From Drought To Plenty, And A Villa Weekend Away
Nov 23rd, 2012 by 'holic
The forecast in the West isn’t too good for the weekend. The drought we were plunged into for several hours in the spring is now a sick memory. The outlook is much brighter for the Arsenal this weekend, however.
For now I will let the improved sponsorship package with Emirates sit on one side. Much has been written about that today, and a lot of it ill-informed. The only thing I will say at this juncture is that we have reached a point that was deemed to be significant when we moved down the road six years ago. In January and the coming summer we will get an idea of what we have gained as a result of the move. The deal itself has by and large got the thumbs up from people who spend more time than me studying the sector, so well played Ivan and team.
Interestingly I read that our new shirt sponsorship deal provides us with a third of the annual turnover of our Saturday teatime opponents. Aston Villa should be better than bottom three material, but Reading’s victory over Everton last week has planted the Brummies firmly in the relegation zone. Some might draw parallels between Randy Lerner’s cautious approach and that being displayed by ourselves in recent years. We appear to have a solution at hand. Villa seem some way from resolving what ails them.
Of course we are ourselves not where we would expect to be. If we can blow it at Norwich then we have a clear warning to take the challenge of their former manager’s team very seriously indeed. Paul Lambert will be watching from the stands as a result of a ban but you can be sure his team, with nothing to lose it might be argued, will hope to be the latest to prize unexpected points from our grasp.
Having said that Villa Park is a happy hunting ground for us in the Premiership. We are undefeated against Villa there in this century. If gut feel counts for anything then I fancy us to secure all three points from this one. Any threat to that confidence may come from a need to rotate a squad far from full strength. Next Wednesday we visit Everton, who may or may not be above us still at that point. Common sense suggests that Saturday would be the fixture to rest anybody in the dreaded ‘red zone’.
As on Wednesday we have Kieran Gibbs and Gervinho available to return. Gibbs could do with a run-out before next Wednesday, but that may require Arsene to face a few home truths about the form of his skipper, the most obvious candidate to make way. Similarly Gervinho might just get a start ahead of Lukas Podolski, undroppable thus far, but who may possibly benefit from a brief rest before returning at Goodison. In midfield too there is a case for resting either Mikel Arteta or Santi Cazorla, both of whom have become pivotal to our hopes this season.
The ‘holic pound would be ventured on something more aggressive if I didn’t expect some changes. Darren Bent, often a thorn in our side, is also fit to return for the hosts so I’ll plump for a 1-2 away win, a nervous affair to accompany the Saturday night sweet and sour. Gunners Gaming offer an unusual 71/10 against that scoreline. Enter their site via the banner above and try your luck. Don’t forget they will match your first deposit with a free bet up to £25 subject to conditions.
That just leaves me to wish those of you making the trip to Brum (especially those travelling with thirsty Swedes!) a great day out. Spare a thought for those of us out west who are Googling designs for arks as you read this.
A special word too this week for Chris Devlin, a proper Gooner, looking to secure his tour card for next year at the PGA Qualifying School Final in Catalunya. Those of you who met him at the Chelsea game will want to pass on your best wishes, I know. Good luck mate.
Robert Pires Signed DVD
Congratulations to Adam Jones, selected by my glamorous assistant at work earlier, and who correctly answered that Robert Pires was never on the losing side to the little club up the road. The dvd should be with you shortly Adam, congratulations. Thanks also to all of you who entered. There will be other chances for you to win Gunners goodies before too long.
Have a good weekend, ‘holics.
228 Responses to “From Drought To Plenty, And A Villa Weekend Away”
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We villa win!
I’ll pour it myself, maestro……a wee drap o’ Highland Spring in your cratur?
Not first?
But it’s just been posted on twatter.
Well in SSY
The merest drop sir, thank you.
Yoo ropey league place? Goes to read post.
Fine preview Holic and a more cautious prediction than you have been wont to offer of late. I am inclined to the same result but would obviously prefer a 2nd clean sheet in a row.
