Gunners Seek Three In A Row
Dec 20th, 2012 by 'holic
Sometimes the Thursday presser is an inconvenience, particularly when it is unclear who is and isn’t available. It would appear that is not a problem this week. Arsene shared with us today the news that we will have a similar squad out at Wigan on Saturday to the one that appeared at Reading on Monday as there are no new injuries.
As far as Wigan are concerned their resources are stretched. Adrian Lopez is out for up to 10 weeks, while James McCarthy is a doubt with an ankle injury. Long-terms casualties Gary Caldwell, Antolin Alcaraz and Ivan Ramis may or may not be in contention. Also ruled out by both injury, and ineligibility, is Arsenal winger Ryo Miyaichi.
We are bidding to win three consecutive Premiership fixtures for the first time this season having lost just two of nine away games to date. Wigan have won just two of nine at home (against West Ham and Reading), and have just dropped into the bottom three after slipping to a 2-1 defeat at Norwich last Saturday. Before we get complacent their two away wins include the little club up the road. My guess is they will at very least attempt to compress play a little more enthusiastically than Reading did.
The two sides shared the ignominy of crashing out of the COCup at the hands of Bradford City on penalties. At least the pie-munchers won’t be able to chuck that at us on Saturday. With the West Ham fixture on Boxing Day falling foul of an opportunistic strike (again) by the tube drivers there is no need to rest players who will not be in action for a full week over the holiday period. My guess is that means Le Boss faces just two selection posers. Does he recall Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud? For my money we are a better side with both of them included, but man management considerations may mean an unchanged starting eleven from the one that won so convincingly in Berkshire.
I’m punting the ‘holic pound on an Arsenal win, 3-1. If you have your bet with Gunners Gaming (via the banner ad above please, it is Christmas!) don’t forget their 12 Plays of Christmas promotion is still in full swing.
Now I know some Gooners who are getting away for the Christmas break, but that hasn’t prevented us from selling out our allocation at the DW Stadium. Impressive travelling support as ever. If that includes you, have a great trip. Hopefully the rest of you will have completed your Christmas shopping and can take in the action on Sky (or a stream if you are without live coverage abroad). Let’s hope the boys deliver the three points that will take us, however temporarily, into third place.
Bayern It Is Then
So the draw for the last sixteen of the Champions League took place today (Thursday) and we were paired with last season’s runners-up, Bayern Munich. A difficult task faces us, no doubt, but not an impossible one. The immediate reaction from Lukas Podolski acknowledged the size of the task without negativity.
“Itโs a big club but we have the chance to win against Bayern Munich…there are two matches, one at home, one away, so both teams have the chance to win.”
Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge acknowledged that his side will be expected to progress, but warned against taking the tie for granted.
“I think we enter this match as the slight favourites, but we can be making the mistake of underestimating them…by no means will this be an easy game for us.”
You can say that again Karl-Heinz. Until Saturday ‘holics. Don’t overdo it on Friday, will you? OK, I know I will, but don’t do as I do.
439 Responses to “Gunners Seek Three In A Row”
First for the last time?
I was just going to say that ๐
But not for the last NorCal!
Still reading the post so cannot possibly comment yet although wanted to say thank you for the welcome back ๐
well in norcal. champs league places (for now, uncle charlie, for now).
Dammit…Fluffed my line there, didn’t I!???!!
HAHAHA!
Joy of six
Chippy…
Good to see you TW.
Holic, Wigan always give us a hard time but as you point out Roberto’s hands are tied somewhat. I’m with you on OG and Kos, miss both of them dearly ๐ Should be an interesting game of chess between these two managers ๐ As for Bayern, Can’t wait ! ๐
Yeah where are my manners. (Well done TW.)
Many thanks for the welcomes all. Quite nice to be back.
And a hello to the barman. You run quite an establishment.
Had forgotten about Ryo.
Injured, you say? How unusual.
Anyway, going to get well and truly wellied tomorrow night, despite the pub being full of all those eejits who don’t normally get thmselves down the boozer – they’ll have feckin anlters on their head and will be doing their level best to piss me off.
Enough to drive a man to drink……
Good preview there ‘Holic and thank you.
If Giroud is fully fit and ready to go, I think that it would be a shame to miss the opportunity to chance a 4-4-2 with Jack and Santi playing 45 minutes each alongside Arteta and Le Coq. Just to see how it goes in a match that we should not have too much trouble taking three points away from.
Just a thought.
Anyway, going to paste my tome from the previous post here next as, well, it took bloody ages to write!
Come on you Gooners!
Thanks ‘Holic.
Good to “see” you too ๐
Bring back spell-check…….
BACK!
Mad, bad and dangerous to know!
For the record, things all went according to plan and, as luck would have it, the preparations for the 100th birthday party meant that we had the chance to sample some of her favourite tipples, mainly single malts!
I want to thank all of you for your good wishes and for your kind words. In truth I used more than a few of them when writing my little eulogy.
Obviously, the Gooners were not far from my mind at any point, although back-drinking would be nigh on impossible now, so I hope that whatever I am about to say is taking in the spirit of its writing and not judged on its undoubtedly repetitive nature.
So, missed the best part of the first half, all but the last 10 minutes, but have since caught up via the wonder of torrents. Cannot possibly even think about saying anything awful about any part of the club after that response.
OK, maybe a couple of little asides (of course!) but letโs get them out of the way firstโฆ
– Reading are absolutely the worst defence in the EPL and they showed us that in spades
– I have already said on a couple of occasions that there is a certain set-up designed to frustrate us and when teams play that way we tend to struggle all over the park. Reading clearly did not do their homework in this regard and gave us the freedom to pass the ball around on the edge of their area. This was clearly going to end in tearsโฆand it surely did!
– Gervinho was conspicuous in his absence. Please donโt let him anywhere near the centre forward position again. Equally Ramsey at right wing has to be another no-no. The difference in the balance and directness of a team set up in their actual positions was obvious, too obvious, and has been a big part of why Wenger has had so much trouble getting results this season. I know the squad is thin and weak in areas, I know that he cannot get on the pitch and kick the ball himself, but I also know that there are new-born babies living in igloos without any access to television that can see that Gervinho and Ramsey are NOT the solution, but the problem when played in those positions.
– Our defence should be put up against a wall and shot for the amount of stinky-stuff they let slip into the underwear of many if not all Gooners everywhere!
OK, that out of the way, I would like to take this opportunity to make friends with Tim
They say that you can only beat what is put in front of you and we didโฆwith aplomb! That was the ONLY response that was required after the disgrace of Bradford and to see it delivered with a little bit of a swagger, a decent amount of team spirit and not a little pace was simply thrilling, I am sure that all, even Geoff , will agree with that!
I am going to throw an idea out thereโฆ
I think that the main reason that Reading were unable to press us higher up the pitch, apart from a general lack of talent and commitment in most areas of the pitch, was the fear of the pace of Theo up front.
A couple of quick breaks were clearly all they needed to realise that covering him was going to be paramount if they were going to keep the score at anything like reasonable levels. Is this our solution for the exit of The Rotter? Too early to say, but the smile back on Santiโs face tells me that he enjoyed getting that extra yard of time on the ball and that is something that the fear of The Rotter certainly bought us in more than a few games last season. Thoughts of the two of them combining with CescโฆShivers down the spine stuff, but dreams are all they are now. Shame.
I thought that Jack was looking even more like his old self, although he still seems to have trouble letting go of the ball quickly enough at times. Surely a few more games is all he needs to show he is back to something like the form we saw before the injury and thank Dennis for that.
The Ox looked like he was actually enjoying the opportunity of playing on the wing for once and what a difference that made.
IPod was prone to disappearing again, but when is he not. At least the contribution he made when involved was as direct and damaging to the opposition as we saw earlier on in the season. Again, thank Dennis for that. His ability to make something out of nothing from the flank is as important as any other role in the side and it was a genuine pleasure to see things starting to click for him again.
Arteta was, well, Arteta at his best. Mopping up, starting attacks, quick thinking, quick feet, all energy. No complaints there and I take back a lot of what I recently said about him. Very much the โsilent partnerโ in midfield, but doing the job he has been asked to do like the consummate pro that he is.
Sczc looks more confident with each passing game and that, as much as the attacking end of things, will surely prove to be as important an improvement as any in the side. Found himself in No Mans Land a couple of times, but nothing like we have seen at times before and long may his development continue apace.
Gibbs still doesnโt look like the attacking threat that he did at the beginning of the season and I worry that he is so terrified of the next injury that he is actually playing within himself. Dare I say โhandbrakeโ? Obviously I dare! All of that said, I think that he played really well in terms of the defensive part of his game, one awful pass aside, and that is to be commended and enjoyed.
TV5 looked oddly relaxed when we were under a bit of pressure at 4-2 and yet looked like a total maniac when we were coasting. At one point, I think at 3-0, he was to be found marauding up the pitch until Theo ended up tracking back when the move broke down. Worrying stuff there.
Per is still prone to the odd lapse of concentration but all in all I think that we are really starting to see the world class centre back in him more and more. Really positive stuff there.
