And Then There Was One…
Mar 12th, 2011 by 'holic
Doubtless the word of the day on Sunday will be ‘Groundhog’, and to be fair those who use it will have a point. I think most, when they have time to sit back and peruse the events of the last fortnight, will be recalling what happened in 2008 and 2010 as reference points. It’s happening again, isn’t it? The question is deliberate, and not hypothetical.
In both of those years we endured serious injuries, and seasons rich in potential were to ultimately end up disappointing. In the aftermath of this last fortnight there are ominous signs of a repeat, and the most significant of these could yet prove to be the loss of Johan Djourou for the remainder of this campaign with a dislocated shoulder. We did not start the season asset-rich in the centre of the defence. The prolonged absence of Vermaelen has been made easier by the performances of the young Swiss. He will be a big miss.
His injury cast a shadow over our exit from the FA Cup at Old Trafford. We have seen this game before. Fergie understands us. He knows we will have more of the ball than his side, and so we did again today. Remember when we sat Petit and Vieira in front of the back four and broke at pace with the likes of Overmars and Bergkamp in 1998? Our old adversary does. He sits his banks of four on the edge of United’s box, and dares us to try and pass our way through it. When that one loose pass is intercepted, bang bang, they are attacking at pace.
It’s actually exactly what we attempted to do in the Camp Nou, but we don’t have the outlets at the moment. Walcott is a huge miss in this regard. It is what United have done to us so many times in recent seasons. It owes something to a degree of fortune, and wasteful finishing on our part. It shouldn’t work as often as it does. Today we had more of the ball, more attempts on goal, and the man of the match was United’s veteran ‘keeper, closely followed by their central defenders.
The best of a string of fine saves by van der Sar saw van Persie denied in the first half, and Koscielny in the second. It should also be said that Almunia too produced a couple of outstanding saves after the break as Arsenal tried to get back in the match. How strange it is that he now has such a crucial part to play in the remaining games after all that has happened to him in the last couple of seasons.
For once it would be good to see the bulk of us acknowledge the qualities of the victors with good grace rather than attempt to feast on the scapegoats of the moment. It actually makes a change to report on a big game that has not been decided by the referee. I have been on their case of late, but Chris Foy did really well today, I thought, apart from his impersonation of St Francis of Assisi when dealing with the peabrained Scholes in the final minutes. Similarly I thought Denilson and Diaby did not warrant some of the vitriol heaped in their direction in certain places this afternoon.
I’m known to be hugely supportive of the boss, and as far as I am concerned he is still absolutely the heart and soul of a club that has been transformed under his tenure. That doesn’t mean I am not bemused by his refusal to use our best midfielder this season, Samir Nasri, in the central creative role when Cesc has not been available. He put Diaby there to be shot at today, and when we lose the bullets are fired by those unwilling to be critical of others. We didn’t lose that game in midfield today, but I can’t help but feel that we didn’t win it in midfield either, if you understand me.
What is important now is the fact that this side realises that with no other distractions, the destination of the Premier League is still in their hands. However, although it is factually correct to say we will be champions if we win our last ten matches, we know that is hugely unlikely. What we do have to do is win the important matches, which obviously includes United at home in May. Without Djourou that will be tough. Without perhaps something to tactically surprise Fergie, it will be tougher.
Dark as things look tonight, we have to use what has happened in the last fortnight as our motivation, our springboard for the final length, if you will. The memories of 2008 and 2010 should arm us with some experience. We surely know now what not to do in these circumstances?
Arsene, boys, it’s up to you.
360 Responses to “And Then There Was One…”
ok 1st
Shame about Djourou. Bartley may have to return home early
there is good news too…maybe now the AKB’s finally will understand what a disgrace wenger has been for the last 5-6years and that The Arsenal will stop being som kind of kindergarten school for a madman…full stop..
wenger doesnt know how to play winning football. in the summer we should get mourinho to be in charge
Thank you , ‘holic. I am so happy to be able to read a sensible blog before going to bed. I have man- flu but this read has helped me a bit. Off to Italy tomorrow, but a nightcap for now. Cheers!
Of course the two people above have now made me angry again….
United had 7 defenders on the pitch today and still beat us with ease.As long as Wenger has faith in clowns like Denilshit and Diaby we dont deserve to win fuck all.Wenger needs to take a long look at himself and decide wether he should leave in the summer for a new manager to come in with new ideas.Since David Dein left we have gone backwards.Fizman Hill-Wood and co are only interested in profits not trophies
Nice to see a bit of perspective.
Can’t say I agree with the Denilsion and Diaby assessments but I thought both shone in comparison to Arshavin – boy, he makes running look hard work.
I agree Man U werre massively efficient. Silver lining is that we can concetrate on the league but I worry that we’re too depleted and those still standing – Jack, Samir, Robin – look knackered.
Here’s hoping I’m completely wrong but we need someone to step up to the plate now.
Hi Hollic,
Northern Gooner up with a bit of pessimism as usual.
That was our best chance to beat the Mancs and we failed and failed miserably.
They had 7 defenders in the starting line up and still looked more of a threat than us.
At Highbury I never took anything for granted but the Board (minus Dein) said we needed to move to compete with Chelsea and Man U. At what?
Even the best wine goes stale and tastes foul after a while and I think you need to look at Wengers decisions more carefully why didn’t we buy in the transfer window when everybody with football experience said we needed too even the legend that is Bob Wilson recently said on national radio in a nice way that when having conversations with Wenger about buying a keeper Wenger would listen intently then say that he took on board what was said but would still go his own way I now liken Wenger to a old bottle of wine we must remember the taste when it was in its prime not keep it until it turns rancid Wenger needs to go upstairs because although he thinks he knows best the fans are beginning to turn and I wouldn’t want him to be remembered for how he is now but for how we played in the season of the unbeatables
Okay time to focus and think logically!
Our toughest task ahead for now is away at West Brom next week!
After that we get two weeks off! (Fingers crossed nobody gets injured during the international break). Then we should see the return of Theo and Fab4 and Song.
So the starting XI then starts to look something likes its best again.
Almunia
Sagna Squillaci Kos Clichy
Cesc Song Jack
Theo RVP Nasri
Subs: (back up keeper), Bartley, Eboue, Gibbs, Chamakh-Attack, Arsh, Ramsey
Reserve Subs: Shea, Rosicky, Bendtner, Henderson, Migel, Diaby, Denilson
Have I missed anyone?
Provided we get a little luck with injuries we win the league! It’s that simple!
Right? π
I have defended wenger all season long and two weeks ago i thought we would have a great season. Now it is obvious we only have 10 games left until the end of the season. Hopefully our players can now get some rest as games will be farther apart, and we can go on and win the league.
I think though that we must be wise in the summer, other teams will spend big because of the new rules, we must be sure to get rid of all the deadweight.
Perspective anyone?
Who had a midweek game against Barcelona (with 10 men nonetheless)?
Who was the better team, football wise?
However, let me say that I’m now convinced that I would prefer Denilson as far away from the 1st team as possible. It’s not that this was his worst game in an Arsenal shirt, far from it, it’s just that even a decent performance by his standards is far below what this level demands.
I rather liked how the team pinned United down just before the second goal. What I rather disliked was the fact that some heads seem to drop considerably after we conceded that second.
And please, Wenger out? I’ve laughed about it for years and will laugh about it until he retires.
And for once ‘holic I have to disagree. I don’t fancy Nasri in the middle of the park. We have enough bodies there right now. It’s from the wide areas where we lack something, and it was apparent again today.
6. yes that is SIX years fruitless,wouldnt it be nice to get an arsenal player to comment on one of these sits,,wonder what crap aw would come up with…well pissed tonite,,gutless boys gutless..ye should donate this months pay to charity,,,now grow some balls./
Isn’t the real problem that we have simply become far, far too predictable? Our manager is older, wiser but probably, in all honesty, more a director than a coach. We need some of the GG hunger c.1986-92 and the AW inspiration c.1996-2004. However unpalatable it is for some – and I totally understand the painful feeling of facing an uncomfortable truth – we should be looking at freshening things up off the pitch first and foremost. Perhaps a new 1st team coach could do for Diaby what GG did for Paul Davis and what AW in turn did for Ray Parlour. These things are cyclical. I cannot help think that Steve Bould is part of the post 2010-11 solution. For now, let’s hope Pat Rice evokes the spirit off 1989 when we somehow implemented a makeshift sweeper system to win the title at a photo finish.
Without slating those players, which i thought did ok today, does anyone have stats on how many games we have won with those two in the middle?
“It’s that simple”.
I’m almost a believer, Goonertown, but for the Almunia Kos Squillaci impregnable fortress at the heart of our defence – I can see Tony Pulis salivating now.
paddy, it’s a two way thing. Some of our so-called supporters could do with growing a pair too.
If if you fail to win the prem I think you should sell Fabregas for 40-50m, as well as Rosicky and Bendtner and use the cash to buy the likes of Given, Cahill,Van Bommel and N’Zogbia in the summer to add experience and squad strength. That will give the likes of Nasri,Wilshire and Ramsay more responsiblity to become your creative leaders.
A top team would draw strength from adversity and go on to win the league. Utd will have a lot of fixtures to play where as you’ve got just 10 big games to focus your attention on.
See you at The Lane in April.
So I will say it for you then ,Diaby and Denilson were absolutely smashing,running, passing ,tackling ,winning balls,having shot on goal at will as well .Oh well!!
holic,
I have been defending wenger for the last 5 years. But tonight was the final straw for me.
shocking selection and tactics, playing straight into red nose hands. In the last 17 games we have won twice against them.
we all knew we needed a CB and DM in january, and now the chickens come home to roost.
No power, pace or penetration. Players gave up at 2-0. Only young Jack had the stomach for a fight.
if we blow the league (squid and kos, with alumunia in goal!) then it might be time to say goodbye
Re: DIby and Denilson – sorry bit they constantly let us down. The don’t track back and cannot be arsed to move faster than a snail’s pace. This is not just this season either – look at last season v Hull.
AW needs to buy – the gamble will almost certainly cost us in the league as well and given our recent history, I fully expect us to slip out of second pretty fucking rapidly. We need to buy a player who can come in and actually costs some decent cash – it’s a statement of intent more than anything. Besides if we spend say Β£30m the money will be offset by actually getting through to a final.
Sick of this EVERY damn year and with the same players. Diaby and Denilson out.
On the positive side, how good was it to see young Aaron back in an Arsenal shirt? For the run in how does this sit with you?
Almunia
Sagna Song Kozzer Clichy
Aaron Cesc Jack
Theo RVP Chamakh
That midfield would pass anyone to death!!!
oh my GOd, where do i began, what are arsenal fans in england waiting for, what is ticketholder at arsenal continoue to support AW’s team evry week, in life you have to know when the party is over, arsene has been a wonderful servant to arsenal football club, he has done a lot, but arsenal have also given him the chance to apply his philosophies and policies and he has done that for 15years, but after 9 years, and the era of invinciables, the party was over, six years of pain and dissapointment has been too much for a failed policy of youth develpment and financial profit…………AW must go, not @ the end of the season but tommorrow, so that the new manager could save our league season by implementing new tacttics and more fighting spirit, i would say bring on gorge graham, till the end of the season he will show you what a winning team is all about.
oxford gooner
The team is still good. Today two things showed up today! Low spirit after being robbed away at Camp Nou and tired legs after being robbed at Camp Nou!
My formation was meant to highlight the fact that our attack will soon be back to its devastating (best in the Prem) best again. They score we score more, or we score first and finish them off! What happens at the back then becomes not as serious as it seems!
Cu’mon U RR! π
Half a pint please. Half empty one. For once. I’m fed up.
jonners…no nasri?
I have some good friends in Iceland. I must ask them if they adopted Care in the Community before or after the UK…
@ Phil Dow. And who would replace him? No one who wouldn’t plunge us into debt.
I have faith in Wenger but he needs to put his hands up and say the experiment hasn’t worked completely – he needs to breed our next generation as well as buy the best to challenge. This team will constantly be 2nd or 3rd – which in itself is no mean feat – but we need to spend to push on.
It seems some of the posters on here have short memories, or perhaps weren’t supporting Arsenal, but 6 years is nothing. Look back at the first double season and see how far back you have to go for the previous League title to that. Or perhaps from Mickey T’s big night in May ’89 back to 1971. A few cups apart, that was a barren time and some of the line-ups were bereft of any creativity.
Goonertown @27. Completely forgot about Nasri, slots in the front three on the left instead of Chamakh, makes the bench a bit stronger.
Another way of looking at it is 2008 we finished 4th, 2009 we finished 3rd and drew against Barca, 2010 we are at present second and nearly knock out Barca…so just imagine what 2011/12 with no internationals a full pre-season and everyone back fresh will bring?
For now we have more pressing issues like West Brom next week!
Letβs get ready guys! π
Goonertown. Unfortunately those seasons have seen little or no investment from Chelski who are likely to spend heavily this year. Liverpool will do similarly and even the Spuds are buying decent players now. We will do well to finish in the top four this season if last year was anything to go by.
jonners I see we have met somewhere in the middle with our formations π
The best attacking half in the Prem! Lets get the trophy to compliment that fact! π
Goonertown. That’s the spirit. Your glass isn’t even half full, it’s over-flowing.
Unbelievable Climax
Thatβs my point. We have still progressed as it stands now! We win our game in hand and we are all smiling again! π
Just stumbled up this.
two weeks till the anniversary of his death. some of our players could do well to watch this, to see what pulling on an arsenal shirt is all about and how fuckin lucky and privilaged they are
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufmRG8UsBMc&feature=related
remember who you are, where your from and who you represent.
#23 Jonners thats our fucking problem we pass everone to death.Fat lot of good it does us.We passed all game tonight and lost.Why because with the exception of Jack we are a team of bottlers.we wont win the title we wont finish above the Chavs.
jonners that’s what I’m talking about! I’m getting your next drink! Put your money away fella! π
Holic, what do u mean care in the community?
jhlf. Thanks for that. Still my favourite player. There’ll never be another like him.
jhlf
Nice video. Brings back memories!
Win our game in hand? With our now rock solid defence including Stepcygsylvquillacci?
Would you prefer Mourinho to Wenger next season given the option? Or Van Gaal?
Evening Holic
My pessimism about today’s game proved correct unfortunately,but i don’t think anyone could fault the commitment of the boys in Yellow.
It’s always difficult to beat Utd at home,particularly if they score first,but before their goal,from their first shot after nearly half an hour,you would have thought we were the home team.!!
Even after they scored,we kept at it and but for VDS joining the ranks of goalkeepers having MOTM performances against us,we could have had 2 or 3 goals.
The 2nd goal killed us and the midweek Barca game caught up with us in the final 20 mins.
They say you find out what you are made of in Adversity,so i guess that AW and the Boys will give us the answer to that in the coming weeks.
Cheers
Clive
Jonners – I think someone has knock my glass on the floor.
What a poor performance! Although some of our players have talent, the team is dysfunctional and without leadership. I’m not impressed with them or the manager. My faith and belief have been abused for long enough. It’s time for change, the big challenge is how do we make it so?
Unbelievable Climax
It’s possible π
Haagan Daas anyone? I’m off to get some! π
A word for the travelling Gooners – you’re fucking excellent.
Fin, indeed, they were huge.
