Let's Get Serious, It's Time
Nov 19th, 2010 by 'holic
It’s nearly here. Fun has been had this week, but now it it’s time to get a little more serious about the impending North London derby.
It’s important for ‘holicdad, the first ‘holic generation born in an Islington incorporating Arsenal. It’s important for the late ‘holicgodfathers who used to brave the back of the Clock End week in and week out during the great drought of 53-70, and who witnessed the unthinkable in the middle of that drought.
It’s important for Vic, who I first met travelling to the four corners of the country with the Supporters Club in the early seventies, and the faces we saw regularly in those days most weeks, including the man who would come to be known these days as the Highbury Spy. It’s important for Micky from Colchester who I spotted again during the last season at Highbury. It’s important for Nigel, a true gentleman, Tone, a top Gooner, and Jez, great company and all with tales to tell.
It’s important to a whole new breed I have enjoyed the privilege of meeting in recent years, Ollie, Dubs, Reds, KT, Snir, Steve-o, and the inimitable Bergkamp the Man. Those and many others with a passion that never ceases to invigorate.
It’s important for Peter Hill-Wood, Ken Friar, and David Miles, who have experienced all of the highs and lows associated with this derby, and who will, I’m sure, have drilled into the newer ‘executives’ the full meaning of the outcome for the supporters, not just ‘members’, of our great club. It’s important for Jill, who gives so much on behalf of the Arsenal supporters.
The game will again spark memories of so many no longer with us. A ‘holicuncle and ‘holicgrandfather, and John White from the other side, in more ways than one. Rocky, Geordie Armstrong, and far too many Gooners who lived in times when the lack of ticket restrictions meant that this was always the most ‘atmospheric’ of encounters. I’ll be making a brief stop at the Bear roundabout to offer you all a quick private thought before the game.
This current group of Arsenal players must understand that it is important to them too. Painstakingly, and with little in the way of resources when compared to the free-spending lot in opposition, Arsene has assembled as talented a squad as exists in the Premier League today. If they are to achieve their destiny, this squad needs to at very least sustain a concerted title challenge to the season’s end. They undoubtedly have the talent, but are they ‘winners’? Do they have the stomach for the big challenges to come? Victory will not confirm that they have, but anything else will suggest the opposite applies.
Remarkably it would appear that the injury list has not grown during a round of meaningless friendly internationals, but energy has been expended, needlessly in some cases. For once I will not speculate about the starting line-up. Realistically Arsene has choices to make in the centre of the defence, the centre of midfield, and on both flanks. You all know I am firmly in the ‘Arsene knows’ camp, and the side he decides is right for the job will get full vocal backing from me for ninety minutes plus.
And that is the last group of people for whom this game is important. That’s you, and you, and you, as well as I. All of us who will be in the Grove have to get behind the team in a way that they only usually experience on the road these days. Don’t sit there smiling at the fella in front of you singing, screaming, even blaspheming. One of the reasons for us playing better away from home than at home this season is, I am sure, the non-stop support and encouragement from the travelling Gooners. When that geezer gets going, join in, be the twelfth man that potential table-toppers need and deserve. Please?
The ‘holic pound knows only one outcome, and I am already on 4-2, available at fifties if you shop around. Yes, I really do think this will be one of the classic derby games. We have a large squad putting pressure, of the right kind, on those in the team to perform. I’m expecting the visitors, at their strongest for a while we must admit, to come and have a right go too. If we play well it won’t matter what they do. I am banking on that being the case.
Have a great one Gooners, and don’t forget what that bloody Pope said!
154 Responses to “Let's Get Serious, It's Time”
You guys grab a table, I’ll get the drinks in.
Bar open already?
Mine’s a lemonade. Keeping sober before tomorrow, you see 😉
Rousing stuff, ‘holic.
Come on you rip roaring reds.
A pint of best.
This is the one!!!
For the last few years the emphisis has been on the IOU and Chavski games, but for me, a Holloway/Islington lad, this is the first fixture I always look for.
A lot of the team have been with us for a while and many from a young age, so they’ll appreciate what it means to the fans, I hope they can drill this in to the newer additions to the squad.
I echo Holic’s plee and urge all of you lucky enough to be there to cheer the team on, no matter what. The away support at Everton last weekend put the Goodison faithful to shame, the Emirates needs to be turned into a high powered atmospere fortress, I’m sure it can only be good for our team.
Come on you gunners lets blast those cock’s back up to the stanky end of the Seven Sisters Road.
Lager please sir.
Cheers.
3-1 for the team in red. Cesc, Nasri and Wilshere to score.
COYG
Youve wrote some smashing posts Holic but that ones right up their with the very very best – Top Stuff,
The Dub you refer to dosent knock about with Dibs does he?
Anyway 3-1 The Arsenal,
To Absent Friends,
Up The Arse.
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I have chills all over my body… One of your best if not THE best.
By the way, I’m coming in late January for about a whole month, what a month that’s gonna be :).
Really don’t see any other result besides a home victory for the simple reason – We’re a much better team with a much better manager and much better players.
Just think of it when you are wary of only VdV and Bale in their squad while Spurs fans need to be wary of practically everyone – Chamakh, Nasri, Cesc, Jack, Song, Arshavin, Walcott etc’.
Who the FUCK are spurs??
I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR POST B4 EVERY GAME AND THIS ONE DOESNT LOOK DIFFERENT.COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF THE GAME 3 1 TO THE GUNNERS. A BOTTLE OF COLD GUINNESS STOUTH PLZ BAR MAN
A wonderful battle cry ‘Holic, full of passion and fond memories. Have a fantastic day at the Ems. I’ll be listening out for your voice on the ATV-O commentary 🙂
Sing-up tomorrow Gooners, wherever you are but especially to all those who are fortunate enough to find themselves inside the home of football.
