Breathtaking Stuff, And Something For Everybody In 3-3 Thriller
Apr 20th, 2011 by 'holic
Where on earth do you start commenting on that. If you want a match report then go here. The North London derby isn’t about a report for this blogger. It is about feelings, and that game, as I hint in the title, gave something to everybody, whatever your leaning.
I made a note in the preview drinks at half-time to be positive about the opening 45 minutes. Before the game, no matter what your view of Arsenal’s current situation, we had pleaded for the boys to give it everything, and how they responded. It may have been a pressure game, but away from home in front of that magnificent travelling support the Gunners were back to their best when on the front foot.
Credit should be paid to the Tottenham side too, also desperate for the win, and who contributed to an absolutely breathtaking game. Sadly the pond life in the stands once again let down those who gave everything for them, producing the same vile old chant for the only manager of a North London club to have won a League title at the swamp in over fifty years. (EDIT, sorry Bertie, of course there were two of you! I meant to say the manager of the only North London club to have won the title at the dump in the last fifty years.)
Enough about them. Those who have doubted Cesc’s commitment in recent weeks had their answer in full tonight. Those who have written carelessly about Nasri in recent days had their response too. In the biggest of matches they grabbed hold of the first-half, at least, by the scruff of the neck. Right up there with them was Theo Walcott, scorer and provider of an assist for van Persie. Going forward it looked like we could tear them a new one.
Still though there was something for those who seek to be angered. One of the usual suspects was slow to react to van der Vaart’s run for the first Tottenham equaliser. They would find it harder I suspect to allocate blame to anyone for the Huddlestone strike just before the break. The most important goal it was, they said on Sky. I would argue the most important goal of the night was scored by Robin van Persie in the second-half, and surprise surprise, the assistant referee got the offside flag horribly wrong. I felt for Martin Atkinson, who tried so hard to let the game, and the occasional feisty challenge go. He had an ok game, but was badly let down by his assistant.
I also felt for Wojciech Szczesny. This was as tough a test of his temperament as he will face. The churlish will point out that he was beaten at his near post for their first, and gave away the penalty that enabled them to snatch a point. That would be hugely unfair. Young goalkeepers make those kind of mistakes, and hopefully learn from them. There is little doubt his save from Modric prevented a drama from turning into a crisis. His first-half bravery also deserves acknowledgement.
Arsene was in combative mood at the whistle. “Not many teams would have survived what we have gone through, and all the criticism we have faced and I think that this team deserves much more credit than it’s given.”
Even Harry had to admit “You saw two teams playing some incredible football tonight. We played some great stuff, and so did Arsenal. They’re an incredible football team.”
For once, I don’t think too many should be inclined to disagree with either.
165 Responses to “Breathtaking Stuff, And Something For Everybody In 3-3 Thriller”
Jebus ‘holic. I want my adrenaline back!
A top report-that was a classic (way better than Barca vs Real).Sometimes you have to accept a point was all we could take -we drew 3-3 at the 5th placed side and we played with real commitment.Everybody contributed but none of our subs worked well.When Bendtner comes on our impetus goes down a notch.If only we’d had Vermaelen all season –and SzCzesny in goal.He is quality and wil only get better
2nd?
Cracking game – nice post Holic.
I still believe – no one gave us a chance in 89 either 🙂
That was why we love football.
I just retweeted @AFCBlog “That was a hell of a game. I wish I was a neutral.”
We all know that is exactly how we’re feeling.
okay then 3rd
Yep, great football match I enjoyed it. Its too bad it killed our title chances.
It was a terrible mistake and a definite penalty but Szczesny will pick himself up.
Okay eff it I end up where I end up!
Holic starting the one liners already:
“The only manager of a North London club to have won a League title at the swamp in over fifty years” 🙂
The only I have to add is why did Sky not show more than one replay of the van persie goal that was wrongly ruled offside??? They made sure that they made a big deal of the modric penalty shout but neglected to make the same fuss about a fair goal by VP. Blatant broadcasting bias once again!
zico, I’m with you about still believing and it was as exciting a game as I have seen even though I say bugger the draw but credit also to Sp*ds who played very well too.
Pond dweller alert.
Good game, sickening result.
Today has finally confirmed that supporting a team has ruined my enjoyment of football. I didn’t enjoy watching that one bit.
Good effort from the players and we’re still in it :-). It’s going to go down to the last game and we’re all going to finish on the same number of points with man utd taking the league on goal difference.
You heard it here first
Judging by Cescs attitude this season, some of his comments which become lost in translation regarding the team appear more as an observation of himself as a leader rather than against his team and club! 😉
(That’s just me reading between the lines)
darkness – is your real name Pond Life?
@9 – Thoughts shared with you there!
Holic, watch the replay again: even from the Arsenalist clip–it is Cesc our captain who cleared the ball as far as Huddlestone; of course Huddlestone is once in a blue moon shot which 99% of the time either flew wide or high into row Z; but still if Cesc booted the ball out high and far, Huddlestone would not be able to deliver the shot.
It is a game with few complaints; but just highlights our vulnerability and weakness. It seems that we will always concede goals after going ahead, or our defenders panicked into making mistakes.
No amount of Wenger’s praise of our spirits can make this vanish. It will happen again even in this season…I think our defenders will panic when we are ahead, knowing when the opposing team come asking them questions.
Chesny, JD are just potential good players, not the finished product yet. Sagna are getting more careless this season. However, this season it shows our midfield is not good enough; not just our defence.
Our captain is right—without good inforcement, we will stay 3rd or 4th! Let us see what Wenger will do or WILL NOT DO!
Brillant game and some pride restored even though we didn’t get the 3 points.
I thought Martin Atkinson was neutral tonight! I’m not sure about Clichy’s yellow! (I may have to see it again 🙂 )
Darkness is an old friend of the blog people. Hasn’t the bollocks to use his usual name tonight. ip logged 😉
Just got back from game , 3-1 up you don’t Fuck it up.
This was piss poor. It hurts drawing against this hoof
It up team of cunts. I dont want people saying how good it was . I am 51 it hurts as it did when I was 5 years old. Wenger has got to look at himself and admit this is as far as I can go …
I will be at Bolton roaring in this team but deep down I know if we go ahead we will concede and that’s down to wenger.
Half a bottle of whisky to drown my sorrows on train back home.
Warning to all. Sure as eggs as eggs there will be posts I need to delete in the morning after a game against the bottom feeders. Please don’t use post numbers in your responses.
Cheers.
Even RVDV admitted “Arsenal is a great side” (on our day) 😉
The bigger the squad the easier it has been to rotate this season!
Drinks on me!
Agree with the post Holic, excellent performance and a fair outcome. Hacked off by gifting the 3rd goal but hopefully the Pole will learn from it, he was pretty good apart from that and continues to look like he’s just what we need between the sticks.
The reason Sky couldn’t show replays of RVP’s disallowed goal was that the game was played at the Shithole and a bloody great Pole was in the way of the camera, not a problem at our place.
Performances like this highlight what might have been this season, the away form has been title winning standard, its the abject home performances that have cost us.
