Showers, Creativity, Reserves, And Inbreeding
Aug 25th, 2012 by 'holic
I have checked the BBC weather forecast and it would appear that we are about to discover if the new boys can do it on a relatively warm and showery afternoon at Stoke. This is, according to some, the day we discover just what sort of season may lie in wait for us. You will understand if I suggest that drawing any conclusions from the second fixture of the season would be more than a little premature.
There is some good news for the Gunners in as far as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is fit and added to the squad that opened the new campaign with a goal-less draw against Sunderland. Although Wojciech Szczesny needs to come through a late fitness test it did sound as though he is expected to be ok. Therefore we can probably assume that the only decisions facing the boss are whether or not to start Chamberlain and Olivier Giroud.
Arsene’s talk of adding creativity in the wake of the opening day shut-out hints at a place for Oxlade-Chamberlain, but where? He could spare Abou Diaby’s ankles a searching examination in midfield, but is possibly more likely to be preferred to the out-of-sorts Theo Walcott, who faces a big week as far as his contract is concerned. Lukas Podolski may get the nod again over Giroud, with Arsene plumping for his greater mobility against Shawcross and Huth. As those twin hulks tire it would make a refreshing change to see a fresh Giroud sent on to bully them.
For their part Stoke are without skipper Whitehead, leading by example with a red card on the opening day at Reading. Delap or Palacios are reported to be favourites to come in for him as there is some delay to the potential signing of Tom Huddlestone on loan from our friends and neighbours. A match made in heaven you may have thought, but strangely Stoke were led to believe he was fit and currently that seems to be in some doubt.
Recent history suggests this will be a tough nut for Arsenal to crack. Just once we have won in five visits to the bearpit that is the Britannia since Stoke returned to the top flight in 2008. There is no point in trying to gloss over the bad blood between the two sets of supporters, initially prompted by our FA Cup semi-final triumphs of 1971 and 1972, but re-ignited by that Shawcross tackle two years ago. They don’t like us or our manager, and the feelings are mutual.
So any concern about the gelling together of the new-look Arsenal, rational a discussion though it would be ahead of a tricky afternoon, has to give way to the, yes a little immature, desire to grab the three points by any means possible. Preferably it will involve some terrible tactical blunder by Pulis, and certainly some misfortune befalling his skipper. No, not physical damage, unless self-inflicted, but would an own-goal and a red card be too much to ask?
The ‘holic pound has us as 2-1 winners, although I did look long and hard at the 16/1 offered by Gunners Gaming for a 3-1 away win. I’ll err on the side of caution for now and stick with my original selection. If you fancy that punt at Gunners Gaming then click on the banner ad above, and if you are a new customer take advantage of their Β£25 free bet offer (terms and conditions apply).
Before I go, a word for the lads in the new U-21 Premier League who capped a great week with a convincing 3-0 win over Blackburn reserves at the Grove. Over 5.600 supporters turned up, meaning almost 10.000 have taken the opportunity to check on the next generation in just five days. I’m looking forward to seeing the highlights on Arsenal Player.
Also a reminder that arsabeatbarca has bought us a double stone on the North Bank Terrace feature at the Arsenal stadium, and we are running a competition to decide what to have as an inscription. There are three lines of fourteen characters each available, and the entry which the nurse and I select will go on the real stone and earn the winner an Arsenal handbook for this season. Impressive, huh? Get your entries in to competition@goonerholic.com and thanks again to the lady herself for her generosity.
So that is it for now. If you are heading for the village of the damned take care. Let’s hope you are rewarded with a performance to remember, rather than an unedifying spectacle to forget.
Have a great one, ‘holics.
260 Responses to “Showers, Creativity, Reserves, And Inbreeding”
village of the damned, heh.
Man walks into a bar….. Ouch!
New post?
BMBD.
I’ll settle for 3pts, delivered in any maner that the gods decree.
Which fiendish official is in the middle tomorrow?
*manner* π³
i wonder if the rain-soaked pitch will make our passing slick, or will cut up into nasty chunks of sod by mid-first half.
Early start, for Mordor, in the morning.
Having taken in both U21 games it will be my 4th game in 8 days tomorrow.
Nowhere near enough of The Arsenal really.
glee mason, zico.
Go on, ‘holic.
Mind the drool Tone.
All joking aside hope you all enjoy it.
Havent read the full post Holic!
On the jucier tonight! Will behave I promise………..
Now to read the full post!
Nice one ‘Holic.
The extra 800 square yards available to us tomorrow could make the
3 – 1 an even better bet. π
Zico – is there actually a ref who is generally good for us ?
Don’t forget it’s a bigger pitch at Mordor this season as well, though whether that will help…..?
Mind the drool?
I’ll try to keep Suzzah under control.
I’m with zico on this one. Three points please by hook or by crook. And a nice splash of Milton Duff in every glass on the bar, please mine host.
Good post Holic it will be a stern test for the boys!
On the competition side I think “Holic and Holics Victory through harmony” would be awesome! Then again I have a little mind after those winsniowka’s
West @ 7-
You are quite the lucky duck. Enjoy yourself. May the Force be with us, always.
‘Holic, your productivity (what with two posts in 24 hours) is coming back on form. I hope this will coincide with the team’s form.
BMBD.
Trev,
No.
The young ref, who looks about 17, forget his name, is the best of a bad bunch.
Mason will not be a “strong” referee. We need to give as good as we get.
A splash of Milton’s Duff, Bath?
I’ll just shake his hand, if it’s all the same to you. π
Have a security problem with my email at the moment and it won’t let me in.
So, my “double stone” effort is –
Goonerholics / Virtual Bar / Real Friends
Weststandtone,
Do have a read before you go.
http://blog.emiratesstadium.info/archives/24264
at least song won’t be around to pick up an early, first bad tackle yellow. maybe mason will pick on the orcs for a change.
I was expecting to see a few visitors here but I suppose they have n’t finished beating the wife yet
Holic, after clicking on your link of ‘village of the dammed’, what the heck, you should have warned us first! Man oh man, we need to dismantle that sorry lot, limb by limb, if need be. As for our U21 lads couldn’t be prouder, more great footie from them to come for sure. Now a word about The Stone competition. It was Holic’s idea for all you Holics to take part in dedicating it. So get busy all, I just know every entry submitted, will have a piece of your heart in it.
hook or crook… Who cares?
Evening nurse π
Hello neighbour. I’m surprised too. They normally pop in to exchange pleasantries.
Liking that Trev. May give others an idea of how difficult 42 characters in three lines is…
Arthur, is the android app still ok? I only have iPhone…
Arssbeatbarca,
I went today. Suffice today, there’ll be no future Pele’s coming outof Blackburn.
I thought both Miquel and more particularly Boateng at centre half were very good.
In midfield the stand out player was Eastmond. Looked like a man among boys. Still managed to miscontrol badly a few times though.
Up front Akpom, if he really is 16 as I have read somewhere, is really very mature. Shields the ball. Shows well and looks to be a project.
An afternoon well spent.
Competition entry. Remember, less is more:
ABB
Holic and the holics
COYG
It may lack subtlety, but I think it has a certain minimalist elegance.
COYG ICDDR
Hmm. I see WordPress won’t allow me to specify font-size or text-align. Ho hum.
Aaaaaaargh. Read the rules, man.
