Off To See Reading Berks Again
Dec 16th, 2012 by 'holic
The attention switches from Arsene Wenger to his players as they attempt to lift the spirits after the COCup defeat at Bradford last week. The team news is just a little mixed, but significantly Olivier Giroud was declared fit to return by Le Boss on Friday, along with Laurent Koscielny. If David Hytner in the Guardian is to be believed Theo Walcott is also in contention.
For me that gives us a far more potent and balanced side in prospect. Walcott was instrumental in our astonishing recovery from 4-0 down to the same opponents at the Madejski Stadium in October’s COCup 4th round match. I am looking forward to returning to the away ground I have visited most in the Premiership era. It is a happy hunting ground for us. Between the hosts old Elm Park ground and this modern concrete construction we have won on all of our ten previous visits to Berkshire.
Victory will lift us to fifth spot in the Premiership, just two points behind the serial bottlers from up the road, but surrounded by a far stronger chasing pack than we might normally expect. This is destined to be a very tough season, and it is imperative that those who let everybody down last week respond with a performance on Monday evening.
In front of Wojciech Szczesny we should field Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs on the flanks. We may not go with the form pairing at the back. I fancy the skipper may start, probably alongside the BFG, with the excellent Koscielny being forced to wait a match, or maybe two, before reclaiming his rightful place. I hope I am wrong.
The jury is out on the midfield. Individually Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere, and Santi Cazorla have produced moments of magic this season. Collectively there is a question mark about them. When we do enjoy something like the possession we have become accustomed to in the Wenger era we have expected to see the ball moved forward quicker, and more accurately. The tendency towards more lateral movement and frequent loss of the ball needs to be sorted, and soon, if we are to challenge for the top places.
If we are being brutally honest much of the cause of that is down to some poor movement ahead of the creative players. When Giroud is absent we don’t have the option of a forward who makes the ball stick and brings others in to the game. Walcott leads the scoring charts and provides the main threat if we can get the ball behind the opposing defence. Lukas Podolski is taking time to settle to consistently produce his best. He has done some excellent work at both ends of the park and needs to ensure his performance levels don’t fluctuate quite so much as they have. Some players need six months or more to find their feet in the increased tempo and pressure of the Premiership.
The ‘holic pound will not seek a repeat of the twelve goal thriller at the Mad Stad at the end of October. Both sides should be stronger at the kick-off, and with better discipline a tighter affair should ensue. The favourite score with the major bookies is a 1-2 away win, between 7 and 8/1, including Gunners Gaming. Have a punt with them via the link above and you can enjoy rich pickings in their twelve days of Christmas promotion. I am most definitely on it. Lets hope we can make it three out of four.
That is pretty much it for now. I am booked on a late train home after the match so don’t be surprised if the match report is delayed until Tuesday, particularly as I appear to have been talked into a particularly early start on matchday 17. I trust those deprived of official broadcasts find proper streams to view. I may try and tweet images of the matchday experience, or then again I may totally forget long before kick-off. It is undoubtedly a hugely important day for Arsenal, but hopefully a wild and peaceful Christmas party for Gooners everywhere.
345 Responses to “Off To See Reading Berks Again”
First?
I hope we win, convincingly.
That is all.
Nice one ‘Holic.
Time to get the show back on the road.
normally not my style to duplicate, but…
joy: after four weeks in the hospital, scruzdad is home, able to eat, and scheduled again for (hopefully) a long, comfortable life.
this last month has really showed me where the debates over Arsène, the squad quality and direction, and my desire to rehash them endlessly really stand…really low on my totem pole. i’ve enjoyed most reading the windy epics, norcal’s travel tales, zico’s rare edwin stories, great drinks by tabs, trev, tim, cdoyle, joe, and others, and of course ‘holic’s blog posts and calm hand at the bar. he of all i have thought about this last month…as i’ve remembered ‘holicdad during these hard days.
merry christmas, everyone. thanks for sharing your gifts so well at this here bar. dad’s home, i will see him next week, and i am content. and a win tomorrow and i will start to feel happiness replacing the deep, constant worry of the last four weeks. a round of drinkers’ pleasure, on my tab, and a glass of ’81 chave hermitage for me.
Woohoo!
Anyway, made it home safely. Looking forward to the match tomorrow. Need a W in the worst way.
Be careful in the away end tomorrow, Holic. I hear it’s pretty dangerous over there. 🙂
Good stuff, ´holic.
We need a performance and anything less then three points will be considered a fail. Time to step up boys!
I´ll have a Vodka Cranberry juice Coke, please. 😉
Crap, the strikethrough didn’t work 😳
Great news Scruz.
Heh H2H , Looks like we know who wears the trousers Sweetie! 🙂
Good analysis Holic – hopefully this will be put into practice with a good outcome at the end of the night.
Yep, rumbled, I’ll soon be seeking advice from Wolfie about evening/beach wear combos and Jimmy Choo’s.
Greetings sir. Have a pint o’plain for me please (when celebrating victory).
Enjoy your trip holic. No pinching chips in the Holiday Inn for me this time. I am.getting ready for my trip to Wigan at the weekend.
We will be under scrutiny tomorrow. The hacks will be circling like vulchers. It’s a bit of a no win situation in that respect. A victory and it will be, what do you expect against bottom of the table. Anything else and they start swooping.
Time for the real Arsenal to turn up. Time to see who really wants to be an Arsenal player.
Enjoy.
The strikethrough didn’t work eh H2H, we can have that as the official story then 😉 😛 8)
Good stuff Holic, enjoy it tomorrow 🙂
Very happy for you right now Scruz, hope your dad doesn’t suffer any negative recurrences and enjoys that long and healthy life he’s due now to have. Glad you enjoyed my epic posts as well :), hope they helped during that difficult time for you.