Obviously I already mentioned Santi, but it would be criminal not to take the opportunity to say how entirely wonderful he was. Rarely waiting to find an opponent, he seems to have decided that if the front line wonโt move for him, he will just pass the ball into the dangerous areas, making full use of the spaces and channels that are there to be exploited and, well, to hell with the rest of them if they donโt quite โget itโ yet. He appeared to be almost training the attacking half of the team from the first whistle and showing them where the net is whilst he was about it.
If we are to succeed in any way this season we are going to need to see that kind of inspiration from him a lot more often. I hope that AW took note of what was working to make that happen and that he sets the team up to offer Santi that kind of role much more as the season goes on.
All in all a great performance, a great scoreline and a great chance to build on this at Wigan on Saturday.
Oh, and the Spuds must be cacking it, which is always good, seeing us right up their holes againโฆIf you pardon the graphic expression there!
Long way to go before we can say that things are fixed or even better as there will be tougher games than Reading to contend with over the next few weeks and I would rather not knee-jerk in favour of the team after trying so hard not to do so when things have not been so good (although I am aware that I have not always succeeded in that area), but things are certainly going in the right direction if we can put a decent enough run together from now until January and then see what Wenger decides to do in the market. I still strongly believe that we need at least 3 players of top quality, but I donโt think anybody would argue that we must snag at least 2.
Well, hope that there isnโt too much controversial stuff there and hope I didnโt spend too much time arguing with myself and, well, glad to be back.
COME ON YOU GOOONERSSSS!
Oh, and yes, if Kos is fit then the back four should once again NOT include the captain.
Odd situation, truth be told.
Heh Zico…
Have one on me in preparation for the torturous night you have planned!
Jebus, have you borrowed wind’s phone? ๐
N n n n n n n Nineteen.
HAHAHA!
I know…Sorry!
Funny thing is that after that “war and peace” effort, Thierry had forgotten something !
Right, off to read the post.
@ 19
Worst ITK.
Ever. ๐
Trev…
What did I forget?!
Evening all,
I’m glad we are looking at players of the calibre of David Villa.
However, I would much prefer if we could get Henry back to help coach our strikers.
๐
Careful TW,
Winds phone didn’t last thru the night following his gospels.
See 16, TW
Ryo out for 3 weeks Zico.
HEH NorCal!
I actually thought that my laptop was going to catch fire at any moment!
My posts are never particularly short, I realise that, but this week away clearly left me lacking an outlet!
Thierry,
Presumably you forgot the Kos bit as it starts “oh, and yes” ? ๐
Snir,
Did you know that 49% of lottery wins in UK are lucky dips.
So, two machines come up with the exact same numbers for the same draw 49% of the time.
Ahhhh…
Trev, you have a point there!
The joys of copy and paste from the previous drinks!
Heh, Steve T.
I see the Coors light’s that I lined up on the bar earlier are still sitting there. It doesn’t taste any better warm. ๐
4:30 am kickoff here on the left coast on Saturday.
Another “silent scream”day at the Scruz household, I’m sure.
I’ll go with a tasty 4 screams to one ” what the f$&k was that”
Goonertown, How odd! Was just thinking of you today ๐ David Villa would be lovely, in my dreams. Hey TW, welcome back mate ๐
Welcome back, TW.
Wind will be proud of your post @15.
GoonerTown, i thought i was the only one who has read the Villa stories.
TW glad the wake went well – i’m sure grand mammy was there in spirit.
Do you live near Blarney Castle – the length of your tomes live up to the spirit of the place ๐
Agree with you and many others on here that AW playing some players out of position generally has not worked of late. At times he continues with these experiments even when they clearly do not work ( i.e. Rambo on the wing) – whether this is to give the player every chance to adapt or is a case of pure stubbornness to prove his detractors wrong who knows. Putting players in their most suitable positions improves the chances of optimum team performances. Just saying like.
Hey Nurse, read your post in the last drinks about your experience in Acapulco, sorry i couldn’t help but imagine what someone like Whoopy Goldberg will look like when she’s not feeling too well.
Abb
Thank you,
It’s been a journey and a half back ๐
Norcal 33..in the land of Guinness, Real Ale & Cider, a offering of Coors is like offering Squillachi to Barcelona ๐
Liking “4 screams”, Ivana has such a lovely tone ๐
Seasonal greetings to all Gooners. Interesting to find most of us relieved we have one less game than the others at Christmas but its sad not to have a Boxing Day game. It’s a tradition we have grown up with that ASLEF seem to want to deprive us of.
It’s good to see optimism but this squad really do lack any sort of positive consistency. They can’t play the same way for 90 minutes good or bad but they did batter Reading and yet there were about 5 minutes of doubt like the 10 minutes against Reading when they came back to 4-2 with 10 men.
I don’t think there has been much analysis of whether we miss Song but I definitely think his role in front of the back 4 has been underestimated. I can do without his utterings at Barca but we were better at keeping teams out last season and more especially at getting out ourselves. Our build up has been very slow this season.
In the window I think our biggest priority ( and we have several) is to buy a strong defensive midfielder who can shield the defence.this will ease the strain on Wilshere and Arteta. I also think Rosicky adds dash and verve to our play and I hope he has a part to play over the holidays.
How long before we hear Walcott as a striker is like ‘ a new signing’
Any sort of win will do us at Wigan and like most games this season it won’t be easy.’
Sorry I meant Tottenhamin my note!
You’re very welcome, friend ๐ Here’s to better times ahead. Cheers ๐
Oh Cent ๐ !!! Well lads, must get ready for work, till tomorrow ๐
Nice preview Holic.
Enjoy your festive drinkies one and all.
Mayan prophecies pfffffffffffffft.
Mines a large Macallan.
Slainte
Uply,
Heh. Its funny that everyone knows Ivana’s scream.
I asked her what she wanted to do on our last night on earth and she said, ” your brother”.
ABB and Cent – Thanks for the welcome backs!
Uplympian – Right close as it happens! I know…You are not surprised!
And yes, I have kissed the stone! Right of passage for any young boys from the area!
“Putting players in their most suitable positions improves the chances of optimum team performances.”
That!
Uply,
That was NorCal screaming.
I was the “what the f$&k was that”! ๐
And I am sorry to say that we drank all the 18 year old single cask Connemara…
…but I was thinking of so many of you whilst we did it!
The Turk Beg was absolutely astounding! Never tasted or seen anything quite like it. If any of you can get your mits on a bottle, go for it…Nothing but pure joy will be found until the very bottom!
I am pretty sure that the 18 year old limited Jameson we had was great too, but it was a little “early” in the morning after the night before to really know for sure!
Ivana 47 unfortunately that’s the side effect of Californian special home grown. Those trips across the state line to the liberal Oregon should be reduced.
Hey abb! Thanks for your kind words in the bar before last. Season greetings to all holics. I think we’ll finally attain 3 league victories on the trot for the first time this season. I’m hopeful that the abyss has been reached and the team can move from strength to strength now. Looking foward to a pacy performance against Wigan. By the way, bring on Bayern as anything can happen. Just ask little Bradford.
TW 46 some nice little restaurants in the village of Blarney. Right in the centre of Murphys & Beamish territory.
TW 48 sounds like you had some good stuff worthy of celebrating the life of your grand ma.
norcal, hopefully i’ll be screaming the joys of six…hushly, though. mrs. scruz and the lad will be fast, fast asleep.
anyone have an opinion on the glenrothes special reserve? i’ve bought a bottle at a fine price for my brother for christmas and am wondering if i’ve done ok.
and uply, that’s actually a side effect of the oregonian available in NorCal, not the california special. those are quieter and last waaay longer (whoosh, whoosh).
Scruz,
I’ve got Oregonians in me?
Guess I need to restart those antibiotics.
53 & 54 heh….perhaps investing in some ear muffs might be a different approach worth considering ๐
Scruz @52 – “an opinion on the glenrothes special reserve”
I think he should be brought on after 70 minutes. ๐
scruz @53 – should be nice and smooth – classic Speyside.
Heh Trev @56
I did see Rothes play once. Circa 1962. No reserves allowed then.
trev, @56, i am sitting at my desk and laughing my arsenal off. classic. i didn’t know glenrothes had a squad!
bath, good to know, my bro is a fan of fine whisky.
norcal, not plural. just one puff of that and you will need uply’s earmuffs.
Is this special reserve of the tip top super special maxity max max quality?
Then he should only come on in extra time!! Don’t want to get him Jaded.
Evening all. Work completed until New Years Eve. Let the festivities begin. The evening continues with a glass of red, some Weller at Abbey Road that I am just catching up with and the preparations for Wigan. I do not see Kos starting, although I think he deserves to. I also think OG may well start and that Theo will start out wide on the right, replacing AOC. It is another one of those must win games for me. We were slaughtered after Swansea and Bradford. We received lots of plaudits after Reading followed by, itโs only Reading. So this is another great opportunity for almost a full strength squad to lay down a marker.