“Arsabeatbarca
“Holic + holics
“COYG”
Hey, ‘Holic + holics’ = 14 characters. Who’d a thot it? Maybe exchange lines 2 and 3?
COYG ICDDR
Oxon, My lad, WE are the bar, no mention of me please! Very sweet, but c’mon this is our chance, to kinda lay claim to OUR BAR and the love we have for Arsenal.
Well I’m glad I’m just a ordinary commenter cause if I ran a blog, I’d be insulting folks without meaning too! Now Oxon, you put great effort in your entries, but in the grand scheme of things I’m just a tiny atom, you know what I mean…I hope!
Haha tiny atom of generosity, characterized by joie de vivre, bonhommie, and esprit de corps, if you’ll excuse my French.
abb – your stone, your choice.
@ Trev and Zico, according to Untold Arsenal’s Lee Mason review, he would be THE worst choice for the Stoke game (http://blog.emiratesstadium.info/archives/24264). Their stats seem to show that besides having a dismal overall performance level below what might be considered the minimum for an U-12 league let alone any professional league, Lee Mason is most strongly biased FOR Stoke and Everton and most strongly biased AGAINST Arsenal (the stats also show that he is biased for Chelsea and interestingly enough, I think he refereed the Chelsea-Reading game which the chavs won thanks to a clearly incorrectly awarded goal). What is shocking is not the appalling bias shown by most of the Premier League referees, which is obvious to many if not most non-ManU PL watchers, but the fact that the English media continue to blithely ignore it by facetiously pretending that it all evens out in the end. It does not even out and that ludicrous canard needs to be shot down, stuffed, and mounted, preferably over Mike Riley’s head. Yes, yes, we do get that the football media are all feeding at the Premier League trough, but don’t they have to practice something even vaguely resembling journalism? Oh, sorry, stupid question.
Great gesture on ABB’s part, bless her soul, can’t wait to see what the inscription turns out to be…
Bstrum –
Interesting. Mason has been hypertension inducingly bad every time I have had the misfirtune of seeing him at The Emirates.
Refereeing is obviously and notoriously difficult, but some just lack any sort of grasp of the game. Mason is unfortunately one of those.
And watch out for that dodgy handshake, π
Hi holics lovely gesture abb.nice 1 trev,my attempt..holics a few steps from home.(the ems and the tollie) π
Blimey Holic. Itβs like waiting for a bus.
Stoke is always a tricky game. How those sad webbed toed inbreds can boo Ramsey is beyond me. How their pathetic excuse of a manager then condones it is even worse. So we know what we are up against before we get there.
My take on the game is this. It will be won with the strength of the forwards. We need to dominate in the scrum and the line outs. We need to be first to the loose ball and ensure that our ruck is strong, driving over to secure possession. It will then give the platform to release the backs and play a wide expansive game on their newly found man sized pitch.
Horrible fuckers. 3 – 0 to the mighty Arsenal. Bring it on.
Keep the faith.
I know I am a relatively new poster here, I was more of a reader than a poster before, but my entry is the ‘ holic motto:
Eat, Sleep
Breathe, Drink
Arsenal
I think that seems to be what we all have in common and brings us together whether it is the real drinks or the ones here in the bar.
Cheers all
Proud to be a Gooner
You have my vote NorCal.
Also, thanks abb, it is a pleasure to have you at this bar.
As for tomorrow, my tip is- Giroud to score. Twice.
I am sick of Chelski. Penalties and luck all day long. Lets show them that Giroud and Cazorla are better that those divers Hazard and Torres.
2 nil with poldi and oli giroud to get off the mark for us. Best of luck to those travelling tomorrow, I’m sure the away support will pick up where they left off last season-the true twelfth man!
On a side note, Abb, you are a credit to those of us gooners who have to look on and live the passion for our club from foreign shores and your generous gift will hopefully highlight and reaffirm for those lucky to attend our hallowed home of football that while we are all lucky to have either been born into or have chosen to follow our club, those who can attend are the truly blessed one’s!
I only wish I could do your gift the same justice that I’m sure some of the regulars in here will.
Come on you gooners!
NorCal – That’s nice, but I still would prefer some kind of mention to the bar and not something that generic that won’t be understood as OUR BAR. π
So, seems that Stoke had to widen their pitch by 4m which means that Delap’s throw-ins to the goal area are shortened by almost 7′. I suppose that’s the end of Delap’s (anti-)football adventure and it’s back to drying windows at the carwash exit…
Just wanted to return to what became the theme of yesterday’s drinks, namely the comparison of ‘local’ and overseas based Gooners.
It is true enough that some of us earned our Gooner stripes standing on the freezing, wind, rain and snow swept terraces of Highbury in the dark afternoons and evenings of English winters.
Those same terraces where we scampered to escape (and, in some cases, to engage, eh Guvnor ;). ) the invading hordes of visiting hooligans and their arrays of weapons, ranging from bicycle chains to Stanley knives.
Enough, however, of that, as ABB will be getting inappropriately excited at the thought of such encounters.
Others of us will, at the same time, have been strolling along the sun-kissed beaches of Florida, California and even further flung parts, romantically imagining the joys of attending matches.
Funnily enough, in retrospect, there was a strange romanticism about those terraces, and many of the overseas Gooners have said that they would have loved the chance to experience those days.
In essence, those are the things that distinguish ‘us’ from ‘them’.
But supporting The Arsenal is, of course, about much worthier things than those.
It’s about families, friends, values, excitement, passion, joy, hardship, victory, loss and a thousand other things.
Each one of us will have his or her own reasons for supporting our club, none better or worse than any other, just as no one of us is any better or worse a fan than any other.
We share necessarily different types of support, but none is inferior or superior to another.
Due to our different experiences, those of us who stood on those terraces for years may feel a more raw passion for the team, but it is amazing to me, that so many who frequent this bar from India, USA, Hong Kong, Australia, Africa and many other places, have spent so much time accquiring their knowledge and immersing themselves in the history of the club.
Actually, it is a privelege, and fun, to share this bar with all of you, and it would be a poorer place without the huge mix of people who congregate here.
And we all keep coming back because of the atmosphere that is maintained by the Guvnor.
(if that doesn’t earn me Half o’ Guinness, nothing will ! )
Scruz,
530 am kickoff tomorrow. My 5 year old already asked me to set his alarm clock, “gotta get up and watch the arse’ and poldi!”
Hard to argue with that. We may not go to the games together but we do share the passion to watch together.
Could not agree more Trev with your summary of what supporting our club is about, i hope my summation earlier didnt sound like i was havin a go at those who attend the games live, as i said like the away fans those in attendance are the true twelfth man! I was lucky enough to attend the utd match at home last season and it is a memory i will cherish forever, in spite of the two lads sitting behind me who felt the best way to “support” the club that day was to shout abuse at each of players and included a man(who was clearly a regular judging by the warm reception he got from his “neighbours” in the row in front of us) who was with his two kids in their show of “support”. It saddened me to think these guys could get to take in the truly remarkable spectacle that is watching our great club in the flesh and completely miss the point of being privileged to be able to do so, i would clear Lars’s tab to have the opportunity to be there for each game!
