Hit The Road Jack, And Won’t You Just Score One More
Apr 23rd, 2011 by 'holic
Manchester United’s late, late single goal triumph over Everton was just the sort of performance that is typical of champions elect at this stage of the season. However, until the seemingly inevitable transpires we have to target all three points at Bolton, and keep up the pursuit. Not winning will open up the possibility of United securing the title at our place next week. Unthinkable.
The only injury news that came out of the press conference on Good Friday is that Abou Diaby definitely misses the Bolton trip with a calf strain. Logically one would imagine that if Jack Wilshere is fresh that he will make a quick return to the side. Other than that it is hard to see any other changes if everybody is fully fit.
The travelling Gooners will once again get fully behind their team, and in a strong message during his press conference Arsene Wenger urged all who follow Arsenal to maintain their support in the remaining games, and hold any observations until the conclusion of the Premier League.
“Until the last second of the season I believe it is very important that everybody who loves this club fights together.”
It was interesting to hear the commentator comparing the atmosphere at Old Trafford as a goal-less draw potentially loomed, and that at the Grove in recent weeks. The perception of others that the home support is a contributing factor to recent dropped points is hard to argue against.
As for Bolton, they too are coming into the game with question marks being raised against them after their five goal defeat in the FA Cup semi-final last weekend. They have changed their style, as one would have expected under Owen Coyle, but still any team that includes Robinson and Davies is capable of damaging us in more ways than one. In Chung-Yong Lee and Johan Elmander though they have two of the most improved players in the top flight for my money.
How many times recently have I said that the score in this one could be anything. The ‘holic pound is ventured on the scoreline I would expect if both sides were at full strength and at it. Stan James goes 12/1 against a 3-1 away win, and I rather fancy that. An interesting little back-up could be Jack Wilshere to score at any time against the club where he spent time on loan last season. Coral offer a generous looking 13/2 against that happening. Come on Jack!
So all that remains is to get as many cans of Guinness in the fridge as I can tonight, decide whether to watch on the big screen indoors or laptop outside, and cross everything we can settle frayed nerves with a performance at the Reebok.
Come on you riproaring!
114 Responses to “Hit The Road Jack, And Won’t You Just Score One More”
Come on you rip roaring indeed – I’ll join you in that Guinness guvnor
Come on Arsenal we must win the last 5 games
Three points would do everyone a lot of good (cardiologists excepted). Win, and let’s see what happens. Chances are slim, but it’s a possibility that both Chelsea and us could beat Man U, putting the title on determination of goal difference. Time to boost that particular stat tomorrow.
A Guinness sounds delightful right now. I’ll have one please.
‘holic it seems time to raise expectations so the bt8bbnn money is on a 4-nil away win. Not to set us up for a letdown, but to inspire Theo to get that hattrick plus one we have been waiting for. Come on Theo!
Loving the Holic Bar.
I want us to draw or lose…….as we aren’t winning the PL this season….fact. This is the only way Wenger is going to realise that he needs to buy quality players and get shut of the pile of crap that he currently has.
Wenger is now really frustrating the hell out of the fans, and he wants us now to get behind the team, where do you think we’ve been all season……enough is enough your stubbornness has cost us trophies and you still going on about how Arsenal have fought beyond the expectation of everybody….please don’t make me laugh MR Wenger. Fans no longer want to see Bentner, Eboue, Denilson, Diaby, Scallachi, Almunia, Fabianski, Rosicky, Chamakh, Vela, Troure, Easmond, Mannone, It time for you to put a proper team together for next season if you cannot then get out.
Although there is some surgery to be carried out on the staff, I would never want anything other than a Gunners win!
I’m with you for a 3-1 away win.
CoYRRR’s
Andy, What if we did win the league? Slim chance, I know, but it’s still possible. That said, there is still much to play for this season. Second would be a step up from recent years. Avoiding the possibility of United being the first team to win the league at the Grove is crucial. Even staying in the Champions League is not a done deal yet (who would join us in the summer if we failed to qualify?).
Maybe I’m not a fan (not the case), but I would love to see Chamakh get a few more games this season. He was brilliant for us at the start. Some of those players you mentioned deserved their criticism, and I expect to see some of them go in the summer. But for now they are Arsenal players. They deserve our support when they take the pitch. You may hate them, but they wear our shirt.