My second away trip this season with both the kids. They will be out of school and home by 12. The plan is to be on the road by 12.30. The roads tomorrow no doubt will be chaos. Premier Inn 3 miles from the ground booked weeks ago. Hopefully an early arrival will mean ample time to discover the local Indian. The little fella just loves a tandoori. It would be a shame to disappoint.
Saturday will be up early. Shower, breakfast and off we will go. Got to take in a pie. Tradition in these parts. Then we will join the hoards of travelling Gooners giving their all. For me personally this works really well. I am off, the kids are off and I get to enjoy a proper Daddy trip that is not going to eat into the Christmas fund too much. But the dedication of the travelling support has always been something I have been very proud of. Wigan? For an early kick off? Game live on the box and three days from Christmas? No problem. All sold out. I have no doubt that if they had offered us one of the other stands that we would have sold all of those as well. You all know which section of the ground will have no empty seats and which section will be the loudest. I think that is a great credit to Gooners everywhere. I would love to have the time and the money to do more of these.
Onwards and upwards. Keep the faith.
Theo’s bak – i’ll drink to thaT!
Sounds like a blast Steve T. Enjoy every minute. I know I did going to the game with my kids.
Cheers
Well played Steve T. – and the little T(t)s. Have a good ‘un Sir!
sounds like a great time, steve t. i’ll look for you on the telly after each goal…and listen, albeit softly, for the songs i expect will dwarf those of wigan.
Would love to share tonight with you Steve. Have a great day with ’em. You are a top man.
2/3 of a century but not an odd number. Really.
Steve T: have a great trip mate, sounds so exciting and I only hope the boys give you something to make your journey home a happy one!
Steve T: Sounds lovely indeed. Makes me a bit jealous that I live way across the pond.
Steve T: Please let us know if the pies in Wigan are anything special. And have a blast!!
I think you’re being excessively conservative there, ‘Holic. Wigan are going to get a really good Wigging this weekend. OllieG will return at CF (in pursuit of the predicted 20 goals) with Theo and the Prince providing Steve’s much sought after width.
To the T’s – Ben, make sure your dad remains under control t all times and keep him well away from that fallin’ over water he has such a passion for. And, if he tries to bum a drink off you, look him square in the eye and say “Come on Steve, raise your game”. It works for me every time and, to date, it’s been worth about twelve pints. Have a great day out with Dad and Sis……
I’m thinking I’ll try for both the Bayern Munich games. Holic, Steve, TaBS, Dr Z, Snowy, TS…..any takers for either?
Ollie,
Ignore, right?
Ok. Ok. Ok.
Think I can also make Liverpool at home. Takers for a Chompoo Thai followed by an inspiring home win?
Hey, 21 December 2012 and we’re all still here?
What gives?
i dunno, zico, i feel fine.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhmen!
BtM,
Your travel plans are duly noted.
If I were to get my perpetual-sick-note gadget from Santa, so authentic it will fool any employer, I will see you at all three.
No pressure then, eh Santa?
Zico,
Have you ever heard of the “naughty list”?
You my friend are head of the class!
But then again, if you are good to Roxette for Christmas I may be able to pull a few ” strings”.
Santa is the Godfather!
Who knew?
you just have to worry when you get a reindeer head in your bed.
Heh
Work xmas party tonight at the Dome Cinema. I’m gonna get slaughtered!
Information I’ve gathered in Metro today (that’s the free paper here, not the shite transfer factory in London):
-end of the world is either 12.12 or 1.34 next night (so that’s 23.12pm or 12.34am in the UK)
-if this doesn’t happen, Wolfie is in Paris tomorrow: there’s a demonstration organised by the ‘committee against Winter’, asking for the creation of a ‘Ministry of Sun’. People will be marching in thongs and speedoes, apparently…..
heh scruz
No work and all play until January 2nd makes Lars a not very dull boy at all!
Just doing the final bit of packing before heading off to the country house for about ten days. Looking forward to a few very relaxed days. Today is all about going there, checking the beer supply and then, if needed, re-stock whatever is about to run out. However, having done that I will then need to make a potentially very difficult decision – shall I begin the evening with a lager or an ale?
Steve, drive safely and enjoy your weekend with the kids!
Fully endorse Steve T comments.
Our away support is tops,
and getting better,maybe something to do with a lack of buzz at most home games..more want to do aways.
but some thanks also go to Wigan for pricing,20 and 5 for unders.a lesson for our board
I am travelling over and bringing my teenager with me
Good morning all.
The shortest day of the year. From tomorrow things look better ๐
FESTIVE GOOD TIDINGS TO HOLICS, ONE AND ALL.
Holic – Lovely post. The ‘upside-down’ one may have even been better ๐
To all those on Xmas dos today, behave!…. but not too well.
BtM – I will try to secure a pew for Bayern @ home. Maybe we could even organise tickets in the same proximity??? If you go to the away leg (they’re all away legs for you) looks like you have Lars, Mrs.Lars and Ollie for company as well as the sterling boys and girls of TTF – you lucky fellow.
Santa, is the naughty list placed on the naughty step? If so, as frequenter of said naughty step you may wish to consult with me on content of said list. Then again you may not.
Remember all, The Arse is for life and not just Xmas.
Taking the long view again, I see H ๐
In other good news – Caldwell is back for Wigan – making it a no-brainer that we start with TW. Caldwell is about as slow as Giroud.
Or marginally quicker than I’ll be to get home tonight 8)
Have a great trip Steve T and the wide boys. ๐
Festive tidings returned to the True Christmas Storey.
Work til 6.00 for me. ๐ ? ๐
Heh! The Kingom of Fife is making preparations for being trollied.
No peace for the wicked Dr.T. I’m here all day, naughty step included.
Loking forward to my Toon comeback game. With your help, I might even be match-fit.
‘holic, 87: What are you on about? There is no ‘tomorrow’ I’ve been told ๐
ETA about 4pm on the day for me, TS ๐
I didn’t need a Mayan prophesy to tell me there will be no tomorrow.
Not before 12:35 anyway….
Those Mayans had the predictive powers of Mark Lawerenson, what a load of bollox.
I ofcourse was taking no chances and hit the sauce heavily. Here’s a tip for you newlings; it may seem like a great idea to switch from lager to vodka at 3:45 in the morning, but it isn’t. ๐
Right, some backdrinking to do whie I sit here and *Boilk.
The Mayans obviously didn’t know….only Arsene knows. ๐
Have a good session today ‘holics…..the more you spend in excise duty, the more there is to give to us retirees – keeping us in the lifestyle we expect.:-)
I agree H2H – that switch should at least be deferred until 4am. 8)
Heh, assist………
Why, thank you.
Bang!
Fuck it.
Boilks it in.
Aaaaaw. Well in Zico.
It was hanging in the air for what seemed like an age, so due to the Christmas amnesty on cards I decided to go for it……….
And failed miserably. ๐
H2H – Saved by Dr.z from a red card. Is that a low-point in your life?
Ollie – Noted! Xmas drinkies. Lovely.
No, I have had worse.
Oh, you meant him? ๐
Heh! I meant H2H but you’re right, it could apply both ways.
Now I’ve insulted both of you ๐
I’ve hit lower then that in the last few hours TS. ๐
Heh! again.
Heh Uply @97
I’ll drink to that. ๐
Well in Dr Z.
Zico-esque indeed
My missus was getting pretty tired of me coming home in all states so she warned me that if I did it again she’d leave me.
Well last night I got so shitfaced that I threw up on my shirt, I was ofcourse pretty worried untill a mate of mine came up with an idea, he gave me a 20 euro note and told me to tell the missus that somebody else blew chunks on me and offered to pay for the cleaning, briliant idea.
So when I got home covered in nasty me other half of course asked how the hell it happened, like a pro I spun the aforementioned fib and showed her the cash.
Looking at the handfull of notes she said;
“But you’ve got 40 euros there”
To which I replied;
“I know, the dirty basterd shit in my pants too”
๐
Well in, Zico.
Double heh @ 110, H2H.
H2H @110, I’ve met that guy :D. Really hate him.
H2H @ 110
But what did you do to deserve the 20/40 Euros from your mate? ๐
Heh Bath, that git certainly does get around, he’s delivered more “packages” then Santa.
Zico, I refer you to my post @106
H2H @110. ๐
World appears to be ending here – there is some sort of giant fireball in the sky which has turned blue.
What the hell is happening ???
H2H on top form today.
As it should be. ๐
Bring on the dancing girls….. 2 hours 11 minutes to Carnage City…..
Christmas is the only time I get a(n) (extreamly) mild case of homesickness.
Chrimbo is just not the same over here. ๐
zico, well played. And you managed to save H2H from redcarding!
Anyway, end of the world in about 8 or 9 hours.
Or maybe not.
Fucking heh at the story H2H.
Buggin’
Footballers, as they are wont to do, sometimes offer their opinion on things like music and so forth.
And Derby youngster Will Hughes did exactly this on Thursday evening, tweeting:
‘Not having all this hype about Jake Bugg #average #dobetter.’
Young Master Bugg then responded simply: ‘You play for Derby.’
