Sam, Cham, And The Fair Blows Bully Wooly Citeh
Oct 24th, 2010 by 'holic
What do you expect for free? Shakespeare? The roast dinner has just tasted particularly good after an aperitif rich in spirit and substance. Ninety minutes that held the attention from beginning to end have resulted in the three points from a title rival that Arsenal desperately needed. Full marks too to the other two parties in an intriguing contest. Both Citeh and Mark Clattenburg contributed to a gripping encounter.
The home team enjoyed the first opportunity when Djourou, not for the last time, was exposed in the left-back position and only a tremendous save from Fabianski denied the lively Silva. That set the tone for another excellent performance from the Pole. He is growing in stature with every game and I am sure I am not the only one seeking out the recipe for humble pie.
Arsenal too were looking determined to strike early and only an erroneous offside flag denied Arshavin the simplest of chances. When Chamakh was similarly released, and scythed down by Boyata, the referee was presented with his first test. The red card was an obvious one, and it was disappointing to see the skipper plead for it, but correctly shown it was and we had a numerical advantage.
City showed some considerable spirit for the remainder of the half, mixed with a particularly steely approach which saw Fabregas regularly flattened from behind. In fairness the Arsenal midfield, once considered a soft touch in these parts, displayed some mettle themselves. In the closing minutes of the half we even wondered if the carded Denilson, Song, and Fabregas might be lured into a disastrous second strong challenge. We should have known better.
By that time Arsenal were ahead. Djourou spurned a gilt-edged chance to top up the ‘Eduardo fund’ when he headed over from point blank range, but an excellent interchange between Arshavin and the excellent Nasri saw the latter finish superbly at Hart’s near post. An opportunity to settle nerves went begging when Cesc, having lured the lumbering Kompany into a clumsy challenge in the box, saw his spot-kick superbly saved by England’s new number one.
If the ten men had shown considerable adventure before the break, they were almost summarily dismissed in the second period after the departure of their injured talisman, Tevez. That alllowed Adebayor to enter the fray, but Citeh fans have long since come to accept what we all knew. You can’t polish a turd. The hosts fired their last bolt but Fabianski again brilliantly denied Silva, and Arsenal set about wrapping it up.
The clincher came from a player attempting to add to his reputation as a quality holding midfielder. Alex Song was an unexpected scorer last week, and was in the right place at the right time to feast on Bridge’s challenge on Chamakh. He has come in for some criticism for his new ‘cavaliaring’ approach, but a supply of goals from midfield will soon silence that criticism as long as we are winning.
It was time to rest Sky’s man-of-the-match Fabregas, Arshavin, and the tremendous signing that is Chamakh. Bendtner crowned his cameo with a superbly timed run to latch onto a perfect ball from Nasri and slip it over the advancing Hart. Nasri was my man-of-the-match. He has become such a significant part of the way we play.
I have to say Clattenburg was also in the running. Castigated by a hostile crowd from early on, he got almost all of the decisions spot on. I would churlishly suggest he displayed the patience of St Francis with de Jong, but his critics will see he got little else wrong. I am usually the first to berate officials, so glad to set the record straight when it demands.
So that’s it. Second in the table having leapfrogged both Manchester clubs, among insignificant others. Now if we could follow this with a second win in Manchester in December, we will certainly have laid to rest the curse of our title rivals in the last year and a half. That calls for a drink, I reckon.
95 Responses to “Sam, Cham, And The Fair Blows Bully Wooly Citeh”
First – woo hoo!
Good summary of a great result. i only relaxed once the third went in though…
What a sweet, sweet result. 5 minutes in after that red card and we had to win. We did, with room to spare. Early days I know, but I don’t see another squad fit to really challenge the ghastly Chelski this year. God bless you Gooners…
Why wasnt Company booked for the penalty foul.
Then he would have been sent off as well
Great result. Silva should be playing for us. He would fit in perfectly to our style.
nicely put, ‘holic, ‘you can’t polish a turd’. Says it all about Shity, doesn’t it?
single malt please barman, to celebrate the sweet, peaty taste of success against the blue half of Mancland
Evening ‘Holic & ‘Holics
Another fabulous read (thanks ‘Holic) but after that performance, how can you fail to be in a great mood?
We were IMMENSE, no two ways about it. First-class performanes from Cesc, Nasri, Song, Fabianski and Chamakh (our new spine?) made me feel super-proud to be a Gooner. The rest of the team weren’t half-bad either 😉
From the first blow of the whistle we looked a class apart from a Citeh team packed with talent and, er, cash but as a team they were no match for us. You could just tell it was going to be a famous Arsenal victory as soon as we touched the ball. Once again this season, we did all of our talking on the pitch and showed that the Blackpool, Braga and Shakhtar results were no flukes. If we can keep that kind of form up for the rest of the season, we’ll bring at least one piece of silverware back to The Ems.
Barman? A toast to our sweet, sweet victory, drinks for everybody and a bottle of Bushmills for yourself.
On y va!
BTW, love that sound, here’s a link.
‘Holic would it be too much to ask to embed it in The Drinks?
What a result!
Ecstatic I am, ‘holic. I am so damn proud of the boys.
Nasri was superb tonight. The other lads were too, but he was outstanding. And Fabianski was alert whenever he was called into action. Fucking brilliant, I tell ya.