Come on you Mighty Reds, it’s high-time we put ourselves back at the top of the table which is where we belong!
I’m with chippy and Hashish, 3-1 to The Arsenal.
Afternoon liveners all round please barman, cheers!
Sitting halfcut at Liverpool lime street station whilst waiting for a train back to civilisation after 5 days of shrill scouse accents may not be thebest place to type a message regarding the mighty Arsenal but here goes.
After getting funny looks on the merseyrail due to laughter at the ufgn podcast and arseblog podcast I’m right in the mood for tomorrows game.
For a 23 year long supporter it’s one of those games that creeps up on you, mixed, as it is, in with Euro competition and other massive games. When u realise that it’s the next day however, the red and White blood coursing through your veins starts to warm up ready to hit boiling point at kick off n
I’m glad u stopped your amazing post when u did Mr ‘holic Sir otherwise this drunken Gooner might have been shedding a few tears in Liverpool.
Come on the Arsenal!!!!!!
How about Chamakh for his first derby goal? Cesc relives last year’s lovely celebration, and RvP comes on for a coup de grace. 3-0 to the Arsenal!
Wonderful remembrance of gooners past and present, ‘Holic; a rousing call for passionate support-I’ll be joining TS listening on ATVO. I don’t think you need to be an “AKB” to support Arsenal when they take the field–that’s a given.
Why is he called the Highbury Spy? Wondered about that for a long while….
Am on the train and still surrounded by scousers!
3-1 to the Arsenal for me
COYRRR!
I’m nervous about tomorrow’s game, hopefully we beat them with a large score to shut their mouths. Ollie, i’m wondering if you’re the guy i met 3 years ago at Robinson Crusoe’s pub, i’m from Africa, tall with glasses, i took a picture with you celebrating. (if you’re the Ollie i’m thinking you are), keep up the faith Gooners !!!
5 – 0 to the arsenal!
Any of
Denislson
Rosicky
Nasri
Charmakh
Theo
RVP
Koscielny hat-trick. You read it here first. And more bizarre even, a decent, non-embarrassing performance from Clichy. I’m calling it.
Ok, ok, ok…I’ll stop with this for now.
More seriously though, our lack of cutting-edge at the 3 points lane last season was depressing. We appeared clueless, but then RVP came on and showed his class.
We need to take risks, play fast, and not become predictable if they do sit deep. If they do, shoot from distance or cross for Chamakh/Bendtner/Agent Gallas to head home.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
Grimbergen for me please, or Leffe, or Erdinger, Or even better: a 49 year old red wine whenever you’re ready barman.
Oh, and this has to be re-posted.
http://www.malaysiangooner.com/?p=423
HAHAHAHAHAHHA
gets me every time.
Willy, don’t think so. I don’t remember ever having been to the Robinson Crusoë (not that it means I haven’t been, but definitely not just to watch a game).
There’s loads of Ollies 😉
Cheers!
I try not to think about the game because it only makes me nervous. I try to think of something sensible to say about the game but my brain just freezes. Guess I’ll just have to keep quite then – and I’ll see you all in this very bar sometime after the game…
Jeez, ‘holic. I was already fired up, but after reading this I’m nearly shaking in anticipation. Excellent post, as always! It’s a 6:30 am kickoff for those of us here in the middle of the ole’ USA, but I wouldn’t miss this one for all the sleep in the world. Especially not given my most recent wardrobe addition:
http://tinypic.com/r/v6ubr7/7
A 3-1 scoreline looks tasty to me, I’d say they come from Robin, Nasri and Cesc, in that order. The glass man with the chocolate leg seems to relish the derby, I fully expect him to show he’s back and to show up his countryman in white.
A Flemish red for me, barman…or really, anything red. Time to send the Lillywhite bastards back home with their tails between their legs.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
I’m really nervous about the NLD. So nervous, I have butterflies in my tummy now all the way from Singapore and I dreamt of the game twice last night.
At the same time, I can’t wait. We are miles better than them Scums and I want to prove it in 90 mins. Counting down the hours now.
The Arsenal!
Looking for a big day out of the TTT (Song, Fabregas, Denilson) and the SSS (SF&D + Nasri, Chamakh, Walcott). All to be revealed in <24 hours. I'm predicting 3-2 with Cesc to do something equally spectacular as his solo effort in last year's fixture and against all odds Sagna to continue his goalscoring streak. Come on Arsenal!
‘holic and all who are attending, enjoy the game and please do your best to create a travelling gooners kind of atmosphere inside the stadium.
Cheers ‘holic. See you tomorrow.
There’s something about Arry;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eN501rfXI-4&NR=1&feature=fvwp
H2H,
Seen it before but still makes me laugh out loud. 🙂
Who would you rather have leading your club AW or ‘Arry? It’s an insult just to as the question isn’t it?
More large for H2H please barman.
I don’t even get an honorary mention?
I may have to take my business elsewhere.
Oh go on then, pint of cider please, guv.
‘holic
That is a beautiful piece of writing. I guess we must be contemporaries .
My favourite Spurs memory was walking back up the Seven Sisters Rd after we won the Double in ’71. HAd to sit outside WHL because the crowd was so enormous and there were thousands of gooners glued to transistors.
They were classless poo then and they remain so 40 years later
I’ll have a nicely chilled Tuborg please
…and of course, nelly 😉
Just a quick update. The ‘holic pound remains on 4-2, but a supplementary punt on 5-2 at 100/1 has been placed on Stan James, who have been generous to me just lately.