Joshua, Chamakh was put on the cupboard shelf for no apparent reason other than the return of RVP from injury but if I’m not mistaken we were in first place when Chamakh was demoted. More generally, what is it with these end-of-season tailoffs. We seem to desperately need fresh bodies, and doesn’t Chamakh fit the bill?
Andy A, I have seen some posts in this last week, but yours takes the biscuit.
You want us to draw or lose? Unbelievable.
And please stop saying what ‘fans’ want. I don’t want anything of the sort. Neither do the majority of people I meet at the games. There are differences of opinion, but everybody I know will get behind this team until it is all over.
Then the debate will be interesting.
A message for Andy A – I’ve never understood the mentality of people who profess to be supporters and then say they want ‘their’ team to lose. Bonkers. I agree that some of those players you listed need to go (and it would help if you could spell some of their names correctly) and that Wenger is not without fault (who is?) , but if you really think Arsenal would be better off without Wenger you should consider a) what the alternatives are and b) what those alternatives would expect/need in order to do a better job. I can’t think of another manager who would have achieved what Wenger has done whilst at the same time leaving the club in such a healthy state financially. People like you have short memories and little patience. When Wenger finally does go maybe then you’ll realise what a great servant he’s been to Arsenal and show him the respect he deserves.
We need to thrash Bolton 6-0 to go back second on goal difference. Three for Theo and three for Jack would do it nicely.
I can’t think of another manager who would have achieved what Wenger has done whilst at the same time leaving the club in such a healthy state financially. quote.
Not really his job . A manager/ ? coach ? should only want to get success on the pitch. The financial aspect is down to others. Not his concern and neither should it be.
Hey guys I’ve been reading your posts and they are similar to many being posted on different sites on the web. I personally can’t see Me Wenger spending loads of cash in this summers transfer window if you look at his managerial track record he has never really spent big amounts of money. I can’t see him selling loads of players in the summer but certainly there are a few who should get the elbow… You all know who they are? One thing he must do is bring in a world class centre half to shore up our pathetic defence and Cahill would be the ideal choice but will Wenger splash £20m plus on one Player and would the said Cahill want to come to a club who are simply not good enough to win the premiership title
Just popping in for a quick drink.
Whilst I fully agree that there have been some comedy moments – how do the critics explain that our “pathetic defence” is the second best in the league? I admit that stat has me confused too.
And Andy A – thank you for boosting my self-esteem. I realise now that there is someone more silly than me!
I believe Chelski’s win today means the mancs can’t win it at our place.
I also believe manU’s goal was offside which hasn’t been mentioned much.
Not much less than robin’s disallowed onside goal in the global media. Still I take it that’s the difference between ‘fans’ wanting us to lose tomorrow or not, eh?
A drink for all the positive people around.
Catalan, has nobody told you our form is abysmal and we’re flirting with the relegation zone?
Andy A, so in essence what you are saying is that we have shit players managed by a shit manager.
Bloody hell, how poor must the 17 teams below us in the league be then???
Lets face it, Arsenal aren’t gunna win the prem this season. But the least we can do is going out wiv a banger and get some nice, healthy points on the board. The other day i had myself shocked that i was questioning myself whether we would be better off getting rid of wenger. As arrogant and stubborn as he is- we need him. 6 years without a trophy is not what we as Arsenal fans want, obviously; Yet if we look at the success he as brought us in 14 years, It is fantastic. In recent years we have lost many key players: Henry, Vieira, Keown, Dixon, Pires, Ljunberg, Adams, Seaman etc.. We cannot expect wenger to rebuild such a strong dominant title winning squad within 5 years, despite his intelligence and knowledge when it comes to potential signigs it is still sometimes a small matter of trial and error. However, i do believe wenger needs to delve into the transfer kitty a bit deeper this summer and somewhat transform a few departments of our squad!
We need to get the squad to the same point Mourinho reached at Chelsea: two top-class players for each position and all 22 able to play in three or four formations so losing a player for a game can be covered with one of near equal quality and things can be switched around during a game as needed. It would take a superstar to break into our fully fit first XI. I don’t think many if any of Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny/Djourou, Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Nasri, Fabregas, Walcott and Van Persie would be on many fans’ fire-sale list for the summer. That is a team good enough to win cups and titles galore if it can get its collective head around doing so. But when we have to put in Eboue for Sagna, Rosicky for Nasri or Denilson for Song &c we look a decidedly weaker team.
