Not Dowd Or Arsenal’s Finest Day
Feb 5th, 2011 by 'holic
It takes a combination of things for anybody to surrender a four goal advantage at any level. First up we have to accept that we were as spectacularly bad in the second-half as we were impressive in the first. The collective loss of concentration (dare I say mental strength) and application was just unforgivable. At the same time some of the most significant contributary factors were beyond our control.
Never has a Premier League game swung in the way this one did. For forty-five minutes the visitors, with the predicted best-available eleven, simply pulled Newcastle apart. Two up in the third minute became three in the tenth and four in twenty-six. With over an hour to go that was it, wasn’t it? It was just a question of how many we would score. Yet there was still a bit of an undercurrent.
Dowd didn’t have a good view of this.
In the opening minutes, although we were already two to the good, van Persie was the meat in a Williamson and Barton sandwich and astonishingly the free-kick was awarded to the home side. Barton scythed through Arshavin from behind, but in the eyes of Phil Dowd that wasn’t even worth a free-kick. A string of questionable decisions were allowed to pass because they were not affecting the course of the game. That would change.
The loss of Johan Djourou at the start of the second-half was the starter for what would follow. Shortly afterwards came the incident that began the transformation. How on earth Dowd missed the uncontrolled lunge by Barton on Diaby is a complete mystery. Just as absurd was Abou’s reaction. I understand he has not appreciated that sort of challenge since Dan Smith smashed his ankle to pieces up at Sunderland, but frankly he has to understand that his responsibility to his team-mates is not to leave them a man short for nearly half of an away game. Both players deserved to be off. Diaby was shown red, Barton wasn’t. I know I don’t need to tell you how baffling that was.
The debatable decisions continued. Best flew to earth in the box with little, if any, contact from Koscielny who also appeared to play the ball. Barton scored from the controversial spot-kick, and as Szczesny held on to the ball he was thrown to the ground by Nolan in identical fashion to Diaby’s retribution on Barton. Red card for Nolan? No, yellow for Szczesny. Incredible. Best himself had a goal wrongly chalked out for offside but his next attempt found the target and counted. Arsenal’s defence was contributing to their own downfall.
Even so, at 2-4, with less than ten minutes remaining, it would take something remarkable to deny the visitors the points. In a bid to stiffen his defence Arsene removed Walcott and sent on Eboue, promptly booked for kicking the ball away with his first touch. Then a hopeful ball to the far post drifted out and as the players turned for the goal-kick the most dangerous man in black shorts and socks pointed to the spot for a second time. Barton applied the finish and the only question now is whether Dowd will have to crack the inevitable equaliser in himself. Tiote saved him the bother, and there was still time for van Persie to be denied a dramatic winner when falling foul of a marginal offside flag.
Now there is no doubt incompetence was to blame for the collapse. Not just Dowd’s either. A midfield that bossed the opening three-quarters of an hour was twice supplemented after the break. Rosicky for Arshavin, and Eboue for Walcott, were meant to give us a bit of added security when Diaby denied us his own services. Instead those calls cost us any chance of relief from the relentless pressure being applied by the home twelve. Isn’t this an easy game with hindsight, but I’m not wrong, am I?
Now we face a brief international break, and not only hoping our travellers all come back fit to play against Wolves next Saturday. Thankfully the Molineux men have just earned us something of a reprieve by beating Manchester United. Somehow we are a point closer to the top. Let’s hope Djourou is not ruled out for any length of time after limping off today. The prospect of facing a string of important games without him is a concern, to say the least. With Diaby facing suspension we also need Song to return at the Grove next Saturday. An improvement in application wouldn’t go amiss either. For Arsenal and Phil Dowd.
524 Responses to “Not Dowd Or Arsenal’s Finest Day”
4 pints in the bag and things are looking up what a bizarre day !!
Was Dowd reacting to David Moyes’ allegations. If that’s the case it reflects even worse on him. He was not neutral. And Diaby is better of injured than fit sorry to say. Just frustrated. On a the bright side United just lost, the only good news today.
That mess, then United loses.
Someone please tell me how to feel right now, because I’m having trouble figuring it out for myself.
We saw it similarily, ‘Holic. You managed to remain a little more civil than I.
It was back to the future for Arsenal, when a double-kneed lunge by Uncle Jail Bird Joey into Abou Diaby’s shin made Diaby see red, then see red again. Barton, the murderer’s brother, brought the assault tactics that had seen him do time at Her Majesty’s pleasure onto St. James Park playing surface but left without even a reprimand from the main villain of the piece, Doubtlessly Dishonest Dumb-brain Dowd.
That moment of madness signaled a turning point in a game in which Jack The Lad had left the local yokel Jack The Lads reeling faster than the Blaydon Racers on speed; in which Arsenal had made Newcastle look lesser than a local pub team, in which the team in red had reached the heights, the team in jail bird stripes had sunk lower than a disused seam in a decayed, turn of the century colliery, supurating under a sludge strewn slag heap of overpriced Newcastle coal, rotting like the rotten hull of a rusted hulk from the days when ship-building transcended football farce.
Maybe Abou had a mental flashback to the moment when Dan Smith shattered his ankle in the North East and nearly ended his career in his teenage years? Maybe he’s just downright fed up of being hospitalized by football low lives who get their kicks by kicking him? Either way, there is no way his reaction can be condoned. His moment of madness will likely be remembered as the moment Arsenal’s League aspirations slipped away.
For forty-five minutes Arsenal showed why they’re the best young team in the world. Theo, JD20 and a brace from the Dutch Master accelerated the Gunners into orbit in a galaxy so far away that the Big Bird Magpies could only shit in their nest, admire and wish they could fly that high. But for some profligacy and poor decision making, six at half time would not have been grudged by anyone present.
Jack Wilshere shone like a red ruby amongst poorly cut anthracitic miners. His inter-play with Cesc was sharper than the diamond teeth on a Grade 1 Coal Cutter, shinier than the sheen on Arthur Scargill’s polished pate. Van Persie was imperious, Theo was outpacing Bolt and JD20 and Kos were solid as granite surrounding low-grade coal at centre-back.
Arsenal startly brightly in the second half, no doubt having been encouraged by Arsene to score another four for no response. Then strangely, the tide on the Tyne began to turn, the cage started slipping down the mine. Johann Djourou limped off to be replaced by the Arsenal unworthy Squillaccci. Moments later the Diaby incident reduced Arsenal to ten men. There should have been no danger. But then Doubtlessly Dishonest Dum-brain Dowd stepped up to demonstrate his lack of worthiness and North East roots.
Two stone dead NON-penalties turned the game on its head and turned an ampitheatre of apathy, a dungeon of despair, into a frenzied fog of Tinies and Wearies. Poor defending accounted for another goal and then a once in a lifetime swipe made it four.
In between, Nolan threw Wojceck to the ground with a flying neck lock and Robin netted from just off-side. Eboue entered the fray to a magnificence of non-effectiveness and, although Arsenal tried to pull it back to 5-4 in the closing minutes, that proved a Bridge through the Fog over the Tyne too far to Lindisfarne and three rock solid points slithered down dispiritingly to two. One point from a possible six versus Newcastle? Who would ever have thunk it.?
A nice whisky please, barman that I’ll hold and savour before pouring it over Dowd’s grave in due course, having first passed it through my kidneys of-course.
Good write-up. Did what Cesc say about refs have anything to do with any of those decisions today? Still, no excuses for giving up on a 4 goal lead. Thank God Wolves did us a solid. The Invincibles record is alive and so are our league chances miraculously.
We can’t hide behind the ref. This is a team in it’s 5th year of Wengers project that is now not conceding 2 goals leads but 4 goal leads (in twenty minutes). Will we be continuing on this trend and conceding 6 goal leads soon?
This sums it all up for me
Wenger: ‘I knew at 4-0 the game was not over ‘
How can anyone in their right mind give a penalty against Kozzer when he clearly plays the ball just look at the video and the second is just hilarious but it sall went belly up when two of the worst Wenger signings ever entered the fray(Rosicky and Squid) terrible performances from those two and they complete loopsided the team with their pathetic dispaly.
Not bringing in cover for Djourou was a gamble. We paid for it today. As soon as Squillaci came on at 4-0, it all went horribly wrong. If Squillaci plays against Birmingham, we will not win the Carling Cup, if he plays against Barca…I’d hate to even think about it.
Rosicky was horrendous
“..Then a hopeful ball to the far post drifted out and as the players turned for the goal-kick the most dangerous man in black shorts and socks pointed to the spot for a second time. Barton applied the finish and the only question now is whether Dowd will have to crack the inevitable equaliser in himself. Tiote saved him the bother..”
This passage was just the most hilarious thing I’ve read this week Holic. Genius and thanks for the laugh. Our title challenge is miraculously still alive. We are short of bodies to compete though.
I couldn’t feel lower if a gang of Geordies stole my wife! Thanks to Mick mcCarthy’s boys for slaying the unbeaten run!
A massively fatigued Ox from the White family of the convict colony down under is still trying to get his head around today’s happenings. Oh sorry, that’s me.
Gutted is the only word I can use for 4-0 becoming 4-4. Gutted at the players? Officials? Geordie Thugs? I dunno, just a sick to stomach malaise. Gutted I believe they call it.
And then I decide to stay awake to watch United take their unassailable lead. Except they didn’t. They became “the vincibles”. To Wolves no less (I shouldn’t say that eh; who do we play next week?).
So all in all I go from gutted, to gutted, to “what the bloody hell is going on here we’ve made ground on United!”. It doesn’t bear scrutiny, my head is fuzzy as it is.
So goodnight ‘holic and ‘holic-crew. With my “awake for 24 hours” stint finished I must go have dreams of doing awful things to Joey Barton, the thug. Good of the nice Newcastle man on twitter to point out to me that Barton is not a Geordie thug, he’s from Liverpool. Ergo he’s just a thug.
Enjoy your evening as I enjoy my morning snooze. Oh, one final thing ‘holic; it really does look like I’m coming to London town in January/February next year. The beautiful, light of my life, management figure/boss is encouraging it and I have found a travelling companion also of the Arsenal persuasion. Please treat us kindly even if we are convicts. We might steal this club some silverware while we are here!
Stay good Gooners, these days were sent to test us and we shall prevail. Ta ta for now!
Alex @ 10 – I enjoyed that bit too…”Only one ‘Holic, there’s only one Goonerholic!”.
After his impeccable performance, referee Phil Dowd will receive an “Excellence Award” from an unnamed football enthusiast & philanthropist, reported to be in the region of around 5 million.
Another 30 million will be donated to the RA & FA respectively for their continuous efforts to raise the standard of the game.
Let’s wait to see what we have available going in to Birmingham and Barca first
Even at 4-4 the raping from the ref didn’t stop. Arsenal showed incredible resilience to go and get a terrific 5th only for it to be incorrectly ruled out for offside despite RVP clearly being level. I still feel like the rubber dick is up our arse now
That was a superb post BTM. Your posts always are. We are the Arsenal!
Anybody thought that by drawing today it had an influence on Utd’s result?
Everything happens for a reason they say!
Nice write up Holic. Thank you for the JD’s earlier. Any chance of a bottle of champers please? 8 goals?
We clearly won the game but the fucking linesman gave offside when we were clearly onside what the fuck is the FA playing at? if there no one to check the referees incompetence at its most.
Phil dowd should be fucked up i dont care how. how on earth did he give woj a yellow? nolan wrestled him to the ground. the refereeing was pathetic. that includes the 4 of them
Miserable like everyone else, but then I looked at the league table this evening, and you know what … we’re comfortably in 2nd spot, we just made up a point on Man U and it’s down to 4, and the Invincible’s record remains untouched.
Yes, we blew it big time, but somehow at the end of the day we’re closer to winning the title than we were this morning. Food for thought.
Shots N 19 A 10
On target N 9 A 7
Corners N 12 A 6
The biggest worry is Djourou, if its bad, we are pretty much fucked.
We started laying off them in the second half, particularly after giving up the first goal. Not playing them tightly allowed them to get a million balls and crosses into the box, or make runs into it with the ball, as they did.
I think taking off Walcott was a big mistake, as he has the ability more than any other to keep a defense pinned back. Eboue was never going to present that kind of threat.
Perhaps I missed it on my TV, but I didn’t see any leaders step up for us when we were up against it.
I’ll leave it to others to discuss Barton, Dowd and Nolan (and Squill, Diaby and Rosicky), as I’m sure they’ll show more admirable restraint than I at a time like this.
JD20 was a massive loss, but Diaby’s reaction was the root of our collapse. That’s what led to their dominance in the 2nd half, it was an uphill struggle, especially as decisions went against us and we felt up against more than just the oppo and their tactics.
I understand Diaby’s reaction, but cannot condone it and 4 nil up or 4 nil down, you just can’t do that!
Still no excuse though, you cannot let a 4 nil lead slip in 20 odd minutes, irrespective of the circumstances.
Well done Wolves.
CoYRRR’s
Notwithstanding the undoubted contribution of Mr Dowd, for any top class side to lose a 4-0 lead in such circumstances is mind boggling. The fact that the “losing half” consisted of cameos by Diaby, Squillaci and Eboue makes it marginally less surprising though. It’s a case of the usual suspects. I think I’d rather have Lansbury, Thomas and Bartley in their places, as at least you’d assume they would learn from such a setback.
The only uplifting thing we can take away today, is that “Man Who” proved they are not fit or ready to be called “Invincibles”. Thanks to the Wolfmen.
Arsenal this is a crucial period, it is time play the role of “MEN”.
sorry boys, its got to be said… STOP MOANING! we would have won comfortably if it wasnt for Dowd, yeah thats true, but we didnt… shit happens. Just think about this, would you rather us have won 4-0 and man utd go to Molineux and win 2-1, or us draw 4-4 and Man United go to Molineux and LOSE 2-1??? they will be feeling alot worse tonight than us gooners should be, and with Wolves, Stoke and Sunderland all at home our next 3 games, we could be top by the end of february!! Our title chances have taken a big step up today IMO, cos this defeat can only have a negative impact on Man Utds confidence, and with the games they have coming up, that could be crucial!
I suppose after today I have to take some grim humour in the fact that the title this year will be won by one of the following:
– A team that so far has won three away games all season
– A team that chucks away a four goal lead
– A team that won one league game in two months
OK so Man City could win it I guess (stop laughing now). Fingers crossed for a Chelsea draw tomorrow and Man City getting a 0-0 next weekend with a 10-0-0 formation at Old Trafford. Four out of our next five league games are at home, but it’s anyone’s guess which Arsenal will turn up for each of those games (or indeed, each half of those games)
I think even I need a drink tonight, and I’m teetotal!
Our season now depends on Song and Djourou’s fitness. Arsene really needs to get some luck because the back 4 that finished today aren’t good enough – certainly not without Song in front.
According to the TV, no team has lost a 4 goal lead in the history of the premier league. I have a whole lot of anger tonight, most of it aimed at Diaby who let the side down big time.
Thank God for Wolves.
I am now in the process of quaffing mucho alcohol in order to sooth my frayed nerves, so goodnight to everyone in the bar.
Holic ’til the end.
Great and civilised write-up, ‘holic.
My blood is still boiling.
I’m sorry that Lars had to go through this second half.
Barton is a thug, and Dowd was even worse than Lee Mason.
Worried for Djourou.
Diaby had a great game until the sending off. He did over-react, but I can understand why (as goodplaya explained).
Apparently we have this gem now:
Pardew said: “You have got to make a challenge. It was a proper, honest challenge – I have seen it two or three times and there’s nothing wrong with it.
“He goes for the ball, he wins the ball clean. He is aggressive in the challenge, he takes a little bit of the player after he has won the ball.”
Honest, Barton? does not compute It was totally reckless.
It’s when I saw the replay that I understood the reaction.
Great picture and caption, barman, by the way.
I’m on call so will just have, ah, a whisky fuck it, but just one.
And silly Diaby (he was) or not, 4-0 with 10 players, we shouldn’t lose.
We’re normally great when down to 10.
It was just panic, and nobody to calm people down.
For once, Cesc seemed to be ‘lost’ in the chaos.
I frequently rip Arsenal apart for incompetence and Wenger for incompetence but today is not one of those times. If you try to lay this at he feet of the team, then your agenda is blinding you to the obvious.
Dowd gave 2 quite ridiculaous penalties against, sent Diaby man off when he should have sent Barton off. Barton didn’t even get a card and neither did Nolan for worse and more unfounded physicality than Diaby committed. When the toon equalized, how come Dowd didn’t book them for time wasting like he did Chesney?
Dowd would not rest until he had brought Newcastle leve. It was amazing to see and I woonder what the refereeing overseers think. Probably think nothing of it and that Newcastle are that good. This is why England are world chumps.
If you blame this draw on the team, you are asking us to believe you instead of our lying eyes. Without Dowd, Newcastle would not have had a prayer today.
Sorry, I mean, draw, not lose :$ !!
Usama –
Van Persie is a legend!
I hope we keep him fit for the rest of the season in particular Barca and Birmingham!
Too many subplots – Mr. Down and the anti-Arsenal bias in full manifest here. How we didn’t get Chamakh in the match to help us with some much needed aerial presence – in our box and for Hold up play – is beyond me.
Now break out the banners at the Ems next week –
“Our 11 are still better than your 15”
180 minutes and counting of one way Referee traffic…..
Cesc should have saved his “how much did they pay you” for this week’s tunnel – after the match…
Also can’t agree with the fuzzy logic that we should somehow feel better we lost a 4 goal lead becasue utd lost. That is good in itself but has no bearing on our result. Show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser. Chavs are now 6 points being with a game in hand
Malcolm, Dowd only scored two of them. We undoubtedly contributed to our own downfall. I’ll accept they don’t get a point without him, but you cannnot ignore our second-half collapse, or the midfield going missing when Diaby let them down.
