Villains Occupy Our Thoughts This Weekend.
Jan 27th, 2012 by 'holic
Indeed they do. Those who favour the claret and blue and M&B mild, and those who seem to have canines far smarter than their owners. Harry can wait for another week or so as the judicial process takes place.
In the wake of subgate we face top flight opposition this weekend with a place in the last sixteen of the FA Cup up for grabs. The game itself seems to be taking a back seat to the news of Jack Wilshere’s “little setback“. Let’s wait and see just how bad the news is before unleashing the hounds of wrath (a cross between the hound of the Baskervilles and the grapes of wrath, but enough about piles). I digress. Almost overshadowed by the bad tidings was the news that we may well be welcoming some important faces back this weekend.
When the team is announced on Sunday we will know just how serious Arsene truly is about the FA Cup, and how much he feels we need to keep players fresh for the joint attempts to succeed in the Champions League this season and qualify for it next time round. If Bacary Sagna, Mikel Arteta, Thierry Henry, and Francis Coquelin are back I think our back five picks itself under normal circumstances. Wojciech Szczesny should be behind Sagna, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, and Thomas Vermaelen.
With Arteta fit again one I am guessing most would like to see him back alongside Alex Song, although ahead of them opinion will be divided between Tomas Rosicky and Aaron Ramsey. Up top I would retain last Sunday’s starting trio, but gut feel tells me at least one of Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie, or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be on the bench, if not two. Of course we will know for sure where this competition features on the radar an hour before kick-off. If some of the names above give way to Yennaris, Djourou, Coquelin, Benayoun, Arshavin, Henry, or Park then we will have our answer.
Your appreciation of Villa this season may have been tainted by the arrival on the scene of one Alexander Mcleish. No more than some Villa fans I know, however. The wrong ‘un is a blue, through and through, they assure me. I’m not about to argue. His antics in 2008 still stick in the craw. The likelihood of seeing Hutton and Keane in the opposition ranks adds to the spice that could be added to the mix.
I have thought long and hard about suggesting the ‘holic pound at this stage. So much will depend on how strong a side we put out. I’m going to assume we go with a line-up thought just ‘strong enough’ and punt on a nervous single goal triumph. Gunners Gaming have a tasty looking 36/5 against 2-1, and I am definitely having a nibble at that.
As usual, to those who are going I wish a good afternoon. Let’s get behind the side from the off and give them every reason to return the effort.
Have a good one ‘holics.
313 Responses to “Villains Occupy Our Thoughts This Weekend.”
First?
*Does a series of somersaults and thanks the crowd*
*Gets about reading the post while the strains of Ackee one-two-three flow through his head*
Morocco have just gone out of the ACN, so Chamakh will be on his way back after their last group match on Tueaday. Try to all contain your excitement at his speedy return!
4pm coffee break. Nice work ‘Holic.
Great post Holic, and I think you nailed it when you said “let’s get behind the team etc….”
It’s important to put Subgate behind us and focus on a different challenge now…
Trev – non Arsenal related, but how long does it take a person with a high ankle sprain to be ready to go? And what limitations in his movement will he show, if any?
Bit of an early preview for a Sunday game, ‘Holic?
I can only assume Management has you traipsing round Sainsbury’s tomorrow (or worse, Ikea) 😉
Subgate sounds a bit like a toothpaste.
And what zico just said ;).
For a moment I was worried I’d have to take the train tomorrow already.
Charlie@4: just what we were hoping for – Chamakh going to Africa and failing miserably and coming back with even less confidence…
Never ever go to Ikea. Ever. Punto.
Snir
Just how high is this ankle? I mean, are we talking PiK high or Harsha? It makes a difference to the prognosis.
Listening to Lou Reed. There’s a baby in a box apparently. Not entirely normal.
Where ate you Dr F??
Thanks Holic as usual you’ve distraceted me nicely for a good 10 mins! I hope for a win but arsene’s gotta (well ok he’s not gotta do ought) put more priority on the league. The cup’d be great, really really great but the league (premier and champions) pay the bills. Mind you the players might like playing with out the pressure of the leauge (I think thats called a handbrake isn’t it?) anyhoo ack to work!
Yes. Ate.
gretskieboy: but then again, if we would manage to win the cup then that would at least mean an end to the incredibly tiresome “haven’t won anything for X years” claptrap we’ve been fed for so long. And maybe the confidence from a good cup run (even if we don’t win it) will help our league campaign?
Spot on ‘Holic, i think! Kind of lost track of all the varying combinations of returners, starters and subs, but yeah !!
Snir –
at the risk of causing you serious mental anguish, the news on high ankle sprains is not good.
I don’t know where you got the diagnosis, but here goes –
A high ankle sprain is caused by damage to the ligaments that bind the two bones of the lower leg together at the level of the ankle joint.
In other words the ligaments that join the Tibia and Fibula, and you would feel that on the outside of the ankle joint.
It can vary in degree from an inflammation, through a partial tear to a full rupture.
There is another condition which is very similar called Pott’s Syndrome, where the Fibula actually fractures at it’s weakest point, around 5 cms above the joint.
It normally occurs as an alternative to the classic lateral ligament sprain, where the ligament tears below the ankle joint.
Recovery time depends on the severity of the injury, but is likely to be anywhere between 6 weeks and 4 months to regain ‘football fitness’.
Now, sit down, take three deep breaths and then PPAANNIICCC !!!
We were nil-one down at the Emirates
When the man scored two
It was Thierry Henru
That should satisfy the 36/5 punters among us, I should think.
True Lars. But I’m fairly sure the “they’ve not won anything for meh!” with some other stick, even a team thats winning gets beaten with something! But a good cup run, beating some good teams should help at least me feel better. well until I realise its football and have to get on with something I get payed for 🙁
and P.S. that Mcleish character, he’s a card. Shouldn’t he only come out on haloween?
sorry missed out “will be replaced by some other stick”
McLeish and Birmingham make me sick, I hope the latter doesn’t ungrace the Premier League with their presence for a good few seasons. Villa used to be my 2nd team of sorts, but they’ve been ruined, Forever! For me with McLeish at the helm. (Not forever but for the forseeable future.)
And Catalan, about that ‘Going Underground’ song by The Jam you posted a few bars ago, its one of those songs for me that I know slightly subconsciously by ear, not by name. Timeless tune 🙂
Does this bar ever have a Ladies Night?
Hope we see the strongest team possible go for it! Trev @ 15 I was winching reading,let’s hope it’s the the lesser of two evils..
Garsguns @22 –
did you hear about the two twin weavels who were born in South Carolina ?
One moved to Hollywood and became a famous film star and lived in a mansion with a fabulous swimming pool.
The other one just stayed at home and grubbed around in the dirt and never really amounted to anything.
He became known as the lesser of two weavels 😉
Wasp –
only if you call Wolfie and The Ladyboy Massive “ladies” 🙁 🙁
We need a Vladimir Petrovic moment or two on Sunday.
Wasp @ 21: Yes I think that Clive was thinking of something like that (0;
Holic, As ship captain you’ve managed to keep us afloat with your humour and wisdom, for that I’m ever so grateful. For Sunday, I’d like to see TR start, he put in an impressive shift against Manu and I think he is a more creative player then Ramsey. Dearly hoping Arteta is fit to start as he has been the catalyst in many of the games we won. Anyway, enjoy your day off tomorrow with the Management, you both deserve it. Cheers!
