Welcome Back Blackpool, But It's Arsenal Four Me
Aug 20th, 2010 by 'holic
It is exciting to be previewing a Premier League game that I am going to see again. The pre-season friendlies provided enjoyable afternoons, and in great company, but without the edge that competitive matches bring. Almost forty years since I saw Blackpool play us in the league I am repeating the experience, and I am thrilled.
Surprise, surprise, the initial thoughts concern the injured. It is as if last season never ended. We have lost two potential starters for tomorrow. Samir Nasri has been outstanding to date, and will miss the next month or six weeks courtesy of a Steven Gerrard challenge. Poor young Emmanuel Frimpong, on the verge of promotion, is out for much longer, possibly the season after picking up a serious knee injury in training.
On the up side, however, we will almost certainly welcome Alexandre Song back, and Robin van Persie could also get a start, although that would mean I thinkย a rest for either Emmanuel Eboue or Andre Arshavin. I don’t see Marouane Chamakh surrendering the central role yet.
Cesc Fabregas is also a possibility, although popular opinion suggests he may be appearing from the bench. A midfield trio of Song, Diaby, and Wilshere could get the nod. At the back the logical replacement for the suspended Laurent Koscielny is Johan Djourou.
I hate to labour the point, but if Djourou and Song were not around tomorrow we would look very thin indeed. Frimpong’s injury may even have the club looking long and hard at any defensive midfielders who might be available to strengthen the squad ahead of the transfer deadline. Sorry, but it has to be said.
Now if you check out the Blackpool squad there is a smattering of familiar names, players who have not reached the highest level but who have a wealth of experience and who Ian Holloway has carefully blended. Even they will know that any sort of result at the Grove will require them to be at their very best, and Arsenal to not perform. I’m sure that even their staunchest fans will not accuse us of arrogance for pointing that out.
Down the years I have seen many sides cause us difficulties purely by application and attitude, but the ‘holic pound assumes that we will be meticulously prepared for this contest and make our fast passing game pay dividends by the final whistle.
There is no point in searching for any value in the lower scorelines. It doesn’t exist. I am thinking the visitors may score as they showed at Wigan they are likely to commit bodies to attack and we are suspect at the back. Ladbrokes, in the stadium, are among those who offer 14/1 against a 4-1 home win, and that will be my choice.
For those who are joining me at the game, the club are asking us to get in early to celebrate the return of the Clock End. I would recommend this but for the fact that I am told the Elvis dirge will be played at quarter to three. The upside of that is we are rumoured to be getting a bit of ‘Right Here, Right Now’ when the teams come out. Thank you.
To the ‘holics who will be watching from elsewhere, may I wish you a good weekend, and hopefully we will be celebrating the first win of a new campaign in under twenty-four hours.
Come on you reds!
81 Responses to “Welcome Back Blackpool, But It's Arsenal Four Me”
A good chance to make a statement of intent tomorrow, I’m hoping for the sort of result Chelski & United got last week against the other promoted sides. I’d be happy to see Cesc given at least another hour off tomorrow and Wilshere consequently getting another start – neither of which things should affect the result on paper. I wish Blackpool well this year, but I hope we tonk them tomorrow.
Don’t forgot to sing up now ladies and gentlemen…come on you Gooners !
Win the next match ๐
Or is that SO last season?
Enjoy Holic – I wish I was going but I will be at the Bolton game at least.
5-1 and Wilshere to score, what odds?
Brandy please.
I think for a change I’ll try a cider, please ๐
And I’m a ‘holic who won’t even be watching the game ๐
Hello boys. Shouldn’t you be watching fans forum on Friday night? I never miss…
By the way Ollie, the Bohs are 2-1 up at Dundalk with five minutes to go…
So I’m hearing in that place.
ive got a 10 spot on 6-2 2morrow,,7-1 at liam cashmans,,,bring on the cash ๐
Tempranillo please, what with it being early season and Almunia could use a toast or two.