COYRRRs
Baff, re last set of drinks.
No, milk.
Milk. And alcohol.
Good luck, Chris!
And now to read…..
z @ 7
:O
MILK in your malt whisky?
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?
Heathen…
No, I was teasing Baff.
And less of the heathen, get it right.
Pagan
And to the topic at hand, 1 nil to the Arsenal will do nicely, now that we are on a run of cleans sheets….
My feelings entirely.
Must have been washed up on the coast of Fife as a foundling infant, having floated across the sea from some barbarian nation.
Evening, Guv.
I’m going three one The Arsenal.
Guinness when you’re ready..
Got a bit bold there
Oops!
Let’s see if I can close the bold…
Apologies H
It’s the drink….
How did you do that z?
Never managed to embolden or italicise on here, myself.
From last drinks:
Holic – “Friday night is noodle night”.
Used to be canoodle night. Oh yes it did.
Ah, my good Latin friend…
Fuckus Witticus
Heh Trev – it sure did.
And bath night (I remember my dad telling me).
Twenty-thired, or…
Twenty-forth – fuk ya!
Looks like Im the same vintage as Trev although I do remember canoodling up the river Shannon one summer, but other than that……….
Played ‘h – let’s whup the real claret and blues.
Anyone need anything from the West Midlands other than a win?
It’s time for the family to go deep deep deep undercover and secretly pull for the Arsenal while sitting in some of the best seats at Villa park.
(As my five year old calls them Austin Villa. )
I hope poldi gets to play , Gavin really likes him and looks like him.
Anyone up for a pint on Sunday at the Tollie before I make the long flight home on Monday?
Testing, testing, italics, bold
Bath@18 -
Stick the bit you want in italics between <i> and </l> and the bit you want in bold between <b> and </b>.
But beware; if you forget the closing tag (the one that starts with a “/”) then the rest of the drinks will be in italics and/or bold until ‘holic comes and fixes it, and you will expose yourself (ooh err missus) to ridicule.
Ah, thank heavens for the font police.
Yours, Witticus
Oops. You really ought to use </i> to switch off italics (lowercase i), you might get away with an uppercase i, or you might not.
Please be gentle with the ridicule fellow barflies.
30 was in reply to 20, not 29, Oxon.
Oh Ivan, I was with you all the way until the bollocks about ticket pricing.
You are getting away with it because season ticket holders, or gold members, don’t see the carnage at silver and red level.
Long term Gooners are being well and truly stitched up for grade A games, and I understand the argument about paying peanuts for grade C, but perlease…
No worries Z. I admit to shedding a manly tear when I first read your 30 and began to prepare a gauntlet to throw down in a generally northerly direction, but then realised what you meant.
testing, testing, testing
fingers crossed
Thanks Oxon.
Ivan is somewhat disingenuous alright,
“”Despite the fact that we’ve got long waiting lists in the stadium, we haven’t pushed ticket prices forward, we’ve tried to hold them to a responsible level.
“The expansion of our revenue base will help us in managing that relationship.”
You are quite right that we have a good record there. My best memory is seeing us beat them 3-0 on New Years Eve the year we clinched the title at Anfield. It is a proper football club but as you say suffering currently from American underinvestment. Lets hope today ‘s news is as good as it appears to be.
To be pessimistic for a moment we will only be significantly better off if we continue to qualify for the Champions League but frankly the stench from Stamford Bridge has been overpowering this week and I think we can all give thanks that our club at least retains some humanity,dignity and class. The oligarch has stolen the very little they ever possessed there.
I think 2-1 to us looks a very fair bet.
Hey everyone. Holic, As long as we come away with the 3 points, I’ll be happy. Positively ecstatic! Now didn’t Bobby score the most against the Tiny Tots? Congrats to Adam on your win
And best of luck to gooner Chris (never give up lad) 
Wind, Thanks for your 2nd installment of ‘Going With the Wind’, most enjoyable! Felt like I was on every darn bus and train you took (laughing). Delighted it all worked out with you and the Norcal bunch, considering the logistics, think you did just fine buddy
Pleased as punch you mingled with some of our esteemed holics and was able to see the ‘legendary wallet’ for yourself (nice touch). And finally, the excitement at the match, you managed to capture so eloquently, and I do so appreciate that 
Your family continues to capture my imagination! 
