Time To Hit The Road Without Jack
Oct 23rd, 2010 by 'holic
“We can win big games and we have an opportunity on Sunday to show that.”
Arsene’s pre-match interview on ATVo produces the most telling quote ahead of the trip to Eastlands. Forgive the impertinence, but I would have put it slightly differently.
“We can dominate our rivals and not be floored by the sucker punches on the counter-attack.”
Last seasons trip to the same venue saw us go the same way as we did at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford. We should have got something from the game, but were horribly exposed by pace on the break. This season we had an opportunity to show at Stamford Bridge we had absorbed the lessons of a year ago, but again we were comfortably beaten despite dominating possession.
The trip to the side currently occupying the second spot has added significance as a result. I argued prior to the Chelsea match that as it was only game seven it was not a ‘must-win’ affair. Two games on I would agree that this is at least a ‘must-not-lose’ contest. Should we go one better and record the victory we will take that second spot off Citeh on goal difference, but still trail Chelsea by five points.
The question marks about selection will vex the Home team more than Arsene, I suspect. Will the cautious Mancini go with five defensive midfielders, or just four so he can pick the man who must not be mentioned. Oh hang it all, if I don’t give Mr Adebayor a name check then I know BtM will! I think he is possibly the only player who sparks a difference of opinion between us, but of course civil disagreement is perfectly acceptable.
For us the loss of Jack Wilshere is a big one, I believe, but softened by the fact that the skipper will surely start. I think the only decisions for ‘Le Boss’ are to choose between Abou Diaby or Denilson alongside Alex Song, and Andrey Arshavin or Tomas Rosicky on the left. The latter will be interesting. Although Arsene was quick to come out in praise of the little Russian this week it cannot have escaped his attention that we look a far more potent side when ‘little Mozart’ is on form.
Don’t ask me why, but I am feeling unusually confident for this one. The performance against Shakhtar must have raised confidence levels. We have some real quality on the bench, and I have a feeling Theo Walcott may get on at some stage of tomorrow to run at tiring defenders. You might argue it is irrational but something is telling me to plump the ‘holic pound on a 2-1 away win at around 10/1.
Speaking of that dreaded punt, those who don’t venture into the drinks will know I kept up my one hundred percent record on Tuesday with another duff tip. However you would have missed this in the preview comments at ten past seven.
“Took the fives on Chamakh. Supplementary silly punt of the night? 5-1 to Arsenal at 80/1. Silly one really, I think it will be tight.”
Needless to say I am now typing this preview on a new iMac, courtesy of Eduardo! Not so silly, after all. Pop back pre-match on Sunday for any late supplementary tips.
Have a good Sunday ‘holics.
50 Responses to “Time To Hit The Road Without Jack”
Great blog holic, I too feel we can get something from this game.
It is strange how we miss Jack now, he is only 18 and has played a few games this season.
Congratulations on the returns from the ‘holic pound!
Sheik Sheik, Sheik Sheik – a – Sheik It*
Did the Milk Shake of Abbly Dabbly have a big smile on his face when Ade scored a hat trick in mid-week? You bEtihad! It got even bigger when he heard that the bald fat granny sh****r wanted away from Man IOU and that Colleen wanted him to go to Shitty “so that she could pop round her mum’s of an evening for a cuppa and a chat”
But it does beg the question. How many new oil wells does Milk Shake have to spud to fund the ever-increasing gusher of pound notes belching into the rain sodden atmosphere of Mancunia? Into the pockets of the mildly talented, posing as Cesc Wannabees? And into the dung beetle depths of the gullets, of the likes of Scrooney’s agent, Stretford? And eventually, into Auld Slapper’s purse when Wayne visits next?
And more to the point, where the hell is he going to put all of these players he’s buying? There’ll be more bodies in the dressing room than on the Eastlands terraces at this rate. Maybe he should buy the Ark Royal, park it in Manchester Harbour under the lighthouse, and stack the players in the airplane hangers below decks?
And wasn’t it funny to see The Famous Red Grouse, Old Purplenose, “dumfounded” because some club was about to do to him what he’s being doing to others for years? Spending unmatchable sums to buy silverware. The irony of Scrooney’s arrival at Man IOU from Everton, in not dissimilar circumstances, seems to have escaped him.