Clive, feared you were right, but I can’t say that beforehand. My supplementary bets this morning also put the hex on Johan. I should quit for the season while I’m ahead!
Sad, isn’t it difficult typing with only one hand?
manure less than 6 chances 2 goals
us zilch
we never really looked like scoring with a forward and midfield group that heads into a barrier of 5-8 defenders and doesnt ever look up
We do have a chance for the title but Manure will have to lose at least 2 matches in the run in, because we cant beat them
Maybe with a limitation on squad size in the future, competition will be more level but as things stand we are getting woefully exposed
AW has promised much but delivered little over the last 6 years and should go if we dont get the premiership
drinks all round to give us energy for the run in
Usual ‘holic wisdom. Pity about the hysteria elsewhere. Let’s get behind the team and help them win the Premiership. Still all to play for! Come on you Gooners! Fortifying spirits all round.
@50: too right! Wish the Emirates crowd was half as supportive. Well done you traveling Gooners. A credit to the name.
To all of those calling for Arsene to move on. If we win the league (and it’s not exactly impossible), will you give him one more season?
All I’m saying for now is 1972-1988.
Also…thanks for the Rocastle video….what a chap.
Did we really used to break with pace? Did we? Did we really?
Ah, those were the days.
Steve T –
this ain’t like you
I’m okay with criticism of Wenger but please, Mourinho? We’ll go down the toilet financially with him in charge.
Good post, I think most of the reaction today is ridiculous. How can it be said in one sentence that we were total shite, and in the next how van der Saar had many excellent saves and was MOTM? There has to be a decent change to make an excellent save. Fact is we didn’t really play poorly, we just couldn’t score. They were just a bit better and more clinical then us.
We can’t really be surprised that we lost 2-0 at old trafford, can we?
Breathe people, life will go on…
“decent chance”Β even
After the rollercoaster ride of the last month, personally I’m happy we only have the Premier League left. I’m a bit spent after Barca, the Cup final, Injuries, etc. and look forward to the international break then having a fairly healthy squad for a 9 match sprint to the championship. Hopefully our guys can pull through and get to a well deserved close season as EPL champs. ( here’s to a couple quality signings as well ) whatever is on tap please Barman
PS good to see Ramsey back
AW plays it so soft with his team and never seems to point out their weaknesses. He is a good coach but has failed to get the right balance for the games. I liked the VP can’t play on his own upfront and infact his performance has dropped. It this point i don’t see arsenal carrying any cup again and even think AW deliberately throws away cups. AW is better off as a director now and perhaps we need Jurgen Kopp from dortmund. He has done a better job with younger “kids”.
How come eduardo and gallas are doing well after leaving arsenal. The belief is lacking among the arsenal fraternity. Forget about buying new players/world class players. We brought chamak and still we want more.
During the games, AW is not a strategist and that destroys all the quality he has put in the young talent. we should not stick to the red card on VP coz noone will give us a cup for crying foul. AW should have reacted like a leader and looked for the 2nd away goal at barca. Diaby today played like a manU defender destroying all plans in the arsenal midfield.
Unbelievable Climax @46 … glasses we have plenty of, just pick up another and get it refilled. It’s cups we’re short of. I’ll get my coat.
Yes the annual meltdown is in full swing. Again injuries have a large part to play. It can hardly be regarded as an abnormality can it?
You are spot on every time we play United it ends up the same way- doesn’t matter who we pick or who is in their team.
Wenger hasn’t a clue how to set up the team to counter or beat them- not a clue. Exactly how many re-runs do we have to endure?
This is a pattern- a recurrent pattern of failure that has its roots in the failure of the club to replace and invest in experienced top quality players- a consequence of not buying then buying cheap and over-relying on the youth policy.
The club is not bothered- just as long as the lolly keeps rolling in. Hill Wood does not give a fig about winning anything.
Still by August most fans will have forgotten it and the same thing will happen next year.
The AKB will still be bleating on about our wonderful accounts- exaggerating the potential of our teenagers and arguing endlessly against spending any money on players. Talk about the Anti Arsenal Arsenal- they are it.
Excellent recap ‘holic. And I find that I agree with you on many points.
Bill Murray, surely, must be a Gooner himself.
I too am perplexed that AW doesn’t use Nasri in the Cesc role san Cesc. To me, it is a no brainer. He prefers to play centrally than out wide as well. Jack is a fantastic young player but he played too deeply, for me, in the Cesc role today. Nobody in the squad can pick a pass like El Capitan and Nasri would have been so much more influential today had he been given the chance to pull the strings.
Glad there is only one EPL match left in March. Let’s hope for some quick healing. Johan is a huge loss. I’d prefer to see Bartley recalled and played ahead of Squillaci but I know that’s not going to happen. Maybe we need to invest in a spiritual healer or witch doctor in the off-season?
Time for two more pints of the black stuff to keep both hands occupied kind sir. Time to drown the old sorrows and maybe watch that Bill Murray movie.
Cheers all ‘holics!
These people calling for Arsene out are nuts. Mourinho? Hahahaha! At least you could be serious and mention his protege Villas Boas instead. He’s my choice to succeed Wenger in 5 seasons. In Arsene We Trust!
Back to square one.Same thing over and over again.Since Arsene Wenger and the directors signed some sort of agreement that he will be at the club till he drops dead,all we are asking for now is that they promote him and make him a financial executive of the club then bring us a new and fresh blooded individual whose aim will be to win trophies for the club.
Arsene Wenger’s comments about UEFA was that if they do not want to apologize and keep on charging innocent people when their referees are the ones at fault then that becomes dictactorship.We agreed with him.Now if 95%to 99.99% of the Arsenal loyals want a change at Arsenal including getting mature players and only him and probable 0.01% to 0.5% still want to keep the status quo isn’t that dictatorship?
At the end of last season we were pleading with the club to do things differently and bring us at least some silverware but we were just talking to some cast iron. Here we are again.
Friends the correct description of insanity is:”DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND EXPECT TO GET DIFFERENT RESULTS”
I rest my case.
Hi all. Some I have drunk with here many times before, others seem to be new to the bar. Some wisdom, some not.
I will agree with pace and penetration – without Theo we are lacking here. Investment in that area, and some to be promoted from loan positions others to move on….otherwise we are a win against WBA from the top of the league.
It could be better, it could be worse.
PS, Can we have an age limit on the drinking here?
Fact is Nasri is a dribbler not a passer. I don’t see it as a no brainer for him to play as a #10. If anything, RVP is the best choice to play behind Bendtner / Chamakh when Cesc is out. He has the next best eye for the killer through ball. Nasri would rather beat defenders with the ball at his feet.
Acronym help on “AKB” anyone? It doesn’t register …
Akb = Arsene knows brigade
Good post as ever ‘holic
Some people should be careful what they wish for. I’m sure Leeds and Charlton fans would like to turn back the clock.
And some other people should mind there own fucking business
I wouldn’t say 3 points off with a game in hand is back to square one. I’d much rather win the EPL then any domestic cup and we are in fine position to have a go at it. Insanity can also be described as screaming ” wenger out ” over and over and expecting a different result
It’s meant to be an insult, Theo. Can you imagine the mindset of the fuckwits who think that?
Cheers Jackster. Good to see some others here who have done the hard miles with this club we love.
…and well said Duttlenheim.
Disagree Dutts. Nasri, for me, can do it all and is the first choice pick as the AM if Cesc is out. Nasri has played there in the past and prefers there over playing out wide as well. Our best player influences the match the most there. Sure he likes to take on defenders and dribble. God bless him. Can’t pass? Who passed the ball to the little Russian in the first leg v FCB for the game winner? No one on the team, except Cesc, would have seen that pass let alone complete it.
Thanks on the acronym Dutts. I agree with both you and ‘holic regarding AW. He makes mistakes sure. But so does every manager. Where would we be without him considering the constraints he has to work under?
Didnt say he can’t pass. But I did say that RVP has a next best eye for the killer through ball and I don’t think that’s up for debate……cheers holic
Furthermore with Theo out and Arshavin spotty all season, who do you suggest plays on the wing? Bendtner or Eboue? You need a wide threat as well. We already get criticized for playing through the middle too much. Bendtner can play out there in a pinch but week in week out I don’t think so. We would have zero threat wide and no pace either.
the loss is hard to take,but to lose another key player that has been great since being brought into the team is destroying.10 games to run WBA then a timely break. AW shows loyalty to his players maybe ite time to show that loyalty to some of the youngsters back from loan.
@yozza …. Try forming a coherent sentence in English before calling somebody a retard. Pot meet kettle. In your wettest dreams, you’re 10% the success that Arsene Wenger is in life.
No doubt Coquelin will get a chance next season and can be the much needed cover for Song. Reports are he has been very good at Lorient. Then with Aaron and Frimpong back as well, the midfield looks much more balanced for next season and puts Diaby / Denilson even further down the pecking order. Bartley might come in as well. I doubt anybody else Would displace what we already have.
Some people in here (by the way, where are you when things are going better?) really should calm down. There are things we can and should strive to improve but if I had not known where we are currently placed in the league I would, from some of the comments in here today, have thought we were battling to avoid relegation.
I really don’t think we were that bad today but for some reason we just can’t seem to convert our chances at the moment. We DID create chances despite ManU setting out to defend, and on another day we would easily have scored three or four. Nasri’s low drive towards the first post in the first half, Nasri’s volley at the start of the second, Koscielny’s shot just before their second, van Persie’s curler that went just the wrong side of the far corner, Chamakh’s header – all these were clear-cut chances but we just couldn’t find the back of the net.
Any of the other regulars out there fancy a drink qlong with Dutt and TvN?
And Holic @ 74 – heh! What do you have open sir?
Hey Catalan , congrats on your baby BTW. I was too pissed off at that Swiss Cunt ref to mention well wishes earlier.
Thanks Dutts!
Now then….. has TS gone and left the medicine cabinet open again? Seems like it to me….
Jackster – how many of our generation were thinking the same??
You know whats the best thing that happened today…? Aaron Ramsey coming back means that I will never have to suffer seeing Denilson in an Arsenal shirt again.
Some of these people with the “6 year” stuff have no clue. For some perspective. I was born in 1971 in Chicago. When I was a kid, I loved baseball and the Chicago White Sox. They last won the championship in 1917, last played a world series in 1955 and have only even been in the playoffs twice in my life in 1983, 1993 before they finally won a championship in 2005 after 88 years. On the other side of town, The Cubs are even worse ( LOL ) and haven’t won anything since 1908. Get a grip people. 6 years is pretty good sounding to me
Dutts,
Considering what we had available today, I would have removed Denilson from DM, put Jack in his customary DM spot, put Nasri as the AM, and put Rosicky as the RM/RW (over Wenger’s starting eleven today). It would be an easier selection to use either Walcott or Bendtner as the RW today (and have pace at the position) but both were unavailable.
I just would rather have Nasri pulling the strings if Cesc is unavailable. But that’s just me. We can agree to disagree.
Although, starting Chamakh at CF, RVP at AM, Jack at DM instead of Denilson (and keeping Nasri at RW) would have been preferrable to Arsene’s starting lineup today.
Apologies to those who responded to Joey. I could do without his puerile stuff on here. Some good debate could follow, but not with the distraction provided by the ignorant.
Guys, honestly, what we need is a better second team. I think we are getting there.
Look at United’s second team vs ours and we are a good few notches below them.
I believe and hope that JET, Lansbury, Bartley etc can fill in for the deadwood ie Denilson, Rosicky, Eboue etc.
Hahaha ‘holic
I think Joey Deacon went on to be Peter on Arseblog in the style of A Gonner
Dr. C,
Yes, let’s drink it up. Along with anyone else that wants to like Dutts.
Doc, I’ve been meaning to ask you a very important Q regarding AFC. Since you are the residing medical expert I think it is rather appropriate. Why does AFC seem to suffer more key injuries than any other club in the EPL?
Maybe I’m biased as I’m a fan. But the neutrals say we are made of glass. What’s your theory on our persistent injury woes through the years?
Can’t believe some of the comments on here “Wenger should be moved up stairs” fuck me whoever came in under Wenger as sporting director would have a nightmare. Can you imagine asking him for money to buy a player, “I’ve asked Tony Adams to have a wank so he should be coming through the academy in 10 or 15 years”. We need to understand that we play the most beautiful football in the land unfortunately while were playing beautiful football we get the shit kicked out of us and the opposition run away clutching a trophy and laughing in our faces whilst the shit English press pat them firmly on the back. You need to decide wether you love watching great football or winning trophies
It would also help if our first team stayed healthy. Next season, our two best players won’t be coming off a world cup final and everybody will be rested and ready to go from the start. TV5 will be back too. No reason to not have high hopes for the rest of this season and beyond. One match a week the rest of the way. We should win at least 8 with Man U and 3? point lane the only question marks.
I for one am not that depressed..the league is and always will be the big one for me. Fuck Birmingham, Barca and Utd..let them keep their cups once we are top the end of the season. I do think Arsene will change things around in Summer and with Rambo and Jack in midfield the mental strengh thingy will finally become a reality..
A good post and some very interesting posts.
Must say that I feel a lot of the anger is not just at the result today. It is built up over years of frustration and more recently the last 24 months. Every side goes through good and bad patches. Every side at times has the luck go with you, and at time against you. It is how you deal with it.
Like many I have been in the Arsene Knows Best Camp for many years, and still remain there. However I do find things very frustration. For me we have suffered this season (not just the last two weeks) with the same old failings. I think a great deal of the frustrations come out of promises made that just seem to be empty. We are all aware that money has not been available due to the move. Fine by me but there has to be a time when this changes.
The weaknesses highlighted here and in previous posts have a repetitive streak. Most will know my views. Lack of width, leadership and strength in depth have been common complaints of mine. I need not elaborate. But criticism of the manager and leaders of the club is always going to come when certain statement are released by the club. The best squad ever is a prime example. Last April the manager had identified areas that needed strengthening and was already speaking to targets? Judge me at the end of the season is a regular one. Unfortunately these often come back to haunt if things do not go right.
Our other big problem this season has been too many “one off” results. You do not need me to list them. I think that the anger on here is a culmination of all of this and not just at today.
So where do we go from here? Well you can only piss with the cock you have got, I was once told. So we are not going to be buying anyone before the end of the season. Almost by default we are still in with a great shout at the title. Our next game at the Baggies will not be easy. Anyone who witnessed the home game will know that. Take each game at a time is an old adage but one very much worth considering. A convincing win at the Baggies along with a convincing performance and all will be rosey again.
So to conclude I would say this. The last 2 weeks have been pants. hard times for all. But this is not the time to judge or moan. There is plenty still to play for. The time for a final assessment and all the moans that people desire is only 2 months away. As fans we can not influence injuries, refs, managerial decisions and we certainly can not add to the squad we have. So now is the time to become one again and get behind what is left of our season. To be honest, considering the points we have thrown away this season I am amazed that we are in such a good position in the league. But we are and time now is to make the most of it.
We can use the fact that we are out of two competitions as a positive, and a way to rest weary limbs. But the time has come for all of us, regardless of our views to get behind the team and go for it large. It is time for Arsenal fans everywhere to raise the roof and get the blood flowing. As I have said, we all have our own opinions. I respect everyone of them posted here. But all I would say is that the fat bird aint singing just yet and I for one feel that at this stage of the season that it is a tad premature to start the post mortem.