So rather than an airing of “spend some f*cking money”, let there be a polite ripple of applause – with no blowing raspberries – for all our lovely new lolly, at Aston Vanilla tomorrow.
With our midfield in need of a bit of rotation, it would be good to see Thomas the Iceman given a chance to stick it to them.
If we can break down their defensive Walls it would be Fab to see the Vanilla net choc full of Arsenal goals.
Our very own Mr Whippy Walcott is indisposed for this one, so resting another striker could be tricky with ice cream van Persie already gone. It seems that Giroud will have to continue to do the Lyons share of the work up front.
With the Ice Pole back in the goal and the BFG in mivvilous form we look a 99 per cent certain to take all 3 points.
Should have the travelling Gooners singing victory Calypsos by about 7.15 tomorrow evening.
“The expansion of our revenue base will help us in managing that relationship.”
The kind of relationship where you get kicked in the balls and pay top dollar for the privilege.
Back from monsoon land where an unorthodox boeuf bourguignon feast was gobbled by all and sundry, safe and sound to see Arsenal 2 Montpellier 0 and an away game at Villa looming with an interesting return of optimism in the air. Come on up the Arse!!!!
Very early morning, ‘holics.
Have fun Norcal, with the thirsty Swedes. If it was about 4 weeks ago, I would have said a definite yes to the tollie on Sunday. Ah well.
Good luck Chris!
And I need some luck myself because Arsenal Singapore is playing the local Yanited supporters this afternoon. They are the league leaders at the moment and we need to take points off them.
From Giroud Shines At The Olivier Awards:
bathgooner @ 194, sorry mate, I was in Biology at the time so I couldn’t do a ‘summary’
Ollie @ 195/196/197 you know what I meant, an announcer said their team in French compared to the normal stadium announcer doing our team in English!
I think you’re bang on the money with Staropramen, and you’re a busy professional, its understandable if you have to skip a bit or two 
Eandy @ 213, it was pretty nice to me, maybe that means there are even nicer ones to be had!
tabs @ 219, nice to meet you too, take your ime with this 2nd monster post and enjoy Villa! See if you can meet up with NorCal as well
Holic @ 220,
thanks Maestro, you mentioning your anticipation for it at the top of the Match Review gave me the strength to stop reading the review at that time on Thursday Morning and start writing up my thoughts 
H2H @ 221, thanks, but I don’t get why everyone assumed I had any McDonalds on the night, I don’t eat it in the year apart from Promotional Burgers, McFlurry Ice Creams, the occasional Apple Pie and in Monopoly Season…
I felt like smashing my Blackberry up at times when it caused me to lose drafts on Public Transport to and from home 
Trev @ 224, it took me 25 hours to write it from when I began!
Perfectly understandable 
Zico @ 227, only 30 years to live *scoffs*
FirstLady @ 228/232, you’re a cheeky one aren’t you, 1st Steve-o then you, leave me to my denial haha *Nike with a kuh sound*
Oxon @ 235, I approve of your summary
(executive summary delivered bath 
), just sub in laryngitis, Camberwell Gooner should be able to explain the closeness of Camberwell and Newington Liraries (10 mins away by bus max), I got taken all over London on Diversion, mates were in the library because they assumed I wasn’t in and so went to the Gym earlier than usual, agonisation was made the day after when I wrote it up, was one of my older sisters who I told where I’d been as she was the one who supported we when I went to my 1st Arsenal Game at the Emirates but on everything else you did an excellent job, thanks for filling in for me my sub-editor 
tabs @ 240,
You looked younger than I expected, that’s for sure!