We both left out Denilson, TS, and will be rightly admonished by BtM for that. I think the points were secured when he was picked ahead of Diaby. He held the whole thing together allowing Song that added freedom.
Still reckon Nasri and Chamakh are different class though 😉
Haha, hello siren. Good to see you here again. Has Steve-o sent his pic with the old boy?
We’ve Only Got One Song – “Sheiking All Over”!
It was barrels of woe for the Milk Shake of Abbly Dabbly today when Shitty suffered a blow-out beyond petroleum as Arsenal drilled their way to a three-goal gusher and left Shitty with a Whole Lot o’ Sheiking Going On. The gazillions of petrodollars poured into the Gulf between Shitty and the Arsenal has gone up in a cloud of black smoke, thicker than the pea sized brain inside Wayne Scrooney.
Arsenal started with the TTT in the heart of the midfield for the first time this season. Song and Cesc were foot-perfect from the first. Denilson’s extended absence meant it took him twenty minutes or so to get back up to speed. JD20 too, showed in the early stages the toll that an 18-month absence has taken on his sharpness. He improved by the minute and, by the end, had Ade in his hip pocket.
It didn’t take De Jong to leave his trademark studs imprint on Cesc’s shin, then to throw a body blow on our Spaniard, reminiscent of Mick MacManus at his best. Yellow cards rained down like dust in an Abbly Dabbly sand storm.
But rash leg scythes proved to be Shitty’s undoing. Inside five minutes, Chamakh locked on to a surgical through ball from Cesc and was about to burst the net when the scything leg of Ataboy Boyata hacked him to the floor. A red card had turned the tables unfavourably, reducing Arsenal’s impact at Anfield. Did we need to worry about a repeat? Not a chance.
Within minutes Arsenal were one up through the kind of Nasri goal that only Arsenal can score. Then an uncharacteristically limp Fabregas penalty was well saved by Hart, delaying the inevitable into the second half, when on-Song Alex thumped a beauty high into Hart’s top left corner for his third of the season.
Little Mozart replaced Arshavin, who true to Arsene’s commentary had contributed an important assist for Nasri’s goal. B52 came on for a tiring Chamakh and Theo accompanied him for a run out. The duo almost conjured an immediate 3rd before a magnificent Nasri slide-ruler rolled through to Bendy’s boot and was dispatch gleefully.
In between, the Pole between the poles was magnificent. He prowled like a polecat, growing in confidence and it’s unlikely that Manuel will re-emerge. Cesc and Nasri were quite excellent throughout and Sheik Sheik must be wishing he could afford them.
It was a training session by the end as we sharpened up our passing game and the blue snow melted quickly, and quietly, from Eastlands to an echoing chorus from travelling Gooners of “We were here when you were shit”.
So, a comfortable “big game” win to go with the “big game” draw in the opener at Anfield. Not, at all, bad. Second top and we’ll be top by Christmas with Robin, Vermaenator and Kos back in the ranks.
Come on You Gunners! Anything from a smoky Scottish glen please, ‘Holic. (Any of that roast dinner left to accompany it perchance?)
Evenin’ all.
And we did this without wor Jackie
Very encouraging!
Yes, good point ‘Holic. BTW, can you imagine what those Brazillian lovelies would have been doing today if they’d have been part of the travelling faithful? Who knows, maybe they were? Perhaps Sir Bergkamp of the Man is able to verify???
If my smile gets any broader, I fear my face will crack. Party-time?
Fabiansk’s save in the 2nd minute set the tone. It would have been a totally different game had that gone in.
And agree with you on de Jong.. I wondered what did he had to do to get a booking..
This goes out to all Fellow Gooners, especially those who’ve been following the club from pre-Arsene days.
Was there REALLY a time when “1-0 to the Arsenal” meant the points were in the bag? What did we do so well?
Today, my heart was in my mouth everytime any of the thugs went forward – Richards, Silva, Tevez (not so much), Ade and even Kompany.
Only at 0-3 did my heart rate come near normal.
God, this team makes me excited – just in ways I don’t WANT to be excited.
Enjoy your week, ‘Holic.
Nomdeplume
Following Arsenal from New Delhi since 1999
Ah BtM, the poetry I failed to conjure up. You really must do one of these here summaries 😉
The chicken, alas, is no more, but I have a particularly pleasant Talisker 18 here for you 😉
Super day. That was one of our best and probably our most mature performance in a long long time. I think I’d give Nasri the MoM as well although Song and Fab are contenders. Anyway the midfield was where the game was won and we stood up to them in every respect there, which was the most pleasing thing about the performance, other than the result. The whole team played really well, from Fabhandski to Chamahk – although I was a bit concerned by the big man up front’s movenment. Did anyone notice he seemed to be in offside positions a lot and although he wasn’t caught out the midfielders were forced to delay passing because of it?
and I think I’ll join you in a scotch holic
And yes Nomdeplume there really was. We didn’t let the opposition breath back them, let alone play football. Our whole team was about them like packs of wild dogs snapping and biting at anyone who went near the ball. It wasn’t always beautiful but it had an incredible determination.