Adrenalin building piece ‘Holic, can’t wait for tomorrow now and I like the odds as well, I shall be joining you on this one.
We need to do the business tomorrow no questions asked, 100% effort and commitment required and you are correct without Djourou and Song I would be worried too. I only just received my new home kit one for lad and he can’t wait to put the colours on, bless him ๐
A pint of Tyskie Gronie please barman
Diet ginger beer, please!
Good evening Holic & Holic`s
The first home game of the new season what could be a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon. To all going I envy you as I have to work.
I hope the boys put on a real show and make it a comfortable win with no heart tremors along the way. Shall we say 3-0 to the mighty gooners, and I really don’t care who scores as long as we register the win as we all know these are the games we have to make sure we win.
2 bottles of Becks barman as a bird never flew on one wing.
Come on you gunners !!!!!!!
Gin, please. Ice cold.
“Frimpongโs injury may even have the club looking long and hard at any defensive midfielders who might be available to strengthen the squad ahead of the transfer deadline. Sorry, but it has to be said.”
Please, please, pretty please with a cherry on top do not be tricked into apologizing for this logic. As a matter of fact, beat that horse until it is dead; twice if needs be.
Wenger was quoted in the last 24 hours actually having the gall to list Alex Song as one of our four center halves… Maybe it is just me, Koscielny; yes, Djourou; check, The Verm; spot on… but how the FUCK can Song be one of our center halves? Isnt he our first choice CDM?
Diaby and Denilson have proven time and time again that they are not in the mold of an Alex Song style of player, a strong tackling, intelligent-decision-making holding midfielder.
Jesus Christ in heaven, we have no Koscielny this week, and Djourou hasn’t made a competitive appearance (barring ten or so minutes at home to Fulham in the last game of the season last year) in over a fucking year!! I hope I needn’t remind any of the ardent supporters out there that we were already winning that game by 3 goals when he came on as well.
Not many educated fans out there are crying out for 50m to be spent in the rest of this transfer window, but seriously, Squillaci?
We had William Gallas starting alongside Vermaelen in that same spot last year. While he pouted and huffed and ended up handcuffing us with his wages demands, he has/had the “bags of experience,” and “winners mentality,” we all are now, again, asking for.
260 EPL appearances, 80+ caps for France kind of speaks for itself. When you throw in the fact that he also outscored our glass-legged Nasri last year, and that he appeared the same number of times as “the new Zidane,” kinda maybe makes you think, at least it does me.
We need, one full stop centerback, forget Nordveit, if he were truly ready we all know Wenger would never have even bought Koscielny. Djourou, as we al know also has a HUGE question mark over his head as he is now 23 and has made a grand total of…. drum roll please…. a whopping 46 appearance for The Arsenal since joing in 2004.
We also certainly need a ‘keeper, or a promotion, Szshsezhshennhehy or Given. And now, obviously pointed out by the author of the article above, cover for Alex Song.
Let me make my point clear; I support Wenger in almost all aspects of his transfer market dealings. He has chosen a financially stable model for our beloved Arsenal which will probably see us competing at the highest level domestically and in Europe for years to come.
However, competing is not winning.
Offense wins games, defense wins championships.
Oh, I’ll have Hendricks and tonic with a slice of cucumber.
Phew, that was a big one ! Do us a favour though and save the ranting for all the other nonsense blogs, it’s nice to keep one comments reel for the grown-ups…
Cheers Holic. Pint of ‘Death and Taxes’ if you have it. Or maybe the North London variety is called ‘Youth and Injuries’. Here’s to victory and the return of our captain(s) home!
Anonymarse, if you have something smart to say lets have it. Or maybe just take off those rose colored lenses.
We are FULL of holes at the back and we were lucky to escape even with a draw against a 10-man, farcically poor, Liverpool!