It’s the Milk Shake money-go-round and it has gone completely mad. This is sordid player greed and silverware buying, both at their very worst. It’s Arsenal and Arsene Wenger in reverse, in a different gear, going fast backwards in overdrive, without looking in the rear view mirror. It’s not a real world strategy. It’s more like the fable of Ali Baba with Scrooney in the role of the Genie, continuously rubbing his “lamp”.
I was at this match last year. It was the day “He’s 5 foot 4……” was heard first. Almunia fell asleep for their opener. Adebayor scored and did his famous length. I thought we were the better team and should have won it, but we came away 2-4. City were very average and the players Hughes had bought, even more so.
Since the arrival of the Pink Panther, they’ve begun to look a little bit better. Silva is a quality player, AW reject Toure Yaya is a big influence and Tevez and Johnston are a handful. They look fair going forward, but their rear-guard looks porous, and I think Lescott in particular offers opportunity and a Richards brain fart is likely.
Gael Clichy will need to be on his mettle today, as will Squill and JD 20. The mid-field battle will be interesting and we’ll miss Jack to counter De Jong’s leg breakers so Denilson will need to be sporting his biggest pair of bollocks. Barry is no match for Cesc and Alex Song will better whomever they try to counter him with.
The BTM crystal ball has a red hue appearing under a light blue sky. But don’t take that as any kind Arsenal subjugation. It simply means the sun’s coming up on a 2-1 Arsenal away win as the blue moon fades slowly into Manchester Harbour, leaving Shitty Sheiking All Over in their blue suede shoes. Nasri and Cesc to score for us.
Now must rush, Colonial Cup match here today when us Brits whack the Colonies on the fairways and greens. A Birdie Bushmills for me barman please.
* Metro Station ‘Holic. New band, way after our taste, but useful intro line.
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1st time on ‘Holic. Regular reader. Great laugh.
Here’s a happy way to announce my presence. We’re dead tomorrow. The fix is in. Clattenburg is the ref again (he was for the same fixture last year). The refs are sponsored by Air Asia and “Clats” was prominent in their advertising. Air Asia were part owned by Thaksin Shinawatra before he had to leave Thailand in a hurry. Clattenburg has reffed 11 City games, they’ve never lost, and if you look at the job he did last year you could be mistaken for thinking there was something ruddy bent about what happened on the pitch.
I’ll have a peroni please, draught not bottled. I’d have a Jack, but i see its not available. shame.
Wow! Well done, ‘holic!
I’d start Denilson and Song tomorrow. The much derided Brazilian is necessarily limited, but we need a midfielder who can hold a defensive position in games like this. Song’s great, but he can’t help venturing forward and leaving the back four exposed. Jack won’t be too big a miss, he’s played his best football without Cesc this year. I’m excited about seeing Chamakh and Bendtner on the pitch together at some point too, could be an interesting combination. Like the ‘Holic, I’m cautiously optimistic. A win would be a real statement of intent, a draw would be perfectly decent…Come on you Gooners !
Great punting there Holic!
I too am going for a 2-1 away win and agree again that Rosicky shoulod start in favour of Arshavin.
Mines a Brandy and coke, cheers!
I think I would plump for Denilson for exactly the same reason, Anonymarse.
A real classic, BtM. Hope you are getting some well-earned rest after that round.
holic – I agree with most of what you say b
ut you are wrong on Rosicky v Arshavin – watched all the highlights of the last month on
Arsenal.com and Arshavin for all he looks lazy etc will hurt teams – Rosicky flatters 2 deceive – put the 2 in the oppositions penalty box who is your money on?
PS been on the beers all day so prepared 4 the deluge 🙂
Congrats on the iMac holic. I’m very optimistic about tomorrow. Off a great win, City just played Thursday and were shaky at the back against Blackpool’s passing game. 2-1 as well for me.
I’ll be really surprised if Diaby doesn’t start.