Trev@23 nice il go with either weavel,I think they got it on fox across the pond,where are all the locals tonight??heard something bought a strike but this is taking the …
Thanks for the match preview ‘Holic, great write up per usual.
Great preview post Holic. I saw McLeish giving it the big one in the Sun talking about he’s responsible for our bad end of season last year. Presumptuous wanker much?
Anyway, let’s see if we can make him pay for being a fat, budget David Caruso
MaKE McLeish PAY. Put him his place. NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
Trev – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-6z3TG0RFo
This is the injury. He went to the locker room and got the ankle retaped and came back for the 4th quarter somewhat limited and not his usual self (extremely agile for a 6′ 6 265 pound guy)…Yes, he really did come back for the 4th quarter.
This happened Sunday.
Can he play, his usual agile game in two weeks from now on Sunday the 5th of February?
Forgot to mention that it was revealed as a high ankle sprain to the media on Thursday and he has missed practice on Thursday and Friday.
The media here is adamant that he’ll play even if he’ll be a bit limited.
Please help me out and calm me down. The fact that he came back has to be a good sign, doesn’t it???
We are extremely fucked if Gronk is out. Reduces our chances by 50% at least.
For your listening pleasure: http://youtu.be/jralrUt5gu8
And this id for Clive: http://youtu.be/1DkuXBsHytE
This works for me when I imagine Arsene Wenger as Peter Cooke and Dudley Moore as a potential fullback we are looking at: http://youtu.be/wFA4zCgN8ys
Wow. Pete and Dud. More golden memories. There are some geezers in this bar, and no mistake.
Lars@9: Chamakh didn’t even make the Morocco starting line-up.
After effects of food poisoning, apparently.
Snir, you bugger!
I don’t think I’m alone in thinking you had the diagnosis on Jack!
I hope your Grock chap makes it, but reading Trev’s info it doesn’t sound likely. The fact that he came back out probably demonstrates stupidity / desperation rather than good news – playing on when injured invariably leads to greater injury. Ligaments are worse then muscles in healing.
Great youtube crawl last night Holic.
Hurricane – hope you were watching! 🙂
CG – yeah I got the diagnosis because I can speak Wengerian but I don’t know any medical stuff.
As for Gronk, I don’t care if he’s injured for a year now after the Super Bowl as long as he plays next Sunday.
A couple of painkillers, injections and all that and he should be good, no?
It wouldn’t be the first time that they mess up the long term career for short term glory.
A lot will probably depend on the stability of the joint rather than the pain.
Bullets in the post?
Class, Chelski fans, just class.
#racistscum#
At least he doesn’t play for Arsenal. Otherwise he’d be out for “maximum ten days” = 18 months.
SHORT TERM GLORY!?!?!?!??!?!?!
It’s the F***ing Super Bowl…
That’s forever..!!! 🙂
I’m having a Super Bowl of cereals. Very short term.
Morning all.
Haha Catalan @ 41, I saw the links on Twitter but I wasn’t watching, conked out after winning the season on Fifa 12 against my Mate who’s a shifty B*rca fan.
It’s quiet.
Has everyone gone to the game already?
nudges for the half century…. unlike England!
Darren Bent had some great things to say about Henry this week. He described the scene after the up coming match like this. “I know 7 or 8 of our players will be rushing up to Henry to get his shirt”. Kinda made me smile. Speaking of Bent makes me think of penalty kicks. Can’t remember the last time Arsenal was awarded one this season…
Good post ‘Holic, piles of fun in fact 🙂
A back-5 of Woj, Bac, Verm, Kos & Sacks fills me with hope for the rest of the season. A bit of Coq in midfield should also bring a smile to at least some faces if accompanied with with a Song and Our-teta. Is it time for Titi to start a game with RVP as the ultimate impact sub?
I also think the game will be tough and nervy. From our last encounter at their place, they have some seriously decent forward players in the shape if Agbonlahor and Albrighton (spelling?). With Gooner Bent back too, we’ll need maximum concentration for the full 90 if we are to keep a clean sheet. I’m going for the old 1-0 but what do I know? Any victory against McLeish will be enjoyed, we still owe him.
‘Afternoon Wind, Snir, Dr.C & Ollie.
Ollie – Power breakfasts?
Wind – a shifty Barca fan, surely not?
Dr.C – *applauds politely, returns to the pavillion*
Snir – How’s this for -ve Wengarian? “Jack’s a little bit the f*cked but I have a huge squad and Diaby should be back in light training before Jack is”
Pfffft….
UTA!
abb: the last penalty we got was against Aston Villa away just before Xmas. That is one of only two we have been awarded all season (the other one was away at ManU, RvP missed it) in all competitions. We should have been a lot more than two, so let’s hope luck evens itself out and we get a few deciding ones go our way instead in what’s left of the season.
Lars, didn’t realise it was only two all season!!! Well said though.
TS: speaking of the Villains, our stats v them in the last few years are a bit peculiar. We haven’t lost at their place for over ten years but we’ve only beaten them once at home for over six years. Since beating them at Highbury early in the 2005/6 season we’ve only beaten them once at the Emirates, and they did of course also have the cheek to score the first ever Premier League goal at the Emirates (the bastards!) in that opening game of the 2006/7 season.
Lars
Nice research. I’m sure McLeish will be fancying his chances on Sunday.
I think I remember our sole victory at The Ems. It was the Cesc substitution in the second half wasn’t it? He came on, made/scored 2, game over, brilliant! Or am I brain f*rting again?
Maybe RVP can be used in a similar way (in terms of impact) on Sunday?
Afternoon Holics
I thought last weeks sporting news was the pits but nothing compared with the disappointments of this week.
Last Sunday’s result and the way we lost the game was hard to take . Federer’s demise at the hands of Rafa was another blow and the worrying news on LJW’s injury , well we all know the implications of that! To top it all England have just lost the Test Match in embarrassing fashion.
I have been thinking that the enjoyment factor has gone out of watching Arsenal ! When did I last return home on the train and feel elated by our performance? It’s not been just this season, the quality of the play has been on a downward spiral for quite a while. Gone are the days when we saw the team play the beautiful game ,when the conversation with my fellow Gooner passengers revolved round exciting moves resulting in great goals. Now we seem to be preoccupied by missed chances and defensive errors! Yes there have been the odd moments of excitement at Chelsea and the wonder goals of RVP but not much else to enthuse us.
I am staying at home tomorrow to watch the match on ESPN and hope that Arteta will play.
For anyone interested in Bird Watching ,I was lucky enough to see a Spoonbill and a Rough Legged Buzzard at Burnham Norton marshes on Thursday afternoon! Winter excitement in Norfolk!
As always COYRs
TS@54: I could hardly believe it myself when I realized it. Two all season in all competitions is just not right. Newcastle away, Blackburn away, Man City away, Wolves at home – those are just four games off the top of my head where we should have had penalties that could have given us points. Assuming we had scored three out of those four that would have been a minimum of four points more (two tied games and one win) and possibly seven (two wins and one tied). Now, I am not blaming our misfortunes this season on back luck because we really shouldn’t have needed those penalties, but it wouldn’t have taken very much to put us in a rather significantly better situation.