Hey guys as a long time arsenal fan living in Egypt for the first time ill b attending a game next month, tottenham, I wanted to ask if there were any precautions wen using the undergroud to go to the stadium?? Coz I heard that some station r closed during that game. Another thing I wanted to ask is where I could watch the everton game a week before?? I wanted a place that’s mainly arsenal supporters. Cheers
Magic Hat,
I felt it was the other way.. Chamakh was making gr8 runs expecting one of the passes but our midfielders didnt passed it early on to avoid taking a risk. They were taking the easy option..
Large brandy barman.
Sensational result. Good to be a Gooner.
Ta v.much for embedding the link ‘Holic and some fellow’Holics will get a chance to enjoy it too. It used to be a favourite of mine back in the ’80s.
Agree with Magic – Nasri was my MoTM too. Our embarrassment of riches in the squad grows more embarrassing by the week. There’s no way we would have pulled that level of performance in a match like that last year.
Sorry, I’m gushing like a BP oil well – Sheikh it all over indeed!
Holic, too bad for your punt, but I think you’ll take the 3 points no matter how they come!
Wow.
What a performance.
I’m the first to get a load of humble pie for Fabianski and Denilson. I was really anti Denilson since the fixture against Man U at the Emirates for his lack of tracking back for the Rooney goal but as soon as he touched a ball this season he’s looked the part.
Fabianski makes me realize what AW has been talking all about, the save from Silva (the one in the second half) is one of the hardest saves to make and it kept it at 1-0, very crucial!
I have been criticizing Nasri for not having the killer pass in him against the big teams when Cesc’s missing, but the first goal proved me wrong, that was the kind of interplay I’d been wishing when Cesc’s missing.
Oh, and Jack’s was out, did anyone notice? We have the best squad in the EPL by far (how many times will I have to say it until people will realize that we’re better than Chelsea even though we lost at the Bridge?). This is so our year.
A round of drinks on me to all the regulars, the lovely Barman, and most importantly the new and welcomed visitors today!
Interesting point Indian. It’s something I’ll look out for.
Missing “hope” between “and” and “some” – heh!
Ahmed, the only station closure is Holloway Road for the hour’s before and after the match. Use Arsenal station if it is your first visit and look around Highbury first.
Watch the Everton game in The Gunners if you are in the area. Google it.
Magic Hat@17 I only watched the last part of the 2nd half unfortunately, but could not help but notice how often Chammy was raring to run forwardand even waving for the pass from an onside position, but Cesc (especially, but not alone) failed to see him, and he seemed to be getting more frustrated until he was subbed
It says a lot for Citeh’s attack that Song was allowed to come forward so frequently – without Tevez they seemed threat-less
Like a lot of other ‘holics, I breathed a sigh of relief when the 3rd went in –
this result did a lot to make up for a bad afternoon elsewhere thanks to the team for a clear victory and bring on the Geordies
Magic Hat, I saw that atleast 3 times today.. Chamakh was couple of yards inside starting his run into space where we would usually be directing the through ball but the pass wasn’t there and he would be finding himself couple of yards offside only to get back into an onside position.. I guess Arsene must have told the midfielders to perform them only if they are 110% sure..
What a fantastic result for us. Everyone was immense , from Nasri to Fabianski. Even Arshavin put in a real shift.
Chamakh may not have a great touch but he makes up for that by getting opposition players sent off :).
Perfect end to a very good weekend.
Also a good word for all the booked players for showing discipline and not getting sent off.
A good word for getting those yellows, no more softies of the top 4, you mess with us we can get stuck in as well, loved it.
Djourou is great in the air, but a bit suspect on the ground, hopefully he’ll learn how to deal with that during the season.
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@ Snir #31
Well said, there’s no soft-centre in this squad. Quite the reverse and that’s without our Jack!
i spoke, shouted, yelled and declared to everyone who cared, that we are winning this one and win we did. It feels like triumph of good over evil. Today arsenal played gospel football, sublime skills and team cohesion almost faultless. I expect our fan base to increase tremendously after tonight’s campaign football. Well done and keep the momentum guys. we are sure up to it this season. gunners 4 life.
I agree wholeheartedly, a great performance and Super Nasri once more pulling the strings
May I add..
http://www.rantingmad.com/sammy
As a tip of the hat..
Good summary of the match ‘holic and you are allowed to enjoy drinks for today but not to go AWOL for days like after CL mid-week result!
Magic Hat I think you did not notice for about three or four times MC made good runs waiting for the ball and could not get proper balls to him. Because of his movement off the ball when the passes are delayed defence pack up and leave him to appear offside. To me I think our midle field shoul release the ball quick enough for his timely runs.
Did anybody picke up Ces interview from Sky? ” even if they were 15 and we were 11 we will still beat themm……! that was moral boosting from the Captain.
u guys should really take a few minutes and read this..i had a good laugh out of it
http://mancityblog.com/10-men-city-lose-to-arsenal/
Djourou is still playing for us because he was injured regulerly and not really tested. If he was uninjured, probably he would prove he is far too poor for us. I don’t think he is any better than Senderous.
happy happy happy…
Denilson playing better because he’s no longer an automatic pic? Just a thought. Nasri is just amazing this season….he looks a leader at both ends of the pitch…this is a better side than last season, I’m convinced. Chamakh, workrate is amazing, holds the ball so well, he’s going to earn us 10-15 penalties and score 15 himslef- shame we’re crap at taking them lately.
so happy with that…I need a tizer and a chance to watch that match again.
pick…sorry…web-speak…
Nice win but Clichy’s poor performances had me howling at the set til we scored the second. The boy really must be sold, sacked or given away.