Holic,
A free scoring game against The Spuds would be a thing of beauty assuming we get the lions-share of the goals. I love those bold scorelines and the odds are fairly spectacular. How many new Apple devices and HDTVs can one crave?
I’d like to join ‘Raddy with a nicely chilled Tuborg please barman.
There’s a lot of good Gooners over for the fiftieth anniversary party after the game, TS. I’ll need it to cover the bar bill 🙂
Loving it, holic. You know, and no offence mind, you remind me of my dearly departed grandad. He knew some of the players in the thirties and my granny used to wear black if we lost. Know you’re much more of a spring chicken though. You just remind me of him in the way he used to speak volumes without having to say – or type – very much.
Yes in recent years Chelski and of course Manu have been much more of a threat, but there’s only one North London derby. long may your blog flourish, and I’ glad the holic pound’s up so far this season.
Rosicky or Walcott to start?
Evening Holics
Really big game tomorrow for us, I’m sure everyone is really excited about it, little nervous here as well.
For everyone going tomorrow morning have a great day guys and shout for me as well as loudest as you can!
I will be shouting from my lounge I know that, little OliverTheGooner will be with me for this one in his litle Gooner outfit 🙂
Come on you ALMIGHTY REDS!!!!
Off toy watch ATVO now, barman a fosters top for me please!
Looking good Holic 🙂
Regular ‘holics will know I am a bit of a Luddite, so Arthur, take a bow son.
The new addition to the sidebar is all Arthur’s work people, and I cannot begin to tell you how grateful I am to him.
We should also acknowledge the original providers of the clock for the inspiration, the website of the ‘Up The Arse’ fanzine.
Thank you all.
Usual nice look back, ‘Holic.
Really looking forward to this – I’ll be trying to rouse Block 91 – not always an easy job, but here’s hoping.
Quite confident about it – they may well score, but I think we will be in the mood to score more. An early goal could produce a fantastic scoreline for us – your 5 – 2 bet could be a shrewd one.
Agent Gallas is securely planted in the centre of the LWC’s defence.
Job done !
Another fantastic post Goonerholic – take a bow yourself “son”.
With it being an early kick off I can see me being well and truly bladdered by 5pm. I will apologise in advance if I turn up in the drinks tomorrow evening “not quite myself”.
Anyone up for being designated driver tomorrow? I didn’t think so 🙂
Let’s send these LWC back up the road with their inferiority complex firmly back in its’ place.
I won’t be back here for a while tomorrow for much the same reason zico.
Something about a golden anniversary party in North London tomorrow 🙂
So well written sir! Look forward to raising a pint of plain with you tomorrow.
For a nightcap, a large Powers Gold Label please.
Great stuff geezer, very stirring indeeed. Having a cheeky rum and coke, having just got the nipper to sleep.
Cant wait for tomorrow, see you then!
I know I’ll be wearing my RVP jersey tomorrow at the pub.
What about you holics? How will you dress for this memorable anniversary?
aj, Esso,
See you tomorrow, and remember, win or lose, we’re on the booze!
There’s a party happening 🙂
‘holic #45, I think you’ve got the attitude just about right. Have fun!
RVP’s right foot….
Looking good ‘Holic.
Nice one Holic looks perfect for to me that T-shirt… 🙂
I fancy a 4:2 as well I might invest a feb bob on that one.
Holic next time I’ll be enjoying those beers with you guys and thats a promise.
Barman a pint of Star for me please
Holic
Lovely lovely post.
It’s at times like these i miss my Dad more than i can say,
I’ve lost count of the number of NL derbies and cup ties we went to together down through the years,the times we spent hours queuing at Highbury for all ticket games.
The great cameraderie among the Arsenal fans,the always electric atmosphere,the ghosts from both sides of Derbies deep in the past.
The train rides home,excited or sad depending on the result,
Those times sadly will never be repeated,but they are there locked in my heart.
But i know he will be there in spirit with me tomorrow, when the teams run out for another ding dong battle.
Cheers with a tear.
Clive
Understand entirely, Clive. Of course there are exaggerated claims about the importance of the game, but when you think of what it has meant to so many good people down the years, don’t anybody give me that ‘only a game’ nonsense.
This far more than only a game.
Fine post ‘Holic. I was feeling nervous until I read it. You should be in the dressing room pre-match, mate. Now I can’t wait. Come on you redzzzzzz!
Mines a Guinness in your honour.
Oh come one now it’s only a game, get a grip.
Just joking. Any win will do but I fancy a 3-0 demolition with Fabianski in top form and Kos back.
GO GUNNERS! Just shouting now, not sure I will have the strength at 5am tomorrow. Perhaps few White Russians would help me see the game “today”, we’ll see how it goes.
‘Holic & ‘Clive,
I’ve probably said this before but as it’s a night of high emotion for many (including me) I’ll run the risk of repeating myself.
As a man, there are only things that remain with you for life: 1) your children (god willing) & 2) your football team.
If this is “just a game” then you can’t be a true Arsenal supporter.
Even if we lost tomorrow and went on to win the leauge and all our remaining fixtures with Chelski and Manure there will still be a painful memory of knowing that we lost to that bunch of tossers from down the road.
So come on you Rip Roaring, give us those bragging rights and spank those chavvy pretenders tomorrow until they beg for mercy. Top 4 club my arse.
Cheers Arthur,
Wonderful job with the “Cock Counter”, really professional. Now we know what keeps you up at night 😉
Barman?, whatever Arthur fancies please.