Hats off to Trev for putting it so brilliantly…and yes, you should be drinking on other people’s tabs for quite some time. It certainly brought back a lot of memories for me – it has been well over three decades since I first went to Highbury and started supporting Arsenal, and while countries and cities I live in have changed a few times, the love for Arsenal somehow could never fade. Before the internet and international newspaper printing presses and cheap international calling, we had to literally wait days to find out the football scores (I still feel a massive debt to a librarian who used to bring us all the prior week’s English papers belonging to the city library), yet it never felt any less exhilarating or heartbreaking. And when Bergkamp miraculously, incredibly, almost supernaturally appeared at Arsenal and when Arsenal started playing Wengerball, I felt many times that I had bleedin’ won the football supporters’ lottery. And to top it off, when my son began, to paraphrase ‘Holic’s definitive Arsenal tagline, to eat sleep and breathe Arsenal, I could not have been prouder (or more relieved). After all these years of the internet, I am still surprised at how many intelligent, articulate Arsenal blogs there are, none more superb than Goonerholic and Arseblog, when compared to the blogs of other clubs. And when reading the comments on this blog, I can’t help but think that the Arsenal community has to be one of the most thoughtful, literate, generous of spirit group of supporters out there (I am strictly speaking of you lot, for I personally am a heaving mass of longstanding petty, sometimes unreasonable, football-related hates and grudges). When we consider the way Arsenal plays football, the dignity with which Arsenal conducts its affairs, and the propriety with which Arsenal’s finances and business dealings are managed when compared to the way many other big clubs are run (for example, when Spain has an unemployment rate of 25% and is on the verge of a financial crisis, the spending of some of the Spanish clubs have to be seen as just obscene), we have to feel extraordinarily lucky to support Arsenal. I, for one, certainly feel like I somehow hit the jackpot all those years ago.
three halves of guinness for sir trev. Most excellent.
norcal, the alarm is preset in the iphone (4:30, 5:30, and 7:30 all labelled “arsenal kickoff”) and will be on in a bit. dvr is set to record it on fox soccer channel. lucky you can share it with your son, mine is in miami, and will be at the airport to fly home at game time…but many is the day we got up, hot chocolate in hand, to watch the game. he is a teenager now, so early rising is out ;). enjoy it, and here is to a blissful sunday after our gooners defeat the orcs at the battle of britannia fields.
up the arsenal!
I mailed my crappy entries to competition@goonerholic.com Holic.
I hope putting 4 entries in one email will give me improved odds π
The day or reckoning is upon us.
@24: Neighbour, I figure they’re too busy fighting each other over getting rid of their manager and whether to change tactics to worry about us…
Trev@45: Well said. You deserve the full pint for that.
The trip to the Brittania is one I have never made but I had a vivid description of it from a friend after the first visit we made there when Clichy scored his only goal or us although we hasd already conceded two typically ugly goals from….Delap throw ins.Several Arsenal players went missing that day and my friend described it as a bearpit.They literally prayed for throw ins and with the wind whistling around so fiercely it was too much for a craven back five in which Zalmunia went AWOL and Kolo wasn’t up to the job. I remember him saying the Stoke fans were terrifyingly stupid,a race of nutters congregated in th bear pit to bray at and abuse the opposition. This is famously where Lineker did his crass and unfunny impersonation last season of Wenger. My mate had never encountered such low expectations of actual football by a home team and such Neanderthal behaviour. I saw it billed as a trip to Mordor. Not far from the truth.
It will be a big test of everyone but I’m interested to see how Mertesacker acquits himself.I like him for his calmness and organisation but he is not the most physical of giants and I wonder if he can prove himself in such an atmosphere. Giroud might also be key ,brought on late as you say or maybe someone who can bully their twin thugs from the start. Certainly I pray Cazorla has safe passage.in the awful game where Ramsey was maimed Fabregas and co stood up to be counted and I always thought Cesc had one of his best games for us especially slotting in a neatly at the death. I’d love to see th 2-1 prediction realised but a point isn’t too bad from here before we have our team properly settled.
Can’t wait for today’s game. Although it is too early to say the Stoke game will tell what sort of season lies ahead, I’d say today will tell us what our players are really made of. Defensive discipline (especially from set piece), physical steel and grit, creativity upfront, all these facets must be displayed in full. Without doubt today will be a true test for our team’s character. I think our players as a team has what it takes, and I sure hope they will pass with flying colors.
In other news, reading Pulis’ comments about Arsenal’s disciplinary record in comparison with Stoke is beyond belief to me, in fact it read like a sick joke. Pulis suggested that Wenger’s Arsenal has a worse disciplinary record than his team. I shall refrain from swearing, but I sure wish our boys massacre his team today. I wish I could be at the village of the damned cheering them every second.
Looking at our current squad, there is a fundamental difference compared to Wenger’s teams for the past 5-6 seasons. We can no longer be labeled as a team of ‘boys’, relying on a bunch of promising youngsters to make it big time. We now have a team of established internationals, most with PL experience, combined with some youth exuberance and the Three Musketeers of new faces in our team. Let’s hope our team can prove their mettle. Seeing Pulis’ face before the game should be motivation enough for them. Actually seeing his cap would be enough, never mind his face. Come on you Arsenal. It’s time to win 3 points.
As a Stoke fan I’d just like to say that it’s not Arsenal football club, nor it’s supporters, nor it’s players that (most) Stoke supporters don’t like; it’s just Wenger.
I for one never took part in the Ramsey booing and I believe that was partially due to collateral damage intended for Wenger (fans who were there might also remember that the other 10 Arsenal players got booed as well).
It’s the man’s arrogance, attitude, and comments made in the press, not his style of play, that we object to so much and why he comes under such abuse at The Brit. Many Stoke fans would actually admit that they would like Pulis to adopt some of Wenger’s footballing tactics. (Personality wise Pulis and Wenger are like peas in a pod, but you can’t go booing your own boss)
I for one love it when the ‘El Beauty and the Beastio’ comes around each season, not for Wenger-baiting as the press would have you believe but for the usually very entertaining clash of styles; Possession v Territory.
See you later and good luck.
Good morning ‘holic. Your blog exudes calmness when the temptation is to go native against the Stokorcians.
Nice comments about far away fans in earlier drinks. My 3 or 4 trips across from the Guinness isle are always enhanced by meeting with my “virtual” friends.
Pints o’ plain for the bar barman.
As an Arsenal fan responding to a Stoke fan before the Stoke v Arsenal game, I shall also reiterate that it’s not Stoke Football Club I hate, it’s just Stoke fans that defended the horror tackle Shawcross committed, Stoke fans that booed Ramsey upon his return after a year out of the pitch (yes, a year, how long was Shawcross’ ban after the red card??), Stoke fans that tried to do a quasi-Wenger imitation last season (you can’t imitate him perfectly anyways, AW speaks very good English), and most of all, Pulis in all of his entirety. Let me elaborate a little.
Pulis who just today remarked his team has better discipline record than Arsenal and questioned our club’s fairplay (really? Should I even go as far as explaining how much foul play Stoke got away with? Or how poor the standard of officiating in the PL is in regards to giving away yellow and red cards? Or how Stoke is ranked last in the fairplay standings?); Pulis who taught his team to play rugby and violent tactics against oppositions (playing long balls and long throws is nothing new, Bolton did it under Sam last decade, but promoting bullish tactics and outright physical, almost violent play is a Stoke innovation that almost cost Ramsey his career); Pulis who strongly and brainlessly defended Shawcross and his horror tackle on Ramsey, and focused instead on how good a lad his defender is, and how he sadly cried after breaking a fellow player’s leg after defending too aggressively as taught by his manager. The list goes on and on. So long in fact that I reckon my hatred is actually aimed at Stoke FC in general, and everything it represents.