Well summed up holic.
Good day to be a gooner and with Van Persie, Vermaelan and Ramsey to come back we’ve quite a squad at our disposal.
Team in full: Fabianski, Sagna, Djourou, Squillaci, Clichy, Nasri, Fabregas, Song, Denilson, Arshavin, Chamakh.
Subs: Szczesny, Koscielny, Rosicky, Walcott, Eboue, Gibbs, Bendtner.
Mines a flaming samboucha
First and foremost, I never thought I would say this but Mark Clattenburg had a near-perfect game. The only mistake was not booking De Jong for his elbow on Fabregas, but the replays suggested he had no chance to see what happened and then of course he can’t dish out any cards.
@naveen: thanks for that, that gave me a good laugh 🙂
It’s still early doors, but Fabianski has taken a few major steps on his way to replacing the “Flappyhandski” tag with “Safehandski”. He was absolutely magnificent today – calm, assured, always in the right position, came for crosses and denied Silva twice with saves that would have had everybody in the media creaming themselves had it been Joe Hart that made them.
And as for our young Samir… save for the home game v Utd in 2008 when he scored both goals and was absolutely brilliant for 90 minutes this must have been his best game ever for us. In hindsight, he should have been given the penalty to take.
Djourou started out being horribly out of position, but found his feet as the game went along. The only player I can’t say had a good game was Clichy, he is so far away from the player he was a few years ago. But as for Djourou, don’t forget he is our fourth choice, and not many teams have got such quality as the fourth-choice central defender.
If Tevez is injured City will struggle, by the looks of things. He is by far and away their best player. And Gareth Barry… holy hell, what a waste of money.
Anyhow, what a fucking nice win. The roar from us gooners in the pub here in Stockholm as Song blasted the ball into the net almost tore the roof of the place. And speaking of Song – I think Wenger is slowly being proven right in allowing him to go forward a lot more, having Song and (in this game) Denilson interchange positions makes it much more difficult to handle for the opposition. It’s a more difficult game to play for us as well, but well worth it when we eventually master it.
A pint of John Smiths, please!
Na na na na na na na na na na na
Samir Nas r i, Nas r i, Samir Nas r i 🙂
As opposed to others I think Clichy had a good game, he was just outnumbered on many occasions as AA only tracked back once and won the ball (so maybe he should do it more!).
But what a character Fabianski has. Think about it, he was so horrible last year because of his mental aspect of the game and many of us thought he would be shit because he’s got no mental toughness to deal with being the Arsenal number 1.
Not only has he proved to have loads of mental toughness, it’s is twice as hard to show that much of confidence after having to go through what he went through.
Excellent turnaround by the Pole.
Happy to check your reports from my hotel room in Istanbul after a 20+ hours trip but so sad to have missed such a great performance. Oh well MOTD will do I suppose.
I’ll be in London for the remainder of the week but I’m pretty booked unfortunately. I should be back soon though, hopefully with enough advance notice to finally attend a game at the Grove.
Say whatever you want about Denilson, we play better with him in the team. And Cesc should find it interesting to have to compete with Nasri for the best player of the season award…
Considering how much money Man City spends, maybe the ‘Holic drink for today should be cognac. Save the champagne for May.
This goes to adam…clichy is among our best performer.u must av been watching the back of ur tv set..
A big sigh of relief and a long-delayed trip to the men’s, that’s what Bendtner’s goal allowed me to have.
Clichy and Djourou have been sub-par, Fabregas didn’t look on top-form (by his own stratospheric standards, that is) were the only negatives from this game (I’m really really worried about Clichy and Djourou my fellow ‘holics).
Other than that, it was a really mature, composed and exciting team performance. Just superb.
Nasri is being terrific, too bad he doesn’t play at the sane level when Fabregas is out..but what a clinical finish, and a treat assist, not to forget some of the defensive duties he carried out well.
Chamack had a good game IMO, not getting on the scoresheet isn’t so bad when you put in such a shift for the team, i’m sure he’ll only get better.
great opportunistic goal by Song, the kind if which we really miss sometimes, he also defended decently against City’s BIG boys.
All the others were good also, including the ref.
As for Fabianski, he was my man of the match, can you pass me on that humble pie recipe once you find it, please.
Ooh to be a gooner.
Oh and I had too much Grimbergen already, I’ll settle for sone martini bianco per favore.
Sorry about the typos. Posting from an iPhone after a few pints of Grimbergen will do that to you.
😉
For Clichy it’s simple: when Arshavin plays, he’s faulted for everything, when Rosicki plays, he’s back to his best.
Make your own conclusion.
As for Djourou, he’s been away for over a year and considering he’s paired with our 3rd choice defender who’s had single-digit games in the prem so far, I’d say both of them are performing well beyond expectations.
Certainly well above Sol and Silvestre…
Excellent summary Holic and an excellent 3 points – don’t think I will be doing too much work tomorrow (I am assuming there will be a “lock in” tonight 😉
Ade the same player he ever was except he wasn’t offside as often as normal. But his calamitous misses from in front of goal surely turned the game our way. I would love to have a recording of the conversation between Ade and Song at halftime. It looked like things were a good deal more relaxed this time, and I certainly was after Alex banged in that second. Alll to the good! Glass of rioja please barman.