TS@56: yup, it was the Cesc cameo game! And I didn’t really do much research, I read about these stats before we played them away this season.
David De Gea just made an ass of himself at a corner which gave Liverpool an undeserved lead. £20m down the drain by Alex Ferguson on that one.
Lars @ 53 Thanks mate! Surely a good omen.
Afternoon True Storey.
Alas he is, hasn’t made an effort to see them in any B*rca away game at Stamford Bridge or at the Emirates over the last few years, seems like he only watches the El Clasico or any high profile Copa del Rey cup games, doesn’t own a replica shirt I think, just seems a bit fake to me sometimes.
Good equaliser for united from Park, this game ain’t over yet.
Delia, Is bird watching free?? It doesn’t sound half bad. 🙂
Delia @ 57 Looking forward to your post match assessment as I might miss the game due to work. You sure know your futbol! As for the quality this season, the lads overall have pulled together admirably when you take into account all the injuries. As a nurse, sometimes I’m floated to another speciality to work like OB. Well, I’m no baby nurse, I do my best but I feel like a fish out of water. Kinda like what our lads have been forced to do, playing in unfamilar positions.
Wind @ 63, Just who are you rooting for young man! Back to the game…
Delia, Just one thing: I hope your birdwatching does not extend to canaries. 😉
Snir –
like Dr C I thought you were asking about Jack Wilshere.
If that is what he is supposed to have wrong it is a massive worry. I don’t know how you would have that info, as I said, as the scan was only due to be done yesterday.
As for Gronk, I haven’t a clue who he is, what is wrong with him, and whether he is prepared to run around on potentially ruptured ligaments.
And with all due respect, frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.
I’m with Ollie on super-bowls – use them to have a jolly good breakfast.
*hurries quickly out of the bar to evade the onrushing Americans*
*onrushing American pours cereal into his Super Bowl and wonders why Dr. T. is on our backs this morning/afternoon*
Way to go Derek!
Listen up Arsenal Fans at the Ems this Sunday. Take a page from the Liverpool Fans at Anfield and sing your hearts out! No wonder the pool fans have earned cult status!!! Runs for her life, Lars wallet firmly in her grip, giggling all the way.
Moving speech abb!
‘Seeking a frosty beverage, runs towards abb’s last seen location with the Lars Wallet.’ 🙂
And abb @ 66, I’d only root for either if it lead to Spurs getting relegated, and even then half-heartedly.
I was just appreciating Park’s goal, I heard the ‘twack’ on my TV, you see 🙂
8ball @69
I have no doubt you all deserve it. You’re bound to have done something! 😉
Oh Wind, just teasing you…or maybe not (ha, ha)!
ManCity out, ManU out. This is a very winnable FA Cup. We might not be favourites but we definitely have the chance.
67- behind the 8 ball
I will always have a soft support for the Canaries, having been brought up on 3rd Div South football at Carrow Road way back in the early 1950s. My Dad gave me a good grounding in the art of wing-half play and I have a GCE in exponents of the stopper centre- half role!
65-aba
Never fear,I will be poised with pen and paper tomorrow to log all the incidents ready to file my “report”.
I have a feeling that we might sign one more player before the window closes. With AA and Bentner out in the summer, we all agree that we need a striker. I’ll take this guy for sure.
http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/p6_1_13105_arsenal-target-dortmund-striker-barrios.html
Re: Dr. C @74, Ah now I am starting to see and as matter of fact I must have done something dastardly yesterday if not today or both. English doctors seem to have a knack of understanding things, it appears. 😀
Oh man. I really rate Lucas barrios. Almost like Pedro of barca, will fit well in the 433 pressing game Arsene is trying to develop. I think his contract is also about to expire. Young, fast, relatively unknown and cheap- looks like a Wenger signing.
Think it might be bad news for Theo if the move does happen though.
Afternoon All ,
Nice post Holic .
Interesting indeed to see who Arsene picks tomorrow . Fancy that the Russian might replace Theo (a decision some might say is seven days overdue) , and that Coq will come in for the ailing Ramsey with Rosicky played in a more advanced position . Would be surprised if Arteta is risked . Henry and Theo to be the impact subs .
Villa in the Cup . Hasn’t happened often in my lifetime , unlike our last opponents . They were however the first team to come along to remind me that there is no entitlement to a good Cup run . Winners , losing finalists , and then a losing semi , in my first 3 seasons , I thought a good Cup run was an integral part of any season . In ’74 , however , Villa , then languishing in the third tier of English football , arrived at Highbury , sneaked a draw , (winding up Bob Wilson in the process to a previously unseen hysterical reaction) , and knocked us out in the replay .
Since then , I can only remember a Petrovic inspired win in ’83 to take us through to an ultimately unsuccessful semi against Man Utd .
The rarity of the fixture would suggest that in the last 40 years Villa have barely played a part in the climactic stages of the competition . That is not misleading . Villa’s semi-recent record , for a big Club , is abysmal , having reached only one Final .
It says much about the sense of entitlement of the modern football fan that AW comes into the game facing almost as much fan disgruntlement as the detestable Mcleish . How Villa fans , or indeed any other set of fans , would have loved to have had Arsene as their manager these past 15 years . Arsenal fans will do well to remember that tomorrow .
Villa’s support tomorrow will be large , noisy and hungry . Let’s make sure that that support is matched by ours , and that the ridiculous preening of the “I know better than a football genius” Brigade is put to one side for the greater good .
With both Manc Clubs gone , the door is open to brighten our season . An FA Cup win , beating The Chavs and The Spuds along the way ? I’ll take that .
Swindon are 1-0 down, boo.
The Wasp @21 , –
Every night is Ladies Night in this Bar as far as I’m concerned . Now come and sit down , and show me the size of your sting 😉
So there I am trying my best to follow all this medical stuff above , so I’m up to speed on Jack Wilshere , and I find out we’re talking about an American Football player ??!??
Jeez , the only mildly diverting thing to occur at the Superbowl in the last 40 years was Janet Jackson getting her bangers out at half time .
Superbowl? 5 minutes of “sport” for every 55 minutes of adverts, right?
Starts on a Sunday, finishes the following Thursday or so….. it seems. 😉
There was a lot of negative twaddle about our negotiator going to Costa Rica for a whole week (What, a whole 7 days? What, you mean 168 hours? What, in Costa Rica?) just to spend a miserly one million quid on a 17 year old striker.
Some of the twaddle is still echoing around in surprising places as the “shambles” that saw Gervinho, Arteta, Mertesacker, Jenkinson, Benayoun, Park and Santos all join the club is pulled out of the bottom drawer and berated as a whining block on the back of three losses to three inferior clubs (with all five fullbacks missing).
Has anyone checked out Joel Campbell lately. I’d have him in London now ahead of some of our current pretenders. That week (What, a whole 7 days, in Costa Rica? Never!) may well turn out to be one of our best million quid, 168 hours ever.
Trev – Are you guys serious ????
I put the link to the injury @32 and wanted you to tell me what you think about it 🙂 ! ! ! ! ! ! !