TS
Thank you for your kind words and for the drink, last night I was on JD he he stayed up untill really late don’t worry I paid for it today at work he he
I like it as well perhaps we can make it look even better in the furture 🙂
Barman whatever TS fancies please
Big game tomorrow my heart will be ponding as usual! Come you Almighty Reds!!!
‘Hols,
You all will be able to hear my singing in Islington from deep in the heart of Texas. Not sure for whom I feel sorrier, those LWCs…or my neighbors!
Most excellent write-up, kind sir. I’m looking for Monsieur Nasri to keep on form and terrorize Willie. As George C. Scott said (in the role of Patton) to his dog William, “You’re no William. You’re a willie.”
If we can keep monkey-boy in check, we should be fine.
Up the arse!
Arthur,
I joined you in a virtual double JD mate but you were probably too far gone by then to notice….
I’ll have an ice-cold pint of Guinness to wash down the wife’s meatballs.
*belches loudly and wakes children*
*corrects himself*
I’ll have an ice-cold pint of Guinness to wash down the management’s delicious meatballs. 🙂
Hmmmm?
5-1 to the Arsenal? Arshavin hatrick?
@59 True Storey
That was … quite disturbing, TS.
🙂
TS
I do remember that last night don’t worry my man hope you enjoyed that JD I know I did 😀
Any management’s delicious meatballs left i feel kinda pekish?
Holic what a post, I must have been drinking near you in supporters club umpteen times in the past! Vic, know him well, Mick from col nodding terms for 30 years probably on same train tomorrow. Boy I can’t wait, taking my 5 year old liam 2 his first north London derby and he knows it’s special as well. You have a good day fella and if you stop in the club ask ron on the door to point me out and will be more than happy to get you pint off the black stuff and share a few tales. C’mon you reds
Fine post holic.
I am up for a 5 nil spud bashing fest. Then off for some Battenburg at the 50th celebrations………
Keep the faith.
Over at Chavsky the Ray Wilkins story is growing deeper, more mysterious and potentially much more damaging to Chelsea’s near flawless season until the last couple of weeks. Telegraph story at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/8148036/Michael-Emenalo-will-not-coach-Chelsea-first-team-Carlo-Ancelotti-insists-after-controversial-switch.html
@Steve T: we’re keeping the faith but 5 nil is a lot to ask for! Spuds are at the best they’ve been for decades they’re certainly not going to hand it to us…
If we win we’re tops, I’m sure a scrappy goal in extra time would send us over the moon the same 😉
@bt8bbnn: fingers crossed the oligarch will keep meddling with them until they implode…
Sorry ‘olic, been out on the town last night. You know, to get ready for tonight’s fight.
And then this morning, groggy as hell, my local Gooner buddy, Pete, texted me and went “You were mentioned on Goonerholic”
Well, if i wasn’t pumped up for this match, I most certainly am, even more so, NOW.
COME ON YOU RIP ROARING GUNNERS!
A superb rallying cry from The Holic. Superb stuff. Will not be able to see the match as I would be travelling. Anyway praying for divine intervention to see that the Spuds are put in their place.
A stormer for Nasri, Cesc this evening.
“When that geezer gets going, join in, be the twelfth man that potential table-toppers need and deserve. Please?”
And I can’t even begin to re-emphasize this.
Every weekend, over here in Singapore, about 20 or so of the local Gooners, would sing, yell, scream, curse at the top of our voices(in our local Arsenal bar), hoping, nay, WISHING, that we can add to the voices in the grove. Wishing that with every “Allez Sammy!”, with every “C’mon Arsenal!”, with every “Get in there!”, a word or lyric would get into the ears of our players, urging and pushing them on that extra step, that extra kick.
We, regrettably, are not that fortunate because we’re not on the 16th row on the North Bank. But we still sing our hearts out, cuss at the referee’s mom, tell them Spuds exactly what the Pope thinks.
And I was lucky enough to have been at the Grove for 2 magical matches. And I saw 2 very different atmospheres. The 2-1 win over Birmingham was quiet, over where i was at anyway. I did see the “Sit there smiling at the fella in front of you singing, screaming, even blaspheming.” sort.
At the same time, at the 5-1 CL game where the whole stadium stood up in unison, singing for our fallen hero, it goes to show that if we can just be Arsed, we can bring the atmosphere up. And that atmosphere was so electrifying, so emotionally-charged that I had goosebumps for 5 minutes straight.
If we need a good reason to have that atmosphere again, as ‘Holic has expounded very well in the posting above (and many many postings before), this is as good as any.
Time to hit the road. Will try and tweet from the train.
It’s time to slaughter some poultry. Let’s do it!
Hi all,
Great blog Holic, very pumped up I am… Friends coming over to watch the derby at my place here in Bangalore
We are fairly new to Arsenal compared to most of the fellow Holics here…But we hate the Spuds all the same!!!
thrash them C*nts I say!!
Rum and Coke for me, please
Raining at the station. So what. It’s going to be a sunny day!
Did you notice the long faces of the spuds in the tube?
Still in the wild west, Matt. All Gooners coming up from here.
Good stuff ‘holic I fully agree with that at Home our support tends to be very quiete hope this game will pump them up. by the way I’m glad ‘holic pound is on 4-2 because I put min on 2-1.Usually when we share the same score it never work we drew or lost! this one its a win-win.I will be very much hapy if we can humiliat them by more than five goals.
Need sleep. Can’t sleep. com on u gooners!!!! We can’t lose my boss is from the dark side and I got a 12 hour shift after the game!!!! 3-1 to the Gunners Theo 2 as 2nd half sub 1-1 ht. Although I’d settle for an Ole fueled 5 or 6 nil!!!!!