Should have put this in the blog. Best goal we ever conceded 😉
Last season we lost 4-2 without Man City having to break a sweat. Clichy went f***king AWOL that game facing SWP and Richards. I remember him winning the ball back and bombing forward without a care in the world only for Richards to win the ball back and 1-2-3 City scored what was either the 2nd or 3rd goal. City opened the scoring from a set piece we pulled a goal back from RVP and went all gung-ho – it was horrible to watch but an all too familiar sight nowadays. We conceded 42 goals last season and well on the way to eclipsing if not surpassing our goals against column this season. Money or no money there is no excuse neglecting to coach and improve players’ tactical discipline and defense. Refocus training or hire a designated defensive coach to make us more defensively sound. So it boils down to this…. we play like we did against Chelsea recently or say Man Utd at home last season we will be comprehensively beaten. Setup the way we did against Liverpool a couple of seasons ago during the 4-4 game we stand a chance. We need to learn to sit-back, soak up pressure, and kill teams with quick incisive passing. We possess the players to do this. We need to do onto teams what they do to us. But unfortunately I’ve not seen any evidence that we’ve turned a new “defensive” corner so a 3-2, 3-1 City but I’d dearly love to be proved wrong.
Cheers Holic! Congrats on the new machine, and Eduardo’s goal must surely be the greatest goal we ever conceded. I have never felt the sense of warmth I felt inside when he scored against us- in my twisted brain it really felt like he had just scored FOR us, like a weird timewarp where he was able to come back and do it one last time before he’s truly gone. Just magnificent, and your punt makes it all the more magnificent.
Coal Ila, neat, if it’s around. Cheers.
Caol ila, don’t know what the other one would be!
I wish I could feel optimistic about tomorrow, but all week I have had a horribly negative feeling about this game. I can’t quite explain it, but I have this very strong feeling that we are about to get spanked silly. Maybe it’s just the bad memories of last year that are haunting me, but anyway… I am not looking forward to the game.
Pint of Boddingtons, please!
wenger pointedly said he wont ever play with two defensive midfielders. I think he was meaning Song and Denilson together and I think he was meaning Sunday’s match in particular. I think there’s more chance of Nasri playing in there than Denilson – but of course it will be Diaby (if fit). Its a really hard game to call. City will play ultra defensive, but our results against such teams have been poor. On that basis we could easily lose.
its my birthday today hopefully the arsenal will give me the best gift it can!!!
I have a meeting on Tuesday with a Citeh supporting colleague, who gloated big time last year about the win and their ‘capture’ of Adebayor. I tried to warn him them about Greedybayor, but he wouldn’t listen. A win for us tomorrow will purge any unnecessary pre-meeting chat, and I will sit there smugly. A draw will be ok, but a loss and I may have to cancel… 😉
Talisker please, ‘holster.
AGAIN “Unusually confident” before a match where we either ”
1. Get overpowered in midfield
or
2. We are going to dominate and concede “unfortunate” goals…
just dont feel we have matured yet
Wenger will have studied the way Citeh bullied Chelsea a couple of weeks ago, so he will want as much heighth and strength on the field as possible. So Diaby and Song are certainties to start. Whether they can atually make an impact is another thing altogether…..
Talisker, Mr Snail?
No problem at all. Just go here, http://www.malts.com/friendsshare/
😉 The drinks really are on old ‘holic this morning.
why so quiet mr. barman?
I’m wondering if the latest Song’s advancing to the front yet neglecting his defensive due has anything to do with instruction from the boss.If so what is the AW thinking? As much as I don’t like
Denilson I will better have him than Diaby who will hold the ball outside D of the opposition half and gave it away never chase it.
I put a bet for 2-1 to Arsenal but since ‘holic has put it laready I know ‘holic pounds jinx the team! I will be happy to be proved wrong. For those of you lucky to attend the game godluck .
Would love to see Mozart in for Arshy, he deserves it after impressive recent displays, quite the opposite could be said of Arshy. Having said that Arshy still has world class ability but when will we see it? Hopefully today if he plays. Too bad Jack is out so either Denilson or Diaby must have a great one today I feel if we are to get the 3 points. Are they up for it? Come on you Gunners! Lets hope Ade has a mare if he plays.
Might as well give away money. Just a few silly first goal punts on Denilson (28/1 Bet365), Song (40/1), Djourou (66/1), Sagna (66/1), Clichy (66/1 – all Stan James).
All small beer and affordable. There is a reason why they are that highly priced.
I’m happy that Diaby is not on the starting lineup
Oh, and a little fiver on Arsenal to win 4-2 at 100/1.