As for Jack, he doesn’t have a high ankle sprain, he’s got a stress fracture, you know that 🙂
Agree on that BTM, Campbell looks a bargain for one million. The only problem is that licence though.
@83 -Yikes!
I’m very confused by AW.
He said nobody will be leaving the club (yeah I know that doesn’t mean a lot when he says it in a presser but still)…
Someone HAS to leave the club, unless he’s decided not to register Almunia..
He’s getting a great year under his belt with Gilles Sunu, lurky. He was never going to come straight into the first team and a full season on loan in France is a much better outcome than sitting on the bench in London.
With Joel, the Ox, Afobe, Aneke, Sunu, Wilshere, Ryo, Yennaris, Miquel, Jenkinson, Frimpong, Coquelin and Bartley all ready to emerge, the future looks bright. So let’s get on, get in the top four, win the Cup and stuff Milan in the ECL and see what happens then. Oh yes, and please buy Mario Goetze to complete the masterclass of 2012-13.
And so, let’s stop moaning about what a shambles last summer was. “Get over it already” as they say in these parts.
BtM – Fine sentiments Sir .
Think Sunu was sold though , wasn’t he ?
BTM @ 91 Amen, brother! Amazing, both you and Tabs posting on the same day. Good stuff from you fellas.
nice little post, BtM. Quite right too…. but we really do need to qualify for the Championa League.
Over to you, boys…
@ goonerholic
good post.
I hate Alex McCleish.
I love football because a) it’s lovely and b) in which other arena can you make really childish remarks like “Alex McCleish is ugly and he smells” and feel good about yourself?
@ bt8bbgfg
ha ha! to your first three comments.
@ B’sTM
Excellent comments.
Alan Pardew looking miserable is something that cheers me up.
Well done to Brighton. In times like this, I find it helps a little to remember how long Newcastle have gone without winning anything.
I am looking forward to tomorrow. My recent trip to Villa Park is still fresh in the memory bank and is something that I hope is repeated tomorrow.
To be honest I have no idea what side we will put out. I have struggle to decipher what is actually meant with Arsenal statements these days. 2 weeks out becomes a month, becomes 2 months and then becomes 3 years. Then, out of the blue they feature in a reserve game just to test the old fetlock before breaking a toe nail getting out of the bath.
I sincerely hope one or two are back. I do believe that Bacs is back in full training but considering the lack of other full backs I would rather we give him the cotton wool treatment and not rush him. The decision re Le Coq may be a tad easier. If he is fit I think his previous performances at full back warrant a run out in his more favoured position. That said I am sure that the team selection will be made with one eye on Wednesday evening.
I hope to see Hutton play. He was truly pants at Villa Park. Keane I am not so keen to see. He has the odd annoying knack of scoring against us.
BTM. An interesting take on the kids. It will be interesting to see how many actually make the grade. My opinion is that they would have just a bit more of a chance if some of the older players had remained at the club to guide and mentor their development. Time will tell I guess? Here’s hoping the vast majority are successful.
Onwards and upwards.
It’s a mazy, jinky run. Beats one, beats two, rounds the keeper and lays it on a plate for???????????????????????????
Bang!
* Does Mexican Cartwheel out by the corner flag, and then moses on back to his Guinness*
Alan Pardew:
Apples, how d’ya like ’em?
Good shot, Dr Z!
(there’s a dead body lying on the ground now)
Awesome first touch…
Tabs – right with you on the super-bowl thing. Meh !
Snir –
Catalan clearly also misunderstood exactly as I did, and although we are quacks we ain’t stupid.
I thought your post was about Jack W and, as such, I was quite happy to try to shed a little light.
This morning, I had six phone calls to make to patients that I had no time to answer yesterday, and a whole load of family things to attend to – places to be, people to see, that kind of thing.
So do excuse me for not watching videos of some bloke called Gronk trying to run around on a knackered ankle.
At 6′ 6″ and 3 1/2 tons, more fool him, I say.
Abb –
we do sing our hearts out and support properly every single game.
We are not all idiotic boo boys.
I hope those that were abusing AW last week “don’t know what you’re doing” etc – got the jolt to the nads they needed this week when stories started to appear in the press about Real Madrid coming calling again.
He isn’t perfect, and makes mistakes like all of us, but “don’t know what you’re doing” ? Unbelievable.
8ball – Nothing against “the Americans” in general at all.
However, it was the second Feisty F*cking Friday yesterday, and I missed it due to work pressures, so am getting my own back with a Shoot’em up Saturday. 😉 🙂 😉
@BtM: Alas Sunu who was starting to bang them week in week out has injured himself in training and is now out for the rest of the season. We’re jinxed 🙁
@ Steve T
I don’t think anyone is deliberately trying to do your head in by giving different dates for return. Timetables for rehabilitation or convalescence are always fluid and many factors come into play. We are given the club’s best guess and it’s up to us whether to treat it as immutable truth or as an estimate. There is always a demand for information as to when a player will return, and the alternative to giving information is not giving information, which I don’t think would go down too well. I also think it’s important to remember that you don’t follow injury news at other clubs, so you are not aware of it when players fall behind schedule.
But on the up side, Bac is back ahead of schedule! Yay!
@ B’sTM
Interesting to hear that Campbell is doing so well. I got the impression that AW was gutted about not getting the work permit.What sort of player is he – who’s he like in the PL?
Trev – How exactly did you and Catalan think I was talking about Jacky when the question started with the words “non-Arsenal related…” ;)?
As for tomorrow – I prefer to have Yennaris at RB and Sagna for the trip to Bolton.
Coq should get a run to give him some playing time and a rest for Song who’s been awful for the last 3 games, maybe that will freshen him up…
Up front, I wouldn’t bet against Titi starting…
@ Matt
Didn’t we sell/release Gilles Sunu?
Fungunner – We did.
Steve T @ zico, great combo play for the shot of a century , well in to the both of you 🙂
I”m with you, Snir 108
Steve and zico, wonderful combination work for the goal!
Snir, I agree – don’t rush Sagna back. Play Yennaris tomorrow and maybe give Sagna ten-fifteen minutes towards the end and then start him on Wednesday.
FunGunner, another issue is also our (the fans) propensity to look at the best-case scenario. If an injury is said to keep a player out for “four to five months” we tend to only hear the “four” and then count exactly four months from now. Then when it takes five months and a week we think the absence was more than a month longer than originally said. And they seem to have got the Sagna prognosis pretty much spot on, they said he would be kept out of action “for at least three months”, and he was back in full training after three months and three weeks. We have really only had two major cases lately that I can think of where there have been several major setbacks and that was Rosicky from January 2007 and over 18 months on, and then Vermaelen last season. (I don’t count Diaby here, I fear he will never play at the top level again)
@ Lars
“FunGunner, another issue is also our (the fans) propensity to look at the best-case scenario.”
Yes, definitely! We want it so much that we hear what we want to hear.
Good points.
I still have hope for Diaby regaining fitness, though. But perhaps that’s because I want to see him in action so much!
I also read somewhere that Rosicky’s and Vermaelen’s respective injuries were both so rare they are now subject of medical case studies.
FunGunner. Did you really say that we are given the clubs best guess???? One of the best medical facilities in sport with a top medical team that we have to rely on a guess????? Blimey. And there was me thinking that one or two might have the odd qualification.
