Time To Get Behind The Polekeepers
Sep 27th, 2010 by 'holic
I know, I know. I wouldn’t pick him either, but I haven’t won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups, and I don’t work with the goalkeepers every day. In fact more interesting was the selection of the ‘other’ goalkeeper for Belgrade, and it looks as though Szczesny has overtaken Mannone in the pecking order.
It is probably the fact that Fabianski will know what to expect, having played in a handful of Champions League ties already, that swayed his inclusion from the start against Partizan. There is nothing to be gained by labouring the criticism of the ‘keeper prior to an important game.
Although it would not change a lot of opinions, and I accept and understand that, it is also not out of the question that Fabianski will be capable of keeping a clean sheet given a confident start, a bit of luck, and a whole lot of help from a defence that left Almunia exposed to humiliation on Saturday.
Not one member of that back four emerged with an enhanced reputation from the defeat against the Baggies, and under the circumstances I would not be at all surprised to see Eboue, Djourou, and Gibbs, slot into the back four ahead of Sagna, Koscielny, and Clichy.
The midfield provides the toughest selection poser for Arsene. Man management is a key skill at times like this. I’m not close enough to the players to know who responds better to a dropping and a bollocking, and who would benefit from an arm round the shoulder, and a confidence-boosting chat.
The answer to that poser will determine if Song and Diaby are retained, or jettisoned (edit, thanks Arthur, I didn’t notice Diaby is not in the squad anyway. Maybe that answers my question). I suspect Song will start, with Denilson recalled because he was not part of the weekend debacle, and Nasri as the focal point. That would be harsh on Wilshere, but at his stage of development an outing at the bus stop in Fulham might be preferable to one in the potentially explosive atmosphere in Serbia.
Up front there are likely starts for Rosicky, Chamakh, and Arshavin. It will be interesting to see how much support the wide players, particularly Arshavin, afford to their defensive colleagues when Partizan break, as break they most certainly will.
There is perhaps more pessimism around than is warranted by the first defeat of the season, but that is possibly understandable given the usual standard of the opposition, and the manner of the surrender. Arsene will earn his corn this week by lifting his charges back to the level they had by and large reached prior to Saturday.
Victory would be wonderful in the context of a six match qualifying phase of European competition, but more important this week will be the performance. I suspect it is not just the supporters who will be looking for evidence of maximum effort, and then a little bit more, from those in the famous red and white shirts. Pride, so easily lost, needs to be regained.
The ‘holic pound is attracted to the man of the moment. Samir Nasri is showing signs of consistently being a significant performer, and I have to take up Ladbrokes offer of 9/4 against him scoring in the Partizan Stadium.
Come on you riproaring, let’s get it on again!
86 Responses to “Time To Get Behind The Polekeepers”
Anyone who wants to listen to a proper Gooner spinning some really cool funk right now, until 10pm in the UK on Monday, head over to http://www.jfsr.co.uk right now and tune in to Rob James. Loving it here.
1st I suppse Holics doesn’t count he he :0
Too true, Arthur. Drinks are on the house tonight. Need to raise some spirits round here.
If Nasri played that well while Cesc was also on the pitch and playing well (and while Theo was on the pitch in his hat-trick scoring form), we could handle giving up three goals.
oh no this wasnt here a min ago!! i wanted to be first………
i hope if fabianski makes another error he does this and never comes back! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yidb1MiKbyI&feature=player_embedded……………
nice music holic!!
Holic,
Thank you kind Sir, we certainly need move on from what happened on teh weekend and let’s face there is not a great deal we can do about the goalkeeping situation.
As being a Pole my self I raise a glass for Fabianski, please, please have a decent game tomorrow night, come on show us all you can do it! Come on Lukasz…!!! This also goes to all the others too!
Can wait now….let’s do the business in Belgrade and get back on high!
Come on Arsenal!
Usma
I can share it with you if you like 😉 ha ha
arsene really used to know best… now im not sure…….this cip is dedicated to arsene may he remeber what a top class keeper can do……its pick me up for all the gooners!