Glad to hear it Scruz.
Nice one Holic – have a good day / trip / evening.
AL – prev drinks –
Thanks for that beeb link. Was going to listen to that this morning during a rare lie in – and dozed off. Right miffed I were when I re-awoke. 😉
Half a Disoronno and Cranberry Juice please barman.
Cheers Uply, from prev drinks. Sorry I write such a load of old nonsense, but you can’t take it all too seriously, can you.
With the exception of the truly horrendous story from Connecticut.
It’s bad enough when you have a child who is unwell – even a passing illness.
To have a madman walk into their classroom with a gun is unimaginable.
You have people who want to make you believe Bradford outplayed us the truth is we have actually hammered them in 2nd half hit the post few times and we had a simple tap in missed by Gervinho, what is lacking is a top class finisher. Regardless what people have been saying about Arsenal the aim was to finish in top 4 and have a go in the Champions league. I did not think we were goint to win the title and I did not think the league cup ws a priority so despite all the rubbish that has been written and talked about in the last few days if we win tonight we will be 4 points off 3rd spot, still in the Fa cup and in the next round of the C.league.
If you’re having a bet and money is the main reason for a flutter, Reading to win at 7/2 or 4/1 is a big tempter.
Here’s hoping for a great night out for you ‘holic and please bring home the bacon this time!!
Scruzgooner, great news about your Dad. Happy holidays!
Heh Trev 🙂
What kind of Arsenal fan bets against his own team? Just saying like… 😕
Good news, SCG. A glass raised to the good health of you and yours.
tabs, h2h, wind, and bt8b, cheers. we decorated the tree tonight, and have some brandy and egg nog to drink before the fire for tonight. finally in the swing of the season!
as for tomorrow, a giroud brace and a clean sheet…
At least a vodka cranberry juice Coke sounds an improvement on a cherry Coke, H2H.
cheers ned, and to you and yours. and to all of us and all of ours (hoping gooner terry is doing well, too)…
So. Reading tried to take it to manure when they played a few weeks ago and ended up losing 4-3. They tried the same against us in the corporate cup and got caught 7-5. Do they continue the bold tactic and go down swinging or do they opt for conservative park the bus at home and hope to score a low scoring victory. Something tells me they will opt for the latter. If that’s the case, lets hope some better finishing gives us an early goal to coax them out of their shell.
3-1 to the good guys.
And Scruz,
Good vibes and happy thoughts being sent down I-5 my friend!
and right back up at you, norcal…fog and all! i hope reading set out their stall, let’s take them with a full head of steam…
btw, bt8b, norcal, snir, btm, and others in the usa, the game is on espn3 tomorrow…
scruz, great news on your old man recovering!
Holic and anyone else who are going tonight, have a good one!
Will we win tonight? Well, as usual these days I just don’t know what to think. Guess all can do is sit back, have a pint and do my best to enjoy the game 🙂
Norcal- Reading don’t know how to park the bus, a bit like us really so I assume it will be a high scoring game.
Demba Ba believes Arsenal is the club that make you dream. despite recent poor results,players still admire this great club. I think BA will be a good signing. second top scorer in the league, he could do well at Arsenal.
A very important match tonight.
Frankly it’s ‘a must win’ if we are to slow down the feeding frenzy amongst the press and some ‘fans’ and ex-players.
Turning this season around is not beyond this squad but it must start tonight.
I dread to imagine the further nosedive in morale and dooming if we don’t win this game.
Go win, Gunners.
Arsenal has NEVER lost a weekday match-up when a bison (American or otherwise), or indeed any other sort of *semi-domesticated ungulate has entered the field of play.
Not this century anyway. To my, more or less, certain knowledge. For sure. Maybe. At least that’s what I’ve been told. So there. #HOMADSS-TA Ink.
*NOTE: John Terry IS NOT semi-domesticated therefore he was NOT included, at this time, in our stats. anal. #HOMADSS-TA Ink.
COYREDS
Good morning, all.
Nice preview, as usual, ‘holic.
I’m happy for you, Scruz.
Wenger’s coat knows @16. I said after the Bradford game that contrary to what the media and people, generally, are saying, we were NOT outplayed by Bradford and that in my own eyes our players care about the results far more than we give them credit for, i also said that what our team needs is not a new coach or a “destroyer in midfield” but rather a clinical finisher. Most of the games we’ve lost/drawn this seaon have been 50/50 games that just needed us (or our opponents) to score a goal or two and tip the game in our favour. Our defence looks quite good to me, we just need to score more goals, preferably earler in our games.
What kind of Arsenal fan bets against his own team?
One who wants to collect winnings 😉
I regularly bet against Arsenal. Win or lose, it’s money well spent either way.
Nonny
Even if you are going to bet against your own team, do you have to keep mentioning it in here?
Surely it’s the kind of secret shame you should be keeping to yourself?
It makes it hard to take your post-defeat complaints seriously, knowing that you’ve probably pocketed a tidy sum off the back of the result. How aggrieved can you really be when you’re actively hedging against your own side?
Wow!
2 Goonerholics to read this morning.
Both good read too. (Arsenal.com Talking Heads)
Both good reads even. 🙂
Steve T – “The hacks will be circling like vulchers”.
I had one of those for dinner yesterday. It was a luncheon vulcher. 😉
Time for talking is over !
Its time to shine lads in a game normally would be classed as no more than a formallity.
Play with heart and desire and you will win !
Gooner for life not just for christmas.
I guess the game on Boxing Day will be off now the tube strike is definitely on.
Cent- I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought we played well against bradford. Yes a clinical finisher would make a huge differnece just imagine the Mancs without RVP. they will be midtable at best.