CG, Trev. Sounds like your services are required.
😉
Steve: on that note, have you noted that the obligatory four to six weeks for muscle tears have been consoderably shorter this season? The Coq is back after less than three weeks and Arteta as well, so it does seem that the new medical facility has at least managed to get that bit right.
@ Steve T
Well, I can see why you get so annoyed, if you really do think they ought to know exactly when someone is going to be better. But no-one could give you a definitive timescale. The timescale is an educated guess based on what is known at the time. And that estimate assumes everything proceeds as planned, and we all know how often THAT happens in life.
Just as an example, if someone has broken a bone, you can usually say x number of weeks for the healing of the wounds and y number of weeks for the bone to knit. That’s fairly reliable, although certain bones and certain people are unpredictable. There’s a percentage of people whose broken thumbs will never heal naturally, for example. But even after bones have healed, there are always potential muscular problems when the player starts proper training. Everybody is different, no-one responds in exactly the same way to any treatment, accidents can happen, the player’s mental state can play a part, etc etc.
“Consoderably”? Blimey. “Good moaning Ronnie, I was jost pissing boo ootsid your coffee”…
Lars – I don’t think Arteta’s was a tear. I’m pretty sure it was a strain, which was always 2-3 weeks.
FG. What makes you think I get annoyed?. I just said that all dates given by the club for the return of injured players are something I treat with kid gloves until they are back playing again. No anger here my friend. Just gooner love.
TABs @ 81: Again you speak fro me too Bro…(0;
BtM @ 91: We have to forever be reminding some Gooners that AW prefers to grow his own than to buy….oh that reminds me must go check my little plant to see how its doing (0;
The Wasp @ 89: Under no circumstances whatever should you show your sting to Wolfie…listen now!
Snir, you might be right there. My point is still valid, though 🙂
Fun, think Wellbeck with much higher work rate, think Walcott but with the ability to beat players and cross, think Drogba as a youngster for physical strength, think Andre Arshavin in reverse for attitude – think who’s our bravest player (Vermaelen?) then add some.
@ B’sTM
Blimey! I am now horribly excited. He sounds like exactly what we need. Gah.
@ Steve T
Your posts on the subject seemed to be served with a large ladle of sarcasm and a dollop of narkedness. But it’s easy for misunderstandings to arise when you can’t see or hear someone.
Anyhoo, is this a typical Saturday night on Goonerholic? I’m having fun! No barman today, so I vote we all help ourselves. Honesty box on the bar, of course. I see Lars has got a head start on the rest of us…
Steve T @115
Don’t ask us – we can’t even read Snir’s emails properly.
Personally, I blame Wind.
FG. If you have supported this club for a few years you will undetstand the hint of sarcasm.
Trev @ 105 Trev, I hope you will forgive me again cause I have a smile on my face as I key these thoughts. Gotta love your fighting spirit. My earlier comments were directed at those fans who have given up on Arsenal this season, a pep talk if you will.
Must dash.
Dog. Bone. 😉
Heh, Catalan.
It’s cool for cats. 😉
Evening all, and apologies. I suffered a slight telephonic setback which turned into a lengthy study of the pay as you go market in the UK.
The outcome is that although I have been able to self-repair a dicky iPhone I also have an O2 sim card in my old phone which will come in very handy for free pintage at the Arsenal.
Now, is everybody behaving themselves?
Mr C @ 125, what!? Why blame me? 8)
For all you studs out there – think before you dink! http://youtu.be/KUpNX2c0sLY
Haha GT, although I have to say I saw it coming :p
For those of you who don’t know,
Friday the 27th January was National Holacaust Rememberance Day,
chosen because that was the month and day that the Russians liberated Auschwitz- Buchenwald in 1945.
I spent a few hours in the company of a couple of very very good friends of mine,who both lost several family members in the Camps.
Worth remembering that 90% of Polish Jews and 70% of German Jews,along with countless others,lost their lives in the Camps during World War 2.
Among them were 1.5 million children,who never had a chance to live thier lives,to get Married,be a Parent or a Grandparent.
My 2 friends had some terrible stories to tell,most of which i had heard before,but i considered it my duty to be reminded again of the barbarity of the Nazi’s.
Old photographs lovingly preserved,were handed round,showing young children and families,all with happy smiling faces,unaware of the Horrors to be visited upon them.
The 3 of us shed some tears along the way,but i consider that a small price to pay,for the Dignity with which they carry themselves,and the heartache which they have suffered.
I consider it a privilege to be their Friend.
The Sweeper.
Now that you ask, Teacher..
Wind has been misbehaving, and Zico and I are enjoying a bit of Squeeze.
Down, Wolfie!
No Holic, They most certainly have not! Zico has been throwing apples at Alan Pardew, whilst Ollie has been cheering him on from the sidelines. Meanwhile, I stole Lars wallet and…no come to think of it, every think is just peachy keen. I’m no tattle tale, after all. Cheers!
Sweeper
I really really wish that our posts hadn’t crossed!
And worth remembering for any fans that may use the Y word without thinking it through…
FG @ 124: I’d say its one of the most boring Saturday’s we’ve had…but I would take boring over weeping & gnashing of teeth any day…back to UTUBE to find some more stuff to cheer up the punters…a Gooners work is never done (0;
Clive, we can not be reminded often enough of the atrocities that went on during WWII. Thanks for sharing.
ABB shame on you…)0;
Only apples?
Did zico not have something heavier and sharper? 😉
Clive, sobering thoughts as ever.
Yes Holic, Zico has Dr. Feelgood!
Bucking Farca. 30 euro gone…
Apologies
that should have been Auschwitz – Birkenau,not Buchenwald.
Spare a thought for Arthur the Gooner,who’s Family/friends must have lost dear ones to the Camps.
There were 11 million Jews in Europe at the time,3 million were Polish,90% of whom never saw 1946.
Of the 1.5 million children that lost their lives,many many thousands of them were exposed to horrific medical experiments and never survived.
It is very important that we don’t forget what was visited upon the Jewish people during World War 2.
Clive –
I had a bit of amusement to post which now seems very out of place at the moment.
I wondered a couple of weeks ago, how the woman who lost four of her children in the house fire could ever motivate herself to carry on living and striving.
Or the Sri Lankan man, after the tsunami, who was filmed looking at the bodies of every one of the other seventeen members of his family.
Those were tragic accidents and freaks of nature. The crimes perpetrated against people like your friend’s families were not.
Frotunately for me, I don’t know, but I imagine that makes such losses even harder to bear.
Hope you have a better day tomorrow.
Clive, My most cherished quote of all time, is from Anne Frank. “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart”.
Clive – I have to admit I had no idea that is the date.
We have a different date which is a week before our independence day and varies every year since it goes by the Hebrew calendar and not the Gregorian calendar.
Our day is usually at the end of April or beginning of March.
I didn’t lose any family in the Holocaust since my paternal Grandparents were from Libya and maternal Grandparents from Tunisia but my stepfather’s family were from Yugoslavia and the stories I’ve heard and written about for school are absolutely horrific.
I second CG’s request – stop the use of that Y word.