It wasn’t Wigan all over again, but it was poor.
I said that Diaby should not wear the shirt again after the spectacular og at OT.
This is the worst back 5 since Wenger took over?
My intellignce and the ’98, ’02 and ’04 squads are insulted by the bizarre comments from Wenger earlier in the year that this is the strongest squad!
Nite Holic
we shouldn’t be happy with a point after being 4 up, but would you rather be sat here with a 4-0 win and 5 points off top, or a 4-4 draw and 4 points off top, cos the chance for man utd to go 7 clear will have gone to there heads you can guarantee, just like when we had the chance to go top and lost to west brom and newcastle at home!
Sorry…I didn’t observe protocol for commenters: I’ll have another glass of the very tasty Vredenhof red to take my mind off this weird day.
I toast Wolves tonight and hope they revert to type next Saturday…although I don’t want any kind of early commanding lead against them, as in Karl Henry they have a Joey Barton of their own.
Just reminiscing about 4pm when I was pondering a 9-0 win and the possibility of winning the league on goal difference. Ah f*** it.
from dreaming to furious to joy in 180 mn thank to football.That why football is the best sport in the world and no sport cant match it.
From no title hope to maybe 1 point next week hopefully,and all the unhappy supporter will disappear once again
Got it. But without the 2 penalties, we still win 4-2. Even with 10 men.
Diaby should never be seen in an Arsenal shirt ever again. same goes for squillaci,eboue and rosicky. we need song back as soon as possible though. i hope djourou’s injury is not too serious. i believe the situation will be better next week. man utd to draw with man city and arsenal to be only 2pts behind!
Rawsy, Diaby was great in the first half.
And he is a great player. He’s clearly not the cleverest tool in the box (but then since when did that make a player a legend or not, cf. Merse for instance), but I’m fed up with the gratuitous practically hatred he’s on the receiving end of from some of our ‘fans’.
He lost it by his reaction, and it was wrong but I think I would too, after having had many injuries due to horrible tacklse by horrible clogging cunts, be they called Smith, Robinson or even Essien.
It’s not proffessional, but was somehow understandable if you have seen the challenge by Barton. Who got away scot-free which is something I’m far more concerned with in this game.
It’s not like Vieira or Bergkamp (who I will give you look far more clever than Diaby) never retaliated when having the shit kicked out of them anyway.
As for the defence and squad. Vermaelen is injured and Szczesny (but in fact Fabianski pre-injury was looking adequate at least) + Sagna+Koscielny+Djourou+Clichy was looking a rather good defence recently.
Squillaci looks lost, at least in combination with Koscielny, but he’s got the qualifications for a more than decent 4th choice centre-back.
We have a great squad, we’re just so fucking frustrating at times, like today and the Spuds home game.
Ah, I see you beat me to it Ollie. Those wanting Diaby out clearly missed his magnificent first half display. That Diaby is such an asset to this club.
Hopefully he has learned a lesson the hard way this afternoon. If Song were out for any length of time we would need him right now. Unfortunately he needs to develop some of Arsene’s oft-proclaimed ‘intelligence and mental strength’.
Evening ‘All
Not sure what to think right now. I get really concerned when BtM writes:
“Either way, there is no way his (Diaby’s) reaction can be condoned. His moment of madness will likely be remembered as the moment Arsenal’s League aspirations slipped away.”
Before the Manure result I was thinking we are just handing it on a plate to them or a.n.other but then they go and lose to the team at the bottom of the league and we’re one point closer to them in the chase. You couldn’t make this stuff up.
At half time when I foolishly wrote to a nervous Sajit to enjoy the glory of going into the break 4-0 up whilst putting on a sublime exhibition of Wengerball I’ll admit to thinking that I might be made to swallow those words complete with a topping of turd sauce. Unfortunately, we were both proved right 45 crazy minutes later.
There couldn’t really be an F.A. led and Manure/other backed conspiracy against us could there? It just has to be a mixture of coincidence and incompetence (officials and ours) doesn’t it?
I need a very stiff drink to mull these events over please Barman. One for yourself for the sane and highly humorous write-up. Thank god you waited until The Wolves had done us an enormous favor before posting 😉
Whatever happens, I’ll support our beloved Arsenal until I die.
Today we payed for Cesc comments
I have strongly supported each of these two over the years, but today I feel like Rosicky and Diaby can hold hands and walk off a fucking cliff. While Barton reigned as supreme asshole on the pitch, Diaby’s antics and Rosicky useless push in the box (however slight I understand) plus inutility on the field offered Newcastle extra support, where obviously none was needed.
I need a whiskey. Thank you, barman.
“We can take encouragement from today…” I love the old man but that my friends feels like an insane statement to make just after the match. Truly.
oh my God, what a day? What a day? If arsenal are going to win the epl this season, song and JD are very important, squillachi what a piece of shit…………i think scezzeny did a fantastic job if it wasn’t for him arsenal would have lost, man.united are now there for the taking after wolves heroices, ……….english referies…..they are just biased.
Holic, I agree that Diaby was brilliant, but I must confess after years with us he has yet to show an ounce gained in maturity in my humble view. Which is not to say he has none, but he doesn’t seem to have learned any more. His petulance today knowing full well where we are in the season and that Song and others are injured are a testament to his lack of perspective. The brilliant one day ‘oops mistake or inmaturity’ the next type play is no small component of keeping us just shy of the top. I just can’t swallow this even this time as ‘he got a little scared and he’ll learn from it.’
Don’t mind me. I am a window licker…
I have not seen the game yet despite all the wonderful help I received re streams. I am recording the extended highlights now and will watch when all in bed.
All I would say is this. 4 nil up with 22 to go is enough to win any game for a side that wants to be considered serious challengers. How we capitulated like we did his only knows. If we were a team made up of Pakistani fast bowlers they would all be facing life bans after that…….
Lads I do think Dowd had a bad day at the office how he didn’t allow Bests 1st goal in unbelievable.
But we cant be greedy getting 4 pts of you’s this season will have to do.
Howay the Lads
Whilst we’ve had poor defeats in the past when in seemingly unassailable positions, I don’t think we should be too harsh on the team today. It was a combination of Diaby’s sending off (yes, he shouldn’t have retaliated), Djourou going off and Mr Phil Dowd’s awful performance and decisions. The Leon Best goal you could argue we should do better and the equaliser is just a great one-off goal. The only thing I found surprising was our inability to control the ball in the second half. That’s something we’re usually good at.
Batty. You missed the word boy after your name. Just in case you had not noticed.
Yeah that sucked but all is not lost. We will get to 25 wins in the league which puts us at 80 points. Man U isn’t making it to 80 points with Shitty, the Chavs twice etc. 10 wins in our last 13 against mid to lower table teams and the title is ours. United are no invincibles ( 3 away wins ) They are going to keep dropping points and I predict we are even or ahead when they come to the Emirates
COYR !!!
Don’t worry batty, if we ever feel bad about our current trophy drought, we can just look at Newcastle and that cheers us up!
Andy Carroll left for a big club to get away from batty boys
Football in this country is uncontrollably sick.
Stop berating the team.
Dowd was lock stock and barrel against us, and I can’t stand hearing this shit about ‘Forget the referee’…..
Do referees get bribed to influence games….
Answer: yes
Follow the money. If someone will pay good money for something, then it more than likely is effective.
I haven’t seen the offside, but we once beet Liverpool 6-4, except for 2 decent goals chalked off. Its same old same old I’m afraid.
Theft.
Pure and simple. This team works incredibly hard, and does not get its just desserts. I feel sorry for all of those guys.
Stop hiding behind the media mantras.
The worst thing about this bent referreeing is that just like it must be getting into the player’s heads.
The EPL is a scandal waiting to explode.
OH, the EPL is not bent? England is a bastion of probity. Get real.
Brian Clough. Bungs.
Where shall we start eh?
A sad day in the annals of English sport.
The stench of corruption.
Holics,
Most of you know that I am generally very critical of Arsene Wenger and Arsenal. But today , I just cannot get angry with either.
For 45 minutes I saw my team play Newcastle off the pitch. And once the second half started, I didnt like what I saw. There was a cynical edge to every challenge by a newcastle player. They kept their foot in that little longer, clipped heels and used un-necessary roughness.
I told my friend that this is another Stoke waiting to happen. The man who was supposed to be in charge was showing absolute apathy. This would only end in a bad way. And then it happened. An agricultural scythe from Barton (as bad as Shawcross’) was met by retribution by Diaby.
Should Diaby have shown restraint? I dont know. But I do know is that Dowd did fuck all about it.
Did anyone else notice, we never got any protection whatsoever from Dowd. And most of the 50-50s went Newcastle’s way. Once Diaby was sent off, and with Dowd showing clear favoritism, there was always going to be pressure.
The first penalty was harsh. The second a fucking joke. It would be harsh to criticize the likes of Wilshere, Clichy, Fabregas, Theo who I thought were magnificent.
If anything I am very disapppointed with Rosicky, who I thoguht did nothing to help his team mates once he came on. And was directly responsible for the 3rd and 4th goals.
I believe that the fightback I saw on Tuesday was not a flash in the pan. I believe that this team have a real hunger and determination. I believe that we will take this injustice against us and fight back.
So gooners, lets get right behind the team for the next game.
keep the faith.
Charlie @61…you don’t need to worry about our trophy cabinet mate, there’s never anything in there anyway, but we delusional geordies can handle that. You showed today with your spineless second half collapse that you don’t have what it takes to challenge for the title. It’s a two horse race between Chelsea and Man U…like always. Blaming the referee for your wimper of a capitulation is just a poor excuse.
Well the good thing this season (as Man Utd, Man City and Chelsea have also shown so far) is that nobody really has what it takes for the title – so we’re in good company!
wow man…bad refereeing decisions go against every club. The standard of refereeing in England is poor, everyone suffers. Poor old Arsenal aren’t being singled out…you just moan a lot like your winging manager
Charlie…it’s gonna be an interesting run in…but now those blues have got Torres they have a mighty potent front line….The big question will be how the remaining English clubs maintain the intensity with the combination of the Champions League and the run in for the EPL title..have Arsenal enough strength in depth ?…
Marcus
I agree that the refs can be biased but I have never came accross one this season that has been biased towards us ( The Toon ), they and the media are generally towards the top 4 which I count you’s as. I know at the min it will be hard to agree but im sure in the cold light of day and after watching the game again when the anger disappears you will see that he wasn’t that bad. Thats even considering that Bests goal was onside I have seen a lot worse performances from the refs this year
The Blues might have a potent front line but they’re the ones with ground to make up. Besides, unlike Chelsea and Man Utd we don’t have to worry about juggling the European Cup and Premier League, we only have two games left in the former competition!
Jackster @ 62…you should consider yourself lucky that Andy Carroll wasn’t playing for us today mate, he would have given your lightweight back four a good hammering. You’ll find out soon when you play against a “big club” cough..like Liverpool
Bollocks!
Look away now Holics!
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/djourou-suffers-knee-injury-at-newcastle
Dave and Mag, you are welcome here. If you are wondering, the batty one went for calling people here cunts.
Debate and disagreement is fine, personal abuse isn’t. Just saying, you understand.
Cheers.
If you’re not followung Che$#^zny on twitter, you really need to start. He just came out with this classic;
“It is hard to make any comments on today’s game without using the magic word “referee”… Thought he was brilliant today…”
Legend in the making….
@Goonertown
Wow. That is just… wow.
One thing if it was a hamstring or whatever. You know, things that happen and you can’t really see it coming. But it being the knee, Djourous fucking KNEE, just a few days after the transfer window closed…. that is just wow.
Dowd is just doing the work he was asked to do. Why are we crucifying him.
Don’t you know that Arsenal is moving too close to Man U for a comfort. Do you think they are not proactive. With Man U’s tough weeks ahead, you think they will allow Man U to lose before they manipulate things? The are creating room for Man U to, even if they lose, carry the cup.
So Please stop complaining. During January transfer Arsenal didn’t buy Players Chelsea and Liverpool or Referees like Man U did. We are yet to see all the Man U recruit in action. Dowd has been anti Arsenal. Go to the records. Well UEFA is the most corrupt amongst equals because somethings happening would have been dealt with if it were in Italy. UEFA see an pretend they don’t because they are stooge, perhaps.
For now I rest my case
Toby – I know mate
Oh well lets soldier on. The word behind the scenes is that TV5 started running without pain last week!
I do hope Djourou gets well very soon!
Cheers!
diaby , denilson , rockisy shouldn’t play for arsenal , period .
players must be responsible for their act , diaby must consider arsenal interest beyond his own , if he cannot understand that , better leave the club.
Munich, my post was directed at a twat called batty who has now been deleted.
Anyway, it’s saturday night, have n’t you got scantilly clad toothless lovelies to pull in the toon?
Sirjec…. are they all Masons, or part of the new world order?
Or just incompetent?
A drink for you…
Just so bad timing. Both for the club and for us, but also because this will only fan the BBB flames. If we just could just not have gotten him injured for two more weeks it would both feel better (ie longer away from the transfer window) and be better (Vermy coming back soon, Song being fit and Squil hopefully getting his act together a bit on the training ground).
This is just bleeding awful.
Anyway, I’m not giving up until it’s mathematically impossible to get back footballisticaly. Love using those words.
Diaby just ntweeted this:
“am a broken man.. i am soo sorry.. lost my head.. apologize.”
Hopefully he will learn from this.
Hands up if you believe that this team will come back fighting.
I do.
I’m sure they’ll come back fighting, I’m just not sure they’ll stay in that state consistently for the remainder of the season
Heh, hands up to both Sajit and Charlie.
We’ll be fine( I still hope), but we’ll have moments that will not feel fine (I am sure)
Goonerholic
No probs 😉
As for the ref I dont know if Dowd is anti Arsenal as I dont tend to watch you’s but I do know that we havn’t got to many decision this season and although one of todays penalty’s might have been a bit soft I will still take it as in the letter of the law Rosicky makes no attempt to get the ball and gives Williamson a push on the back.
But as I said earlier if you havn’t seen it allready Best was atlest 2 feet onside so I guess you’s would have to be gratfull to Dowd for 1pt lol .
As for the rest of the season I hope you’s can push on as I would rather see you’s win over Manure or Chelski.
GT that link says nothing – dont panic yet
Holics there is one thing that should cheer us all up ‘cos there is one person who is suffering more than all of us put together lol
Imagine if you were captain of a team and felt that they were better off without you and you quit the club mid-season- that would be so so sad – especially when , without you they went and lost to the bottom team in the league
Can I give you the toast of the day – Gory Noville who by his final act did more to hurt Manure than Abu’s hot head and Dowdys fat face did for us
See – things arent so bad – now for a stress and rage removing very old Cognac for all in the bar
COYR
Rosicky is (or rather used to be) one of my favourite Arsenal players. What happened to him?
I know he had some bad luck with the injuries, but still!
@Sajit:
*hands up*
I have to admit, that at 4-0, I had the same funny feeling you did, Sajit.
It was way too easy, that wasn’t the Arsenal way. Something smelled fishy. But even I couldn’t imagine what was about to happen. I thought that maybe we’d lose some important players to injury or suspensions, but THAT? Surely not.
Barman, a large Guinness for my man Mick. He earned it. 😀
Goonerholic,
Don’t worry, he calls us the same thing on our blog 🙂
Good bloke though, if a bit outspoken and harsh on the ears…
Bizarre match…perhaps the most bizarre but stand back and take the 38 game view. If we knew this morning we were going to draw 1-1 for example but Man United would lose we’d just about take it. This doesn’t undo all of the promising signs we’ve seen in the league in recent weeks, Diaby can’t do that again of course. It’s a point closer to winning it.
Glad to see balance overall on here. Just hoping JD is alright. Backs against the wall…we’re still going to win the league. If you don’t believe me take a closer look at the Mancs away form.
Keep the faith.
See,the problems with epl is that of xenophobia and all those shits..They over-hype their english players and they in turn go and disgrace them in any international tourney..Dowd was just doing the biding of his masters,i.e,the FA.,sir alex F-words.E.t.c.Im not saying dowd isnt an incompetent moron,a fat, no brain pig,but you cant pose a threat to manure and expect a fair officiating.Did anybody remember 2008,(eduardo saga,and when arsenal started drawing games for fun),liverpool,2009..They drew almost a dozen matches immediately the got to the top.Remember mourinho’s 3rd season in england..And all these times both ronaldo and rooney were busy diving after the refs have given them cues.Man u is the most corrupt club in the world,even dirtier than juventus..But the problem is SKY and other english media know this,but they all want to protect that english integrity that is a scam itself.
Sorry Ollie and Holic I don’t buy it. Diaby is one of a few including Djouoru who pull a hamstring on a blade of grass.
Given a run in the side with Song out he gets a 3 match ban!
Dowd was awful but so were we in the second half.
Never mind we posted profits of 56 million and season tickets are sold out!
diaby can tweet as many as he want , people has to be accountable of what they are doing .
if wenger cannot instil discipline , this will happens again and again
As for my opinion with of Dowd tonight…
I think he got the sending off correct…
I think he got the first penalty correct… (albeit it was very soft from Arsenals side, because the slight trip and tackle through the legs was completely unnessessary at 4-0 up with Best’s back to goal…
I think the second penalty there was a slight push from Rosicky who made no effort to play the ball, but I’ll admit, most referees would not give it inside the box…
I think the linesman got the Van Persie offside call correct, he was half a body infront of the defender and according to the new rules that IS offsides.
Finally, the linesman got the Best offside wrong, he was a yard onside, played on by Cliche.