Problem with our fans is that too many are hoping we lose the league and finish 3rd to try to get a point across to Wenger that the team isnt good enough. But we should just get behind the team for 5 fucking games and lets see what happens. If we win the PL, great our team is improving but there is still some deadweight to be dropped. If we lose the PL there is still some deadweight to bee dropped.
Wolf do you believe that? You think more than I dunno 10% want us to end on a bad run, finish 3rd or 4th, end a long unbeaten run and see a squad with heightened self doubt start all over again in August. To prove a point?
I hope you’re wrong….it’s probably good I’m too far away to go to matches anymore if you’re right as I’d go mental with those around me.
Does anyone support a club ever hoping they lose games to prove a point? How is that supporting? I simply can’t get my head around EVER wanting us to lose a game…or games. I assumed Andy A was the only person on the planet with such a bizarre mentality. What next…I hope ‘fill in the blank’ does his achilles next match so that so and so can play? Last time I checked supporting Arsenal wasn’t like hoping an ex-girlfriend really misses you……shit analogy I realise but so is the initial concept. I want us to win all of our remaining games and after finishing 1st or 2nd as a result strengthen a bit over the summer. Not have a crisis with looking for a new manager (which won’t happen anyway) and taking the Man City approach to the transfer market.
Well fxxk me read it all now fans? Wanting The Ars to lose…
It seems to me that AW has not helped himself over the last couple of days with quotes associated to him with regards to, “NO wholesale clearouts”… I’m hoping this is just AW playing the politician the way he does very well?
Because if that’s how he actually see’s the situation then believe me we have @ least another 6 barren years ahead of us to look forward to.
The people I speak to on this subject, are all in pretty much in agreement that WE would not be anywhere near the consistency with regards to “game win ratio”, when you consider we have had NO sugar daddy all these years, but in that time AW has managed to saddle us with some long term failures highly paid too. Now agreed that’s with hindsight, but he now needs to bring-in the young players & give them their chance from on loan, because they are not going to be any worse in most instances technically & defiantly more hungry for success , while getting rid of the non performers of the last 2/3 years.
The money he would recoup on sales & wages alone would give him enough to bring-in two top flight players still keeping the nucleus of the team intact, & that’s without Stan’s Millions……….
http://www.express.co.uk/ourcomments/view/242600
Sanity at last ‘holic, but you had best avoid the repetitive spoiled club level cunts today.
Oldgooner: sanity at last indeed, but even he makes the mistake of thinking Squillaci was ever meant as anything more than a squad player who was supposed to start maybe five or six league games and the odd cup game. The big buy in defense was Koscielny who was supposed to be eased into the team along with Djourou. No-one, absolutely no-one, could have forseen Vermaelen breaking down for the rest of the season just after the transfer window closed. Yes, we could have bought someone in January, but I am one hundred percent certain that Arsene did try to sign Gary Cahill but that he was simply too expensive (he’s a decent player but not worth anywhere near the reported £20m that Bolton asked for).
old, please,
No more. You are just doing what they want, which is to drive a wedge between Arsenal supporters. Most understand that.
As someone wise said in another place this week, don’t pick a fight with a pig because you will both get dirty and only the pig will be happy.
There won’t be a fire sale at the Grove this season – rosicky’s contract is finished so he’ll go for nothing – Bendtner and Eboue are favourites to go -Bendy – get as much as you can AW maybe swap deal with Dortmund for Subotic – and Eboue to the scum dwelling shite with no Marks and Spencers – to improve their defence and make every Arsenal piss themselves laughing. Come Arsenal finish the season as well as you can – five wins please!
Andy A – stop talking shite please!
There are rumblings of a bit of turnover, K, but not just one or two we wouldn’t miss these days.
The replacements will be a combination of purchases and promotion for a couple of the kids, it would appear.
As long as the purchases are for first-choice players in obvious weak spots, not squad-fillers, I think most will accept that.
Anyway, the time for discussing that is when it happens.
Concur we don’t need much and haven’t done for 2 or 3 seasons I just hope this is the summer the right buys are made whether they cost 5mill or 20mill I’m not fussed, As long as it looks like the club are prepared to give themselves the best chance of achieving then that’s good by me, Have they done that the past few years probably not hence the built up frustrations.