Keep the faith…………
@Theo …. Most teams can’t play football with us so they bully us off the park. That’s my theory. Also, We aren’t the biggest team and we are also the 4th youngest team in Europe. We still have room to get stronger and more physical.
With all due respect, Exo, you and your like need to ask yourself that. The majority are in for the long haul and realise support is unconditional.
Awesome, Steve T.
Don’t agree with everything, but love the fact you took time to share your reasoning with us. Top drinking mate. I owe you one.
Dutts
Your analysis of next years midfield strength is classic piece of over- optimism. Aaron Ramsey has still got a metal plate in his leg and has not yet shown he can overcome last years crippling injury, and prior to his injury he was looking promising- not much more than that- the other 2 are very young and have never played in the EPL- so where is the evidence that these guys will be able to cope with the likes of Man U, Chelsea and Barcelona next year let alone Stoke and Spurs?
TvN
I think there at least two other resident professionals on here; Trev and Derek.
That debate has been covered a fair bit by me and Trev already, so don’t want to go over old ground. Probably lots could be improved, but poor luck is also a part of it. I also think that we forget other teams get their injuries too. There’s not much you can do to prevent traumatic injuries like JD’s today.
By all accounts the medical team got RVP back in record time. Not sure he’s 100% mind….
in wenger we trust – to stay another season without a trophy ! when is he leaving?
Yeah ok goonergerry , and Sandro never played in EPL either and he’s the 9th wonder of the world ( Bale is the 8th ) just ask any LWC. Need I remind you we are well clear of both Chelsea and Spuds so forgive me if I don’t buy into the Drogba fear mongering.
Trophy, trophy, trophy, wah, wah, wah.
Strange though it may seem, when I spend a day struggling to get to the Grove for a postponed game in December, I’m upset because I didn’t see my team. Ninety-nine percent of what I want to do is just to watch my team.
Trophies are the icing on the cake, and luckily in my time I have feasted on a lot of icing. Think about what you are saying before bleating blindly.
Dutts,
With ten games left I don’t think any rational Gooner believes we will win eight of them. Especially with our injuries. LFC at home is another key game. And there are no easy games in the league for anyone. We’ve dropped easy points at home early in the year. This will be a massive struggle. I just hope we can make it to the end. I hate ManUre so much … words cannot describe.
Heh Holic @105
Thanks for putting it perfectly – we are here to support our team. To enjoy the highs and lows. Yes, it’s nicer to win, but trophies are occasional highlights along the way.
Doesn’t mean we can’t criticise, but the glory hunting nauseates me… run along and support Barca if that’s what you value most.
@holic #105 …. same for me. Out here in the western USA, I’m just happy to find out Arsenal is the televised match. Some days I get up at 4:30 am to catch an early kickoff. Some of these ” supporters ” need to grow up a bit and realize how good they have it.
On the 6X holic. Happy days. We will share a gallon or so one day.
My perspective??? I am off to Twickenham tomorrow for the rugby. I will be wearing my England top with my red action 50 years since the spuds won the league t shirt underneath. 50 years? 50 bloody years??????? You have got to laugh at that.
Slice of battenburg anyone?????
arrrrggghhh,
Right, unconditional support. Well I said it so I suppose it’s time to mean it.
Scotch and Darvon for the time being but, Ill be ready for next weekend no dramas.
Come on you Gunners keep trying!
@Theo we need to win eight whether it’s rational or not. We are 7 wins 3 draws the last 10 EPL matches and have a full 2 week break after West Brom. 8 wins puts us at 81 points which could be enough. Any less and I don’t think we will do it. Having on average one match a week the rest of way, we better come out guns blazing every time.
CG,
I knew there were a couple of other medical people out there. Thanks.
I know other squads get injuries. But I have got to submit that they do not get them at our rate and duration. Especially to our key players like Cesc, RVP, Walcott, Nasri. And these are hamstrings and pulls, etc. (so the argument about other teams getting physical against us, as Dutts said, doesn’t wash with me). There’s gotta be something to it to me other than just shit luck.
Maybe we need a witch doctor or spiritual healer on the payroll?
Can’t get any sleep due to the new arrival?
Please don’t tell me it’s groundhog day, although it’s starting to feel like it in some ways. Resolve, cojones, and the like can still save our title bid, but not having seen today’s game yet I can’t do much more than lament the loss of Djourou. Quick refocus on the league, and let’s all admit that Clive was right about today.
As garbage as Squillaci has been overall, his last match against Stoke was very good. ( clean sheet and the game winner ) if he can play anything like that match the rest of the way, it should be more than enough against West Brom, Bolton, blackpool, Blackburn, stoke, fulham and Villa. Man U, Spuds and Liverpool might be another story though.
Dutts,
What’s the screen name mean anyway? Last name, town in AZ? Glad to see a couple of left coast gooners (or PST gooners) out there – you and LCG. I can’t keep typing out your full screen name, so I just go with the short form, Dutts (no offence intended).
We need all those points you describe but with Almunia, Squillaci, and Koscielny (our Bermuda Triangle) it is just going to be a massive ask.
Two double Patrons for Dutts and me barman if you please.
And another double Patron for 8ball too. Hell, I’ll have another as I just finished mine.
CG – Did the father-in-law say anything to you after the 2nd leg?
Arsenal with Diaby and Denilson playing are not worth watching. We play better with 9 men.
Bring in Mourinho!! I think for this game, when he sees Red-Nose’s squad of 7 defenders, he will quickly come out with a Plan B and C. Wenger is so inept, he just sat there, hoping that Diaby and Denilson will quicky adapt.
Duttlenheim = the first club that Arsene Wenger played for in France as a 16 year old. Yes I’m a card carrying member of the AKB lol
Yeah let’s bring in Mourinho. That way we can lose 5-0 to Barca instead of 4-3 on aggregate with 10 men. Brilliant
Evening Holic, Holics- late to the bar tonight. I’ll share a pint with you Catalan, if you’re still around…
Honestly, not a good feeling to come to the bar half miserable because it’s been too f’ing long since we but the mancs in their rightful place only to find the whiners and told-ya-so’s out prowling… jesus, people, have some f’ing integrity! Frustration, disappointment, misery, sure. That’s what I understand it feels like when something you love and support doesn’t come away with the goods. Thoughtful critique, reflection, dissagreement also seem perfectly natural. But who gets their jollies off when we lose!?
If this team is mentally suffering and struggling to find what it will take to put the late piece of the puzzle in place and finally realize the victories we all know are possible, then more than ever they need us. Arsene needs us! If for some reason he has an Achilles Heel being exposed, then lets fucking get behind him and push him over the line. Whatever it takes, but have some dignity and support your time, for fuck’s sake. That doesn’t mean don’t be angry, but aim it usefully.
Guinness, please, if there’s any left for an AKB.
Thanks Dutts. Didn’t know that even though I’m a big fan of Wenger’s. Sounds more like a place in Germany than France to me however. So, how does an AZ man come to love AFC so much?
WillyG – Mourinho would never come here. We don’t spend enough. Totally unrealistic.
Gotta be on the French German border …
In Arsene we trust. In injuries we don’t …
I first came to follow football in a predictable way. I was in Las Vegas at the time of the 98 world cup final and bet $100 on France +350 to win. Collecting $450 on my first football match got me quite interested. Lilian Thuram was my first favorite player and I started following Parma because he played there. Due to TV , gravitated toward EPL but was a man without a club. I worked 10 years in NYC before moving here and I watched the UCL final against Barcelona in New York City with a bar full of Gooners. That day I found my team. Now I don’t follow any other sport but horse racing. Haven’t watched the super bowl in 5 years. You probably think I’m a communist.
Holic @ 105
“Ninety-nine percent of what I want to do is just to watch my team”.
Hallelujah – I’m with you, but I think there are fewer of us by the day. And have you noticed that opining “I support Arsenal because I love the way they play and everything that the club stands for” results in some very strange looks (and not just because your bunnet’s on squint).
I have faith in Wenger but he needs to put his hands up and say the experiment hasnβt worked completely
===
These kinds of statements perplex me. Wenger never changes his mind, and never will. Why do you think he’ll suddenly do what you want? He never has before, and he never will. In other words, to say “but” after “I have faith” really means you don’t.
We’re not good enough to win anything. We’re losers. It may continue for a while. Maybe a few more years. Maybe after that, IF the team sticks together (they won’t, really, will they), then there might be some hope.
The fault lies squarely with Wenger. Why does he persist with his policies? Why does he persist with losers like Denilson and Diaby? Why does he buy someone of so little composure as Koscielny and/or Squillaci and asks him/them to save our defence? Why didn’t he buy a decent keeper? Our worst players tonight were Gibbs and Diaby. Why are they playing? Why are we a one-man team? Why did Wenger use the Barca game to build match fitness for Diaby and Fabregas? It wasn’t a training game. Why is Rosicky still playing for us?
We will not win the league. That much is clear. We have far too many passengers, far too many youth, and a manager who will never change his mind, even after 6 years of bashing his head against the wall.
@Wes … So who would you like him to play in the middle of march? Kaka? Breaking news, the transfer window is closed. We have who we have until June . Deal with it.
Duttlenheim,
I presume you realise who builds the squad we currently have. If we “have who we have until June” and those players aren’t up for it (which they aren’t), then who brought them here, and who kept their faith in them? It’s amazing that Ferguson can draw on a largely second-string side and still beat us easily. Why can’t we do that? Because we’ve struggled with the same problems for six years and our manager won’t fix them, either because he’s stubborn or stupid or both.
If by “deal with it” you mean I should shut my mouth about Wenger’s failed mission, then forget it. Perhaps you should consider dealing with my comment, because it holds a truth you obviously find uncomfortable. Wenger is done. This is a team of losers, not winners.
Bye!
Arsene looks as tired and beaten down as I’ve ever seen him, like a deflated balloon, and who can blame him I think he knows this project, the process of sowing seeds that I really think he believed he’d reap this year is once again looking like it’s going down the pan in a blaze of training-table, underachieving dis-glory. And I’m sure he knows the league and the cup were rip for picking this year, and a mediocre manure outfit look likley for the double. I feel for the guy really (as much as I can for a guy paid millions to manage football) because it’s obvious how much it means to him-that said a tired disheartened manager is not exactly ideal. Anyway I liken supporting this team to a gambling addiction-you get some great highs and wins, but you know sooner or later the house always wins and you’re gonna get kicked in the balls.
Thanks for sharing Dutts. Very interesting story.
Have a double Lagavulin on my tab.
a gunner,
To be fair, when you’re writing a blog like this (which has a respectable following), you end up feeling like a bit of a spokesperson for the club.
The rest of us know the jig is up, and we don’t need to withhold our words just so we can get kudos from AFC for shirts and DVDs and tickets blah blah.
You can’t expect bloggers of this quality and profile to start bashing the team, regardless of how spineless they indeed are. Just won’t happen. But it’s the our voices that are being heard now, not theirs. We are disillusioned, and we have good reason to be.
Our team is nothing but also-rans.
You guys live in fantasy land. Also rans? No Blackburn are also rans. I’ve never heard such a bunch of woe is me supporters as the ” Le grove ” crowd. The league is all to play for and you guys sound like your dog just got hit by a car. We have one match against west Brom between now and April 2nd. We will be rested and healthier and ready for the run in. Oh wait nevermind, we’re getting relegated.
Nobody’s talking about relegation. We’re talking about a team that can’t get the job done when it matters. The only people living in a fantasy land are those Gooners who think based on what they’ve seen so far that Arsenal are capable of winning the title this season. The title is United’s. If you think we have a chance, then you haven’t been watching us lately. The only difference between this year and previous years is we had our implosion in March instead of February.
There’s progress!
i despair ‘holic
i really do
*despairs”
WBA out the way hopefuly the break will see RVP back to best cesc theo and song back,there is the chance for one of the fringe CB to cement a place so lets hope they step up.10 to go rather be here than the barron 70’s and 80’s.And all this crap about who supports who and how i dont care if you started yesterday welcome to the family disfuntional as it seems we all have ARSENAL at heart and all have opinions.
@ Wes…..
I remember people saying the title was Liverpool’s in 1989…..lots of ’em
I’m an AKB, I think we have the best squad in the EPL.
But, I’m starting to lose faith a bit… I just can’t see them recover mentally from these 2 weeks.
How on earth can a team so not threatening beat us so comprehensively?
Such a shame for this season to finish trophyless.
Don’t we wish we won that damn Mickey Mouse Cup now, eh?
Has Wenger become a charismatic leader of a cult, that we are forced to believe or not to believe in? We are allowed to constructively criticise him without fear of being accused of heresy or treachery??
I think we were ‘all sizzle and no sausage’ yesterday. Some tired legs (Sagna not tracking back for the first goal) and a collective lack of ability to shoot, head and energy.
Denilson’s performance was fine and should not be criticised on this occasion, but Diaby lacks confidence and, as a result, slows the flow of play down, which is a critical fault playing a team set up to defend. We needed to see him surging towards the penalty area, committing the opposition to tackle and then either shooting, playing a 1-2 or a through ball.
I don’t want to see Arshavin playing for us next season. He is a luxury we can’t afford. If I was a left back I would refuse to play with him in front of me. Hopefully Rosicky will be replaced too.
It was great to see Ramsey back and Almunia had a great game. Terrible shame about Djourou. He’s established himself as one of the division’s best central defenders.
After watching the footage of the aftermath of the Japanese earthquake, it puts our disappointing two weeks into perspective.
Haven’t read all of the drinks – I have to be out soon – but a lot of the same old predictable rubbish is there, the rubbish we never see after a win. In spite of all that has happened over the last couple of weeks we are still second in the league.
Can’t fault the effort, can’t fault the away supporters, can’t fault Almunia.
Where does it go wrong! It isn’t because of what one or two individuals do or don’t do but rather the tempo of the entire team is too low. When we win we play at pace and with a high tempo, pressing the opposition. When we lose we play at a slower pace and lower tempo, taking too long to build attacks and players without the ball are often too static. This gives the opposition plenty of time to get back and line up their defensive wall. It almost seems as if we are being too careful instead of just going for it. The only time yesterday that we really had a go was after JD’s injury when we new we had no option but to attack – we were going out – and we made chances. This shows how much we miss Walcott but we shouldn’t be reliant on one player for this function. Their defence was good, but we made it easier for them by taking so long to build attacks. The one thing we should have learnt from the Barca game is the importance of a high tempo and quick movement, especially if we want to play the way we do.
In truth MU didn’t create all that much and two defensive errors/muddles gave them two goals. We must learn to defend as a team and attack as a team, pressing high up the pitch. So we must learn, regroup and move on, in spite of another injury to a key player.
Great start to a sunday morning got woken up by my wife at 6.30 to ask if I’d paid a bill!! I couldn’t get back to sleep so fired my laptop up and went to my favourite read only to see some mindless posts about getting rid of Wenger and getting Mouriniho.