“The only manager of a North London club to have won a League title at the swamp in over fifty years”
Have you forgotten the late great Bertie Mee?
@cliffafc
I would agree with you, but after this traumatizing season I’ll take this draw.
“3-1 up you don’t Fuck it up.” We’ve done it before mate…numerous times actually. I’m just happy it wasn’t worse and we lost…got an exciting game out of it as well.
With this Arsenal team I’ve come to not expect much, because of this I don’t really hurt as much because I’ve faced facts.
Winning 0-4, 2-0, 1-3 or taking the lead in the 98th minute, there is ABSOLUTELY no pleasure in supporting this team any more.
When can we ever relax in a game, we fuckn’ need to be 5-0 up with 1 minute to go to be safe.
I hate watching my team now – it’s pathetic!
Grow a pair Fletch, there’s a good fella.
CG, unforgiveable wording error, particularly since I was there in May 71. Thanks for pointing it out though.
Still a bit hyper here.
More points dropped from a winning position, ignored for the umpteenth time by this blogger. With fans like this this club will never progress.
That’s right James. It’s my fault. I’m sorry.
With fans like me we haven’t won a thing have we?
What’s been going on since I stepped away from my glass?
Let me grab me specs as I’ve taken me contacts out already! 😉
Regardless of whether we were 3-1 up (after just 40 minutes, natch) an away draw at WHL was a decent result. We can loathe/despise/hate them all we like but they’re better than they were and they’re again challenging for European qualification. It was an amazing game of football and could have ended 8-7 – to either team.
This game wasn’t the issue; we should be beating the likes of Blackburn and Sunderland and that is what has (almost…) derailed our title bid.
But let’s see what other twists might pop up between now and the end of May, eh?
Ah, James, James – back to cheer us up I see and you’re always good for a chuckle.
“Not many teams would have survived what we have gone through, and all the criticism we have faced and I think that this team deserves much more credit that it’s given.” I agree with that very fair comment.
This squad may not be the best we’ve had but it’s one of the best in Europe at the moment. There’s no doubt that about three additions are required. They’ll come this summer. Little doubt of that now.
And Jim, check out how many points Man U have lost from winning positions this season for me, would you?
Good post, ‘Holic. Good game tonight.
@James – good grief. I bet you have a poster of Mourinho on your wall…
The fact is the fucking post pillar thing at that horrible ground where the camera was made the difference, offside my arse!
Fucking awsome game though we did die a little in the last third and I do have to say I was a bit worried.
Save of the game was when Wojtek tipped it over the bar and Stick man thought it was in, mistakes do happen though as you say and I beleive it will make him stronger. The difference is with Wojtek he doesn’t crumble like others do. I do still admit it wasn;t his faunt all together…defenders?
AND I STILL REFUSE TO SAY IT’S OVER……
Chelski go above but we are still in position, they have to play Mancs and so do we and I hope that they will do us a favour as much as we will beat them at The Gorve please!
Drinks all aorund ….clock still ticking 🙂
TS? Must of been a cracker hope you got safely home !
ARSENAL TIll DIE!
Exactly that fourstar.
I’ll accept we won’t win the League because of performances like LWC’s at home, but tonight to fault them is just wrong.
That was special, and if the RvP goal stands then the reaction is different. That’s not an excuse. These things happen. But on such small margins do those who want to be upset get fuel.
As btm pointed out earlier in-debt have dropped more points from winning positions than us!
Up until many-stones goal tonight they had also conceded more than us in the league too! 😉
*wasn’t his fault
Great post as usual, 4-3 is the real scoreline van persie was not not not offside what a great goal! the linesman is no doubt a manchunian, apart from arshavin who did not get the time on the pitch he needed to get up to speed in a frenetic game, I at least can say the players were fighting to the last, if luck is a lady, she left her arsenal shirt at home tonight, bolton next all we can do is beat them and hope for the best, I still think there are twists and turns waiting for us yet.
Holic apologies for being rude, great rundown!
Heart felt a little disappointed but we all know deep down we are going to come back here and talk becasue we love this club.
Another round please Boss I hope TS makes it this time 🙂
Arthur, you know what I say about saying you’re sorry 😉
“Young goalkeepers make those kind of mistakes, and hopefully learn from them. ”
in one line everything that is wrong at Arsenal…
We can probably expect Danish along in a mo ‘Holic with his tidings of comfort and joy and good cheer. He’s another who’s always good for a bloody good belly laugh.
Glorious failure visits us again. Throwing away a lead seems to come naturally to us now.
Defensively we’re a mess. Sagna is our stand out back. Djourou is getting there. Clichy typically erratic. Koscielny a sub at best. Chezza a potential great.
Wenger still has the same positions to address: Keeper, Central defender, defensive midfielder, and even a centre forward.
Weren’t we here last season??
Evening Holic
I think the game tonight tells all true Gooners why we follow
OUR team.
Wonderful football mainly by us,we could have had 7 or 8,but credit to the other lot for never giving up,and once Sunday’s efforts against Pool kicked in through the 2nd half they came more and more into the game and but for the young Pole,they could have won it at the death.
But the roller coaster ride our boys have given us this season,on good days and bad,reminds us all that they are human.
They suffer the same stressess and ups and downs in their lives,same as we do,and sometimes the performance leaves a bit to be desired.
Even the Invincibles suffered more than a few wobbles along the way.
But what other team in the PL garners as much aggressive attention from the media and on line bloggers as the Arsenal.
Which manager regardless of the result/perfomance of his team,fronts the media every single time and treats the interviewer with respect at all times,regardless of the emotions he is going through straight after a game.
Who has had to manage the team on a shoestring budget for years,in order to finance/balance the books on the move to the Emirates.
AW is a total credit to our club,and anyone who thinks we would be where we are today without him,knows ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT FOOTBALL.
WHICH TEAM tries to play positive football 99% of the time they go out on the pitch.
I have followed this Club for over 50 years,through the good times and plenty of bad,but i wouldn’t change a thing.
I don’t feel despondent after tonight’s result,i feel proud that after all the gut wrenching emotions of the past couple of months,the abuse my Club has suffered from all and sundry,that we have no heart/bottle/intestinal fortitude etc etc,and an absolute bastard kick in the guts in the 102nd minute on Sunday,that would have had most teams on their knees begging for mercy,we come out and contribute enormously to an absolutely fantastic game of football at the Lane.
All the talk will be about giving up a 3-1 lead,not me,i prefer to revel in the fact that we actually got 3-1 up in the first place with some breath taking football.
If AW makes the right acquisitions in the summer, we could be in for a wonderful few seasons,as our young side comes of age.
I for one cannot wait.
Cheers
Clive
Agreed they should have shown RVP’s disallowed goal from a variety of angles as they did all other controversial calls, especially those favouring the other side. Nevertheless, when we were up 3-1 we lost it and we looked specially weak starting the 2nd half with 2 yellow cards in the first 90 seconds. So close with RVP’s disallowed goal and Gomes’ 2 great saves against Cesc’s piledrivers; and yet so far.
Ah, Colonel Mustard, you were probably enjoying the goalkeeping heroics of the mature goalie at the other end who, in true Spuds fashion, hasn’t learned a thing.
