Arsenal Must Take Strong Side To Elland Back
Jan 18th, 2011 by 'holic
“Some of the Arsenal lads looked forward to Leeds with as much enthusiasm as root canal work at the dentist without gas, but they never frightened me. Rather, I licked my lips in anticipation.”
I’ve already started an article this season with that quotation from Peter Storey. Little did I know at the time it would provide the ideal opening to a match preview just a few weeks later.
Leeds United. Those younger than me will only have had a glimpse of why people of a certain age have rather enjoyed the Yorkshire club’s financial mismanagement. Anybody who saw the film “The Damned United” will have seen a portrayal of the playing style and culture of Don Revie’s charges in the sixties and seventies. The truth is that most considered they didn’t need to indulge in all of the skulduggery that earned them that reputation because when they wanted to play football, they could play football.
The first Arsenal Final of my lifetime was against Leeds in the League Cup at Wembley in 1968. I was gutted when we were moving the same weekend and couldn’t go. Jack Charlton clattered Jim Furnell from a corner and Terry Cooper volleyed the only goal past the prone keeper. Four years on and I did witness us lose the centenary FA Cup Final to the same opponents by the same scoreline. Low doesn’t capture how bad I felt.
The Leeds of today, however, are far-removed from the Leeds of Jack Charlton and Norman Hunter, of Billy Bremner and Johnny Giles, of Alan Clarke and Eddie Gray. They have even won over neutral observers with their FA Cup performances last season against Manchester United and Stratford Hotspur, and of course ourselves just ten days ago. They are just two points away from the second automatic promotion place in the Championship, so we could be renewing our annual meetings with them again next term. In short, we need to be wary of them.
Having said that I suspect we all believe that an Arsenal side that does not include wholesale changes will be more than capable of getting the right result at Elland Road. We know that there will be a degree of rotation, but the nine changes that were made for the first meeting at the Grove was a step too far. We had to summon Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott from the bench to earn the last-minute penalty that saved our bacon.
I could understand if we perhaps made three or four changes tomorrow. Kieran Gibbs for Gael Clichy won’t necessarily weaken the defence. Jack Wilshere is involved in his first full season and may benefit from a night off. Perhaps Samir Nasri could make way for Tomas Rosicky, or even Marouane Chamakh with the Moroccan and Robin van Persie sharing duties on the right and up front. I wouldn’t go too much further than that, frankly. Not only Leeds, but also Ipswich, made hay while the sun shone against a confidence-sapped second-string. This Cup is too important to gamble again.
“Rotating’ is fine in the first half of the season, when batteries are charged, and players kept fresh for the business end of the season. This is now the business end of the season and everybody has been rotated to the point of exuding eternal youth. Now it’s the time to go for the jugular in every game. Every cup tie, every league point, every Champions League outing, is now what we have saved our best players legs for. They won’t notice the tired if they keep winning. We won’t mind them being ‘rotated’ if they start losing.
For the sake of the ‘holic pound I have to assume that we will produce the fast-tempo, high-pressure, quick-passing attacking football that has surfaced when the strongest eleven have started in recent weeks. That assumption is built around the belief that we will start with Alex Song, Fabregas, van Persie and Walcott, so key to that kind of performance at the moment. On that basis I will stick with the 3-1 away win prediction that failed me by one (thanks Hammers!) on Saturday. The same odds, 11/1, are offered by Bet365 and I’m on.
If you are going, then you are in for an atmospheric night, I’m sure. The one thing you can be sure of is that Leeds will get behind their side in a big game such as this. Given that we have better away support than just about anybody at the moment I reckon the neighbours will be complaining about the noise from millions of households watching the action live. Have a great night.
Come on you riproaring!
101 Responses to “Arsenal Must Take Strong Side To Elland Back”
Another great post, cheers ‘Holic. Here’s to a well-played victory tomorrow night on our road to Wem-ber-ley.
We’re thinking along similar lines on a two goal difference after 90 minutes, ‘Holic. I’m advocating against rotation, except for Mr. Eboue.
Time To Ruffle Peacocks’ Feathers
Holic’s post for the first of these FA Cup encounters recalled the bad old glory days of Dirty Leeds again echoed this time. A visit to Elland Road in the aptly named Beeston area of West Yorkshire for an encounter with Revie’s Rotweilers was sufficient to bring a sweat to the calmest palm in these days gone down.