Anyways onto today is another rip roaring affair on the cards mr thinks so will be having a bit on your prediction Holic but also 4-1+4-2 !! you never can tell with this lot 🙂
Out of interest do you think Chamakhs on the out list ?? Cannot even begin to explain his situation he carried us at the seasons begining but seems well and truely frozen out it’s not like he’d complained in the papers or anything it just all seems weid but hey ho,
Up The Arse.
I would be upset if he was, Chippy. Kept us in the hunt until RvP got fit, then not treated well thereafter in my eyes. Not sure how he fell behind Bendtner in the pecking order.
If the shape of the side changes a bit in the summer I hope we will find a way to accommodate him and RvP next season. Having got used to the Premiership for a year I still think he could be a top, top striker next season.
3 points today please. Nothing more, nothing less. I will save my comments about the criticism of the home support for another day.
Holden in the express makes some great points in my humble opinion.
Our defense is currently 4th in goals conceded at 34. Chelsea leads at 27. Normally 4th best defense isn’t league winning form. But if we put two past ManU when we play and keep a clean sheet, we’ll join them in 3rd and do our goal difference some help. First let’s see a big win v. Bolton–doing at least what Stoke did to them would be nice!
Like others, I think it would be interesting to play Chamakh more. Perhaps with RvP on the left instead of bringing on Bendtner on the right, if there are substitutions today.
It seems like Fergie has figured out how to play us, so if it worked well today, perhaps we could play Chamakh against ManU.
oldgooner , the article is spot on , holden article is excellent .
what happen to chamalk ?
“He’s out training today (Vermaelen). He’s a great leader. Maybe we need more leaders on the pitch. Cesc [Fabregas] and Robin [van Persie] are the main two who always try and inspire us. Samir [Nasri] as well. Maybe a few more additions like that.”
This has put a big wide smile back on my face.
😀
*the acknowledgement of the NEED for some strong leaders to be added to the squad that is.
Afternoon all.
Just popped in for a tipple which I’ll be taking out to the beer garden before setting up in front of the tv in the bar, but before I go I’d just like to congratulate Andy A for his nomination for WUM of the year (it was a wind up…. right????) and ask Clockendboy in which universe is Gary Cahill considered a “world class” defender? I’ll admit he’s decent, but his price tag stinks of Englishoverratedness (a new word I just invented). Do you really think any club outside the PL would even give it a fleeting thought about spending 20mil plus on the likes of Cahill, Lescott, Barry or 30mill plus on Caroll? Ofcourse they wouldn’t.
Three pints please squire to go with the three points we’ll be celebrating later.
Cheers.
God would you listen to that Walrus twonk on Sky – he makes me want to puke.
We’ll see how Arsenal is going to play today and where they end up at the end of the season. So far the Arsenal players have been a bunch of bottlers…..can’t win a game…you Wenger lovers need to wake up….Wenger point blank tells you to shut up and let me do things my way…..the fans have control if they want to but you are too scared to speak out. We had the league this season in our hands had only Wenger spent a bit of money in the January transfer. Since Dean left Wenger has been clueless and stubborn. In Arsene we rust…..
The reason for my previous post is i know if we win our last remaining games and still not win the PL, Wenger will not invest in new players……he will turn around and say we were close and therefore there is no need to buy any players, he will also tell you that the average team is 23 years of age who have over achieved this season and will be better next season……same bullshit every year from Wenger. If you are all happy to finish 3rd/4th every season then you no longer believe Arsenal are a big club and have short memories.
Andy A – your credibility was blown with your opening comment @ 6 – best take your leave and get over to Le Groan where you will find the rest of the 10 year olds….
Andy A – you wrote
“The reason for my previous post is i know if we win our last remaining games and still not win the PL, Wenger will not invest in new players”
How do you know this? Time travel? Arsene’s gardener? Or are you simply full of shit? Ultimately then you’d hate us to win the league this year because it means we’d keep most of the players that won us the league.
Hate to tell you but if we finish 2nd and were predicted by all and sundry to be 4th or 5th we have overachieved. That would be the definition.
Here’s an example….if we look at your first post and say ‘that’s crap…he could never write as much nonsense again’ your last post would be overachieving.