I’m not trying to put too much pressure on the younguns shoulders but I really feel that if Frimpong can re-produce the same level of potential and progress from what he showed in pre-season, he will definitely provide us with an additional internal option, as well as those much needed external additions! 😉
What we have yet to see from him is how his attitude plays out during the length of a full season! Is he a sheep or Sheppard? On recent evidence he is possibly only a loan period away from making that necessary difference if Jack and Woyj are anything to go by, as he was definitely heading in the right direction before serious injury! 😉
Drinks all round!
Thanks Clive.
Sometimes you have to acknowledge the performance, even if the result hasn’t worked out.
Some would do well to recall the invincibles surrendering a two goal lead at the swamp.
Hey BtM, Danish would indeed complete the set now, eh? 😉
Another good Woyj moment was when he appeared to make a save with his nuts! Everyone around him just froze, including him! Lol! That save was very comfortably abrupt!
3-3 was a fair result on the night Bt8. I would have preferred a different score but frankly, it’s great to watch a game where the opposition has a go at us and doesn’t just park the bus a la Sunderland, Citeh, Blackburn and Liverpool in recent weeks.
Vermaelen at the back and Felipe Melo or Xavi Alonso in the middle with Samuel Eto for me up front…….ooops, Holic, getting ahead with still five games to go.
Those three goals we scored show me that had Gomes thought RVP was onside he may not have necessarily have saved that shot! 😉
I’m almost wanting to win the league even more than before so that the negative tossers can have a slice of humble. Even then they’ll say “Yeah but we should have won the league by more if we bought (fill in the blank) last summer”
Some people are never happy…….or…they came to the club too late to have any bloody perspective.
Even the other night someone trotted out the ‘we’ll have fewer points this season so we’re going backwards’. Who cares? If you finish higher or top (God forbid!) you’ve improved.
Get behind the club….the fire was there tonight and this was another point nearer to playing for it til the final weekend.
Colonel Mustard –
To me that am everything that is right with this club. Depends on the contents of your glass I suppose
From what I could tell on my stream, TS (bio-suit and all) and the boys in the away section did us proud.
Disappointed with the result, but can’t fault the effort. More of that for the remainder of the season please. And thank goodness for Szczesny who more than made up for his mistake on the pen. Double credit for taking out Bale not just once, but twice. Does anyone still think we need a new number one this summer?
Will we catch Man U? Who knows? They are far from consistent this season. Chelsea may yet sneak it from underneath us all.
*Moves back toward the front of the happy train
Glad to see the boys up for it. Nasri, Theo, and RVP showed their fire. As for me, I honestly don’t think it’s correct to blame Szcezcny for the last goal- Sagna got himself into horrible position and their was way too much free space not too react. I may be wrong, but I don’t blame him in the slightest. Independent of that, Szcezcny is exactly what we need right now.
Fired up for the last few games- I don’t give a shit where we finish in the league, I just want to see us give everything we got against anyone, and all will be well.
A round of vodka shots for the happy train.
As twitchy as he is, this statement re; AW sums up for me what right with this club as it is right now!
“”I don’t understand how they can criticise him. They have had fantastic success and play great football,” Redknapp said.
“He managed a team that went a whole season unbeaten. What an achievement that was. That was amazing to do that.
“He has won enough trophies at Arsenal already. He doesn’t need another to have vindication, surely. His record stands up anyway.”
Night Holics today has been epic!
Great write up and you are spot on. A fantastic game for the neutral. However, I am not a neutral. Never have been and never will be. A great spectacle I agree but form a fans perspective who desperately wants his team to win thing all I see is that in 4 days we have been in front in two games and ended up only taking two points. My personal opinion is that that is not good enough. AW said we six point from the two games. Personally I would have been happy with four. Two quite simply is not good enough and not the stuff of Champions. On the radio this evening they said that Arsenal have thrown away 14 points from games they have been leading this season. That for me tells you all you need to know.
Tonight was a great game to watch. It was good to see some fight and spirit in the side. There were many more positives than Sunday. We played with more flair and freedom. We looked like we wanted to play tonight.
I still think that defensively we are a tad naive at times. I hear what you say about the Huddlestone goal but he should never in a million years be afforded so much time. Watch it again. It is a poor clearance. You see Nasri in shot prior to the clearance drifting out wide aimlessly with no idea of the potential danger. When he hits the ball there are 7 Arsenal shirts in the box and not one within 5 yards of Huddlestone. That for me is poor.
Col Mustard has had a bit of a going over above but I actually think he has a very valid point. We have some wonderful talent coming through but no one there to mentor them and assist them. They all have potential to be greats, but where is the experience to guide them? Had we sorted the keeper situation put in the summer then my view is WS would have benefited immeasurably.
BTM@51. Loving the idea of Alonso and Etoo. Add to that an experienced keeper and a centre half and by jingo you might be on to something. As I have said numerous times before, I really do not feel we are that far away.
So onwards and upwards. Not long until the weekend. The sun has been out in force and the sound of leather on willow is now upon us.
Pedigree for me please holic? If you have any that is?
In what sense does Wenger think we have ‘survived what we’ve gone through’? We’ve been in relegation form since the CC Final.
Bit more vigorous analysis needed I think. So we glory Wenger forever based on what he did 7 and more years ago until he dies/resigns? Seriously??
Two, two goal lead against our fiercest rivals thrown away in one season. I’ve never seen the like.
Steve,
I’m not expecting a keeper now. I think Sczez has done enough to hold the spot and I’m happy with that. CB, Alonso, Etoo would do me.
Jerkyll, not familiar with the mental side of the game from the armchair?
Its sad every1 is complaining but if RVP’s legitimate goal was not disallowed every1 would be praising the lot…..i think every1 played well today.except for a couple of mistakes…and spurs were lucky again with their shooting(look at the replay of their first 2 goals) they scored from tight angles…..
One more observation of the whole season so far…..if all the wrong decision against us and all the wrong decisions for man u are cut down just by 50% we would be sitting on the top with 6 points adrift….
One more reason why we play better football away than at home…..the noise i heard after the 1st goal at Shite Hart Lane was far more than the 98th minute goal at the emirates….I wish true fans would go and support the team and they for sure wouldnt make mistakes…..if you start booing and groaning on your team who are still fighting for the title….take inspiration from blackpool who were shouting on the top of their voices when they were 6-0 down at emirates..
Support the team and the manager you have or else go and support the LWS’s or the Manures or the Citeh who spend 500m and still are happy with 4th….
I still support arsenal and always will….
If u dont like the team…just get the hell out
There is support and there is unquestionably accepting a status quo that will keep us doing this season after season, just like the last few. If that’s support, you must be a major shareholder. Even the likes of arseblog recognise there is something seriously wrong with this team. BTM, I get why Wenger makes such comments. But not really working, is it? Time for a few fireworks perhaps. Or maybe we should sign up for 2nd for the next 20 years. Or is that to be revised to 3rd now.
BTM. What happens if WS is injured? My opinion is that we need an older experienced keeper who is able to act as a deputy, as well as offer experience and also ensure that complacency does not set in. He is potentially a very good keeper but he needs to keep developing. The better keepers make the best decisions.