Holic
A rousing Churchillian message to the faithful much appreciated here in the Maldives.
Missing the biggest game of the season whilst on holiday but my heart is in N5. To any pre Wenger fan this is and always will be THE game – forget Utd and Chelsea seeing the scum sent back to the wrong end of the Seve n Sisters Rd is the most day in every season.
Hoping iraqgoals reaches this distant part of the world.
Keep the faith – good always triumphs over evil.
‘Holic this blog keeps getting better, keep it up!
My first NLD was the 5-0 away win at the Lane on December 23rd 1978. I remember Brady’s screamer of course, but also remember him winding up the Spxrs fans in the warm-up. The programme had a Santa in a Spxrs scarf on the cover, and for sure they gave us a great present. I was 13, travelled up from Sussex with my saved up paper round money (+ Xmas tips!). The bloke I went with I saw again outside the Champions League Final in 2006.
5-0 a bit much too ask, but COYG!!!!!!
Morning Holics
Can’t wait for the big one now!
Come on you Almighty Reds!
About to turn on the telly to view some poultry slaughtering …
It’s 6:30 am here, and I’ve never been more ready to watch come kids in white get overrun by the forces of good.
COYG!
Full of anticipation….come on you gunners!!!
Come you Arsnel Come on Nasri!
Arsenal 2:0 Spurs Chamakh 28th minuter. come on you REDS!!!
The dirty little spuds
Great first half Cesc Denilslon Song and Nasri are domintaing!
Harry says Spurs are going to challenge for the title… Hahahahahahahaha
Some really good stuff from Arsenal at times.
For anyone who still for some reason doubts the value of denilson just look at the last 2 mins of that 1st half. Clichy breaks up field. Spuds win the ball back and break down our left. Who has filled in and covers??? He does it week in week out and it will generally go unnoticed on the box. Early strike 2nd half and lets send these twats packing.
Up the gunners.
Great 1st half from the back six I can’t remember one very threatening move by Sp**s but the law of averages tells me we’ll have to withstand an onslaught in the second. Come on Arsenal!
Steve T -Denilson has had a great season so far!
He has always had the potential!
Bollocks!!!
Well that was rather poor.
I feel downing yet another bottle of JD with a terrible display in second half!
Bollocks!
Yet again we have to rely on other teams I feel like shit now here goes my weekend!
Yet another home defeat we controlled the game in the first half as soon as they score because we let too many men forward we got scared, fucking unbelieveable!
What a disgrace that was. I am not one to overreact, but that was a spineless performance by Arsenal second half. This is a team that had a chance to move to the top of the league. They had no heart and I question the mentality of this team to win the league. After Bale’s goal, we got no response from our team. It wasn’t until the 77th minute before we worked Gomes into a save.
I don’t blame Wenger for this, but the players. The responsibility lies with them. You’re playing your staunchest enemy at home and that’s the best you offer? They should be fined a day’s wages for that display and made to train on Sunday morning.
Arthur can I join u with the JD. As I said earlier I’ve got an eleven hour shift tonight with my boss whose a Sp*d!!! HELP!!!
Arthur – we didn’t controll the fucking game when we took the lead! Our defending was shit!
How the bloody fucking hell did we lose that?
A few weeks ago, I said that I had lost all hope in this bunch of no-hopers.
I stand vindicated.
Nez- Damn it!
Thank God I have half a bottle of Smirnoff at home.. 10 am and drunk..
Damn you Arsenal!
Cold hard facts:
We have lost 3 of our 7 home matches.
We have allowed 15 goals in 14 matches for a rate worse than last year.
Speechless…
Fucking gutted. We gifted that. I by no means opinion fingers are
Blaming, but our captain is out if sorts. We need cesc to rise, and bring his team with him.
And thank god for Nasri, he is showing the spirit and passion needed to get on top of this league and win.
Come on arsenal!
Gosh….I’m gutted….What the f**k went wrong in the second half….I just can’t understand,please can someone tell what went wrong?
Arsene Wenger pulling up the turf of the Emirates say it all…Whats f**king wrong with our OWN soil?
Gosh!!!…..
Wow. Talk about loss of concentration. Just…wow.
Great first half – very poor second half.
Where did our game go after Spurs second goal?
Cesc is by all accounts a very clever individual but I cannot understand what he was doing with his arm up so high.
We are a pass and move team not hoof it up top and hope…we completely lost our confidence after their second goal.
I think Djourou should have kept his place in defence – but hindsight is always 20/20!
can’t believe it, what a disaster!
Dadric,
Talk about IMPLOSION!!!
Pfffttttt!!!
Fucking ispeech. That meant to say I am not trying to point fingers or blame him…
It’s only dawn here- fucking long day this’ll be.
Goonertown
We controlled the game in teh first half and did the opposite in the second.
Chamak had two clear chances to score Koscielny had another sitter, Wlacott should have come closer for his shot!
What can I say we should have never conceded the first end of story we committed everyone forward and bam the game was on and we looked like we didn’t click into gear after that.
The worst thing is this was our strogest team wiithout obviosly Vermalen and Diaby but for goodness sake we were 2:0 up anf we fucked it up!
JD is on a shopping list!
I there a better word for this than “embarrassing”? Maybe “shameful,” but it’s close.
Arthur –
That is what I meant it was bollocks! We’re going to have to learn how to controll a game, especially when we’re in the fucking lead!
Good thing is Chelski is one nil down at Brimingham
Huge headache.What a shame! What’s wrong with this team?
Yeah I know we’re fucked right now! Chelsea are not set to win that match!