I for one did not partake in the Ramsey booing as well, and even if it was partially collateral damage intended for Wenger, it does not explain the said action in full. Was it also partially due to brain damage suffered by Stoke fans for watching too much Rugby in what was supposed to be a Football Club? I think it is mostly due to Stoke fans being uneasy, almost guilty, about the whole Ramsey saga, that they had to divert their guilt and uneasiness towards hating Wenger, and you be damned, Ramsey for breaking his leg. This psychological behavior is referred to as cognitive dissonance.
Wenger’s attitude, arrogance, or comments made in the press is an issue made out of nothing. His attitude is that of any winner, he wants to win, he hates defeat. What sets him apart is his ideal of playing football as it was meant to be played, and winning beautifully. It’s not called the beautiful game for nothing. Not every manager sets himself out to grind out points by playing aggressively, sometimes at the cost of fellow professionals. Not every manager is a Pulis. Look at Rogers, Lambert, Laudrup, etc etc. His arrogance? What arrogance? The fact that he has a French accent and speaks better English than some of Stoke supporters can understand? Wenger is intelligent, unfortunately fools sometimes mistake intelligence for arrogance. Wenger’s comments in the press has mostly been intelligent and well-mannered. Stoke fans are probably pissed because Wenger tells it as it is, especially regarding the aggressive behavior that Pulis encourages on the pitch. That’s the truth, I guess if it’s too much to handle it would be more convenient for you Stoke fans to create your own truths.
I for one also love it when I watch a game against Stoke at Mordor, the contrast of styles is indeed entertaining to watch. However, I do not like seeing our boys getting aggressively kicked and ending up with an injury. I do not like seeing my player get booed at Mordor for breaking his leg. Hopefully I will not witness such horrendous incidents again at Mordor. Beauty vs Beast, Possession vs Aggression, Football vs Rugby, you know where this is heading. Your team doesn’t really play football when they play full on aggressively tackling our players, they mostly just injure footballers. I sure hope this is no longer the case. I hope I’m wrong.
See you later. Break a leg.
7:30am kickoff here. Dad will be watching here. Not sure about my 8 yo daughter…
Nice review Monsieur!
Onwards to middle-earth to watch our Fellowship battle that cunt and his Uruk-hai at Helms-Britannia-Deep!
I agree regarding the need for muscle in our ranks so I’d be expecting big Oggie to start up front to provide a clear and rarer element of physicality and additional aerial ability both in our attacks and defence, and for when the inevitable line-out rugby-style of that cunt is implemented by his thugs! Diaby too to start and IPod on the left for power and directness wrt to supporting and feeding Oggie. Theo to be rested as the inevitable bus-stop defending will require Gervais’ trickery over pure pace early on! Ox and Theo to be introduced later in the proceedings to assist with creation and pace once fatigue sets in.
3-1 to the Fellowship in the battle for football purity!
“Feck Pulis! He’s a cunt!” Good; chant prepared and ready for use for another season!
COYBG!
@Abbs,
Thanks for the kind gesture towards the bar Nursie, what a lovely lady you are! One shall now sit and endeavour to construct some meaniful prose worthy of such generosity! Merci beaucoup! π
Trev @45,
Well said indeed! A half to that man Barkeep!
Derrick @56,
True comments on several fronts and it’s not just limited to Stoke FC and it’s fans; cognitive dissonance indeed!
“There’s only one Arsene Wenger!” “Arsene Weeeeengeeeer!” “There’s only one Arsene Weeengeeer!”
COYBG!
World wide Gooners are the best
Helped by Nurse Abb and the rest
No matter where we are
We can all drink at Holic’s bar
COYRRR
Thank you Pete, very reasoned explanation of your personal view. Unfortunately what comes to the fore at these games is the rabid frothing of your less reasonable supporters (and I accept they don’t go unanswered from our end).
Only time, and probably the departure of the two managers, which won’t be for a while yet, will see a lessening in tension I suspect.
Now then Trev. What a half-pint or more worthy post that was. Following the Arsenal has changed, and for the better. The influx of supporters from elsewhere has added to this old boys enjoyment of the matchday experience, so no more of this ‘he is more Arsenal than me’ nonsense.
Have a great day all.
@54: Stoke Pete, thanks for coming on here to state your views.
I don’t have a problem with the average Stoke fans myself, just the ones who make nasty comments about Ramsey that go far and beyond normal banter. There are still many who do so on Stoke forums.
As for making fun of our manager, that’s fair game as we all do the same to other managers! However, I disagree that he’s an arrogant man. This is a popular depiction in the media but I find it blatantly untrue. A sore loser at times but not arrogant.
People complain about Stoke’s style of play but it’s not the style of play I have a problem with, it’s the justification of the whole Ramsey incident by the media and Pulis to the point where Shawcross has somehow become the victim in all of this is what upsets me. But, this is all ancient history and both Arsenal fans and Stoke fans are probably tired of speaking about it so I’ll end it there.
I’ll end in saying I also look forward to this match every season because in the age of sterile, commercialized football this match usually offers up something memorable.
Morning all.
And *boilk*
Why does that bell end wear that stupid cap. He looks like something from a Peter Kay sketch. Giroud to score today and 2-0 will do nicely.
Mannone?
Oh dear me no.
And I have already punted the ‘holic pound. What a waste π
Okay, okay RVP!
References’ to abusing ex-players, comparisons to Sol Campbell blah, blah, blah.
let me clear the air so there are no more misunderstandings.
Everyone who reads my posts (and you can go back a few years) knows I do not abuse past players regularly. I will stick in the odd lesbo, $ sign and cunt here and there. But in my opinion, as far as I’m concerned RVP does deserve to be called a twat with a slap across his rooster neck for good measure.
Saying RVP has been gone ‘for a while’ sounds a little, well, nonsense, if I must. He only left last week. It’s still fresh on everyone’s minds and every gooner (from all walks of life) whom I have spoken to face to face, has either called him a silly twat, cunt or judas amongst other terms; for walking around in a shitty Aon shirt, hugging red nose and saying stupid things like ‘the little boy in me screamed Utd’
It’s just light hearted banter in line with the usual inside the bar. There’s no need to get ‘our’ underwear in a twist just because the comments came from the usually ‘reasoned’ Goonertown.
In fact being the informative individual that I am, I merely brought to you the latest title given to him by a fellow gooner, as recent as Saturday morning. I merely updated you all on Saturday afternoon.
I’m sure RVP has heard it all before going back to when he left Feynoord for Arsenal and I’m sure he will hear it for the rest of his career.
Unlike the Nasri’s and Adebayors of the club, supporters came to expect better conduct from our past Captain (as recent as a mere two weeks ago during pre-season), so I can understand how supporters feel as much as I can understand why Van P decided he wanted to move on.
Keep the faith Gooners!
We certainly will need Mannone to be more like Dom Vito today if the rumour is true that our no 1 is missing. Is this the same injury he was carrying towards the end of last season. Let’s hope today we Rule Britannia !
@62
Very good shout.
Well done to the Stoke fan for coming on here and being relatively reasonable about things. It is appreciated.
I’ve nothing against your club. I don’t like your manager, I don’t like your centre half, I don’t believe you can adopt a style of play which involves “getting in faces” and then play the innocent when a kid has his leg snapped in half: the two are clearly related.