1. We are second in the league with a game in hand to go level on points ( must be sacked for that one surely)
2. We did lose to Man IOU in the FA cup yesterday but who played the football ? who was man of the match ? and why was he man of the match ? If Man IOU fans think that is entertaining football then please enjoy your FA Cup win. On another day and we’ve had no luck whatsoever recently we would have won this match comfortably and I expect barring more bad luck injuries etc to beat that pile of crap in May at home. P.S away fans you were amazing yesterday top marks
3. Barcelona totally outplayed us in the Nou Camp agreed, however it’s about goals as we all know. How many times have we battered teams to only lose to a breakaway goal or draw because they parked the bus? Well we parked the bus in the Nou Camp and a pretty impressive bus it was too, Apart from Cesc’s moment of madness on the backheel it would of been 0-0 at half time. But we regroup and get a lucky goal from a corner and now we’ve got that away goal. We were starting to come out of our shell and Barcelona would have got desperate that’s for sure. Then red card from an idiot and it’s all unravelled, not a lot you can do about that one and even with 10 men we were close to eliminating them Bendys was a great chance to score in my book.
4. Carling Cup Final well you can’t account for a cock up of those proportions at the end but what they can take from this is the experience. If the game had gone to extra time we would have won as Brum were so tired but it wasn’t to be due to a mistake. Not the end of the world, that’s football I remember not so long ago when we totally dismissed the Carling Cup as more of a fly in the ointment.
Final point fellas is AW has built this club to where it is now with great teams and fantastic football and trophies to go with it. we have been tantalisingly close to trophies in the time where he has not been able to spend money or had to balance the books, while the likes of ManIOU and Chelsea and now Man City spend millions that they haven’t really got which one day will return to haunt them. Like I’ve said on here before we will return to winning trophies bad luck won’t last forever and we’ve had more than our fair share just lately and when we do win something we will have won the trophy not bought it and thrown millions at it and boy will it be sweet.
Keep the faith we are THE ARSENAL and I for one is proud of it
goonertown 11
we played against a team with 7 defenders so lets not pretend we needed song. we were missing max 2 (theo doesn’t start every or even most games) . think how many they were missing.
duttlenheim 98
we need to stand back and define football. it is not seemingly aimless passing with little result. unite ddid not bully us today nor did brum nor did barca.they were simpley much smarter and mor ebalanced than we are.
and holic 105. i love what you do, but this is not just about trophies. its about the pent up frustration of not doing the best with what we have , together withe the bullshit Pr about how we always have the next big thing. of course i would love the prem of Champions league but actually all i want is to see us do our very best. if there is some one better, fair enough. there can only be one winner. the mindless masturbation of “the best football” is ridiculous – i wouldn’t pay to watch barca every week and they have the players to carry it off.
united do my head in but how can you not respect their will to win. they defended as a team and had more real chances than we did (Norfolk Dumpling – football is not playschool. there is no abstract sense of creating things; its what use you make with the ball you have) – other than chamakh’s header i think all the rest were from outside the box. as much as he makes one’s blood boil ferguson has done an amazing job.
another word of caution here – after the barca (and many other ) game there was much talk about how young our team is. i don’t ever want to beta the drum for united but I suspect the 5 youngest for united were younger than our 5 youngest today. that will be the nucleus of their team in 18 months and they look seasoned pros already. no excuses being made about them “having time to learn”. we cannot assume the future is ours simply because we have young players. and WHY didn’t we buy smalling – what a player he is going to be.
austrian gooner
if my aunt had balls she would be my uncle. she doesn’t and isn’t
Wake up early, turn on PC, read drinks, go back to talking to my 3 day old – more sense from her.
Read news. Get perspective. Look forward to Rugby (lucky sod Steve T!).
Just to echo again what Holic said @105 – watching Arsenal is one of the highlights of my week. If we win then I am happy, if we win a trophy I am delirious. But I don’t see not winning a trophy as the end of the world. It’s about supporting your club, win or lose. And enjoying the ride.
That doesn’t mean I have blind faith, it just means that I have no choice in who I support.
I started supporting in 78. Until 89 I didn’t see us anywhere near the top of the league – I didn’t think it was possible. It didn’t diminish my love for the team, or make me abuse them.
Oh, and Willy G – Kos was applauded regularly by the Barca fans – not bad for someone with “no composure”.
SteveT@97: great post. May not agree entirely on all points but a great post nevertheless. And I wholeheartedly agree on getting behind the team for the last ten games.
Holic@105 and BtM@126: count me in as a member of your club. This whole fixation on trophies as the only thing that counts is just ludicrous. Was hammering Everton 6-1 away any less of a great night because we didn’t end up winning the league? No. Was the eleven-second derby where we absolutely humiliated Spurs any less great because we didn’t win the league? No. Was beating Barca at home a few weeks ago any less of a great night because they, with the help of a bent ref, knocked us out with the slightest of margins three weeks later? No, not to me at least. And so on and so on.
And as for the argument that we played a second-string ManU yesterday, did you people who say that even look at the line-up? They had what is probably their first-choice back five at the moment (and Rio Ferdinand isn’t that great anymore anyway, I’m not sure he will have his place back if/when he’s fit again), they had Rooney on, they had Rafael who has played a lot this season. That is pretty far from a “second-string” team in my eyes.
Cup of tea, please.
IDKA – not agreeing with everything there, just some of it, but a good post! Got no problem with different views well expressed – I’m hoping you don’t want Jose in charge?! π
Coffee please.
I love this team so much i cant even tell you.
it could also be a bit of a blessing not winning. dont get me wrong, but the second we start winning the bandwagon will fill up like Barca’s and its gonna suck. im enjoying being an arsenal fan right now despite all of the pain. vindication will come. for now ill appreciate this team
IDKA: “other than chamakhβs header i think all the rest were from outside the box.”
Nasri’s low drive towards the near post in the first half, Nasri’s volley in the second half, Koscielny’s shot in the second half, van Persie’s curler in the second half – those were four clear-cut chances right there for you, and all from well inside the box. You can also add Chamakh’s side-footed effort which was just inside, van Persie’s right-footed shot (which would have gone in but for a brilliant save by VDS) in the first half which was also from just inside the box or perhaps on the line.
“but I suspect the 5 youngest for united were younger than our 5 youngest today”
Not that it really matters, but that is not true. The ManU twins (who were their youngest players) are actually a year and a half older than Jack Wilshere.
I’m not so sure it’s a Trophy thing although they would be nice – For me it’s more about the culture at the club at this time we’ve far to many billy big bollocks that just don’t cut it and hide at the first sign of adversity – These same players stroll through games knowing full well the manager won’t replace them as it might kill them it’s all become far far to comfortable at the club- Failure is rewarded and lazy bastards flourish- Weve far to many average players earning big salaries the club needs a shake up with some of them told in no uncertain terms to shape up or fuck off.
Chippy – now that has a lot of merit.
Just a morning muse…. why did we abandon the template of power and pace? Seemed to work pretty nicely.
Too early for a beer? Sun is shining…
Gaz – a bit grumpy this morning?! π
I’ll share my coffee with you
Gaz …. this will brighten your morning
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ao3Z5I6FI8
I’m squarely in the βNinety-nine percent of what I want to do is just to watch my teamβ, especially since I see myself as a supporter of this club, not just the first team. Now, that doesn’t mean I follow the women regularly or that having a decent budget FEELS stronger than beating up the Tiny Totts. But I am immensely proud of this club and the work it does, for the sportsmen/women in it, and for the community as a whole.
Yesterday I wrote:
“Half a pint please. Half empty one. For once. Iβm fed up.”
And that is still somewhat close to what I feel. And that is not down to us being out of the FA-cup. I’m fed up with not getting a win over the Mancs! That’s all I ask for. We REALLY need it, players, club and fans. I’m fed up with circumstance, and I’m fed up with not getting there. This is really a case of when the losing part isn’t that bad, but the not winning part is worse, if I may be allowed to make such a fuzzy distinction.
I fear the worst for the rest of the season, I really do, but that won’t stop me from enjoying the run in! Hearing from Catalan, Lars, BtM, Snir, Steve T, and the rest of you always seems to help.
Half a cup of coffee please. Half full.
@ Catalan not grumpy just realistic,I call a spade a spade and the continuious rubbish on here about how great this Arsenal side are and how unlucky they are just grates at me.Wenger has had his day,we WAS a great manager once but he’s turned into a stubborn twat who won’t listen to anyone and the club needs a new broom to sweep it clean,but this won’t happen anyway soon and it’ll be the same shit next season.Only when real fans start voting with their feet and stop going to games and lining the pockets of the Bord Of Dictators will they start to see things have to change. All good things run they’re course and in my opinion( and thousands more) mr wenger has long since run his.
Never to early for a beer my friend π
Not to sure in all honesty- Id guess and that’s all it is, He felt after so many unsuccesfull seasons in the champions league that style of football would serve you well in English league campaigns but didn’t cut it so well against technically better European sides, As I say that’s a guess so may be total bollocks π
I miss pace more than power we are so predictable it’s scary and without the conductor look second rate. Going back to my previous point how can some of young Jacks teammates look him in the eye Hes busted his bollocks over the past two weeks and has lead the team and for a kid in his first season that’s unreal – Certain team mates haven’t broken a sweat.
Poor old holic, still banging his head against a brick wall. Your blind faith in Wenger is painful to watch. It’s not that Arsenal have gone six years (soon to be seven) without a trophy, it’s that with this madman in charge Arsenal will go another 6 years without a trophy.
He sticks by the same useless players, with the same useless tactics and the same failing philosophy. He’ll never change and refuses to adapt, and that’s why he has to go.
I love Arsenal, but not Wenger. Enough is enough. I don’t have to watch the last 10 games to know Arsenal will mess it up, I know now what I knew 3 weeks ago – the whole lot would fall apart when the big games come and the injuries set in.
Holic. I am with you at 105 and I am guessing that despite some of the negativity that hopefully most think the same. But someone also mentioned about the pr and statements coming out of the club and you have to agree that they do not help the situation. The question I have posed several times is as a club, are we the best we can be? Do we maximize what we have? The answers may just be the source of much frustration.
Lars @150
i said the youngest 5. i haven’t done the math exactly but add up the youngest 5 on each team and compare. there wouldn’t be much in it and as i said all of these will be stars at united in 18 months if not already. other than jack all the rest are promise and many deteriorating promise at that
Wilshire is the only player who seems to care and the scary thought is that if things don’t change he’ll be off elsewhere and at the moment who could blame him? Having to share a midfield with waster’s like denilson and diaby must make his blood boil. The effort he puts in and them mugs just strolling around not giving a shit.Jack should be the future of this club but I won’t holdy breathe,I really feel sorry for the kid.
See Gaz – your pressure is dropping! A little.
Just to provoke you a little – who developed Jack and gave him the chance so early?
Gaz, you just don’t get it, do you? Disagreeing doesn’t get you deleted, calling people names and stuff does. Look at “i don’t know anymore” for example, he disagrees with many – if not most – things but makes his points in a reasoned and calm manner. He never gets deleted, funny that eh?
IDKA: apologies, I got you wrong. I thought you meant that all of their five youngest players were younger than all of our five youngest. My mistake, and without doing the math (can’t be arsed, to be honest!) you may well be right.
Half a John Smiths, please Mr Barman. But pour it into a pint glass so that it is half-full.
Coming late to the party. As usual the bar has been invaded by the cancer among us, the usual Arsenal snipers waiting to pounce as soon as the going gets tough, the same ones who never get behind the team but believe they have any creds with their never-ending negativity. Let’s say it clear and loud, the ones who drag us down.
I’ve been really dejected by the Barca game. The tactic was spot on, perfectly matched to the occasion and the players available only to be undone by terrible luck, inept refereeing and poor judgment from our two best players. What really got me under was that it was clear that we were more than a match for “the best team in the world tm” and it took everything that could go against us to have them get away with the result. Please stick it to UEFA Arsene!
As for this game, I couldn’t care less. I hope it will be the confirmation for Arsene that Nasri should play in central midfield when Cesc is injured. Other than that everyone else played as expected if not better. Almunia had has two fantastic games in a row, if he can keep it up until the end of the season (granted that’s a big if considering his mental frailties), Gibbs had another excellent introduction, Diaby and Denilson for their 5th start of the season had decent games and watching Rambo was a ray of light.
I won’t hide that I’m worried. I really hope that Arsene will not revert to conservatism, as Chippy mentioned in the previous thread there was no reason to play with one striker in this game. And with us trailing on the goal difference we should give it a go until the end with two strikers in every game.
Please Arsene, play Nasri in the middle and NB52 or Chamakh until Walcott’s back. We have nothing to lose now let’s give it a go until the finish line.
Duttlenheim, pires is king & Steve T: Couldn’t watch the game as I was working and woke up feeling a bit depressed at our latest capitulation to ORN’s team of hideous cunts. Fast forward 30 minutes and after reading your posts it’s good to remember why we follow the team. Winning or losing – two sides of the same coin, you can’t have one without the other…that may sound like something I read inside a fortune cookie but it’s a fact, and a lot of fans are incapable of embracing the concept.
I’ve got nothing to say that hasn’t already been said in the drinks, so I’m going to, er, repeat what Steve T said and just keep the faith. Not blind faith, because noone is perfect and there are plenty of valid criticisms you can level at AW and the team. I’m just going to pick myself up and hope the team does the same at WBA next week.
And you know what? Maybe we will throw the league. Maybe ManIOU will do us at the Grove in the same way they’ve shafted us so many times. And maybe AW will carry on as he has before. But fuck it, I’m a supporter, and support is what I do. Win, lose, draw or crash out of the cup in spectacular fashion. Onwards and upwards you reds!
P.S. Willy G’s Mourinho comment – this is definitely not the place to be wishing for something that would never, ever happen (and nor would I want it to). If you want to hobnob with the ‘replace the first eleven and Wenger out’ kneejerkers, go and air your views on Yahoo Sport; everyone there will agree with you.
cheers Lars. good to have an open civilised debate. up the gooners !!
Lars! I’m going to try to attend the Aston Villa game. That is if I can get a ticket for my missus as well. Trying to get her hooked. You should come as well! When do Arsenal Sweden start allocating them? Might well try through them/you if I can’t get a couple some other way. Sadly I haven’t been a member for a year or two so I guess I’m down on the allocation list.
Oh and Holic? A frothy cappucino and whatever Dutts, Steve T and p.i.k. are having. Been a boozy weekend thus far and I could do with going teetotal until tomorrow night at least…
don’t blame the players for this defeat.the players are not spineless, the wenger is.wenger is a pathetic excuse for a manager.a half-decent manager would have won atleast 2 trophies with this team.the first team is the best in the league.any other manager would have got rid of diaby,alu and rosicky long ago.vela is playing for west brom and rosicky plays for the first team.and ramsey has to watch diaby mess up again and again.You can see why vela wants to leave.
Coffee and The Specials are providing my fuel this morning….
Maybe some of our young kids have http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxHcx7FO8nI&feature=related
Or, could it be that they’ll turn it around and make a http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxHcx7FO8nI&feature=related of us all?
Either way, being a fan and AFC can be a http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM7oBFi0oN8&feature=related sometimes, but it’s worth it…..
Volume up boys…..
I used to hate the comments in Gunnerblog.But wenger is proving them right.
Midas – your comment about Ramsey and Diaby kind of invalidates anything else you have to say…..
midas: why is that we never ever read anything from you before? Why should we care about your drivel when we lose when you never showed up, not even once to utter a word of support this season?
Get lost.
holic, admirable your faith in AW and this squad. But what is the point in Arsenal if we dont try and compete. we dont give anyone a decent game anymore. I am not pissed that we lost yesterday. but because we lost it due to some players not putting a 100% effort. thats all the fans ask. and because players not clearly 1st team material playing in an Arsenal shirt.