@Arthur
yes sir why not btw i just found out a pivk me….but both the clips are invaluable!
Arsene Wenger earning his corn – yip, in a nutshell.
Can we really make 3 changes to the back four though ‘Holic. We have all been saying how important it is to build an understanding as a unit so I don’t see how making 3 changes would help – bad as the full backs appeared to be on Saturday.
Everyone here knows my thoughts on Fabianski but I think we should spare a thought for Mannone who from memory has not made anywhere near the number of calamitous mistakes that Fabianski has but now finds himself at the bottom of the heap.
A point tomorrow night would be a good result given the circumstances.
Since the drinks are on the house I’ll have a double G&T – I’ve had a shit day at work! 😉
i meant ……pick me up*
So Vermaelen isn’t yet fit? Is he likely to appear at the Bus Stop? Otherwise I think you’re back four looks promising, ‘Holic. I’m tired of the “Eboue as anything other than a right back” experiment” I’d rather see Arsene play him there to put some more pressure on Sagna for his place. I hope too, that it’s now time for Gibbs to emerge from Ugly Duckling to Swan at left back too.
Wonder if we may go with Denilson (YES!), Song, Diaby and Nasri in midfield with Chamakh up front and Arshavin in the pocket behind him? I don’t expect Moscow’s finest to do much in a defensive capacity (much as I’d like to see it).
Greetings from Dusseldorf. Enjoy the game tomorrow night. I hope to make it home just in time to catch the second half.
A glass half full for me please.
What’s the point of asking to get behind the keepers when they’ll get a national pasting if they make any mistake. Afterall, everyone knows “Arsenal have 4 crap foreign keepers”.
zico, agree usually about sweeping changes to the back four, but as a one off to let people know that Saturday was unacceptable might just be a trick worth attempting.
Holic, fine if it works, but a big risk and if it doesn’t Wenger sets himself up for being indecisive, and not knowing his best team.
If you want to make an example, take one out – step forward Monsieur Clichy assuming Gibbs is fit. (Defensively, Sagna’s performance on Saturday was a bit of an abberation in my opinion, but Clichy makes 2 or 3 major mistakes in each game at the moment).
We need a solid defensive performance tomorrow night more than anything I think.
Ole, no good turning the question again. What possible benefit does it have to get down on the man we know is playing ahead of the game? It can only be destructive. I’ll be the first one on his case if it goes pear-shaped, but the only thing he can do now is play the best he can, try to keep a clean sheet, and build his confidence and ours bit by bit. We can help, if only by hiding our fears for twenty-four hours.
Ole Gunner
I would have disagree here to be honest with you, ok let’s face it Almunia has his bad days too oten, Fabianski manages to fuck up every time, we also saw a little bit of Mannone so can’t really say anything here, now we only heard about Wojtek being fantastic at Brentfrod las season so yet again we need to see it with our own eyes.
I would rather to get behind them if you ask me.
Anyone noticed Diaby is not on the Team? I wonder why? Injured again?
who knew I’d be asking this 48 hours later….
Is Almunia to be back fit for the Chelsea match??? I’ve had one of those Mondays where my only source for news is this post….it’s extremely 1987…(without ceefax though) but I like it
ATG,
I’m hoping Wenger was so pissed by his complete lack of application and fight at the weekend he’s finally taken the bull by the horns and dropped him sending a message to him and the rest that there’s to be no more half arsed performances, Your probably right tho he may well be injured 😉
Cheers, ‘holic and top post as you amazingly keep putting out. I’d like to offer a toast in the hope that Fabianski survives in the land of ethnic cleansing. I wouldn’t entirely put it past him to have one decent game. Certainly the odds have to turn in his favor eventually given the number of consecutive stinkers he has dealt us.
Fabianski will know what to expect………
Really, like he obviously expected a near post shot from the wing at Porto last year…..and the quick restart there too.
Play the young kid.