Do you even read what you write?
We need to wake up here. We are so laboured at times.
We are a mess at the back. A shambles at times.
We are playing like a sunday leagew team today! Come on you REDS!
Once again we have forgotten how to score, all we are doing is heads down and charge the bolton brick wall
So so frustrating
@Tim Merrick – you are full of shit…..keep ya fkkkin laugange down dick head….
Are you watching the game…..tell me if you can see a champion winning team or a team that is going to finish above Chelski. We don’t have the quality and can only play tippy tappy football with no end product, Defence speaks for its self.
Sweet finish RvP…..come on Gunners
Justice.
That was never a pen and muamba should be off.
Poor first half but chesney has woken us up. Well done lad.
Come on you Gooners!
Yes Andy you muppet….we just saved a pen and went down the other end and scored a cracker…..don’t be annoyed if we win…there’s a good little girl.
Which game you watching?
Afternoon All!
I realise this is premature and is likley to bite me up the bum before the end of the match but 1-0 down just before half time, penalty against us just after, Szczesny saves and then RVP equalises. All away from home and in front of some of the best away support in the land.
Mental strength? Justified league position? I think so…
Andy A,
Sorry but that’s bordering on shameful posting. Suggest politely that you man up, get behind your team and support them – that means through thick and thin.
@ True Story you’re right mate….just frustraintion coming out when i think back how many needless points we have dropped this season. We would have been champions had we stayed focus.
Apologies to all gooners if i have offended anyone. i do want us to win all our last remaining games like i said it just frustration.
Andy A,
That’s the spirit. We should all save our invective for those that are against us.
Have we finally gone 4-4-2 this afternoon with Chamakh on for Song? 🙂
Disgrace nothing else someting reminds me of last season:
Shocking absoulutely SHOCKING!
TS, We’re definitely in the thin part right now.
Bunch of overpaid idiots, you have to earn you vicotries but never like this. I feel ashamed my team has no guts what so ever!
Joshua,
Yep, no doubt about that 🙁
Happy Andy? Hope so……
second place now maybe?
A Jack Daniels please barman…
make it a double….drinks all round.
Feel sorry for the boys and Arsene actually. This season has been especially cruel.
This was one of those games where poor decisions went against us again!
What happened to Theo’s penalty claim in the first 5 minutes?
What happened to the yellow card Davies should have got for his challenge in the first half!
These sorts of decisions change games! Sure we’ve made a few mistakes in games but there is a good handful or more of poor decisions against us which have left us chasing in the title race rather than leading.
As I said poor decisions change games!
2 poor bits of defending leads to 2 corners. We then concede from both corners. We then spend hours with the ball trying to walk it through the middle. We forget how to make the keeper work.
Is there anyone else who thinks we might have been here before?
Embarrassing. And people here wonder why the home supporters get a tad Fucking frustrated?
Some fecker pulled the emergency cord on the HT – the tossers at Sky all seem delighted…..
GT. Please tell me that is meant to be funny? We lost because of poor decisions? Please tell me you were trying to be funny.
Steve T –
Those two corners came after those two bad decisions against us
Steve T –
I’m not laughing. So are you telling me the penalty decision against us awarded to Bolton was the right decision?
I can’t believe I have read that. We have conceded goals again from set pieces and we are looking to blame others? A second half with all the ball and I dont remember a save of note.
Head out of the sand time boys. It has been the same for at least 2 years now.
Steve T –
Yes we could have played a lot better in parts this season but there have been just as many bad decisions which have cost us
Do you believe in bad luck and bad decisions….we’ve also led the league in hitting the woodwork this season too…..17 times now I believe
I hate to say it but you are very wrong. We have been undone by the same mistakes that have cost us for 2 years. You seek solace by blaming the officials if you want. I hope it eases the pain.
For me the team set up was wrong from the start.
Alright RvP scored but he missed a fair few as he wasn’t in the box to score from the crosses that were put in; RvP is not a front man but far better just behind or coming in off the right (as he does for Holland).
Chamakh should be playing up top with RvP behind; plus Chamakh is excellent at helping the defence on set pieces and corners and could well have helped to prevent the two goals we conceded today.
Wenger claims that we should play our attacking play and just outscore the other team but I have yet to see us set up to play this way.