Pithy, correct and magnificent.
heh, ouch
‘If Only The Mayans Were Right’
Writes Robbie Savage in The Daily Mirror:
‘I’m making my debut on a Saturday night for Match of the Day tomorrow – and I’m as excited as I was before I made my League debut for Crewe.’
If you’ll excuse us, Mediawatch has a television to put a hammer through.
Oh dear, for those who thought MoTD couldn’t get worse, it seems it’s about to….
http://www.arsenal.com/news/reserves-news/ormonde-ottewill-signs-professional-contract
Great, we can go ‘BOO’ to the content of our hearts now ๐
Can we? Yes, WiGan
Heh, good for Jake Bugg, coincidently, his Lightning Bolt video was shot in Amsterdam.
As for the other twat that played for Derby, MotD was already shit and he’s already been on it making it shit (just a different day)
Jake Bugg shot his bolt in Amsterdam?
Didn’t we all?
heh BOB at 125
and zico
Ollie @ #122 – That c*ntnugget on MotD? Good grief. He’ll make ‘Awwy look informed and erudite.
BO’B @ #125 – Splendid!
Well it may not stay around for a white Christmas but we at least have a white “end of the world”. 2 inches ( down Wolfie) here in NorCal. Scarface would even love this white blow.
Puts one in a Christmas frame of mind.
Cheers
Heh @ Zico and Barak, glad to see another pro in our midst, pour one for the bar please Barman.
It’s always a white Christmas round these parts NorCal. ๐
And the cell doors got opened early.
Pub time – see you later, Arseurs. 8)
Some great posts, H2h’s story excellent!:) Nice post holic, I tend to agree
on your 3-1 prediction only if we make a quick start and knock in couple of goals before half time
h2h@110, hilarious.
bob@125, excellent.
zico@127, we know for sure h2h did, or at least nearby.
norcal, first oregonian then snow. you’re going to have an interesting christmas with ivana…
last day at work until the gnu year. i might actually get something done.
scruz @ #136 – deer, oh deer, oh deer.
Well, my lager-or-ale conundrum has now been resolved – I went for a bottle of cider!
And heh@110 ๐
Lots of puns going on and Trev hasn’t even arrived yet!
Lars, he’s been de-sleighed. Ho ho ho!
ts@137, after work tonight i’ll be sampling a bottle of monterey rye whisky with a friend. once i’m enough in my cups, i plan to imitate a russian weatherman. why, you ask? ’cause rudolph the red knows rain, dear…
lars, i thought he was present already. of course, i bow to his supuniority…he does it without ever appearing too tightly wrapped, too.
Just watching “Mayan Doomsday” on Nat Geo = The End of Oil – it looks like being a real fun time. Good not to be in any conurbation especially not a major city.
Run for the hills if you have rural skills or just get completely pissed and jump off a tall building seem to be the sensible options.
What time did the Mayans predict for the end of time?
Heh@140 and 141!
http://www.football365.com/lookalikes/8344953
Interesting:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1272874/malaga-handed-one-year-uefa-ban-over-debts?cc=5901
Malaga received a ban by Uefa. What about Manures debt load?
Does Malaga have any other players we can poach in January?
Roberto
Seeing that that rumour appeared in The Sun, I would pay it about as much attention as I would give to the contents of sombody elses handkercheif.
Weโve got TV to cover at left back if Gibbs is injured.
And that’s the problem in a nutshell, TV is not a left back, we really should be aiming to steer clear of playing players out of position, especially in defence. Get proper cover in first and then see what to do about Two Saints.
Gotta love partners that will take call for you so you can continue your end of the world preparations. I’m heading to Mount Shasta. I hear its a portal for a new dimension. Beam me up Scotty.
For all you spuds fans :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20813441
The Nat Geo programme revealed new data that show the Mayans calculated their calendar beyond 12.21.2012 (NB US terminology) and predicted a flood rather than the end of the world.
Chill. Don’t miss tomorrow’s game. ๐
baff, I wouldn’t mind a localised end of the world, wiping out Manchester, Tottenham, and a certain Bus Stop.
And why not Stoke in fact?
And that’s one more red card in the French league. Possibly a bit harsh, and will most definitely kill the game in PSG’s favour.
Really really intrigued about the total number of red cards so far this season, must be a record by far.
OK, while not exactly dangerous, but on the replay you can understand the red.
Why not indeed.
Although most there already look post apocolyptic nuclear disaster survivors. #Orcsarecunts
155 was @152.
Meanwhile, Ibrahimocunt thinks he can slyly kick people. Reds have been given in France for that this season, he gets a yellow.
I see Juve are losing. Don’t tell abb.
Ollie.
Didn’t Ibrahimocunt get sanctioned for stamping on that guys head last week (i think)?
It’s not yet gone to the disciplinary committee I believe. So case still pending.
http://www.francefootball.fr/fiche/club/26/26-paris-sg.html#!/news/2012/12/21/000454_ibrahimovic-convoque-le-10-janvier.html
January 10th for the hearing.
Loved Wenger’s comments over the Theo contract situation in so far as he has resorted to the “he owes us” tactic. Desperate, pitiful, pathetic. Fergie’s dig at Wenger today, was an 8/9 out of ten for me. Arsenal have failed again to negoitate with a player of some market value at a suitable time, now they will lose him for the value of a jam-tart & a mince-pie. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail! No chance on this earth that Walcott will stay. Le Grove some up Wenger’s comments perfectly; Tony Evans on TalkSport this morning summed up the ability of Walcott so well to. I am not a Theo fan (get rid I say), but it sums up the Arsenal hierarchyin that it is on his terms, and not their’s. So sad.
Baff,
I’ll take a flood of goals tomorrow.
4-1. Ollie G-spot, Santi, Jack and…….AOC. Get in you lads. Get in.
The man from the one-man team scores again.
Maybe that is what the Mayan soothsayers predicted – just 8 hours or so out. Not bad over a thousand years plus. ๐
Ok, cheers Ollie, that was some nasty shit he did, he could of seiously hurt that guy.
Blimey, against top of the table Tranmere, Swindon have just missed a penalty.
It was to go 6-0 up :-0
Holic, that’s just what the Mayans predicted :s
Hmm …. David, I don’t exactly recall all the facts (see e.g., prior post regarding tequila, Mexico, midgets, etc.) but didn’t the club try to engage Feo in the last two years? I think this notion that Arsenal always waits until the 11th hour may be a bit overblown, but that’s just me.
Any rate, I do agree though that letting yet another contract saga distract the club and player(s) from the business at hand, winning effing football matches, must stop.
Right, so where ARE my snow shoes…?
I think you are right, Homer.
Snow now?
Nah, but one must always be ready!
For example, that’s why I always wear a … er.
Nevermind.
heh
Nevermind……. I love that album.
Reasoning with a certain group that visits here is futile.
Ignore, right ? ๐
Yeah, that almost got wierd!
Friday before long holiday weekend. All bets off.
Laying off the Tullymore Dew given the early kickoff tomorrow. 745am in these parts. I do not expect sympathy given NorCal will be up 3 hours “earlier” than I.
course sane folk will reply the match, but nothing beats live football.
and its a good crowd that hauls themselves out of bed 700am on a chilly, windy weekend for footy. And Guiness!
Right, back to the briefs!
Norcal. Ignore … indeed! Ha!!
And I mean legal briefs … ducking wolfie et al.
yeah, homer, yera piker, you are. no symphonies from we west coasters…though the malay contingent laughs at us the same way.
it’ll be an irish coffee morgen. arsenal 2-0 twiggan.
Be careful ducking Wolfie!
Cheers homer and Scruz. Think I will try the baileys and hot cocoa tomorrow. Still snowing here. If you find those shoes, send them my way please.
I was tucking my 11 yr old Grandson into bed last night,when he told me quite matter of factly that he knew Santa’s route when he was delivering Christmas presents.
In a very confident voice he told me that Santa delivers to Belgium first, because it is closest to his home at the North Pole.!!
Apparently Santa then delivered to the UK,then the Rest of Europe,then the US and Canada,followed by South America and Asia.
He then said in a very sad voice that the African children got their presents last,because it was the furthest away from Santa’s home.
[ I have no idea where this logic came from ] and he told me he was very very worried that any African children that woke up early,BEFORE their presents were delivered, would be very upset and would think they weren’t getting any.!!
He had obviously been thinking about this for a while because he then opined whether Santa’s sleigh could have a motor inserted in the front,so that he could go faster and deliver the presents quicker.!!
God Bless his little Cotton socks.
Cheers
The Sweeper.
I suspect he followed this last year, Clive. You should do the same this year so you can be as up to date as him…
http://www.noradsanta.org/en/
sweeper, what a lovely grandchild you have. merry christmas to you and all the little brooms.
Snowing in northern California? How far north are you? Presumably not on the coast?
Aaah, sweet story, Clive sir.
That is a really nice grandson you’ve got there. I trust he’s got the right fitba’ instincts as well.
Bath, Northern California is pretty high up in the states, it’s parralel with Pennsylvania and the most southern tip of NY. (East Coast)
Heh Holic @181, all the best connections.