Aye…spot on ‘holic…you can’t polish a turd!!
Wo~hoo. Apart from being ecstatic over the result, I just want to mention a point deep in the second half that epitomised the fighting spirit in this team. Bolattelli was on the ball and seemingly stole a few yards away from Song who then, from nowhere managed to gain pace and wrestle the ball back from Bolatelli. It was a small and seemingly insignificant but wonderful moment.
Keep on believing 🙂
NB. The other moment was when Song pulled off Adebayor’s wholly hat and threw it to the ground. Couldn’t’ve happened to a nicer bloke!!
Another San Miguel for me please barman.
I think some folk are being a bit hard on our midfield in regard to feeding Chamakh. Chamakh runs off the ball, his calling for the ball and arms waving all had the desired effect. Most of Chamakh’s diversions had the Shitty defense at sixes and sevens. They at times had three men in Chamakh’s vicinity, all awaiting the through ball which invairably today went wide or back into the middle. This was an intended ploy dragging the Shittians out of position and it worked a treat.
Djourou deserves a lot of credit by basically nullifying Barndoors initial enthusiasm by twice running him down and physically winning the battle with him. He lost his fight after that.
Great win.
A drink you say?
I think I’ve had enough for a whole month this weekend?
Saucer of milk please 😉
Excellent, Ollie. Glad you had a good one. 🙂
A performance full of skill, fight and determination.
That team suddenly looked very grown up today – giving as good as they got, almost, in the physical department, and walking it as a competition in skills.
In the summer, I posted a couple of times on here that Fabianski was mentally “gone”, and had no chance of becoming the Arsenal goalkeeper unless he went away on loan, probably for two years, to build some credibility. I said that he should never play for us again.
Well, he’s played again for us a few times now, and gets better with every game.
Today he was outstanding, and, on that performance, I’d bet we’d all be calling for his immediate signature, were he in colours other than ours.
I would be relieved and happy to share your humble pie with you ‘Holic, whilst I sit here in the AKB’s corner of the bar, grateful to LF21 and AW for giving me the opportunity to do so.
BtM – the opening paragraph of your report is probably your best yet, for me. Not that the rest of it was too shabby either!
Matt – You’ve got mail.
James Lawton: Arsenal’s method and inspiration put sheikh’s riches in the shade
It is not unreasonable to think this may indeed be Arsenal’s most serious challenge for honours in some years
If the particularly valuable assets of Thomas Vermaelen and Jack Wilshere had been available for an examination which had promised to be so stern, Arsenal might well have more profoundly underlined the football reality check they inflicted on 10-man Manchester City.
They would have been tighter at the back and more relentlessly precise in the middle of the field, which would have surely eroded even sooner the competitive endeavour which City, so desperately ransacked by the early folly of young Dedryk Boyata, managed to maintain with impressive spirit, right up to the moment Carlos Tevez limped away early in the second half.
However, if the final margin of three goals – which would have been four if Joe Hart hadn’t issued another nerveless announcement of his phenomenal progress by saving a penalty-kick from Cesc Fabregas – was somewhat flattering, it still carried a powerful message to the English plutocrats who might have been celebrating this as a pivotal day in their drive to become the most formidable force in the game.
They might have maintained themselves as the closest rivals to Chelsea and the favourites to drink from the dubious chalice of Wayne Rooney’s talent.
Instead, and with a certain poignancy when the City of Manchester Stadium paid homage to the brilliant coach Malcolm Allison, they received something of a lesson in quite what provides a club with the foundation of impending greatness.
It is maybe not by cherry-picking every available superstar, however questionable their professional consistency, but establishing a method that indeed opens up the possibility of clear and striking progress.
For all the resources that have filled the club with such individual playing strength, City’s Roberto Mancini is some way from those certainties of ambition which Allison, all those years ago, declared at his first training session.
Allison declared that City would play with an unremitting boldness, a sense of their own potential and down the months and the years it was almost seamlessly augmented by the acquisition of such major players as Mike Summerbee, Francis Lee, Colin Bell and Tony Book.
Plainly, the new City already have a few major figures of their own, but yesterday they also saw how it is when a group of players, who happened to be wearing Arsenal shirts, have a way of playing, and thinking, that sometimes seems as natural as breathing.
Yesterday, Fabregas and Samir Nasri, particularly, were brilliantly faithful to the ethos of their manager, Arsène Wenger. Asked before the game whether he would take a draw right then, he naturally demurred. He said Arsenal always played to win and it was a message that Fabregas supported with much eloquence after the game.
He said that he didn’t know where Arsenal’s commitment to a certain way of playing would lead this season, any more than in the last five when the vital underpinning of silverware has been so elusive, but that was really wasn’t the point of what they were trying to do. To win, yes, but win in the way their talent and their philosophy made them most able – and certainly there were moments yesterday when Arsenal’s football soared above the analysis which inevitably came in the wake of Boyata’s scything down of Marouanne Chamakh after Fabregas had put his first sublime imprint on the game with a through pass that left the young Belgian defender in a fever of calamitous doubt.