Wenger’s tactics have really letting us down all season.
Ditto Bendtner playing on the wing instead of up top.
We really are not playing to our (or individual players) strengths.
Double me up, barman. It’s gonna be a long night here tonight. And someone invite Arsene to the bar and buy him a drink.
He looks truly stuck. He’s done so much for the club and assembled some amazing players together. I wonder if it’s not less lack of leadership but lack of concern by too many. It’s hard to imagine Cesc, RVP, Nasri, Wilshere, Szcz need motivation. What it seems they need to see is a tougher Wenger who is willing to be tough on those not towing the line. I DO NOT want to see this man go, I love him at the club. But he needs help right now, I think he’s been too isolated and I don’t know who’ll give it to him. It’s a bit idiotic of me to ponder in the dark, but I doubt anyone other than RVP gives honest feedback and support to the man….
I’ll never forget Berbatov getting a penalty against Liverpool in the FA cup in the first 9 seconds. Utd go on to win the match!
Decisions change games. We get that penalty Bolton come out and play we are likely to get a second!
Do we then lose the lead? Who knows? We haven’t conceded from a set piece for a very long time if my memory serves me right!
@tim 69. pre match stats said we hit the woodwork 20 times. with cesc’s attempt it went up to 21.
Steve T –
I am blaming the officials for their decisions in this game and when they have cost us 3 points throughout the season!
So similar to the 07-08 season.atleast we had injuries to blame it on that season.Every match a different person makes a mistake.Surely that shows a flaw in the coaching methods?
I feel sorry for jack and chesney.They deserve better.
Steve T – is right – our defending at set pieces is STILL piss poor – Song goes to sleep for the first, and JD compounds a nightmare day by not being alert enough for the second.
Meanwhile, we have the Fabregas and Nasri continually trying to put the ball through the eye of a needle but with the exception of Nasri’s miss and Robin’s goal we did not make their keeper make one save.
I can’t fault the team for their effort, and I particularly feel for our keeper who made some great saves including a penalty, but there is an element of “what have we learned” about today, for me.
Of course decisions change games. Like the decision not to mark properly at a corner. Like the decision to try and pass through a brick wall. Like the decision not to shoot.
The ref was poor today but not the reason we lost the game. We lost because it was the same old same old. And people need to wake up to it. We do have wonderful players, but put then together do they make a wonderful team? Now there’s one for you.
midas –
To be fair in 07-08 we had alot of politics surrounding the club and we were hovering around 5th place for about a month with talk of Villa taking the final Champions League spot until Arshavin single handedly arrived and salvaged our season. The following year we sold a striker and defender
This year were in the title race from the start until now
Zico –
Ganging up are we? Has this got something to do with me saying RVP & Co played with the invincibles a few weeks ago? 😉
gt-i meant the 07-08 season not the 08-09.we were top of the league by 6 points in jan that season.
Steve T –
Our marking on set pieces has been the best in the league that I will grant you. However there were many set pieces in the game which we defended well. Bolton are a good set piece team with alot of tall and physically imposing players. I did notice alot of our players try to keep the ball in play rather than concede a set piece.
But I am sure you will agree if we get our penalty in the first 5 minutes we have a different game on our hands.
GT read the holden comment in the express.
B0llocks.
I’ll have a large brandy.
And if anyone can arrange for the season to end now then that would be much appreciated.
Chin up Arsene – get them sorted over the summer and we’ll go again next season. Til then, if anyone needs me I’ll be drowning my sorrows in the derailed chassis of the happy train.
midas –
07-08 was magic. I reckon with the right decisions and luck on our side, despite the flaws of the team we would have had a 07-08 season on our hands again. Hopefully without the determination towards the end 😉
Until the Carling Cup final we were the best team in the league where we had conceded a lot of set pieces by then
**sips on an evian**
LOL,
Goonertown @ 82
“But I am sure you will agree if we get our penalty in the first 5 minutes we have a different game on our hands.”
Yep –
Tottenham (h)
Tottenham (a)
Liverpool (h)
Newcastle (a)
off the top of my head without any real thought. All those games make me completely agree with you that had we got an early lead against Bolton, or perhaps even a 98th minute lead against Bolton, this team has a track record of holding on to a lead, protecting it’s defence and closing out a game.