Afternoon all.
Trev hits the hi-hat yet again @ #38 😛
Wc @ #29
Regarding Mr.Ba. He has a dodgy knee and is in the middle of a patch of inconsistent form.
All the hallmarks are there for an Arsenal transfer.
Overall, could be a decent signing for us and will help to give us those all important options as we still look for balance in the first team.
However, like most transfer rumours, my guess is it’s a bunch of hot air.
Ba-Humbug?
#41
Really? So why did they finish joint-top last season?
Without Fergie they would probably be mid-table though.
‘Holic
Whatever the result tonight, I cannot see it being as much fun as that very special night in October.
Enjoy maestro and remember to set your alarm for Swindon and not Exeter.
The Storey pound says 3-1 The Arse. I could never bet against my own team. Some things are far more important than money.
Afternoon all from a wet and grey Lowlands.
NBN @ 22
At least a vodka cranberry juice Coke sounds an improvement on a cherry Coke, H2H.
Indeed Ned, it not only lightens my mensies, it helps me burp too. 😉
===
Cheers for the (Talking) Heads up Gooneraside, I particulary enjoyed this bit;
Barring Tottenham at home we could not have asked for a more realistic chance of bouncing back with a win.
Well played ‘holic.
Ba Humbug indeed TS 🙂
Looks a pretty dodgy one that.
H2H, it’s all speculation until it’s declared a dead cert on Twitter. Then you know it’s NOT happening.
I’d have a small wager that TH will come back to us at Xmas but maybe not as a player (which I’d prefer).
I’d put a fair chunk of change on Theo being offski. That means we should at least buy one decent striker (fingers crossed). Again, Theo out and Ba in means we can make trade at a profit. That’s got to appeal to Arsene.
I need a beer. And an Arsenal win. But before any of that can happen I still have a few hours of work to get through…
You know, if we HAVE to take an old boy back onto the books this January, I’d much rather flirt with Anelka for another few months than Henry.
Lars
At least you can count on getting a decent beer or two in Stockholm 😉
TS, I’m not talking about the speculation, I’m refering to the player.
I know he can get goals in the PL, but there’s just something that doesn’t add up about this whole affair.
WC- well said mate, we definitely need a quality striker ( make it two if Theo leaves) Ba and Huntelar are viable options for me. Manure will definitely drop, quality wise, if they didn’t have RVP but they won’t be midtable because they’ve still got Hernandez (who i will take in a heartbeat and) Welbeck both of whom can do a decent job when needed.
Truestory knows re transfers.
Nonny, you are taking the piss with Anelka, surely.
H2H,
S’OK, I knew you were referring to the player. My reply was, as usual, overly expansive.
Demba Bar sounds like a Goonerholic player to me 😉
TS@51: yup, we can always count on the beer at least…
Cheers Cent.
Manure have incredible options upfront. They also have Rooney, of course. That is why they’re my faves for the title this year. That and SAF’s sickening ability to get the best from his squad regardless of the circumstances.
Right now, you can’t see them finishing outside the top two ad nauseum.
Of course, in any sport, things can change very quickly…
I want to play for The Arsenal.
My knees are fine.
I do like a beer or three.
TS is in with the Ba-Humbugs. 🙂
Hoping for a clean sheet victory today for The Arsenal. The kind on the pitch, that is, not the kind Wolfie would envisage 😉
Nonny, you are taking the piss with Anelka, surely.
No more so than the idea of bringing back Henry yet again. He was a shadow of his former self last year, a couple of heart warming cameos and goals apart. Just saying that of the two, Anelka would be more dangerous IMO
@61, Wolfie is offended by clean sheets 😉
‘holic,
Why don’t you love me? I love you — in a manly kind of way.
On occasion, I’ll attempt to submit something and, mysteriously, it will not post on your blogsite. There could be technical difficulties with your site. You should look into it while I do the same with my mobile provider.
Unrequited manly love *sigh* 🙁
Demba Bar,
At Arsenal, if you actually have any knees, they are fine. 😉
Back drinking last night(last post)nearly got sick when I saw lars post..I’m going over to watch the villa game too,hope to god that game isn’t cancelled!
Heh @ Trev.
Nonny, how exactly is Anelka sharper than Henry? Which is more competitive, the Chinese league or the MLS? What is better, bringing back the best player we ever had (officially) or a player we had for just one year? As a young player, who would you look up to in the dressing room, Henry or Anelka?
I wouldn’t really want Anelka back, but then again Henry’s return doesn’t exactly fill me with hope either. He’d be good for the dressing room, but with all due respect I can’t see him setting the PL alight, but that’s what I said last time too, so what do I know.
Fresh blood would be best.
Do we knee-d Ba? I say he is worth a pint at a good price. Some said the rotter was injury prone. Ba would bring us a little more zip and size in the middle to help our strike force. Proven EPL scorer. 10-15 a year.
I must admit I`m not expecting too much from tonight. On paper we will be fielding just about our strongest side, but again it comes down to who`s going to score the goals, and whether we can keep out the sort of natural goalscorers that teams like Reading and Norwich possess. I guess I`ll take a 1-0 and heave a huge sigh of relief.
Heh @ Uply 56.
Selfish as it may be, but I kinda want Henry back just so I can say ‘I saw THE Thierry Henry play at home for the Arsenal to anyone and everyone 🙂 (I’d do almost whatever it takes to get a ticket to a game he’d be featuring in now that I will have the resources to buy one)
But I’d be pissed if it was only Thierry and another striker if Theo leaves, because it would almost be like for like in terms of a forward for a forward, not supplementing to the squad, its a bit scary how pivotal the January Transfer Window is going to be to the rest of our season.