They were a quality side then, but were forged from very solid stuff and had a reputation for taking no prisoners and doing whatever was necessary to win. No one epitomized this more than their turnip haired captain, the late Billy Bremner, playing along side Norman “bites your leg” Hunter.
Passions still run high at Leeds and it won’t be any surprise to hear that Wednesday night’s match is a sell-out with nearly 50,000 rabid Yorkshiremen hoping to see The Damned United shaft Arsenal who, as every Yorkshireman worth his black puddin’ knows, don’t like it up ‘em. But the reality is that a visit to the former Old Peacock Ground in pursuit of Old Big Ears is something that this Arsenal side need fear not one jot. Leeds are Arsenal in reverse gear, Arsenal in a never to be seen downward spiral, an Arsenal that will never be.
The financial prudence of the Wenger years has seen the building of the finest new stadium in the land, the establishment of the finest training facility in Britain and the assembly of the most envied and entertaining young squad in the world. Arsenal have flourished and are the only top five club in the Premiership, Spain or Italy able to win AND trade profitably. That brilliant red picture is in very stark contrast to the spectacular white-hot melt down from the pinnacle that has been suffered by Leeds at the hands of the financially profligate and inept.
Financial mismanagement (of the kind demanded often by the likes of the Donuts @ Le Grove) has seen Leeds go in the opposite direction, needing to SELL their training ground, their stadium, all their star players and even their club (for a miserly 10M, or half a Tevez). No one-time league topping team has ever been nearer liquidation.
So should they be a team to be feared on Wednesday. NO. This should be a very winnable encounter for Arsenal. A big night out for Leeds and their fans when the best team in the business comes to grace the turf of their lower league home – but, not a contest that they should expect to win.
Arsenal’s Young Guns will be prouder than peacocks at the end of the evening. The feathers of The Peacocks themselves will be well and truly ruffled. These birds will be very professionally plucked and Arsene’s hat will be adorned in feathery blue as the bus rolls home to London. Cluck, Cluck, Cluck.
But for the anticipated win to materialise, Le Boss will need to pick the “first team” and instill in them the attitude and endeavour that would be required to win at Leeds in days of The Don. Do this and I will be in the Emirates watching Arsenal stroll past Huddersfield on Saturday January 29 and that is exactly what I am planning. So, at Leeds, I expect to see the West Ham eleven minus Eboue, with a well rested Bacary Sagna returning to add steel to the defensive four.
The BtM crystal ball is shining on brightly with a sheen of crystalline brilliance and exuding a rare confidence in the form of a blue electromagnetic field flashing like an electric thunderstorm in a North of England town. AWAY WIN can be seen clearly in electro-blue magnetic magnificence. There are two ecky thumps on the red side of the globe and not a single thump, of any persuasion, on the ghostly white side.
2-0 to the Arsenal it is then and I for one will be taking the family fortune down to the bookmaker in Oakton to get onto this good thing. I can only hope that he will accept crates of Dom Perignon as currency in lieu of actual cash.
Enjoy it, ‘Holics. More Dom Perignons all round, please, barman. I’ve got to get rid of this stuff. Can’t get Her Nellieness’ car in the garage.
Pint of the black stuff for me please, ‘Holic…
We will certainly need to field a stronger side at Elland Road than we did at home; one just hopes Arsene will see the sense in that. He’s a brilliant man, but he does have his stubborn streak, doesn’t he?
With Theo having played both matches last week, I’d be tempted to give him a rest and start him on the bench. I would expect Arshavin to get into the side again, capable as he is of that one moment of magic; this of course means that either Clichy or Gibbs will need to be on their toes until the final whistle.
In any event, I think we’re all up for this one as much as you are, if not with the same historical perspective. My first Arsenal match was in 1998 (I’m an American, and it was my first time in the UK) at Highbury against Leeds, a 3-1 win in which Bergkamp, Petit and Vieira scored, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink getting one for the visitors. So each clash with that club holds a bit of nostalgia for me in my own little way.
BTW, Stratford Hotspur… brilliant. I nearly choked on my drink.
do bear’s shit in the woods?
I know why your mate banned you BtM. You keep writing better stuff than the blogger 😉
Great work, maestro.