Zane Wilcox
Steady on my man, no need to get personal, yes we have our own share of gaps at the back, however we need to get this game out the way. Koscielny will be back and in the mean time I’m sure Wenger is looking to strengthen.
@Zane Wilcox, Offence and defense?? I just hope you don’t starting using the word ‘soccer’.
I actually thought Zane’s post had a lot of merit – even if it came across as a bit of rant. Can’t argue with the logic that turns Song into one of our defense by some sleight of hand.
Still think we will win tomorrow though ๐
‘We are FULL of holes at the back and we were lucky to escape even with a draw against a 10-man, farcically poor, Liverpool!’
I might agree partially with the first part, but certainly not the second. A draw was the least we deserved from Anfield.
Pints all round, and everyone calm down.
@sam
I didn’t, but thanks for the reminder of how us, yes “us,” Americans cant possibly have a valid point because of different verbiage.
Cheers Ned just on time ๐
Zane – I don’t know about you, but I thought the same thing last week and that EVEN Liverpool will have our defense exposed, but last week it was a defensive display on show and not an offensive one, So don’t get carried away, we’re not THAT bad defensively.
On the other hand our offense needs to start clicking, cause last week wasn’t enough. I criticized Nasri for his lack of effort on trying to pass forward and not sideways but I think I got an answer a couple of days ago what was the source of that thanks to a Steven Gerrard tackle.
I’m not gonna go over all the posts I’ve been posting all week, but we are the best team in the EPL and I’d like to see Chelsea and United deal with our front 6 this season and not with Arshavin up front.
Holic, I’m putting a fiver on Rosicky to be MOM.
wilshere again, nope i want men , he his not ready
I’m with Zico – thought that there was merit in the rant of Zane, and as rants go it was presented well enough.
Just because he was criticising doesn’t mean he hasn’t got a point…
Zane
It’s none of yo bizzness dude
Will Zane kindly remind the people that in the same statement he quotes Wenger on Song. He (AW) also said he was looking to bring in one more defender. Meaning Song is a back up to the back ups.
Funny thing with Arsenal fans, the rants usually start or end with ‘don’t get me wrong I really love what the manager is doing, sustainabilty reh reh reh’.
Maybe its just me, but tomorrow the red and white army goes to the field. Can you please keep the ‘expert’ criticisms till after the game? But then who’s gonna listen after a win eh? ๐
Anything worth my while bar man.
Zane,
Liverpool’s lineup included Stevie G, Mascherano, Kuyt, and Joe Cole, as well as Carragher, Agger, and Skrtel at the back – all experienced performers with lots of appearances for their national sides. Without Fabregas, Song and Van Persie, and with Arshavin merely a passenger, we dominated possession and only a lack of creativity from our wingers prevented a battering. Diaby is more than capable of playing the defensive midfield role against all but the very top teams of Europe I thought he outplayed Mascherano who is the envy of dirt-poor Barcelona. I think we have plenty of depth with the exception of center back.
Also, I don’t understand why everyone thinks Schwarzer is better than Almunia. I thought he was poor in the World Cup and not much better for Fulham in the last six months. I’ll concede that Almunia is not one of the five best keepers in the Premiership, but I don’t see Schwarzer as an upgrade. I like Shay Given more, but’s he’s brittle with major injuries in three of the past four seasons.
Good article `Holic but we ought to be cautious. Blackpool have nothing to lose and will certainly fancy their chances to cause an upset after the Wigan demolition. It could be a tricky fixture.
Can’t wait for the end of the month really I’ve read enough rants this summer to finally understand what my governor meant by “girlie men”…
A man’s drink for me tonight barman. Bourbon. Straight.
Matt – relax old chap and look forward to a goalfest.
They won’t have played anyone like us – we’ll tear them apart.
At least 4 – 0. I’ll be there, just the other side of the half-way line to ‘Holic, right behind AW, but in the Upper Tier.
Might even take the magic sponge – in case our fans start doing cartilages getting into their seats, you know. Nothing would surprise me on the injury front, any more.