Cheers to you as well Lars @ 241, great to see you again mate
NorCal @ 258, I’m so relieved to hear that, tell them it wasn’t a problem at all and that I commend them on their politeness and impeccable manners, give Emma, Jack and little Gavin my absolute best along with Ivana
Steve-o @ 278, Guinness? Give me Strongbow or give me Magners, you’d have to strap me down to get me to down that crude oil…
@ 282, I bloody did mention it! “The kids got some French Fries & Sodas” & “Lars and NorCal were having a chat and I joined them in conversing until NorCal informed us that his kids wanted somewhere to sit down and so I took them to McDonald’s on the Seven Sisters Road ” First you lead me on about the size of the Pad Siyew as delicious as it was, and then this accusation! You should be ashamed of yourself
Ollie @ 304, cheeky
Good stuff Holic
I’m feeling confident after seeing the lads twice in a row, the belief in themselves seems to be there and I’m hoping both Jack, Olivier and Podolski (for Jack, Emma and Gavin 
) all get on the scoresheet for a 0-3 away win to the Arsenal!
NorCal @ 27, not sure, I’ve been twice in 3 days so 3 times in 4 days isn’t even that unreasonable, depends as I’ve got stuff coming up in terms of College in the next few weeks, wouldn’t be for long if I could make it after Church or something, maybe you can try some of the Tollie’s excellent Thai Food while you’re there
Thanks abb @ 40
, its nice to hear that my descriptions of my family are capturing your imagination 
Now, do I do a ‘concise’ (
) write up of the events of Thursday evening at some point today… My Blackberry robbed me of a 65% or so completed version that I started on the way home from Camden by dying at 65% or so battery 
And for now, Just call me Wind… LongWind.
Holic – Great write up. I agree. We have a very good record there, and also at Goodison.
These three weeks are imperative. IMPERATIVE.
If we do our job and beat Villa, Everton, Swansea at home, and W.B.A at home we are really in the mix, since most of our rivals will play each other or against tough teams (i.e Chelsea at West Ham, City at Chelsea, United at City etc.).
We really need this win tomorrow, but I’m not gonna lie, I’m very worried.
I just have a bad feeling :\
Although we have started playing to Giroud’s strength, therefore creating chances and scoring goals.
His presence in the starting eleven is very good defensively away from home, as he is very good at heading the ball away on set-pieces, therefore nullifying the threat most lesser teams resort to – sit deep in a compact shape and hit us on set-pieces.
Off to B’ham. Arsenal badge over my heart, under a sweatshirt and jacket. Come on lads give us a show tonight!
Cheer up Snir. I see us giving a solid away display.
Come on Arsenal!
Good preview Holic.
Good luck Steve-o. Make sure you win, and if you can’t win, make sure you kick the cnuts!
Right, off to Villa Park.
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to see Arsenal win away …
Trev
Waiting for confirmation, but I may well know the Arsenal mascot for ‘holic’s birthday game
Have fun, tabs, and mind those pesky Swedes!
Morning.
We led 1-0 at half time and conceded one just after the restart.
Got one back from a corner 2 minutes from full time and fucking switched off from a set piece so we ended it 2-2.
SONUVABITCH.
Yeah Tabs, I kicked their danger player in the nuts. Well, more like a hard thigh into his groin as he tried to run past me.
Should have held on for the win, really. Really pissed off. Now to get my arse to the bar for some post game, pre match drinks.
Good lad Steve-o! Villa away, wish I was going, cracking away fixture that one. Last there 2 years ago. Hoping we’ll bag a win today as well.
On the train. Just a light rain. Bring on the game. Time to inflict some pain. This rhyme is lame.
Yep Esso, Silva reminded me it was one of the away fixtures he did
Cheers Tabs,
and have what sounds like a great day out. I couldn’t personally do the drinking, but the rest of it would be brilliant.
Take care all at Villa Park. Last time I was there, I came away with a bit of unearned loose change.
Heh @NorCal. Better than I can do.
Sorry to miss you on Wednesday. Hope you and the kids have a great trip today.
Go win.