Szczesny
Saga Koscielny Djourou Gibbs
Song Fabregas Denilson
Bendtner RVP Arshavin
Subs: Shea, Clichy, Wilshere, Nasri, Walcott, Rosicky, Chamakh
Hope you’re all smiling on the other side of your smug little faces tomorrow night, you bunch of complacent twats…Even Barca’s new signing and England’s diving champ might not be enough to save you this time.
And I thought Scumchester fans were arrogant!
Holic, totally agree about the time for rotation being at an end. Play the best players, end of. Rotate one or two every now and then, no more.
Nah, merely a thin veneer of icing on a very finely baked cake, ‘Holic. (But thanks anyway)
Awesome stuff from both of the “bloggers” tonight.
A pre-order of celebratory fluids for the post-match festivities tahmurrah.
(And I love the user rename – window licker, brilliant)
Bring it on! I hope your team show the same turn up to win attitude as you, and if they do we may be in for a nice suprise. Nowhere near our best performance last time out but all I seem to hear from your boys is what a weakened team you had out, boo hoo. We may put in a few of our own reserves at Elland Road as the league is quite important to us too believe it or not.
One thing for sure, it will be a great atmosphere and I hope both our clubs go on to have a great season, with you winning out over the manc scum and us cementing our position to enjoy this on a more regular basis. Good luck and you may need more than you may think on Wednesday night.
By the way, we did have to fill much of your allocation ourselves! LOL but I do realise you have european games to budget for, wednesday night, long way etc, etc…yawn!
Stonemonkey: I don’t know how much you have seen of the discussions here, but A LOT of criticism has been levelled at our own players for having a poor attitude – we most definitely don’t think we just have to turn up to win. Rather few of us are particularly confident that we will win, most of us have repeatedly said that we need to perform to win.
Holic, have been having problems with accessing the site via my smartarse phone – you have mail therefore 😉
PS Great post – they won’t notice they’re tired if they keep winning. Damn right.
Minimal changes please boss. Or none. 🙂
Holic, sorry following my post @ 14 – can you confirm the e-mail address I should contact you at (or can anyone else if the Guvnor is out)?
Well, I can remember being at a couple of FA Cup games against Leeds – I was at Highbury in God knows when for a re-replay, and I was unfortunate enough to be at the Grove a few days back.
This has to be, however, our fourth priority this season. We should rest up the first team and play the second XI. Times have changed, innit.
Must. Destroy. Leeds. Repeat. Must. Destroy. Leeds.
gooneratgoonerholicdotcom, zico
Mobile is an interesting one. You have a fixed ip on a mobile? I never knew that, but then again I am a luddite.
‘Holic – we are BOTH luddites – all I know was I could access from my phone and now I can’t connect using any browser on the phone.
Weird.
Nice blog guys, but a couple of inaccuracies.
There won’t be quite as many rabid northerners as you suggest as the capacity of Elland Road is only 40,000.
I was looking forward to seeing your ‘better away support than just about anybody’ yet you have sent 1000 unsold tickets back to Leeds. And please, before you start with the ‘trip to barcelona’ excuse. you have enough fans to bring a decent support to Leeds, its not as if all 60,000 of you are going to spain.
You say ‘the assembly of the most envied and entertaining young squad in the world’, but you seem to have forgotten a certain spanish club that contains 8 or 9 world cup winners, most of which came through the clubs youth academy, but in fairness you have done a pretty good job, so I can accept that if its changed to ‘one of the most’
Pensonally, (and like many Leeds fans I know) I really like Arsenal and if you beat us, I hope you go on to do the quandruple, but I will settle for you doing the treble!!!
So hands up who misses having Leeds in the top flight? Anyone…?
What I’d like tomorrow is to field a strong team and win the tie, but I suspect what will happen (like it or not) is Wenger will now deem this the fourth priority and take a gamble, which may or may not pay off.
Snodders, I don’t want to get into an arse-kicking contest about numbers. We will have 3200 up there, and they will behind their team all night.
We had an option on another 1200, declined because the club didn’t want to get into a general sale situation for a fixture such as this, if you get my drift.
I know a part of this will irritate you, but it is no less true for that. We have potentially nine games in January. Fans considering which to go to will question the value in travelling to a club in a lower league on a Wednesday night. Sorry, that isn’t meant to be ‘arrogant’ or dismissive. It’s just the way it is these days. Next season if you are up you can guarantee we will have our full allocation.