Steve T –
With all due respect mental strength in difficult times at times can push teams over the line.
Where does that mental strength come from? It comes from winning trophies in my opinion. Once you pop your cherry you then start to become better at it (pardon the expression)
Mental strength? Interesting one that. Do you think that if we had kept some of our experienced players rather than selling them and not replacing them that we would have more proven leaders with the required mental strength?
AndyC –
Precisely, at the end of the season I’m going to collect all of the stats and post them unless I’m beaten to it and our point will be proven.
I still believe this team is really close. The team is getting the experience and tough seasons like these will thicken their skins.
I just hope our best players stay and not get blinded by so called golden paved stadiums.
GT. Your last line says it all. Lots and lots and lots of hope.
Steve T-
Yeah that’s been my only gripe to tell you the truth but we are getting there.
This squad can only get better with the right adjustments. I reiterate we need to keep our best players. If you look at the life span of most of the invincible squad etc some were with the club longer than some of our squad and reserves have been alive, with all due respect. But at the same time some of the players had to play more than 5 seasons before winning anything! Most championship winning sides have a veteran amongst their ranks!
Not to deflated as the season was over weeks ago the draws at home to Sunderland and Blackburn done for us what I will say tho organisation costs fuck all the best back 5 this countrys ever seen was put together for relative peanuts but it was drilled and drilled and drilled some more
I get the sense that all our training is geared to getting and holding the ball in tight situations when maybe we’d be better advised to work the back 4 till they drop oh and for fucks sake shooooooooooooot 🙂
Steve T –
Yeah that is because without enough belief from the club to the supporters some players may get nervous 😉
St Totteringham’s day can’t come soon enough.
Chippy –
The belief has deteriorated since the CC final! To me that’s an issue! But they are getting there!
A fresh pre-season without any international tournaments during the summer, everybody fit, our best players and whatever additions if any with everyone a year older…I believe we can go all the way!
I think we should have at least aimed for an equalizer today. That unbeaten run was so important! 😉
Have a drink on my tab guys!
This is what supporter Arsenal is all about! 😉
GT:
We need a Vieira-type leader or two.
That, or we could always try to accelerate Wilshere’s aging.
If 1st half was frustrating then 2nd was far far worse
Harking back to the invincibles (so long ago) they were better than todays squad because they scored more than they let in – consistently.
Todays team playing 1, 2 and a half, 2, 4, 1 or whatever it was, failed to score in a huge number of attempts, whereas the REAL top teams always have at least 2 defined scorers up front and rarely fail to score.
@71jar and Goonertown say it clearly – we are not good enuff
You cant blame the supporters or the board – in the end its all down to AW and his one way of playing…
Arsenal Fan 1: What about last season?
Arsenal Fan 2: What about it?
Arsenal Fan 1: They were rubbish. They were f—ing rubbish.
Arsenal Fan 2: They weren’t that bad.
Arsenal Fan 1: They were f—ing rubbish last year. And they were f—ing rubbish the year before. And I don’t care if they are top of the League, they’ll be f—ing rubbish this year, too. And next year. And the year after that. I ain’t joking.
Arsenal Fan 2: I don’t know why you come, Frank. Honest I don’t.
Arsenal Fan 1: Well, you live in hope, don’t you?
—Fever Pitch
49 Unbeaten @ #100,
Nice one. A bit of humour and perspective does wonders to ease the pain.
OK, so only two goals left now this season:
1) Beat Manure.
2) Finish above Chelski
Both will be extremely tough but achievable. Do we really want Manure to beat Chelski now??? *pukes into LWC bucket*
zico,
I’ve decided that HT keeps going no matter what. I’m supping double JDs & coke in the buffet car. It’s all about attitude and perspective. Plus a healthy dose of keeping your fingers plugged in your ears whilst saying ‘LALALALALALALA’ very loudly 😉
GoonerTown,
I like your positive stance but they are a long way from getting there in fact I carnt see any improvement we still make the same basic mistakes throughout the side certain individuals cost us time and time again we have no width and are lacking a DM that knows the role and all it entails, Weve found a keeper mind which is a bonus !!!