Fabianski has won things as a Keeper before actually. he won stuff as a keeper with Legia Warzawa and already had a handful of “high profil” games at his CV when he came to Arsenal.
i hope we play Chesney and he fucks up. will teach all you idiot fans that just because he did good in championship does not mean he is ready for cl.
WHat will you do if Chesney fuck up? WIll you hate him too??
THe thing is more than 90% of the people that “really want tech9 in goal” has not even seen him play! they base their judgment upon what???
Excellent post `Holic. Let’s sort out Fabianski’s situation as fast as possible either way. Either he finally shows what makes people at the club believe in him and everyne will be happy or he drops a few more clangers and we’re done with him (which will make many happy too, if not Fabianksi himself).
Just one thing: I think you’re being harsh on the CBs, they’re just discovering the league with less than 10 appearances combined, they fully deserve some leniency for mistakes in a game where everyone and more importantly the midfield played poorly. Even more so considering that before that game there were many whispers on how Vermy could find himself relagated to 3rd spot given how outstanding the 2 newcomers were.
Gulp has a point I must say. When I saw the 60+% support for Woj on Arseblog’s poll, I was left wondering how many goals he would have to concede before they turn against him.
If you read the blogs yesterday, you’ve surely noticed how the Baggies fans were surprised at how nasty many Arsenal “fans” were towards their own players. For too many when we score a great goal it’s a great goal. When someone scores a great goal against us, it’s because X, Y and Z are shit.
I find that mentality despicable.
Matt you also have a valid point my friend, I think we expect from Arsenal and Arsenal players all the same.
Clichy has cost us goals and important points too and nobody hates him do they?
Very good in our first 7-8 matches but my question to my good friend my ‘holic, can Arsenal sustain the pressing game throughout a season? We have more options, more competition in the midfield and Wenger can now afford to drop under-performing players, more over he can manage the freshness and hopefully ensure we put out a physically and mentally sharp team each match, a hungry one too. There’s no default selection now for half fit players, for players going through the motion. Pity about Frimpong he would have put pressure on Song, Wilshere is very dependable and Lansbury I believe can apply pressure on Denilson and Diaby. Easy to forget we are without Vermealen, Van Persie, Fabregas and more. Whether we surpass last season is down to how we react, whether West Brom type performances are truly put behind us. Let’s see.
As poor as the performance was on Saturday, the reaction of the support was equally as bad. This was probably because (like the team) we expected to turn up and get a comfortable 3 points.
It was compounded by the fact that the Chavs had lost, so we had missed an opportunity and that we were all still on a high after the fun at the Lane.
Tomorrow and perhaps more importantly Sunday, provides us with a great early opportunity to repair some of the damage. Nothing we can do about it apart from getting behind the team. Other than that, it’s down to AW and whoever wears the red and white to restore some pride.
A pint of extra cold Guinness please bartender.
CoYRRR’s
It seems that Song has been switched to a right central defensive midfield position which seems to give him the opportunity to go forward much more frequently in recent games. Sorry to say, but I don’t like the change as it has left the team looking very vulnerable and he doesn’t look like the midfield anchor that we’ve become accustomed to seeing. We’ve enough creative players who are able to create and score goals and I don’t like the indiscipline that I’m seeing in his game. What do you think about this observation ‘holic and holics?
A very cold Heineken please barman. Thanks
A cold Heineken sounds delicious. I’m not down on Song.
I think that in switching to playing two DMs in front of the back four such as Song and Diaby, it is giving one of them more frequent opportunity to push forward when we have the ball to support the CM as the two wide midfielders push up to join the attack. Song is doing it more noticeably than Diaby because (i) Diaby has always pushed up, (2) Song didn’t have the freedom to do so last season as he played as a conventional holding DM and (3) that Ken Dodd cast-off mop makes Song stick out like a sore thumb. When Diaby, Song and Wilshire are all on the pitch they almost rotate in being the one who pushes up.