I don’t particularly love the way the home crowd seem to go out of their way to celebrate what I would consider to be extremely negative, retrograde football, but that’s totally their perogative and at least you draw a decent support, so fair play.
The bottom line is that the managers don’t like each other. Reading between the lines I think you can understand why someone might dislike Pulis. As for Arsene, he’s an awful loser but he’s not arrogant. Aloof, perhaps, but not arrogant. And being aloof is (based on my own experience) a Frenchman’s natural state, just as cheering throw ins is a Stoke fan’s natural state.
Good luck today (but not too much of it). I hope we wallop you sideways, I hope no one gets hurt and I hope we all get to see a decent game of football.
I’ve not bothered backdrinking, but cheers for that Gtown.
Mannone playing ? We’ll need the one who once played against Fulham, I believe.
Ollie
Cheers fella.
The Mannone v Fulham would be very much appreciated this afternoon.
I think we could play these fuckers off of their own rugby pitch, weather permitting.
We have a goal or two in us I think, but I do expect the ‘munsters’ to score due to their enthusiasm to beat another ‘big club at home’. As you heard above from one of our visiting stokies, their supporters will enjoy another ‘big club’ win.
Todays result will depend upon how much we want those 3 points. A draw would still keep us ahead of the Mankys’, so that wouldn’t be a disaster. But that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t play to win.
2-1 to the mighty reds on this occasion should seal the deal today. π
I’m expecting OG to get on the score sheet today, as he appears to be built for the more physical defences.
Mannone?????? Please tell me that is not right.
@ 39 Steve T
Very interesting point about winning the physical battle from the front. If the manager picks Poldi AND Giroud in the starting line-up that could mean he’s thinking along the same lines.
****
Lee Mason…is he the one who likes to show off his tragic attempt at biceps and who banished Arsene to the stands that time?
Speaking of which, has anyone got the starting line-up?
It’s not right Steve T, but it’s true. π
Mike Dean sent Arsene to the stand at Old Trafford on the advice of fourth official Lee Probert, not Mason.
Although all three are utter dickheads.
@ goonerholic
Thanks. Got my Lees mixed up then!
@ 56 CoR and 62 Derrick
Well said.
Just one thing to add – every team is entitled to play in any style they like, within the rules of the game. This does not mean that everyone else has to like it, or that their style is immune from criticism on aesthetic grounds. It’s subjective. Not just talking about Stoke here (in fairness, they do try to play football these days), but if you charge people to watch something I think it’s pretty cheeky to set out to make it dull.
And talking of entertainment…
BBC Radio 5 live
Former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, sacked by Spurs in June, tells Sportsweek on BBC Radio 5 live about the possibility of a return to management: “I’ve managed good players at Tottenham and at Portsmouth and at West Ham.
“When you’ve been working with top players it’s very difficult to work with inferior players, if you like.
“I think I am capable of managing at the very top level so we’ll see what comes up.
“England is home to the grandkids and everything else is here – it would be difficult unless it was the right offer [abroad].
“Other than that I would look to manage in England in the future.”
Just checking I haven’t broken the blog with my italics..
Phew.
Carry on! π
Ok blogamis.
II’m off for afew weeks, the next two times Atsenal take the field I ‘ll be up amongst the clouds (not a euthanism Dr F)
Enjoy the games.
Very daunting day all! Didn’t sleep well…but I came up with an idea(oh no, you say!). Free chocolate to everyone who is brave enough to get stoned! That’s right, any Holic who takes the time and effort, and risk ridicule by this ungrateful brat, will recieve a sweet treat for their work. Just my humble way of saying in advance, thank you. btw, the gods are punishing me also, my ‘spell check’ is no longer working!!!
Wrong place in my monniker.
Chocolate, eh, abb – now you’re talking!
Anyone else unable to get the Arsenal Player live stream?
Santi seems a good egg….(interview on Sky)
Come on you Reds…come on Vito
Come on the new boys
Arsenal: Mannone, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Diaby, Cazorla, Gervinho, Podolski, Giroud; Subs: Martinez, Santos, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Djourou, Coquelin
Scene: Schloß Oxon. Oxonne Gooneress has gone to see her Mother, leaving our hero to get his paperwork up to dat for the last two weeks whil experiencing the second match of the season in his favourite bar. Drinks all round please, barman, mine’s a nice cup of tea.
COYG ICDDR
528am….lots of coffee….3 points you gays!
Oh god – Parry. Again. π
Good start from Giroud
That was close…whew!
Almost Poldi, good effort.
WTF? I had a quick trawl round the Interweb looking for a live stream – couldn’t find one. Not to worry, I swore off watching live streams last season after a number of bad experiences. Trusty BBC 5 Live. Err, no, they’re building up for some match later in the afternoon. Sports extra? No. They’re braodcasting something called Bassball (hope I splled that correctly) this evening and are having a rest until then. Oh, well (swallows deeply) local radio, err, Stoke. Yes! They’re broadcasting commentary. Ah, but it wn’t be available on the internet “for contractual reasons or because of a temporary technical breakdown” – any chance of a clue which Auntie?
So, I’ll have to rely completely on a text commentary here in the bar.
COYG ICDDR
Come on you reds!
Oh Oxon and Fun, wish I could help with a stream. Someone come to their rescue, please.
Free kick to Arsenal, yellow for Stoke….Santi tries twice..
diaby starting imperiously.
actually enjoying the fox commentary, someone and danny mills.
yellow for huth, good.
arsenal!
No, no, abb. No stream for me, please. Lead me not into temptation. It all goes horribnly wrong when I watch matches live on the ‘net.
lee mason is a cnut.
good morning, all, again thanks for it, abb!
so far, nothing for stoke, promise for us.
Me too Oxon, once ended up with 99 registries, when I tried once! Morning Scruz!
nice ton, abb, let’s see a goonerholic goal!
Some pretty set-up play, but some bad luck as well.
sweet dribble by cazorla, shot over by poldi.
Santi and Poldi, both looking sharp. Poldi has taken several shots. Santi the playmaker.
@ abb and ‘holic (with recent discussions in mind)
Near or far
We are all
Goonerholics
I just hope we can score soon.
Fun, can you see the game?
nice break by stoke, great hustle by arteta.
@abb
No, I can’t.
Sorry Fun…btw, like your sentiments.
nice shot santi!
Almost Santi, long distance shot!
Foul by Poldi…set piece by Stoke. Giroud to rescue.
Oh, Vito brave!
Thanks for the updates, gays!
And cheers @ 110 abb. Will keep thinking.
Great run by Girvinho, into the box. Foiled by the Potters, darn.
slow game, not bad from us, not great.
Fun, I need my peeps, where are my peeps!
Nicely done Arsenal
Arsenal, another corner, 2nd one in a minute’s time. Poldi working hard.
Hey Goonertown!
Giroud, very unlucky this half.
Life-saving[1] commentary all. Thanks, keep it up.
COYG ICDDR
[1] Slight exaggeration, perhaps
Arsenal throw in. Leads to a corner to Arsenal, and then another corner. Shawcross misbehaving…and that’s it for the first half. Santi and Poldi the standouts, for me. Vito hanging tough. As usual Arsenal with lions share of possesion.
ht, ok for arsenal, not great. impressive santi, poldi working hard, nothing bad from the rest. quiet game from tv5. don vito doing well.