Yep, I know. I’ve driven from Seattle to SF along the coastal drive and I know the Sierra Nevadas get a lot of snow. I just wondered how far south NorCal’s snow is falling.
I shudda known a man of the world as yourself woulda been savvy to that. ๐ณ
You remind me of one of our student acronyms for an an asshole – a MOTW! ๐
How do you do the ‘blusher’?
Heh.
Class comment David @162.
After all, why would Theo think for one second that he “owes us” ?
He has been developed and supported through several seasons of little or no improvement, several seasons of numerous injuries, including many months out with serial shoulder surgeries, rehabilitated following injuries incurred while on international duty, and has, for the duration, been paid amounts of money that most people can only dream about.
Quite “pathetic” that the manager should suggest that a young man who is, after all of the above, finally beginning to deliver on some of his potential, might in any way feel some gratitude to the club, and want to repay them and prove himself in the environment where he has been nurtured.
Our contract management and negotiation doesn’t appear to have been the best lately I would agree, but how do you make someone talk to you, David, and agree with you, if they don’t want to, or they want only to return home to the country of their birth.
Slag them off and call them pathetic, I shouldn’t wonder. Great tactic.
Nicely put Trev @193
Cheers bath, and a fine evening to you, sir.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE !!!!!!!
I know it’s a bit early but I’m suffering from premature congratulation. ๐
Good evening to you, maestro.
Enjoying a reprise of Titanic. Just wondering which wee cratur to employ as a nightcap.
๐
Evening Holic
thnks for that enlightenment.!!
Thnks Scruz/H2H/Bath
Liam is the oldest of 5 of the little rascals,and a really lovely boy.
He has had 2 marriage proposals from his coterie of female admirers at school this year,and told me quite seriously that he wasn’t ready to settle down yet.!!
Smart and attractive as well as nice. Good combo, Sweeper.
Ooops an unconscious double ton. :D. Nice assist, Sweeper
Bath @197,
Sounds like you’ll have plenty of ice with it. ๐
Heh Trev. Not sure my glass will be big enough.
Bath scores while unconscious. That takes real natural talent. ๐
Or a fine malt. ๐
Well in Bath.
Bunnahabhain 12 year old, just lovely……..
Smooth and complex like a DB10 cracker.
Baff, I actually should call myself FarNorCal. I am similar to Arsenal in that I am pretty much 3 weeks….erm 3 hours from anywhere. Surrounded by mountains. The largest of which is mount Shasta an hour north and its peak is 14,000 feet. I live only at 800 ft altitude so we don’t get a ton of snow at my house but usually a little every year. Beautiful part of the state actually and less loco then the big cities.
Love the kid stories. They really are what puts a smile on my face this time of year.
Cheers all. Now lets destroy Mrs Wiggins tomorrow.
Quickie here. Well in Bath! Clive, Liam sounds like a real treasure ๐ Trev @ 193 Very fair assessment. David, you must try to keep in mind Pedro has as agenda re AW ๐ when you read his blog ๐ Ollie, happy to report Juve won 1-3 ๐ Steve T, I just know you all are going to have a wonderful time and well deserved ๐ Lars, delighted for you and the Missus ๐ Going to work now and will be a bit late for the game ๐ Someone save me a seat ๐ A very goodnite all! ๐
ABB,
I think David has an agenda too, ๐
Evening all.
First of all, thank you for your kind words earlier.
Phase one complete. Journey up was not too bad at all. Safe arrival followed by a quick bite to eat and a trip to the flicks. Kids safely tucked up in bed and I am safely tucking into a couple of Adnams that I had the good sense to pack this morning. The only disappointment so far came when I just checked the weather for tomorrow. Not looking much fun unless you just happen to be a duck. Oh well.
Onwards and upwards.
Keep the faith.
The nearest I’ve been to there is a stopover in Eureka during our coast road drive – had a nice lunch and bought a pair of Minnetonka slippers. Couldn’t squeeze in a trip to Crater Lake unfortunately.
You are in Captain Jack’s old hunting grounds?
Steve
weather is completely unimportant.
When Sweeper Dad took me to the football when i was a little’un,home or away,rain hail or shine,all that mattered was that i was with him,and we were off on another adventure,of which there were so many,
i thought i was the luckiest boy in the World.
What you are giving your children is invaluable,adventures with their Dad,the best feeling in the world for a child.!!
Cheers
The Sweeper.
So true Sweeper – those memories are gold dust.
Good stuff Clive.
That mini Gooner of yours is in good hands.
I’m due east of Eureka. About 60 miles through the mountains to the Sacramento River valley. If anyone ever ventures to the open spaces of the Wild West you have a place to stay. Great fly fishing.
Enjoy, Steve T.
You can look for gold dust up here to, Bath. ๐
Clive knows.
Enjoy being with them Steve.
Heh NorCal, you’ll have another goldrush. ๐
โI think we enter this match as the slight favourites, but we can be making the mistake of underestimating themโฆby no means will this be an easy game for us.โ
When people talk like this they generally fancy themselves.
They have Europe’s meanest defence having conceded only 7 so it will be great o break down this side.
Captain Jack was a bit north of here. Up by Kalamath Falls on the Oregon border.
Crater lake is breathtaking. A natural wonder. And worth a visit. Sorry you missed it. This planet of ours and its people and cultures are worth exploring. One thing I enjoy about Arsenal is the diversity of its supporters. I know that it can frustrate the local supporters to be taken for granted but the global brand is something that unites us all around the world. I think the club could do a better job at supporting both. Always room for improvement…..maybe when Snir takes over from Ivan he can work on that.
Awesome Clive, as always. I fully agree. I love every minute of it.
Weather???? Never really a problem. I was once told that there is no such thing as bad weather, just badly dressed individuals.
Smiles all round.
Bring it on.
And at 180 Clive it just demonstrates what a top little fella you have there.
Fantastic.
Norcal. How soon is Snir taking over anyway? I assume we will all get party invitations?
The game starts local time at 6:30 am so if the unthinkable happens and I should sleep late the game is set to record for later viewing. Even if the unthinkable happens though I can’t imagine getting the TV set on later than 6:36. Come on the Gunners and that goal in the first six minutes!!!!
Re: Steve T @210. It’s time to submerge the Latics!! Eaten any pies yet?
NorCal @221
We have had some wonderful vacations in the U.S. You do have amazing natural landscape and real wilderness and you also have serious weather. We are mollycoddled in Europe in comparison.
You are absolutely correct about the positive aspects of the internationalisation of the PL and of the Arsenal fanbase.
This bar and Arseblog’s arses provide an international network of (largely) likeminded souls and it’s a privilege to be tolerated let alone welcomed as a member.
Holic knows as well.!!
We were both Blessed with our Fathers.
Cheers Steve,
Here’s hoping the team step up so you can really enjoy the journey home.
Thnks Trev.
Bath / Norcal ….I did the reverse trip on highway one from LA to Seattle. Time was of no importance so we had a great time stopping at all the little towns along the way…including Eureka and Fort Bragg. Met some great people along the way.
Did you check out Mendocino? There’s an amazing selection of malt whiskies at a hotel restaurant just south of town (cannot remember its name sadly). It has the best selection of malts I have ever seen bar none. The barman treated me to a Glenmorangie matured in Chateau d’Yquem casks – sweetest cratur I have ever drunk.
American music, anyone?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4jqR_-aJ5U
Mendocino lovely town just south Fort Bragg – quite an arty place. Naturally Fort Bragg was lower cost so we stayed there for 3 days…strangely one of the few place we found an Internet cafe outside the big cities. A little further north was Crescent city which had previously suffered from a tsunami and the most likely place to get another if it hit the pacific coastline. Lots of warnings on the approach roads to keep alert for the err warnings. Ah happy days.
8ball,
If Dr Z moved to Louisiana he would have to change his name to Zydecoinexile. ๐
David @ 162
I is just getting into my cups, but you come in here quoting Le Groan and Talk Shite?
Please, just fuck off.
Merry xmas, you cunt.
Yep very arty. WoB had a serious political argument with an ‘artist’ manning the most right wing art co-operative in the planet (it being the summer of ’08 and WoB being a big fan of Obama) – it’s the only time I have had to drag her out of somewhere to prevent bloodshed ๐
She’s had to do it for me a few times, so I owed her one.
Fort Bragg was much more genuine and infinitely less pretentious. But I was really blown away by that restaurant’s range of whiskies. Bath gives you a degree of tolerance of pretentiousness.
Heh@232 – good stuff that Zydeco. Fife’s not quite got that Cajun feel.
Uply, were you just here?
Crescent City got hit rather hard with the Japanese Tsunami a few years ago. They actually had a few Japanese fishing boat wash up on shore. The harbor was badly hit. Interesting phenomenon the tsunamis are. There is some coastline in Alaska that has no trees for hundreds of yards up the bank where they think a large tsunami caused by the calving of glaciers literally ripped all the trees out. The forces of nature are mind boggling.
Dr z move to Louisiana?