Tabs on tour …
Reading the financials sober now – looks pretty good. We’s getting back in the ball game on that front – yeeha! Here’s hoping AW was making out his Christmas wishlist on the team bus already.
CoMONuREDS!/BlUes/HooPS! etc.
Score today – I dreamt 11-3 the other night.
But that’s obviously ridiculous – how are Villa going to score 3?
So 11-0 it must be.
2-1 win a good call ‘H. Very surprising odds BTW.
The Vikings went up to Villa, cheroo, cheroo
The Vikings went up to Villa, cheroo, cheroo
The Vikings went up to Villa
And at the front was our Larra
And they brought back three points, Come on you mighty ‘BlUes’(?)
‘Holic @ #33 – Every word. :-/
AL @ #60
Actually, isn’t it more likely to be YeLlaS?
That rhyme is so you NorCal, but not the lame part
Seen my 45 & 46? Actually, I’ve replied to most of all the Holics from the last bar/post there 
LongWind with the shortest Wind post ever?
@57 Ollie
The one with Silva was way back in 2007 Ollster – when Simmo was over. Went again in 2010, was the one I was thinking of. They were both wins. Just read we aint lost there since 1999 – which I also went to. We was 2-0 at half-time, Dennis x 2 including one outrageous shinner, then we fucking lost 3-2. Fucking cunt of a day that was.
Ah I see, Esso, time flies!
TS – YeS!
Trev @ #41
Choc(ice) full of creamy puns yet again? Fab-ulous!
I fancy mint-choc-chippy Cazorla to curl a free-kick or two over the Vanilla Walls and score a couple of set-piece lovelies.
A bit Corn-y-etto, I know but try to be Magnum-animous and here’s to Feast-ing on 3 points.
Jaysus, TS, you realise you could be punished by the FA for that post at 70? :O
Nice one ‘holic.
I think our previous record at Villa (and Goodison Park while I’m at it) will count for very little this week. Villa took a kicking from Citeh last week but they didn’t do too badly against them in the first 40 minutes of that match. Citehs second goal, a ridiculous penalty seemed to knock all the wind out of their sails. The week before they were two up against the other mancs, but threw it away. I think if we can get the first goal we will be home and dry, but we need to do it quickly as not to give them any confidence. They are a team that are down and we need to stick the boot in sharpish.
I’m a bit wary of rotation as I feel that we need to keep a winning side together, but if it needs to be done then this is a better oportunity as opposed to against Everton.
Have a great day out NorCal Clan, Tabs, Lars and the Scandenavian Crew and all other ‘holics wherever you may find yourself.
Frozen snack puns?
Lovely Jubbly.
Lurky from previous drinks.
I pretty much enjoyed that article, didn’t agree with eveything in it, hindsight is always 20-20, however very interesting all the same.
Wind@45, so apart from the wrong dread disease, misrepresenting your trip around London and getting the wrong sister I managed to do a reasonable job as a subeditor? With damning by faint praise like that, I see a glittering career in the Civil Service ahead for you
Enjoy the match everyone, wherever you’re watching it. Have another great day NorCal & Co. Good luck the Swedish Massive.
COYG
FA Ollie? Feckin’ Awful pun police?
Heh! @ H2H…. or even Knobbly-Bobbly
H2H (again) – Sometimes I think that every team that’s down on its luck prays for a game against The Arse to turn their fortunes around.
West Brom are going to be a tough team to catch this season. You have to take your hat off to them at the moment. Their third place is fully deserved.
I have the same feeling sometimes TS and fully agree on West Brom they are where they are on merit, but there’s still a long way to go yet…..
Oxon @ 75,
A Shane Long way to go – praps…i’ll get me cap
Come on the afternoon – ‘urry up – there’s a proper game on then.
*Raises something cold and wet (no not that) in recog of our fine Swedish contingent*
CoMONuYelloWS (covers The Arse and the Swedes)!
Heh Rev AL
Heh QPR one up at OLd Toilet
I cheered too soon.
Way to jinx it, H2H….