One quick point on the CBs. They weren’t horrible against West Brom, given the porousness of our midfleld, and two of the goals came from our full backs rather than our CB’s being beaten.
A Jelen seems fitting in honour of tomorrow’s game, if you will, ‘Holic.
The $64000 dollar question, Corny. The evidence of last season, and the worrying aspect of Saturday, is that we appear unable to maintain a consistent pressing game, which renders the Barca formation extremely vulnerable.
I would love to see us mix it with a straightforward 4-5-1 or switch to 4-4-2 sometimes. That would alleviate that problem and keep opponents guessing about how best to nullify us.
But then I am a blogger who has won nothing at the highest level, so what do I know?
can somebody please tell me why wojciech szczesny gets called tech9 as a nickname?????? its really bugging me haha
Thanks for the heads up ‘holic, glad you enjoyed it.
Don’t forget to come back next Monday for some more medicine. 😉
I’ll be there, Rob, don’t you worry.
Can’t understand a JOKER at the back. Arsenal is much better play with a GOAL picker, make more profits and I dont think will get much different results.
Most of clean sheets are bcos of good defensive cohesiveness. The team wont get frustrated easily if the keeper make stupid mistakes bcos they know and expect that level of stupidity unlike a so called international keepers who play like Under -12 keeper.
It is very rare to have a very unreliable keeper in a strong attacking team. The keeper can learn and practice from the best attacking players. Unless the keeper is really just a moving pole to complete the team.
‘Holic @ 33 – precisely my point on here yesterday.
As worrying as the individual errors, was the lack of pressing, covering and urgency in our team game.
Last season we pressed hard for about 6 games and then it all stopped.
On Saturday, following Chavski’s defeat, these players who tell us they are so desperate to win something, strolled about like they were 3 – 0 up, and deservedly found themselves 3 – 0 down.
Why the change of attitude all of a sudden, at the first sign of pressing home an advantage ?
So, tomorrow it’s Fabianski, and while I truly admire your ability to see the positive, on this occasion I cannot share it.
Such is Fabianski’s experience of what is required, that in his last CL game he palmed in a cross that was missing the goal, and picked up a back pass in a fog of confusion, that cost us another goal against.
Wenger now tells us, again, that he is top class and that he believes in his ability. His selection policy so far this season, and failed summer transfer activity, tell us anything but. This “world-class” mantra has become insulting.
It is ridiculous that at a club like ours, fans are panicking that yet another howler will result in yet another goal, every time either one of our two top keepers goes anywhere near the ball.
I do not, in the slightest, enjoy being so negative and angry on the eve of an important match, but there it is. If only half of our players would get as angry at the prospect of losing again.
Something to get me off to sleep quickly, please.
Fabianski to start??? I thought I had got the nod? I have bought gloves and everything.
Agree with Ned above. Whilst the defence has not looked solid I do not think they are totally to blame. The balance in the midfield still looks wrong for me. I agree with BTM and a few others in championing the abilities of Denilson. I do not think he is a match winner but he links play so well. He does so much of the scruffy stuff that others just ignore. We have a far better shape with him and Song sat in front of the back four.
I love Clichy to bits but have thought for sometime now that he has been on borrowed time. Gibbs has continued to improve and had he not been injured last season I feel he would be number one left back by now. I also have no problem with playing Jack in this atmosphere. I am not sure a great deal will phase him and his creativity may well be required.
Let us hope that a few more decide to follow Sami’s lead from Saturday, and let us see a battling performance that will be more like the one witnessed at shite fart lane.
Keep the faith.
Almunia is now injured.
Here is a team of outfield players who have already missed Premier League games this season due to injury.
Djourou – Song – Vermaelen – Gibbs
Diaby – Denilson
Walcott Fabregas Nasri
van Persie
and we are 6 games in !!
I need a happy pill.
Matt@26
Have to agree with everything you’ve said..top post.
Long time follower – first time poster.