In conclusion, I honestly don’t believe there was any bias towards any team. And the only person Arnenal have to blame for what should have been an easy win, is Diaby (who has apologised now on Twitter).
I also think the spirit of the Newcastle lads must be commended. They never gave up and I never saw that happening after the week we’ve had…
Big Dave, check the write-up again.
“Best himself had a goal wrongly chalked out for offside but his next attempt found the target and counted. ”
No doubt it was a goal. I’ll argue van Persie deserved one. Not disputing you earned a draw, but with a different ref you wouldn’t have got it.
Suspect we may agree on that at least?
@BigDave
Maybe you should follow refwatch on Untold Arsenal.
I have nothing against your team coming back into the game.
I have everything against teams kicking the shit out of other teams,
and referees completely ignoring it.
There are many things wrong with the EPL; it has a corporate culture that is fueled by ignorant pundits talking shit…
“He took some of the ball” sort of shit, when the Law states that that is no defence for crunching someone’s leg.
I hate the way football is legislated anyway.
Rugby is man’s game where if people have a disagreement, they face off, throw their punches, sort it out and get on with it.
In football you raise your hands and touch someone’s face and you’re off, (unless you are Kevin Nolan) , but if you fly into someone at full pelt with all your force going into your heel, you can smash their leg to pieces, and pretend you are going for the ball, and nothing is said….
its a bad state of affairs, and that is the coward’s way.
And just what exactly does Wenger do on a match day ?
Is there a manager in world football, faced with the circumstances of today’s game, who would have brought on Rosicky and Eboue ?
We still have an inadequate squad, poorly managed and we are no nearer winning a trophy so stop kidding yourselves.
As for Manure,
Hope you guys take the title. Can’t agree more. They are corrupt or the FA are so far up their backsides because of the revenue they generate worldwide, they don’t want them losing games…
Good luck for Barca, should be a cracking game!
‘We still have an inadequate squad, poorly managed and we are no nearer winning a trophy so stop kidding yourselves.’
Last I checked we were one game away from winning a trophy…
Just so we don’t get into any arguments over what Diaby has said (it’s enough with what he has done!), Jamie Sanderson that is running Young Guns has said on Twitter that OfficialDiaby2 is a fake account. He usually don’t get stuff like this wrong. So Diaby hasn’t said anything officially about this as of yet.
@YoungGunsBlog Jamie Sanderson
Just to confirm: @OfficialDiaby2 is a fake account.
That’s the spirit Charlie!
Sajit, are you my doppleganger man? For once I feel totally miserable about our squad right now (I know it’s not justified, just a fucking feeling) and you’re leading the faithful?
Have a drink on me, good man.
cognacgunner
I hear ya! Who said anything about panicking?
Lol!
Whatever you’re drinking goodfella!
Cheers pik, 🙂
Sorry I meant proper trophies, but given our inevitable injury situation and the proximity of other matches(Barca), I wouldn’t start celebrating our Carling Cup victory yet.
‘Holic, here’s a little ditty to brighten up the partially lost day. It’s called “Reds’ ‘Invincibles’ Are His-To-Ry!”, sung to the tune of a famous Xmas song (apologies to all reindeer):
Fergy the red-nosed gaffer…
Has a very bulbous nose..
And if you ever saw it..
You would even say it grows!
Ev’ry referee and linesmen..
Grovel when they hear his name..
They’d never let old Red-Nose..
Lose an English Premier game!
Then one eve at Molineux..
Wolfmen came to play..
Fergy with your nose so bright..
Devils looked like shite that night!
And all the gooners loved it..
As they shouted out with glee..
Fergy the red-nosed gaffer..
Reds’ “Invincibles” are his-to-ry!
Now we need to do one up for Phil Dowd…..
*checks* Nope, never said we’d won it yet, and last I checked we’d move a step or two closer to the FA Cup as well. And despite the fiasco today we’re one point closer to the top. So moving closer (if only marginally) on lots of fronts. We might be a mess at times, but so is everyone around us, which is at least a little comforting.
Just watched the carnage again on Football First.
Didn’t see any corruption by Dowd – loads of incompetence sure – my view is that he is a bit of a homer to be honest – but we need to get away from this paranoia about referees and start asking more pertinent questions closer to home.
And one in particular – if Diaby is going to relive his horror challenge every time he comes up against the Barton’s of this world, wouldn’t he be better playing somewhere else because its not going to change any time soon?
You’re right ‘Holic, his reaction was absurd and was the pivotal moment in the game – and in the final analysis, any team that loses a 4 goal lead needs to have a serious word. If we can lose 4 goals to a mediocre team like the barcodes, it does not auger well if Barcelona turn up “in the mood”.
I’m sure I’ll feel better in the morning but I currently feel like we lost, and the only thing that is cheering me up is that old whiskey nose will be feeling worse than me.
Good stuff Bayonne.
It was a good comeback by Newcastle.
Didn’t like the challenge by Barton, totally uncontrolled.
Man and ball.
Laws of game .
ILL-E-GAL
Don’t know how bad the rest of the challenges were because have only seen the sanitized family firendly MOTD version.
First penalty….iffy
second penalty…not a penalty
Nolan attacked Schezny’s head = red card
Poor performance by Dowd.
Diaby’s reaction was not absurd.
Why absurd?
@ Marcus
Absurd and brainless. Our only replacement for Song has just ruled himself of the next 3 league games – I would call it absurd but you don’t have to agree.
Marcus,
I am a homophobic window licker.
JJ – we didn’t actually lose 😉
It is not paranoia Zico.
If the referees consistently and flagrantly ignore, and I mean totally ignore, the rules of the game, then we have a right to say something stinks.
Forget the pundits and the garbage they talk.
Read the rulebook, and then watch how it is not applied time and again.
Case in point. Nolan’s assault on Schezny.
1) The keeper is allowed to pick up the ball.
2) Opposition have no right to chase up the ball
3) Smashing someone around the head, right in front of the linesman incidentally, is a straight red card
Result yellows for Nolan and Schezny
This is not just egregious, this is point blank fishy.
Football is a product, so I have only seen the MOTD packaged version, but from first hand reports, Newcastle started, like most other clubs this season, kicking lumps out of Arsenal with impunity.
Sorry….it won’t wash.
The laws are not being applied.
It is fishy.
It is corrupt.
Bungs , backhanders, corporate ladder, preferment, this is all corruption.
It is very commonplace in England these days.
But it doesn’t make it RIGHT.
It is WRONG
simple as
Don’t put words in my mouth JJ
And stop splitting hairs over Schezny
Nolan forearm smashed him the head. Don’t talk yourself out of it
Lol JJ
don’t know what it is but sounds funny
We fucked away 2 points today,there is no arguing about that. But let’s get to the reasons why,1 Wenger is at fault ad much as that idiot Squalichi is because he brought in no one in the window to cover at CB and we all know that Squilichi is fuckin shit. Would Man U have fucked away a 4-0 lead after 26 mins? NO THEY WOULD NOT. We could have got Samba for about 8m but oh no Mr Wenger chose not to,why? Because he couldn’t take the credit for signing a proved Prem player,oh no Wenger wants all the praise for unearthing an ‘ UNKNOWN’ I know man u lost so we’ve gained 1 point on
them but don’t pretend today was acceptable because it was FUCKIN SHIT. All the WENGER DEVOTEE’S WAKE FUCKIN UP,TODAYZ RESULT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE,FULL FUCKIN STOP
A Small Death On The Tyne.
Joey Barton is like the Rodent,that eats it’s way inch by inch through your Entrails,chews at your Liver and Stomach,severs Tendon from Organ,until finally,when you are alone in the dark,it sits gorged and sleek next to your head,it’s eyes resting,it’s wet muzzle like a kiss,a promise whispered in the air.
The laws of football are supposed to be simple and they may be but the interpretation of them is very complicated and subjective.
The only law I know of which could account for the sending off of Diaby is Violent Conduct, non of the other sending off offenses come close to covering it. Was the shove on his neck ‘Violent Conduct’? Personally I think it was pretty much nothing, not a nice thing for Diaby to do but hardly violent in the context of many other things that had gone before and either been ignored or just drawn a free kick. If Diaby’s shove on Barton’s neck was violent conduct then what the hell was the ‘challenge’ by Barton on Diaby which proceeded the shove? A challenge which could easily have led to a broken leg or ankle. Bartons ‘challenge’ on Diaby didn’t even merit a free kick in the eyes of the referee. If Dowd had blown for a free kick because of that challenge he would have diffused the situation and Diaby would have remained on the pitch. Bad refereeing!
However bad refereeing doesn’t excuse surrendering a 4 goal lead and our team still need to learn how to hold on to such a lead, even when a man down.
I also thought the substitutions were a bit odd in the circumstances and as we were suffering from high balls into the box I wonder if putting on Bendtner or Chamakh (were they both there?) and telling them to play deep and challenge for the high balls might have been more useful.
I am still fuming over today’z result, how the fuck did we do that? Jesus fuckin Christ it was appalling,no fuckin excuses full stop. Our 1st eleven ( which didn’t play today) is a good side, but put in that fuckin shite bag Squilachi and we’re fucked,he is a fuckin disgrace and who persevere’s with him? WENGER,fuckin hell Wenger own up to your shit buys and stop RIPPING US FANS OFF WITH YOU BLUFFING.
And before all you Wengerites and Holic devotees jump down mt throat, do you honestly think today’s result is acceptable?
Gaz, the result today was fucking shit, I agree on that.
But I’m 100% certain any buys in the transfer window wouldn’t have made any difference at all today. Even if we had bought a proven prem player he probably wouldn’t have even been on the bench today.
What we will see is if Squil and Kos can do the job (stats say no) until we get Djourou and/or Vermy back. That will be a challenge.
The team didn’t cover themselves in glory today and I, personally, think Wenger made the wrong substitutions, but I just cannot let it get to me in that way. We still four points from the top and Utd has got the derby coming up next week. Let’s see what happens.
But yes, it is surely it is time for the Squil/Kos partnership to prove they have earned Wengers faith. I have my doubts about them as a partnership, but I really do hope I will be proven wrong.
And no, no excuses today. Something started that the team couldn’t control. They suddenly found themselves in a position where they didn’t know what to do. Sadly, it happens, and could probably happen to any team in the world, given the right (or rather wrong!) circumstances. It do seem to happen to us more than others though. No excuses at all.
We deserved to draw, whatever you think about the ref, but I do know we can do better than this, and if we do better than this in enough games the next few months, we’re still in with a shout.
It is possible to support the manager and think today was unacceptable, it’s not an either/or situation. As for ‘would Man Utd do this’, Man Utd lost a two goal lead in stoppage time this season!
Again, Charlie, well played. Took you two sentences to say what took me a few paragraphs!
I’m afraid this same team will play the most compact, formidable and consistent Barca side…10-2 wil be a blissing for us
Nice work Charlie.
Abu caused it all and Wenger is the genesis of it all. Squillaci and Koscieny need to have the communication right. For the ref, Dowd was a disgrace to EPL officiating and needs to bow down in sham!!!
@ Charlie – throwing away a 2 goal lead in the last few minutes is a bit of a leap from throwing away a four goal lead in a game that you were miles in front in, and not only would Man Utd not do it, in fact NO one else HAS done it.
That’s how bad it was.
It was bad all round – the players on the park and the management team on the sidelines should have been able to prevent it. The fact that they couldn’t is worrying. I thought Tuesday demonstrated some mental resilience – after today I’m not so sure.
Conceding two in stoppage time is worse…..we’d have lost 5-6 (allowing for the Van Persie goal) :=)
It’s not a case of one being better or worse than the other, I’m just saying that in this crazy season, it’s a bit daft asking ‘Would Man Utd/Chelsea do this’ – I could equally ask ‘Would Arsenal have won three away games all season so far’ or ‘Would Arsenal have won one league game in about two months’ – I can only imagine at some of the comments on here if we’d done the latter!
Unbelievable. And I didn’t even see the game.
Having watched highlights of all the matches on MoTD this evening have come to the conclusion that there’s no F.A. conspiracy. Our friendly Toon interloper is right. The refereeing in this league is simply incredibly inconsistent and very poor. There were heaps of wrong decisions today. Maybe our match suffered more than most but that was just coincidence.
Yes we were very poor in the second half but because most of the refereeing incompetence also happened to occur in that part of the game it’s a little hard to gauge how much was of our own doing.
Anyway, incredibly we’re still right there in it and pushing on 4 fronts. I’m sure we won’t play like that against Farca. Manure have to pick themselves up off the floor now too just as they head into a run of very challenging games. We face Wolves at home next week so that should be easier than playing in a local derby against a side also in with a shout for The Championship.
Infuriating day. We should be 2 points behind Manure now and breathing down their necks. We also have some real injury concerns now at the heart of our defence that need dealing with.
We need to do an Arshavin and get behind Squillaci and help him to build his confidence because the obvious alternative will be to put Song in there alongside Kos and we don’t want to be doing that. That or we bring back one of our young guns from loan and that would be very risky.
What a season ‘Holics. We should come away with something this year but I’ve given up on predictions.
If you told me that next weekend we will draw against Wolves after being 3-0 up at half-time and Manure will get whipped 5-0 by Citeh with all the goals coming in the final 15 minutes I wouldn’t be surprised after today.
Drinks for all in the bar please barman and let’s try to keep it honest. 😉
PS for Clive @ #118: You’re wasted here. Were you quoting or plagiarising? A fine post either way.
Charlie,
for the avoidance of doubt, I am not saying our capitulation was worse than Utd losing a 2 goal lead late in a game – my point is that I don’t think either they or Chelsea would lose a 4 goal lead once they had got themselves into that position, with 10 or 11 men.
That might be down to experience – my concern surrounds what Toby refers to as “something started that the team could not control….” and it’s not the first time this season where blind panic has set in.
Ah True Storey – still half full glass my friend – good for you.
I will find my optimism pills in the morning I’m sure 😉
the reaction of diaby even so cost us the win should be applaude.Man i just wish he put his feet the thug face.
this guy should have been ban from football longtime ago and dont even have any bit of class to stay away from shooting the penalty.Well not much better to other c**t of chav who was commenting for Fox Sport and say he was man of the match
And why the troll comment only after a bad match and never after a win.yea always after the lost we are getting sack wenger,sell half the player ,spend million because we make profit , we are sh*t blablablabla but once we win they disappear in their cavern.
Next week we could be 1 point behind the amazing MU and your lot will look like idiot once again
Charlie and Zico
You both make valid points.
Charlie, love the overall positive outlook and everyone of the top 5 has been guilty of throwing away points this year, no doubt.
Zico, giving away a 4 goal lead at half-time is uniquely Arsenal and very embarassing.
Can we all share a drink and have a good old laugh/cry about today? It’s been an exceptional day in the EPL today. Which probably means Chavs vs Pool will be nil-nil tomorrow.
Yea, pints for Charlie and TS – and anybody else still out trying to avoid their own Management 🙂
Heh! Guilty as charged….
Just to stress, I’m not saying today was acceptable of course, it was a horror show on a par with Saturday night on ITV. Just that certain statements get on my nerves.
And on a side note, can James Lawton in The Independent piss off with his (typically) pompous bit about Fabregas in the paper today (well, yesterday now).
There is no other place in the Arsenal blogosphere where the last few posts would materialize after a day like this. Have to thank you ‘Holic and ‘Holics for making this place what it is! A couple of rounds on me!
Got this off a retweet from our barman – http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/7393/sexymick3.gif
Lovely.
Seriously we are blaming the ref???
I agree against Everton Dowd was a corrupt SOB, but tonight was complacency pure and simple, Wenger saying we have learnt from this AGAIN! just pissed me off completely.
When will this team learn that winning at ht is half the battle, today is a loss not a draw, it changes nothing we still need to win 2 more games than manure.
We were overconfident and cocky and deserved the result, they deserved the win, take the blinkers off for a change. Every team plays dirty against us it’s nothing new, we wont get those decisions but to stop playing after 45 is inexcusable as it was against the scum
Gaz, been waiting for someone to bring samba up but assumed everyone had seen his shite display against spuds last week he wasn’t to clever today either, only 8 million, bargain, not!
Oh Toby, that McCarthy .gif slaughters me. Whoever really did put that together is a kindred spirit.
Excellent.
G’night all.
Nice title holic` 🙂
You are quite a skillful writer.
Cin-cin, and here`s to our guys winning all the last few matches of the season!
It’s a mixbag of everything tonight, I don’t like to blame the REF (Dawd the Cunt) for this matter. We were 4 nil up and we fucked it up…….end of story
No excuses Holics we are far more superior than this…look at Everton game we don’t have to rely on the REF all the time. As much as Mason fucked it up Dawd made us pay for what we did to Everton I think ….
This time around thou it was the complete opposite in the first half we made them look like plonkers in the second we made ourselves look like them in true meaning of those simple words.
The thing that worried me too much is the fact that we bottled it in the second half, we were no where in the second half after that twit Diby decided to have a go…..
He’s a proffesional player and he is taught like everyone else in the team to keep his fucking cool…..
Barton is nothing, zero, zilch just shadown of what some of our guys are capeable of, soo why the hell do you flip. I know this tackle didn’t look too good but if can stand up and carry on just keep your head on please for the next time at least. Bloke has been out the game far too long to show his attitude like that.
I blame Wenger for not making correct changes when this happened, we made Toon look like us in the first half and just beacuse we lost a player due to his own inability to keep calm we lost our shape completely. We are far more better then this!
The only good thing that happened to us, was Man IOU loosing tonight nothing else….Hopefully Cheski will loose points tomorrow I hope we still have a game in hand against Citeh so it’s not al lost yet Holics 🙂
Lets chin up and get behind the lads for the next game!