How are we looking defensively?
I think we look pretty good – ball is moving and the defense looks solid. We are physically up for it. Just need that first goal. Santi is an amazing player.
I think we’ve been very solid, midfield and defense have been impressive. I’d like to see Poldi shoot more with his monster left foot, and hopefully Giroud can get a goal that will do his confidence wonders. The OX to turn the game on its head?
@ 127 Gedo
Thank you!
Gedo and Derrick, good observations. Giroud really needs that First goal, will do him wonders. Would like to see the Ox but I want Poldi to play on.
Fun, and all you Brits, it’s not fair that you all can’t see the game! Player not playing nice with me but I can see it on Fox.
Very good first half. a huge E for effort and “We all agree, Santi’s better than Xavi”
If AOC brought on, more likely to be in place of Gerve the Swerve, I would think
Some of Mordor’s finest have Arsene masks on which they appear to find hugely funny. Beats cross breeding I suppose?
2nd half needs to be better!
BTM, hello and agree (seriously, Santi is massively impressive).
Fun, I think we’ll see AOC and Feo a little later. Probably for Gerv and Giroud? Poldi to centre forward with Alex in for him in MF then straight swap for Feo.
Fun, think you might be right about that, Gervinho finding it a bit hard to getting more involved (but boy, when he does, it sure is pretty).
Podolski looks good! Santi needs more options in the midfield, Diaby needs to push o more!
COME ON ARSENAL!
2nd half starting, no changes made yet. Come on Arsenal!!!
Stream working now. Phew!
We’re looking comfortable at the minute!
Lee Mason at it again…awards another free kick to stoke. TV saves the day.
Oh Girvinho, got himself into a good position but fizzled.
Mason allowing Stoke liberties, methinks. Stoke corner. Great block by TV.
Theo warming up.
Free kick by Arsenal, Crouch elbows TV. Gibbs with throw in, nothing comes of it. Think Ramsey warming up as well.
Arsenal struggling to keep the ball. Poor shot by Kitely.
Poldi takes a good shot, very plucky! Vito makes a save.
Poldi creates a corner, terrific effort by him. Arsenal now awarded a free kick.
Arteta is class. Absolutely love him. And Santi continues to dazzle. I’d like to see the Ox played in midfield replacing Diaby perhaps. He’s petered out a bit in the second half. Come on!
Free kick to Arsenal and yellow for Stoke, nasty attack on TV!
What a terribad tackle from Wilkinson on TV. Inbred…
Poldi to take the kick and Arteta actually does it, very confusing. Poldi needs to be the one to take the next one, please!
we’ve slipped into a bit of a low energy lull……time for a change…..then Santi goes close
Theo and Chambo preparing to come on. Three points we can do it…
AOC and Feo coming on. Good decision…
Theo and AOC on. Gervinho off. And Poldi off (?).
Poldi off? Not fully match fit?
Arteta tries a blistering shot but lobs it high.
Good chance there for Arteta. Nice hold up play by Oli G.
Oh my, the best chance of the game, Diaby…
My word… What a chance for Diaby. Unbelievable miss… Really should have shot it on target.
COYG
Nice run from Theo. our captain to get the winning goal? π
Nervy moments at our goal…beautiful cross by Theo, but blocked. Game opening up…very nerve wracking.
Oh Derrick, anyone who scores for us will get some chocolate!
Could you hate this mob of inbred twats any more ?
Santi off, Aaron on and their fans are booing him!
Santi off for Ramsey. Come on Ramsey time to put on your shooting boots!
Trev, really don’t understand it. Stoke should be fined for this.
Another arsenal corner, Arteta takes. Ramsey very impressive. Another corner for us per Arteta. AOC battles and free kick to Stoke.
A goal from the Arsenal would be fine enough for me. COYG
abb – What’s with all these offers of chocolate? Are you a werewolf? Do you now, or have you ever, worked at Hogwarts Academy for young Withces and Wizards?
Just asking.
COYG
Another nervy moment…and then Ramsey takes a shot, just wide. Come on lads, you can do it!
Oh my Gawd.
Hi Oxon…can’t breathe…so excited…Giroud almost!
abb:
Can’t breathe?
Eat chocolate.
You know it makes sense.
COYRRG
90th minute…Stoke free kick…3 min xtra time…Vito strong!
THIRD TIME the refree got in to Diabys way -_-
Disappointing cross from Ox, whose energy has otherwise been an impressive addition.
Still unbeaten
Gah. Getting closer. Somebody needs to score – doesn’t matter who it is, but the first goal will open the taps.
heck. could have nicked it at the end. mason needed to call time wasting, damn it. clean sheet, good runout, stoke away done.
To be fair with all this not good enough!
Diaby completely vanished in the second half.
Well to my surprise…from the opening two games of the season…our defense is VERY impressive, however given the talent we have in the attacking third, I would expect us to score goal or two. Both Sunderland and Stoke games were 1-0 kind of matches we should have won.
But I believe we will turn up at Lpool next week with some proper goalscoring galore, not worried about us conceding in the moment.
I think we handled the thugs well,created fair bit of chances, will be more confident from it. Defending was good, cazorla was good. Quite liked podolski. The future, immediate and beyond looks encouraging. Keep the champagne ready bar keep, never know he we ae going to need it.
Hmm. Two games. Two games in which we were the better side. Two clean sheets but only two points to show for it all.
Two points from two games. Two clean sheets. Hopefully next game against Liverpool our forwards will have more space and showcase their goalscoring prowess. That 89th minute chip from near the halfway by Giroud almost had my heart stop, inches over the bar. Poldi impressive, Diaby completing 90 hard minutes. Not a bad point by all means. Good job lads, you’ve done me proud.
Ordinary.
It can only get better.
Giroud needs a lesson on how to pass a ball etc!
Cazorla played well amd Podolski did well too however Giroud needs sometime in my thining!
Facts aside it was very boring football!
Strong display by our defense, entire game. Santi, Poldi, and Vito terrific effort. Ramsey as well. Giroud, beautiful long distance shot in waning minutes of the game, a real gem of a shot. Hope TV is ok, really a viscious attack on him.
Right…well….we’ve got our defending sorted out. Gibbs looking remarkable.
We’re going to click soon…we had the ball in great places so many times today, really should have won.
Btw Poldi had a goal bound shot from point blank blocked by a tumbling stoke defender’s elbow in the first half. Should be a penalty if the ref saw it. We certainly deserved more from the first couple of games.
Giroud did well in my opinion…worked hard and should that audacious effort go in it would have been marvelous, hes getting closer and closer. Diaby was impressive in first half, faded in the second, but he same as Gerv should learn when to shoot, hope Santi will give them both lesson or two about that heh. Poldi – much better compared to Sunderland game, seems to me that playing from the flank to center is more natural to him than playing the primary striker role. Santi doesnt need mentioning in my opinon, instrumental again.
Stoke away done, survived without injury, clean sheet kept, roll on Liverpool π
Iain Dowie on BBC: any time you win a point at home against one of the top teams that has to be looked at as a success .
Twat.
Can I get in?
Arsenal’s performance in mid-field excellent. Solid defense throughout. Should have scored three. Team will gel. Goals will come. Giroud’s effort at the end would have been the wonder goal of all time if it had gone in. Talented boy Oli G.
And no. I don’t think Percy’s presence would have changed a thing.