The goals of Nasri and Alex Song belonged to the highest category of football creativity and if there is bound to be scepticism about the possibility that Arsenal may also have stumbled upon the iron that has hitherto been so damagingly absent, it is not unreasonable to suspect that with, their chronic injury list showing sharp improvement, this may indeed be the team’s most serious challenge for honours in some years.
It was certainly an uplifting possibility at the end of a week in which many felt the vast wealth of City had put all of English football in its thrall, even to the point where Rooney and his agent might trail along to East Manchester in pursuit of their unique largesse.
Yesterday, other possibilities were at least stirring. Javier Hernandez suggested to Manchester United, once again, that there might have been some life after Rooney – I hope that may return sooner than some of us think – and Arsenal at last managed to dispute the claim that they have become terminally deficient when the stakes are at their highest.
For City, there is still everything to achieve and, who knows? Mancini may be close to coming up with something like a convincing brand of his own. However, on the day when Malcolm Allison’s name was revered, and when it was remembered quite what kind of football his teams produced, the Italian’s surely didn’t and, tellingly, much work is still to be done.
Some time soon, a little deep- running inspiration would also help.
Top write up holic. I am so glad at last that people are seeing Denilson for what he is.He may not be the world’s best but I have said for sometime on here now that he plays a vital role for us. He links play so well. As I have also said before he does a great deal of the scruffy stuff that often gets little praise. His reading of a game is superb.
I like most am even more impressed with the way Nasri has played this season. Each game has seen him grow and grow in stature. He seems to have more and more of an influence on games as the weeks role on.
Still think we can look a little shaky at the back but rather than focus on individuals I would like to think that this is a team thing that can be worked on.
With regards to old Flappy I was one of those who wanted to see him have a spell on loan. I felt he needed games so we can see how good he can be. Well in the last few weeks he has looked head and shoulders above Almunia. Another good performance today I felt. Solid and determined.
Good to see Theo and Nic get a run out. Theo looked eager and Nic took his goal very well. I would expect both to start at the Geordies on Weds night to get some vital minutes under their belt.
All in all a good day.
Keep the faith.
Agree with every word Steve.
Have you had an email from me?
Holic,
Have not checked to be honest. Had a few technical problems this end. I will try again tomorrow. Will get back to you asap.
Cheers
Howddy ‘Holic and patrons to your most wonderful establishment.
As I mentioned a few posts ago, I’ve been a little busy lately (with my own bar) but fortunatly I’ve now got time to catch up on the drinks and throw a big pint sized comment of my own into the mix, here we go….
Mercanary gizzilion squid squad 0
Sensibly run team 3
Love it, f**king looooove it.
To put it in a Holic or BTMesque way, we Sheik, rattled and then rolled over the so called new threat. There may be a blue moon rising, but the arse are greater!!!!
I, as always watched the game in my bar, thanks to my beloved sports packet that my better half bestowed on me for my last birthday. I had lost a little faith in the channel as for some reason during the Ars v B’ham game there was no dutch commentry available and the game was broadcasted (I presume) with the commentry from the sky analisis (not a typo) team, some weedy sounding ponce and the first million pound twat Trevor Francis, their commentary completly ruined the whole experience and I truly feel for my fellow gooners who have to suffer the indignity of having to listen to those uber mongs.
Thankfully, nornal service was resumed for the Shakhtar and Citeh games, proper commentry and analysis from proffessionals who let the football do the talking instead of givind biased and uneducated opions, god bless the Dutch who really do appreciate good football.
We first watched the historic 10-0 defeat of Feyenoord to PSV, spooky comparisions were drawn to a once great team from a harbour city, (L’pooh) that have falen on hard times. As my bar lies in a close proximity to Amsterdam (mostly Ajax and AZ supporters) the mood was already set, added to this the promiss of a couple of rounds on the house if our brave lads could overcome the evils of the darkside, we were all ready in a true “come on you rip roaring reds” atmosphere. (I’m an Arsenal missionary, helping to spread the word of the book of Arsene 🙂 )
I’m a notorious glass is half full gooner, although I’ll honestly admit that I was a little wary of this game, which I saw as one of the biggest tests of our season. our recent encounters with the oil fueled blues have been less then fruitful and I had watched their Yourhopeless League victory on Thursday were thee who shall not be named,except by BTM, (respect sir) played a blinder. My fellow bar companions were under the impression that this was maybe a game that our mighty lads would find difficult, but pre match I educated them on the negativity of plasticManc-cini’s tactics. It’s truly unbelievable that a manager of a team that has so many offensive options, sends out a team that always look to be playing for a draw (even at home).
Beers in hand and TV cranked up the game started, Citeh started almost looking positive (a few ventures down Clichy’s wing) but we matched them with spades, the sending off (totally justified) may have influenced the game, but just proved my point about the wannabe Maureeniho’s tactics, totally negative, no imagination counter attacking footy, because both teams were playing in their first choice strip it must of been dificult (for the uninitiated) to distingish who was the home team.