Must admit I am still a bit shell shocked about today. My first ever attempt at trying to watch a stream failed spectacularly. I relied on Sky Sports, the net and various text messages to keep up to date. I was amazed at what what unfolded at the sports direst dot com arena. I have since watched MOTD and the extended highlights on Sky. This is how I saw it.
First things first. Dowd and his merry men were not great. But I do not think they were that bad either. Suggesting they were responsible for the draw is nothing but clutching at straws for me. And the sooner we all open our eyes and realise that then the quicker we can move on. Continuing to look for excuses when we throw away points makes us look like a spoilt child that can not get their own way at times.
First half. 3 up inside 10 minutes. The game should be over at this point. The home crowd is silent. Then a 4th. It could be more. As half time approaches the following question is posed. ” Is Arsenal’s biggest battle in the second half one against complacency?” Something to think about.
Second half. Still cruising. Home crowd still silent. Then we have the Barton challenge on Diaby. Now we can argue all day about the tackle. But the ball was there to be won. We all know that the likes of Barton do not need asking twice although I would like to ask Squillaci what the fuck he was doing with his pass to even make the tackle an option? Opinions vary from no foul to red card. Regardless there is no justification for Diaby’s reaction. None at all. The only slight saving grace is that Dowd appeared to indicate that the red was for the 2 offences. If that is the case it may only be a one match ban. Diaby needs to take a leaf out of the Eboue reaction to tackles book and just do 4 forward rolls followed by pike in the tucked position. Abou, you fucked up son. Poor decision. Learn from it.
1st pen is a pen. Watched several times. Kos has a tug at his shirt and catches his ankle. I am sure that we could debate it all day but again I would pose a question. Why is he making the challenge? He has no need at all to lunge in from behind. It is always a massive risk and in that situation what does it achieve? Poor decision Kos. Let’s be honest, any forward in the box is just waiting for a big centre half to sneeze on them to go down. The fiasco that followed was comedy. Chesney booked. No idea why. It was our ball. Nolan also booked which will hopefully inadvertently help Diaby when considering his ban.
2nd pen decision was a shocker. Never a pen in a million years. But considering the Geordies had a goal ruled out for off side when a yard on I will leave these 2 as cancelling each other out.
I do not think the whole second half was a disaster, I go back to the question about complacency. Were we complacent? Absolutely. As soon as they scored we went to pieces. Rather that execute Dowd perhaps we should wonder why we hardly won a single header in our box? Perhaps we should look at the midfield and ask why there is still a fucking huge gap between them and the defence. Why has RVP not looked across the line in the 94th minute when he was in acres of space before expertly placing the ball into the top corner?
So why have we fallen apart so dramatically???? Well you all know my views by now about lack of leaders, the squad strength and all that lovely dosh sat in the bank, so I have no intention of opening old and painful wounds. My problem however is that this is clearly not a one off. How we have failed to address these weaknesses either on the training ground or via the transfer market is completely beyond me. But quite frankly I am bored repeating myself. That last 25 mins was an embarrassing shambles. End of.
Funny but the Wolves result makes it worse for me. It just makes we look at all the leads we have thrown away and realise that with a bit more steal and we would be 10 points clear?????
No more slip ups please lads? And no more looking for others to blame. Take it on the chin and make sure we never have to endure anything like that ever again. And I really do mean ever.
One final point. Take a look at all of the red cards we have received this season. How many have been as the results of poor decisions by the player concerned? The vast majority I would suggest. We need to learn and we need to learn fast.
It’s been a long day and I was still cursing all and sundry until I read the line “… the most dangerous man in black shorts…” so thanks very much holic for rounding my day off with a smile 🙂
A cold ‘un for anyone still around 😀
Cheers, MtS! Don’t mind if I do…
I need beer……………………..
Show me another team that conceded two goals from bogus penalties in the second half and managed to draw the match, let alone win. Do that and then you will have the right to question yesterdays performance by the lads. Let’s not even factor in Nolan and Barton lasting the full 90 is criminal when if the ref thought that Diaby’s was a red then those 2 should have gone also.
I cant believe some people are actually defending that performance today! Blaming refs,other players should have been sent off…. Fucking hell,get a fuckin grip. Yes the ref was shite,yes that cunt barton should have been sent off,but WE fucked away a 4 goal lead. That 2nd half performance was fucking gutless,leaderless and down right fucking disgraceful.Them 2 CB’s Kos & that mongo Squilichi are just not premier standard and don’t anyone kid themselves that they are.That Squilichi divvy is the worst CB ever to play for Arsenal,the fucking worst. And Jesus,god forbid that Johan is out for a couple of games,we are stuck with that fuckin mongo,and why is that?,oh yeah, a certain person deems him good enough!! Fuckin laughable,just fuckin laughable. Arsene,start respecting the loyal fans this great club has and stop fucking us about.
Worst refereeing I’ve ever seen. We are still in the Quadruple. Get behind the team. Vodka double, no ice, please.
Or just stop moaning. Some of the fans on here are definitely not fit to wear the shirt.
Let’s be honest: if Friday we’d been told we would draw at Saint James park with Indebted loosing against Wolves, all of us on this board would’ve been perfectly satisfied.
Diaby had a great game until his outburst. Yes he fucked up but that’s a display of character we all have been waiting from him. I totally remember Paddy guilty of the same petulance at the same age, and more than once too. Like Paddy Diaby will learn from it and it won’t take too long before he’ll make his feelings known with a “fair but tough” tackle on the offender. Yes he shouldn’t have done it but on the other hand, he will become a better player because of it.
And until then it’s undeniable we were playing like title winners. It’s in the manner that the team will respond to the disappointment that we’ll know if we really are.
On a side note, Everton – Blackpool was a cracker of a game today. I really hope Blackpool will stay up and inspire more teams to play like them.
Can someone please explain to me how on earth he gave the 2nd penalty?
@FinnGunn: don’t mind Gaz, he’s actually pretty entertaining. The guy who spend his life sniping at the team and the manager is now asking for respect for the “loyal fans”. Imagine that!
@Snir: the same way they denied the Newcastle goal for offside I guess…
If you think that’s infuriating just have a look at the Indebted game and you will be frothing at the mouth. The double standards puts the entire league body to shame.
Snir, that was a fuck all decision. But they were denied a goal as offside too. I mean the ref was shit. Joey Barton is a cunt. Alan Pardew is despicable. But, we all knew that.
It’s nothing new. It was in our control even after Diaby got sent off. No other team in the world would have let a 4 goal lead slip.
The truth is, we are the Arsenal and we just have to you know….
The strange thing is we are still in the race. I just can’t give up hope, I guess it’s true for all Arsenal fans. It’s one thing if we were totally out of the race, that would have been some kind of closure.
Keep the faith (hoping I have the stomach for the ride…)
The only real fact is that you’re constantly picking fights here with everyone because you’re systematically abusive and insulting towards the other commenters, the players and the manager.
It’s not your views, however debatable, that get you ‘told off’ repeatedly, it’s how you convey them. That’s why I’m not your mate nor is anyone else here.
Come to think of it, we let a 2 goal lead slip.
I just can’t understand how he gave those 2 penalties. That’s not a horrible decision, that’s literally giving them 2 goals, he might have well kicked the penalties himself.
How on earth are those 2 cases penalties, I just can’t understand it.
Fergie’s nervous isn’t he? That has to be the reason all the refs are this shit towards us.
How is that a penalty!?!?!? It makes me sick.
I seriously don’t know what to feel……..i need a drink though.
Snir, drink something to lighten the suffering mate.. 🙂
The first one was a penalty…Kos kinda kicked him from behind and he went down very easily..
But, I would like to point out that the mancs wouldn’t have been given a pen for that in a million years..
Steve T @147 – excellent analysis and summary.
Another thing,why didn’t anyone come through the back of that cunt Barton and cunt him into row Z? Would Vieir,Petit or Lauren have let him away with it? 100% NO.Barton came through the back of Arshavin and the ref never even gave a free,that should have a sign of what was to come and he should have been cunted into the stands next tackle to show him he wasn’t going to get away with it.He nearly broke Diaby’s leg and Diaby had every right to be disgusted with the little tie rag,but if your going to get sent off,well then make sure Barton doesn’t play again this season,don’t get a red for just pushing the cunt.
Snir. The first is definitely a pen. Kos made a poor decision. The second is a shocker.
Cheers ND. I call it as I see it. I must say I am still very frustrated and still very pissed off this morning.
EPL referees are always going to be shit
Media and authorities will always be anti-Arsenal
It is our duty as fans to see that our players who have been shit start performing for that is the only variable which is in our hands.
Diaby’s reaction, though understandable, is inexcusable. If he had stayed on the pitch we would certainly be 2 points off the top this morning.
Yes, Barton is a cunt. We all know that. yes he should have seen red for that horrendous challenge on Diaby, but the ref wasn’t going to send off the captain of a home team losing 0-4, and we also know how most refs will look for opportunities to “even it out”. We gave him those opportunities, so we only have ourselves to blame, I’m afraid.
The fact is, however bad it was, I got over it. Wolves did us a big favour, and instead if being 7 points adrift, we are only 4 off. Hardly a season-ending gap. So let’s just move on, and hope the team will have learned the lesson and keep playing as well ad they did in the first half where we looked irresistible.
That’s for the half-full part. Now the real bad news from yesterday is of course Djourou’s injury.
I think we can all agree that playing Squilachi must be a last resort; I’d rather Song playing at CB.
Man U have lost Ferdinand for two weeks, and Evans is no better than Squilacci. So barring new injuries to you-know-who and you-know-who, and unless Almunia returns in goal, then we are still in it.
There’s no need to dwell on this, let’s just move on and keep playing like we did in the first half. Because we were simply world class then.
A large cup of latté for me, Barman. A half full one please.
Gaz at various numbers,
Do you have a swearbox where you work.??
Clapham in league with jäger bombs sambucca and copious amounts of Red Stripe in a bar that resembles Hawai are seriously bad for your head 🙂
Still cannot get over yesterday totally and utterly bizarre, Any news on JD ? I seriously cannot bear the thought of Squillaci getting an extended run the only thing that would be worse than that is seeing Denilson in front of him 😉
Forget about Newcastle’s there’s much worse: Bendtner and his princess have split up. Let’s hope it won’t get him depressed, although I somehow doubt it will happen…
One last beer for the road. I’m trying to be reasonable but I wish it was a whisky.
@Chippy 172
Or Almunia behind him 😉
@ Clive 171 Nope,not a hint of a swearbox I’m afraid! I think I might have Tourette’s!!!! f#%*~##*<#!!!!!!
Isn’t it funny. 10 players on the pitch, 1 lucky goal from a deflection unfavorable to Clichy, a penalty conceded by Kos, another one that never happened and a cracker of a goal but somehow it’s all Squillaci’s fault.
Denilson’s probably still congratulating himself for picking up a timely injury. Oh wait, if he’d played instead of Rosicki we’d won it. Never mind.
if Johan is out for any length of time,even 1 game,Song has to play at center half because Squillachi is just to much of a liability,i know i had a go at Kos earlier but in hindsight,he only looks bad when partnered by Squillachi,so not only is Squillachi absolute muck he is affecting the other center half with his muckness!
Well well, in the cold day of light, the day after, and having watched the TV highlights I must say what a fantastic game yesterday. Arsenal absolutely immense in the first half, destroyed the toon with some slick play and wonderful passing.
Now boys, say what you like about Joey Barton, he’s not everyones cup of tea, and he has baggage. But take a good look at the tackle that got your guy sent off. He led with his studs down, granted at speed, but the guy was committed to win the ball. In fact he did win the ball. That your guy reacted impetulantly and unprofessionally and was sent off was fully deserved imo, man the prat even had two goes, pushing Nolan away aggresively too.
I know it’s difficult for some of you chirpy delusionary chappies on here, but show some credit where it’s due. We all witnessed a record breaking come-back by the toon yesterday, and in the end we could have in fact beaten you.
A wonderful day for the toon supporters after a really dreadful week. Our spirit is still intact, we’re gonna need it.
RVP, God help us lol.
The 3 Amigos or the axis of evil 🙂
@ Clive,if i had a swearbox in work i’d be broke!!! Northern Monkeys just get up my nose and the Tourettes kicks in!!!
Munich,
I’ll take your word for it I cannot bring myself to watch the horror unfold I’m staying clear of all things football for a day or two 😉
If you didn’t know the offside rule goes by the chest. Van Persie’s chest was level with the defender. It was his hand that wasn’t, that isn’t offsides.
I just hope the lads will be able to take it on the chin and not self destruct.
Ah, to think that yesterday I, in my unending naivety, wrote post 140 because I actually enjoyed the good nature and tone of the conversation here. Because, despite what one may think about Diaby, or the ref, this has to be put into a perspective in a history that is over a hundred years long. Win some, lose some, draw some. This was a catastrophe with regards to how our team handled the situation, but instead of breaking down over the fact that this is the only time it has happened to the Arsenal, I’m going to take comfort in it. It doesn’t happen every day and hopefully it will take another hundred years before it happens again.
Anyways, back to the point I was making, I was liking most of the conversation (it being, you know, actual conversation!) here yesterday, but I have no idea what you lot are up to now.
All respect to the Toon that, whatever help they (if you see it that way) got from the referee or from us, actually scored four goals. If you’re here for an actual talk about the game, I’ll share a pint, it is not YOUR fault Arsenal collapsed and the referee got the game completely wrong. But if you are here to call the Arsenal cunts, I’d rather you’d fuck off.
Oh, looks like ‘Holic has already sorted the bar fight…
The nonsense ends here. And yes, I think you will find I have every right to choose what childish tripe gets deleted from the comments on my blog.
Debate without abuse or I will get rid of your drivel.
I watched the WHOLE match, not just the highlights, extended or otherwise. Twice. Apart from game-warping effect of the big officiating errors (should have been 10 v 9 or at best 10 v 10), none of those who are blaming our performance predominantly have taken into account the effect of the referee’s bias on the players. It will have encouraged Newcastle and their fans to know that they could get away with anything, and that everything we did (actual or imagined) would punished. It would have adversely affected our confidence and decision-making. We had players on yellow cards – I don’t even know what Sagna’s was supposed to be for. That was why we became more conservative and why the Barcodes were able to press high up and take the initiative.
What is the relevance of money sitting in the bank account? If the right player isn’t there to buy, he isn’t there to buy. That’s real life, as opposed to Championship Manager.
If we can keep it together and beat Wolves with a clean sheet, the most significant fact about yesterday could turn out to be that we gained ground on Man United and their unbeaten run was ended.
Ah, to think that just a few minutes ago, I, in my unending naivety, wrote post 182…
Toby, just stop quoting post numbers. If I have to keep deleting them the spam filter will think you are trouble 😉
Heh, cheers ‘Holic. I should know that you can keep this place in order yourself!
Coffee please!
good luck for the rest of the season 😉
kind regards batty
i might come back on 1 day if our owner ever buys your club lol
Gaz @179
I have an iron rule not to post on blogs after a disappointing result or poor performance until after i have calmed down.
That way you don’t get into trouble with the Natives.!!
Also i always go by the adage that you win and lose as a team,so i see no point in criticising individual performances.
Wenger buys the players and picks the team so we have to trust his judgement.
Every Arsenal team down the years with a few exceptions, has had a mixture of the very good,the good and the average,but a team is only as good as the sum of it’s parts and over a season you just have to hope that the parts stay glued together long enough to win some Trophies.
We haven’t managed that for a few seasons now,and we may not do so this season,but at the end of the day i would rather watch Arsenal than any other team in Europe,including Barcelona.!!
goonerholic sorry agen you have a decent blog here ,kind regards batty 😉
Stopped crying yet? You are all starting to sound like wenger. Cesc is not a leader, if we sell Barton in the summer arsenal should go for him.
Ah the internet troll, that most hilarious of creatures.
The RSPCA have acted quickly after the weekend’s events in Newcastle . If you see an Arsenal fan with a dog ask them to call 0859 4-0 4-1 4-2 4-3 4-4 for free advice about how to hold on to a lead.
“157Snir Geuli
Can someone please explain to me how on earth he gave the 2nd penalty?”
I’m a Toon fan and agree that penalty was extremely harsh to say the least… I think he was trying to make up for the offside goal from Best that was on, still two wrongs don’t make a right.
However, how on earth any fan can tell me the first was not a penalty and Bartons tackle was not fair – clearly they know nothing about football and have never played the game.
First van Persie has half his body in front of the defender (the new rules say that is off sides – under the old rules there needed to be day light and he was on, but now he was clearly off).
The Bartons tackle was not from behind, he won the ball cleanly, and he went in with one foot. He didn’t keep his foot high after he won the ball… If that was any player but Barton, nobody would be complaining. Good hard challenges are a part of the game.
This isn’t netball… its a physical sport.
Glad to see some realistic Arsenal fans on here, because really some of the comments about the refereeing are just ridiculous and clutching at straws for giving away a game that was in the bag.
Wenger is a great manager, but needs to stop whinging and accept responsibility, then maybe his players and fans will do the same thing…
The majority of you are good lads though. Must be said. Pity about the other tossers, but I guess every club has them.
[…] Goonerholic summed it up perfectly when he said “It takes a combination of things for anybody to surrender a four goal advantage at any level.” And so it was here, as a series of unfortunate events conspired to trigger a monumental second-half collapse by a group of players that I had heaped praise on just a few days ago. […]
Also, the only reason Diaby got a RED card, was because, he first held Bartons throat and shoved him (YELLOW) and then he pushed Nolan (YELLOW) … YELLOW + YELLOW = RED…
Nolan push the Arsenal keeper yes (YELLOW), there was no second offence.