If we can’t score, at least we don’t concede.
Nice play.
Just lacked goals.
Oh well liverpool next week!
Nice on, BtM
Well in, BtM. Agree that goals will come. Team is already starting to gel.
nice “one” obv.
I shoot like Arsenal. Close …….but I got too excited. Snapped at it. Damn.
I am playing for the defence this season – so far I am very pleased with my team..
π
Thanks for showing me how to keep my composure BTM. Well placed.
You guys and Fun are spot on, our defense looks solid, mid field gelling and the goals are there for SURE! Now about the chocolate, Nuts or no Nuts, that’s what I need to know!
Either for me, abb.
AW agrees with you, BtM: It was a solid game and we showed a dominant spirit and there are a lot of positives. The negatives are we didn’t score in our first two games but I think that will come because we have lot of new players.
Hey Gooner Terry! NorCal, hope the fires are not close to you. Congrats to BTM, he scores when he’s here!
All nuts here, abb
Yep, lovable nuts, methinks.
Bah czech journos “Teethless Arsenal didnt score without Van Persie again” I bet they just looked at the final score and wrote this kind of “article” ..meh.
Mins Arsenal played without a goal since RvP left: 189
Mins RvP played before scoring for Man U: 36
UNCOMFORTABLE FACT!
Two scoreless draws against two teams that played for the draw. If you saw Pulis’ ugly mug at the end, he was very pleased with himself and the draw.Stoke played a little more open than Sunderland. But without crouch and his knockdowns they really have nothing going forward.
The goals will come. We are close.
Defense does look more organized but I would also say our fullbacks don’t seem to be bombing down the flanks as much. Are we sacrificing our width for better defense. Hard to say after just 2 games. Let’s see how it goes in a more open game where the opposition comes out of their own half.
Number of times van Persie said he didnb’t want to play for Arsenal: 1
Average time take for the Earth to orbit the sun 365.25 days.
IRRELEVANT FACTS
COYG ICDDR
Oxon@218: π
Thanks Ned
Similarly frustrating as last weekend to be honest.
You wouldn’t believe Stoke played at home though.
Guys,, 1 question. Whats the deal with Theo? is he stalling on his contract too? Why hasntt he signed so far?
Very simple . Sign up Chicharito | Dembele.
Sign up Cabaye.
This is not the time to experiment with players from a foreign league.
Do your thing Arsenal.
We bought 3 attacking players and improved our defence.
– brilliant comment in the Guardian article on today’s match
Two clean sheets against two of our traditional tricky teams isn’t bad.
Solid defence that leads to strong attack should be our next goal.
I’m relatively pleased but we need to do some more work..
Liverpool is leading the blue Mancs at the moment. Merde…
I care a damn about our mini drought in front of goal. It will come together soon. Remember teams who have won the PL have conceded an average of less than a goal a game a season.
NBN@216 I guess a more considered (and some might say courteous) response would be to concede that your two facts suggest that van Persie is a better striker than Podolski or Giroud.
Well, that’s possible, and I suspect that if that conclusion had been suggested here before July 4th no-one would have thought for long before agreeing with it. If, for some reason we now don’t accept that, then we’d have to say that the Manyoo midfield is better than Arsenal’s. That, not surprisingly, is MUCH more controversial.
I would like to think that the explanation of your fatcs is a combination of “van Persie is a better striker than either Podolski or Giroud” and “Arsenal play a more complicated system than Manyoo”. The latter possibility would mean that Arsenal’s three new striker/midfield signings have more to learn to play with Arsenal than van Persie had in order to play with Manyoo.
I reject the easy conclusion which some might draw from your facts – and I say now, for the record, that you didn’t draw this conclusion – that Arsenal were mistaken to sell van Persie’s contract because: I think the difference in quality between van Persie and Podolski/Giroud will turn out to be very marginal; I think it’s likely that van Persie will spend more time injured this season than either Podolski or Giroud; and I think that the effect on the dressing room of a disgruntled, articulate, senior player is one we very much better off without.
My 2p worth.
COYG ICDDR
Bould our best signing….mark my words.
Bollocks. Tied myself up in rhetorical knots at the end of mine@227 as usual. Bugger.
Kolo the Holo in dreamland for SS Skirtel’s goal at Annfield. Na$ri looking like one fifty second of a Cazorla. (that’s a bit generous, a sixtieth maybe).
Oxon @ 227. I’m right with you on Oli G and Poldi.
They’re all on four year contracts, Percy’s cost 70M over four years, more than Prince and Oli combined. I think Oli and Poldi will contribute more combined than the fallen one THIS season and still be right there four years from now while Percy picks his nose on the manure old stiffs bed.
Tim – Bouldy’s signing is a very big positive.
Eandy & OG — I thought Giroud played well. Made good runs, showed strength holding on to the ball and linking with others, contributed to defense and showed imagination a few times. Sure those extravagant efforts didn’t come off — the scissor kick and the audacious long distance shot — but they indicate a striker who is confident and creative.
Poldi is definitely a much better player cutting in from the left. Him and Gibbs are building an understanding.
Theo and Ramsey were sharp-ish for the few minutes they were on.
In both of these last two matches I think Arsenal could have experimented with Santos as a substitute. Defensively might have been a bit risky but he offers good skill and a degree of unpredictability going forward that comes in handy against really stubborn defenses.
Everything else about Cazorla is so impressive and efficient, but maybe for a while Arteta should the corners.
Two draws is of course not what we had hoped for, but the defense looks solid so far. Stoke never really threatened. I think the increased focus on defending in the preseason training sessions are having a temporarily negative effect on our attacking because I feel the players are still having to think about the defending and loses a bit of attacking focus. Both Vermaelen and Jenkinson were clearly restraining themselves going forward. Jenkinson only made a few attempts to go forward and we saw nothing of the trademark Vermaelen bursts up the middle. There was one instance where he started to run but then stopped almost immediately, I believe that this is a result of the team working hard on establishing a solid defense. Once the positioning is more instinctive I think we’ll see more of the defenders in attack. Next Sunday will be very interesting, we will be tested much more then but will probably also have a lot more space to exploit in the final third.
Credit also where credit is due, I thought Lee Mason was excellent. Giving Huth that fairly early yellow card was a good move that set the tone for the game. He didn’t buy Pennant diving for a penalty either which was good. The only major decision he got wrong is that I think he should probably have shown a straight red for whatever orc it was that scythed down Giroud just outside the box.
Bould sure has worked on our defence, pretty solid…Redknap agrees!
Confused as to who is our centre forward between Giroud n poldi…,either way one should be groomed to be acustomed to the position, the rotation of the front three is good for versitility and and a marking nightmare for opposition defences..BUT carzola needs to know where to pick a killer pass.. To one who knows where to be.
Why does le boss think ox will be gud in a deep midfield role, i’d love to see him as a forward man, for just a game, i stand corrected.
Snir, Etienne Capoue is the guest on tonight’s Canal Football Club before the PSG vs Bordeaux game π
Ollie ..you must be psychic. I believe Capoue didn’t play for Toulouse earlier, was suspended, injured or “injured”?
My son: where did I get this truck from
My wife: I think Santa brought it to you
Son: Santi Cazorla brought me this?
True conversation this am. Haha.