The game got a bit ugly, cards were dished out like hookers telephone numbers at a Chelsea FC Christmas party, although all respect to the ref who had things under control and even more respect to Wengers “softies” who gave as good as they got and let the Mercs know that they wouldn’t be pushed around. The only criticism I have is why didn’t he give Kompany a booking for the penalty and why De Jong seemingly can get away with murder, a fact that the Dutch comentaters jumped on. (once again, god bless them)
As we took the lead and the game continued it was obvious there was only going to be one winner, to my fellow ‘holics who were in doubt about the result, I can only ask, why? We were in total control. We had a few minor slip ups that were mastered by our new number one, but other then that we were totally solid.
Speaking of our keeper, someone a lot more eloquant then myself previously said that Fabianski needed a few solid games rather then one great game, well, he was right, but today he had a great game, he apears to have found the form that Wenger has always said that he was capable of (why do some still question he who knows???) He is quickly becoming one we shall call Fabby and not Flappy.
It was a team performance today, a great team performance, if it were up to me I would of given Nasri the MOTM award, although the Dutch commentator gave it to Cesc, no problem, as long as it’s an Arsenal player, what does it really matter? For the first time in a while we’ve taken on one of our major rivals, a team that many thought would steamroll us, played them at their own game and beat them. As I passed out the promised free beers I was filled with great pride, good had triumphed over evil, rightiousness had prevailed, everything seemed right in the worlld………………….
Or maybe I had drunk too much. 🙂
I’ll have another beer please ‘Holic sir.
To my worldwide gooner breathren; CHEERS.
#4 Andy
“Great result. Silva should be playing for us. He would fit in perfectly to our style”
yes……he looks arsenal in everything he does.
Watching the game again (downloaded it from ATVO, anyone who doesn’t have – it’s money well spent, register ASAP!) and did anyone else notice how Nasri is taking more control of the team even while Cesc IS playing?
Took all the corners, took the free kick at the end of the first half, too bad he didn’t take the penalty, but he’s starting to boss this Arsenal team and I like it!
Love Samir! Only wish that he’d done at the Bridge and Anfield, what Cesc did in the first five minutes today with the through passes to Arshavin and Chamakh, had he made those passes against Chelsea and Liverpool when Cesc was absent we’d have won.
Good stuff ‘holic. Cheers!
Hurrah again for ‘The Pole in Goal!’
Is Nasri our most improved player?
The entire team was magnificent – there were mistakes and you could see the rust on some of them in the early part of the game- but overall a magnificent, committed, stubborn and tough performance. No surrender!
Role on Wednesday.
Quality H2H.
Hope that ‘capped’ it for your Dutch patrons 😉
Sheikh who?
These Kenny Rogers’ Lyrics describes us yesterday…..
? The Gatlin boys just laughed at him, when he walked into the barroom.
One of them got up and met him halfway ‘cross the floor.
When Tommy turned around they said, Hey look! ol yellows leavin’.
But you coulda heard a pin drop when tommy stopped and locked the door.
Twenty years of crawlin’ was bottled up inside him.
He wasn’t holdin’ nothin’ back; he let ’em have it all.
When tommy left the barroom not a Gatlin boy was standin’.
He said, this ones for Becky, as he watched the last one fall.
“I promised you, dad, not to do the things you’ve done.
I walk away from trouble when I can.
Now please don’t think I’m weak, I didn’t turn the other cheek,
And papa, I sure hope you understand:
Sometimes you gotta fight when you’re a man”. ?
😉
Oh … forgot about our arrogant Captain…. “we would have beaten them even if they had 15 men against our 11”
Who says we can’t brag?
I went to bed with a smile so wide I was in danger of swallowing the pillow 🙂
I had a naff stream and wondered whether:
Djourou is easing himself back from a long lay off and is not playing as well as we would like (I think he will in time and is doing well considering). However, do you think he suffers that Clichy sometimes goes AWOL and he has to cover for him as well. Does h have the same trouble when Gibbs is playing? Don’t know the answer, just putting it out there!
Hopefully my fear of Cesc going off with some kind of an injury/beginning to an injury was unfounded. It was just that he was up, talking to the bench just before going off, and when I see that, I always fear the worst. We are after all, The Arsenal.
Speaking of Cesc, however good Nasri did play (and he did), however excellent Fabianski was in goal (and he was), one of the greatest things that I can take from this game in retrospect is Mr However-not-as-great-as-he-usually-is-and-missed-a-pen-but-still-made-the-sending-off-Fabregas.
Directly from Captain Fantastic:
Speaking about the win yesterday: “We have a very important game on Wednesday that we want to win, and from now on this is finished for us. It was a good win against a good team, and that’s it. We want win now on Wednesday.
Speaking about the sending off: “Even if they were 15 and we were 11 we would still go on and [try to] win”
Speaking about the MotM: “What? I missed a penalty, how can I be man of the match?”
And people don’t think we have that player that will drag this team over the finish-line? Every minute I’ve seen him on the pitch he is urging people on, every minute I’ve seen him in front of a camera he is dismissing all the good words said about us with (and I’m paraphrasing): “We are the Arsenal, this is what we do”.
Can’t get enough of him.
To carry on from yesterday’s drinks, Sammy’s performance still etches a nice imprint.
At the same time, credit is due to Fabianski as he most certainly kept 2 (of many other saves) possibly game changing goals out of our net. I only cringed once throughout the entire game and that’s a fine evening for me.
And ‘Holic, yes, she’s seen the pic of me and the old boy. Didn’t tell her about the burning umbrella tho.