Don’t see whats so hard to understand there. But keep making excuses if it makes you feel better about yourself (alla Wenger)…
To be fair, how many dodgy pens have arsenal had, cesc, RVP and Walcott are always diving, justice done I think.
goonerholic dont keep banning my emails unless i will be with you for the long haul .thanks for the 4 points this season 😉
fa cup leeds springs too mind jay jay
I’m trying to remember what Newcastle did in this year’s FA Cup now…
Charlie, Stevenage had a spine, fairplay to then, your nancy boys gave up.
And if we win the next few games, that will be but a footnote. An embarrassing footnote, but a footnote nevertheless.
jay jay
Welcome to our fine bar and for solving our leadership “issues”.
I’ve just written to Arsene demanding that he puts his scouts on Barton and then beats a path to your management’s door and slaps £30M on the table in return for your Joey.
Yes, I can see it clearly now. Barton as captain and Chris Samba in the centre of our defence. This football management job is so easy.
Thank you for yoru wise words jay jay, have a great Sunday and try to steer clear of the windows where you live.
Barman? The ejector seat please.
Do you think cesc is a good leader then?
Can’t be arsed backdrinking but since TS is in the bar, I’ll have a quick drink please.
I don’t mean to drink on my own, of course, so drink of his choice for him too, naturally!
goonerholic do you realy want me too knack your blog up ? i have apolligised so move on kidda 😉
@ JJ
Barton’s tackle was a red because it was dangerous – his studs were up, he left the ground and it was from the front. Those are the ones that break legs. The fact that he got the ball does not make it not a dangerous tackle. Earlier, in the first half, he deliberately stamped on Diaby after Diaby tackled him (and did not make contact.) That sort of action should result in dismissal as well.
Even if, as you say, Diaby was sent off for two yellows, Nolan should have had his first yellow when he pushed Diaby and his second when he wrestled our keeper to the ground after the penalty.
Don’t even attempt to defend the award of the second penalty. It was a dive.
The first penalty was correct, but in the first half Dowd did not give a stonewall penalty to us. Cesc was pushed in the back in the penalty area just before he took his shot. That is a foul. And he stayed on his feet, incidentally.
Robin was indeed marginally offside at the end – his lower leg, not half his body.
Add to this several fouls on Arsenal that were not called or carded – eg Andre Arshavin tackled from behind in the first half.
And yes, Cesc is a fantastic and passionate leader.
Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance
I think I’m in the Depression phase. Anyone in the bar reached acceptance?
Threats now, eh batty? Nice.
I have your ip, and all your mails.
How can you be so stupid with only one head?
Cheers Ollie, pull up a chair.
Unfortunately we’re now fresh out of Newky Brown, can’t think why. I see the medicine cabinet has also been emptied, again can’t think why.
Now what’s alll this nonsense about Toons wanting to “knack our blog”. Are we being threatened? Surely not. What kind of a person would do such a thing? What is this urge to visit other teams blogs? Engage in humorous and well informed banter, no problem. Anything else? It’s just asking for a fight isn’t it?
Batty or whatever you name is. This is a well respected, and intelligent corner of the blogsphere generally populated by people who think before they type (with the possible exception of yt). Passion and anger? No problem. Threats and abuse? On yer bike son.
Sorry ‘Holic, our posts crossed.
I realise that you’re more than capable of defending your own bar.
I thought a few reinforcements might help.
Fun Gunner,
I never said it wasn’t dangerous. I said it was legal, by the time him collided with Diaby his foot was down… Look at the video, its clear to see…
The clash was shin on shin.
Yes, he could have broken his leg, but these things happen in tough phyical sports. That is the risk they take. Thats why careers can be so short, and that is why that get paid so much.
Its a very tough phyical challenge, but he fair one.
Had he followed through with his foot high, or gone in two footed, or not gone for the ball but the man, then send him off and rightly so.
He pulled his legs in after winning the ball, perhaps saving Diaby from a serious unjury. Its clear he didn’t go in the injure the player.
Like I said, TOUGH challenge (but according to the LAWS of the game, completely fair). He just got there before Diaby did and Diaby came worse off because of it.
This would be an example of a red card challenge, (I dont think he got more than a yellow here Diaby) but compare the tough, you’ll understand.
Dont compare the impact (thats just unfortunate, its the challenge itself which earns and decides to card shown).
Heh, True Storey, I’ve already done that a few times today already.
I’ll join you and Ollie if I may! One espresso doppio with a dash of grappa in it please!
When the going got tough cesc was hiding, great player but not a leader IMO, a viera or Adams wouldn’t allow arsenal to implode like that. I’m not taking the piss, I’m making a point.
Well David Batty was never one of my favourite players. Unsurprisingly.
Cheers Toby. I’ll drink to order being restored in our bar and to 3 points at The Ems next week.
Yesterday was madness, but we’re a point closer to The Mancs who have just lost their first match in ages which might give them a wobble or two.
No doubt there’ll be loads more highs and lows before the season ends. We should come away with at least one piece of silverware this season.
Whatever happens, let’s keep our support strong and our dignity in tact.
Good morning Holics,
I’m glad most of us realise what happened to us yesterday.
Anyway has anyone seen this?
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/premierleague/story/Arsenal-manager-Wenger-syas-Nagoya-Grampus-Eight-coach-Stojkovic-can-succeed-him
Another tough phyical challenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w897VuJfXQI
Now that the dust has settled, can we not all just admit that we all bore witness to one of the most incredible football matches the premier league has ever served up? I know you lot are feeling aggrieved at chucking away a four goal lead (who wouldn’t?), but you should be more concerned at your own teams failings rather than having a pop at everyone else. The fact is Arsenal are a fantastic footballing side, but clearly they lack the heart for when things turn against them. If you had even a fraction of the heart and desire that our players have, then you’d waltz the champions league let alone the prem. What yous really need is Tiote, but given the fact that there will be an equally ridiculous price tag put on his heed than was on Carrolls, coupled with the fact that Wenger won’t spend money, there’s little chance of that happening.
Anyhoo, like I say, I know yous are gutted now, but I think on reflection yous will be able to take pride from being involved in a game that will be purred over for years to come. Good luck for the rest of the season lads!
I’d just like to add that while Bartons previous record has him branded as a horrible little cunt, he is OUR horrible little cunt who on his game can play some fantastic football and who is largely responsible as one of the players who have galvanised the team in the wake of our recent horrendous seasons. In my view, he is much the same as David Batty, in that I hated him when he played for Leeds and Blackburn, but it wasn’t until he played for us was I able to appreciate the good side of his game.
@ JJ
“I never said it wasn’t dangerous. I said it was legal”
Dangerous = illegal. You don’t have to actually break a leg for it to be an illegal tackle. Accidents happen, but players are supposed to be cautioned or dismissed if they recklessly or deliberately endanger their own or their opponents’ safety.
@Chippy 178
AKA ” the Axis of Failure” AKA “the Tottenham Axis”
‘Heart’ and ‘desire’ are terms that are easily bandied about, but mean little really. I prefer terms like ‘defending properly’
Are you seriously saying that Barton’s tackle is fair?
Diaby is lucky to still walk, not to still play. I have no idea how he didn’t break his leg which got totally bent.
Watched the game last night and I thought the two most egregiously bad calls were the 2nd penalty, not sure if it was called against Koscielny or Rosicky because I didn’t see any penalty by either of them after several replays; and the lack of even a yellow card against Nolan for throwing Szcezney to the ground after one of their goals. As for tearing my hair out, I really can’t be arsed. Instead it was a bad 2nd half and needs to be written off as such and as quickly as we can move on pschyologically the better. We have to look at it as a point gained nothing more. Norfolk Dumpling, sorry if I jinxed Norwich City this weekend, they’re all of a sudden out of the automatic promotion places with Nottingham Forest in 2nd …
It is odd, I don’t feel anywhere near as angry now as I was after the Spurs game. Possibly due to the opponents, or maybe because yesterday was so outlandishly awful it went beyond infuriating and out the other side, into some strange calm zone.
Di Matteo sacked? Almost as stupid a decision as the Houghton sacking.
Mr Toon 76 @ 224 nails it…”If you had even a fraction of the heart and desire that our players have, then you’d waltz the champions league let alone the prem”. That’s been around our necks since 2005 when Vierra left.
Now in the 6th year of a 5 year plan, will we win anything this year? If Squillaci plays v Birmingham, we won’t. You pay peanuts, you get monkey’s. Wenger loves a gamble to save money and with Song & Djourou out injured, the only team not to buy during the window, Arsenal, we again look like we’ve come unstuck due to penny pinching.
As Mr Toon 76 says, we really need a Tiote and even he knows Wenger won’t buy him. I’m still fathoming out how we gave up a 4-0 lead. Our defensive problems remain, how much time before young Szczesny loses his “confidence” playing behind no defense?
If Djourou is out for awhile, I’d play a pairing of Sagna & Koscielny next week v Wolves. Again, how are we in this situation? Last season, we had Silvestre play at Barca. It doesn’t seem to change.
Did Man Utd buy anyone during the window? And if we lose to Birmingham, it won’t be because of one player (though I’m sure he’ll be the easiest scapegoat of we do), this isn’t 1988 and Squillaci isn’t poor old Gus Caesar.
Aah whatever…Maybe you should concentrate on the Superbowl tonight seeing you do not understand football
You Toonies are not even good sports…
…coming on here giving it large. Just settle down!
@234, if that’s aimed at me, I have a game at 10 this morning. Not only do I understand football, I play it. I assume you’ve a bottle of alcohol in your hand sitting on a couch? I can see why opposing fans think all Gooners are arrogant as you’ve no idea what you’re talking about.
bernard @236 please realise that we are very hard on ourselves because we are (sometimes like 1st half yesterday) capable of being unstoppable, so when we fall down …
Think of your mate Joey in the same way – on his day he can play a blinder, his passing and vision being very good but he is too hot headed in the tackle to be reliable (I grant he has toned it down a bit – yesterday was an example when he could have gone in 2 footed but didnt). He is a leader by example that maybe we wish Cesc could be (oh dear what have I said holics!)
Anyway you demonstrated that you didnt need A Caroll – good luck for the season
Well, not much left to say that hasn’t already been said in the 237 drinks before me. The man in the turtleneck has sent a text to me in the wake of yesterday’s result. Here it is:
“DT, sorry to u and all ze other ‘holics around ze world. i just couldn’t take any more of barton’s s***. i hope u understand. abou will have his revenge, in zis life or ze next!!”
It’ll be tough to get over this one, really tough if the news on JD’s knee isn’t good. But let’s all hope for the best: fingers, toes, arms, legs, and all other extremities will be crossed until we hear from AW tomorrow.
Lee Mason & Phil Dowd…
*angrily bangs head against computer screen*
Meanwhile, over here in the states the channel that carries most of our games (FSC) has hyped up Chelsea v. Liverpool as “possibly the most anticipated game ever”, complete with the rental of the NFL on Fox’s pregame studio for the 1st time ever…And after 35 minutes I’m already preparing to gouge my own eyes out with boredom.
Do you think they watched any of the pulsating 0-0 spectacles these two sides served up in the Champions League? Stoke v. Man City would have been more exciting, if only in anticipation of a Shawcross v. De Jong horror tackle competition, possibly resulting in both snapping each other’s legs in half simultaneously.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend, ‘holics.
Okay, so I’m supposed to sit at my Laptop and believe what you type?
When was the last time you came on here and praised you’re supposed club?
We’ve all played footy. I myself at club level my oval shaped throwing cowardly buddy! Be nice now, I could buy you!
Besides you’re just letters to me!
I get it, you go on to a site called Goonerholic and criticise people for drinking alcohol taking the whole thing literally. Bless!
I bet you’re going to tell me you’re the best water flusher around!
Touche’
Someone write something funny to cheer me up, I’m on the floor and about to start drowning my sorrows.
Maybe when Bernard gets back from his game he can make us all laugh telling us about how he wiped out the whole opposition single handed
Stone roses
Chelsea 0 Liverpool 1
that’s funny (torres subbed) even funnier
GT. What part of Bernard are you having a pop at? Sure I have seen him post before on here. Do you not think his post at 232 and that of Mr toon contain any valid points? It might hurt but I think there may be something in both posts that we would do well to sit up and take notice of.
GlennW
I feel better already. Cheers!
Chavs beat, IOU beat, and we weren’t. All in all we have had worse weekends.
Positive pills taken – next Saturday is another day:-)
Steve T – I don’t need to explain myself
Sorry GT. You are quite right. You don’t have to explain anything. I was just interested in your opinion. I will look forward to the day when you decide fit to grace us with your words of wisdom. I always enjoy a healthy debate about the club we love. Have a nice evening.
We may, on occasions, lament our keeper and back four. The Chelski horror story “after you, Claude”. “No, after you, Cyril” that saw Kuyt’s ball drift without the merest touch across the front of their goal to Merriles beat anything we can ever sink to.
The Kremlin in turmoil and $75M down the gurgler. Chelski are out of it. It’s between Arsenal and Manure now. And only ONE team will EVER be Invincible.
Can’t help but note that there were THREE incidents in that game that merited penalty awards much more so than did either of the two awarded by Doubtlessly Dishonest Dumb-Brain Dowd yesterday. On such inconsistency does the destination of the title swing.
Steve T – Now you’re talking. It’s not supposed to be personal! But history repeats!
@Steve T: it doesn’t hurt because there’s nothing remotely valid in their posts.
You’re very vocal when we lose, nothing wrong with that. Venting because of frustration is understandable but that doesn’t make the pseudo-arguments any more pertinent. Just remember that we’re the last team in 4 competitions and closer from the leader than we were Friday.
And scapegoating Squillaci is just plain wrong. He’s our 4th choice CB. Which one of the 4th choice CBs of United, Chelski and Citeh do you think is better? That’s right, none. And ahy is that considering the wads of money they spend? Because no team, however much they spend, can be made of 22 world beaters.
@Stone Roses: Just before the start of the Chelski – Pool game their headline was: Torres:”I won’t celebrate against Liverpool”.
And personally I find it very funny that Goonertown innocently mistook bernard for a Geordie supporter.
Say what you want but there’s no denying that some jump at every opportunity to snipe at the team.
Matt -Touche!
I’ve never even heard of the dude before. Honest!
Camomile tea, anyone?
Matt. I post on here after every game. Win lose or draw. And you know that. I.call it exactly how I see it. You are more than welcome to check back if you want but I am sure that my stance has been the same for the last 2 seasons. My views on this game are posted somewhere in the 140’s. Feel perfectly free do disagree with all of it you choose. I won’t lose any sleep over it and I enjoy reading your thoughts.
Out of 233 drinks, Bernard was the only one who stepped up! How funny is that?
Hand bags I say!
Matt,
I’m sure Torres isnt celebrating tonight, he is more likely saying
‘Oh God, what the fuck have I done?’
Did anyone see me write the name Bernard in post 234?
@Steve T: I did not mean to include you in the snipers squad, but the only reason GT didn’t know who bernard was is because the latter only shows up in times of adversity.
As for your points:
1) we’ve had many debates and the money argument has been debunked more than once. I’m sure you remember the football side just broke even in our last financial report and that we have many players’ contracts up for renewal, including Nasri’s.
2) As for the team’s heart, I seem to recall a near unanimity after the Everton and Huddersfield’s games to agree that the team this season is showing a lot of determination and grit.
On Sunday nights I am relegated to the kitchen to cook dinner, and I am listening to 606. Lots to talk about this weekend, so what happens? Some wanker comes on and starts slagging Wenger off because Everton’s goal was on-side, and idiot Green agrees! Then they start reading out texts, Wanker numero 2, with oblique eloquence, suggests ‘Wenger should be sacked’.
Now, as I write, Green is saying that of all the teams vying for the title this season, the most damage this weekend has been done to Arsenal!
@Steve T: In your arguments in the past 2 years about leadership/heart/determination, I perfectly recall you exemplifying Chelski in many occasions as the golden standard compared to which we were supposedly paling.
Now I’m really curious to know what you make of their performances this season, as exemplified by their latest capitulation against Liverpool.
@260: I watched the second half of Wolves-United where the reds started to become really vicious out of frustration. I thought that would make it for an interesting MOTD but as could have been expected, all their nasty fouls (Giggs I’m looking at you) have been edited….
Matt. All valid points and I take your explanation. Clearly a misunderstanding on my part.
My take has always been the same. The board keep telling us we have millions to spend. I do not think we are that far away from a side that can dominate. That is what frustrates me. You are right to mention the everton game but I will ask one question. Do you think we lose that game if song plays the full 90? My opinion is we don’t. Truth is we will never know, but more than just me have highlighted the fact that we have no replacement if he gets injured.
The drinks keep coming, I don’t have the patience to read back.
Sorry, folks. Scraping, at number 230 for bt8bbnn: Nolan DID get a yellow card apparently even if I didn’t see it on telly.
You could easily argue that he deserved a yellow for running all the way to push Diaby during the earlier incident too.
Bah, my blood’s boiling when I see or types the names Nolan or Barton. Or Dowd.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!
OUCH! Barman, please: shots for everyone, and well we’re one point clearer to Man U, I’ll try to forget the rest and just hope for a great TEAM reaction!
Ollie – Apparently Diaby was sent off for two pushes so Nolan should have seen red
I saw that, Goonertown. That’s partly why I was making the point about that possible first yellow 😉
I still do wonder if Diaby truly wouldn’t have been sent off if he had ‘only’ pushed Barton to the ground.
Given the rest of the referee’s performance, I still have my doubts.
The truth will out when we see whether Diaby gets a one match or a three match ban, right?
Fat chance, bah!
Steve T – Okay here’s what happened. I disagree with him that we will have a tough game against Bolton@home. I back up my points with theory.
He comes back with all types of below the belt personal insults and brags about knowing how to kick a ball etc..
My response is deleted.
We beat Bolton 4-1 comfortably!
He disappears for several months. Presumably playing footy!