I’m kind of hoping you make it too. There is something wrong when Leeds are not up with us and cunts like Stoke are. Good luck fella, apart from tomorrow.
In the run up to the first match there was much mention on arsenal blogs, this one included I believe, portraying the Leeds team of the late 60’s and early 70’s as a team of cheats.
With Walcott-gate now over, until tomorrow night at least, can we assume that in the modern game cheating is something that only other teams do or did? When it’s our own it’s all just part of the game. Even when our players ‘fess up it is best to just ignore it safe in the knowledge that mud sticks but only to those who have enough thrown at them.
The irony may never hit home with some, but from what I’ve read in the build up to this replay the silence regarding Leeds cheating back in the day says it all.
MOT
Cheats is not a word I have used NM, but i have described the violent approach they utilised, and you cannot think that supporters of every other club in the land got that wrong.
Readers here have condemned Walcott for what he did in the first game. Were you a regular you would know there is also condemnation of such antics when others are involved. Arsenal fans will get upset with me if I mention Eboue by name!
But to compare exaggerating going to ground to maximise the effect of contact to the stuff your boys got up to back in the day is like comparing Haye to Harrison. Like Audley, Theo is just too nice to lay a glove on anybody.
Trying to gain an unfair advantage is wrong, whoever does it. OK?
I should also mention that Theo diving once, and owning up immediately on national television, is far-removed from the organised violence and thuggery dished out by Leeds week in week out back in the day, just in case you think I’m going soft by accepting any ounce of your argument.
Some Vindaloo mix in your Guinness tonight, barman?
Trying to walk that tightrope, BtM. Want to engage, but irritated too easily 😉
I have read a lot in the press of our proposed squad rotation for tomorrow night. Not sure I agree with that. I would play RVP, He has missed half a season and needs games. I would also be reluctant to make too many changes from Saturday. I also think that out of a third round replay at Leeds and a home game against Wigan that the Leeds game is actually the tougher fixture.
This is a game that none of us wanted but now have to endure due to the inept display at The Grove. We made our bed, best we sleep comfortably in after a professional display. Time for all to stand up and be counted. Time to prove that wearing the shirt still counts for something. Time to despatch Leeds as we should have done 10 days ago and move onto the 4th round.
Keep the faith.
… and keep the momentum going by dismantling Leeds as we should have done the first time.
When it comes to our effort against Leeds tomorrow, only the three D’s will do: Destroy, Dismantle, Demolish.
Denilson is an outrage.
He has just gone out and criticized Cesc’s captaining abilities.
Even if you think that’s the case, what good would it be going public with it? It would just demoralize the club and ruin their partnership when they play together.
He’s saying Cesc is the captain but he’s not a leader, well Denilson you lazy fat ass (and yes he’s a lazy fat ass, I can remember tons of cases that he just jogged back instead of tracking (!) back), I can remember lots of cases that Cesc was more than a leader, Everton away this season, Stoke away last season, Bolton at home last season, etc’.
Now shut the fuck up and start tracking back.
Well, what can you expect from someone who’s quoted as saying “the best keeper at Arsenal is Manuel Almunia”?
Where was this Snir? On twitter? Links please. Im very surprised coz Denilson looked like a nice guy all the while.
THE STARTING ELEVEN I HOPED FOR WILL BE
Szczesny
Sagna Koscielny Djourou Gibbs
Song Rosicky Denilson
Arshavin
Bendtner Chamakh
Subs: Shea, Clichy, Wilshere, Nasri, Walcott, Fabregas, Ramsey.
le boss said of the problems the team had was against leeds balance. so i guess two ball winners to cover the mid field and our left and right backs will be a good mix. denilson and song, alternates on who sit just above our defenders when going forward while rosicky if he should have a good day is a master passer of the ball. arshavin is creative and love playin in the middle while bendtner and marounne while give their defenders a field day.