Not the victory all of us wanted but mightily impressed with our defensive solidity! The best I’ve seen the lads ever deal with the inbreds rugger-ball! Even Vito looked very at ease and Per & TV were fabulous – shouting and organising whenever needed! Where have I seen that before? Eh Bouldy! Stevie B’ll be the best signing for this and many seasons to come at our beloved club! Do we really need to sign a Defensive midfielder?! Perhaps if we want to close the game down! But for me, not such a necessity now!
Now, wrt the attack, the same media drivel will be spouted; ” no cutting edge!” “see how their missing RVP’s 30 goals from last season!”
Utter garbage! Let’s wait and see what happens when we finally play a side that actually wants to play football against us and score some goals! Then we’ll see how “toothless” we are upfront! Oggie player well and looks like a proper number 9! Bring on Liverpool! COYBG!
We have now dominated 2 mediocre but difficult teams. The defence seemed secure, albeit against limited attacks. I guess SB is working on our defensive discipline to good effect but they rarely crossed the half way line which had a negative on our attacking options. Midfield worked hard without creating too many openings and individually the attack look very promising without looking dangerous. Goals will come soon enough – we have a brand new attacking focus of Santi, Lulu and Ollie (G) – once they gel the goals will flow – they just need to get that understanding of each others strengths.
My only annoyance was seeing A.Pubis jogging down the tunnel grinning like a Cheshire cat….as a team the neanderthals were dreadful,just what their moronic supporters deserve. π
Through two matches we’ve had 40 shots, opponents 10.
68.5% possession over two matches
Numbers are there to be debated but there is much more going right than wrong. Last season we managed 627 shots (16.5 per game).
We also scored once every 8.5 shots last season. Law of averages says we will score 7 or 8 total over the next two games.
That’s what the numbers tell me anyway….
Knee injury, uplympian
Decent performance. A point from Mordor will do.
For those banging on about Van Persie, remind me: how many goals did he have at the same stage last season?
By the way… fair play to Stoke Pete for dropping in.
As I recall, his argument was, basically, “We’ve got nothing against Arsenal, it’s just Wenger that we can’t stand, because he’s an arrogant so-and-so”.
As expected, no-one here agreed with that. I thought the reply: “Well, he’s French, all Frenchman are arrogant” left a little to be desired. I also feel that the repeated references to Stoke players as Orcs and to the Brittania as Mordor are somewhat overdone.
As well as the general tolerance for each other and for other Arsenal supporters, one of the good things about this bar is the welcome we often extend to visiting fans[1]. It would be a shame if we let Pulis so poison the atmosphere between the two sets of supporters that we routinely frighten them all away.
COYG ICDDR
[1] Not LWCs, obviously π
A bit disappointed with a second draw in a row. A bit anxious to get the first three points. No matter, Anfield is just the place to kick things off properly π
It’s nice, Oxon, but to be honest, I never got the idea of visiting other team’s blogs.
It’s a completely alien idea to me.
Oxon @243,
Certainly was good for Stoke Pete to turn up at the bar but I’m not entirely in agreement with not being critical of the primitive and neanderthal nature of some of their fans! We still clearly had further contemptible booing of young Aaron! A boy who was the victim being treated like the victimiser! How more disgraceful can a group of human beings be?!
Very ambiguous about transfer speculation, Mr Capoue. Just says he wants to go to a big big club and play in the Champions League.
‘Before the end of the transfer window?’
‘I don’t know, we’ll see before September 4th’ (end of the transfer window in France)
Ollie, I’m an Alien, emailed Stoke twice on 2 different options (Hospitality and Website). Gave them a polite earful about certain Potters Fans booing our Aaron. Shame on them! Where are their mums….
Me neither, Ollie. However, it seems to appeal to some, and although I wouldn’t go a-visiting myself, I think it improves the bar. I like to see the inmates joining forces to repel the trolls and equally, I enjoy watching them engage in reasonable conversation and debate with reasonable opposing fans.
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Ollie..many thanks..a proper injury then. Looks like he is a good candidate for the medical centre – there’s more room available now the Dutch ex employee has left. π
Dapper DanC@246: I agree that it’s pretty contemptible for Stoke fans to boo Ramsey. I note that Stoke Pete had little to say about such behaviour other than that he didn’t go in for it himself. I would be genuinely interested to hear how a boo-er defended themself.
I’ve belatedly looked back at the responses to SP, and I’m rather surprised to find that they did make the point that it was the booing of Ramsey that so enrages Arsenal fans.
It’s not the impression that I formed when I read through the drinks the first time and I suspect that any “reasonable Stoke fan” visiting here wouldn’t have formed that impression either.
So, fellow ‘holics, please wind back a little on the bile towards Stoke fans. Just a little though, say half a demi-tweak?
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Oxon@227: my stats were meant more as an ironic joke than anything. I actually agree with BtM@100 that RvP’s absence or presence wouldn’t have made much difference in either game. That said, even allowing for the new signings settling in, I am now within a game of being concerned about the lack of goals. We started last season without scoring in our first two games and we all recall with horror what happened in game three. I think we are in much, much better shape than a year ago though. There is much by which to be encouraged. The defence looks better, emBouldened one might say, though the defended against Stoke from the front back in a way we didn’t see nearly enough last term. Arteta’s return shows how much we missed him at the tail of last season. Cazorla makes you realise how good Spain’s midfield must be if he can’t get in to it. He will be a star for us, no question. Diaby is giving indications of what we have missed because of his injuries. I can’t remember when he last managed a full game. Just need the new boys to start finding the net.
abb…I saw the game down my local pub but see you gave a first class commentary for those who had no access to a screen. A job to consider if you get fed up at the MC π
NorCal @217,
Wrt the fullbacks not venturing forward and not overlapping as much, Capoue, or A.N.other defensive midfielder, would suitably permit that to return with responsibility, whilst maintaining our new improved defensive solidity and coverage in the spaces left behind!
It would additionally allow Le Boss to alter tactics and formation as necessary to further enhance our attacking potency against the “Bus-Parking” sides whilst nullifying the counter-attacking threats that the indisciplined Song used to allow many sides over recent seasons!
I’m very encouraged with the way the side is being rebuilt from back to front and it’s always easier to win matches when you know it’s hard for your opponents to score!
Offence wins matches! Defence wins Titles & Championships!
Very strange line-up for Bordeaux.; I fear the worst.
The Ox @252,
I’ll try, but it’s improbable whilst that Pubis cunt is at their Helm’s Deep!
NBN@253. I suspected irony when I read the “FACT” at the end of your drink. I have boundless faith in the ability of idiots to quote “ironical comments” out of context so I thought best to post a response. I’m less concerned about the current scoring drought than you, but otherwise I don’t think we differ on much.
I’m looking forward to next week’s visit to Anfield. We’ve seen how this season’s crop will deal with bus parkers and teams who take rely on a “physical approach” – we cope better defensively than we have for a season or two but, at present, we cope less well in attack. Next week we will get some idea how this season’s team cope with the better teams, who try to win by out-playing us.
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I have read what the boss says and as much as I agree with his analysis, I also feel that this team is quite short on pre-season training due to the Nigerian tour being canceled.
So with that in mind, the team have a couple more games to get organised to an extent.
Otherwise I agree with the boss and G Neville in the sense that the physical presence we had on the pitch dealt well with the Munsters. So if you add that to a draw and the fact we’re a point behind the leagues most consistent club, we have a lot to build upon.
So lets keep the faith going Gooners
Drinks all round