And I would never bet against the Arsenal, regardless of the winnings on offer because I wouldn’t be able to reconcile the winning profit with what I had just done, once you cross a certain line… 😐
Away from home we scored 8 times in 8 games. Just like Southampton or QPR. Deplorable. I’ll say that again – deplorable.
Come on you zombies , wake up!
And Demba Ba fits in with the names we have coming up with our youth team. Ba, Aneke, Akpom, Gnabry -all good English names. 😉
Heh NorCal 🙂
I hope that if we do dip our toe into the transfer market its not to get Demba Ba. You know if we sign him his knee will explode into a thousand pieces on the first day of training. Thats just how things go with us, a slight knock means 6 months, ligimate damage means we had to put him down im sorry. So lets not buy someone known for being a little fragile with are history.
So tonight can the real Arsenal please stand up !
Heh, Norcal, my Joy will know no bounds if Akpom and Aneke make into our first team (they both have Nigerian roots)
wind your take on Henry is selfish BUT it’s positive selfishness, you know like Messi deciding not to pass to a teammate because he knows 99 times out of 100 he can score the goal himself, i wouldn’t mind such selfishness myself.
I have the same concerns about Demba Ba.
That knee is sure to explode into a million pieces within weeks of signing for us.
Having said that, there were such concerns about MO11 and he turned out to be pretty reliable. However that was in the era where just about everything worked for AW.
But – enough speculation. Time for focus – COYRs.
BTW Wet Spam home game now under discussion because tube strike has been confirmed for Boxing Day.
I don’t think his knee would explode, be serious……
His whole leg would fall off.
I don’t want to be sheepish about it, Demba Baa’s knee would get rammed pdq if he joined the Arse. Ewe better believe it.
Drink on the bar for all as I collect my hat on the way out. 😉
I heard on the radio this morning that AW is currently sitting at 5/1 in the next manager to be sacked market. I believe they said those are the third shortest odds in that market at the moment.
I doubt the ‘holic pound is placing a wager on it though.
You guys are Ba-humbugers! I get the pessimism to some level but I also think Ba is a proven EPL striker and we need one. If he is having an inconsistent patch and still has 11 goals well that is almost more than Poldi, Giroud and Santi combined. Anyone can have their knee explode the first day they step on our pitch. At a good price I think he is worth it.
IMO.
I hope he and another striker sign in January.
All speculation I realize.
Now then let’s throw the book at Reading!
Uply
I’ll choose not to lamb-ast Baa’s abilities. The pen is mightier than the sword and I wollen want to dip to that level.
Where’s Trev when you need him?
Chop, chop Trev!
TS……Demba Baa would have made a perfect strike force up at Toon with Shearer.
Do you think Trev’s motto should be “The Pun Is Mightier Than The Sword”?
Norcal, if we lose tonight, will AW be Reading the riot act ?
For my pennies worth, we need to be looking beyond Demba and raising the Ba even higher and try to sign a real top knotch striker, if the club can find such a player within our price range and wage structure who would be willing to join us.
Nor Cal.
Word on the street is that he wouldn’t be able to pass the usual medical.
Do you really want a guy like that on 90K a week on a few year contract?
Don’t get me wrong, I think Ba’s done a great job for the Toon, but he’s their problem.
Word on the street is we are gonna batter those berkshire hunts tonight. Come on you Arsenal!
Can’t pass a medical is different than “his knee will explode”.
I don’t think he’s a 90k a week player but at the right price I think he would improve our current strikers.
Glad it’s not my decision, but I would welcome him if he came.
He is still my favorite name in the EPL. I’d probably help mr. Fox with his job and buy a shirt. 😉
Roberto I cannot see the board sacking Arsene ever. If matters deteriorated so badly, I believe they would find a way for him to resign without loss of face. The board and most supporters have too much respect for all he has achieved during his time at the club, not just the trophies but in the wider sense, for it to be any other way. Of course , by this time he most likely would be at the end of his contract and may well decide himself it was time to try new ventures. IMHO, there is still time for him to turn things around providing he can bring in the necessary re- inforcements who can make a real improvement to the team, rather than just make up the numbers.
however good or bad the game is the hands of a team coach. Wenger could not compete with the modern football and it affects a few bad games this year, which resulted in empty title. however arsenal is not a small team which is sad as the other team is always striving to avoid relegation, the arsenal is a great team that has a name in the world, with huge assets, many fans around the world, and the arsenal also did little to pay transfer in recent years. much more competitive squad arsenal Wenger unfortunately only poor in giving tactics, also less able to increase mentality of players, and also did not want to risk buying a sloppy player, but players like that are typical of the mentality of steel players. Wenger obtaining and maintaining the ability of good players but often injured, it’s very harmful. despite it all arsenal boards are also guilty of not understanding the football, and how could not love arsenal,and let arsenal with such deplorable conditions. thanks for his memory was invincible and all of Wenger, but I have to say .. Wenger’s time away from the arsenal. do or do nothing .. in order to achieve success we have to go through the misery. so enough misery and we have to recruit a new coach next season, and hopefully not pep, because it will make the game very boring. somehow also a football team without a title is not a football team ..
In different news….
Here’s what happens if you go up against Septic Bladder;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20762363
He already had a life ban and now they’ve given him another one.
Does this mean if he dies and gets re-incarnated that he still won’t be allowed to work in football!?
Oh and I wish we had the problem of the second leading scorer in the league. 😉
@90khaesar
Babelfish is not your friend.
H2H 91 heh maybe copying Death Wish 2 😉
haha Esso.
Right, off to the pub and to catch up with singe.
Can’t stay for the assist, so I’ll just get the ball out of defence. That’s how it starts.
Curves long ball up right wing.