Good morning brothers and sisters.
I see the gang are back to winning ways.
Fabregas the engine, Super Samir Nasri and Song-Billabong all working their magic.
Andrei the silent assassin and the return of B”footballer of the year”52.
As for myself I’m moving house next week so our slump was well timed, giving me a lot to take my off it.
Now bring on the Geordies and the Cockneys and our new set of keys!
I’ll just have a nice warm cuppa Holic to sip while reading your article.
Toby @ 75. Absolutely spot on post.
Hangover is one thing the WIN yesterday just makes is disappear!
I had a double celebration last night as cousin’s wife gave birth to baby boy Nicholas 🙂
H2H great write up too I think you deserve yet another drink for this and I make that Polish Wisniowka I’m sure Fabby would approve!
What else can you add to this Holics ???
And I should have mentioned Denilson; the often unseen, unheralded artisan in the middle of the park. Yes, he is unspectacular and lacking in pace but he is – there – mopping up, intercepting, making himself a general nuisance to the opposition, covering and breaking up attacks. He reads the game well, is rarely caught out of position, rarely gives the ball away (don’t forget that our game is based on possession not on thumping long balls into the opponents half) and is intelligent.
Nice goal for Bendtner too after a fairly long spell out of the game.
Everything else has been said.
To those who think Clichy had a good game I don’t know what to say. It wasn’t entirely bad simply because Man City didn’t have enough men to commit forward for the entire match. Nonetheless he managed to get caught out several times. As for the argument about whether it’s Rosicky or Arshavin playing in front of him I could care less. A good defender can adjust his game particularly when he’s playing with people he see’s in training everyday. If Arshavin plays he needs to know he’s not going to get much help from him and make less runs. He also has been at fault by not challenging in the air on far post crosses. I know he’s small but for Christ’s sake at least jump. Although I must point out that I think both of our fullbacks have been pretty shoddy for quite some time. ( oh and neither of them can cross worth a damn)
I am planning my first trip to the emirate, just wanna ask if anyone know this http://www.onlineticketexpress.com/ is trustworthy?
I want to get the ticket at the stadium on the day, any cheaper option??
Many thx fellow gunners!!
A truly stupendous result in the context of the season so far. Of course the sending off was a travesty and citeh would have won had it not happened——Yeah right, Signor Mancini! One problem on the horizon is the exquisite form of Nasri. The problem is that he is now due for a spell on the sidelines as he damages a knee or tweaks his thigh muscle! Tremendous goal from our only Song, though I can`t get on with his new barnet., as it looks as if he`s been to a joke shop and come out wearing a Harpo Marx Wig.
@ Biscuitbum #83 re: Harpo Marx wig – made me chortle, thanks!
I bet our wonderous El Capitaino, although still young, could develop a fine set of Groucho eyebrows to match given another 20 years of maturity or so.
Or he could use Bendy’s hat (the one he wore on his TV interview last night) to make a false set now. 🙂
@Matt 52
Excellent points
Am I correct in thinking that Jack’s available for Newcastle on Wednesday?
BTM – Fortunately he isn’t, meaning we only miss him for 2 league games.
@ BTM #86 & Snir G #87
I’m with Snir on the fortunate view of things. Our Beer Cup Kids/Mentors Mix ‘n’ Match should be a fine side to take on The Toon tomorrow. Will Pole The Younger get his big chance to show what many were clamouring for during our summer of goalkeeping discontent?
Assuming the injury gods continue to smile upon us (relatively speaking) it will be wonderful to have Jack and Capt. Fabtastic playing together again in The Championship to terrorize The Toon for a second time when we welcome them back to The Ems.
I’m betting on 2 good wins and some sparks between Andy Carroll, Joey Barton and our steely/nasty back 5. Hope Jack and One Song behave themselves in midfield too.
Have a great day ‘Holic & ‘Holics.
… Oh, and looking at our home page this morning, I’m betting JET’s going to get a run-out tomorrow as well but in what position???
Guys – for those of you who have seen more then me of the reserves and Watford; what type of player is Lansbury? Wenger has likened him today to Parlour but I thought he was a little more silky in his skills? (God bless Romford Pele).
Anyone care to make comparisons?
Evenn ing ‘holics,
@ true Storey AW had confirme on ATVO today that Pole the Yonger will be on goal at Toon game, togehte with Kos B2 and Theo, as for JET he said nothing. Personally I would love to see hem may be to just 20 minutes to guage if he is good enough.
Watch out for Bendtner goal streak! (Does not refer to post-score pants doffing.)
@ SoE
Thanks for update. Look forward to watching that team. Let’s hope the confidence of young Wojciech’s performance matches his confidence. If you want to see how good JET is go to this link and be amazed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFjaBXa3Sys&feature=player_embedded
@ BT8BBNN
I’m sure there’s quite a few Goonerettes that would love to see that kind of B52 goal streak!
Catalan, – Our ‘enri is like a skinhead that’ll mug you in a dark alley 🙂
I’d say a bit like Steve Bull.
Holic of late i have started writing as well, and would love to get some feedback from the people who have actually taught me blogging. Please if you can 🙂
http://www.oleole.com/blogs/hussainarshavins-blog/posts/the-newcastle-arsenal-preview