Have a good’un ‘Holic.
Come on Arsenal. Let’s show what unity is all about!
Hopefully Jack Wilshere will play his normal game if he starts this week. I thought he played far too many simple percentage balls left and right against Liverpool. Not many really incisive passes into the forward channels. I know Arshavin wasn’t great, but on a few occasions I noticed him starting to make forward runs only for Jack to play the ball sideways and inside to Nasri or Vermaelen. Being at home should help him to play as we all know he can and grab the midfield by the scruff.
Sorry, ‘Holic, but the proviso that “offense” and “defense” are taboo terms in a discussion of English football has surpassed even your fine post for capturing my interest.
So it’s 10.00 am ET on ESPN 2 for us Americans tomorrow. Thanks for the guide, ‘Holics. I was despairing that I might have to resort to audio on ATV. That would have made the post-match post difficult, but with a fertile imagination, far from impossible.
Any news of Felip Melo’s arrival to provide the all-time great DM platform of Melllow Song? A nice bit of night music that.
Holic, was the Blackpool game the one in which a certain Don Howe broke his leg? I recall this as a dire 0 0 draw but only my second visit to Highbury. Great excitement! Glenmorangie for me please – hope you have a great afternoon.
“Arsenal will have captain Cesc Fabregas available after a chest infection, but Samir Nasri has been ruled out for a month after minor knee surgery.”
first i’ve heard of any chest infection ? probably not a big deal but sounds a bit odd.
Actually predicting scores usually makes a mockery of oneself.Never seen a poor bookie, but more than anything even though I expect a win, a clean sheet is imperative.
The world and her mother has had a say about Almunia, and he has been quoted in the Evening Standard that all this transfer talk is unsettling him, yet he will keep goal today.his every move will be watched with pensive eyes and I hope for his sake he has a good game,which may be his last,at least for a while.
I agree that Cesc may only have a cameo role today,but my worry is Arshavin, who by the standards he is capable of,had a poor game at Anfield,yet he says he is carrying an injury for over a season.The question has to be asked,why is he playing,if unfit and in pain ?
For all those going,I feel envious and let us hope it is a joyous occasion.
Not saying he had a great game, but it is rather amazing how much guff Arshavin gets for his first game not scoring a goal at Anfield ….
The boys getting boistrous on a Friday night? It’s just like a real pub ๐
Shower time, then station. Looking forward to this one.
Have a great day out, ‘Holic, but don’t let the Guinness overtake your reporting. It can only help so much for a coherent match summary!
Ah, the train to footie. West Ham geezer reckons he’s asked them to turn his seat round the other way to avoid the suffering. Puts into focus how lucky we are.
Looking forward to the game, gonna have to wait for the highlights with a media lockdown until then.
Should be a home win but complacency is the worry, I’m hoping that there are enough players coming back from injury to inject some fire into the performance.
Need a fast start, an early three goal cushion (a la unbeatables) is the best defence against thuggery. There’s little point in the opponent kicking for every ball if we’re already away and clear.
A bottle of Brakspear Triple as an early morning eye opener please ‘holic.
Henley’s finest. Good choice Herbie. I was weaned on it!
I’m struggling to find a way of watching from here, but any slow broadband will have to do – to those who can go, enjoy it all
For me the interesting thing will be Alex (on) Song managing Marlon H who seems to be at his best, plus seeing our midfield totally control the game and I dont care who is on the wings as long as the midfield uses them
Too hot for anything strong so freezing ginger beer for me barman
Wearing my Fabregas jersey and hoping it helps me find a good stream. Come on Arsenal!
Have fun ‘Holic.
COME ON YOU REDS!!!
Good news: The only Sylvestre playing at the Emirates today is playing for Blackpool. Song playing in central defence for Arsenal.
3 goals and surely 3 points
I’ll drink to that.
We tend to win when Diaby scores, at the opposition end I mean.