I believe we really have to hide Fabianski´s gloves tomorrow night because I would never wish upon an injury to an Arsenal player. I really think we need to let Chesney loose, even if it´s only to see if he has what it takes. – if not, then Wenger must sort out the goalkeeping problem in January.
Maybe it is because we are spoiled and even though the performance last weekend was horrible, we need to put into prespective the players that we are missing:
Vermy – Cesc – Theo – RVP —- and now I am only talking about our ,,superstars”
Cut – Vidic – Nani – Scholes – Rooney from the Utd lineup
or
Terry – Maluda – Lampard – Drogba from the Chelsea lineup
or
Carrager – Gerrard – Torres from the Liverpool lineup – (actually strike that – they are shit this year even if those players actually play)
But what I am saying is that our team – when it is back and healthy (knock on wood) will be fabulous to watch – I reckon we´ll have a good lineup after the next Interlull as Arseblogger calls it.
Lets not forget – we have a big team in the making – we are 4 points behind chelski and 1 behind Utd. — we are still in the mix even though some fans have given up. Lets hold our head up high.
P.S. fabulous site ´holic – how about a pint of your best lager this way.
Who’s lusting after us and said the following?
“You look at Arsenal, they’re all popping the ball around to each other. If people want the ball, you’ve got a chance because they tend not to give the ball away.
“I’d much rather play that way, to be honest with you, than have people in there who are hammer-throwers, and keep passing the ball to the other team and then tackling people to get it back again. I’d rather go the other way.”
None other than `Apy `Ary! He’s an Arsenal fan but can’t admit it 😉
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11675_6403583,00.html
@Steve/41: Thanks! I had to let it out and it feels good to know I’m not alone.
Just get this game over with and hopefully with an away win the morale will come back to what it was before this weekend. We have a super important game on Sunday.
Then again, the defensive effort can’t get any worse than against W.B.A.
It is IMPERATIVE that we don’t lose on Sunday.
It is the last game before the Interlull and we don’t want to go to the Interlull on the back of 2 defeats and a 95th minute draw and a 7 point gap from Chelsea.
A win would be great but with the injuries and the morale at an all time low I don’t really think we’ll get out of there with anything better than a draw (still have a bit of hope though 🙂 ).
I desperately would like to agree with you guys. I hope they don’t play their next game like they played W.Brom, especially now if Fabianski is the GK. When Fabianski plays, it gives me shudders each time the ball approaches near the penalty box or whenever a corner kick against Arsenal is taken.
Le boss needs to let Denilson get the nod ahead of Song, last weekend he was running around like a headless chicken and joining the attack too often instead of mopping up in front of the back four. Midfield of Denilson, Wilshere, and Rosicky/Nas. Front three of Arshavin, Chamakh, and Nas/Rosicky.
Good blog
All the anti Almunia and Fabianski Gooners please get with for program for God’s sakes… We wanted a class striker, Wenger got one… We needed better defenders, Wenger got two… We needed a strong midfield, Wenger kept Fabregas.
Stop bitching. You lot make me sick! One poor game and the season’s over. FFS KEEP THE FAITH. WENGER ROCKS!
i don’t think anyone on here is ‘anti’ our hapless goalies, it’s not their fault they keep getting picked, and no-one in their right mind would be willing them to make mistake after mistake…but with the memories of the porto and wigan games last season, plus the obvious last week at the lane still fresh in the mind, I’m sure I won’t be the only one hiding behind the settee tonight whenever there is a corner to be dropped, a shot to be fumbled, a clearance to be sliced…
please please prove us all wrong tonight and let fabianski have a blinder; let’s see sagna and gibbs marauding down the flanks to support arshavin and nasri, (have a little rest, gael), with plenty of crosses for chamakh to get on the end of. song to just sit in front of the cb’s with jack and denilson further forward to get a foot in and give it wide.
bring on eboue for the last 20 to run at their tiring full backs, and hopefully vela with 10 to go so he can get the 3rd and decisive goal in a 3-1 victory, chamakh to get the other 2 from nasri assists.
job done. go home.
that would set us up nicely for the onslaught from drogba and co on sunday.