He re-appears as a Newcastle supporter insulting the Arsenal again!
I mention Superbowl (for very good reason), he returns with insults!
Now I’m the bad guy!
A glass of water please Barman for my Ibuprofen
Thank you
Ollie – Just backing you up
Victoria Concordia Creset!
Wow, the BBC angels listened to my rant, the last 5 calls on 606 were pro-Arsenal!
Doesnt mean Green agreed with them.
I know, GT, I know 🙂
Ollie – That looks like a cheeky little grin. Where did you get it from?
GT. I clearly had no idea you had posts deleted and I for one do not think. You are a bad guy. Far from it. I was just interested in your views. That’s all. Had I known about the previous bun fight then I may have understood your points and animosity.
As I said, I was genuinely interested in your opinion.
It’s just the standard smiley, GT!
Steve T – I’m cool and usually having a laugh.
Me mentioning the post being deleted was “Obiter Dicta”
I know better now!
Lol!
Ollie – Where do you get them from?
Lads there is a few canny bloggers on here that make a lot of good points and I know a few Arsenal fans that all seem decent fans that I can talk footie to, as they arn’t like Manure or Chelski fans that know it all and are never wrong.
But reading through some of the post on here I cant believe how arrogant and self righteous some of you’s are, I know Wenger is famous for being a whinger that never see’s anything that his own players do wrong, but see’s everything that everyone else do’s.
It looks like his personality has rubbed off on a few of the supporters on here. you’s sit here crying about everyone is against you’s and all are out to get you’s you’s were robbed etc etc but you’s dont have a god given right to win games or tropheys etc so try getting over it and look a bit closer to home.
As I said lastnight I would like to see you’s win ahead of Manure Chelski but even if I think you’s have some real talent and play some lovely football I still think you’s need a few players with Balls Grit and determination that are always there when the going gets tough, as they would do a lot for you’s instead of some off the skillful whingers and divers in your team
You’d prefer us to win the league over Man Utd and Chelsea? My gratefulness is overwhelming!
GT, absolutely nowhere, I just type the colon or semi-colon and closing bracket, and the goonerholic site itself does the trick 🙂
BTM @ 249 – quite right mate. Can you imagine the blood letting on here if that had been ANY of our keepers?
My only concern is that the Chavs look like a team that know the game is up – beginning to doubt they will be up for it when the Mancs come to town so if we are going to do it we are going to have beat them at home and look for help from some other quarter – their visit to Liverpool in a few weeks may be the one.
As for the Barcodes, here and elsewhere, let them have their minute in the sun. It’s not as if any of them will know what a trophy looks like 😉
Charlie I cant see us (TOON) win it anytime soon 😆 so if I had a choice yes I would pick you’s over Manure and Chelski, as I said I know a few real decent Gooners but I know loads of arrogant pr1cks that follow Manure or Chelski 😉 and a few that are jumping on the Man sh1tty wagon now that they have money.
🙂
Okay I’m in business –
Thank you Ollie!
Have a drink on me my brother!
Goonertown – the long nights must fly in where you’re at 😉
Bigdave –
We’re not always like this. Only when we’re being robbed and everyone’s against us!
But generally we’re a nice bunch! 😉
Zico – Put it this way, AFC keeps me out of trouble! 😉
GT – I was just amused at your discovery of the smilie mate – have a guinness 🙂 🙂
Zico – I see what you mean about long night. I usually type my smiles as : – ), choosing the artistic option. I find the other way makes the faces looked scrunched up. Trust me my nights are warm!
I don’t mean to sound ungrateful but would you mind if I went to for something stronger tonight?
Thank you! 🙂
Once you pop, you can’t stop!
Haha, GT :s
Ah fuck, was trying to improvise, but no smiley for that 🙁
Something stronger?
Have two! But I ain’t your designated driver ; – )
I love it how this discussion all turned into a kind of cute discussion about smileys. It actually feels quite good in contrast to some of the things previously said here. I’ll have some kind of sour mix, ‘Holic, and a shandy each for the smiley kids!
‘Holic – excellent write-up, nothing to add except to ask,as you are clearly well connected inside the marble concourses, are there moves afoot to do anything to thrash out this ongoing situation with officialdom.
This, I think, has been a problem long before the events of the last week.
We are continually subjected to the most bizarre refereeing decisions, but no question or issue is ever raised – at least, publicly – on Arsenal’s behalf. Far from it in fact, and we all know only too well how the press pack can barely wait to rip us to pieces over every one of our “misdemeanours”, percieved or otherwise.
I was ill in bed all day yesterday – with the radio – and a contented slumber, induced at 4 – 0 up, ended 30 seconds before a Toon roar anounced the equaliser, 4 – 4. What the . . .
The incidents have all been covered well enough but, for me, the most ridiculous anti-Arsenal ruling was to yellow card Szczesny for time wasting, when he hadn’t had enough time to waste any time at all!!
He was barely out of his own goal net before Nolan had him round the neck and threw him to the ground.
These decisions are not rare, and they will cost us trophies if they continue.
We did contribute to our own downfall yesterday for sure, but there were many completely baffling decisions along the way.
I cannot, as usual, remember a single bad challenge by an Arsenal player yesterday.
So – why are the referees after us, and is there anything Arsenal can do, or are doing, about it?
Jack Wilshere – superb again – apparantly tweeted last night that the refereeing had been inconsistent, and the press are reporting today that he could well incur the wrath of the FA for so doing. Was he in any way wrong?
Well we have all now seen slow motion replays of Joey Barton incidents yesterday too.
Is anyone suggesting that he should expect the wrath of the FA down on him ?
Personally I don’t think the miserable excuse for a scum topped bucket of snot should be allowed anywhere near a football pitch – but then I’m just a southern softie.
Here’s a wee drop of tonic, Holics.
From his high school team in Japan, straight into the Dutch Eredivise with Feyenoord’s first eleven. Fantastic first match. Based on his speed, control, upper body strength, he looks like he’s probably already ahead of Vela.
Steve T – here’s the width you’re craving. Now, if we can just get my boy back from Madrid to play with him, we’ll have the makings of something special. : – )
Ryo MiYaichi, Feyenoord’s Number 34.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3MBs52J3wU
BTM’s the Man.
Looking forward to meeting up at the Sunderland game on March 5, Ollie. Did you manage to get tickets for Wembley?
Aye, some generous friend who can’t go sorted me out 🙂
Cheers, looking forward to meeting you again, and it’s goodnight from me now!
BTM, we would never have to finish a game against eleven players again with Miyaichi on the field! He seems to be a real foul-magnet with his speed. Imagine getting him on after Theo has been running at some poor full back for 70 minutes.
Looking good and thanks for the link!
BTM. He could never head the ball anyway.
You know my craving for genuine width. I hope he fulfills all his promise.
You over for a few games? Here to watch the arsenal or to check out brazilian totty?
Steve, Over for Cup Final, Sunderland then Barca away. Will definitely be at the Tolly on March 5. Wallet open.
I hereby claim this 300 Milestone for Auchtermuchty
I will be at both games here. Be great to share a beer after the sunderland game. The tolly is a normal haunt for me if I am about for a beer. I take it you will be the one in the corner with the “ade for god” t shirt????????
zico will also be at the Sunderland game – finding it hard to believe that someone form Auchtermuchty will have his wallet open (anywhere) 😉
It could be a ‘holic fest’. Bring it on.
I’ve never minded opening my wallet. It’s just that it’s a bugger of a job to get all of the moths back in at closing time. (And I’ve grown attached to them over the years. Even named them. There’s Ade……).
Ade the moth. I guess he is the one that had all the big notes off before sitting in the corner telling all the other moths how good he was??????
BTM
thnks for the link to young Ryo in Holland,Le Boss was obviously highly impressed with him,enough to offer him a serious contract.
One for the future,like so many others on the Production line at Arsenal.
Have you by chance any links to current footage of another good young prospect in Wellington.??
Enjoyed your Epistle at No 4,I always have food supplies at hand when reading them because it always takes me a while to digest your musings.
You seem to have gone to a another level since the New Year,
Did you get a few new Thesaurus’s for christmas.??
keep up the good work.
cheers
clive
Goonertown, check my post at #5 & #8. It’s perfectly clear I’m an Arsenal fan. Although @ 267, you claim “I re-appear as a Newcastle fan”? What’s that all about?
Steve T…love your posts on here. I can see you care, you get emotional when we win and lose. Like many of us.
I don’t post on here that much anymore as I seem to have ruffled some feathers for stating my true feelings. Being honest is nothing to be ashamed of. However, it doesn’t go down well here if you don’t share the same opinions.
So, just a couple of examples why I get pissed off w/ Arsenal as it happens so frequently. In April 2008, we are playing Liverpool in the CL Quarter-Finals. It’s the 2nd leg at Anfield, it’s 2-2, we’re 3-3 on aggregate but ahead on away goals. Adebayor has just scored in the 84th minute. We have to hold on for 6 minutes to advance to the Semi-Finals. We end up losing 4-2, losing 5-3 on aggregate.
In April 2009, we go to Anfield again where Arshavin scores 4 goals. We’re up 4-3, Liverpool score in stoppage time to make it 4-4.
Last season, April 2010, we give up a 2 goal lead at Wigan & lose 3-2 to effectively end our title hopes.
The story just goes on and on. Defensive faults have never been dealt with and as a result, the same picture keeps developing and the same end result. I know i can’t be the only one who doesn’t feel that Wenger has shown negligence in that area.
Having said that, yesterday’s 1st half performance was simply sublime. The first 10 minutes were brilliant especially but none of that matters when you don’t win.
Goonertown, I believe there is a Superbowl on today although I’m not watching it and we tied 2-2 today.
Matt at 261. Apologies, I missed this post.
The Chavs of 2 years ago is a vastly different animal to the Chavs of today. We have been bullied by them in recent years.
Currently they are in a mess. They have an owner who has been awol most of the season, internal squabbles and a team rapidly looking for the phone number of Saga. My view is that we are now way above their level. The russian knows it and that is why he paniced on deadline day. I think we were very unlucky not to come away from the Bridge with something and I think we could have had a hat full at the Grove.
Just my opinion.
Any body watching the superbowl? Any Steelers fans in here?
Wanted to wait 24 hours to see if Saturday’s game made any more sense with the passing of some time. It doesn’t seem to, especially Dowd’s performance. The most infuriating thing is that with ManU’s loss, three points would have meant that our title fate was still in our hands. Now we still have to beat the Mancs and they have to drop more points.
I must also say I am increasingly worried by the prospect of Eboue facing Barca in Sagna’s enforced absence. He didn’t do much of a defensive shoring up job when sent on at St. James’s.
A drop of the hard stuff to stiffen the resolve, if you would ‘Holic.
Late nite gooners, keep the faith.
I am actually waiting for the news on Djourou’s scan like I’m waiting for a draw in the CL or something like that. I’m quite sure our season will be over without Djourou.
Not because Squillaci is bad, because Koscillacy is.
I just hope that Barca apart we don’t have to face any really tough teams without Djourou.
Snir at 312
I would be worrying more about the mental trauma the players suffered on saturday.
To be 4 nil up and coasting,and then concede 4 goals in 20 mins to throw away a certain 3 pts,will cause great anguish for all concerned.
We have seen previous implosions in other seasons,when we have snatched a draw from the jaws of what seemed like certain victory and the team never recovered.
We face a Wolves side on Saturday who will be well up for it after defeating Utd at the w/end,and remember last season it took a very late goal to beat them at the Emirates.
This game will be vital for the rehabilitation of the team’s confidence.
Anything other than a win will be a disaster,even if we are only in Feb.
BTM @ 304 – think we have managed to keep those Scottish stereotypes in place?
I will gladly put that one to rest for any Holics who have more than a virtual thirst for Guinness on March 5th. It will need to be pre match though as I will be dashing for a flight after the game.
Can’t wait. 🙂
Bernard it’s good to see you’ve brushed up on your manners since I last spoke to you.
Anyone can go back and check the Pre-Bolton post between us and will see that you were out of order that day.
But still I will not hold out for an apology from you.
I give as good as I get and if I’m over the top the guv’nor checks in. For that I’m grateful as I’ve brush up on my posting attitude since. Thank you. Experience does wonders!
You are entitled to say what you want and I am entitled to disagree. What you are not entitled to do is start personally insulting people and expect not to get it back. Especially those you do not know or your own supporters, however you can insult the living f@#k out of an LWC, Phil Dowd or any other wrong’en. In fact I will join in with you!
It’s good to see you did not continue with this childish two-ing and throwing. Don’t worry if your opinions about Arsenal rub people up the wrong way. That’s what posting is all about. Communicating with the world wide web and meeting different people with different views.
Allow me to buy you a drink as that is the theme here. Don’t worry there are soft drinks here too!
I will definitely be insulted if you refuse! 😉
Morning ‘Holic & ‘Holics,
Quite a lively day for the bar yesterday, I thought. Under “attack” from highly disrespectful Toons in the morning and then a few spats that even involved the normally ultra friendly Goonertown. No more Mr. Nice Guy eh? Good for you 😉
Also good to see a ‘Holic meet-up being organised for the 5th. HOPEFULLY (everything crossed) that will be the game where we can unveil our first, Emirates won, commemorative plaque for the Carling Cup.
Picked up on the article below this morning. I realise it was written pre-Newcastle but it struck a chord:
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/darren-lewis/Darren-Lewis-on-Arsenal-Why-Gunners-newfound-character-is-more-important-than-lack-of-new-signings-in-January-article688357.html
Dare I suggest yet again that we get behind the team and players that we have for now and save the hand-wringing and recriminations for the end of May? Just a suggestion, don’t shoot me for that.
I’m buying the mid morning coffees should anyone care to join me.
PS for BtM: Where were you after the Everton game? lars and I di keep an eye and an ear out for an Auchtermuchty accent.
Clive – I’m well aware of the effect of that horror game but I hope the Wolves game would snap the team out of it with a win. Djourou’s injury is not something that we can “snap” out of. If he’s out for the season then not only will we have a tough time against Barca we’ll also experience much more unneccessary difficulties in the EPL.
Snir @ #317
Agree totally, if JD is out it’s a BIG loss.
But….
Vermy back soon? early March?
Ramsey back early March? The “new DM signing” we needed?
We get behind Squillaci and he gets his form back?
Song back for the Wolves game?
Also agree that the first Barca game is going to be a real challenge without Sagna, Nasri and maybe JD. But hasn’t years of experience taught us that come the day, literally anything can happen? Saturday was yet another example of that….
Upside-down coffee my friend? 😉
At least Van Pericles cannot get injured in a meaningless friendly this week.
He has pulled out of the Dutch squad with ” Flu”
Let’s hope it’s a very mild dose.!!
Toy Storey @318.
Your wishlist sounds good,but early march might be too late on some fronts.
Ahh Mr. Waterboatman @ #319
To wish per chance to dream…
Yes, early March may be a little early for both TV and Ramsey. Maybe even for Samir. Van Persil should be over the ‘flu’ by then.
Lets hope the flu is contagious, and Walcott, Wilshire, Sagna, Clichy, and anyone else scheduled to get a season ending injury catches it.
TS –
Thank you I’ll have a Cappacino please.
I’ll get the next round!
I was going to touch on the JD and defence issue myself this morning.
My initial thoughts is that AW did say that if necessary, he could opt for a loan signing which I presume can be done outside of the transfer window. It’s also considered to be a good temporary option. Maybe it should be a consideration rather than play Song in defence when his best position is midfield (with hindsight)
In addition TV5 is considered to be now running without pain. I’m assuming that in the next couple of weeks the discussion shall be about getting the Verminator match fit!
I’m prepared to see how we perform against Wolves and the first leg against Barca before making up my mind about the current set up.
However there are plenty of options and a lot to discuss!
(Slurp!)
TS
my apologies,i just saw what i have written.!!
my 5 yr old grandson Charlie has been nagging me for the past 20 minutes to put the Toy Story DVD on for him,never mind that he’s seen it about 50 times already.!!
So with Toy Story in my head,that’s what i inadvertently typed.
Still your response was typical of a quick witted Gooner.
Waterboatman indeed.!!
Van Persil is not bad either.
I wonder if 322 is a world record for Holics blog.??
Or even 323.!!
Or even 325.!!
Stone Roses –
You’d hope (I mean presume) that the whole squad have caught the flu seeing they all shared the same dressing room and transport home on Saturday.
Surely the rest of the squad are a risk to their national squads seeing they have come in to substantial contact with the infected squad members!
I for one don’t think Squillaci is a bad player but his partnership with Koscielny is not the best.
Looking at the schedule we don’t have any really really tough games in the EPL until April so that should get TV5 back to speed.
Clive,
How about #326? 🙂
I actually thought Toy Storey was highly amusing and figured others here would too, hence my rather average quip back.
I’ve even considered changing my ‘Holic name permanently but PS4 was one of my fave players from the early 70s so will keep my name it its original format.
Gt,
I don’t think we need a loanee yet. As you say we still have several options unless we get another injury in our defense and by writing that I’m hoping that it will help to vanquish fate rather than tempt it! Good to hear TV5 is “up & running pain free”.
Snir,
Yes, Squicielny needs a few games to get that understanding together. It’s strange becasue I recall some in here at the beginning of the season prasing Squillaci and berating Koscielny. Neither are bad players. I believe Kos will be a legend in a couple of seasons. Both are far from the debacle that was Sylvestre.
TS- Always the voice of common sense! I agree
I like Kos and I believe in Squillaci (he’s a proven centre back). Their time to step up has arrived!
Sorry Zico I drifted off last night I wasn’t ignoring you!
@ 329 – quite right too “Woody” 🙂
Take a look at this. Should Dowd be disqualified from Arsenal games. I think so.