Alonso for me would be a monster signing in my opinion. He is a player I rate highly.
Harsha. You don’t make home games do you? We did this to death a few days ago.
Great game, end to end action but a draw won’t do it. Look, it was an away game, tough atmosphere but we were 3-1 up for crying out loud.
I admit that I’ve only been a supporter for the last five years and by no means possess an expert opinion. I realize the that the club has gone longer than five years without trophies in the past. I applaud the progress that has been made in light of the financial constraints in building the the new stadium…..but the damn thing is there for the taking, week after week and we just refuse to take it by the scruff of the neck and claim it as ours. I just kept shaking my head the last 15 minutes wondering how we blew another one. My support will never waver, but the rollcoaster is tough to hold on to at times. On to Bolton.
Well said Gedo. I feel hugely disappointed. Is that wrong??
It’s not at all wrong. I feel the same way. But when the boys do come good, and they WILL come good – the rapture will make up for the current spell of disappointments.
It’s hard to see that now, but I promise you it’s true.
Up the Arse!
I can see that being true and I cannot wait for that glorious day. But I cannot deny creeping thoughts that there is something fundamentally wrong with the mentality of the team…
Wenger will figure it out though and who is to say this year is over? Despite our horrific spell if we win our remaining 5 games (Bolton away, UTD home, Stoke away being the hardest) and Chelsea beat Utd, we will be tied on points. That is not outrageous at all IMO. Hell Chelsea have a shot at being on 79 points in the end too. We just really have to focus and put in some performances. Cheers and lets hope for an epic finish!
Cracking report for a cracking game!
I pity those who did not enjoy watching that game. Yes the result was against us at this stage but had this been in the first half of the season we would all have been satisfied with the point and marveling at the effort and skill on display. Had Theo crossed his shot a wee less and the day would have been perfect. And the traveling gunners were wonderful as always.
It’s been a very bumpy season, still not over, but it looks again like we’ll overachieve big time. With a wages + transfer budget between 40% and 60% of our competitors’ it’s pretty exceptional to be were we are in the final sprint.
@Steve T: Looks to me that Colonel Mustard epitomizes everything’s that’s wrong in the Arsenal fandom. Before his injury Fabianski had the second shots to goal ratio in the league and in this game Woj has been miles ahead of the LWC GK. I’m ready to bet that had we Casillas or Buffon between the posts, Col Mustard and the likes would still come up with definitive condemnations of the manager or the club every time a mistake was made.
As for another striker, it would only make sense if we reverted to 442 (which in hindsight we should have this season). What’s the point of keeping Eto’o on the bench when RvP is fit or worse make him play on the wing like we’re wasting NB52 this season?
Super game! Screw the title race. If I could watch games like that all season, I’d be more than happy.
LONG LIVE THE ARSENAL!!
‘holic, so pleased you have admitted it was your fault that we have not progressed as a team!
Thought we were really excellent in the first half and the Spuds were lucky to be only one behind. Our goals were good, theirs were the sort of goals they only ever score against us (remember the screamer from last year by some kid who nobody has heard of since?).
The second half we were not so good. Difficult to maintain the same intensity is one thing, but our pattern was lost after Diaby went off. As much as I love Jack he wasn’t as efficient as he has been in the past. I think it ironic that Sagna, who has arguably been our most consistent player this season, went AWOL. He must be getting tips from Gael!
My main worry isn’t whether this team will get better, which we will, but the way AW remains tactically naive in the big games. Don’t get me wrong, I think AW is a genius and wouldn’t want anybody else as our manager. I just think he needs a strong second in command with more tactical nous to support him.
It ain’t over yet. Come on you Gunners!
What a game!
Also has anyone in the drinks mentioned an amazing Theo chance when he broke from the right?
His indecision cost him and us. Arsene was furious at that point.
You know what, we put so much pressure on the team to win trophies that we forget to enjoy the football.
Trophies will come. I am sure Arsene Wenger knows he has to change some of the things too.
For me following Arsenal has been following Arsene Wenger. I just can’t imagine another manager in charge of the Arsenal at this point.
I just hope he lets go of his stubbornness and changes some things at the club.
Cheers
Matt. In my opinion the keeper situation has been a joke . Neither almunia or fabianski are even close to being good enough. WS has got his chance by default. He is head and shoulders above both of them but still has miles to go.
The way I agreed was with the fact that we seem to let players go far too early and we lose all of that experience.
Steve T- I appreciate your thoughts in general, but ws has ‘miles to go’? That seems exaggerated my friend. He had a serious blinder with kosielny in the cup, and…. A slew of excellent shot stops and picked crosses against some if the best in the business. I really dint think he’s miles away from anything. Nb52 on the other hand…
PIK. I sincerely hope you are right. For me a lot about being a top keeper is about decision making. Put simply the best keepers make better decisions. I think WS is the main reason we tried to sign Schwartzer last season. An older but good pro who would have been there to act as a mentor as much as anything else. But let’s not forget that he was third choice not that long ago. He us only playing because of injuries. If almunia or flappy had stayed fit he would not have had his chance. He is definitely the future and definitely head and shoulders above those 2.
Steve T is on the money with WS – he still needs to work on his decision making.
I think he was rash to come charging out last night given the position Lennon was in, and given it was Lennon!! I also think he could have caught a number of balls that he insisted upon punching, thus keeping the pressure on when it could have been relieved. But there is no doubt that he is way ahead of Fabianksi – WS looks like one player who does have, dare I say it, mental strength.
Whilst I am frustrated that we didn’t get 3 points last night, I find it odd that so many Arsenal fans are complaining so much about last night. I thought our performance last night (1st half style, 2nd half battling qualities) was way better than anything we have produced since we beat Barca at home. There is much to be positive about.
Believe!
This train is bound for glory 😉
Great game and great spectacle with both sides contributing to the fun but that’s another two goal lead that’s slipped away.
It is obvious to me who the good players are and who the not so good players are. Who should stay and who should go and the players we need to turn a very good team into an absolute cracker. We can only hope that AW makes the right decisions during the summer.
Actually I am beginning to get seriously worried about AW’s health and well being. The emotions he goes through now in every game, the anguish and agony he shows so often, that cannot be good for him and I would hate to see his health compromised after all that he has done for Arsenal FC. I also wonder if the anxiety so obviously displayed at the side of the pitch might communicate itself to the players and affect them on the pitch – nerves and panic often afflict this team now. The man we see pitch side now looks nothing like the AW of a few years ago.
Perhaps the time might be approaching when he should step down and a new manager be appointed? I hope he doesn’t soldier on for too long, he is obviously a proud man and has put his heart and soul into the Club and the team and has already built a legacy. If he could win either the Champions League or the Premiership again then I think he would go but perhaps not before then. Whatever his decision I wish him personally well and of course success for AFC.
Well……………… good game all around, but we needed to win the match to boost our confidence for the remaining games. Didn’t see the offside call………….(some spineless gooners in my house decided to watch the classico) but the chance where RVP tried to chip gomez INSTEAD of squaring the ball for wallcot sealed the game! cos immediately after that spurs got d penalty.