Its positive tuesday amazon have dispatched my book Arsenal are playing tonight and theres only 9 hours of the working day left ! The atmosphere will be hostile and will bring Belgrade a goal but that wont be enough as the good guys win 2-1,
Up The Arse,
@49 a little of what you’ve got Matt
on subject of Eboue I do like him as DM because you dont know if he will cut in or run out and has the speed to support Bacari , he cant cross that I can remember but can shoot from distance – more the choice more the danger – so how about drop AA and move TR to left
Cham
TR SN JW
Denilson Eboue
Gibbs Squillaci Djourou Sagna
any one from 3
If Lukasz makes same mistakes like he did in the Porto away game then havens forbid I will personaly send him a letter in Polish telling him that he needs to find another club because he’s simply not good enough and the amount of chances he had have been used up. Enough is enough!
I missed the game on Saturday – delivering No 1 daughter to university- and it is probably a good thing. Thing is – I just do not understand it. In the games so far we have looked a different side – pressing, energetic and committed. I have been pinching myself how good Kos etc. look and quietly have been thinking that we can really do some damage this year.
From everything I hear we reverted back to type. How? After the debacle the end of last year surely the one thing they all know is that less that 100% effort a) loses you games and b) gets us lot on their backs sooner than you can sneeze Aaaarshavin!
There are days when you are not ‘on it’ in sport and on those days you need to force yourself in to a physical confrontation to wake up. I therefore suggest, as a punishment for what appears to be a pathetic effort on Saturday and the fact that we cannot trust them to get themselves up for the game, we introduce a new warm up routine whereby each player has to take on a ‘committed challenge’ (in MOTD parlance) from a quest tackler who will be chosen from a roster of Bremner, Giles, Hunter, MacKay, Roberts, Keene etc. etc. Those left standing and hopefully now a member of the Wide Awake Club after the warm up will be judged to have earned the right to play.
Hi Holic and Holics I’m abit late!
When will the funk next be played on that station, as I’ve missed it?
Well you’re right we need nothing but a result in tonight’s game. Not only for the spirit but to reignite the campaign which until 10 days ago was looking impressive.
I just had a thought about Almunia before I forget…
…if he injured himself making that penalty (the hardcore’s next to me at the stadium, picked up that he was injured straight away, because they have that hardcore eye), then that would mean that he made that save whilst injured and also may have conceded the second goal partly to injury. Therefore that would make him amazing for saving the penalty and not entirely at fault for the second goal!
Just a thought!
Just a small point about AA and Denilson and leaving the back four exposed. I know we are supposed to be raising the spirits here and I will do so also, however when AA gets dispossessed he does have a tendency of not tracking back. Denilson also has developed this complacency of giving up during a one on one chase on the wing which was evident right up until the Sunderland game (Also see: Stoke FA Cup, Porto CL away and who can forget Man U at home, all from last season).
Denilson may have had a good game v Sp*rs, but that may have been because he was doing a good job of pressing high up the pitch, leaving no need to track back often, if not at all. In fact the Full backs just then have a small job of dispossessing the wingers during a one on one in the corner (a job Gibbs seems to be very good at doing, provided he does not slip).
So I believe if our two men in question apply their pressing game along with the other four in midfield we should win this game comfortably tonight.
Chamakh looks by far our best presser in midfield this season so far so I hope the others remember to follow suit.
I do not want to look to far ahead to Sunday just yet, but our tactics will need to be similar, although tracking back usually plays a big part of our game v the Chavs. They will capitalise on any mistake we make so 100% focus will need to be required, but most importantly pressing for possession high up the pitch will help during potential counter attacks which if successful will mean game over at the bus stop, without a doubt!
A point regarding the pecking order of the keepers. Corleone seems to be the most patient of the three remaining as he is used the least and is happy to be featured wherever, whenever. It’s also worth noting that the reserve fixture which Corleone featured, Arsenal won 5-0 v Bolton!