The defender questioned referee Phil Dowd’s decision to award a penalty to Newcastle during the game and received some foul language as a response.
Sagna said: “I asked him for an explanation and he was pretty hard on me. I won’t repeat what words he came out with but they should never come from a referee”.
Yeah, our medical team should deem all our players ‘carriers’ and recommend isolation for the next 57 hours and 24 minutes.
Lol!
Nice one Zico… to The Carling Cup and beyond! 🙂
“I wonder if 322 is a world record for Holics blog.??”
Indeed Clive, and I must have got rid of fifty from Saturday night when one of our old friend’s got into an abusefest with a strange assortment of juvenile Geordie webwarriors.
Why is it all the Geordies you meet face to face are good lads, but most of them on the net are completely puerile?
‘Holic
I guess it’s not a surprise on the new record considering the extraordinary events of the weekend and the fact that we are now being considered by all and sundry as serious title and assorted silverware challengers?
…. and it must be somethig to do with the over indulgence in Newcy Brown 😉
Gladly accepted jointly or otherwise!
…yeah we must be at least in with a shout at the moment…;)
Bloody ell… 😉
…there we go. Fiddly little things
BBC just said Fabregas has stomach problem and wont play!
Two down, 15 to go!!!!
…damn it knew Fabi shouldn’t have eaten those damned tomatoes…he was warned 🙂
SR @ #344,
Let’s hope he’s back fit and well for Saturday.
Newcy Broon did leave a sour taste on Sunday morning, TS 😉
😉
… ‘Aye and never again! 😉
…. cannot even bear to read my back issues of Sid The Sexist now….
SR
4 down now, add Gibbs and (of course/sadly) JD20 🙁
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSApeMg00DApEJuBK1cgeiSXccoTTe0ZFOqgXtkkPuNG17oOisU
Here’s an ironic picture.
Why didnt it fucking happen Saturday?
Dowd the git!
I suppose when you’ve got 35Mil burning a hole in your pocket, you can buy alot!
Back at work after nine days in London (well, most of Saturday was spent going to/from Newcastle and watching what I assume was called “a game of two halves” by Gary Lineker – didn’t get back in time to see our game on MOTD), and I suppose most I could say has already been said. But I’ll have a go anyway…
Was Dowd useless v Newcastle? I don’t know. I had been told that the away section was very far away from the action and fuck me were these people not kidding! I could not even see which ref it was, and by doing a bit of approximate math I concluded that the distance from where we were to the opposite goal must have been upwards of or even more than 150 metres. I had no idea at the time if the penalties and other stuff were correct decisions and I haven’t seen any highlights because I know I would only be upset, but many of us in my group of people were bombarded with text messages going “what is the matter with the refs in this league?” and such stuff from peope watching the game on the telly.
And anyway, what’s happened has been and gone. We can only look forward now and no matter how shit the second half was, we are in a better position than we were before the game started. Yes, we lost two points that we should never have lost but then again ManU lost all three. We are one point closer to the top than we were before the weekend, and we pulled away from Chelsea by a point. It could have been much, much worse.
Right, back to work… Mr Barman, a cup of tea, please!
I’ll get that for Lars Barman
Gt @ #355,
It wouldn’t cost much to buy that a*sehole. By the looks of him, I’d say a season ticket to McD’s and a year’s supply of Newcy Broon would do it. Shall we try to contact SAF to see if it’s true?
@ Lars,
Great to see you back in the bar. So near to 3 wins out of 3 for you and your Gooner Vikings but alas, so far… You would have been good value in here y’day morning but in your absence I grew some horns of my own in an attempt to fend off highly undesirable gate-crashing Geordies doing their best to spoil our bar.
Some drinks please Mr. Barman!
So here goes the list!
Fabregas, Gibbsy, VanPersie have all pulled out of the friendlies, thank God Wenger has atleast learned something! and i am sure these guys are serious as hell about winning the League this season, New castle might have done us all a favor and united the team and they would probably start defending to their lives when they are leading!
Just one thing about Saturday though!
Why wenger brought Rosicky and Eboue is beyong me, Bring on Chamakh and just tell him to win the headers with the long balls, keep theo on and counter as soon as we get the possession back! Pretty Simple hey ?
Another thing, i think JD’s injury is not very bad, he will probably be back for Wolves, Song and Denilson would be back as well. Just hope Tommy V returns soon and if it were upto me, I would play Rosicky, Chamakh, Bendtner, Arshavin rather than Fabregas, Wilshere, VanPersie and tell the aforementioned ones to just try and get into some form, forget about the result, its a mountain to climb anyways, and even if we do go through, what if we get Madrid, Munich, Milan or anyone in the Semi’s! No use qualifying in my opinion, just give the boys some time under their belt, we are going to need Nicky B and Arshavin for the rest of the season the most!
and by the way would Reds give us a win the way they did to Chelsea to make sure United do not win the league and risk loosing their 4th Spot ?
what would be more important for them ? United not winning the league or finishing in top4 ?
A toast to happy days! I mean, the ones just around the corner for the Arse…
“Hello”
“Mr Invincible here”
“Chew chew chew…what can I do you for?”
“Lets cut the crap, how much do the 12th men cost?”
“depends, which one you mean. I didn’t strike you as the buying type”
“I’m not, that’s why we’re still solvent. Wondered how much you spent. Heard a season ticket to Micky Dees does the trick”
“Well throw in a pack of Juicy fruit in and I’ll put in a good word for you”
“Hmmm, nah we’re good. Just thought I’d see how you did it. Call it research. Have a good one”
“chew chew chew…anytime…chew”
Hi holics,
Djourou just tweeted saying he’s feeling ok. He has pulled out of the Swiss squad.
I’m waiting for the scans with baited breath.
Forget Saturday like it was a bloody nightmare.
Something to help do that, barman.
Cheers
goonertown@315, I do apologise if I’ve offended you previously, I don’t intentionally come on to do it but in the heat of the moment, maybe some things are better left unsaid. I’ll have an Orange Juice please, as I’m getting ready to go to work. Cheers.
Likewise , my friend apologies accepted and if I’ve offended you I also apologise. After all we’re family at the end of the day!
Orange Juice coming up!
Going to work? Thought you were going to play another game!;) Lol! 🙂
..damn those winking icons, hold on… 😉
…there ya go
AW again the master of understatement: “You must say that in the second half we were really unlucky with some decisions” I assume he means Dowd’s but maybe his own decisions too? Dowd for Blue Square Premier League?
Harsha,
Thanks and here’s hoping. The Metro are tyring to report this a season ending injury but they are just fishing (as usual) and know f*ck all (as usual).
Gt,
Can you call him back and find out when “Plug” will be back from injury?
Nasri,
I wouldn’t let Dowd referee our Thursday evening 5-a-side games.
Snir @327 – please don’t start with the “we don’t have any really tough games for a while” stuff Snir, ‘cos we have have done that one before.
Taking these ‘lower’ teams too lightly is disastrous as we have found to our cost more often than enough.
These lower placed teams start fighting like dogs as the run-in gets underway – the last thing we need. As can be seen from weird results all season long, for all teams, there are no gimmes any more.
We just need everyone at top level, every game. With the games the other contenders still have to play, we may still just do it.
nasri – TS
Dowd was striking on behalf of the team.
Arsenal, as a collective, have a go at one of them (Mason), they (Dowd) come back for a go at us.
You cannot attribute the Szczesny booking or the early “foul” AGAINST RvP to anything else.
Afternoon teas all round ?
So as i said, JD has pulled out of Swiss Squad and is not greatly hurt, he will be ok for the weekend! Big Big Win there, since if he were fit, he would have had to go with the Swiss Squad, which he doesn’t now! So hopefully none of our influential players will be involved in the meaningless friendlies!
Gibbs, Fabregas, VanPersie, Song and JD! I also hope Kozzer has not all of a sudden become first choice for France, and Blanc chooses Abidal over Clichy!
Trev
Yes, can’t help thinking that the meninblack have this “you mess with one of us and you mess with us all” kind of mentality too.
The Szczesny booking, no booking/sending offs for Farton and cell-mate plus that second pen all bear testament to that. The B’stards!
Just boiling the kettle now. One lump or two?
TS – Two lumps for me please, Danny Shittu and Frank Lampard will do nicely.
PS from TS:
Spot on re: so called lower teams especially when they are fighting for their EPL lives.
The Wolves match will be no pushover but I still think we’ll beat ’em maybe even thump ’em. We have a big point to prove now.
…. 5-0 at half time vs Wolves anybody????
*Leaves bar QUICKLY before getting thumped in the chops*
It’s a Monday afternoon love in. Happy days.
Holic. The reason you think all geordies you meet are nice is because you don’t have a clue what they are saying? (i would do one of those smiley things now but I really have no idea how to).
Onwards and upwards.
@TS Heh
For the first time, I am seeing our players opting out of internationals. Fergie presides over these kind of decisions at United. I have seen Rooney, Cunt Ronaldo pull out of a lot of internationals which are meaningless.
It’s good news for us. Does flu have any side effects on RVP’s feet? 🙂
if the FA insist on having these friendlies at this time of year then they get what they ask for, depleted teams, players pulling out left right & centre, & the whole point of these international ‘get togethers’ is rendered useless.
Why has it taken AW so long to cotton on though, Giggs didn’t play a friendly for Wales for about 10 years, ole’ rednose was way ahead of the game..
let’s just hope wilshere & walcott were sitting next to RVP on the way home & caught his, ahem, ‘flu’.
Trev – Agree, but when I meant not tough I meant that we can do with the Koscielny and Squillaci partnership.
You have to agree with me that we’ll have games that we will HAVE to have JD playing.
Setanta just reported that Djourou could have ligament damage and be out for the season. Lots of rumours circulating. lets just hope this is unfounded, or phucked we are.
Ah home -feet up (until the mob arrive soon)
TS – I assume you’re asking how long their defence will remain in disrepair.
Damn , over the next 6 weeks at least hopefully, I’m mean possibly!
🙂
I’ll be glad to call back any other questions? 🙂
Damn, according to Sky Sports that flu/stomach bug skipped Theo!
Walcott is on a personal mission to prove that Capello was wrong to leave him at home, even though Capello has admitted such. No way will he catch phantom flu or invisible stomach upset.
Hopefully he won’t want to try to prove himself too hard again this time around!
Here we go they want Jackie too!
…if anyone touches a hair upon either one of their heads I’ll do one!
We are nearly up to 400 drinks – amazing what throwing away a four goal lead will do.
Stone Roses :),
Imagine if we’d lost 5.4 the bar would have gone into meltdown 😉 As would I ,
The only annoying things about so many posts is it takes ages on my phone to scroll down !!!
Aaron Ramsey has pulled out of the Wales squad! At last the message is getting through, these divvy internationals are an injury waiting to happen.
Evening all, and apologies. I know it is a chore scrolling down 400 posts. I was hoping to put something fresh up tonight, but have just spent a couple of hours in hospital. Nothing serious, just an eye problem so I won’t be focussing too well tonight.
Promise I will do a piece tomorrow night. Cheers.
Holic, did you see dowd in there, I believe he has an eye problem as well though his is serious! Sorry couldn’t resist that, I hope all ok with you
Mr Holic, I sympathise about your eyes, I have kerakaton….. , keratonic… , basically my eyes are effed.
Ramsey & bellamy have travelled with no intention of playing, apparently ( so my colleague who is the oracle of all things west of bristol reliably informs me)
what do we think for theo then, metatarsal or ligament strain?
Not another one-eyed Arsenal post from Goonerholic 😉
(Sorry, couldn’t resist).
Forget any Walcott mysterious injuries, he is on radio 5 now, as I type, saying how ‘i’m looking forward to Denmark Wednesday’.
Storey: “So near to 3 wins out of 3 for you
Yes, just minutes away from a perfect record… but the strange thing is that I was nowhere near as down as I have been after other failures of late, maybe the fact that I was so convinced we were going to lose when they made it 4-3 made me, in some strange way, feel almost like we won a point rather than lost two.
And as for fending off Geordies there was, apparently, a bit of a ruck outside the stadium just after I left. When I walked out there were a whole lot of Geordies who were hurling abuse at all of us who came through the away section gates clearly trying to get things to kick off. I have to say I felt that the atmosphere was generally rather hostile outside the ground after the game, not that I ever really felt like I was anywhere near getting attacked or anything and there were of course loads of people who were just happy that their team had made a great comeback but there were also quite many who were clearly hoping for things to kick off. It all changed, however, just a few hundred yards away from the stadium and down at the train station people were much more relaxed and civilized.
Having international friendlies at this stage of the season is just a bleedin’ joke. I hope that what we are seeing now is Arsene putting his foot down and more players doing what Freddie Ljungberg did for almost all of his career – never play an international friendly. Once he had established himself he was always “injured” when the friendlies came up. The only ones he played were just before championships.
We’re getting pretty close to 400 …
400 drinks – a weeks supply 😉
For True Storey that is 🙂
Only kidding mate –
I propose a toast to the abolition of international football and fat referees!
For anyone who is interested,
I have been doing some research on Arsenal’s propensity for scoring 4 or more goals in a game,and allowing the opposition to score just as many.
I went back to the 50-51 season,the year i was born,and there was the first 4-4 draw at home to Blackpool.
In 52-53 we scored 6 at Bolton,but let them score 4.
In 57-58 in a remarkable 2 month period we managed to lose 5-4 at home to the Busby Babes,draw 4-4 at home to the Spuds,score 5 at home to Chelsea,but let them score 4,then scored 4 at
Pompey but managed to concede 5.!!
In 59-60 we had a 4-4 at home to Wolves and in 60-61 we scored 5 at home to Man City,but let them score 4.
In 61-62,had a 4-4 at home to Leicester,then at home to Villa we scored 4 and conceded 5!!
62-63,Spuds again at home,4-4,Wolves at home 5-4 and Blackburn away,5-5.
63-64,Spuds AGAIN, 4-4 at home.
Remarkably 11 out of the 14 matches above were played at home.
Throw in more recent scores,5-4 and 4-4 with the Spuds,they do figure large in the story,and you can see we have a serial history where scoring and conceding 4 or more in the same match is concerned.
Cheers
Various news reports suggest that JD is now out for the season. Have to hope that it is normal paper bollocks.
Steve- it’s all gone rather ominously quiet – can’t help but think if all was well (or even relatively well) we would have heard about it by now. Unless of course the bastard tabloids just fancy having a kick at us when we are down…..not that that would ever happen.
Zico,
Not sure I can restrict myself to 400 virtual drinks in a week but I promise to do my best to cut down.
It’s all about the number 4 now isn’t it?
4-4 scorelines
4 hundred + drinks (a record?)
4 points behind Manure
4 chances of silverware ths season
4 – our captain’s number
4 – the combined IQ of the F.A.
4 – the number of Premiership games we play this month
4- the total number of goals we conceded in January
This post is #404?
Peter Storey also wore the #4 shirt 😉
Clive,
Thanks for the inspiration but I’m all foured-out now….
…. but I’ll bet £4.44 with you that none of those histroic scorelines involved us or the opposition coming back from 4-0 down at half-time????
TS – keep it up and we will be fourced to have another drink…..
I’ll get me coat….
What’s Pravda saying about JD – I can’t bear to look 🙁
Nothing Zico, they’re staying schtum.
The stories in the papers are just that. They are trying to feed off Gooner anxiety.
My sense is that if it was season ending the prognosis would have been quick and the announcement equally so.
Where’s Dr.C when you really need him? 🙂
Lars
Glad you managed to stay out of trouble and away from those nasty, nasty Toons.
When your football team has about as much chance of winning a trophy as we have of not conceding another goal this season it can turn a man really nasty. That, speaking a language that no-one understands and 14 pints of Newcy Brown can even make you think that you can level the score against Arsenal without having 12 men on your team. Tsk….
With apologies to any Newcastle born and bred Gunners in the bar. Can there be such a thing????
TS
very good reply,
it just goes to prove the Oldies are the quickest,not neccessarily on thier feet,but certainly in the grey matter department.
Is there still such a thing as $4.44?? Rounding up or down.
Didn’t the great PV also wear the No 4.??
Providing their are no replays, if we win 4 more games in the FA Cup we will have won it.!!
In a couple of hours time their will be 4 days till Saturday!!
We could go on.
Over to you
Boys???? 4 fucks sake………….
@TS 408
I know a Sunderland born and bred couple who moved to London a very long time ago, and have been devout gooners ever since.
If you ask them, I’m sure they would say that no Newcastle born and bred person could ever be an Arsenal supporter.
Well, they would probably use a more colourful language to express this idea 😉 and after what we saw on Saturday, who would blame them?
Oh, do you think we can get to drink number 444? And if we do, can I NOT be the designated driver please? 😀
Good god Clive what have we started?
RVP – We might well be @ 444 befour ‘Holic re-posts but I cannot foursee it four sure. I’ll do the driving, so long as it’s a 4×4.
ENOUGH!!!!
BTW, #412 is divisible by 4 exactly!
& the sum of the numbers in the quotient is…. yes….. 4!!!!!
Oh right. I completely fourgot to use 4-related puns in my previous comment.
No more drinks four me barman; can’t afourd it 😉
The boys in the bar have been cracking on in your absence Holic, some good grins too 🙂
Four bottles of Corona and some Optrex for the Leader please barkeep 🙂
Remembering the digit in my name, shall we try for 800 before the ‘holic’s next post?
Too ambitious you say? Not if we divide our drinks into little teeny tiny bits it isn’t!
Alright, carry on then. You were all doing fine before I got here!
Still nothing on the official site about JD’s injury, but as folks are doing a lot of guessing on here, here’s a rough guide –
If it is a knee ligament injury, there’s a chance it is not too severe as I don’t really remember seeing anything of note happen to him at the time.