What’s in it for me/us? 8)
Dr z @ 237 – the restaurants in NO are amazing and the music’s nae bad ๐
You’re referring to the City of Bath of course….nothing pretentious about being a gooner.
Home already Zico….pub run dry?
Off to sweet dreams now of a sweet victory later this morning.
Uply @239 I am indeed. Sweet dreams – hopefully prophetic.
For you, some of the best food the US has to offer and a much much warmer locale.
For US, another world class Gooner and the the natural beauty of ………Roxette.
Do you know what the state bird of Louisiana is?
The mosquito.
Ah right, coat? Who the hell has my coat!
Norcal…2010 but I recall the history and the many roavdside warnings that they can get hit again in the future if bad circumstances conspire -fingers crossed it won’t a happen.
@ 239
Nope.
In a taxi Q.
Tipsy though.
SmartFones are amazin, dont you fink?
@ 238
Sold.
The levees gonna break, ๐
Gotta get a Chevvy to the levee, pal ๐
NorCal
Louisiana had Katrina.
Rox is a different storm ๐
And of course, god forbid you should see the likes of Katrina, again.
Roxette just doesn’t have enough shoes…… ๐
Heh. Love it. ๐
Bath. Extra details for you: I don’t think “Meet de boys on the battlefront” qualifies as zydeco. More like New Orleans funk. Urban music, in other words. Zydeco is really country music of SW Louisiana, as is cajun music. Generally speaking, cajun is made by French creoles and zydeco is made by African-American creoles. New Orleans funk is the product of (guess where), traditionally the center of the most racial mixing within many days’ travel.
We would have to train the National Guard for months before Roxy’s arrival. Those poor young men wouldn’t stand a chance. ๐
Agreed ๐
8ball, appreciate the music lesson. Never really knew the distinctions.
Well looky there, it’s not just 5 O’clock somewhere, it’s 5 o’clock here!
So glad I gave up working today!!
Cheers all.
Work was over-rated, here, hours ago, NorCal ๐
I’ve never met an underrated job.
Maybe professional footballer but alas those dreams ended long ago. Something about talent and functional knee joints.
Have a good one Zico. I’ll kiss Ivana for you.
Fuck me but The Sweeper gives me chills. In a very good way.
Reminds me of my old man – the best human being ive ever known – or ever will know.
Sweeper – a drink on me sir. You are class through and through.
Morning all. A strong coffee to kick the morning off.
The back drinking looks like it might be eclectic from the night guardians…
Morning Dr. Since you’re closer to the action, how’s young Campbell doing? ;p
I now realise that the world has not ended. Too me a while, heh?
Morning young Ollie.
The holiday starts here…
Any espresso in the bar, Guvna’?
Morning all, just been outside for an hour shovelling away a million tons of snow and you can all guess what happened the moment I was done. Yes, you were right: it started snowing heavily again. Guess I’ll have to do it all over again in a few hours. It’s all well and good people dreaming of a white Xmas with snowflakes the size of Wales like in those idyllic Hollywood type romcoms but spare a thought for us poor feckers who have to do all the shovelling…
Anyway, enough complaining.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the father/child tales posted above. Wonderful stuff, I must say.
And then there is of course the small matter of a rather important (in a footballing sense, naturally) football match in about two hours. As usual we have no idea which Arsenal will turn up for the game, so anything from a convincing win to a big loss feels entirely possible. But just as long as we give our best I will not complain, and apart from last season’s 4-0 win the DW hasn’t been a very happy hunting ground in later years so I hope nobody is expecting an easy win.
Drinks for everyone are being lined up on the bar as we speak, and…
Come on you Gunners!
Cheers, Lars, and good luck with the snow.
Not expecting an easy win, especially in this weather, hope the team doesn’t get bogged down there.
Who knew Lars is snowy ? ๐
I knew there was a joke opportunity somewhere,well in Trev!
When it comes to downing a few, Lars certainly isn’t flakey ๐
The interest pre-match is whether AW plays Feo or the BHF as striker.
Whoever he chooses, I’m expecting a good result.
Whoever he chooses, I’m expecting a good moan ๐
Giroud ill, it seems, not on the bench. Presumably Rosicky too as he’s not there either while Arshavin is.
Heh yeah, surprised that both OG and TR are not included …hopefully nothing serious.
I see the Bus Stop are coming near you in the Europa League, Eandy. Wear your NBC suit.
Yeah, Chelski to face Sparta, I would piss myself laughing if Sparta beaten them (its unlikely but hey ..it happens hehe). Should they face Viktoria Plzen they would be for far tougher test, they play some nice football and topped their Europa league group (leaving Atletico Madrid behind them).
Trev, I was expecting you to make a “snowy” pun and you didn’t disappoint ๐
Apparently, this is only the second time we play an unchanged team two Premier League games in a row.
(this season, that is.)
Well same team as played Reading…same performance without the defensive faux pas will be a good start to the Christmas period.
The bench also well represented in case of need but sadly no OG or TR…hopefully just minor issues.
COYRRR
Yet nobody’s calling Arsรจne ‘The Tinkerer’. Yet ๐
Bloody tinkering wizard. ๐
Greetings from that DW. Traffic a nightmare. Parked miles away.. We were all handed a Christmas card as we walked in. Inside is a ยฃ10 food and drink voucher for the grove. Nice touch.
Come on you reds.
Good luck, Steve T!
GWAN URRRRRRRRRReeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEDDDDDDDSS!!!!!!!!!
Too much to do, dagnabbit.
Game set to record, watch as live later.
Enjoy the match’ holics
Media lockdown in 3….2…..
COME
ON
YOU
REDZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
COME ON ARSENAL!
Coygs.
Morning all.
Can’t tell if it is still snowing here because it is still pitch black outside.
Me and one of my boys up and watching!
Lets go.
AR-senal, AR-senal
Great commitment NorCal. Hope the boys on the field match you.
Hey everyone ๐ Just heard from Gooner Terry ๐ C’mon Arsenal!
Mrs Wiggind starting out committed. Oh AOC. Come on boys!
Wide open game. Poldi warming up, he wants one bad! ๐
Chez to the rescue, whew.
They can’t keep this work rate up for the whole game. There for the taking in the second half, so get to HT level and fill your boots after the break.
Agree with Nonny.
Patience, don’t over-extend and soak up the pressure. We’ve enough speed to play on the break.
Santi’s touch is a bit off today.
Arsenal manager quits!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20824368
๐
Funny Nonny ๐ But why can’t we keep the ball! Wigan very tenacious ๐
That’s the way to do it Jack ๐
Not a card.
never a yellow ffs
Wilshere gets kicked all around. No yellow to Wigan. Wilshere makes a great, if virile tackle, right on the ball: yellow.
Incredible.
Some poor refereeing in last few minutes
We need a GOAL
My worry is that in the absence of TR7, I don’t see any decisive option on the bench. Arshavin? Don’t make me laugh — though I’d be happy to be proved wrong ๐
As for Theo, I hope he realises he’ll never be a centre forward in a top top team if he plays like this in that position…..
But now seriously, how did none of the Wigan cunts get a yellow for repeated kicks on Wilshere?
Jeez, why they picking on Jack…cause Jack is everywhere!
Good gawd it’s a good game CoMon The Arse!
Haha, extremely lucky goal, thanks NorCal.
Hope the players on the pitch get the same luck!
As commentator mentioned, if Giroud (and Rosicky, presumably) are ill, what are the chances that some of the players playing are unwell too?
Testy half. Need a bit more precision and need Theo to make better movement. Look static up front. Hope wiggy runs out of steam.
the wind is howling outside, and occasional huge bursts of rain spilling down. norcal, this is on its way to you, it seem.
enh first half, agreed jack is getting beat up, that was never a yellow. not enough running into wide open spaces wigan is leaving between midfield and their defense, not enough drive, except at times by our lads. looking for that first for us, then more will come.
What Ollie said @300
and….
well in Ol.
seems.
Right, let’s do it now.
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Theo
well fuck me ..great save
Better movement but needed a better finish from out CF….what’s his name?
Come on Arsenal!
PK!!!!
Arteta! Goal!
pelanty!
Get fucking in there Arteta! Come on Arsnal and let’s score another one!
What’s my shirt say?? That’s right ARTETA!
Christmas has come early ๐
Nice run by theo to get the peno. Credit where it’s due.
Oh Mikel, how I love thee:)
Ollie@300. That’s why Walcott should be playing where he is. He commits defenders. COYR
So what is the beef with De Santo?
What the hell is happening on that pitch!
We might just see a rumble before this game ends ๐
This is the loudest crowd I’ve heard since Rangers v Celtic ๐
good save Woj!
abb – Don’t know if you get Sky commentary but if not, DiSanto had an earring in, the ref made him go off to remove it and wouldn’t let him back on until the ball went dead, presumably as he hadn’t gone off for treatment
Thanks Noony, soooooooooooo unbelievable!
Nonny, sorry about that ๐
Lets see this out now. Come on!!!!!
Got to shut down Kone!!!
Mert to the rescue!