Throw enough sand and some may stick 😉
If you give a bet for those scores ‘holic be sure to loose it it never going to happen!
OK…it’s time. Honestly this is far more of a must win than Chelsea was. I think we will 2-1.
Come on you rip roaring…..
This game is very, very wierd.
It’s like a Merseyside derby. Loads of bad play and bookings and everything going wrong for both sides.
I’m one of Arshavin’s biggest critics for his work ethic but the pass to Nasri is the reason he’s in the starting lineup.
I just love the fact we have 4 yellows. No more softies of the top 4.
Djourou is very suspect. He can play against the lesser teams to give the other 2 a breather but shouldn’t play in these kind of games.
What a pity for Cesc’s penalty miss, especially with Holic’s punt.
Still looking good for both 2-1 and 4-2, Snir.
Really mad at Djourou for missing a sitter at 0-0 🙁
My concidence is woblling as soon as the Djourou is attaced he is very slopy. I will be hapy for 2-1 for us.
They’ve got their YaYa out
I don’t want to hear anything about the red card being the decider and that we can’t read too much into the result because of that. The red card was the product of a great pass from us and a bad challenge by them. It’s all part of the game.
Fabianski was excellent today.
Hopefully Cesc isn’t too badly hurt. It’s probably only a little twinge, but well, we’re the Arsenal, a little pull usually means half a year off.
What a result I never thought I’d say these words after last season but Fabianski take a bow son you looked today like an Arsenal number 1 🙂
Fully Up The Arse !!
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas: “I missed a penalty, how can I be man of the match?!”
-BBC
What a SUPERB WIN
This game was very tough but we showed everyone we are no longer the team that gets bullied around.
Fabianski had a very good game.
A point for everyone in the bar!
Come on you Riproaring REDS!
That boy is a winner.
I have been his harshest critic but Fabianski was superb 2day as was Song and Denilson
Rosicky v Arshavin my point was proven I think – Rosicky 10 yards from goal and he passes with just the keeper 2 beat.
Also Djouro a bit of a bombscare – prefer Kos back in there.
A great 3 pts – pints of Star all round!
sorry bout text speak folks – posting from my phone!
Mancini whingeing bout sending off – dry your Italian eyes mate!
Oh how sweet! fantastic bloody fantastic yeah!!!!
Who is this keeper and what has he done with Fabianski? Another solid performance. Cesc and Nasri were titanic as well. The sending off certainly helped, but those three points were well earned.
Don’t get down on Djourou. He is still coming back in to the side. I think he attacks the ball well from set pieces and I also think he tries to do the simple things. E.g. Row X when he is unsure if he has a pass on.
Also, forget about the sending off. If we’d been down to ten men early, you could rest assured we’d have raised our game, as I felt Citeh did. Not many teams will get three goals at that ground this season (and I include Citeh in that too!).
Final word goes to Fabianski. He made three crucial saves, which if they had gone in would have seen Citeh’s confidence rise much higher. Also, his distribution seems to be very good as well. Let’s back this guy as we should any of our custodians. We are the Arsenal!
GET IN!
I see some of my luck is still rubbing off on the lads. Fabianski is growing in confidence and i barely had to hold my head in nervousness whenever he goes out. That would also mean the defenders have a better piece of mind.
How good was Sammy today? He has a different look about him, in my opinion. A look of determination in his eyes. Long may this continue.
A Pint of Cider please, Senor ‘Holic.
I say once again to you Lukasz, please continue to prove me wrong 🙂
On the train heading back to civilisation, great match from my point of view which was row 7, I though Arsh did well to track back early and help out Clichy. Fab was excellent, well the one in goal did for sure, el Capitain is still easing in and by his standards at about 70%.
Nasri was super as was Song who for me was great in defence and attack.
Happy and about to take a well earned nap.
Chamomile tea for me please ‘holic as stll on the detox
get the fuck in.
What a game. Take a bow, everyone from Arshavin and Nasri right to Fabianski.
Not a bad word to say about anyone.
Cheers Sajit, well said. The boys were fantastic, great spirit and determination. We must’ve had 80% possession the second half. A special thanks to all at Maggie’s in San Francisco- what a great, welcoming spot for a Gooner. I’ll be there from now on!
Guinness, please, and a pint for 1974 if he’s out there!