Arsenal; Szczesny, Jenkinson Mertesacker Koscielny Gibbs Arteta Ramsey Cazorla Ox Podolski Giroud
But RVP missed one I could have put in
Good day all 
My drink of choice is viscous lidocaine mixed with mylanta, yummy 
The Starting 11: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla, , Oxlade-Chamberlain, Podolski, Giroud.
Ollie. if I had that power I’d put it to good use, believe me.
====
Interesting line up.
It’s good he’s resting Jack. Santi and Arteta need some respite soon…
A bit under the weather Nursie?*
Or is it for reacreational purposes?
*If so, get well soon.
Abbs, a drink with such a curious name cant be yummy, just saying
. but enjoy. i’ll have a beer myself now that I know Lar’s wallet is not mythical *wink*
I see Wenger has rested a few first teamers for this one. 2-1 for the gunners. good to see jenks on the team I have really missed that boy but Sagna has been great who is one of our most underrated players as he never puts a foot wrong!
Villa’s starting eleven feels like this an U21 match.
Good to see Jenks back, I really hope Aaron will have a good game, important for his confidence. Giroud to score brace
Hopefully we’ll do better than in U21s matches
And the Swedes&affiliates will bring luck.
Come
On
Arsenal
Victoria Concordia Crescit
Thanks H2H
Hi First Lady and all 
*giroudesque lob behind defense*
Time for the show.
But first, an assist.
Anyone else enjoying TA6 on ESPN? No? Not surprised….
Whatever he says, he’ll always be an Arsenal legend.
At least Lily Savage is nowhere near ESPN these days(???)
*chips ball over the defence into the oppo penalty area*
Oooh, a feckin’ cracker! It even had TA6 in it. Would you believe it???
Well in TS, usual classy assist Ollie.
COYRRRs
Nobody of note on CAnal+, TS.
Good goal though
Are you starting the move to 200, baff?
Come on You Yellows!
TA6 great leader on the pitch.
Mystifying coach and pundit.
Bless.
Always a legend.
YelLaS it is!
We need to test their GK, he’s not great.
COYRRYs!!!!
Didn’t ‘holic say Bent was fit to return?
Thankfully no pound on it
Nobody of note sounds like heaven to me.
Nice goal TS! Not so sneaky assist from Ollie!
Better luck next time Bath 
Anyway, when we win, I’ll be happier than a witch in a broom factory 
Heh Olster @104.
Can’t start early enough
You know he’ll have the game of his life, TS. Especially after your post
If it’s a sore throat abb, I’d ditch that cocktail for a warming whisky and Crabbie’s green ginger. It’ll warm your cockles, sooth your throat and relax those pre-match nerves
Come on you yellows – let’s keep the good things going.
4-1 to us….early goals
Heh firstlady @ 92
Oh bath, I wish it was a sore throat! No, I’ve got a case of rum rums in my tum tums
Come on you Reds (Yellows!)
Streams anyone?
Firstrow doesn´t seem to have anything
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/155130/1/watch-aston-villa-vs-arsenal.html
Good Man Chez!
I wonder how much the wind is affecting the game (not our Wind
Again Chez to the rescue!
Oh abb
I’d only affect the game in our favour
Villa pressing us well so far, again we are bit sloppy with possesion..come on lads!
Good effort by OX!
Ha Ha Wind, how true!
Ah, well no alcohol for you, abb.
Milk pudding?
Luv you bath! No, must coat the insides, so no food or drink
Thanks H2H
V slow and freezing on my laptop…. shall elect to follow on Twitter and here in the bar.
A tipple, anyone?
Ohhhhhhh,nice work, almost!
Cheers Catalan!
Oh no..Per down
I recommend the whisky and green ginger that abb can’t have. It’ll warm you up but not your laptop.
Very encouraging! Keep it up lads!!!
here catalan..pick one of those http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=176279&part=sports
COME
ON
ARSENAL
Bath…. sounds good to me!
Eandy … cheers. Off to try now
Poor Woj, rotten luck!
WHEW!