The arsenal players need to focus on “NEED” and not “WANT” . Nasri’s goal proved that we can score if we really need to! why dont they play like that everytime? …………………….i still believe we can win the title…………………………………….but RVP should have squared that ball..2-4………..game over.
first time poster btw…………………….will def be regular! …………i dont drink alcohol….so a glass of Chilled coke for everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Jekyll – Relegation form? Do you actually watch football and form your own opinions or just copy those around you? Just imagine what it would be like to be a Wolves or Blackburn fan and be thankful for your team, who stayed 2nd for a good part of the season and are only in 3rd by a handful of points.
Personally I think it’s a shame we didn’t win, that linesman needs to be dragged out of bed at dawn on St Totteringham’s day and shot on his front lawn, but whichever way you look at that game (unless you’re a glory-hunter), it was an exciting, high-tempo affair with some excellent performances and some actual attacking bite – which has been severely lacking in recent games.
It was a lesson in simply ENJOYING A GAME OF FOOTBALL instead of constantly clinging to the hope of silverware like some baby who refuses to be weaned.
BtM said it best with his post-Blackburn “bairns throwing toys out of prams all across Europe” comment.
@goonerforlife yes it was traumatic but i have been through this at sunderland ,newcastle, ect…
at Newcastle some poor New York gooner flew in to see his first ever game at 4-0 this chap was beside himself happiness at the final whistle he sat there head in hands i said to him welcolme to Wengers World .
These results just keep coming !!! in 46 years i never seen a team that panics as much as this lot, as much as i love this club and its glory to come out of WHL and witness those scum not directing threats at us but laughing at us was to much to take.
Wenger has reduced this club to a laughing stock, thats the sadest thing.
Ignore Jekyll, he’s just missing his alter ego, Hyde, who complained that Wenger only ever wins a Double, not a treble, or the Champions League.
I hate to think how some of these bairns would’ve coped in the playground in the 80s (or a large part of the 70s come to that….)
Can’t be arsed taking in all the drinks.
Hope there’s stuff left in the MC, hope TS got back in one piece, and I’m buying around for all the regulars in here.
Thanks barman. onwards and upwards
Hi Ollie,
Medicine cabinet has had to have all bottles of Uppers re-stocked – there’s a horde of suicidal lemmings heading for the cliffs…..we’re a laughing stock don’t you know?
TS has still to check in – I expect he is still trying to extract himself from his bio suit. 🙂
Meanwhile, some of us are looking to forward to the “fighting like mad” bit….
Good stuff, zico.
Steve T,
I make home games, all of them, the support is dire and huge number go just to moan, some from before the game starts. They are having an adverse effect on the way the team plays at home, it was very noticable v Liverpool every misplaced pass was greeted with a huge groan and loads of abuse so much so that some players didn’t want to try anything more than a basic pass for fear of getting slaughtered by those that masquerade as our fans. I hear what you say about the amount of money we pay to follow the team but honestly what’s the point spending the money just to sit silently or worse to abuse the team your meant to be getting behind. I would actually prefer it if our last two home games were played away because we play better away from home and there is a very good reason for that, the crowd. You only have to look at the Chelsea, Everton and Barca games to see the effect a positive crowd can have on the team, interesting they were all night matches.
Drink for Glennw. There’s a fine line sometimes as to who influences what, but he does have a point. A lot of people have just gone too used to success and pretty things and forgot that support is most needed when the team struggles….
And I suspect I spend more money than most, just for the travelling, certainly wouldn’t do it just for moaning! 😉
Morning All!
In a rush today but just wanted to say what a priviledge it was to be amongst our away supporters, they are awesome! Best in the league?
Up until 3-3 I could barely hear the scum singing. We silenced them, we embarassed them. Our songs were tip-top, we started a good 30 minutes before the game started and never stopped. Fave was (to the tune of The Saints Go Marching In):
We won the league (we won the league)
At Shite Hart lane (at Shite Hart Lane)
We won the league at Shite Hart Lane
I wanna be at The Sh*thole
When we win the league again
And for Big Bad Billy G:
You used to play for a big club,
Play for a big club
It was tremendous!
The only comfort in the result is we’ve screwed their season.
Thursday nights, Channel 5
Thursday nights, Channel 5
@ Cusop
St Totteringham’s day is just around the corner mate:
Champions League, never again!
Champions League, never again!
’61 and never again!
’61 and never again!
Have a great day ‘Holics. The season is dead but long live the season. Three goals left:
Finish above The Chavs
Beat Manure
Remain unbeaten in the league in 2011.
TS – you defeatist you.
It’s not over till its over.
Immensely disappointed but got a shot of a confidence.
If people are putting Chelsea back in the race there is no reason we shouldn’t be in the race as well.
It’s not over yet.
Glad you made it back TS, it really is a shithole ain’t it.
Go and have a shower before coming back to the bar… 🙂
Nice one Mark 🙂
People are putting Chelsea back in the title race because of their form.
We can be put back in the race because of the commitment and effort shown yesterday.
Beat Manure and have Chelsea beat them too and there’s no reason we’ll be out of it.
Chances are slim but they exist guys.
Zico, MtS
I’m scrubbed thank you!
Yes, it pleased me no end to see what 50 years of failure does for a rambling shack of a football ground. 😉
Of course it’s not over. I have a season ticket in the HT, but my goals are, I think, realisitic. The title is possible but unlikely given all current factors. No reason we shouldn’t continue to enjoy the journey though.
We are a great club. Visiting The Sh*thole and looking at 1000s of LWCs reinforces that 😉
Steve T
Great comments mate, pretty much spot on.
Please have a drink on me.
Sorry ‘Holic forgot to acknowledge your super write-up, thanks.
Good to hear that ol’ Twitchy finally acknowledged how good we can be in open play. We tore ’em apart several times in the first half.
Some of these responses to my comments are ridiculous. Form since CC Final in the league: P6 W1 D5 L0 PTS 8.
If you want to close your eyes to endemic problems at the club, the annual spring collapse being the most glaring example then fine, but abusing those that point these things out speaks volumes. I’m not here to have slanging matches, just wanted to post my thoughts without attacking anyone or being attacked.
A drink for TS. He lives, hooray!
Don’t look into the MC though, you might be scared what happened to it.
Isn’t it refreshing to have a spud-free drinks? Those loudmouths love to come here and give it the large before the NLD but when they fail to win it – again – suddenly they go all quiet. Nothing like a dose of reality to remind you of your place in life eh? Second best in North London, always have been, always will be!
Enjoyed reading your assessment, reasonable to be honest. Fact is with this league now containing 6 strong teams. It has become difficult for any one side to dominate. This is good for the Premier League. The passion of the players shone through last night. For us Ekoutto who is often a complete plank when playing against you lot played very well.
Both managers made mistakes, ours were Gallas and Dawson are too slow. Yours was your CBs are not strong enough, which is odd saying that to Gooner website. I also felt taking off Walcott and Nasri did us a favour. Lennon for Bale was a smart move. But the player to watch at spurs is Sandro, he is everything Denilson is not.