5-0!!!! Come on Gunners!!!
Just watched all the goals on arsenalist.com after only seeing 2 of them on a live stream. Excellent header by Chamakh for the last one, and the lovely 3 by Walcott. Blackpool should have scored a header after about 15 minutes of the first half, but overall a very positive performance. Almunia faultless so barman let me offer up one more tempranillo in his honor, and a trio of Guinessess for Theo.
Rosicky was at his best today. He seems to have picked up the form Nasri had in preseason.
I loved being proved wrong when it comes to Arsenal. It’s win win right?
Walnut played a blinder and was it me or was he a little bit more centralish? Good for him. Perhaps he could have a few more outings where he starts as a ghost striker. He’s not a winger that’s for sure ๐
Six of the best, lovely.
And a hat trick for Theo to boot – it’s Millertime for me batman ๐
Bloody iPod –
I meant barman !
Wonderful match
Man of the match – young Jack for everything he did attack, defence, availability, passing and general awareness
Theo was different to anything Ive seen him do in a long time and worth his hat trick – close control , crossing and availability
Maybe now Chammy has scored the pressure will be off after the earlier howler(s)
Arshavin and Diaby let down what was otherwise an immense team performance
3 questions
was it a penalty – I think not – the defender was already committed to ball when Chammy put his foot over
would we have won against 11 men – no question
why didnt they play like this against 10 at Anfield
I forgot my large Remy Martin for tonight barman
Zicoinexile, itโs Millertime for me batman too, even if I haven’t deigned to drink such crappy beer for going on 3 decades now.
In deference to ‘Holic’s title,
Welcome Back Blackpool, But Itโs Arsenal Six Me
2 games played and 1 goal allowed. Let’s keep up the good ratio but get in that extra defender now so Song can go back to midfield.
I have to issue an apology to Theo for battering him last week. Although I still don’t think he has a spot in our best 11 he showed today that his decision making is on the up. Well done Theo.
Chamakh’s goal would do wonders for his confidence cause you could see after that horrible miss that he’s starting to feel miserable.
Song’s one of the best DM’s in Europe but he is NOT a CB, there were a couple of Blackpool attacks that gave me a heart attack.
Can someone tell me what people want from Diaby? He made great runs from the midfield line, scored a goal, made excellent passes (The one to Theo at 5-0 if I’m not mistaken) and did all that in the holding role (his defensive efforts were pretty good too).
One last word on Clichy, seemed to get back to great form, every ball on the left ended up in his legs or head, his anticipation level was of the highest level.
Snir Geuli, from the relatively few parts of the game I was able to see, both Diaby and Arshavin seemed to be creating a lot of chances so I can’t disagree with you about Diaby at all. Glad to hear your impressions of Clichy’s game because he is extremely important to us if we are to do what we want this season.
‘why didnt they play like this against 10 at Anfield’
Because even with ten men Liverpool at Anfield is a lot (x 10000) trickier than Blackpool at home, and because one problem we have is getting rattled when we go behind and then panicking for the next ten minutes or so.
What a great way to start the day! It wasn’t a penalty but hey, we’ve had enough bad calls against us…
Still we could have had a 2-digits score. Oh well, well done lads.
Snir: Song played very well considering he rarely gets to play at CB and is just back from injury with no preseason training. He will only get better with experience.
Matt – I’m not too sure he played that well like you say cause I could feel that his positioning was a downgrade on Koscielny’s positioning from last week at times.
You’re right about that double digit score, I can recall 3 one hundred percent chances (Chamakh 3 times – one from Clichy, one from Walcott, one from Arshavin) and probably there were some that I don’t quite remember now.
Am I the only one who’s eagerly waiting for AW’s press conference to see if RvP hamstring pull is serious or is it something that shouldn’t even be addressed?