Beautiful tackle by Le Coq ๐
My God that was nervy stuff ๐
Gritty win, Wigan never gave up and neither did we! 3rd for now ๐
Good gritted out victory ..whew.
Get in ๐
Top 3. One trophy. OllieG 20 goals.
Very hard fought game, well battled boys, Wenger can talk about spirit in the press conference and be accurate.
Credit to Wigan, have their all, if they could cross the ball it may have been different.
Very happy with 3 points and the gritty performance
BtM: have you revised us from top 4 to top 3 now? ๐
Turd place?
Things aren’t all roses but it was a good win to grind out. 3 wins on the spin. Momentum lads. Mo mo.
I mean HoHoHo
“This is a game we woulda drawn or lost last season.”
whew. worrisome, wigan try to play good football but lack the player quality. credit to them for coming to play, not park the bus. not a lot from us today, but enough. our application was off just a bit all day, though the effort was there.
Well done lads.
That game showed plenty of bollocks, which is something we need to see from this side. Quintessential away performance: keep it tight, grab and hold on.
Lots of pluses, but I thought Mertesacker was excellent. Very quietly, and despite the odd lapse here and there, we’re becoming a decent looking defence. So important – trophy winning sides get built from the back.
Merry Xmas ‘holics. And well done the lads.
BTM@339. OG 20 goals? Any coincidence we win 2 games & he don’t start? Keep Walcott at all costs.
3 hard-fought points, 3 wins in a row for the first time in the League this season, a clean sheet.
I’ll take that.
Snir :
โThis is a game we woulda drawn or lost last season.โ
Let me correct that:
โThis is a game we woulda drawn or lost last a few weeks ago.โ
Mark Halsey must have accused Di Santo of consorting with Wolfgang Smallballs?
Ollie – you know that was sarcastic.
That sentence just makes me laugh ๐
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaard fought win! Halleujah!!!
Now to give Sundee’s sacramental wine (and of course it’s red for the right reasons) a right hammering!!!!!
Up The Arse!
Merry Christmas everyone! Let’s hope for some nosebleed in the Spurs – Stoke game and the day will be even greater.
More relevant comment. A great 3 points to get but I’m not sure we completely deserved to get them. Wigan are relegation candidates and lack much goalscoring threat so at least we protected our lead decently. More expansive performances are forthcoming though I hope.
The Reverend AL knows
Onwards to three more points from The Toon?
Merry Xmas all!
Phew! A narrow win but still a win on what looked like a very difficult pitch. Wigan are very good at keeping the ball and if they had a proper striker they would easily be in the top half of the table. They haven’t got that many points, sure, but they are not easy to beat at all. I must say I was impressed by how well they stuck to their plan all game and they never stopped believing they could get something from the game.
Third place now, even if it is just for a few hours (I am counting on Stoke rolling over for Sp*rs) we are at least slowly moving in the right direction and there was nothing wrong with out attitude today. I think the Cazorla-Jack-Arteta triumvirate is starting to show signs of clicking as well, but there were also times when they weren’t sure who should cover what area and we lost the ball a few times due to misunderstandigs of who the ball was aimed for.
But a win is a win is a win and I shall now sort myself some food and a beer or two while keeping an eye on the afternoon games on my laptop. I can imagine worse Saturdays ๐
Merry Christmas to all. What do I want as my present? I would settle for Man City 0 Reading 5. That would suffice.
What Ollie said at 348.
Forward.
Merry Christmas, Winners
Just one more quick point before it’s grub’o’clock: it’s most often this type of win that builds confidence rather than hammering a team like we did v Reading. Holding on to a narrow lead is always a good thing. Let’s hope we can keep building on this, I do feel that there is a rather good team in there just waiting to emerge.
Good victory. Quite surprisingly, Steve McManaman on Espn seems to be getting more sensible as the season goes on. He’s been very reasoned and complimentary to us for the past few weeks. I can actually watch the games without muting these days.
Guys, Should we chip in and buy Di Santo a new earring ๐ How adorable was that!
Was tabs at Wigan? I’m reading reports that the infamous banner came out and the guys who got it out got decked.
One-nil in wet Wigan. Not so bad. Nine out of nine points in the last three games. If we can make it 15 out of 15 by the time Man City come to the Ems mid-Jan we’ll be back on track. If it is 18 out 18 after that, we can go to the bus stop in Fulham the week after back in with a shout.
Lars
Excellent points, I tend to agree. Manure have been winning champioships based on whole seasons playing like that.
BTW, The Ox looked excellent today.
Great win. Wigan are a very decent outfit. Martinez is the only manager in The Prem whom I would welcome to The Arse when Le Boss decides to leave.
UTA!
TS: yup, and that is also why Sir Rednose has said that he wants his team to start winning 1-0 instead of 4-3. They are actually on course for conceding almost 54 goals this season, which must be pretty unheard of for a championship-winning team.
Agree about the Ox too, but Walcott didn’t show very much apart from chasing the ball and catching it before it went into touch just before he won us the pen (which was correct, by the way – he was clearly tripped up).
What happened to TR7 and Giroud? Flu?
Ox my man of the match. Most creative impetus came from him.
We defended well but not very comfortably and with a bit of quality Wigan could have scored.
Arsenal needs to work on opening up more space for Santi when he is so closely marked and pressed. Theo’s movements were okay but not that incisive.
Lars
Yes The-o is still blowing hot and cold but when he’s hot, he’s hot. Today, he just about did enough, I think. Either way, we should run his little legs into the ground for as long as wears the famous red and white.
Here’s to more 1-0s. Starting with The Toon.
Have a good one matey.
Lars@358: well said. Nice to see towards the end of a game the attackers tippy-tappying the ball from side to side in front of a parked bus with no cutting edge in the final third — and it not being us.
Agree with N7G that the defence is quietly gelling. Eight goals conceded in 10 away games. Only Citeh’s defence, the most parsimonious in the league, betters that. Mertesacker had another rock solid game, as did Sagna. Vermaelen was anonymous, which was good because it meant he didn’t make any noticeable mistakes and is recovering his form. Gibbs was excellent defensively, though this wasn’t one of his more outstanding attacking days.
True Storey@363: I would definitely welcome Martinez at the Emirates when Arsene leaves, but, only as Manager of an opposing team. He seems to be a very nice and affable bloke but too mediocre for Arsenal.
Lars nose
Impec1@395: they may be the best pairing among all the commentators, even if that is a low bar to clear.
TS@366, thing about Theo is that he still needs five metres to find space, whereas top central strikers can carve it out of one. I don’t know how much of that is experience and how much instinct, but it is something he has to work one. If there is any truth to the rumour that David Villa might come on loan in January, it would be hard to justify playing Theo at the point of the spear.
Cheers Ned and Ollie.
Impec1: not sure Martinez is that mediocre. He has consistently got Wigan to play some very nice stuff, as I said what they lack is a proper striker. For every season he gets them playing this way I am more and more impressed, and he also seems to be good at making the players keep believing in what they are doing and I don’t think the late-season surges that have saved them from relegation the past two seasons were a coincidence. They kept at it and when other teams started to panic they kept their heads cool and got the neccessary points and that must be at least to some extent down to Martinez.
Ned@370: 395? Have you come back from the future? ๐
Indeed NBN, indeed. I would absolutely love seeing Mr. Villa in Arsenal colours.
Ned@371: David Villa on loan? Oh yes, pretty please. Sure, injury problems and all that but I think he would fit in quite well at Arsenal and he is a very good finisher.
Not that I think there is anything to these rumours, though.
that wasn’t a Rolls-Royce performance but I would love to see Arsenal get these kind of results on the road on a regular basis. We looked ordinary most of the time but we did manage to get the 3points. Goal scoring is still the main concern for us. Wenger need to persist with Walcott upfront, he will get better. A top finisher in January would be nice.
Impec – Strongly disagree, but that’s cool. See above comments from Mr.Lars. RM’s a young manager who keeps his team in the top-flight working with very limited resources and, at times, gets his team to play really attractive football. He finds and creates decent footballers too. Remind you of anyone?
NBN – The ‘positional’ rhetoric coming from Theo’s camp is, IMO, utter bollix. David Villa (on loan?) an interesting rumour. Is there any substance to it fella?
Thousands of empty seats at Middle Eastlands, by the way. City have had loads of possession but created rather little in the way of proper scoring chances and it’s 0-0 after 45 minutes. Very audible boos from the home crowd when the half-time whistle went.
How does Ned know what Impec1 will say at 395? :s
Lars: Points taken. I do not doubt that he has done a great job at Wigan, and they do play good football at times. Nevertheless, I just cannot see him as a candidate to replace such an iconic figure at Arsenal. I hope when the day comes, we can do much better than that.
It took me until now to realise what the pun in the blogs’ title was….
I knew there had to be one somehow.
NBN- Villa is 31 and I doubt Wenger would buy, a loan maybe. Villa has nothing to prove and certainly not desperate to win trophies. So a move to the premiership would appeal to him. On walcott I think he did OK ,scored 1 and got a penalty so far in his new role and that is not bad at all, but he will need time to get the hang of it.
Injuries??