TO me he problem with the so called second team is lack of team work cos each player try so hard to impress and so make mistakes that rub on the team. i pray we this match convincinly cos it willl just rock our season.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3359022/Denilson-rocks-Arsenal-by-insisting-Cesc-Fabregas-is-not-a-good-captain.html
I like the Arsenal but please guys, dont be so arrogant. Leeds at elland road in front of 40,000 is not a walkover. We have the passion on and off the pitch and I think your entire first team would struggle to win. I was brought up on the team of the 70s and they were a joy to watch. Good luck for tonite but cant see you beating the mighty Leeds.
Nice blogsite ‘Holic. And belated condolences about your dad.
It sounds like Le Boss will rest Djourou. We still need to rotate a little and this is the time to do it. We can’t risk Djourou breaking down long term nor RVP. Give both a rest as they are very susceptible to injury (especially from over use). Reports have the 18 year old Spaniard from the reserve squad getting utilized for this one. Sagna is back. No problem playing Gibbs today. Don’t want to see either Denilson or Bendtner (Danish for “farm implement”) today. This is the perfect time to use Chamakh and the lad needs a little more playing time. And if Nasri has a knock then rest him too. Even if the likes of Djourou, Clichy, RVP, and Nasri are rested we still have more than enough quality to advance. That being said I’d still have both RVP & Nasri available if needed. Truth is, we need a trophy this year, and the game next Tuesday, at home, down 0-1 v Ipswich is now a bigger priority than tonight @ Leeds. We’ll need a stronger team Tuesday than tonight and a very real fact of life is that some rotation is both needed and warranted.
All the best to the Gunners tonight. They’ll get the job done. And cheers to all the Gooners across the pond. I raise a pint of the fine black stuff to you all.
Snir don’t get too riled up, you wouldn’t wipe shit off your shoes with that rag.
I did not want to say it this way but I find myself agreeing with Queenslander. I happened to have worked in Leeds for a few months in the late 90s and indeed they breathe football there. The players should not be complacent and nor should we!
It’s going to be tense on and off the pitch judging by Holic’s comments 😉
Actually I watched his whole interview which the rag stole and claimed as exclusive when it reality it was brought up by Arseblog.
Anyway the video is hard to watch, Denilson is definitively a nice guy but his body language is terrible, can’t be more nervous and self-conscious than that. It will take time before he finds the strength to climb out of the hole.
Snir, if it’s in The Sun you can ignore it. The same goes for News of the World or any publication with any of the words “Mirror”, “Star” or “Mail” in it’s name…
No idea if he had said it or not. Or what he may have said for that matter, But if he has said that we lack leaders then he has identified a problem that many of us have highlighted over the last 2 seasons.
@Lars: excellent rule, I never thought of making it so concise!
@Steve T: Indeed. Cesc has lost his mojo in 2010 with the injuries (and perhaps the Barca novela). Nasri seems the one these days who claps and exhorts others. With RvP back on track we will have two soon. Still not enough.
As mentioned The Sun isn’t fit to be used as toilet paper, let alone taken seriously as a newspaper. We just need to focus on tonight.
Just watched the interview over at Arseblog, and I have to say that Denilson is, if anything, refreshingly honest in admitting to a problem that all the players in the squad have. And he never says that Cesc is not a good captain, he just says that the team lacks the kind of leadership that Sol Campbell provided. And as Steve T says, that is really not news at all to any of us.
Great work by Arsenal Brazil in getting the interview done, if any of you are reading this you should know it’s very much appreciated.
Mr Barman, a cup of tea please!
Lars,
He said that he doesn’t see any leaders in the team and that even if Cesc is the captain, he’s not a real leader for him.
Now, you tell me, what good does it do to the Arsenal saying that in a public interview???
I just don’t get it.
Snir, admitting your deficiencies is often the first step towards correcting them (and note that he is talking about the whole team which includes himself, so he’s not blaming the others to make himself look better like Gallas did a few years ago). Just look at how Cesc came out and said that the team was more scared of losing than willing to win after the ManU game and then look at the brilliant attitude v Chelsea where we absolutely hammered them for 90 minutes.
Heh mate, trodden on a few northern monkey toes, have you? Nice one. See you Saturday, looking good now.
Those younger than me
There are some?
Right, I’ll have just a strong coffee please while I’m checking the BtM crystal ball.
Morning ‘Holic & ‘Holics
There’s a lot of tension flying around the various web-sites today. Could it be an accurate reflection of the way we Gooners feel about the match tonight – full of nervous anticipation?