Banta and chanting is what makes us what we are.. I am Spurs man proud of it. And I am happy we have not lost to you this season in the league. It’s says more about how far we have come. Not about whether you have declined.
Ok. Fair play, Cusop.
Cusop, finally a spud with something reasonable to say instead of some immature insult.
You spoke to soon Camberwell G.
Personally, I am rather amused by the statement “….how far we have come”.
Ollie – he can’t get near the MC without the key (and the password to my new digital security lock) 😉
‘ * Arsenal have now thrown away 13 points from winning positions this season. Surprisingly, Manchester United have thrown away 14.’
From F365. Interesting, considering, I’ve heard people moaning that we’d thrown away 14.
haha, clever, zico. 😉
It’s banter, Jekyll. No one is attacking you and our comments are no more ridiculous than some of your propositions.
“If you want to close your eyes to endemic problems at the club”
This made in reference to six games. I was at the Sunderland game. We murdered them, Arshavin scored an on-side goal given off-side. Arshavin pushed to the ground. No penalty. On such twists of fortune ride league titles. I’m afraid.
The away draw at West Brom was creditable. Nothing wrong there. Several “big teams” have stumbled.
We all agree (Arsene included) that the Blackburn game was a huge let down. The team was flat. “It’s a worry” said Arsene. No issue. Not endemic though.
Great away win at Blackpol where some “big” lads have gone home with nothing.
Liverpool – just spent 59M on two kippers that the BBB crave and came to play for a 0-0 draw. Who has the endemic problem? Us or them?
Last night’s draw at Tottenham was not symptomatic of an endemic problem. Rather, our team scored four great goal (one disallowed – again fate twists titles) and lost three (two good goals). Great game. Sort of stuff I’m happy to pay to watch.
On your other point “the annual spring collapse” – go back and look at comments from this time last year. Arsenal was missing EIGHT first team first picks. The entire spine of the team. Even the great Barcelona could not sustain that.
The team at the top of the league is $900M in debt. If you bank at RBS, YOU are funding that debt. The team second on goal difference has borrowed $900M from Abramovic who pilfered it from Russian folks.
The team in fifth have spent more Abu Dhabi oil money than you can count and they are FIFTH. Where is the endemic problem to which my eyes are closed. I can see it’s not endemic (said a blind man).
The problem with rhetoric is that it has no substance and never stands scrutiny (It’s why George W was a total tosser).
So, your comments are always welcome here, but poke some of us in the eye and we’ll poke back.
In the end it’s the home form that has really cost us this year, obviously there have been dropped points away from home (Wigan, the late goal at Sunderland etc) but we’re six points ahead of Man Utd on that count. Which means we’re about twelve points down on them when it comes to home form, and that’s very disappointing.
BtM @ 108 – like it. That’s another (real) pint I’m owe you. 🙂
Welcome back, TS. Glad to see you survived. I tried to keep an eye out for the bio-suit, but on my stream you would have had to been sitting next to the entire happy train for me to see you.
Speaking of the happy train, pints for all on board.
I’ll share the cost zico. Or not. I’ll just buy the man another drink!
Ollie – you are more than welcome to join us – it will be in the Diggers in Edinburgh hopefully in the summer 🙂
“Something for everybody,” ‘Holic? I disagree. It had something for these people: Cardiologists (taking care of heart attacks), gastroenterologists (taking care of ulcers), the English media (who again get to write that “Arsenal bottled it,” which is only partly true), Spurs fans (who again say they’re “closing the gap” which is still a chasm), and the “Diaby is the new Vieira” people who, lately, and unusually, have a point. And, of course, for the “Let Cesc go” people — and I may soon be joining them.
Top top post @ 108 BtM ’round of applause’ and a pint behind the bar 😀
heh Uncle Mike.
And I think BtM’s going to be absolutely sloshed in no time.
Mike, what did Cesc do wrong? I thought he led by example personally……
Heh, my brother just informed me of this: Mourinho may be winning trophies, but his team can’t keep hold of them.
🙂
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/video-copa-del-rey-crushed-after-real-defeat-barcelona-in-final-2626405.html
@108 BtM. Spot on!
This could be dangerous but without question BtM is getting free drinks all night for #108. Great game and I walked away with the weird feeling of having seen them give away a two goal lead yet not feeling bad about it unlike the Pool game. It just felt like they played very well, gave it their all, and caught some bad breaks (linesman)
Bearded Gooner – That’s exactly why I think the title race is not over. They showed the effort and determination needed in order to win the next 5 games.
Chelsea HAVE to beat United and I expect them to at least not lose at OT, and with UTD’s away form you never know…
It’s still on, keep the faith.
Thanks SG. Always have always will.
Evening Holics
The drinks sound balanced today as usual!
As I look forward, that Blackburn away fixture for Manure may not be a given and their game v the chavs is 50/50 to me. I’d say they still have another defeat and a couple of draws left in their “new look squad experiment season”
It’s down to this ever maturing Arsenal Squad to capitalise!
Drinks on TS’s Tab!
BTM! You badass muthafucka!!! 😉
Well thank you, Goonertown, don’t mind if I do…
Plus, the more I drink the more I think that Huddlestone goal was total fluke. It didn’t even look like he meant to hit it as a shot (could be wrong) but the only thing that allowed it as a goal was the late non-diversion of going through van der vart’s legs. Otherwise, it would have been speculative and saved.
Owe you all. Thanks for another decent session in the drinks today people. It could have gone a couple of ways. Elsewhere did 🙁
The Happy Train is moving along nicely and I am glad I bought a ticket for it.
Haven’t been able to visit the bar since last night, so here is a rather long post 🙂
Clive, that post from you at 12:32 am should be printed out and framed and hung on every Arsenal fan’s wall. You managed to put words to my every emotion about yesterday.
“I don’t feel despondent after tonight’s result,i feel proud that after all the gut wrenching emotions of the past couple of months,the abuse my Club has suffered from all and sundry,that we have no heart/bottle/intestinal fortitude etc etc,and an absolute bastard kick in the guts in the 102nd minute on Sunday,that would have had most teams on their knees begging for mercy,we come out and contribute enormously to an absolutely fantastic game of football at the Lane.”
Bang on target, Mr Waterman. This is what Arsene is talking about when he talks about mental strength. Yes, we’ve drawn too many of the games we’ve gone unbeaten but quite frankly you don’t go 16 games unbeaten unless there is mental strength. You don’t come back from such a kick in the bollocks as the one on Sunday and produce what they did last night if there is no mental strength. Even after conceding the third goal last night and finding ourselves under enormous pressure we managed to come back and created chances to take the lead again. It was a brilliant game of football and we have to remember that Spurs are, at the moment at least, unfortunately not a struggling bottom-half team – they are fighting for a Champions League spot.
It was an absolutely amazing game of football, and our first two goals were right up there with the best of the Bergkamp/Pires/Henry era. The perfect timing of Theo’s run and the perfect weight of the ball from Cesc – vintage Bergkamp to Henry football. The exchange of short but efficient passes and a thunderbolt of a shot with no runup – vintage Bergkamp to Ljungberg to Pires to Henry to Pires and bang it’s a goal football.