A severe strain or tear would almost certainly have required something fairly obvious to have happened, even if that were only an awkward block or tackle, or some kind of fall on that leg.
A severe strain or rupture would almost certainly have meant him needing assistance off the field, and he didn’t seem to be walking that badly.
If it was the same knee that has had surgery in the past, there will almost certainly be some instability in the joint. That and the apparant ease with which the injury happened, would make a cartilage injury more likely.
So what ?
A cartilage injury, given how he was able to walk off, could mean anything from 2 to 6 weeks out. It could be more, but he wasn’t walking too badly.
A ligament injury, again given how he was walking, slowly but not with an extreme limp, could be 3 or 4 weeks.
A bad ligament tear would be 8 to 12 weeks, and a complete rupture would be many months.
Well that seems to have said everything and nothing, but as yet there are no real clues. And, of course, bodies are like that. Especially ones that have been injured as often as JD’s.
Trev
For those who don’t follow him on twitter, this is what he(JD20) himself said on his twitter
“Hello. Thanks for the support. I was hit on my knee on saturday as you saw it. I’m feeling better. For more infos check arsenal.com. Cheers”
I know this doesn’t say much but to me he doesn’t sound like he is facing series injury. May be just being optimistic. Hopefully there will be official statement from Arsenal.com tomorrow. I understand Song will start training tomorrow(Tuesday) so he can at least temporarily cover for him.
Evening ‘Holics.
The resident idiot of Newcastle (one of many) suggests we should play basketball. I would suggest he go play rugby (or boxing).
http://sportingalert.com/2011/02/newcastles-joey-barton-says-arsenal-should-go-play-basketball/
Morning holics,
Arshavin,Rosicky,Eboue,Bendtner,Chamakh,Wilshere,Walcott,Szczesny,Sagna are the ones who will be in action midweek. Fingers crossed.
Clichy,Diaby and Kos might well be on the bench.
I’m sure our Meerkat will come back all tired from Iran for saturday 🙂
@Joshua
You really have to admire that #%$*’s efforts to become as detestable as Gary Neville.
I now wish Diaby went one step further and showed him how good we are at boxing as well.
Morning Holics,
The mob arrived and the evening was over for me!
Wow do you think we could hit the 500 drinks mark before Holics next write up?
Trev @ #420
Thanks for the prognosis(?). Much more helpful than pravda.com and fairly upbeat, I thought.
Await further updates from the official sources with bated breath.
I’ll place a Storey pound on the fact that we’ll be lining up Squicielny at the heart of our defence this weekend. That might just be the magic ingredient to aid a speedy recovery from JD20 😉
just reading lars @309 reminded me of going to newcastle away in the late ’80s, always a pleasant experience;
one time in particular when niall quinn scored the winner, there were only about 200 arsenal up there, when the final whistle blew we were bundled straight into police vans outside the away end and driven at top speed throught the town centre to the train station. it was quite a crush as they threw as many of us as possible in each van, with a fe coppers sitting on the benches and us pretty much sitting on their laps.
This lead to the immortal line, which i regret to this day that i didn’t think of, just as we pulled into the station one of my fellow gooners quipped
“i hope that’s your truncheon mate”
Trev @ 420 – thanks for the summary.
In conclusion – anything from 2 weeks to many months! A bit like Vermaelen then 😉
Harsha –
Looking at that squad it is pretty similar in nature to the one we used v Birmingham last season the Sat before we played Barca.
That means that the likes of Fab4 and Van P will be well rested for next Wednesday.
It will be interesting to see which squad Pep uses ahead of the match!
Last year they too needed a little magic from their bench to stay in their title race!
@RVP’s right foot, Barton isn’t alone in that quest, Phil Dowd is giving him a run for his money. And then there’s still Gary Neville…
I’m glad to see Wenger finally give the international friendlies what they deserve. Flu season can be rather convenient at times.
Yipee. 431st. I would like to thank my mum, my dad, my trainer…
Joshua, RVP
Joey Barton, Phil Dowd, Neville Bros., Lee Mason, Alan Hansen, Green on 5-Live, Robbie Savage, Chris Waddle, Lawro, Awwy Twitcher,
Put ’em all in a very large sack.
You couldn’t kick the wrong f*cker.
Meh.
And now for something completely different, and of special interest to American readers and those who haven’t gone over to the Toon since the 2nd half ended:
http://tinyurl.com/67zl9qh
TS – Could you please keep that sack open so I can chuck Stan ‘Smacky’ Moore in there too!
Thank you
TS @ 432
Can we also add
All at Talkshite radio
FA cup lugs (aka Gary Lineker)
Adrian Chiles
Richard Keys
My next neighbour
OK the last one might be a bit left field, but if the sack is big enough…..
🙂
My next door neigbour even
Zico, Gt
“Ooh er missus my sack is bulging.”
Apologies to all female ‘Holics for that, it was not designed to offend.
Zico, not sure your next door neighbour qualifies. Perhaps you could make them don an Andy Gray mask first?
TS, I’m sure I saw him (my NDN) wearing a shirt with a cock on it 😉
I think you should put him in anyway , just in case
Zico, yes all LWCs qualify by default. 🙂
….Another 4 and we’ll be at #444
*leaves quickly*
TS – I’ll help put towards bigger sack as we must put Hittymoore in there for the kicks!
TS, I’ll help you onward to #444 as you may have done the most to contribute to this magnificent achievement …
Unless, GT, the honours are yours …
Or, zicoinexile, your NDN with the c*ck
#445!
Gt,
How could I forget those thugs Sh*wcr*ss or J*hnson?
nasri,
I’ll leave the honour to you. Many have made contributions far bigger than mine 😉
TS, let’s not get overly preoccupied with size. On the other hand there are no doubt larger prizes ahead.
Nasri, TS, Zico – 444 already…I can see 500 peering around the corner!
TS – May be time for a bigger sack! 😉
TS – 432 – You forgot to add Stewart Robson!
How could we forget about Lee Boyer?
Oh and can we put Gary Neville in the sack twice? Don’t know how it can be possible but once in the ‘sack ain’t enough for that moustache donning t*t.
Is this drink number 449 by the way?
49 as in 49 unbeaten
4 as in well .. 4
😉
Damn you Snir 😛
Ok. Make that 50 for … The fifty years (and counting) of mediocrity our neighbours have been through.
😀
Think Holic needs to post soon – or my smart ass phone will scroll off a cliff……
453 – 4 for our captain’s number the last time we lifted a trophy. 5 for the number of years without a trophy. 3 for the amount of trophies this year 😀
454
4
4
😉
JD will be back in a week, confirmed by the Swiss FA!
Graham Poll states the obvious again…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1354311/Graham-Poll-Nolan-Diaby-seen-red-second-Newcastle-penalty-baffling.html?
Hussain where’s your source brother?
@Goonertown
http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.football.ch/de/start.aspx%3FvNews%3D1%26newsID%3D9
What do you guys say about us playing 3-5-2 against Barca away ?
Kozzer-JD-Vermy
Theo-Wilshere-Song-Fabregas-Nasri
RVP-Arshavin
This way we can limit Alves and Keita’s run to our half and Vermalaen can cover Messi, Kozzer for Villa and Pedro and Song and JD on Iniesta and Xavi thus freeing up Fabregas, Nasri and Theo to move forward without having anything to worry about at the back ?
Hussain –
Well done mate. That’s an exclusive, even before news now.
That deserves a drink. Anything of your choice. That will make every Gooner on the bar tonight very happy indeed! 😉
🙂
Hussain sounds good.
My concerns would be with our ability to track back down the right!
61…Wengers age next birthday
..okay in the bar…dodgy contacts
The main threat from barca is from the right wing, the wing with Alves and Messi, so if we have Clichy in place of Nasri and Nasri playing with Fabregas through the middle, we can stop Messi ?
Haha thanks Guys, its just great news for our season!
With JD, Song, Fabregas and RVP fit, we can win the league!
The squad seems to have grown in size again..
Wolves
Bacary Schillaci Kos Kieran
Eboue Cesc Song
Bendtner Chamakh Rosicky
Barca
Eboue JD Kos Clichy
Cesc Song Jack
Walcott RVP Arshavin
Hussain
I believe all four will be fit for Barca onwards at least…
… onwards and upwards…
…up the Arsenalage!!!
🙂 🙂
65 – the Age AW will be when his contract expires
Yay for JD! We’ll need him at Barca – especially with Sanga out. Drinks all around.
Can we hit 500 before ‘Holic produces another masterpiece?
Talksport have signed Andy Gray and Richard Keys for their morning show, and, Adrian Durham thinks Arsenal will win the league.
Looks like Arsene was mightily p/o after Saturday’s game and went Ferguson on the players:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hgdsscgulDutZVzLSTAUNgGLZBMw?docId=N0610321297155212050A
Looks like I have another reason for avoiding Talksport (not that I needed one).
12 more hours of medicating….
@Goonertown
I would use your Wolves line up for Barca and the other way around! I want us to loose so that we can really Go for the title because honestly, by the looks of it, it is there for the taking! and we shall win it if we keep our players fit so, if we are out of the CL and United are in it, we will surely have an edge over them ..
@Hussain
I can’t bear the thought of Spurs going further in the CL than us. That and I really hate Barca for what they did to Cesc this past summer.
Guys, I don’t know who it was that mentioned it to me (I think TvA) but Barca are playing with Messi in the center this year and Pedro on the right.
With all due respect to Pedro, I think Clichy can handle him.
I agree with Hussain, rotate everyone for Barcelona will give us the best chance for the title. A wise man once said that you cant climb four mountains all at the same time (well, he probably didnt, but it suits my argument).
Haha why are we so obsessed with Spuds? Is that how you measure how good we are? And besides, honestly Milan will teach Spuds a good footballing lesson!
I am sure i would rather prefer winning the league than saying we went farther than Spuds in the CL 🙂
You can have your pick, and besides, if we give chances to Nicky B and Chamakh against proper footballing side, it might as well help their form and they might help us win the league, Nicky holds the key, he is so much better than Cham!
Matt@469, Arshavin says Wenger didn’t say anything as he was stunned into silence
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6735358,00.html
You’re probably right about Spurs, Hussain. Milan should beat them.
I guess I see beating Barca in the CL to be a huge boost psychologically for the team.
A Guinness for Hussain, barman (or whatever he wants). 🙂
Joshua
A nice cup of coffee would do perfectly for me since i don’t drink 🙂 Will we reach the golden 500 ?
For the first 5 minutes on Sky Sports News on the hour, it’s all about which Arsenal players will shine for Denmark and England respectively. It feels good to be back in the title race again.
Hopefully no unnecessary injuries
80 – The number of the minute before the Official on Saturday had a moment of madness and thought he saw a foul in the Newcastle penalty box.
Coffee it is, Hussain. I’ll take one as well.
Only ‘Holic knows if we’ll get to 500. He’s the one that decides when to reopen the bar.
Sadly, Goonertown, 80 min wasn’t the first moment of madness by said official.
The bar must be nigh on dry by now 🙂
The big 500 or for us betting boys a monkeys not far from Holics grasp !!!
484 –
4 – Captain Paddy
8 – Our player of the year
4 – El Capitan.
16 more to go – Rambo got the assist for Bellamy’s goal against Swansea!
485 – 4+8+5=17 – The most important player in our squad.
bernard: you’re right, I remember we had a discussion a long time ago here about it and he prefers to let players simmer than yell at them bar a few exceptions at half-time.
86 – the minute before we lost the lead on Saturday
The England media seems to be having multiple orgasms over Jack Wilshire, almost as if he’s the new messiah. I suspect they are trying to talk up a meaningless game. All I care about is getting Walcott, Wilshire and Bendtner off the field safely.
I’m not even sure if I will watch it. I just have this vision of Theo getting clouted whilst in full flight down the wing.
okay 88 – the minute after we lost the lead
Ready for a good laugh?
ROMAN ABRAMOVICH plans to make a £50million summer swoop for Cesc Fabregas.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3397927/Chelsea-plot-50m-summer-swoop-for-Cesc-Fabregas.html
Just to qualify my statement about not watching the England game – if none of our players were in it, I would be more likely to watch it. Sigh, maybe I’m just an idiot.
Hussain@472 – You have a good point!
Could you imagine what it would do for our club if we were to actually past the Barca test, much less the Beer and league double?
Phew!
Definitely worthy of a laugh, Matt. Can’t wait to here them talk about Cesc’s “Chelsea DNA”.
Matt@486: not saying anything can be just as effective as yelling and even far better depending on the circumstances. It’s all about using the right tool for the right occasion. After losing 4-0 the players won’t need to be told that they have fucked up, they already know that. We crumbled because we panicked, and yelling would probably only make things worse in this case.
93 – the minute when RVP won us the game on Sat before the linesman took away! 🙁
96 – The year Arsene Wenger came to Arsenal 🙂
okay 96 – the minute when every Gooner was pi@#ed on Sat
this is from @bbcsport_david
Just spoke to Djourou: “I’m ok, should be ok for Saturday if everything goes well” Confirmed Swiss FA line (knee only bruised)
Well that was a quick “out for the season” injury 🙂
98 – the year AW Won his first title with us
500 🙂
Surely this is a record.
must be
Hi holics 500 nearly up! Just like to put a question on here, if Barton had been wearing an Arsenal shirt when he made that challenge on Diaby would he have got a red? My feeling is he definately would have.
Glennw, He would have been sent off already, for his challenge on Arshavin.
Heh, to late and sorry if anyone is now stuck with the horrific image of Barton in an Arsenal shirt, don’t worry that will never happen.
Joshua, that’s true
RVP offside goal.
I have looked at that goal a lot. I do think he was offside, just, but just is still offside. And dont forget, Newcastle had a goal ruled out for offside when Roscisky was playing them all on.
We cant have it all ways, it would be nice to think, yeah, we would have won, but we were totally robbed, but at the end of the day, we fucked it.
Even Wenger said, ‘at 4-0 I didnt think the game was won’.
Stone Roses – The offside rule is determined by the chest. If you take a look at the goal, Robin is level with the defender according to his chest but is offsides according to his outstretched hand.
That means that the goal should have been allowed as he was level as his chest was level with the defender.
Snir Geuli,
I just dont think he was level, bodily. He seemed to know too, because he didnt celebrate too much.
But what do I know, you maybe right. I guess I’m still in depression mode.
At the end of the day, Djourou went off and we went into total panic mode. I just hope the reports out of Switzerland are true that he is available again.
RvP onside or offside – I honestly think it does us no good at all to dwell on that now. It’s been and gone and there is nothing we can do to change it. All that matters now is that the players need to re-focus and do all they can to secure three points on Saturday. And this goes for us supporters as well, those of you going to the Grove can do a lot to help the team by getting behind them from the first kick of the game.
make 1000 drinks and you’ll nearly be on par with Le Grove,they often pass that mark and average bout 750.BEAT THAT!!!
Is there a woman in here who can explain the offside rule to all these men ?
Oops.
Le Grove Feb 5th,1838 posts!!!!
That’s because moaning is easier 🙂
GAZ – yeah but we use longer words.
Hurry up and post ‘Holic, my scrolling finger is knackered.
Stone Roses – The reports came from the Swiss FA’s website with quotations from Hitzfeld and the Swiss National Team’s doctor. I’m pretty sure it won’t be made up.
Plus bbcsport_david tweeted this : Just spoke to Djourou: “I’m ok, should be ok for Saturday if everything goes well” Confirmed Swiss FA line (knee only bruised)
You can relax 🙂
Oh my Henry! Over 500!
We shall accept nothing less than a Holic speech to mark this milestone.
Come on! Everyone with me :Holic speech! Holic speech! Holic speech! ”
Drinks are on.. Err..Drinks are on Lars, everyone!
😀
@Trev 518
I am using a “jailbroken” iPhone to post. I have a little something called “easy scroll” I think. Basically you type 3 times on the screen, and a scroll bar shows up and you can use if to get to the bottom of the page (or anywhere on the page for that matter) with a simple tap.
It’s actually quite useful, for historic moments such as these 😉
Le Grove. Well written, very angry, but thats ok, and humorous. I read every post.
That’s more than can be said for the drinks. It’s like flies to shit “First!” accounts for the first 100 drinks.
Then it’s “Hello Bert”, “Hello Dave”, “Hello Bert again, it’s Dave here”. That’s 200 drinks.
Then it’s “Hey, so and so’s a cunt”. “Yeah, you’re right he is a cunt”. “And he’s a racist cunt.”
Then someone might say “Well, I thought the ref wasn’t that bad”.
“Well, you’re a cunt too” etc etc, equals two hundred and fifty thousand million drinks.
But notice one thing – they never use words of more than two syllables. Except maybe “motherfucker”.
Dont compare this place to Le Grove, all they do is crack racist jokes and very rarely do you find them discussing proper football, i think here just about everyone who comments is worthy of a blog of their own, Btm, True Storey, Steve, etc.
Quality matters and not quantity, more like our squad, I would much rather be happy with out starting Xi than showing off the other squad ..
Geoff and Pedro are two Quality writers though, there is nothing much in the comments section!
For those debating robin’s goal and office can I just say this. If 3 days on people are still debating the issue does that not show how unbelievably difficult the lino’s job actually is? If it is that borderline and we refuse to you tv technology then we have to put up with it. If it is that marginal should we not just give the lino the benefit of the doubt and move on?
wenger inherited a great side and when grahams back four retired the silver wear dried up with it.wenger cant blame the refs he has done this to us 17 players on loan and doesnt buy a single centre back stating that song and diaby can fill in their if needed.now songs injured diaby suspended denilsen injured so no holding midfeilders left and a crisis at centre back,how say the now wenger.i need a drink just leave the bottle jim thanx