I think the Dutchman proved to us that no matter how much you’re injured you don’t lose your class.
David Villa is so good it’s ridiculous.
Please Arsene, I’m begging. I want him to sign even more than Capoue!!!
More than Capoue? Wow, Snir! ;D
Heh @ Ollie. I was thinking the same.
Ned @ 367
Apart from when he (Vermaelen) dived in, in the move that Kone should have scored in you mean? ๐
A win, a clean sheet and my favourite Arsenal scoreline, but not much else to write home about.
I think the clean sheet says more about our opponents today than our defence “gelling” though. The full backs are still tucking in far too much for my liking and wide players are getting far too much time and room to put crosses in.
We can and will play better so pocket the points and move on.
PS – my head was sore this morning. I blame those Cajuns ๐
zico
Did you find some paint to match the colour of the beer that you were drinking last night? ๐
Fair points. Me, I’m just over the moon with 9 points out of 9 in The Prem. It’s been a long time.
As you were…
Snir knows ๐ David Villa is just what we need! ๐
Plus he’s devoted to his family. Even got fined for wearing a shirt with a picture of his wife and kids on the pitch. A real gentleman ๐
https://twitter.com/m8arteta/status/282515902602293248/photo/1
If Mert took that he has seriously long arms.
Went looking on Arsenal.com for AW’s post-match comments but didn’t find any posted. Very unusual. I rely on them to put a more positive spin on things so this time I will have to rely on Lars @358 and his first half match report on the mighty Reading v. Man City. Send that man a Julkokken, or whatever the word for Christmas cake is in Swedish. ๐
Heh 8ball, we don’t really have any specific Xmas cake in Swedish Xmas traditons, but the word you would have been looking for in that case would have been “julkaka” ๐
Heh Nonny
heh Nonny
Spuds held
scum choke on an orc bone, we hold fourth regardless of all bus stop results. club in crisis! wanger ouuuuut!!!!!
Spuds vs Stoke = draw. We are 4th outright at the moment. Let’s push on.
and a vewy mewwy cwistmas to all, even that dawned wabbit.
396 Scruz……we can only beat bottom 3 side 1-0 – Wigner out ๐
Pumps long ball aimlessly toward Wigner busily gesticulating on the touch line………
timing is oll, ollie.
Ha to spuds.
Reading hard done by. They went and played city toe to toe. Close but always thought it would end in heartbreak for them.
Third with a good GD. I’ll take that for Christmas.
heh, uply. winger. guffaw. i geddit!
Catch me if you can boy’s!!!
I’m running to the flag like a gingerbread man!!!
Orcs really are anti-football…..more suited to American Football. Assume Gareth Bale left his speedoes in the changing room..no diving today.
Nonny, great photo. They all look very happy except for Arshavin who looks like he is thinking “shut up, I am trying to do my accounting here!”
Man City won it in the 93rd minute, a goal that on another day would have been disallowed but I think it was probably the correct decision to allow it.
I see Sp*rs dropped points which was good, it is very tight around the CL spots – Chelsea are now down to 7th (!) but have two games in hand on all teams ahead of them and just a one-point deficit.
Well in Norcal….you geddit, oh dear get straight back on the medication. ๐
ollie- we are 3rd
Well in Norcal.
I’m talking worse case situation with everybody having played their games in hands, coat.
I don’t ever consider a table that has teams on different number of games as being a real table.
Even if it’s better to have the points in the bag, of course.
well in norcal. pass the oregonian. happy to have tabsed it.
and, but exactly, ollie.
ollie. don’t worry about Games in hand. We are third, enjoy it
Swansea and Aston Villa victories tomorrow would make for a great weekend.
Eric Wenalda is a putz. Said theo went down to easily and then insinuated the blast into Gibbs was a handball in the box. Please.
The dude went thru theo and Gibbs had his arms inside his body. Foxsoccer in the US is openly biased towards spuds because of Freidle and Dempsey. Shame
Ollie@408: agreed, especially considering the two games in hand for Chelsea are Southampton and Villa, and both are home games too I think.
But fourth over Xmas is not bad at all considering where we came from. We need to keep improving of course, but we are quite far from in the crisis some would have us believe.
Great to be in 3rd for 24 hours at least.
Also great to have 9 points from the last 9.
And grateful that we got three today after a less than impressive performance. Wigan is always difficult though because the pitch is generally fairly poor – are they still sharing it with the rugby league team?
Chamberlain’s performance a big plus – will hopefully give his confidence a boost.
Just hope that Jack finds his passing boots soon and stops trying to beat every group of three players that confronts him.
NorCal: the pundits on Swedish TV also said it was a dive, I can not understand that at all. Just look at the replays ffs, as you say the Wigan player runs right into Theo’s back and that is a penalty any day of the week.
Agree about the Gibbs situation as well, that was 100% correctly called by the ref. Gibbs is actively trying to get his arms out of the way and his arms are in a fully natural position and the ball is blasted at him from five or so yards.
And now they have moved on to the Liverpool-Fulham game, which makes me wonder one thing:
Is there a law that says commentators have to say “Oh, let’s just be quiet now and listen!” as they play that song over the speakers and about five people in the stands sing along except for the chorus when ten more join in? At least this broadcaster do it every single effin’ game they show from Anfield.
Well in NorCal @400
NorCal @412 – re-inforces my antipathy to all things Fox, except when we buy the long desired ‘in the box’ variety. ๐
Lars @415 – For some commentators and pundits it wouldn’t be a penalty for Arsenal if the defender took the Arsenal forward’s head off with a Kung Fu kick at neck level.
dkgooner: according to Wikipedia, they do still share the ground with Wigan Warriors.
baff@417, you are probably right about that.
By the way, let’s all spare a thought for poor old Stuard Robson, his holidays must be ruined now that we will be at least fourth in the league over Xmas!
Lars,
Yup. Did same here. Build up so that we can all listen to that tired old song. They may not walk alone, but it sure sounds like they often sing alone.
And then that bald guy just scored. Oh wait….. They all have alopecia in liverpoo.
NorCal – I have no idea how Wynalda has a job.
He is the reason people think Americans don’t know football.
So fucking daft.
Can’t wait for NBC next year.
Snir,
He was only marginally better as a player. If he was not fast he would have sucked. I agree. ESPN doesn’t bother me as much.
Snir is spot on re: Villa.
If we’re looking at Huntelaar we should certainly be looking at DV. World class player and has already been taught to play the Arsenal way by our feeder club.
Oh, and thanks to the LWCs for being hopeless bottle jobs.
Stoke are tough on paper, but their record for games in London is dismal.
Good to know the neighbours will always find ways to fuck it up and let us get our noses back in front.
Lasagna for Xmas.
Something went wrong with the recording of the game and only got to see it from the 55th minute.
The only real thing of note I saw was the penalty, to be honest I thought it was harsh. I’m not saying Theo dived, because there was definitely contact, but I feel we might have felt agrieved had it been given against us…..
But is wasn’t and we won, so;
la la la, na na na a boo boo.
We got 3 points and
you smell like do do.
Plus, it must be some pretty shamefull shit when the only part of the ground that was full was the away end.
What’s the difference between today’s pen and Eboue vs. Liverpool?
Same thing; both are pens.
I saw Man Citeh, the PL Chumpions, managed to scrap a win by the skin of their teeth at home to “only Reading”.
H2H, we have conceded a similar penalty this season (Arteta v Fulham) and my memory is that pretty much no one complained about that one.
As for the penalty,in my view ,Beausรฉjour was just so surprised to find that Theo Wallet had nipped in in front of him,that he just instinctively pushed him out of the way,rather than tripped or tangled legs with him.But a surefire spot kick nonetheless.Anyhow Beausรฉjour means literally in french “loverly holiday”(or stay) and 3rd or 4th going into the Xmas holidays is loverly
H2H@427: yes, but when Man City beat Onlyreading by a debatable very late goal that shows their class. When we beat Onlyreading away 5-2 it was just because Onlyreading were crap. The experts on TV have said so so it must be true!
Wigan to finish above Liverpool but Liverpool will not stand alone in the Championship next year. ๐
8ball, on today’s showing it’s Fulham that needs to look out. They have been utter crap so far, Liverpool are 2-0 up but it should have been four or five.
Lars 428, it was a penalty, just a soft one.
And again 430. Yes indeed, yes indeed.
8Ball.
The L’pool supporters will Never Walk Alone….
Misery loves company.
Indeed, Snir, very similar.
washed up, commentators did the joke ‘How did he end up in Wigan with a name like that?’ ; )
https://twitter.com/m8arteta/status/282515902602293248/photo/1
This photo is interesting because it shows all the different nationalities sitting apart.BFG and Poldi in front,Santi and Arteta afterwards,Sagna and maybe Kos behind and then the young Englishmen together including Theo.While on the left hand side the Russian and the Pole each sit alone.
Yo ho ho >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Stuart Downing just scored. No, he really did! He also has an assist in this game – maybe the world really is about to end after all?
>>>>>>> ?
‘holic said on tweeter that there was another blog but I’m not seeing it yet