And if RvP’s second goal hadn’t been wrongly chalked off, Tottenham would NEVER have come back and all the bleaters would be singing from a completely different hymn sheet. Spurs were tiring both physically and mentally at that point but disallowing that goal gave them renewed energy. I am gutted with the result, but very proud of the performance and effort.
Anyone who still thinks we need a new number one keeper should think again, I’d say. Yes, he gave away the penalty but it was with the slightest of margins (if he had got there one tenth of a second earlier he’d have got the ball) and what’s more important is that there is no keeper anywhere that never makes mistakes. David Seaman made plenty in his time (CWC final, anyone?), Lehmann certainly produced his fair share of clangers, Van der Saar has conceded several soft goals this season alone as have Joe Hart and so on. Szczesny is imposing, he has presence, he commands the defenders, can catch a cross and is an absolutely magnificent shot-stopper and he also has what all the keepers I mentioned have and which sets them apart from the Almunias and the Fabianskis of this world: the ability to bounce back immediately from a mistake and act like it had never happened. And he is also exactly the kind of nutter that a goalie should be, that little wink at Djourou after taking Bale out for the second time was the stuff of legends. There was nothing he could do about any of the goals last night, the first one was at the near(est) post, yes, but the shot was from quite close and from pretty much straight in front of the goal, you can’t commit yourself to one post in that situation because then it would just be a simple side-footed shot in the other corner for the attacker.
Harsha:
You know what, we put so much pressure on the team to win trophies that we forget to enjoy the football.
Amen to that, brother.
zico:
he still needs to work on his decision making.
…
I also think he could have caught a number of balls that he insisted upon punching,
The way I see it, the punching you are talking about IS good decision making. If you are not 110% sure that you are going to catch the ball and be able to hold on to it, then you should punch it. And he does it well, he almost always gets good distance on his punches.
TS, good to hear that you made it back to the civilized world unharmed!
And once again a reminder to everybody to read what Clive wrote. And while you read it, have a drink of your choice on my tab!
The drinks (both the one above and the one I just put on your tab) are much appreciated Lars. 🙂
Lars – a couple of points:
1. No fare required on the HT – just a positive frame of mind, come what may 😉
2. I disagree on the punching lark – its maybe because I was brought up on the old school of British football – but I have difficulty accepting that punching the ball is safer than catching it – if there are a throng of players on top of you and you are not certain that you can catch it without spilling it, then yes punch it. But when the ball is sailing toward you and you have the option of catching it without that pressure, then it should be caught, and let the team catch a breather. I can think of at least 2 occasions last night when WS opted to punch in that situation. The punching is very much the modern way it seems, but you won’t convince this old fart that its safer.
I’ll still take that drink, though. 😉
Some good stuff in here lads. Puts other places to shame.
Oh, and I should also say, that I thought that WS had an excellent game last night, the aforementioned punching thing and the penalty excepted.
The difference between him and the 2 other “injured” keepers, is that he did not let the penalty incident affect him. He had at least 3 fantastic goal stopping saves thereafter. That is mental strength and something that would have been beyond Fabianski and Almunia, who both go to pieces before your eyes when they fuck up.
If Everton can manage to draw against ManUre – then game on! BUT AFC will end up drawing vs Bolton to mess things up again! If, however, they beat Bolton..then the game vs ManUre will be of monumental proportions! I thnk we may see a few red cards…And a Manure win, alas.
About wenger….What a manager..loyal and dedicated. If the baord sack him then WE are all mugs….Nobody on earth can touch wenger. He will deliver…as long as we all keep faith and the players get more savvy!
N W
Lars, I didn’t know bolding was permitted! Rioja please barman.
Thanks Esso.
People, that was praise indeed from a top Gooner. You earned it.
Now, who is doing what for the holiday?
Can anyone in AST or media ask AW to actually clarify what does he see in putting Bendner out right on the wing?
I am sick of this incompetent tactics. He had done it whole season and has got it wrong whole season! Its totally frustrating to see the poor chap suffers out of position. He was incredible in our final games last season (I certainly remember him nodding in the injury time against Wolves at Emirates and him scoring at Camp Nou).
Why does AW keep doing things which are not working and generally not in line with general opinions? Gee, I know it feels incredible to say to the entire world “See my vision?” should things go right but this is definitely not one those.
Bendner is just one example. So many others were put out of position by him, resulting in low confidence (B52 again as example against Barca this year at Camp Nou when he took a very bad first touch) and poor performance.
I really really hope AW will stand out and explain his views instead of letting all the anger/pain build among fans.
Morning Holics –
Going to be a quiet Holiday for me this year! Baby GT is a year older so it will be another opportunity for the family to relax and bond with the two extra days!
In fact now that I think about it Baby GT is now lil GT stringing out sentences and making responsible decisions. He’ll be able to feast upon his Chocolate eggs (in moderation) for the first time this year too! 😉
Then Sunday we’ve got the Wanderers (in the living room stadium) ;). It’ll be another chance to show that with everyone fit we are the 2011 invincibles! 😉
8ball: some basic HTML is allowed so you can do bold, italics, linking and probably some more stuff. I guess the ‘Holic can give you more details about what is allowed.
‘Holic, my plan for the holiday is to do… nothing! Or at least as little as possible. It is a welcome break for me and a chance to get some much needed rest. I had Thursday off as well so won’t be back at work until Tuesday.
arsenalsy:
playing Bendtner on the wing aside, what is it that you actually want from Arsene? “Generally not in line with general opinion”? What, exactly, is the general opinion? Arsene says quite a lot in terms of explaining his choices, but few seem to listen very much and instead just catch on to heavily biased crap like that article that in the healine claimed that Arsene had said that he doesn’t care about trophies when in actual fact he did, if anything, say the exact opposite.
I am also getting rather tired of the “Wenger never changes anything” cliche because it is not true. Maybe he doesn’t change often enough (but then again too many changes can spread even more insecurity, when a team is low on confidence which we have been for a while it is in almost all cases better to change as little as possible) but he DOES change things. For one, we started playing 4-3-3 at the start of last season, and this season (in a bid to avoid becoming too static) Song was given licence to attack a lot more – but hey, that didn’t suit the bleaters either because it didn’t work immediately. But I didn’t hear too many complaints when we hammered Chelsea at the Grove and Song scored our first.
There is also this myth that a team can have a “plan B” that will always work but that is simply not true. If there was such a great plan, then it would be Plan A. There are trends and fashions in football just as in life in general and the calling for a “plan B” is one such trend. A few years ago everybody had to have someone “in the Makelele role”, and lately talking about “a number ten” or “a false nine” has been the in thing to do – I guess it doesn’t sound cool or knowledgable enough to say “I think we need a central striker and someone who can run around a bit and help him out”.