I have rarely travelled home from a game and felt as embarrassed as i do now. Gutless and clueless in the 2nd half. The only way we could have made that easier for them is to put that in wrapping paper and stick a fucking bow on the top. I will save my final thoughts until later but for me it is same old same old. We lack leaders and width. Spuds will play better than that and lose this year. Some of our squad need a fucking big kick up the arse and a fucking big reality check. Embarrassed. Shell shocked and embarrassed.
Our home form is a bloody joke!
Like I said before and I will repeat myself yet agin we should have defended the lead with more urgency we thought we’re two nil up nd the game was over.
Koscielny is very foul prone what the fuck was he thinking and I think Djourou earned his place in the team now!
I’m fucking raging now!
We should be top of the league now, Cheslki is struggling now we fucked it all up all those away wins mean fuck all now!
God it hurts to lose to Tottenham, my Saturday is ruined! Denilson had a great game, very disciplined. VdV didn’t see much of the ball. Fabregas needs to get his form back soon. I hate November, we are always cursed. 3 defeats now, can’t wait for December
I hear you Pires is king
Everyone is talking about JD but not Johan Djourou who might be a better tonic at this point. Koscielny should have buried that header into the turf, not the thirteenth row. We surrendered the initiative.
Song and Fab fucked up too! Bollocks!
But the team barring Nasri held back!
All we had to do was defend!
Cheers, Sajit. Take it easy on yourself best you can.
It’s like we’re fucking allergic to the top spot. Like last season, lots of hard work and then when it’s finally in grasp, we fuck it all to hell. I simply can’t understand how all of cesc’s talk about needing to turn the emirates into a fortress translates into such apathy. I’m not one to usually critisize our boys, but spurs didn’t fucking do anything to win. We just played like we gave two shits. 2-nil and cesc and co start walking around the pitch, Chamakh is looking for passes when he’s through on goal, and Nasri, man of the match, gets sub’d. I hate to say it, no disrespect to these players, but I think Cesc, Asharvin, and probably Chamakh need to sit out a few and sort themselves (for different reasons), and let nasri, theo, VP, and even Rosicky get a chance to lead.
man, I wished we could have brought on Thierry!
I will always be an Arsenal fan but this team gives me no confidence.
We were poorish in the first half but the spuds were worse and we had done enough to go in two nil up.
We started the second half as if we thought the game was won and were sluggish and casual. The twitchy one had made tactical changes and we were baffled, we didn’t know what to do. They scored and we continued in exactly the same vein. We gifted them a penalty when Cesc and Chamakh of all people stuck their arms in the air and handled the ball. Can you imagine Tony Adams doing that? He would have stopped it with his face! By now it had all fallen apart.
Fabianski looked nervous and uncertain throughout the game but the result wasn’t all his fault.
This team must learn to adapt to changes of tactics by the opposition teams and why are we creating so few chances and shots on goal, given the possession we usually enjoy?
RVP and Walcott were on too late to make any difference.
There were some good individual performances but somehow this team manages to be less than the sum of its parts.
Cesc worries me, is he trying to do too much on his own, is the pressure getting to him?
I am depressed!!!!!!!!!!
Wenger needs to get a 12 bore out and stick it up the arses of some me those out there today. Perhaps then they will show some fucking effort. And chelski being 1 down is no consolation. Chelski losing 47 nil would be no consolation for that bollocks today. None at all.
And can we also put to bed all the negative comments about the home support and crowd noise. Today was non stop and it made fuck all difference. It is not the crowds job to make the team play. We pay good money and get served up with that shit. It is not my job to make any of those who played today perform any better. They need to take one long hard look in the mirror.
Gutted!!
And to make matters worse you can bet your arse that the DVD will be in the shops by Monday.
Bollox.
A bottle of scotch please barkeep, I’ll be sulking and drowning in the corner booth.
I can’t even bother to be particularly upset, it just feels pointless. This was just another one in a long line of disappointments, I’ve now more or less given up hope that this team will ever learn from their mistakes. I really thought the past week had meant that they had, but this is exactly how good/bad (take your pick) we are.
Oh, just fuck it. See you all again when I feel better.
My poor old heart can’t stand much more of this. Surely the coaches, including AW, have to take some of the blame. When you’re 2-0 up against the Sp*rs you get everyone back and stop them playing or is that too obvious? Come on Arsene, you know that previous great Arsenal teams have been built on a great defence. Get the cheque book out and buy decent defenders, not the likes of Koscielny and Squillaci. I don’t care if the football’s a bit boring as long as we’re not humiliated like we were today.
Of course Wenger must take the blame; he signs, coaches and picks the players in the team, he also defines the shape of the team and its tactics which never seem to vary and if plan ‘A’ doesn’t work we’re buggered.
We are so narrow, with all the flank players cutting inside and we try to thread our way through 8,9 or 10 defenders with lots of passing which is an extremely difficult way to play and will often produce nothing. We need wide players who can stretch a team and get in behind the opposition but we also need other players to time their runs into the box to get onto the end of balls in.
Still we have to learn how to defend as a team and hold on to a lead – and it isn’t all the keepers fault who in spite of some good games recently looked nervy and unsure today.
Lars – I’m with you, why be upset with the same old script. Truth is this division is there to be won this season. Chelsea look as guileless as us….
Will we wake up before it’s too late this year? I don’t know. We’ve lost FOUR games already and might be 2pts off of the top in ten minutes time.
I know Cesc is worshiped but the penalty handball is unforgivable, I don’t think Spurs believed they’d get a 2nd goal until they did. I do think Djourou should be regular for now…at least I can’t blame Fabianski. Is Bendtner dead or what? Fuck — so annoyed…we could we waltzing this league with any hint of consistency….