Is the shirt so cheap that total wide eyed newbies come into the first team. If you’re a messi fine. but dont ever learn on the job wearing an Arsenal shirt.
will it ruin the club by bringing in decent center halves and a decent holding player? AW’s stubbornness is incredible. If AW thinks this team will win us the league fine. but he needs to face the music when or if we fall short and the manner in which we lose out.
Arsenal till I die.
@ Matt if you honestly think tha Gibbs had an excellent game,well me aul flower you are deluded.
Got to agree with Gaz about Gibbs yesterday
One or 2 questions Holics: why didn’t Arsenal go for Smalling? Why didn’t Arsenal go for David Luis? We went for Squillachi and Kos? Kos might make it in the future but as a midfielder in my option not a centre half and as for Squillachi,enough said already
So you know of a player with 3 starts in the entire season would have had a much better game than Gibbs?
@Matt – I think the point is, IMO, that he didn’t have an excellent game. Maybe the reason for that is as you have pointed out.
Personally I’ve been disappointed with his progress this season. But it’s all part of learning….
Cant’ help but be overwhelmed by the “its over” feeling.
We couldn’t beat a seriously weaken ManUre side. It surely shows our impotency.
What’s the use of passing teams to death? I would have the 4-passes to goal style The Invincibles executive everyday. That for me is exciting, efficient, effective football, the “wow, awesome!” football. What’s pretty with our passing about? Especially when none of the players are making runs into the space behind the oppositions? One of the key to Barca’s possession football is that they ALWAYS have players running into the gaps behind – Villa, Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Alves, etc.
What’s ours? We seems to have lost that after Theo is out, Narsi and Arshavin are tired. Our full backs are never running into space but always watching and waiting to make ineffective crosses for the defenders to head out? Notice how Kos surprised everyone and got himself into space with his only run into the opposite box? Sagna and Clichy (Gibbs) must do some alternatives between just doing crosses? Our play is too predictable.
As AW is an idealist (and an extremely stubborn one too!), we are never have a Plan B not to say Plan C to alternate. As much as I love AW, he’s not a tactician at all. Not someone of Mourinho or Gus Hiddink’s class (clarification – I hate Mourinho but acknowledge his tactical brilliants and superb man-managing skills), hence the obvious lesser football achievements.
I blame Denilsen for the 1st goal. No danger awareness to track back and stop Valencia from running down the wing.
Hopefully some good gin will induce some disorientated optimism back but I seriously doubt we will be able to win the league now. Djourou’s injury definitely is going to enhance our sinking ship.
Gaz: Smalling’s been beyond poor all season. While you and others were ranting about Squillacci, you would have had a field day with Smalling had he been playing for us.
Maybe he’ll turn good, at 21 he’s got all the time in the world to progress but he’s as raw as any 21 yo CB now.
Why don’t you ask why we didn’t buy Torres instead? Oh that’s right he’s not hot just right now…
@Gaz:
We did go for Smalling but he preferred Man Utd
Luiz is a 22 m defender.. So that is out or reach .. We’ll probably buy 3, 7m defenders instead
Kos n Squillaci are french.. So they have a natural right to play for Arsenal π
@182 – You mean the 2nd goal, right?
Is Bartley available for recall? If not, over to Ignasi….
Toby: the way it works with tickets through Arsenal Sweden is that you apply for tickets through our website, and then we send the list of applicants to Arsenal, who then in turn allocate a number of tickets for us a few weeks ahead of the game.
As I understand it you do speak/understand Swedish, right? If so, the rules and procedures for applying for tickets through us can be found here:
http://www.arsenal.se/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22&Itemid=38
If you don’t understand that page, let me know and I’ll translate it for you.
@Catalan: disappointed he’s not turning into a world-class LB in his 4th league game this season? Let’s be realistic…
OK people, let’s waste my energy one more time for the criminally unintelligent. Any posts that are abusive towards other holics and carry just abusive tripe and no reasoning wil be deleted.
Why?
Because as the leader of the single figure iq club points out this is my blog and I determine the standards I want to see here.
You will notice lots of anti-brigade stuff is left in because people want to debate and reason. That is the intention of the drinks. Be civil to each other, or go somewhere you will be welcome.
Thank you.
Arsenalsy: “We couldnβt beat a seriously weaken ManUre side. It surely shows our impotency.”
Seriously weakened? VDS, Vidic, Evra, Rooney, Brown, Rafael, Hernandez – all these regularly start games for ManU in every competition and situation. They had all of their three most influential players on (VDS, Vidic and Rooney) while we had Szczesny, Theo, Song and Cesc missing because of injuries. Now which team was seriously weakened, did you say?
@Catalan: not having a poke at you, but that’s just another way of saying that Arsene’s rotation policy has been poor this season. We’ve been playing our best players until their body gave up and now the subs that are supposed to fill their boots have barely played but somehow are expected to play like our top players at their best.
@ Matt. Did I say anything like that? I am very realistic – hence why I said it was all a learning process.
I just said that he didn’t have an excellent game yesterday. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t got massive potential.
Sorry for my earlier post Catalan, it didn’t come across as I meant it.
Matt @187
That’s a whole different subject. We were talking about one particular players performance yesterday. Not the reasons for it.
Matt – no worries! A pint?
Arseblogs a good read today makes some very good points,
Cheers Lars. Was pretty sure that was the way still. Sadly, I’ve been a member for a while, but I didn’t renew last season, so I’m not up to your new silver level. Hopefully I’ll be fine anyways if I go down that route. The allocation percentage looks quite good! Where will you watch the WBA game? Southside or O’l? I do remember meeting you at O’l GΓΆtgatan two years ago or so (good thing you’ve got a pic up on Arse Swe!). I think it’s time for another rendezvous!
Toby: if you do renew you will be a Silver member. It doesn’t matter if there has been a few years inbetween renewals, as long as you remember your membership number so that we can see that it is a renewal you will still become a Silver member.
I’ll be at O’Learys Gamla Stan for the WBA game, that has been our pub of choice for every game since the start of last season. Come join us and I can explain the ticket allocation in more detail if you like π
Regarding membership number, I’m not sure, but I’ll see what I can do. Should have it in an old email is my guess.
Think I’ve understood most of the intricacies by now, but I’d be happy to join you and buy you a pint anyways. See you there!
Great, see you Saturday then!
Oh, one last question Lars, I see the Villa game is listed as “60 tickets asked for”. Does that mean it’s to late to apply via Arsenal Sweden, or can that number be added to? And until what date?
Sorry, rest of the bar, maybe I should take this in emails with Lars. I just know I don’t want to wait until Saturday!
I reckon our stadium murals will be stuck in 2005 for a long while yet with this bunch playing. If we lower our standard there also maybe we can get eboue, rosicky and others in it.
Damn, the Villa game is closed for applications. I didn’t think I’d have to apply this early? Tickets are not even on sale for Arsenal.com Silver Members yet! Guess I’ll have to find another way then.
Yes, that unfortunatley means it is too late to apply. We are in the hands of the Arsenal ticket office, they want our applications at given dates so we have to send them our lists by those dates or we don’t get any tickets at all.
Heh, no worries Lars. I’ll see if I can find some other tickets floating around. Didn’t want to look into tickets before last nights game, with the Villa date being the same as the FA-cup final and such. A shame. But please give me a heads up if you do hear something about someone not being able to make it to the game.
Morning ‘holic and all, just a St Clements for me please, lots of marking to do.
Despite all the rancour headed our way, both from fellow Gooners and the rest, I think that the one crucial thing missing from this squad is ‘it’. ‘It’ being the instinctive ability to know what to do in certain situations in a game. The understanding, for example, that when you’ve just gone one-up do you go for the jugular or play keepball for a few minutes to stave off the threat of an equaliser? I’m not sure that many of our players have ‘it’. Jack seems to have this awareness already, Cesc usually does and Sagna, Samir and RVP can be relied on to adjust their style of play to suit the occasion. As for the rest..? Desire and ‘choking’ do not enter the equation; AW has coached enough winners to know who has that will-to-win and I’m certain he would not pick any player whom he doubts in this capacity. Even Denilson must have an active role to play in Wenger’s plans because he doesn’t pick him just to wind us up does he?
Choking is something that golf and tennis players do in solo sports, the idea that a mass paralysis spreads to eleven professionals doesn’t wash. The answer? If only we knew. Getting winners in to bring their own experiences to the club may be the solution (although Gallas and, gulp, Sylvestre didn’t help here).
Players are not known for their intellectual prowess, but too many of ours seem to lack the footballing brains to adapt and adjust accordingly.
Austrian @ 142 – SPOT ON!
@Matt I have been visiting this site for 2 years now.and i have commented 3 times before this.i realise how my comment sounds right after a defeat but im just frustrated.the team seem to get closer and closer to the finish line every year.
Just watched the first half of yesterday’s game for the first time, and the surprising thing is we totally outplayed them for the entire half, and had by the far the better goalscoring opportunities bar one. Sorry but I can’t feel bad about that.
Win at west brom next week – two week break – come back fighting. Man ure fixture pile up may help in the long run –
Playing seven at the back shows us their shitting it!
The guys looked knackered today – the price of a period of intense fighting on too many fronts?
Yes, we can blame Wenger for not making the signings. But we lost to Barcelona – away. We lost to Manure – away. Neither’s a bad team. We should have beaten Birmingham but the occasion got to the boys. Maybe it’s been too long since they’ve won silverware.
We’re still in the running for the championship. But at some point, ‘fans’ need to find the space to respect the opposition. Our past glories provide no entitlement to future success.
How inconvenient our win at the Emirates must have been for the ‘Wenger Out’ bridge. And the suggestion that we get Jose at Arsenal? Heaven help us! How shallow a win would feel with Mouriniho at the helm! A win at any cost? No. Not for me. Not after 40 years of supporting a club that dares to be different, that does it properly and ethically.
I normally agree with a lot you say, and for the most part I did but your comment on Denilson and Diaby kinda had me confused.
They were both sub par considering the jobs they were asked to do. Denilson was employed as a Defensive Midfielder. Its his job to protect the defense, stop runners from midfield, intercept passes, make tackles and when he has the ball to generally lay it off to players to start attacks.
Denilson frequently lets runners go from midfield and hardly ever tracks them back. He also doesnt make a lot of tackles, so if hes not doing that what is he doing? People frequently praise his passing % etc but thats not what hes tasked to do. A DM not doing his job in our team is a nightmare as it leaves us horribly exposed in the system we play.
Diaby was in the Cesc role. His job was to create attacks, make incisive passes and get beyond the striker at times. Again he didnt do that (Koscielny got behind the ManU def more times than Diaby did!).
Both of them take to long on the ball and frequently slow the pace of our game down which just throws the whole team of its rhythm. Jack Wilshere did more than the both of them combines IMO.
And I know Diaby and Denilson are not as good as Cesc, Song and Jack….few are, but if you play them you need them to do the job they are employed to do. They were not doing that.
Im not saying they were the only players at fault yesterday, and it was not even a bad performance from the team. We were sloppy in front of goal and didnt create very much.
Theo is sorely missed as well, hes become important in the way we play. Hoping he will be back soon.
Still in a great position in the league. I aim to remain positive till we either win the league or are mathematically out of race. Keeping the belief that with Cesc, Song and Theo to return after the Int break that we can make the final push and win the title!
We have one trophy left to play for – and hopefully the Arseblogger won’t mind me lifting this next quote directly from his blog:
“If a dogged determination and an ability to win games they probably shouldnβt characterises Fergusonβs regime, then an ability to lose games we should probably win is what characterises Arseneβs. ”
That unfortunately is what we are up against for the last 10 games. If we turn that around, we win the league. If we don’t, then some major surgery will be required on the 25 players required for next season.
Pint of hemlock Guvnor, its the hope that kills ya.
People saying Arsene’s rotation policy has been poor are crazy. You can’t have it both ways. When we rotated against Leeds, Ipswich or Huddersfield, it was ” where is Cesc? Why all the changes ” Now it’s ” he didn’t rotate enough and our first team is exhausted” it’s amazing how everyone is a genius after seeing the result.
Well, well, well the same ignorance and subliminal digs from the same characters here! Why am I not surprised?
I’ve just got to say Matt…Put your money away, I’ll get whatever you’re drinking next my good fello!
Anyway…
i don’t know anymore@143 – You know I’ve always got time for you too, my friendly debater!
My inclusion of Song in my starting XI is that it’s always handy having the best DM in the EPL (itβs not just Gordon Strachan who thinks he is too) in your squad!
I’m sure if AS was available today he would have started ahead of Denilson (but what do I know)
As I’ve reiterated before I have more than enough respect for the best British Manager in the league. I just don’t support and advocate him!
As my mates say I’m Arsenal through and through and as tough as times get I’d rather go out each season knowing I gave my club my full support until the last whistle win or lose, than live knowing full well I’ve been making up eyes at other clubs and teams throughout the season and then try to justify it by belittling my own club after every bad result!
…and you call yourselves Gooners?
…just form an orderly queue on the left if you want to have a dig. Just have the guts to direct it straight at me! π
The calls for Mourinho are comical. A reminder …. Mourinho has the most expensive squad in the world and is getting blown away in a 2 team league. He is no lock to get past Lyon and has already presided over a 5-0 pasting to Barca. How is that an upgrade? Oh yeah, he will probably split after a trophyless season too. I don’t want our Arsenal to be one of these manager merry go round clubs.
β”Football has meant too much to me and come to represent too many things. After a while it all gets mixed up together in your head. You can’t remember whether life’s shit because Arsenal are shit or the other way round.” – Paul Ashworth, Fever Pitch.
@209, I’ll also quote Arseblogger, “After 15 years at the club(AW), I reckon this is his biggest challenge yet”. Now that’s objectivity. Telling it as it is. Refreshing to see an Arsenal supporter / blogger being honest as opposed to the blind faith that’s exhibited on here.
To be finishing a season and trying to win the League with a defensive core of Almunia, Squillaci & Koz. AW’s gamble at not re-inforcing the squad in January has once again left him with a weakened team in the run in. Nothing new there.
The club’s influential performers simply do not play together enough and it means they cannot find a consistently ruthless edge as a team.
Let’s look at some Arsenal & Barca players appearances from last season.
AFC: RVP x 18, Walcott x 15, Fabregas x 35
Barca: Xavi x 47, Messi x 43, Pique x 43
RVP has only played 47% of games since he joined Arsenal. That’s staggering considering he’s our #1 Striker.
The definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Isn’t that what AW has been doing the last 6 seasons?
At least AW is consistent, he’s almost pulled off his annual Quadruple, the quadruple of No Trophies. Out of 3 competitions in a 2 week period, I wonder if he’s even able to “motivate” his players anymore. It sure doesn’t look like it.
I don’t have to come here and take the piss. Second in the league, three points behind us with a game in hand, and you fucking miserable cunts are still moaning? Unbelievable, truly unbelievable. Grow up you spoiled cunts, you don’t deserve a great club.
Dutts – I agree with you about Mourinho. I don’t want to see his ilk at the club ever. But don’t start calling La Liga a two team league again. That’s just being disingenuous.