Steve T @89, yes we dismantled the 03-04 side a bit too quickly. But that is in the distant past. The question is how do you repair the situation now? The important thing is continuity in the experience, where you have older, leaders who have won with Arsenal and create an atmosphere in which the younger players can grow. At the moment, how beneficial would it be to just add experience to this team? After all, Squillaci is an experienced CB who has won titles and played in the CL and for France. We had Gallas before him. What to do?
TS
Great post.
What a beacon in the darkness this place has been over the last few weeks.
Goonertown @ 80 – not ganging up at all – just agreeing with Steve that some old flaws have not been addressed – that and our offensive play being one dimensional. I don’t think we are far away but don’t think we help ourselves in some ways.
I expect that I will be more optimistic come tomorrow – that’s the way it always is.
It’s all very frustrating and disappointing and you can clearly see it on Arsene too – he just hasn’t looked at all well since the Carling Cup final in February!
He’s been let down very badly by several players that he’s put alot of faith in over the years and for whatever reason (i.e. Just not good enough, too inexperienced and naive, or just can’t be bothered) he and Kroenke can’t let it go on for the sake of his own health and the club! Changes will now definitely take place post-season both on and off the pitch as Arsene knows he doesn’t have much time left with this expensive deadwood!
Thanks N7.
I thought 49s well chosen excerpt was far better.
zico will come around soon too.
Gt always positive.
We must also listen to the realisitc comments from the faithful like Steve T and others who go to games week-in and week-out. Without those kinds of supporters, our club will be in trouble
My main concern now is with our own supporters. We’re more powerful than we think. What we say really matters. No doubt in my mind that there are people in Ivan’s team taking the temperature of this and other sites. Imagine the feedback they have to give after reading the comments in LG?
To all those that will no doubt creep out of the wordwork later to vent bile and worse on our team/management/club: Please, think before you type before you post.
Cheers all!
Just watched AW’s interview after the match on the BBC (couldn’t face it at the time). I feel for the guy. Whatever faults lie there he is a fantastic manager and he has certainly given everything for the club – he looks devastated.
I would love to know how he sees this in private though. Comments of “don’t blame the players, blame me” seem wide of the mark for me as there are some basic fundamental weaknesses in this team and I can’t help but feel that the players have really let him down this year.
Not sure what the answer is, probably Wenger is pushing too far up the wrong path, but we are almost a good team, just not quite there.
Agreed we have had some bad luck, but we seem to have such a victim-like response to every setback, and the loss of the CC final has done the exact opposite of galvanise these players to the extent that any conclusion of leadership / mental strength has to go against these guys.
Bah – it’ll be the same again next season. We’ll get our hopes up, we’ll fall apart, I’ll get cross and I’ll still be glad I’m not a Spud!!!
Plenty of setbacks this season, many of which could’ve been avoided.
Just need to get these last 4 games out of the way and as others have said, at least try and get 2nd place. No consolation, given our position 2 months ago, but nonetheless, important.
Just want the season to end, but until then, there’s always alcohol!!! A pint of Guinness please and one for whoever cares to join me.
CoYRRR’s
PS. Great support once again today. Top stuff, which really deserved a lot more by way of a result.
Well done Bolton don’t think it’s been said yet?
Afraid the same old problems surfaced today with The Ars, struggled against a big physical team once again.
But also have to agree, hate to see AW in so much pain, not healthy & he deserves more from people he has put his trust in, lads you should be ashamed of yourselves on that display.
Roll on next season.
“Things can only get better”………….
110 –
When, exactly, do things begin to “get better,” and why, exactly? We have a manager who has unshakable belief in a side which has produced nothing in years. He sees no need for major changes. Just a tweak here, a bit of luck there. And if things still don’t go his way, it must be because of:
– Bad officiating
– Bad pitch
– Too many London derbies
– Schedule compression
– …
He may have taught this group to play beautiful football, but he also teaches them by his act and deed, virtually every week, that if they lose – hey, it’s not their fault. Something ELSE caused them to lose.
He’s delusional.
This is what arsenal need:
Out: Eboue, Denilson, Arshavin, Almunia, Squillaci, Rosicky, bendtner.
In: Neuer, Hazard, Cahill, Subotic, Richards, Gourcuff, De rossi.
And Remy or Benzema
Off topic….but something I wrote for one of my blogs today…
http://www.worldservicebulletins.com/bin-ladens-death-leaves-a-big-question-unanswered-was-he-an-arsenal-supporter/