I think it’s going to be a rough ride in Yorkshire this evening especially if the number of changes being proposed by our esteemed regulars here and those on other blogs are proven to be accurate. I was hoping for no more than 3 changes from Saturday’s team i.e. IN = Rosicky, Deni/Ramsey, Sagna & OUT = Wilshere, Eboue, Song. I think the operative word there is hope. Come 8PM when the talking stops we shall see…
I’d be delighted to see the neon and electric blue crystal ball of BtM proved right, 2-0 would be a very satisfying result.
To the “Northern Monkeys” who come on here with an inferiority complex and chips on each shoulder just stop and think before you type please. The regulars in this fine bar are full of nerves for tonight. We know full well how hard this match will be and we take NOTHING for granted. However, when you have achieved the following:
Built England’s finest club stadium and filled it with 60K people week-in, week-out
Qualified for the CL and got through the group stages for over a decade
Balanced the books during the stadium move and still finished Top 4 through the whole process
Gone 49 games and a whole season unbeaten and won a ton of silverware in the process
Built a home-grown team bursting with so much talent it’s almost embarassing
Then perhaps we have earned the priviledge to feel proud of the depth of our heritage and the level of our achievements. This may well come across as arrogant and/or smug to those who have fallen from grace and nearly disappeared during the last ten years.
Of course none of that counts once the whistle has blown at 8PM tonight. My only hope is tha twe do the remainder of our talking on the pitch and that we take Leed to “Elland Back” (copywright His ‘Holicness).
Cheers all and a pre-lunch loosener for all Gooners in the bar right now please Mr. Barman.
Lars – like you I thought of Gallas, and I know that comparisons…
Cesc is inspirational when on form, but people seek all sorts of things from their leaders, and even Denilson has a right to speak
Minor diversion – I disagree totally with those who say that owners and managers have a right of censureship over what staff/players can say on F*cebook, Tw*tter etc. Its just that if you speak in public then there can be consequences, and that can apply to the owners as well
Anyway back to Denilson – who is sending a message to Cesc, Arsene and the rest – and what happens next is up to the whole team and backroom staff to sort out
I expect us to come out this evening and thrash Leeds and then I hope to resume speech with my northern offspring
Large cognac please after that heavy blog
Oi, Ollie, I saw that 😉
Afternoon all. Nervous are we? Don’t tell anyone, but me too…
Now, I have some mates going to Barca for the away leg. If anybody has a source for tickets AT COST PRICE then please drop me a line at goonerathgoonerholicdotcom and I will put you in touch with them. Cheers.
TS @ 50 – a midfield with Rosicky AND Denilson? That would worry me.
I say same 11 that won on Saturday with the exception of Eboue out and Sagna in. I know it won’t happen but I think I prize this competition more than AW.
As for the trolling Eckythumpers above – come back and debate AFTER tonight – all you have won thus far is a REPLAY!
PS @ Holic, I managed to get back online using the smart arse phone this morning so if you did anything at your end, many thanks!
I’m weirdly not too nervous about tonight’s game. Probably because I’m just not thinking of it, and don’t think it’s on telly here.
I’ve promised myself not to feel down if we lose.
But I guess my heart is now used to having to go through hell during most Arsenal games!
Come on you Gunners!
My nerves about tonights game is the team selection. I really hope Djourou and RVP dont feature, their contribution is so valuable to us long term. I thought Djourou looked a bit weary Saturday.
I would like (in an ideal world, so not being arrogant towards Leeds) that we start with some of the big guns – definitely RVP – put the game away and THEN make rotations to rest those who need it.
When the stars come on later in the game they often find it hard to make the impact necessary. With the honourable exception of Cesc and Theo last time.
A presumptuous celebratory cava please.
Holic – Nice post!
You know my feelings already about the potential of the 1st team and expectations of the second team.
On that note I’ll back the Holic pound!
Here’s to being wary of Leeds!
ST @29 : “of a third round replay at Leeds and a home game against Wigan that the Leeds game is actually the tougher…….” Agree!
Play the first team tonight, rotate against Wigan, Ipswich and Huddersfield, then the first team again v Everton. Voila, 5 wins out of 5.
It’s SO easy from the armchair. Are you going to Huddersfield, Everton or Sunderland home games?