The top 2 in Spain are 23 and 16 points clear of 3rd and the 3rd place team just got manhandled out of the UCL by an 11th place German club. Defend it all you want but facts are facts. Even Scotland doesn’t have that gap between 2nd and 3rd. 2 team league …. Enough said.
bernard,
You bring up a good point regarding our endless injuries woes (especially in relation to other top clubs in Europe). This definitely needs to be looked at and sorted out in the offseason. We will never win in Europe if that issue does not get resolved. Too many man games lost by our key players over the years. It’s become an epidemic.
Dutts,
Don’t be ignorant. FCB & RM are the two top teams in all of Europe this year. The group stages of the UCL proved that. And Valencia got upset by Schalke it happens. Valencia almost beat out ManU in their own UCL group this year. And FCB’s lead over RM is a reflection on FCB being the best club side in the history of the game. I’m not the only one beating that drum mate.
Spain also have 4 UCL spots every year (just like the EPL). And if you truly believe that La Liga is the equal to the SPL then my advice to you is to go down the hallway to the left. There you will find our resident Medicine Man TS. He might be able to help you.
Nowhere did I say Spain and scotland are equal. I said Scotland doesn’t have that big a gap between 2nd and 3rd and Scotland is widely called a 2 team league. You love to rearrange sentences to fit your needs. The fact remains when 2 teams are 23 and 16 clear and get 80% of the television revenue between them, it is a two team competition. There are exactly 2 teams with a chance to win it before a match is played. The entire footballing earth would say only Barca or Real have a chance at the league just like the entire footballing earth would say only Celtic or Rangers have a chance at their league. Once again, defend it all you want with UCL spots and whatever. UCL spots are determined solely by how the few clubs in Europe do not the overall strength of the league top to bottom. So if Barca win the UCL 2 times in 5 years and go to the Semis another time, they are carrying the rest of the league on their back. BTW one of the 4 Spanish teams couldn’t even get outta qualifiers
As I sit watching the boring Citeh v Reading game it really has dawned on me how depressing it is to see ‘our’ legend Paddy in the light blue of Citeh and not the Red of the Grove.
Ok, he’s not the athelete he was at his peak during his wonderful time at the club but are there any of us that truely love the club that wouldn’t have wanted to see him
back at the club, especially on a free transfer?
Last season when Sol came back into the fold Wenger commented how he felt it was good for the young players to have someone like Sol around, a winner – someone who had lifted the the biggest prize in the country and had scored in the bigest cup competition in Europe. Sol’s attitude in games was first class and reinforced what so many of us know and have been asking for for a few years – we lack players that have a ‘know-how’ and a ‘will-to-win’. God knows his performance at the Lane last year was heroic even if we did lose.
I don’t think its a coincidence that Nasri’s improved form this season and direct running at defenders came at a time when Pires was back training with the club. He had high praise for Nasri’s signing in 2008 (see below) and even then referred to the club as “his Arsenal”. Would it have been such a big deal to sign Boby on a short term contract to keep him at the club so that some of our younger players could benefit from his experience? I don’t think it would. Marc Albrighton of Villa has already commented on how helpful having Pires around training has been. Add to that two man of the match performances and I think he could have added something to us.
http://arsenal-opinion.com/2008/10/20/pires-praises-massive-signing-nasri/
We all know what a giant Paddy was for our team. He was the captain of the greatest achievement the Englaish top flight has ever seen (ok the trble was good going but no-one, and i mean no-one has ever gone unbeaten through a whole season -not even celtic and rangers!!). He never hid. He got sent off. He went head-to-head, taclke-to-tackle (that sounds a bit wrong) with Keane. He scored winning penalties. And most of all he loved the badge. No, adored the badge and we adored him.
Guardiola commands the respect he does at Barca because if you grew up watching Spanish football you know that Guardiola wasn’t only the captain of Barcelona he WAS Barcelona. He still is Barcelona. When he commands his talented midfield to run 4km more than us (2nd leg stat) they do it because they dare not. Who would question his leadreship or love for the club?
So on a Wembley pitch when Bowyer et al are getting stuck in and Paddy demands more running who in our midfield will tell him no? Same for the last 30mins in the Nou Camp? Same at Old Toilet.
Arsene is asking players with no winning experience to bring it over the line. Fergie keeps Giggs and Scholes around for these exact reasons – they know how to bring it over the line. Every loss for this team saps what ever belief they had in that ability and also kills the fans belief too.
I still think we win the league mind.
Good afternoon to you all.
I agree with north bank 100%. We should have signed Patrick, Thierry and Bob all. They all could have contributed mightily to helping the young players and given a bit on the pitch too. In the 70th minute when we need to hold a lead wouldn’t you have rather seen Patrick come on than Denilson. Or Pires when Arshavin runs outta gas. Or Henry in search of a late goal. That would have been great to watch and given our supporters a big boost also …. Oh well ( sigh )
NB1,
You make a very astute point about the 2nd leg @ the Camp Nou regarding the stats showing FCB ran 4km more than us in midfield. Some people, including Arsene, thought that we were going to ‘tire them out’ in the second half because of our ‘superior fitness’ and that we tired them out twice in our crib. That’s about the biggest bag full of bollocks I’ve ever heard in my life! It literally makes me fall on the floor with laughter. I’ve never seen this FCB team beaten for fitness and I’ve watched both FCB and AFC religiously for years. And the last I checked, I’ve never seen any team beat the ball for fitness in the history of the game. Don’t think it’s ever gonna happen. The only thing more tired than us in the 2nd leg was the ball. That ball must surely be exhausted as it was stroked about the park endlessly by BarΓ§a. Poor ball …
TVN: whatever you think, Barcelona did definitely tire in both games at the Emirates. We could see it, and the Arsenal players said so. In both games we also scored twice in the last 15 or 20 minutes.
And as Duttlenheim says, Barca and to a certain extent Real are carrying the rest of the Spanish teams into the CL and in fact the Bundesliga is not far from overtaking La Liga. Just look at these two links:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/data/method4/crank2011.html
http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/data/method4/ccoef2011.html
It is far from inconcievable that the Bundesliga will outrank La Liga after this season, because La Liga will lose their nine-and-a-half-point advantage from the 2006/7 season, and the Bundesliga is ahead for this season.
No question, Lars. they definitely tired.
Despite all their much trumpeted superiority in the first half at the Nou Camp they only had three shots on target (scored from one, easy stop for Szez that dislocated his finger, and good save that DJ20 cleared).
We needed to score early in the second half to save the tie. We did! The tension in the ground was electric. We were on our way. The Swiss cow milker sent Robin off. Killed the game as a contest (despite the fact that NB52 should have scored at the death). Pretty easy to stroke the ball around when you have an extra man. Not too impressive really and they began to panic and “belt it anywhere at the end”
Barcelona, the better team on the night, when through in very, very dubious circumstances.
TVN – Barca may be the best side in the world but u cant deny that they’re a bunch of divers who badger the ref every chance they get.Atleast our players don’t do that.
It was great to see ramsey back.The only other positive from the manure game was some of koscielny’s tackling.He is going to be IMMENSE next season.we need verma back to support him.hope they get him out of his cryogenic sleep soon.
Steve T @ 97 and ‘Holic – two top, top posts.
I admit to feeling very confused over the last 24 hours.
Anger at apparant laziness dilutes into understanding that it is not possible for some players who have spent long periods out of action due to injury and loss of form, to return to the team with the almost telepathic understanding required to play football at the pace required against the likes of Barcelona and Man Utd.
I, too, am disappointed to see the claims of summer that “this team will deliver this season”, dissolve into failure to win trophies once again.
But this season is not even over yet, and we could still come away with the best trophy of all.
And if we do fail this season, we will once again be looking back on some unbelievably bad luck with injuries.
How typical that yesterday, just as Aaron Ramsey returned from more than a year out of action, we lost arguably our best centre back of the campaign.
And that was in the game after we lost the lad who turned out to be potentially our best goalkeeper for the rest of the season.
Much of this season has been spent with 80% of our spine missing.
I can’t deny that since we moved to the Grove, it has sometimes really hurt to be a Gooner with some of the misfortune we have suffered.
At other times, I have never been so proud to be a Gooner, through some of our performances, and the way we treat our own, like Eduardo, in times of adversity.
Being old enough to have supported through the 1971 double and the many trophyless years that followed, I do scratch my head at those who slag off the club and Arsene Wenger for not winning anything for 6 years. It is, actually, 5 years, not that that bothers the media.
Six years in which the club, driven by Arsene Wenger, has been totally transformed, in the face of completely unfair financial competition.
Whether you like them or not, do Arsene Wenger’s reactions to bad refereeing decisions, and Basil Fawlty like contortions in frustration at missed opportunities, suggest a man who doesn’t care ?
His “project” was the result of restrictions created by the stadium move, which will hopefully allow us to be competitive in the future, and not just some folly of a stubborn fool.
He, like all of us, has made mistakes. But without his vision and drive, we would almost certainly now be a whole lot more concerned about a future which we will have to contest with multi-billionaires.
As fans, we have questioned the much trumpeted mental strength of the players. Well now, maybe, we need to show some mental strength of our own, and perhaps we can impart some of it back into the players.
We have 10 games to create as much noise and belief as we can – brilliant support at OT yesterday, by the way.
Do we want to sulk and surrender in March, with a league title in prospect ?
The team has enough problems lined up in the medical rooms right now.
Let’s not add to them.
For me, we are in the midst of a decent season, with a chance for it to end as a very good one if we win the league. Some of the performances have been really poor, even shocking (first half away to Barcelona), but we’ve had decent runs in the cups and we’re well placed in the league.
Bad Loss but by no means the end.I think if the Baggies clean sheet us well…
Anyhow, since there IS no more pro Wenger faction (not that I ever was in it) Is it safe to say that since we bought our fine new stadium leveraged to the hilt on junk bonds an CDO derivatives (based on the supposition that Highbury Square which is currently at 40% vacancy would help pay it off quick) that maybe we really don’t have the money to spend on star quality players and may have to make due for awhile?
Just a perspective.
And.. Can somebody on that in-the-know side of the pond tell me if Crazy Jenzy will be our next #2?
Thanx,
lefty
midas @227, I having watched Koscielny all season, am in agreement with you that he will be immense next season. I think he has all the skills and determination to be an outstanding long-term centre back in the premier league, of the sort that provides the spine for multi-championship winning teams.
Djourou and Vermaelen are two more of the same variety. The future is bright and it’s red and white! Also let me remind you all that the remainder of this season is the future too.
One more thing: F*ck the pessimists! (And I don’t mean the realists, Clive!)
Speaking of the Emirates, does anyone know when it will be paid off in full?? Just wondering. That might be the time we can actually spend some cash in the transfer market when needed and act like a real ‘big’ club.
2015-2016 present projection as of last financial statement given
2/28/2010.The day after carling cup.
“Nobody in England believed we could even fight for the top four this season. The fact we are in the position we are in I think deserves a lot of credit.β ~ Wenger
What a bunch of crap he talks.
Thanks LCG. It won’t be a coincidence that thereafter we will start winning silverware consistently. I love the stadium but it is like an albatross around our necks. Some folks in the media are starting to call us vampires … allergic to silver.
Hey you guys ,the move had to be made and was timed as well as possible. We would not be able to survive with Highbury’s capacity.
Unlike Spain, where Barca and Real own their team’s television rights in England they are split between all the teams in the league. It makes for an equitable and more competitive league but does not allow the big four to grow large just on them alone.
The economic dropout of 2007 imploded 387 banks on this side of the pond and 130 some odd on yours. How many holding companies and brokerage firms went down with them God (and probably Wenger) only knows. Everybody now realizes that sub-prime loans CID’s and CDO’s were at the bottom of it and the loses still can’t be properly “valued”.
The Emirates was purchased on the basis of a much different set of economic numbers than we now know exist. The real estate plummet means that much of the stadium will have to be paid with ticket and right’s property products.(Arsenal Jersey’s,scarfs,hats etc…)That wasn’t on the cards when the thinking was Highbury Square (still almost half empty) would carry the bucket. Sure,it’s bad luck timing but who could have predicted that then? Anyway we’ll still be fine. Maybe this little downturn of fortune will shake off the parasitic sham ” sunshine gooners”.
Old Navy saying: “When the ship sinks the rats swim away”
To the Wes Johnson’s of the world: Say Cheese Bubba.
You were in the Navy Lefty? If so, thank you for your service. Props.
Lars, Dutts, BtM, & any other ‘fitness’ experts out there in ‘holic land,
I’m still not drinking this Kool Aid about our ‘superior’ fitness. To me, our late goals at the Grove the last two years came about more from a lack of focus on FCB’s part than anything else. That and a big goal keeping blunder this year from Valdes. The other goal this year came from catching them on the counter after they very nearly had a through ball from Messi to Iniesta intercepted by Kos. That was a big turning point in the game. Could have been 1-2 that turns into 2-1 based on a quick counter attack. Nothing to do with ‘superior’ fitness for me.
And if we were ‘fitter’ then where was that before the RvP red card?
Before the red card I seem to remember that we had no shots on goal, no quick counter attack, no threat whatsoever. Surely, if we were ‘fitter’ we could have found the energy to occasionally offer something on the break? Especially since we were conserving our energy by parking the bus (which we don’t have the skill set to do in the first place … we are not Inter nor Mourinho and have not done so since the 1-0 to The Aesenal and George Graham days) in the first half.
And if we are the superior physically fit team then how come we cannot press like FCB? Seems to me that a team has to be very ‘fit’ in order to press the way BarΓ§a does. They gave us a full court press at the Camp Nou the likes of which I have never seen. Never. What they do off the ball is more impressive than what they do on it. We couldn’t even string three passes together at any point in the game (even before the red card). That was because FCB wouldn’t let us. They lent the ball to us. They should have charged us interest at Prime + 1.0%.
We’re the ‘fitter’ side. Sure. What a joke. Not drinking that Kool Aid. Nope. Y’all go on drinkin’ that stuff. Not me.
And we gotta stop whining about the red card. Sure it was a bullshit call. But it did not determine this tie. They dominated us over two legs. Our goal in the 2nd leg was scored by Busquets. We had zero shots on goal. Zero. That hasn’t happened in the UCL in the knockout phase since 2003. Any team that does not have a shot on goal does not deserve to advance. Period. We’ve gotta stop crying about the officials. Or else we’ll end up like the unclassy types like Fergie and Mou.
Barca players won’t get tired running that extra mile, that’s for certain. If we perceived they dipped a bit at the first leg, it’s because of travel and played at our field. Plus they have enough quality reserves to come in if needed. I do admire the coaching of Guardiola, you see his body language with the confidence and knowledge of directing his players from the sideline. Amazing.
Yes I admire Arsene too, for all his vision and believe in Arsenal and its future. Looking forward to the next season, granted that all players will be fit and stay unchanged. The only real concern will be the leftwing position, Arshavin isn’t the answer anymore. So we move Nasri over there Walcott stays at right. So the first team is still solid, new signing will be a luxury. Just hope we’ll hit the jackpot with promotion from the reserves.
matt
its one thing deluding oursleves over a season but in the same game ? in 177 “So you know of a player with 3 starts in the entire season would have had a much better game than Gibbs” as it happens there was one on the same pitch – Fabio. He had fabulous first half and scored a goal. and in 180 “smalling has been beyond poor all season” smalling has been outstanding this season. the mancs are already saying they may move ferdinand on, and its his first full season in the league !