Despite my family being from Libya (Tripoli) – They were (my grandmother and her family) rounded up to be shot to death in the concentration camp they were in (as opposed to a lot of other, that camp was meant mainly for work).
Out of nowhere a black Mercedes came in and they stopped the shooting and it turns out that the Italian president ordered the soldiers to stop because the Jewish Libyans were his citizens and he will be the one to decide if they die or not…
That saved my grandmother…
Re: Tabs @84: Some of us watch the Super Bowl for the sole reason of hoping that the Janet Jackson halftime “wardrobe malfunction” will be repeated. That and to vote on the most clever TV commercials. If you want my real opinion, the whole thing is a sham, and shouldn’t be watched. Unless of course the 49ers are involved which in case you haven’t checked, they aren’t. Snir will think otherwise, I believe. 😉
8ball – I don’t watch the SB if the Patriots aren’t playing, just like I don’t watch the CL final if Arsenal don’t play in it… I am an Arsenal fan, not a fan of the sport. Watching a final which Arsenal/or any other team I support isn’t playing in just makes the pain of going out of the competition a lot more painful.
Snir, Very moving story about your relatives, really brings it home.
@147- beginning of May.
Not March!
Shocking stuff, Snir.
Hopefully the futility will never be repeated. My own grandmother lost five of her seven brothers in that war. No Jewish link at all, they were just fighting.
Trev – and then you hear about people denying the existence of the Holocaust…
That drives me nuts.
Clive – I agree wholeheartedly. We have to make sure people don’t forget.
There aren’t a lot of survivors alive anymore, so we have to make sure we are the ones to spread the stories we’ve been told.
That Y word drives me crazy… I don’t mind it too much for it’s meaning cause it pretty much means nothing but I do mind the fact that it’s being said as an insult as if being a Jew is an insult.
Goodnight
May your Gods bless you all
Snir
General Dwight Eisenhower,saw the horrors of the Camps first hand,
So he made sure that every Journalist from Print and Newsreel that he could get his hands on,were invited into the Camps to record and document everything they saw.
He alo made sure that his own staff kept meticulous records of every atrocity commited in those terrible places.
He did this because he wanted to prevent the possibility over time,
of people with vested interests to dismiss it all as propaganda and exaggeration by the Jews.
Without the attention to detail of Eisenhower and his like,a lot of the appaling atrocities would have gone unrecorded.
He is owed a debt of gratiitude.
well, well, well…done
http://gu.com/p/354da
And it is good to be remembered of the horrors of the holocaust. I read an article today about a 93 years old woman who has made it her life’s work to educate young people about what happened to her family in the holocaust and now she tells them that since there soon won’t be any more first hand witnesses we must struggle harder to educate the young to be sure nothing like that ever happens again.
Clive -thank you for all this. It is people like you who aren’t Jewish (I’m assuming you aren’t) and don’t feel this internal urge to spread the holocaust stories (I can’t explain that urge, we just have it inside us) that will eventually make sure along with us Jews that nobody forgets or denies what happened.
AL @ 157: Very good article by the wonderful Ame L. As long as I live I will never understand why Le Boss refuses to play him in the hole behind RvP..
Let’s not underestimate how much one win can do for club morale. Another thing worth remembering.
Morning all.
Starting to get very cold.
Next week here promises to be the first really cold one of the winter, staying mostly in the negative temperatures.
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Hope Arsenal can bring me some warmth.
Good link AL, and I agree GT.
It does seem strange that he has hardly ever been played in that position. I know it doesn’t fit our system, but…. why buy someone who is among the world’s best in a position and then never play him there?
Some (some) sympathy is due to AA. I’m sure he’s not having too much fun either…
Can I reinforce what snr says @159
I was brought up in London N16 and my memories include delivering papers in our area at an early hour. Every day I was greeted by survivors (they had their numbers tattooed on their arms, and even had short sleeves on their coats to tell the world what they had been through)
Today in France, there are museums to the resistance and in each there are moving images and stories concerning the people, (not just Jews) deported to death camps in their thousands with the positive aid of certain French people
What worries me today is the fact that current generations are not aware of the recent history of the world, and in spite of the jewish aim to ‘never forget’, there are massacres made in the guise of religious differences, and the world stands by and does nothing or very little.
Britain apparently knew of the concentration camps but did nothing. Today the United Nations does not much whilst attacks go on in Libya, Tunisia, Somalia, the list is endless
I still have hope , because of what I see happening in N16 on my very occasional visits where , it seems that in general multi-racial and multi-religuous coexistance does work, though I do not like ghetto communities of any religion
Anything that we Reds can do to eliminate all persecution on whatever artificial reasons (religion and sport included), has to be praised. I isolated incident in Liverpool yesterday does not mean that its widespread, just that its elimination is more prelevalent
Keep up the good work all of you and may we win in a good clean manner today
COYRR
I’ll drink a cognac to that.
Right, I’ll make my way back to the scene of the crime.
Have a good day all.
Morning chums.
Up the Arse!
#134, 144, 145, 147, 148, 153, 154, 156, 158, heart-rending posts by all of you.
AL @ 157, great link.
I was gonna give up on him, but then I remember how he hasn’t been played in the hole has he has wished.
Becoming a fan of Awy Lawrence, firstly she bossed the latest Arsecast and now this excellent article on a true enigma.
Great work.
I’m with GT @ 160, Wenger’s decision not to beggars belief.
Just a quick drink for me and I’m off again.
Here’s to a good, exciting match that hopefully we come away with something that has McLeish upset!
Anyone reckon Henry will score against the Villans?
UTA
….*pale rider*….
I’m off for a little siesta. Got to have myself at peak fitness for the match….
PS – Cognac re the help of certain French, check this;
The Spanish government are now actively prosecuting a well known judge for opening up investigations into atrocities commited under Franco…. human rights in 21st Century Spain!
It is considered a CRIME to enquire as to what happened!!
at least in Germany it is a crime to deny the events.
This country scares me sometimes
Its weird when no-one posts for an hour or more ish.
Matchday, Wind. Most of the normal suspects are there.
Central line just on my way. Will catch up on the drinks when I hit a tunnel.
Another must win game today. I have list count how many times I have said that this season.
Up the arse.
Fabianski; Coquelin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen; Song, Ramsey, Rosicky; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott; Van Persie
Subs: Szczesny, Sagna, Arteta, Benayoun, Arshavin, Park, Henry.
Big call on Fabianski.
Fucking huge call on flappy. I fear an AOC/Arshavin reaction if that does not come off.
Got to give him a game some time, otherwise he’s not ready if needed. …. *GULP*
Tend to agree Steve T – another Wenger gamble. Nothing to be gained by risking Fabianski putting on one of his horror shows…
Odd that Yennaris isn’t in the squad….
If we win, it’s Sunderland or Middlesborough.
Home or away Gedo?
Away
Great!I’ve got to visit the north of England at the end of the month.All we’ve got to do is beat Villa now.
Come on the Arsenal!!
Are we playing with three defenders or is Coquelin the fourth?
anybody manage to get hold of a decent stream? cheers.
http://www.firstrow.tv/watch/104807/3/watch-arsenal-vs-aston-villa.html
Here you go.
