generalise too much – I was a kid once. Don’t want to sound like an old git!
You are right though, ridiculous wealth is available very young and in truth it takes a strong head not to be turned. How they deal with it makes the difference.
Without going off on too much of a tangent it’s the old nature and nurture debate. In truth it is a bit of both. You can see in kids’ football those that battle honestly and those that look for excuses. Rooney & Messi would have been those kids, but I bet Cesc, RVP, Sol, TV, Gallas and a few others were the same.
Regardless of that – kids take their lead from senior pros and in my opinion we could do with one or two more.
If you dont beat citeh and we beat utd then you should really start to worry. A spurs team winning against the top 3 means we are potentially top 3.
Think about this we will be 67 points and you will be stuck on 71 with 3 games to go. An advantage spurs have is players are constantly returning.
Look at your run in and ask the question can you get a result against Blackburn away..
Im not saying start worrying but you should start WORRYING!
Big games this weekend ! By the time you play Citeh you will know our result therefore it will either be academic or ypu will get sweaty feeling in your sweaty regions. when the spurs When The Spurs WHEN THE SPURS GO MARCHING IN!! COYS!!
KVC,
Regardless of that – kids take their lead from senior pros and in my opinion we could do with one or two more.
Good point and one that for all my dislike of him, Ferguson has always balanced correctly,
I would say in Wengers defence tho he probably would have liked to go down the same path but as we all know the star names and experienced players we had at the time like Freddie Henry etc were all on massive contracts so to facilitate the move more easily and cut costs im pretty sure he would have been under pressure from theose above to lessen the load of the high earners,
Hopefully hes seen the light with regards Campbell and what a bit of experience brings to a squad and wont hesitate in a few more signings with a bit of knowhow,
Cusop but wed only have 2 to go, The day id worry is when you actually win the league my old china 😉
True enough 2
Arsenal v Man City, 17:30 Big Tongelese time
Blackburn v Arsenal, 17:00 Time to get ruffed up
Arsenal v Fulham, 16:00 Spurs 3rd eleven full of attitude
71 points
Versus a harder run in for spurs but more at stake..
Gooners 4th versus Spurs 3rd
It would be like winning the league Chippy
Bad news about your mate ‘Holic. I know the feeling, I’m about to visit my very first girlfriend whose cancer won’t let her go out of the hospital on her feet this time. Can’t shake off the knot in my stomach and can’t care too much about the excesses of passion in display…
Cusop,
Im banking on Fulham getting stuck in Hamburg and not being able to return back, due to Volcanos knocking out flights and earthquakes buggering the road and rail systems, Hence us being awarded the 3 points 😉
You just know thats going to happen,,
Matt & ‘Holic
Looking at things more important in life;
after the Wigan game I took my two year old for a kick about in the local park. It got things in perspective nicely as to what really matters, even though he said “I’m Cesc, you be Theo, Daddy”. Thought it was a little harsh of him…..
I must say the piece on Arseblog today is sensational. It puts into perspective why we felt so let down at the weekend – but also might be good to reflect on a lot of the things that have been great about this season.
Let’s win the last 3 before caving in on this season.
I think we might erupt for a lot of goals versus Citeh, I’d lava to see that.
Chippy that would not surprise any Spurs fan. I reckon though if Fulham look as if they are on course for the Europa Hotel Cup then they may be more likely to want a big scalp. And your it!!
Citeh know your weaknesses and will exploit them. Cusops tips to winning on saturday
1. Get to the game early and fill the emirates
2. Make sure you have been to the toilet before the game, the queues are to long and your ground looks empty even when you are all there. Wave flags and shout!! If you dont know any songs make them up
3. Leave the prawn sandwiches at home eat a pie that will fill you up.
4. Dont leave 10 minutes before half time to line up for your coco!! And remember the toilet line.
5. Remember your going to the Emirates to shout and support your team (Its not a geriatrics picnic.)
It feels odd me giving Gooners a lesson on how to support your team whether your winning or losing. But Spurs fans have that advantage and we are still the loudest and best supported club in north london.
Toddle Pip.. PS
Goonerholic why dont your double up your pound this weekend with a little accumulator .. Put a pound on spurs win followed by Gooner win.. If we lose you still have time to spend another pound
LOL!!;)
@ Matt and ‘Holic,
Thanks for sharing, very sobering and useful stories to keep in mind.
@ 1971- Great assessment of what’s at stake this weekend. It’s much more than the points- our belief and their belief need to re-join and be demonstrated. Ok, by stakes I don’t me the whole fucking world rests on this game, just that I agree with Arseblogger and many of you all that a lot of damage has been done with the kind of capitulation we’ve seen, and it would do every one a great deal of good to leave some blood sweat and tears on the field (not advocating John Terry knee crunches, mind you).
@ Arthur- unfortunately, you are all to correct about defensive frailties in the middle and back of the park draining our lethalness in attack. I’d just rather talk about about RVP scoring, ’cause… ah, for fuck’s sake, now I’m depressed again.
Anyone see Silvestre’s words: “We owe it to the fans who went all the way to Wigan. We simply need to work harder for them.”
Anyone else come out and recognize that publicly?
Cheers, Holics. Cup a joe, if you will.
blimey…it seems you can attack Barcelona…(we knew that though)
Looks like Barca have met their match
Inter have paid them no respect so far…quite fascinating (although well offside on the 3rd goal)
“Looks like Barca have met their match” — had a feeling they would. Inter’s elimination of Chelsea was no fluke.
Am I right in thinking Djourou injured the same knee in training for his reserve team comeback match? For a big fucker he sure is made of glass. And here’s the thing, we gotta lotta players like that. Who remembers going through a season with just 15 players? Only a few ever had the kind of technical ability we now have, BUT everyone of those 15 players would walk through a fucking brick wall for the club. In recent times we’ve been lucky with the likes of Sol. He is a dying breed at Arsenal.
Are we allways going to be known as a poor man’s Barcelona? Is this project doomed? Do we create a rod for our own back because any new signing has to be able to turn on a sixpence?
I’m not sure that’s the kinda player we need now. Would I settle for a big ugly fucker breaking up play? A Big ugly fucker in defence? Have we got the right balance between ball players and ball breakers?
Me thinks we need a reality check.
Inter is playing without fear unlike our boys did at home.
AFC1974
I havne’t hear that Djourou injured the same knee in training, where is your source coming from?
Hi Arthur, it was a bit of quick surfing at lunchtime and to be honest I can’t recall exactly. But that boy is made of glass.