Villa away next week….suddenly a must win if you ask me. Fuck shit and bollocks
After Newcastle I said this side no longer surprise me but fuck me they managed that today what a defensive shambles we are -no heart no leaders and fucking spineless when the other side get back into the game, That second half was as bad as I’ve ever seen from an Arsenal side they come out strolling and got what they deserved Mental toughness learn from our mistakes like fuck.
We have no leaders or warriors on this Arsenal team. Koz & Squillaci, do me a favour, 2nd rate bargain basement buys at best. Nothing has changed since the season began, we need a “proper” Centre Half, a Goalkeeper & a “committed” Captain. Without that we’ll have nothing to show for it again, except tippy-tappy football all day long. With Chelsea’s loss today, we could have been Top of the League.
Mental strength, resilience & team spirit…all those things Wenger spews out every interview. Didn’t see much of that today.
Whiskey sour please bartender.
Asrene really got on me nerves in his post match interview he didn’t come out yet again and slaughter his players when clearly some of them didn’t perform at all.
He should use the media to kickem up their fucking lazy arses and to use Interlul as an excuse is just plain wrong!
So, the Chavs lose again too.
Don’t know if that makes me feel better or worse.
Steve –
The crowd were pumping today
Tim-
I’m not saying the spuds gave up hope, but their belief they could win the game was far off until we let them back in. Most teams these days believe that a one goal gap against us is an invite to win the match
H2H-
I’m not sure if this is an over-reaction but the the Chavs losing makes no difference as we could and should be top! So that could mean it makes it worse!
Arrrrgggh!
Sorry!
effin all went tits up…something about this week was not right, the interlull, the break from last weeks euphoria, holics somewhat over the top pompous build up, I feared if the lads could step up, were the ghosts of last years 4-4 slain?..no I guess ..you dont need warriors to defend a 2-0 at against a team you havent lost to at home for 17 years, you need some sensible football, Cesc was stupid if he thought he could get away with that. And I have always felt that Arsene is poor at making tactical changes, he has a set script in his mind and untill something totally wrong he will not budge. Bitterly dissapointing, heart goes out to all those gooners at emirates, not the first time a strong vocal support was asked for and was duly delivered but the performance on the pitch was lacking. Arsenal blogosphere is the best and no other club has such well informed and quality bloggers, but I feel we should stop hailing the next away win to likes of wolves villa and blackburn as the next turning around the corner and come up with “now those are 3 points we wouldnt have dropped last season”, stop big build ups to games, because quite frankly this team right now is not there yet,cheer them on be vocal,but this arsenal team should not be something you should brag about, because they have done nothing. Titi was in the stands today,wonder what he must be thinking . And a shout out to Nasri,he was fabulous, this kid will run riot, but im scared if we can keep him once he comes good. Fck me this hurts…next saturday looks so far from here 🙁
Goonertown
See what a conundrum that is?
Only one soution…… DRINK!!!!
Laters lads.
The real leader is vermaelen and he is out long term.
To think we need a three goal cushion to win a game means something is drastically wrong.
it hurts.
nasri was outstanding until he ran out of steam and to fair none of our subs really got into the game.
gomes was nervous and we should have put the game to bed by half time,but not for the first time we appear to have no confidence in taking a shot on, but resort to tippy tappy football time and time again.
H2H & Arthur –
JD straight sounds like the ticket!
See you on the other side!
I can’t believe it.
I cannot believe it.
Walking about the pitch, being so casual when you have the lead.
I cannot believe this shit.
“Its difficult to work out how we lost” No it isn’t the same problems that have been obvious for the past 3 fucking years have still to be addressed- Any one got any good pain killers cos that fucking hurt 🙁 We are stll in the race but they’ve got to buck their ideas up sharpish and spend some proper money in the transfer window if that means killing some of these players so be it We need a winning mentality installed in this squad sharpish.
Yo Holic’,
Sorry ‘Hols and Holics,
Let’s try that again.
Clearly, the lads have learned NOTHING.
CLEARLY the staff have learned even less.
Query, just what have WE learned?
With all honesty are any of us even really surprised, i mean really???
The lack of intensity at the beginning of the 2nd half was symptomatic of a team that has read too many glowing tabloid clippings of the ‘best footballing side’ in the league and typically fails to find the gears required to raise their game until they surrender a 2 goal lead.
As mentioned above there is a distinct lack of leadership on the pitch and there is not one, and i mean one player today that looked like they really really gave a fuck!! Say what you you will about the sour-faced Gallas, the second half performance told me everything about our team that has been obvious for a while.
“We are not brave enough in battle. I think we need to be soldiers. To be champions, you have to play big matches every weekend and fight,” This is what Gallas (as captain) said in November 2008. Please tell me, what has changed in those 2 years. Please tell me where is the fight. Please tell me where the wage bill (4th in the league) justifies performances and attitudes that were are seeing on the pitch.
Chelsea losing points for me only highlights how far we are behind in mounting a serious title challenge. when we won the 1st Wenger double in 1998 the catalyst was a 3-1 defeat at home to Blackburn. Legend tells that apparently Adams, Keown and Dixon laid into an errant Vieira and Petit and demanded better protection. Not only did this result in a our first major title under Wenger it also made any new player into the club what it meant to play for the Red & White. Pires understood it. Freddie understood it, and by god so did Thierry. I just don’t see in this crop of players whose going to take on the role of Adams, Keown etc and give these players the kick up the arse they need.
I don’t know how but Wenger needs to make these little underperforming overpaid charlatans what it means.