Bath boldly going – ermm – bold – niiiiice
Playing okish. But missin Future Cap’n Jack’s pass pickin, play switchin and ball retention stuff a bit, i reckon. Very underrated that lad.
Ahhhh, beautiful pass from OG….
Poor fare, this.
Kos oh my!
Difficult one to curl in, moving away from the ball ..shame though.
Half-time, we’ll have to step it up in the second half.
Yeah, passes like OG provided are the key, however he needs to be at the end of them rather then being one passing them:)
I only caught glimpses of that half. (it’s on the box in the bar, but other things keeping me away.
) but what I have seen was a bit meh
I think the weather is a huge factor – but further evidence that Kos/Per is our best central pairing. Nice to see Gibbs giving us width on the left and I think that’s where our goals are going to come from.
Villa working their collective arse off – would be nice to see the Ox put more pressure on his full back.
Come on Arsenal
OG having a great match – all he needs now is a goal or an assist.
Steady on boys and the second half is ours. Giroud has goals in him by the look of it.
Would love to see Santi or Ox shooting from distance…on this terrain it might be very tricky for goalie if you hit the ball well enough.
No fuck ups at the back and we should come through. Just spread the play wide and pump some crosses in.
Come on Arsenal!!
Great seats. Not great football or weather. Lets go lads. Wake up and give me 45 minutes
Nice work there by Kos.
Olivier!
Fucks Sake!
as Arsene said.
Oooooh! close!
COME
ON
ARSENAL
Hope someone makes a gif bath
Yeah, that was a great cross from the OX…
Come on Arsenal!
Give us a goal boys, a glorious goal!
Getting closer! COME ON GUYS!
Why gervinho?
Gerv The Swev – comONsOn!
Is it bad that I knew exactly what Gervs is going to do?
What a cheat!
We are far too pedestrian.
Dive more Agbonlahor bah
Oh OG hurt…OX off and AA on.
Woj saved us there.
phew ….how come noone closed him down? :O
OK, we’ve changed the wide boys – now we need to feed ‘em
CoMOn Arsenal!
What AL just said!
Villa are doing more to win this than we are. FFS WAKE UP ARSENAL.
We really haven’t got a hold of midfield this half IMHO!!!!!
Villa winning pretty much every second goal putting us under pressure ..come ooon!
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, that was our chance
Are we playing for a draw here?
That sub was weird!
Rubbish without Feo
pooooooooooooooooooooo
Oh well. Frustrating.
We look very ‘mid table’ tonight.
Very disappointing.
Not bad clean sheet that is all we can say really!
Not good enough to challenge for the title! Simple as!
Frustrating indeed, our passing was well off and fair play to Villa, worked hard and pressed us all the time, now Everton is must win if we want to keep up.
This one really hurt
Chasing them much of the game. Some great set ups by us, but poor finishing 
Positive: another clean sheet. Apparently we haven’t conceded in the last 15 minutes of a PL game so far this season.
That’s about it for the positives.
Bollox
We had to get 4 points from these two – so now Goodison trip is gigantic.
Arshavin just doesn’t look like the same bloke any longer does he?
Today we have a swap I think because Ramsey was the only one trying to score!
Yes Ollie, and for that I will give Woj my MOTM vote
Villa are one of the worst sides in the league and we didn’t look much better than them tonight. Can’t understand not picking your best available team for any match, and to not even bring on Wilshere was a bit of a joke.
Very poor on and off the pitch tonight.
goodnight all.
Beer is the answer.
What was the question¿
Ollie good stat which TV coverage where you watching?
This Premier League is crazy.
Any team can beat anybody, and anywhere.
Had a bad feeling that this is the type of game that will develop.
Was actually more confident about Wednesday than today.
Pffffft.
bath@167 sums it up really.
Ox & Ramsey slow the game down too much.
And generally they were quicker and more determined to the ball than us throughout.
On the other hand, we had a hard game mid-week while they had the week off.
Roll on Wednesday.