COYG
That came to mind almost immediately after I posted it ‘Holic 🙂
I had a bad feeling and I was right. Feeling sick.
Thanks Slash. A drink of your choice on me.
typical Arsenal, undone with a simple floated ball just like the 1st goal conceeded against United
I can understand playing the ball on the floor but you still have to learn how to defend high balls. it looks we do none of that
Walcott needs to re-invent himself. Too obvious down the right wing for my liking.
oh very dear
😮 I don’t believe it.
naive, useless, and going nowhere with this type of football. Harmless passing around the villa box that is simply not going to cause any damage. refusing to shoot refusing to get a high ball into the ball, why?
The second goal was a real kick in the nuts. Unlucky Fabianski
But what was that defending for the first?!! Shambles
Come on Arsenal!! Turn this around
http://www.fcstpauli.com/
If I’d paid £50+ to see this sort of performance, I’d be pretty disilliusioned right now.
I don’t know why we were pouring forward and exposing the back as if its the 90th minutes. its all about patience and clever play to open up a typical Mcleish wall
@197wedropp totally agree
200 well done – on your score but the rest is so true – no wonder the stands are half empty
Terrible, terrible first half.
We’re in low gear and look devoid of ideas, bar the Ox.
Time to send on Arteta for Rosicky, and ideally Henry for Walcott. Time, also, to spend some fucking money this week, because this is a team crying out for a midfield creator.
COYG
Afternoon, gents. This is rough…
I have to admit that I agree with Della from many posts ago- it’s been awhile since Arsenal were consistently the epitome of the beautiful game. i love Arsenal, and I think we play much more than most, but we’ve lost that edge some time ago, results or not. Rare are the 15 one-touch pass sequences that finish teams off.
Sorry if this is a mis-timed rant, but I’m feeling it here at halftime.
Stil exploring LB options. Please, continue to explore, continue to play players out of position, continue to lose games.
Have we actually put in a decent performance this season during a domestic televised game, Chelsea aside?
I agree Harsha- can’t blame Fabianski for that second goal.
N7 Gooner, I’d say we played well against City in the League Cup. Even if we did go on to lose that one… I don’t know what that says about our performances that the first game that pops up in my mind was a losing one.
@201 exactly what I was thinking, the last 10 mins of that half had gaps all over the field that you would expect at the end of the game, not the first half. Rosicky is playing well but what price for him to really put his boot through a shot one of these weeks. We’ll either win this 4-3 or lost it 3-4, especially if we can score from a corner. Fucking Mcleish
the only way to open up this Villa dfence is go wide and and pump that ball into the box. at moments cutting inside and going down the middle and pass pass pass around the box is just pointless
Good to have you back PiK.
Wish it could be under better circumstances though.
We are turning this one around. Need a quick goal. Up the Arsenal!
One more thing, let’s enjoy our football!
lucky penalty – he’d lost tyhe ball
goal RVP
About time he wanted to!
This is red card for sure
The MUCH better team pull one back.
Get in Robin!
How the fuck did Dunne escape a second yellow there?!
Even though I must say we haven’t played a blinder at all today, BtM, I am very much with you that we’ve played better than Villa in just about every way, except for conceding two goals.
In off the 2nd goal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There we go!
Good thing Dunne didn’t get a second yellow, that way we’ll know what the post match excuse will be.
FFS come on Arsenal!
We’ve turned it around 🙂
Theo passed by goalie and running on ball hit his chest of attempted clearance
The INFINITELY better team equalize.
Theo passed by goalie and running on ball hit his chest off attempted clearance
Not watching the game but could this comeback being a turning point in our season?
2nd penalty – for Kos they couldnt keep him out
Yerrrrssssssss
This has to be AW’s best team talk ever!!
Two penalties in one game? Are we watching Arsenal or what?
The UNQUESTIONABLY SUPERIOR team shoes it’s spirit and takes the lead
Its the Captain again!
.. a watershed half?
And Walcott re-invented himself like I said he should 😀
I have no idea what AW told them at HT but it’s working.
A good Alex Song is the most important for this team.
Snr
I totally agree re: Song. I’m at least as concerned about losing him this summer as I am the skipper.
Fantastic second half so far – this is proper Arsenal. Now let’s finish this off.
Anyone think AW might take The Ox orf?
Ahem – just asking
AL dont give anyone ideas like that
No, I think the Ox will be on the bench against Bolton so he’ll get the full 90. Walcott might come off in my eyes.
We do look a little nakered though
Could you get a double decker in Macleish’s mouth?
’tis nice to see Arteta back….just looks more cohesive
Bacary coming on?
That could be nasty!
And Titi?
Welcome back Bacary Sagna!
AhhA! He smuggled him orf for King Henry – cheeky!
Well done lads – feared the worst at half time. Great result all things considered.
Tim @246 ’tis too true
Indeed AL 🙂
Totally stress free 2nd half – after we’ed scored the 3rd!!!!!!
Bring on the Tees-siders
Well done lads – fantastic stuff.
That’s the standard we need to be playing to: with pace, energy and intent. Now let’s keep it up in the weeks ahead.
Oh, and well done Le Boss.
Boro or Sunderland away….this is very winnable boys…
For that 15 mins, we saw what this team could be. Pace, drive, desire.
Burley would let go and was almost trying to make sure the FA charges RvP.
AL @251
Heh, very cheeky. And probably true. And a good substitution.
What a great night. Full of positives. 🙂
2-0 down , come back to win 3-2- against premier league opponents, that should sort out the confidence issues, if there were any from the three consecutive defeats.
Bac and Arteta back.
Into the quaters of the FA cups sans the manchester clubs. Great chance to get rid off the 7 year tag.
AOC gets full 90 under his belt (almost) and looks the part.
RVP suggests 2012 will be a replica of 2011. (Just stay fit)
Walcott scores, he for one really needed one to go in for him. Hope this opens the floodgates.
And my personal favourite: Mcleish the goat fucker will cry his heart out tonight. HAHAHAHA
COYG
Our penalties are like buses. Not one for ages, then two come along together.
Don’t tell me I didn’t tell you, hafl time at 212:) Well done Le Boss, you deserve it. Rosicky hell of a game, anyone who stil thinks that we should sell him, buck off. The Ox and Le Coq, WHAT a players we have there. Ramsey had a nice game too but is stil suspicious, by my opinion though. Once more, lets enjoy our football. Up the Arsenal!
That is the best analogy ever NBN @ 263.
That’s going on Twitter.
NBN, great one:) Drinks on me.
Can on loan players play against their club in the FA Cup e.g. Nik ‘Plan B’ Bendtner V us in the next round – if The Stadium Of Light 2 – dwellers get through?
Well that’s made my Sunday a little more enjoyable!
As one who was mad at Wenger for subgate, I applaud whatever the hell he said to them at half-time.
They need to play with that pace, energy and directness all the game.
HT is rolling…. the bar’s open, let’s get on one…
I don’t think so AL, unless Wenger gives him permission to play against us by 12 noon on the Friday prior to the date fixed for playing the Round in the Cup, and he wouldn’t.
Wenger OUT!!!
OMG GT, you almost made me split out my mouthful of cereal laughing 😆
Sorry…what I meant was: Wenger..doubt??!!