BtM to replace Arsène? ;P
Ollie – can you imagine the team talks?? Not sure many of the players would follow his line of thought!
No need to be nervous boys we’ll skelp them northern monkeys on their own patch,they had their chance in the first match and blew it, leave them to their meat pies and warm ale we have 3 trophies to win! (can’t see us winnin the CL)
Haha, good point Catalan!
Before rushing into print to criticize what any individual is reported to have said it is as well to verify the truth and completeness of what is reported. Anything in the tabloids should be taken with a pound of salt. A visit to Arseblog will provide the opportunity to see the whole of the interview Denilson gave to the Brazillian supporters club representative and having watched it myself I have to say that I am very impressed by the loyalty and love expressed towards Arsenal FC by Denilson. I thought that the interview was refreshingly honest, forthright and self-effacing, quite unlike the usual drivel trotted out by footballers which is often all cliches and sound-bites – like, know what I mean!
He did say that in his opinion there are no leaders in the team including Cesc and in expressing that honest opinion he is only concurring with what has been said here and elsewhere many times before. Cesc is a great player but great leaders sometimes need to be able to do more than just demonstrate their own ability. In my opinion – for what it is worth – I don’t think we have had a great captain/leader since the time of Tony Adams; Viera and Henri got away with it because the teams they captained were mature and had other leaders.
It is true that Denilson’s recent form has not been good and if he is to retain his place at Arsenal FC – as he says he wants to – he will have to improve, but missing lots of games and being asked to play a role he isn’t really suited to doesn’t help him at all. Anyway enough of that.
To secure a win tonight we will have to be at our best and start the game at a high tempo with lots of energy, pressing and closing down. Leeds are not going to roll-over. I hope the changes of personnel are minimal – we need to stay in the FA Cup.
Let’s beat Leeds tonight, Wigan at the week-end, and then Ipswich next week to secure our first appearance in a final for quite some time.
Come on the Gunners!
Leeds 1 V 4 Arsenal and Chamack to score first, 70-1. Wallop, get in their, guertcha.
@ Zico #53
Yes, it would worry me too but I’ve heard that TR will play, that AR is unlikely to play so the third change (including Sagna in) had to be at defensive midfield (see later why).
Unfortunatley, we really have only got one Song hence my mention of Deni as I really do want us to keep the “Theo Van Nasregas” unit together on the pitch. That foursome playing on form together can blow just about any opposition away.
Hope that’s not too confusing. Pre match pint? 😉
TS-
“Theo Van Nasregas”
I like it!
Our biggest obstacle is Mike Dean.
I’m nervous. Barman, please something to calm me down.
Holic,
Thanks for putting me back on
Cheers!
Typeface
Mike Dean? Argh!
Szczesny: Sagna Djourou Koscielny Gibbs; Song Denilson; Bendtner Nasri Arshavin; Chamakh.
Not liking 3-1 now. Be lucky…
Magic Hat, I like the attitude. Denilson to be one of those scorers and all forgiven. Chamakh is due a good day too. C’mon the Arse!
CG/Ollie, not too sure the players always follow Arsene’s line of thought either so it’s either win at Leeds or BtM is in!
Bendtner out wide. 🙁
Really, what is the point?
True Story – wrong again mate 😉
Norfolk,
Concur – I’m one of his biggest critics I carnt for the life of me see what he brings to the side in fact when he plays we regress in my view but I cannot see what’s so wrong in that part about leaders Cescs a fantastic player but a leader I’m not so sure and he echoes my view on the lack of leadership. Most people having a pop at him are having a pop for no other reason than they don’t rate him which is fair enough in a playing view but don’t slate the lad for expressing an opinion most agree with !! See 4-2 tonight if we score early but the big worry is the total lack of pace in the side Anyway come on you Reds do Dirty Leeds.
Chippy – lack of pace… exactly! Got a baaaad feeling….
I take it all back…
Orgasmic away support.
Was going according to script!!! till Johnson scored…
Come on Arshavin! Take one chance that comes your way!
Come on reds
Great first half as a spectator spectacle at the very least but we should have had half a dozen goals and of course then Leeds score a miracle goal. But if we can sustain the effort we made in the first half we should be through comfortably. C’mon Arsenal!
What’s up with our fans? They’re getting the piss taken out of them.