It always helps when developing players at Arsenal are patient, as the benefits pay off with hard work and determination. Just ask Gibbs and Wilshire.
Regarding Diaby being in the team for tonight maybe he was not really ready to feature last Saturday and as a result gave a below par performance. It may be a tactical decision on Arsenes part to keep him fresh as another option for this Sunday.
I’ve read most of the posts but as I’m at work it may be a good idea to do some work too!
A freshly squeezed Orange juice if possible pls Holic!
BTM, isn’t Arshavin from St. Petersburg?
It is going to be an intimidating atmosphere tonight for sure of the like only those players who went to Fenerbache have experienced… …wilshere can handle anything but I wouldn’t stick in too much inexperience.
Hope the away boys stay safe and make as much noise as possible!
Come on you gunners!
is it too early for a sake bomb?
Polekeepers…..right….. Maybe Wenger should stick to what he knows best, getting players from France. I bet we wouldn’t be here today if we had a ‘Keeper from France. Just my sober opinion.
A glass of milk please.
ette
What are you trying to say?
I don’t agree with the choice of keeper, but then again it would be foolhardy to chuck a debuetant in in an important CL game.
Whoever makes the team I’ll be supporting them here, cheering them on.
Come on you Gunners!!!!!!
A pint of Lager please sir.
Cheers.
@ Ette #56
Hello there, it’s late here again and yet another night on the beers might have clouded my judgement but rolling into our very own private cyber-bar affords me a minute or two to type a very un-sober thoughts….
I’m with you/many fellow ‘Holics on the opinions of our Polekeepers. Even the most glass-half-full of us must secretly wish that we had a genuinely reliable, first-class keeper (regardless of nationality) whom we knew didn’t suffer from self-confidence that has all the resilient properties of RVP’s ankles.
I believe Arsene does stick to what he knows best, probabaly too much so, which may be a source of your understandable frustration – I hope that doesn’t come across as patronising, BTW.
However, to be fair to Le Boss he has now put his own reputation firmly on the line by once again going on record, very publicly so, that he continues to believe in LF’s abilities. Personally, I can’t see it, but much wiser people than me have made the point that he (AW) is in a far better position to know better and should we witness another goalkeeping train crash tonight it’s hard to see how LF could recover and I also fear for AW’s reputation as well.
So kudos to Arsene for put his very own “oeuves” on the block and lets’ hope he comes back tomorrow with them still firmly attached as opposed to them being all over his face… er, so to speak. You get my drift, I hope.
Barman, whatever Ette is drinking and no more for me tonight please.
1-0 to the Arsenal, 1-0 to the Arsenal…..
@ H2H #58
Just to complete my night of controversy I’m going to disagree with you on this point – I’d much rather see us go with the devil we don’t know. I bleated on last night about fortune favouring the brave.
Anyway, can we agree to diagree in good humour and will you let me buy you the next tipple of your choice?
Cheers! 🙂
Of course Mr Storey.
I can’t say I disagree with you at all really. it’s a hard choice to make, but that’s what Mr Wenger gets paid for. Our “job” is to support the choices he makes.
Anyways, I’ll join in you in a tequila shot, cheers!
Spot on, top man! I’ll save the worm until after the match for whoever wants it.
Save the worm for Hansen – we’ll see if it’s turned by the end of the season 😉
1-0 to the Arsenal today I feel! Is it just me or is Arshavin way off the pace this year? He gives the ball away more than any other player and gives the least effort. I think he has become a luxury and needs a good kick up the Arse….. Arsene are you listening? Prove me wrong please Arshy and have a blinder today!
Evening all,
No Samir in the starting line-up, and I need a new iMac, so a little dabble on a 5-2 away win at 150/1 has ensued.
Don’t laugh.
You heard it here first 😉
Fabianski; Sagna, Djourou, Squillaci, Gibbs; Song, Denilson, Wilshere; Rosicky, Chamakh, Arshavin.
subs; Szczesny , Koscielny, Vela, Clichy, Lansbury, Eboue, Nasri
Looks like you got most of your wish Holic – 3 changes in the back 5.