As a final point, I don’t lay too much blame at either CB’s feet. Squillaci was bought as cover; and Kos this is his 1st season in a league without playing alongside an experienced EPL CB. I do agree Djourou should be getting regular games now.
That’s all. Getting it of your chest still doesn’t make it that much better. Cha!
Lars & Matt
I think I might join you….. disappointment is turning to derision and apathy at the same old script time and again. Whomever made the comment about being allergic to top spot – exactly right.
They bottle it.
Cesc – we love you and praise you, but right now you are the chief culprit for gifting them back into the game. You got away with it against Liverpool last year – what were you thinking??
Jeez….. going to watch some Rugby and cheer myself up. See you in a few days.
People I didn’t bargain for this diet of angst this season. I expected Arsenal to provide me with regular servings of the highest quality ingredients and concoctions, but what I am getting? Angst, angst, and more angst and I can’t take it! Clive, is there any space in the secure unit?
Oh my, this taste just gets more bitter, doesn’t it…
It’s barely noon here and I still keep pretending nothing happened, then shocking myself back to reality. It’s the manner in which we lost that is so maddening! Honestly because we’ve all been here too many times these past few years. In my opinion, this squad does look the best, most developed and unified team we’ve had since the Invincibles. But we have such a massive Achilles heel around winning through and through. Arsene focused his comments on the mental aspect of the game, and I have to wonder. I wonder if the Derby mixed with taking top spot really is beyond our boys mentally right now. Please tell me if this is bull, but I don’t believe they didn’t prepare, I don’t believe that any player out there today didn’t give a shit, I don’t believe any of them are now out on the town not feeling gutted, but somehow they refuse to step up all the way when the time comes. And I think Cesc has a fair amount to do with this. I know the statistic that Arseblog mentioned where we have one every single league game that Cesc scored in. Now that may be statistical mumbo jumbo, but I think it likely speaks to how the players respond when he is on his game. A bit like Titi as captain: when he’s brilliant, everyone on the pitch rises, when he falters, everyone sank a bit. I know this all may be a bit useless and off topic, but my mind just can’t get around this. How fucking often have these two spanish clubs jerked off in the media over our captains only to wear down their play in the final two seasons with us. Viera and Henry began to lose their edge in my humble opinion once the chatter over spain reached a pitch. Our boy Cesc seems to be in a similar boat. I don’t mean to imply he’s not committed or thinking about his move- I think that is well and clearly over. But it has seem to unsettle his freedom and passion of play. I think that’s why we’ve seen the best of this team when Wilshere and Nasri take the helm- they lack no passion nor seem jaded by musings of whether they can play somewhere else or not down the line (Clichy…). Ay, this doesn’t help me feel better at all….
Bottle of Jameson, barman, if you’re still around.
I know BT8B. I’ve been hopeless pampered following this team for merely 10 years… Out come the lashings.
Fuck all, watch them still win the treble this year. Come on GUNNERS!!!!!
Its quite simple.
We have virtually our best squad available but we have lost 3 games at home – that does not win you titles.
No excuses – there are not enough winners in that squad. There are too many players who are ready to believe there own hype….
There is not really any more I can say – I have heard too much about the lessons we have learned…… fact is we haven’t learned anything.
I am going back to my beer………….
Wake me up when November ends…………
I feel like shit, loosing to scum at your own backyard is even worse, how can we be 2 nil up and surrender like a bunch of Sunday league outfits, bunch of too headed whimps.
All of them need a reality check and that’s including Cesc, what does he do with lifting his arms in the box, fuck sake. Be a man and take it in the face if you have to you are getting paid enough to take it anyway!
Koscielny should be dropped I can’t believe after how Johan Djourou has preformed we stick to Koscielny, Johan would have that header covered.
I think I’m going to have an early night, I cant bear to watch more football.
Barman another bottle of JD please
Pires –
We’re gonna win the League Cup and if we take our fingers out of hiding the league too!
Fcuk Man U they’re shite!
Arthur –
Straight JD has got me twisted!
Everyone who has bigged up Djourou, the funny thing is I was bigging him up this morning on the phone to my Cuz saying that he is quality!
Aaaaarrgghh!
Sorry!
Maybe it was that I had my Dad there with me yesterday (86th Birthday), but I could not find myself getting angry – just wholly disappointed.
I though the first half was the best we played this year. Moving the ball back to front quickly and just wiping the floor with them. You cannot tell me that Arshavin was not trying, nor that Dennilson was a real plus with his pressing and excellent distribution.
The second half was not because we did not care. It was because we panicked and completely lost our shape. Add to that that Phil Dowd seemed intent on breaking up any momentum we created and the second half became frustratingly disjointed.
I snuck a Manchester United fan in yesterday and his observation was how quickly the crowd turned on the side once we let Bale in. (Hats off to his finish by the way). There are times that I think part of the problem is the weight of negativity that cascades down the stadium when we are not at our thrilling best.
I am not an AKB. I have often thought his stubbornness in the transfer market is our Achilles heel. But I have seen only one other club in Europe play the way we did in the first half yesterday – and Barcelona is our real benchmark these days – not that shower down the road.
They did not win it yesterday – we lost it. A handful of attempts against our constant pressure (until we bizarrely started launching it long in the last quarter of an hour). Holic I enjoy your commentary on Arsenal. Yours is the best Blog imo. But I think you were too critical yesterday. Against West Brom and Newcastle I felt cheated by a bunch of lazy overpaid egos. Yesterday we flew at them in the first half and were a gnats away from 3-0. Our problem was not a lack of caring. It was shit finishing and sheer panic.
I am going to get the best odds tomorrow on us winning the league this year. I believe we are good enough to do it now. I wasn’t a week ago.