3-1.. I hope it stays this way, ‘holic…
Now that’s how it’s done!
The Holic Pound returns.
RIP BTM’s crystal ball.
To all you Leeds trolls above, GIRUY!
Job well done.
Drinks are on me 😀
‘holicpound 1 BtMcrystalball 0 (on the night, I’ve lost track of the aggregate 😉 )
The drinks are on the boss tonight, Right Foot! 😉
Top stuff (both of Arsenal and the ‘Holic Pound)
And a round of applause for that great away support tonight.
The dream of the quadruple lives on….
Congratulations, Holic… for all the pounds you made…
Never as proud as Gooner tonight!
With the right attitude, we could fold everyone on our way to Quadruple…
Hope tonight is the kick-off time for Arsenal magnificent season…
Come ON you Gunners… Make us PROUD…
For the record Gordon Strachan says Song is the best defensive midfielder in the league – Don’t shoot the messenger!
Well done Holic on the pound!
Well done Leeds for hosting a good tie
Good shot Johnson. Gradel worked his ass off!
Goonertown,
He had a fine game as did most of the lads it was a very good Team performance Arshavins showing signs of a return to some semblance of form although nothing really came off he seemed to have a bit more drive about him, Having a fit Van Persie for the run in will be massive now please Mr Wenger go and buy another centre half because he will be sorely needed, Both had very good games tonight in fact Kos was spot on but they cannot play in all the games coming up!! Next up Wigan smashing and then to book a ticket to Wembley 😉
Up The Arse.
Yeah, Chippy the next rounds mine!
Onwards and upwards!
Ar-se-nal!
I think it was more skill than luck, ‘holic. Well done mate.
Glenmorangie, straight, please.
Electrifying night, Leeds (the team like the supporters) were faithful to their reputation but gooners and gunners were magnificent.
We may still have lapses but when we get to the business we’re a match for everyone. And Nasri is definitively a leader.
I was left wondering if Arshavin’s problems aren’t due to his fitness, he looked totally out of breath at the end of the first half.
Anyway Wigan beware!
Very good win, much improved over the first game.
The Huddersfield game is on Sunday I see, I’m surprised that’s been picked up for TV coverage. But does that mean we’ll have to play two games in three days, or will Everton at home be bumped back 24 hours to the Wednesday now.
phew thank goodness we won – didnt deserve any other result
Leeds played well and what a goal they scored with 1 of our former youngsters – he’ll go far
Happy that AA was taken off, but why take off Chammy who worked hard and passed and defended well For me NB in spite of contributing to RVPs goal did very little by comparison
Great evening for the Reds and for ‘holics pound
I’ll have a drink on you sir! Great prediction.
Everything was done properly. Starting with Nasri, if not exactly ispired was correct. Superb goal from Sammy, and a thunderous one from Sagna. I missed Johnson`s goal, probably the best of the night, while I was walking to the pub. I thought that the substitutions came at the right time, just as we were becoming a little disjointed in the middle, and bringing on both Cesc and Robin restored our focus. The only thing Bendtner did right all night was to set up Robin for the third, and Arshavin was pants again. Szczesny was again very solid, and begs the question whether AW really should bring back flappy as soon as he is fit. It was nice to hear Gordon Strachan praising Song as the best defensive midfielder in the league. AW take note.
Hurrah and Pizzazz for the ‘holic pound and a monster of a win today that keeps us on track for the possibility of a quadruple. While it’s unlikely we will get that magic quadruple the important thing is we have done enough to achieve that unique distinction among all English football clubs, and we are getting better at this stage of the season rather that the opposite which is what we found happening to us the last couple of seasons. CG I was glad to see AA taken off also, but felt NB had an excellent game. Leeds were not able to handle him, he was winning every ball in the air, not giving the ball away as he is wont to do, and his cross for Van Persie’s goal was right out of the textbook. So many positives today I don’t know where to start but the other important thing we have to grasp is how to be consistent and it can’t hurt that Cesc and RVP rested for 70 minutes today, Clichy for 85, and JW for all 90 so they should be the nucleus of the side that annihilates Wigan on the weekend. Cheers all and make mine a tempranillo please barman.
Well done Arsenal, you played very well last night and deserved the tie. Good luck this season and we hope to be back next year.
Leeds, Leeds, Leeds!