Headbutts Shawcross out of camera range and plays it towards the wing……
Flipper speeds past his man, then goes back to try it with the ball this time….
Falls over and the ball spins off hs forehead into the net.
Hey, just finished work and folks are bleating here ‘cos I’m not joining the latest punfest.
Personally, I think we would be being fleeced paying £3.75 million for a striker with exploding knees.
To tonight though, and our match on the edge of the Cotswolds. Rather than worry about Ba, we need to hope our own West African can come good, as our erstwhile Cameroon has left?
Hoping for some really sexy off-the-hoof, no handbrake, football tonight.
Sexy enough indeed to induce, in our travelling barkeep, a little bit of Wiltshire Horn. 😉
BANG
And rams one in !!!!!
Nice unconscious goal Trev – lambs to the slaughter, we were…. talent comes through in the end.
Btw, I think some people are Reading too much into tonight’s result.
Well in Trev, see my assist spun off your dodgy knee before passing over the line.
Congrats on the tabs glory spot Bath.
BTW Bath, initially thought your “bang” at 101 was referring to Demba Ba’s knee 😉
Hey bath, TS – fingers crossed for tonight.
Team sounds very attacking.
Heh at both 105 and 106, Uply.
Proud to take TaBs role on this one. (Is there a Daily Fail poster boy stand-in contract going too??)
Hey Trev, indeed – everything is crossed here.
team?
Bath…Doubt it but you might get Wolfie’s fashion spot though. 😉
Gervihno and Sir Oliver on the bench. Cute.
Wool in Trev.
Looks like Theo will play through the middle.
Uply, I don’t have his poise or skin tight gold lame jeans. Nor do I look as ‘cute’ in fish net tights or a mancini.
.
Bath, I know, i’ve seen the photos. 🙂
Right off to see the game. Laters.
No Giroud. 😥 That’s my FFL team fucked.
All strapped in for a Monday lunchtime three points. I should be working but apparently it’s the holidays. All I need is a good stream.
Here’s to 3 points….come on you reds
Free-O through the middle by the looks of tings – mmmmm…
You’ve gotta fancy Reading to throw everything at us – they’re desperate and we’re vulnerable.
Come on The Arse make it a night to remember – for all the right reasons
UREDS!
Ah Trev – it had to be ewe.
Tim,
It’s on ESPN 2. Maybe on ESPN stream too.
Heh, Theo up front, ball’s in your court bro 🙂
Got it ~ thanks
Just in time
Martin Keown on Sky….here we go…lots of Tings he’ll tell us
Come on you REDS!!!
great shot – AOC
shots on target one – time 1:30
I must admit I like the team selection today. A lot of pace upfront. They should be allowed to interchange freely. First time Theo & Ox starting an EPL match together — it’s about freaking time.
We got opened up like a tin of spam!
Just got in. Have I missed anything?????
Come on The Arsenal.
our away support continues to amaze me
Come on gooners
Hey Steve T
Not much but it could have been one a piece already
two teams having a go really Steve – no real pattern yet except we’re far too narrow and crowded when we attack
PPOOOOODDOOLLSSKII
Ave it! 😀
Come on Poldi! Thats better!!!!!!!
Excellent cross Gibbs and smashing finish Pods….Podolski’s control with the bottom of the boot and quick shot were lovely…
That’s a nice start
Poldiiii!!!
Goldie Poldie. Too easy. More of those please.
Great first touch.
The newish Arse nein doesn’t turn down chances like that – well played Poldi
Nice try
Caz
should have gone around hi Feo!
you have to think a second goal will see Reading fall to bits…they look far less organised than when I’ve seen them in earlier games
well done Vermaelen..
well done Gibbs
Two massive blocks come on Asrenal!
This ref assistant playing his usual tricks
we look so much better with extra tempo…the difference is simply huge
Come on Santi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SSAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNTTTI
Santi! 😀
Top work by Poldi.
Beautiful goal….Arteta’s vision finds Pod….clean cross in to Santi to head home. Podolski’s acceleration over five yards made that happen.
Much more like it.
Cazorla yes
Santii!
Let’s kill em off!
This is much more like it. THIS is Arsenal.
Just don’t concede…
Santi!!
Merry Christmas.
Great delivery from Goldi Poldi. Roll on Reds. Roll on.
let’s work on our goal difference lads
SAAANTTI again
Come on SANTI AGAIN!!!!
Three nil…Santi….
we’re getting crosses in…
Santi Claus!!
Great work Gibbsy.
I see players who do care…just saying….
Santi x2! 😀
Get fucking in!
Amazing what can happen when you leave the dead wood out.
Who are you referring to in specific Nonny?
We cant let them to crawl back in the game we need go forward more!
Playing Gervinho at centre forward (or anywhere) for example.
Jack fucked. Shit….
Right in the cods.
New Balls Please.
OUCH
Shout out : Any ps3 players in here? Anyone wants to play a few games of FIFA 13.
Only catch is that I will like to play with Arsenal 🙂
Poor challenge for the ball 🙁
right in the you know what…ouch
Ken Friar looking like Dr Phibes, with those freaky hands on his lap
Sajit
Not tonight but add me: goonerskill
Will do Arthur! Thanks mate!
Keep it up Arsenal!
I’ll take you on Sajit 🙂 My Arsenal vs yours 1st game, but after the game of course or in a few hours, gonna game with my friends back from Plymouth 🙂
PS3 id?
Great header from the Ox, deserved to be 4 🙂
14 shots in the first 45…..far more like it.
Yes Reading are poor but this will build belief…something we’ve clearly been lacking.
much more like it. keep up the good work lads!