Not a vintage performance, but I’ll take it. Point not the end of the world and we managed to rest a couple of players. Clean sheet very welcome.
Obviously, we’re not going to win the title, but an away point in the pissing rain after a midweek game might help edge us to another top four finish.
Weird subs though. Our midfield looked wide open in the second half and should have been sorted.
Canal+ no doubt?
Yeah, Nonny, I was a bit suprised Wilshere didn’t come on, but apart from that, I don’t know.
That performance was poor and inexcusable.
5 wins from 13 league games.
Ugh.
Ha, I randomly got the assist when I thought I was posting a 193.
I’ve still got it
Yeah, ATG it was Canal+ indeed.
Arshavin actually provided the best cross of the game.
Make of it what you will.
gerrin
Toothless. That sort of display is repulsive.
Id boo those lazy phuksnoff the pitch.
Aaron ramsay. What is the point of that man.
He is dreadful.
Villa totally outplayed us. 4th place much less the title is a total joke.
If this keeps uo over the winter we’ll be lucky to play europa ball.
Embarassing.
Not really usama, I think Giroud provided the best one or two crosses, in the first half.
Arshavin was, well, Arshavin. Not much cop again, sadly.
We are short of striking options.
Why don’t we buy another striker/attacking winger in the January.
And, FFS Arsene, change it up a litttle. When 4-3-3 wasn’t working make it 4-4-2. Hoof it up a little
Frustrated
It wasn’t that bad, Homer. Toothless, yes.
More or less what N7 said.
http://www.francefootball.fr/#!/news/2012/11/24/201914_le-barca-pourrait-jouer-en-ligue-francaise.html
heh. Barça ‘could play in Ligue 1′ if Catalunya becomes independent.
Giroud did provide a couple of good crosses but only brilliant defending denied Gervinho a goal.
Secondly I still don’t understand why Arsene took Giroud off, werent we supposed to go for it in the last minutes?
Rainmen.
Good bye old conventional wisdom, Arsenal can’t work out how to beat a team that parks the bus. Hello new conventional wisdom, Arsenal can’t work out how to beat a team that presses Arteta and Carzola.
People are making a big deal of substitutions, really. That’s not why we lost. And keeping Jack on the bench was sensible
Harsha: we lost? :s
Ollie, shouldn’t an independent Catalonia have its own leagues, with its champion qualifying for the early rounds of the UEFA cup like those of other smaller European countries….
Yeah, Ned. The guy says ‘but we don’t have enough competitive teams in Catalunya’.
They could be like the Welsh league
a) We didn’t lose
b) Keeping one of your better attacking players on the bench when you’re not looking like scoring, and sending on bloody Coquelin is far from sensible
Heh, it felt like a loss. Apologies
A mid-table performance by a mid-table team. Against a team who wishes they were mid-table.
I didn’t manage to catch much of the second half either, looking at the reactions it seems I didn’t miss much. I’ll save my comments until I have seen the game other than to say that a 0-0 draw at a bottom three team is not going to do us much good.
On the plus side I ghosted in for 200, what a finish!
Utter Dross !
Uncle Charlie said it all @ 218. Nothing else needs to be said.
….and so, nothing else was ever said again.
Closes the bar :S
Needs boost after crap result…………..
Opens bar (and medicine cabinet)
Bath & abb @127…… May I suggest a tipple of Black Cow….a vodka distilled locally in West Dorset entirely from milk !!!!! Haven’t tried it yet…my preferences lie elsewhere.
PS before Trev gets in, I’ll start him off with “don’t pull the udder one” Collects hat on way out.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Bah. Wanted better. Neither team looked like they wanted to play at the end. We were slow tonight. Better finishing and we could have won. Needed better.
Really, really disappointed with our perfomance & the result this evening.
Seriously, I think a loan move would do young Ramsey a world of good. Regular football, with a little less pressure might just be what he needs to straighten out the kinks in his game.
And whats this silliness Wenger keeps repeating, playing Le Coq in a more attacking role ahead of Arteta, especially today when we so needed someone to make the difference in the final third.