207 joe – don’t you think GG was a win at any cost. not saying we go back to that but we have not always been this wishy washy
@Lars
Rather surprised you seems happy and contented with our defeat.
“VDS, Vidic, Evra, Rooney, Brown, Rafael, Hernandez..”
Would you rather have Brown, Rafael and Hernandez in our squad? Do you actually think they can walk into our team? Rafael for Sagna?
Bar Gibbs (and TV5 if you must include him), we basically had our 1st team defence (including Almunia) which AW was happy to put up to challenge for honours at the start of the season.
We banged so much about our 2nd string being the best in the league but truth is, when being put to the test, we fall flat on our faces. Besides our 1st 11, all our fringe players are not good enough no matter how much they themselves or AW try to talk them up.
Now that our 1st teamers are goners (injured and tired), it will be a true surprise actually can win the league.
I certainly hope to be proven incorrect and I definitely hope AW will for once stopped talking abt our we are ‘over-achieving’ now.
The truth is, we did have our chances to ensure success but we didn’t. I pray for the result-driven, focused AW to return. I love him too much to see him fall from grace.
Morning all,
What shall we write about this week then?
How right Redkev is? ;-
I still cant believe we were beaten by a midfield of Fabio, rafael, O’shea and gibson, against nasri, arshavin, dennilson, diaby and wilshire.
This was worse than defeat at barca i am getting all insults by the manc’s and really for the first time i have nothing to say to them.
Trophy, trophy, trophy, wah, wah, wah.
Strange though it may seem, when I spend a day struggling to get to the Grove for a postponed game in December, Iβm upset because I didnβt see my team. Ninety-nine percent of what I want to do is just to watch my team.
Trophies are the icing on the cake, and luckily in my time I have feasted on a lot of icing. Think about what you are saying before bleating blindly.
Fucking absolutely mate. The day I cease to enjoy the pre and post match pints and banter (win or fucking lose) is the day I give it up. See you at Blackburn game mate. All the best.
i’ve finally got over my depression.All it took was a talk with a liverpool fan.i am still mad at wenger for his tactics in the barca game though.if we had scored a goal against barca through a proper attack we wouldn’t have lost our confidence.we would have atleast drawn at ot.
does anyone know when frimpong is due back?we need him now.
Redkev IS right.
3 points off the top, with a game in hand. Time to man up. Many of us would have bitten off your hand had you offered us this position after the loss to WBA all fhose weeks ago.
I’m getting back on the happy train – whose with me?
BtM @203 cheers mate
Arsenalsy: where on earth did you get the idea that I was “happy and contented” with our defeat? Just because I pointed out that ManU were far from as weakened as many seem to think they were it doesn’t mean I am happy to lose. We did do a lot of things right on Saturday and another day we would have scored three or four from the chances we had. I think it is a bit funny how some (even Arseblogger did this to a certain extent which surprised me) complain that we didn’t create anything and in the next breath says that Van der Sar was Man of the Match. How does that work if we didn’t create anything? Happy that we lost? Fuck no. Throwing my toys out of the pram and saying we are nothing but shit? Equally fuck no.
As I always say, we have areas where we can improve – but not seeing and acknowledging what we actually do well is just as big a mistake as not wanting to see the bad bits. We were NOT playing an out-and-out second-string ManU, they had all three of their most important players while we were without our Cesc, Song, Theo and Szczesny – all of which would have made an impact on the game if they could have played.
Aman: “I still cant believe we were beaten by a midfield of Fabio, rafael, Oβshea and gibson, against nasri, arshavin, dennilson, diaby and wilshire”
That midfield had more or less nothing to do with beating us. We dominated them completely in that area. What beat us was our inability to convert our chances. We had more shots on target and we had more shots off target than they had, but we could not convert what we did create.
@ Lars -: do you think that really matters? Maybe to us yes, but to a manc no, all they tell me is the kids ripped us that’s all.. They wont be talking abt the shots we had or the possession, they are only bothered about the scoreline and that they are through and we are out.
Lars – I do acknowledge we ‘controlled’ the game. But that is simply because Fergie allowed us to. He knew we will have more of the ball (same tactic for us against Barca) and he worked on their counter-attack. That, they did exceptionally well unlike us flopping at Nou Camp.
What was disappointing was that we saw, we knew and understood yet did nothing to neutralise their huff-n-chase game. Our defence was not properly drilled, inadequately protected by you-know-who.
Esso, lars, spot on, zico, redkev is right but only about certain people not all by any means. Fed up with the continued rubbish about barca game, the facts are despite all of their posession up to the red card they had only scored once ( they done same against sevilla last night and drew 1-1 ) and as things stood we were going through, we will never know what would have happened due to that twat of a ref. Some people have suggested they were toying with us and would have thrashed us in the end, what a load of bollocks, they had been breaking their nads from 1st minute to score, created little and scored once. As for man u game I thought we played well for most of the game and if we had taken just a few of our chances the moaners on here would be going on about how great we are, for some people it seems only our last result determines how they feel about the team and manager. Luckily most on here are more realistic and sensible and know how to handle the lows as well as the highs which is what makes this the best blog around. Zico I’m with you on the happy train, never been off it.
Agreed Glennw – some, but not all.
I’ve referred before to the bi-polar disorder of some of our fans. And a lot of them we only see one side of, unfortunately π
We can’t change anything until the summer anyway so all “supporters” need to get behind the boys – we’re in a great position and Arsenal fans can help. Anyone who doesn’t want to can fuck off and support the LWCs.
Zico,
agree first word to last.
A shout out to Redkev
Goonertown,
not sure we should be giving any kudos to redkev after all he only came on here to take the piss and insult us
We screwed up against Birmingham, were robbed of a chance against Barca and beaten by Man united(a team which knows how to win against us)
We need the first trophy, because the players are currently without any confidence at all.
No matter how self-confident you are, you can’t express it without some kind of proof.
These boys need their first trophy. And we would have blown a wonderful opportunity if we went empty- handed this year.
Oh and drinks all round.
Some nice posts by Lars,Zico,Steve,Trev and ‘Holic himself
Cheers
Ok the best fucking news of the day has to be that Mental is back…
Love him.. Get ready oppostion cnts..
zico @ 249,
I hear you and after all the recent frustration I agree. Let’s put the past behind us. Focus on the future. We have a very definitive goal before us. The league is still in our hands despite all the injuries, recent events, etc.
A cup of Earl Grey and another cup of optimism please.
And can someone explain to me how we can be allowed to sign Lehmann to play this season when it is outside the transfer window? I know he’s retired but I thought clubs can only register players inside the windows.
Theo. I think the reason is that we can sign anyone outside of the window that is not under contract. Not sure but I think that is the case.
Steve T,
That crossed my mind. I’ve only read one short article about it so far. They mentioned that AW is asking for permission. Just because someone is not under contract should not be the reason nor allowed imo. Guys can be on a free and still have to wait for the window to register with the respective FA (like Freddy for Celtic just this January). I know we are in the shits right now with our GK situation but I still think it shouldn’t be allowed for clubs in general. Isn’t that one of the reasons clubs have reserve teams and youth teams for?
The reason that we can sign Lehmann is because he is not contractually bound to any other club. The transfer windows are just that – transfer windows, players who have not been signed to a professional club during the season can join a club at any time during the season.
Any team can also apply for permisson to sign a loan keeper from another team outside the transfer windows, there is a rule that says that under extraordinary circumstances (i.e. massive injury crisis) you can be allowed to loan a keeper, but if I remember correctly it can only be from within the same league and only from a lower division. ManCity did this last year when Given was injured at the Emirates and their other two keepers were already injured. They loaned Martin Fulop for their last two games – not that it helped much, but anyway.
Theo,
out of contract= unemployed, no pay, you cannot deny someone the right to work therefore it’s perfectly ok to sign him outside the window
Lars and Glennw,
I hear what you are saying regarding the fact that he is not under contract with anyone and can therefore sign with anyone. But one big aspect of the transfer windows is that a player cannot play with a club until he is registered with the respective FA. And aren’t players only allowed to register with the respective FA during transfer periods? I brought up our old Swede Freddie (FL) and his recent signing with Celtic. His contract ended with the Chicago Fire last October or November I believe. He signed with Celtic before January but had to wait until January to play because of registration with the SFA. He couldn’t play in December (while he was unemployed) and I don’t believe he could have waited to sign and register with the SFA in February and be allowed to play then (because the registration would have been outside the window). Sure, he could sign and be employed outside a window but I don’t believe you are allowed to register outside the window and be allowed to play. I could be wrong but that’s my understanding and the reason AW is asking for permission to do this.
I understand there might be special rules under extraordinary circumstances, as you’ve pointed out Lars, but I still believe all clubs should have to cope through their reserve and youth systems. To me, it is all a part of the overall club v club competition.
But thanks for your input gents. Have a pint on me guys.
Our Club VP Gazza,
had to ask the FA for emergency dispensation order to sign a senior reserve keeper.
The FA granted it.
TVN: but in Freddies case, he was under contract with Chicago Fire at the start of this SPL season. The rules say that if you were signed by a professional club at the start of the season in the league to which you are moving, then you can only change clubs during the transfer windows. Also note that it is the league you are transferring to that must have an open window. You can always leave any league as long as there is a league with an open window.
And my personal opinion is that no transfers at all should be allowed during a season, save maybe for loans of players under the age of 23 or something. You should play with the team you start the season with, end of.
Someone correct me if my maths is wrong, but at half time in the Barcelona game, over the 3 1/2 games we played them, we lost the first halves 5-1, but were 4-3 up in the second halves. Wenger is not an idiot, he knew it, rope a dope was on the cards. Let them burn themselves out in the first half.
The ref fucked us.
John Motsen has just stated to millions of Radio 5 listeners that Arsenal will win the league!
He knows what he is talking about because he also said Bolton will win the FA cup.
SR – no offence, but Motson is senile, isn’t he?
I would prefer to hear some Arsenal players saying we are going to win the league. That and some of our friends above. π
Z,
Think of the double bet, Bolton to win the FA cup, 5/1, Arsenal to win the league, a million to one, Β£1 lands you 5 mill. Shit easy money.
Evening/Morning/Afternoon All!
Have been deliberately quite these past few days, sucking it up and chewing things over. It’s tough being a Gooner right now and I am as disappointed with our results as anyone here but this convinces me even more that some really good things are close-to-hand.
All sport is unpredicatble and subject to rapid change. Our luck must surely turn for the good and soon. Saturday aside, our poor run of recent results do not necessarily reflect on the team’s performance. Some completely bizarre and poor refereeing decisions (esp. the farcical Farca match post sending off) plus a string of untimely injuries have definitely conspired against us at the worst possible moments.
Amongst all the nonsensical and highly illogical rantings of the doomers and gloomers coupled with the mis-guided support that’s been evident around the blogs there’s also some really good and positive stuff going on too and not just in here. Goodplaya and A Cultured Left Foot deserve special mentions as well as the Big Man in our own bar and many of our regulars. You know who you are and fair play to you all.
Lars: Totally agree. Choose your team and fix it by the end of the summer. That’s it until the following summer. At the very least, that would help to stabilise the transfer market. At best, it would help to promote club/player loyalty and minimse the insane specualtion that constantly goes on in the media. The press would hate it of course – what would they write and posture about?
SR: If Motty says it then it must be true! Nice one.
Zico: The happy train has left the platform heading for Championship central. We can all do our bit to keep it on track (with apologies to Glennw) π
So Jens Lehmann will apparently be this year’s Sol Campbell, and I wonder what where the odds on that? Are there any early odds on candidates to be next year’s emergency fill-in after we have been devastated by injuries to an extent that “no one could predict”?
Ah TS – welcome back.
You’ll find some of our “irregulars” have been raiding the medicine cabinet, but order has been restored.
(I’m in the First Class carriage at the front btw).
@ Stone Roses – are Bolton really only 5-1?
Zico,
I will go on record as saying if we beat WBA we will go on to win the league, it’s a massive game for us with a lot of our key players still missing, the break after that game means we should go into the last 9 games with a near full squad to pick from and no other distractions unlike both manc clubs and Chelsea, if all three of them go at least one round further in Europe it will look even better for us but first we must beat WBA. One other thing about signing free agents outside the transfer window, didn’t Newcastle sign kuqi a couple of weeks ago, outside the window because he was out of contract?
We have ten games left, that’s it.
Manure have 9 league games, cup semi final, champions league game. Minimum 11 games. OK, its fucking agony to hope they get to the CL semi, but if they do, then its 15 games. Thats 50% more games than us. Could be the difference.
Clutching at straws? I have no pride, I’ll clutch at anything.
Z,
Actually 11/2, there is only one rule, bookies always win.
Zico,
It hadn’t escaped my attention and, sadly, was entirely predictable. I’ve placed a large order of Immodium to be delivered just in time for the next disappointing result. The keys are back with The Barman where they belong.
A round of drinks for all ‘regulars’ and those of a reasonable disposition π
…. and I’m with Glennw
Glennw and TS – I’m loving the positivity guys.
WBA – bring it on. This happy train (sorry Glennw) just keeps picking up speed. π
Been thinking about Jens – if he does sign, and even if he plays only one game, let it be Stoke – will see how he reacts to their fucking rugby tactics. He might just flatten Lennie just for fun.
There is nothing I’d like more than for Saturday to come and for the team to recover (somewhat) from these horrible 2 weeks.
We HAVE to win the EPL.
So many things depend on it – Wenger’s “quiet” from the fans, players staying, start of next season etc.
Cheers Lars @ 269,
The difference between the Freddie and Jens case is clear to me now. Have your favourite drink on my tab for a change – seeing how I usually use yours. Have your favourite Swedish herbal and make it a double. I’ll take one too. You like both the herbals chased by a Boddingtons if my memory serves.
Cheers.
TS – welcome back Medicine Man. Have a drink of your choice. A friendly squirrel whispered in my ear that Lars’ tab is back in business.
Through it all, we are still the masters of our own destiny in the league. That’s something worth drinking to ‘holics. Cheers.
A pint of Guinness please.
Zico,
Cesc was absolutley spot-on when he accused Stoke of being an RFC. Did you see the tactics of Huth and co in their ‘win’ over The Hammers? Sadly, it was a victory for everything that is wrong with the game. They are a bunch of cheating thugs and their manager is a moaning pr*ck who tries to justify his tactics as a legitimate way to remain on the EPL. FTS.
Snir,
A horrible 2 weeks indeed. It’s all part of being a supporter. Think how much sweeter the good times will be….
Zico @ 282,
Wouldn’t mind at all if the nutty German were to ‘fist the ball’ while the likes of Shawcross and Huth were in the vicinity.
TvN,
Thanks and I’ll join you in a pint of the black stuff.
Will leave Lars’ tab well alone though. Wouldn’t want him working deep into his 70s unless he really wants to π
Yup, Lennie deserves a good ‘fisting’
Evening all,
Apologies for the lack of a post tonight. I got a bit premature and prepared a piece on Jens. Hopefully I’ll be able to stick it up tomorrow.
Otherwise don’t really want to go opening up the wounds of the weekend, so maybe another history piece if necessary.
Huge thanks to the vast majority of you for keeping it a sensible debate.