Another half like that and we’ll all be happy. Keep up the standard, don’t let it drift away, win 8-0. Simple 😉
Quickest 46 mins this season
Good first half in goal scoring form, few niggly nervous bits to start with but overall good response from the lads.
Come on ARSENAL!
That was like the good old days 🙂 Cazorlas something else and what a difference when you play with pace, No need to let up bang in some more !
Now that’s what I call fuckin’ football!
But how long is gonna last? A week or two…or more.
@Wind , @Arthur
Of course , I cannot play now , since Im still at work . NY , EST time zone.. but gladly play in the evening or during the weekend [ depending on whicih time zone you are in ]
my id is :skunnumk
Hmm, I only play with 2 teams tbh. Arsenal [obviously first choice ] or Borussia Dortmund. 🙂
Wind
Count me in as well!
Don’t turn off the spigot boys. There’s goals to be had in them thar hills!
Easily the best firsthalf I’ve seen this season from us, playing more intuitively with quick passes and great movement. Reading was poor, yes, but our high tempo from the kickoff set things in our favor.
There was a shot of Wenger urging his players to transition quicker and more decisively when Cazorla tried to out through Walcott on the counter. Very interesting.
Woke up at 3am to watch this, and I have a 10 hour training starting at 8am later. It’s worth it to see us playing like this again, though. Arsenal, bloody Arsenal…!
This match should be over. I say should. I did experience the 4-4 at Newcastle after we were up 0-4 at HT. But this Reading side is utterly hopeless. They’re the worst side in the league and are sure to go down.
I’d like to see this starting lineup of ours today more often. Pace, pace pace.
95 South to Florida. 3.00 pm approaching. Pulled off to a sports bar in Manning S. Carolina. Found the sports bar. Burned down FFS!. Just about to give up then Manning’s only other eating establishment a Subway. They have WiFi. myP2P and I’m in.
Arsenal magic. Great time to be a Gooner.
Subway subs pretty good too.
Sajit ill play you after the game if I’m not to drunk 🙂 send an invite to garsguns 😉
See what happens when you exploit the wide areas????? Get wide, tear them apart and create all that space in the middle.
🙂
well *that* was a pleasant first half.
still plugging for a clean sheet. could be 6-0 if their damn goalie was having an off day. and not a shot from reading. nice.
Thats more like it.
Same again for the next 45 please.
COME ON YOU REDSSSSS
here we go…
I’ll add all 3 of you Sajit, Arthur and garsguns 🙂
Boom
see you at full time!
Ooh, scruz. Poldi-like finish!!
Well in Toby.
I’m having a sneaky day. Sorry for not being around for most of the match! Be back a tad after the game! Good luck everyone and may whatever god or gods that might be out there keep Wilshere’s little Bouldies safe.
Woj is getting better by the week…..I’m sure of it.
Interesting to watch Walcott….he is looking for diagonal balls but probably more importantly both of their central defenders are stuck on their heels all of the time. Probably not much to be learned as Reading look quite broken defensively.
This is good stuff from arsenal.Come on!
It’s. pleasure watching Cazorla play. Sheer class.
Class…simply
Hat Trick Santi Hat Trick Santi Hat Trick Santi
Hat Trick Santi Hat Trick Santi Hat Trick Santi
Hat Trick Santi Hat Trick Santi Hat Trick Santi
Caz trick
Hat-Trick Hero! 😀
santi hat trick!
(so much for full time)
what a move!!
you beauty!!
if you noticed even some young girl in Reading crowd clapped, beautiful move 🙂
Poldi is having a proper performance. Good to see.
Santi hat trick. Merry Christmas Gooner girls and boys.
Santastic!!!
movement and pace….and let’s be honest it’s essentially been a 4-4-1-1 since we got our second….
Still at work but sounds like this one will be a pleasure to view. Even Nonny has been smiling today.
Glad to hear you got lucky today BtM. Subway for me for dinner then.
Feo desperate to score and prove AW right about starting him in the middle, pass the ball mate to Poldi next time 🙂
Shite.
What the hell was that!
Sloopy
Absolutely idiotic ball. You are better than that Gibbs! Come on lad!
fuck..there goes clean sheet
Let’s give Jack 20+ mins off…..
Cazorla asked to be replaced directly after that incident. Nervous.
Can’t stand this.
What are they doing!
two woeful goals. fair play to reading, what the hell is our defense doing there?
WAKE THE FUCK UP
Sloppy cunts
Would not be The Arsenal if we did not do something stupid. Oh well. Why do we make it so hard for ourselves?
Can we play Koscielny next time please….TV is a liability
Come on Arsenal, don’t do this. Again.
definitely an encapsulation of the season.
Come on lads – switch back on and see this out.
Not Ramsey ffs
that’s the Nonny we expect…praying for a draw eh?
I’m not worried at all. We’ll get another they won’t. 5-2 is my bet. Having that said, it’s so bleeding unnecessary.
you know that feeling you have in the pit of your stomach.. ive got it.
Don’t be a cunt, have a day off.
who?
You.
why don’t you support your team?
You ought to look in the mirror
We need to just get hold of this again.
Easy lads, we’re all on the same side.
How do you know I don’t?
If you think mentioning the odds on a Reading win earlier means I actually bet on them, it says more about you than me.
I actually had three bets, all on positive outcomes for Arsenal. But don’t worry about it, keep making stupid comments. It’s what you’re good at.
Nonny…if you had any class you’d backtrack. But you don’t.
I’m off boys…enjoy the victory tonight, for that’s what will happen.
FEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Nice one Theo
Come on Feo Feo Feo Feo Feo Feo!!!!!!
Jack needs to come off for his sake, Rosicky on please. Ramsey for Ox was right. Theo!!!
Theo from Caz
Joy OF Six Anyone ?:)
Feo!