For the ones that were at the Emirates today – Did you get a chance to see if Cesc came over to congratulate Chamakh on his goal? The TV switched an angle before I could see and I had the feeling that Cesc was uninterested in the game (maybe it was the scoreline :D).
VanP hamstring?? i thought it was a knock on the thigh he got?
Well, I don’t know, he was holding his hamstring at first but came back and lofted a beautiful cross for Chamakh’s goal but you never know with Arsenal and RvP, Nasri also finished 90 minutes last week and look what kind of news we got this week.
Cesc uninterested in the game?….Why do people do these things?!!! *shakes head*
slimshay – If anyone I’m the least mad/resentful at Cesc for what happened in the summer cause I do understand his will to go back to his homeclub, but I’m just saying that last year he was a lot more enthusiastic when we scored goals, but maybe it really was the scoreline and I saw on TV and not at the Emirates that’s why I was asking if anyone saw him congratulate Chamakh, cause the TV didn’t catch it.
And no matter who does it, I don’t like it, last year I criticized AA for doing the same when we scored goals, so I just wanna make sure he did congratulate Chamakh for his goal, cause it’s important for them to build a good working relationship.
Snir, about a year ago Cesc scored our fourth goal at home v Wigan in injury time and he looked as if he had just been told his cat had died. People managed to read all sorts of things into that, but it wasn’t anymore than him not being all that bothered because we were already cruising. He came on at 5-0 against then men and his main objective was to get a few touches and get going, perhaps with a view to playing from the start next Saturday. It wasn’t exactly like Chamakh scored the decisive goal, don’t try to read too much into what anyone did at that point in the game.
“Against then men”? That should have ben “ten men”, of course…
Lars – That’s exactly why I wrote it might be the scoreline so I don’t take it as serious as I took Arshavin’s attitude last year :D.
And I remember the goal you’re talking about, and thinking about it, you’re right, but other than that, it was only ecstatic reactions (especially the Spurs and Villa goals, those were divine!).
I like’s AW’s response saying we’ll definitely get someone and maybe two (that’s like saying we’re getting a CB and a GK but I don’t want to talk about it so that Almunia won’t be even more unsettled), with these additions we’ll have a serious title bid.
What do you guys say about Chelsea’s attacking form? Something to be afraid of or just lesser opponents?
‘What do you guys say about Chelseaโs attacking form? Something to be afraid of or just lesser opponents?’
A little of column A, a little of column B. They certainly look good and they’re worthy favourites for the title, but so far they’ve played West Brom at home (and Chelsea seldom drop points at home, least of all to teams like West Brom) and Wigan, a team who last week lost 4-0 to Blackpool. So some of the hyperbole about them at the moment feels a bit much. Next week they have Stoke at home, so probably another thrashing anyway!
They have Stoke at home, West Ham away, Blackpool at home, and then City away, meaning they’ll have 15 points and a crazy GD when going to City, hopefully then the real season will start for them.
On the other hand we have Blackburn away, Bolton at home, Sunderland away and W.B.A at home for our first 6 fixtures. It is absolutely imperative that we get all the points from these matches so we don’t start playing serious catch up from September.
Snir, really as a long time reader I do know you are something of a vet here. So I know u wont exactly be negative about his attitude.
But sadly within the Arsenal online community the moment a negative idea seem to gain ground its hard to reverse it.
I’d just implore anyone not to start with it. Let’s leave the plundits jobs to the plundits. Cesc came in and gave a fine ‘warm up’ cameo. And that really should be it.
We are being linked to Ciani of Bordeaux, well, I know the guy, and he’s an awesome CB, not a good one, a great one! I’m sure that if we do bring him in, then Koscielny’s playing time will be very limited in the EPL unfortunately, cause I really like the guy.
I can’t see anyone else winning the title if we have Ciani and Vermaelen in the center of defense and our midfield and front line which is too gifted for this league.
Joe Strummer’s Birthday….Six goals from the Gunners….a good day
A happy pint of bitter (shame the tiny totts stole 3 points)