Wind you thought that the body snatchers got me there didn’t you? (0;
Wind
Wenger’s policy is, as far as I know from what he said, to always allow our players to play against us. I can even recall him saying that when rules in some competiton (PL?) said a player couldn’t play us.
But in the case of a older player that has said he’ll never come back, he might treat it differently.
Holy Shit what two different halves that was abject in the First but the Arsenal of old in the second, Could have a massive effect on the rest of the season defeat today and the tide of bile would have swamped the club but hopefully the lift associated to that comeback may kick us on- Still need a couple more bodies mind let’s hope by Monday the Board and Wenger pull some rabbits from the hat!
One thing I’m sure they haven’t failed to notice was the amount of empty seats.
Finally a fair share of correct decisions in our favor!
That twenty-five minutes odd performance at the beginning of the second half — is the current Arsenal squad physically not capable of sustaining that tempo and intensity throughout in most matches over the entire season? Or do they not have the self-confidence and can only be cajoled to play like that under special circumstances?
Rosicky, now if only he can get that old long-distance shooting mojo back, we would almost get the player at his pomp in Dortmund days. The tackles are a surprising and welcome addition.
Goonerholic and most the contributors here have a little too much class to participate in half-time booing, but for those who did: You don’t deserve to be in the stadium. And how stupid did you look at full-time.
We are the Arsenal are we not? I don’t understand how ‘supporters’ can boo our team — seems like the faith is leaking a little too quickly these days.
Aside from that — what a great game: we look pretty impressive when we want to.
Hmmm 2 schools of thought on Big Nikky B, ay. Well i wouldn’t mind if he played – at least that way those Arsenal fans who want to boo Arsenal players would have someone to boo without pissing on their own pitch – metaphorically speaking of course
Reeesult!
UpTheArse!
Matt (2) – with you, mate. A very sad sack of “supporters”. I’d rather they stayed away and deprived the club of “us fans money” than come along and be a twelth man for the opposition.
I have to say though that I was in the North Bank versus the Deeply Indebted last week. There was exasperation when Ox was taken off but none of the ill-tempered moronicity and “Don’t Know What Ur Doin” crap that emerged behind Arsene. I think that was over blown badly by the pimple pickers and general meeja.
Never in doubt GT 😉
That’s why I love the North Bank and probably always will BtM, saw Arsenal play a match for the 1st time there. (Although my first visit into the Ems was in the West Stand) The temperment of the fans there just seems a lot better.
I know I’m gonna get piled-on but maybe, just maybe the boo-birds helped inject a little spark (or whatever) back into the team. Don’t discount that. The first half performance was not good enough, not even close. Against a better side we would be out. Glad we won, I fully support our squad but to boo for 5 seconds or to groan over a pass/shot is not that big a deal. Too much is made of booing….the vile crap/negative chants do have to go….but come-on already. In the end we all want the same thing…some might even call it tough love.
Quelle comeback! As has been said, we needed that.
@ Gedo
I have seen several quotes from players (not the current team) saying how destructive booing is. I have yet to hear of a player claiming that being booed geed him up. I think to claim that it does is justification of counter-productive, thoughtless behaviour.
This is the Premium League for crying out loud, the players need to toughen-up. I am not justifying the adverse reactions of a hostile crowd, just saying that the booing might have given the them the kick in the pants they needed. Winning in this league comes hand in hand with the ability to overcome adversity…booing….bad refereeing decisions, etc.
*Premier League*, my apologies
McLeish is making fool of himself once more
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7464825/
It looked to me like RVP was bracing for a clattering by the CF and just caught him. No way was that intentional.
Home from the pub, match report for the Arsenal Sweden website written and published – now for some back-drinking!
@ Gedo
There is evidence that booing affects players adversely. Do you have any evidence that booing gees up players? If not, how can you justify it on that basis?
McCleish is just being a bad loser.
Fun, you are taking this too seriously, really. I just said that I don’t justify it but it happens and the players should be able to handle it. There are some things they can’t control. Each player reacts differently, and you have submitted “evidence” that former players don’t like it, so what? Maybe this group is different, any evidence on that? If you were a player and heard booing, would you sulk or get on with it? Have a drink on me, friend.
@ Gedo
I think saying “I am not justifying the adverse reactions of a hostile crowd, just saying that the booing might have given the them the kick in the pants they needed.” is attempting to justify it, but if you want to leave it there, so will I.
With LJW obviously not going to feature much, if at all, Rosicky (the new improved one like the old one) has just become very very important to the rest of the season.
He’s a great back up for Arteta and does the job well. Driving runs and even feisty tackles. Welcome back TR7 !!
Also, Sagna coming back is superb, and Le Coq can cover for injury / suspension of Song.
Hmm…. it’s a long tunnel, but is that light at the end of it??
PS – good to see that sublime skills weren’t the only thing that RVP learnt from God.
Would be good if it were on BBC to see Shearer’s view on the incident!! 😉
PPS – McCleish, I thought it was “a man’s game” ???
Shut the fuck up, you hypocritical loser.
The best moment of the game apart from our goals was seeing McLeish go totally batshit mental after an offside flag he thought was wrong, but where the Villa player would never have caught the ball anyway.
And there is no way that elbow from Robin was intentional.
Seeing as there’s noone around to shout at me, I’ll just go on record that it was a fabulous finish by Bent for their second…
Hurricane Shout!!!
But it was impressive striking acumen, very unlike his surname. (Down Wolfie)
Makes a Koscielnyesque run down the middle with the ball at my feet…
Assist?
Lars
You don’t think so? Not that I feel anything should be made of it at all… Pele, God, Maradona, they all knew how to look after themselves.
I used to love watching Shearer and Adams going for it in a game. No quarter asked or given. Handshake at the end.
Get in!
Lurky Oliva @ 285, after reading that, I wish someone would elbow him in the face to shut him up 🙂
Nice goal, Catalan 🙂
Good late run but what a miss:) Congrats. CG:)
I knew as much about that goal as Theo did his today…. never the less runs to the crowd to do some ill advised golf shot thing….
Lars, Joshua… teamwork. 🙂
Wow, lightning fast striking move down the pitch, in the net before he could even look up! Well in Catalan, nice assist Joshua, unlucky Lurky Oliva, unlike Bent, you didn’t live up to your moniker 😉
Or maybe you lived up to it TOO much :O
CG@296: that is what Bent does, stick the ball in the net. He is a really good finisher. Given our inability to score with any regularity this season, that is not something to be disparaged.
Well in, CG.
Catalan, I should perhaps have been a lot clearer – there is no way he intended to hit him in the face. He held his arm out to hold Cuellar off and when he came in lower than Robin expected it hit him in the face. And I honestly didn’t think it looked that bad, Cuellar made a real meal of it.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Wind someone would elbow him out of Villa soon hopefully. Never to early, I am spying on AC Milan tonight. Ibra looks on great form, that Nocerino guy is quite a dynamo. Thay have old midfielders though and experienced but kind of slow back line. That is our chance.
Lets sign up that Catalan boy…is he cup-tied?
NBN
Quite the contrary… I would love to have such a goalscorer in the squad.
Playing off or instead of RVP (only to give him a rest!). Physical fast and scores goals…. how much did Villa pay for him? I know he’s tainted but…