Wenger will bring on Coquelin
Played Santi and played Theo 🙂
Well done lads. Quality performance, lots of positives.
5 goals, 3 ponts, wicked!
Great win! Cheers gunners
oooh Giroud, shame 🙁
3 points, even.
ok. squeaky bum time there for a bit, but while the second half wasn’t a patch on the first, it wasn’t *horrible*. just those two moments. credit to reading for coming more alive, too. but those *have* to be cut out.
5th place. club in crisis. wagner OUT.
H2H
Yes 3 ponts indeed 🙂
Great game compared to others overall and imprevious up to 0-4 up and a little bit after 😉
And I’ll have 3 pints now 🙂
oh, and bt8b, i tabsed it @201, happily. well in toby!
Great performance, except the patch in second half with two ridiculous goals given away Reading never was in it, some ruthless finishing and should it be for better decisions in front of goal, score could and should be even higher. Poldi had great game and I reckon this is also first time he played whole 90 mins. Santi …just pure class..and there might be something about playing Feo down the middle 😉
Happy enough. Love watching goals, me. Sleep tight me fellow gooners. Sleep tight.
This one is to build the confidence back up even though Reading was shit for most of it!
We should have never let them crawl back into the game! This is something we seriously need to work on.
However no one will say that you wouldn’t take 2:5 before the game?
To be honest Federici kept them in the game!
Santi Puts on His Christmas Hat-trick.
Heh. I was never worried when we conceded two, it was just a wake up call for the lads that the game is not finished yet.
Great game from all our players, and I thought TV was immense with at least two crucial tackles, so I wouldn’t blame him for anything tonight. Koscielny is definitely the best third choice CB in the league!
2 consecutive wins in the league, we need to keep this momentum going. COYG!
Sign da ting Theo! Please, for Jack at least… 🙁
5-2; Theo CF, feckin’ get in there. Finally Arsene, you’re coaching again!
Well done lads! Victoria Concordia Crescit.
Some wonderful stuff going forward. Great movement off the ball and caused havoc. Fast on the break, just like the old days.
I also thought we looked to have a lot more balance and shape.
The one negative was the bit of complacency that crept in at the back. Sloppy at times but something that can be worked on.
A nice three points and a big confidence booster before wigan on Saturday.
When we looked good we looked very very good. The old pace and zip was back. But when we had the dodgy patch we looked very dodgy for a bit. But maybe if Wilshere hadn’t slipped, they wouldn’t have got their first and we wouldn’t have looked dodgy at all. If we’d performed with this vim and vigour at Norwich and Villa, we would be where this team probably should be in the league, third snapping for second.
Gary Neville’s analysis on Sky Sports 🙂
Can’t believe Gibbs made that pass for 1-4. And I’d expect Mertesacker to do better on both goals.
tim@234 – was this meant to be ironic?
Still got my concerns but happy to see us put a team to the sword – even if we did our best to make it exciting for the neutral.
Chance to keep up the momentum at lunchtime Saturday but you can never tell this season.
As GN pointed out at half-time, Reading were awful.
But 3 points and good for the goal difference.
Yeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Reeeeeesult!
One more performance like that upfront, and Wenger will have the ball back in his court, if you want to stay at the club like Jack does and wants you too, show you deserve the increase in wages. With consistent performances upfront.
This was a very timely performance from the boys. It will help to take my mind off the horrific event that occurred over the weekend.
The Newtown shootings took place just 30 minutes away from my home. We’re still having a hard time here in Connecticut, but a good Arsenal victory has helped me a wee bit. Perspective, perspective, perspective…………
Let’s keep it going Gunners!
Impec1, My thoughts are with you and those innocents…God bless them.
Podolski played a full 90 minutes 😮
Gary Neville is a real supporter of Arsene Wenger and Arsenal, fair measured criticism in addition to measured praise, favourite pundit right now 🙂
That’s the type of result I like to see. Mind you, our defence was a wee bit shaky and once you consider the opposition that might mean we’re not out of the woods just yet. But with performances like this, you may not hear from me for a while — at least until the UCL gets going again. I’m sure that would be music to the ears of ‘holic, zico, tabs, et al.
It would have been nice to get a clean sheet though. But when Wolfie is a Gooner, clean sheets are hard to cum by.
I will say that Santi is worth the price of an Arsenal season ticket.
Merry XMas ‘holics — every one.
I couldn’t see the game, only caught the last 10 mins but delighted to see we won, scored 5 goals and regardless of my view on Wenger it was good to see him smile (I swear I’d did!)
Good evening, all.
I hope you all enjoyed the game, i know everybody will be rooting for Santi but Poldi is my man of the match, he was quietly and devastatingly effective.
Kudos to our away support, they are simply the best.
Re: 202. Sorry Toby, I meant to recognise your great finish.
Cazorla is MOTM for me. with Walcott and Ox in the same team we look a bit quicker, we had options for those early balls. Walcott got his wish playing upfront, I don’t know if that where he will be playing from now on or Wenger simply keeping him sweet to sign that contract. I thought he did well and he can only get better.
We finally showed pace and a forward drive again. The speed of our attacks was the best we have shown for years. OK it was against the bottom club but it was a vital win, a good performance and although a clean sheet would have been preferable, we showed determination at 4-2 to ensure we ran out with 3 points.
Now we have to build on this.
COYRs.
Now that was a lot better! Three pints of Sam Adams, five Arsenal goals and a very much-needed win. I’m quite happy with my few hours down the pub 🙂
Very happy with this win, but we absolutely must follow it up with another win on Saturday. But that is for later, for now I am going to enjoy this win.
Drinks for everyone on my tab as usual!
Wins the ball in our own box and passes wide to the right side.