We have made mistakes this season, let there be no doubt about that. But we have also had very, very little luck. Assume that the ref had blown up when he should have v Liverpool and that we had been given either one of the legitimate goals that we should have been given v Sunderland and Spurs – we’d have been only two points behind ManU now. Blackpool should have had a pen and we got a soft one at home v Brum, but that is all the luck I can remember from this season. On the other side I can recall Wigan getting a pen thanks to a dive that was upwards of a yard outside the box, us not getting a stone cold pen in extra time in the same game, not getting the pen v Sunderland, not getting the legitimate goal v Sunderland, not getting the pen v Liverpool when Kuyt flapped his arms and stopped what to me looked like a shot that was going in, not getting the legitimate RvP goal the other night and I’m qute sure there’s more too. Mistakes have been made, yes, but as dangerous as it is to ignore the mistakes it would also be wrong to ignore the fact that we have had a rather big slice of bad luck this season because if you do that you might try to fix what isn’t broken.
Don’t panic, keep calm and try to maintain some perspective. We are, after all, tied for points with Chelsea in second/third and only one team in the league has lost fewer games than we have. Only three teams have conceded more goals despite the constant injuries in our central defence and sometimes farcical goal-keeping. Only one team has scored more goals despite us missing our main striker for large parts of the season and our most influential play-maker missing about half the season due to injuries. Also, reverse the score in our league game at Old Trafford and we are tied for points at the top – we can argue until the cows come home about why we didn’t win that game but that’s still how close it actually is.
And we must at least be doing something right for all that to have happened.
Give that man Lars a drink. The best one.
And make sure he stops reading what’s in my mind.
*puts tinfoil hat on*
Lars,
top post, I was going to bring up the plan b rubbish, no need now, are you still too traumatised to bring up all the bad luck v Newcastle away?
Diaby injury confirmed-
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/injured-diaby-ruled-out-of-trip-to-bolton
Happy Easter all,
Excellent read Lars, thanks. I would have held back a bit on the plan B personally because it is so easy to point out we have only once, from memory, switched to a 4-4-2 when needing a goal this season. Given the availability of Bendtner and Chamakh I think that is an underused alternative that would have done one of two things. If it failed it would have broken one of the sticks that the ingrates beat Arsene over the head with, or we might have snatched the odd winner/equaliser or two, still be in the hunt, and everybody is a winner.
Having said all that I will sign up to what you have taken time to consider and write, most eloquently. Thanks mate.
Lars
2 absolute top write ups my friend,a pleasure to read.
Holic,
re Easter hols,i have 5 gr/kids under 10,so plenty of child minding/sleepovers/fighting to get on my computer,even for a quick post to you.!!
OH Oh !! i can hear them coming upstairs,5 excited voices,i’m being overrun,Bye.!!
Usual delusional stuff from the same suspects. Keep telling yourselves that Wenger is only a smidgen away from having an unbeatable team and that he has his best squad ever and you might really believe it.You should keep all this delusional talk for the Tollie because REAL ARSENAL fans dont frequent that snotty pub.
Morning ‘Holic & ‘Holics,
Massive *Boilk* from me today. Monster night out last night which will leave me craving water, coffee and haeadache pills all day. Thanks to zico, I’ve now got to wander down the shops in my state to get said pills. Cheers zico!
Lars, someone has been eating 3 Shredded Wheat for his breakfasts these past couple of days. 2 tip-top posts brimming with intelligence (that’s not meant to sound patronising). Arsene would be proud.
Btm & Clive, ditto.
Glennw, good to see you back.
‘Holic, a quite Easter for me too. Can never really escape work but nice to have the opportunity to chill a bit with the family in this fabulous weather.
Happy holidays Holics!
Hey Gaz
Assuming you’re right what pleasure can you derive from posting here?
Delusional people, by default, can’t help thinking that they’re right whatever the facts. So what’s the point of pointing out the error of their ways? Just to insult them?
Please have a bank holiday drink on me and zico might be able to offer some goodies from the ol’ MC.
How’s the weather in your part of the world?
Holic @ 134 – holidays? What holidays? Taking orders from Management, as usual.
Lars @ 137 – If we could find some form of concentration at critical moments, maybe we wouldn’t be cursing our luck? Just a thought 😉
Gaz @ 143 – still as upbeat as ever I see. Define a “real” Arsenal fan, then. And if Wenger is not the answer, who is?
TS @ 144 – you mean I forgot to tell you the code? Oh well, the fresh air was probably good for you 🙂
Happy “holidays” indeed.
@ True Story it’s a lovely 90 degrees here in Hua Hin.
@ True Story google Hua Hin,it will be easier for ya. @ zico if I had a choice of manager,The Special One would do,he wouldn’t accept throwing away the leads we have this season.
@ True Story by the way,how have I insulted anyone? I stated my opinion as your are entitled to voice your opinion.I have very different views than you and your mates on The Arsenal but that’s life.
Diaby out injured? Surely not? Most unlike him. He is always a picture of health. I will be amazed if that is true I really would. He has been an ever present?????
Happy Easter
Oh well you must be a REAL Arsenal fan then Gaz, pining after Mourinho.
Jesus wept.
(Excuse the sacrilege at easter, dear Christians).
zico @ #146,
Heh! I’ll just borrow Ollie’s tin foil hat and then you can transmit the code to me over the ether, cheers 😉
Be sure to take your orders in good humour from Management (how many fences do you have to paint?) otherwise it could be a l-o-n-g four days faether….
TS – painting fences….wow that tin foil hat really works….
Ollie, apply for your patent quick!
Gaz
Thanks for the responses.
I think this bar thrives on differences of opinion, even amogst ‘us mates’. So to continue zico’s religious them I’ll say ‘amen’ to that.
Referring to peoples comments as ‘delusional’ or describing places where they enjoy drinking as ‘snotty’ isn’t the best way to endear yourself here.
I think BtM put it very well @ #108 when he wrote:
‘….So, your comments are always welcome here, but poke some of us in the eye and we’ll poke back.’
It sure is a long way from The Tolli to Hua Hin….
*applies for patent*
Well, after all, no bank holiday here, have to wait until monday.
Also no bank holiday, next friday, and not a single one in May.
On top of this, I’ve been told I can’ t take the monday after the Man U game.
Still I’m a shorter way to the pub than The real Arsenal fan, so shall hope to see a few people on May Day.
And for fear of being offensive to some I’ll still say it: I’d rather have a few more years without trophy than welcome the Special Cunt at Arsenal.
Thankfully, I believe some things are meant to NOT happen.
Drinks for all, barman. Even for Gaz, that might cheer him up.
– ridiculous formulation in the following sentence too. Work may be disturbing me.
Don’t worry Ollie, I got your gist the first time. Plenty of mistakes in my posts too. My thumping head is what’s disturbing me 🙁
That’s because you are both wearing silly tin hats…..
haha, zico
zico, you are a genius 😉
Olllie @155 you are spot on, and today feels like a very fine day to be a Gooner.
Clive @142 that sounds like the Goonerholicus Interruptus syndrome, something with which I am entirely too familiar due to my six year old.
The bar’s open again, fine gooners. And there is bacon.
Lars – I agree with everything you wrote but I do think NB52 shouldnt be on the wing.
When you put him in to make a difference you shouldn’t put him on the wing and do exactly what you did this whole time – cross because you couldn’t breach the defense from the middle. If youre gonna cross he’s gotta be in the middle and be on the end of those crosses.
Ollie, you’ve got mail:)
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