Not convinced about the Djourou change meself but time will tell.
COYG!!!
COME ON YOU GOONERS!!!
Tricky moment in the box just then
Imran from Capetown – that’s a pretty daft post there pal. You left out We wanted a keeper, we…ahh…erm…didn’t get one.
It’s not bitching. It’s debating. Or aren’t you up for that?
I have to admit not a bad start at all, we are miles better then them and we should be at least 3:1 up. Denilson making a very important tackle to start with then commiting hand ball.
I have to say this because it pains me to watch this REF and his assistants, where the fuck did UFEA get them from?
Chamakh is a beast. Asharvin…
I was never on Sagna’s back but this has to stop. They have to start learning how to cross.
Chamakh scored because it was Rosicky’s cross and not Sagna’s.
Love it.
Did anyone else notice we haven’t won yet with the yellow away shirt?
Too true Snir
That was a blatant elbow on Denislon and what does the guy for Sky Sports say and honest challange????
COME ON SEBASTIEN SQUILLACI……
This may have been the most important game of our season. The side effects should be very positive in lifting the team’s morale and more importantly Fabianski’s confidence for Sunday (in case Almunia would still be injured).
Just one thing, what is up with Song?!?! Why does he think he’s Arshavin? Every attack he goes to the left flank and waits for a pass and then he’s late tracking back. I don’t know what happened to him but I don’t like it.
I told you he could do it, didn’t I? Also, it was nice to see our Eastern European contingent (Rosicky, in particular) looking lively in Eastern Europe. Come on the weekend and the Drogba roast.
Wow. I really do not know what to make of this game really. That was wierd.
All in all, a good days work. We never played great, we had a few hints of “fine” at times, and these were enough to win against a team that rarely really did threaten. Most of the worry I felt came from knowing what happened this weekend and the worry about our state of minds. I was mostly worried we (or perhaps the ref!) would fuck this up, I wasn’t that worried about the opponents.
In the end, we didn’t implode, we came through with a respectable 1-3 and we got our three points. It wasn’t vintage Arsenal, but I’m happy enough with the performance, and hoping we saved our best for Fulham 2 this weekend.
Happy with the win – will digest the overall performance over a cold Miller and no doubt be back in the drinks tomorrow.
Enjoy the debate Holics!
Great result if a bit laboured. Was on the phone with 2 different recruiters during the game and one thought my “Yessss!” was for the position she was peddling 😉
My stream died with these stats frozen so I though I’ll share:
Top 5 distance:
Denilson: 11.80km
Rosicki: 11.29km
Gibbs: 10.54km
Sagna: 10.48km
Song: 10.44km
But my MOTM is Fabianski!!!!! As FtM/77 said: he can do it. Now can he do it twice?
And what’s with our LB curse? Gibbs had a great game up to the penalty…
If we ever become clinical and learn how to take pens then we will be world beaters. Good old flappy although we still need a top quality keeper. Just ask the magic man. Very good win though.
Good win that, never easy in that part of the world but a note of caution our centeebacks are exposed time And time again whether we’ve got one or two dms it seems to make no difference and against a good side we would have been in a world of trouble I really don’t no what the answer is, The bright spot yet again is the learning curve for young jack the boys as talented young player i’ve had the privlage of watching.
Onto the Bridge
Up The Arse,
Echos of Cesc in that lad Jack. And they both play for the Arsenal. 🙂
#77: one swallow does not a Summer make. It is not how many good games a goalkeeper has, it’s how many bad ones he does not have. I am still in the ‘ship him out’ camp, and will be unless he finds me that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Also, for the record, that save at the end where he diverted the ball around his left post scared the bejesus out of me: it was the same weak wristed number we saw at WHL last week, and looks like it’s here to stay.
Matt,
After Fabianski saved that penalty I thought he was going to take Gibbs’ clothes off!