Stoke v Bolton in fa cup semi, I think I’m right in saying the winner of that war will almost certainly be in Europe next year, what a horrible thought that is
So, I’ve seen that Song is not expected to play at WBA. He should be back after that match though no?
So, who does that leave out for us come Saturday considering our recently available top side? Off the top of my head I’ve got: Szczesny (season), Djourou (season), Song (out for just WBA), Cesc (out for just WBA), Walcott (out for just WBA). Is Bendtner available for WBA?
Am I wrong about injury durations or missing anyone?
Glennw,
Yeah, I think that is pretty much right. I know Liverfool is praying for some help just to be part of the Europa League fixtures. My, how times have changed.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Bolton in the UEL next year. They play decent stuff. A worse vision is seeing a possible Segunda Division side (BCFC) in Europe next year.
Glennw
Stoke in Europe will set the reputation of the English game back by a decade
Speaking of Stoke (and probably most other EPL teams) manhandling and half assaulting the opposition team’s keeper on every corner kick, it was refreshing to see nothing of the sort from Barcelona.
Theo,
never thought I would say this but I actually would like to see Bolton win the fa cup this year, they are playing some decent stuff but they do revert to type when they play us.
TS
only a decade?
The worrying thing is if they get into Europe pubis will feel the need to strengthen, who do you think will be on his shopping list, Barton, Henry, Bowyer and the like is my guess. Shudder. By the way impressed with your and Zico’s memory regarding trains, glad to see it’s not been affected by all the drinks! Drink?
I can’t remember who sent me this, but:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoUp0_kU_kU&feature=youtu.be
I don’t know if he’s any good (as a matter of fact I remember him getting nutmegged against Olympiacos) but I like him.
I love the fact that he already has the confidence to shout his lungs out at people who don’t cover at the back, I love the fact he organizes the defensive line on a defensive set piece and most of all I like the fact that he wins headers on offensive set pieces (and of course, I really like his physique, that’s a proper CB).
First, the media spoke of us and the possibility of a quadruple. Now, Sky is talking about a ManUre treble. All this talk is just bollocks for any team until May 1st. Even for a team the calibre of Barça.
Even though it won’t help our title run, I’m still rooting big time for a ManIOU elimination tomorrow. I so hate those trophy buying bastards.
Glennw
Another drink? Why not.
Paul Robinson also a probable target for Pubis squad strengthening and ‘The Thing’ from The Fantastic Four. All new playmates for Lennie & co.
TS,
now we have a lot of time on our hands maybe we could play an assemble pubis’s dream squad game would that be a laugh or just frightening?
arsenalsy
it is well known what i think of sagna, so yes i would have rafael over sagna. and as for hernandez ? probably the best finisher in the league . does anyone on this blog (or anywhere) seriously (i mean seriously) think that if jack’s pass had fallen to him at nou camp rather than the numpty bendtner, we would be moaning about the ref ? (theo if we are wondering whether bentner is back then we might as well pack up now)
and lars, i don’t really consider shots form outside the area creating chances. i am thrilled to see us finally have a shot – this is a big step forward but we rarely carved them open. they had 5 opportunities from which they should have scored. they did from 2. how many did we have ?
Snir – good link.
I used to watch a lot of the U18 side when Arsenal TV was still running on the Setanta platform, and he rarely put a foot wrong.
Bartley used to also play a lot of very accurate 40 – 50 yard balls, on the diagonal, out of defence – a plan B there, perhaps.
He played in the U18 side which knocked the Spuds out of the FA Youth Cup and was tremendous in the final vs Liverpool.
Seems in the video to be holding his own quite nicely at the next level.
Theo at 298, I am agreed 100 percent. Let’s see evil fortune turn its screw upon our enemies as she has turned its screw upon us, but this time make it a triple whammy.
I should have made the gender agree better. Evil fortune appears above to be both neuter and female so to make it 100 percent effective let’s make that female in both cases.
Re: Sajit at 91 and the use of a bigger squad: Henri Lansbury scored a very timely goal today. This from the BBC website on Lansbury’s contribution to Norwich City’s promotion bid:
“Norwich moved up to second in the Championship after two late goals secured a 3-1 win over Bristol City.
Grant Holt gave Norwich the perfect start when he scored from the penalty spot after Wes Hoolahan was tripped by Liam Fontaine inside the first minute.
Albert Adomah levelled for Bristol City after a slick counter-attack move.
But in the 89th minute Henri Lansbury latched on to Hoolahan’s through ball to give Norwich the lead and Andrew Surman sealed the win in injury time.”
Does anybody over there know what the deal is with Jens Lehmann?
Is he in, out or just still Bat-shit Crazy.
Sky Sports news here is playing the same loop I heard at lunch break.
http://desigunner.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/disappointed-yes-despondent-no-denigrating-never/
A must read for every gooner (apologies in advance holic if links are not welcome, if so, delete it).
Lefty,
Crazy Lens is in. He’s expected to sign a contract until the end of the season and be in the squad on the bench as the #2 keeper at WBA. According to the quotes I’ve read, the club has spoken to him and it looks to be a done deal. Probably will sign Tuesday.
Am I the only one who wants Jens as #1 keeper for the rest of the season?
Snir – you’re still awake? Get some sleep fella.
As for Jens as #1. Let me think long and hard about that one … wait, wait, wait … no. Should have been a quicker response than that actually.
I’m all for mad Jens π
Snir, excellent blog that
TS, welcome back!
IDKA: shots from outside? Again, look at what we actually created inside the box:
Koscielny – six or seven yards out
Nasri – about seven yards out
Nasri volley – about ten yards out
Chamakh header – six yards out
Rosicky fresh-air swipe – six yards out
Those are five clear-cut chances right there that on another day would have resulted in at least two goals. Yes, Rosicky missed the ball completely but it was still a great opportunity.
And note that I have not included the van Persie curler that was inches away or the van Persie shot that VDS saved with his fingertips.
I agree that we were not good enough to win it. But where we failed was that we, for some reason, did not put away our chances – not that we didn’t create them.
‘First, the media spoke of us and the possibility of a quadruple. Now, Sky is talking about a ManUre treble. All this talk is just bollocks for any team until May 1st. Even for a team the calibre of BarΓ§a. ‘
Too right, ever since Man Utd won their treble, the media have becoem obsessed with something like that happening again, so they go on about trebles and quadruples, and ignore the fact that 1. Man Utd’s treble required several slices of luck (not least in the European Cup final) and 2. there’s only been two trebles in English football (Liverpool in 1984 being the other, albeit it was the League Cup rather than the FA Cup) so they’re pretty rare to start with.
Holics
Anyone who thinks the mad German is a good signing must have very short memories.
We now have 2 goalkeepers at the Club who cannot stand the sight of each other.
When TMG was dropped,he made it known to all and sundry that Spanish Al was not fit to lace his boots.
He was a picture of malevolence whenever he sat on the bench as an unused sub,and it was well known that the 2 keepers hardly exchanged a word in training.
So what does that do for Al’s confidence,knowing that he will be practising/training/working with someone who has denigrated and derided him on a regular basis.
Team harmony has just gone out the window.
I think that’s taking a rather fatalistic point of view, hopefully it will all be water under the bridge. And I’m sure they bore all that in mind before deciding to approach Lehmann.
Rumours abound that Djourou could be fit for Blackburn. No more than rumours at the moment.
Here we go.
Arsenal’s Johan Djourou believes his shoulder injury is not as bad as was first feared and hopes to play again this month, BBC Sport understands.
His season appeared to be over when he suffered a dislocation in Saturday’s FA Cup defeat by Manchester United.
But Djourou has told the Swiss Football Association he is confident of avoiding surgery and playing in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria on 26 March.
The 24-year-old defender is set to learn the results of a scan on Tuesday.
He better fucking well not play for Switzerland.
Morning ‘Holic & ‘Holics!
Clive
I was just thinking how bizarre it was that Lehmann would come back to be Almunia’s understudy and how his ego would cope with that when ESP kicked in and you made your post π
My take on this is that professionalism will rule the day and that Jens and Aluminium are both in somewhat different places today than they were a couple of years ago (older and wiser???). I’m also guessing that both are somewhat grateful for the opportunity to play first team football for one of the best clubs in Europe again.
Cheers…. mines a fresh cup of coffee.
Glennw @ #300,
We could make a good start with England’s rugby XI, no?
Lars @ #313,
Cheers, good to be back. I’m with you re: more clinical finishing. We’ve been hitting the woodwork a lot lately. Just a tad more finish required to our…er…. finishing.
SR @ #317/318,
Fantastic news if that’s true. It appears even AW puts his doom and gloom glasses on some days?
Djourou’s injuries are starting to sound a bit like the boy who cried wolf.
Didn’t he make a remarkable comeback after the Newcastle game when he was meant to be out for months?
Incidentally SR, this is from the BBC website:
“But Djourou has told the Swiss Football Association he is confident of avoiding surgery and playing in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria on 26 March.”
If he is fit enough to play for them by then, it’s good news for us (I think).
SR – sorry I didn’t realise you had already quoted from the BBC site – senior moment for zico (or lack of alcohol) π
PS for Clive:
TMG – love it!
It should be the new standard ‘Holic TLA whenever we refer to Hr. Lehmann π
Zico
“Senior moment”? Explain yourself man. π
I’m with you, it’s good news.
Z,
My whole life is a senior moment!
So going back to these “serious” injuries that may not be all that they seem….
AW has been quoted as saying that “he does not know when Alex Song will be back….” does that translate to “in the starting 11 on Saturday”?
I am confused – not an uncommon state of affairs, seniority or otherwise π
Mad Jens as good luck charm? Nobody could write these scripts, but I’ll make a try. Almunia injured in the 90th minute of our last league game in May so on comes Mad Jens to make a series of spectacular saves leaving time for one last counterattack with Aaron Ramsey, the other 90th minute substitute, heading in the winner from a desperation punt by our man Jens, allowing Arsenal to leapfrog United and win the league by one point. It takes quite an imagination, I hear you say?
If Djourou can indeed play again in a week or two that is just great news. And I am seriously starting to wonder wether Arsene has changed his tactics regarding injuries and very deliberately started to overplay the seriousness of them. Before he has always been much more optimistic whereas in the past few months almost every injury is immediately classed as at least several weeks.
By the way, is it illegal nowadays to play with your arm in a sling? I can’t be bothered to look it up in the rules myself, but didn’t Beckenbauer play the 1974 World Cup final with his arm in a sling because of a shoulder injury? Not that I think that it would be a particularly good idea for Djourou to do, I’m just curious.
I dont know whether our ever fluctuating injury status is medical incompetence, or just lies. Verm has been 3 weeks away since Christmas. DJ out for the season, now ten days. RVP out for 6 weeks, makes miraculous recovery.
I think lies are told for whatever reason, but it’s us fans that really go through the ringer.
Great news about Johan, I was really depressed when he got injured. Funny enough I wasn’t bothered about the loss to those dirty mancs, loosing Johan for the last 10 games in the EPL was huge.
What are the odds for us to win the League now?
ST
I think it just goes to show that as much as medicine has improved using technology etc….they can not tell for shit how long they will be out for.
Thats my honest opinion.
@309 Snir you’re as mad as the bloke himself π
West Brom last 6 league games W 1, D 4, L 1. F 10, A 11.
Us W 4, D 2, L 0. F 12, A 5 (4 @ Newcastle).
Guaranteed win.
Looking at the fixture list, trying to clutch at straws. Of our last 7 games, only 2 are outside London.
‘I canβt be bothered to look it up in the rules myself, but didnβt Beckenbauer play the 1974 World Cup final with his arm in a sling because of a shoulder injury?’
It was the 1970 World Cup semi-final aginst Italy which West Germany lost 4-3, he got injured during the game (fractured clavicle apparently) and played on with his arm in a sling as they’d already used up their permitted two substitutions.
I’ll start clutching at straws after we next drop points, right now it’s the likes of Chelsea and Man City who need to clutch at straws in the league, not us.
SR, There are no guaranteed wins and our players have to know it. Honestly.
behind the 8 ball but not nasri
Too right, there no guaranteed wins and our lads need to know they need to dig deep to bring home maximum points each game.
My ‘guaranteed win’ was a mixture of hope, facetiousness and desperation, with a touch of prayer to a God whom I dont know exists.
Why do we do it to ourselves? So much pain, my wife says I’m stupid, my kids dont understand.
SR – I told you, “its the hope that kills ya”
“Why do we do it to ourselves”? Why do we fall in love with the people that we do? There is no rational explanation for these things.
Me? I liked the look of the cannon. π
Z,
Cannon joke is bloody funny!!!
It certainly beats a cock on a basketball.
Z and TS,
I havent laughed since before the league cup final – now its twice in 25 minutes.
SR,
Glad to be of service π
Have a good laugh and try not to take it too seriously, we’re not talking about life or death here.
Our time will come…. eventually π
PS: If you want to have a real laugh just scroll up a couple of hundred posts.
Shit shit shit, I knew laughing was too good to be true. Arsenal have just released a statement playing down the Djourou rumours, saying he will see a specialist Thursday with regards surgery.
Why am I mad? I’m looking at talent only, and there is no doubt in my mind that Jens is much more talented than Manuel, if not one of the most talented in the EPL.
These last 10 games are so important that we need anybody who can improve the dressing room mood, and with all due respect to Manuel he can cope with it, he has coped with being bombed with criticism all season long and the “humiliation” of being leapfrogged by a 20 year old.
I know Jen’s presence would do a world of good to Cesc, Nasri, Robin, Song, Jack etc.
Saturday couldn’t come soon enough, we have to win that game not only for the points but for the belief, morale and most importantly for all the negative media coverage to stop for at least a couple of days.
For me, it was the modernization to a more sexy, sexy, sexy cannon. Yeah baby!!! π
Snir,
You are mad because TMG,
1) is coming out of retirement
2) left the club in a huff a few years back
3) is out of training due to 1 above
4) is TMG
There are more reasons, I’m sure, that others can fill in.
BBC again.
Arsenal have reiterated their belief that Johan Djourou will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.
The Swiss Football Association said the 24-year-old’s problem was not as bad as first feared and that he was confident of returning to action this month.
But Arsenal told BBC Sport this was “inaccurate” and that the centre-back would see a specialist on Thursday.
The club expect the Swiss international to undergo surgery and to be ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.
ST
Not sure who to believe anymore, it’s abit of a joke I would say.
Crazy Jens has big brass balls, tell me this lot couldn’t use a bit of that for the next 10 games. That alone is worth it.
At the least none of our center backs will accidentally run into him.
Worth a Cup sometimes…
hope djourou is fit for the stoke game.The manner of his injury hurt more than the defeat.
Im delighted mad jens is back.He’ll probably take atleast 2 weeks to get to full fitness though.
Cuntharito has the mancs ahead in the UCL at half
I know its supposed to help us if the Mancs go through, but I am finding it so hard to root for them tonight, feckin loathsome bunch.
Sod it – come on Marseille! If only to shut the tosser up who is coming in his pants every time Utd go over the half way line.
The tosser on Sky Sports that is.
I could care less if it helps us. I will not root for these scumbags under any circumstances
I cant watch it, I hate then so fucking much that even in normal circumstances I dont watch, but under the duress of hoping they win, GRRRRRRRRRRRR
How bout a nice 89th minute away goal to get the week off on the right foot …..
There’s a new post, people. That will save you having to scroll all the way down here!