W.C, i wasn’t really impressed by Theo, he did make good runs but he barely contested for aerial balls and didn’t really hold up play well, it’s his first start in that position so i won’t be passing any judgement just yet.
…Beats his man and squres it into the box…
*squares
Picks up ball beats centre back and lays ball off towards pen spot.
…Lays it on for his teammate…
Had worse days out (hic).
Nice goal Holic.
Nice assist Cent
Well in, Guv, what happened?
Thanks, bath.
Arsene Wenger’s ‘avin’ a party.
Bring your Vodka,
And your charlie.
I’m in the mood to celebrate.
Vinny, sweetheart, I’ll have a 3-piece Variety meal please.
What’s that? You’re right, as always.Lets GO LARGE, easy on the coleslaw.
Cheers Vinny.
Roberto;
Don’t read anything you write.
Couldn’t
give
a
shit
Walcott’s comments post game, added with a little bit more from Jack. Gotta love our young Jack! Especially when he refused to shake Tabb or whoever that Championship player was who fouled both Jack and Arteta strongly after coming on. He’s a winner on the pitch.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1268584/arsenal's-theo-walcott-confirms-talks-over-contract-will-continue?cc=4716
Apparently Jack has also been trying to convince Walcott for a long time to sign a new deal. You’re still our number 14, Theo, sign the damn contract.
Well in, ‘Holic, you old pro.
Is there some Euro quota we don’t know about that requires a minimum no of goals in Arsenal games at the Mad?
Cent@295: down the middle might be the one position where Theo’s habit of drifting in and out of games matters least.
Never in doubt…
Poldi in particular and the Ox were good, kept wide and stretched Reading. Santi – 3 goals says it all.
More of the same at the weekend please….
‘H – well in re the 300 drink (not drinks – presumably – though i understand it’s been a long day).
Psed – tabs’s old mucker Ollie Holt is suggesting on twitter that AW is talking much more freely about Arse finances than is usual. Not sure whether he’s saying owt new or merely reiterating stuff for the fanbase.
But don’t really care all that much at the mo cos we re-discovered our somewhat wayward winning ways – yeeeeehaaaaaaaa!!!!!
well in, guv.
theo through the middle might be a solution, but i’d rather see him left against better teams playing inside off of giroud’s knockdowns. either way, though, it is good to have options.
Terrific performance by Santi. Theo was effective. Poldi probably had one of his best games — the first one playing the full 90 ? — with a very nicely taken goal and two quality assists. Should have had one more towards the end. Ox was very good in the first half.
There were definitely some uncertain moments and not only for the goals conceded. Only to be expected. Couple of more wins needed to bring the composure back in the play.
Over the holiday fixtures would like to see Santi and TR7 starting together in a match or two.
The interesting comments came from AW in his interview. He was asked why Theo had played down the middle. He said it was something they had been working a lot on in training. Now we are lead to believe that Theo signing a new contract is dependant on him playing up front. The fact thst it is clearly something being worked on in training would suggest that we are at least heading in the right direction with his contract.
Just saying.
I know AL – I’ve just retweeted Ollie Holt. What is the world coming to ?????
Sorry for being slow on the uptake btw 😉
scruz — Giroud and Theo play rather well together. There is good mixture of variation and mobility in that combination. Giroud is more that willing to drop deep or move wide to open up spaces and set up Theo. If Theo is staying my ‘best’ eleven this season would have Podolski-Giroud-Theo as the forward line-up with Ox-TR7-Gervinho as backups, if TR7 is not playing in the midfield.
Steve, Arsene’s comments regarding Theo, as quoted on the club web-site, is actually more interesting as he says Theo has picked up on suggestions that Arsene himself had made a few years earlier about Theo playing centrally. In other words, Theo is realizing a plan made for him by Arsene…I guess a gentle reminder to Theo about who would still be the best guide in his career at this pivotal moment.
Thats more like it — only Reading? I dont give a flying one….
Can I also say this. If there are any tube drivers reading this, please don’t be a bunch of twats. I have a big family trip planned for boxing day. If your greed means that the West Ham game is postponed then I will be fuming. You have been warned. Strike and I will be the first one going for these driverless trains. Then you can have as many days off as you want.
The thing is Doc, if he leaves who potentially better than us is going to guarantee him a starting place as a central striker?
Derrick, thanks for that link, maybe that explains why Jack was willing Theo to score and moved the ball on to him about twice when he was better placed to have a pop.
NED,i’m not sure playing centrally will help Theo as regards drifting in and out of games but i’m quite sure it will definitely relieve him of any pressure to help in defence, he clearly hates defending.
Sorry team, too late to blog for this old wreck. Will attempt at some stage of tomorrow.
Steve T @ 321: No team that plays Champions League regularly. Chelsea or Man City in terms of developing his game would be a rather bad move.
Lurky Holic – took that ‘300’ like Santi.
Midfield beginning to gel and anticipate each other. Can’t wait to see what they’re doung in six games’ time.
Great movement and pace tonight. Was this really the same team that played like statues against Swansea and Bradford.
Well, not quite.
Well done The Ox,and a full 90 minutes from a re-charged Podolski, resulting in pace and forward drive down both wings.
One or two defensive issues for sure but, after the last week, a great confidence boosting performance.
Maybe we’ve got our Arsenal back.
Pace and movement are the hallmark of AW’s teams. With them we look as if we can beat anyone. Without them we look pants.
Great picture on arsenal.com of Cazorla supporting himself with his left hand planted on the ground as he heads in. Picture at the top of the match report. Is this the year we eclipse our first half performance with a better second half?
dr faustus@317, there is a lot of potential either way. so long as there is *movement* any combination of og, theo, poldi, ox, and even gervais could do the job, with the midfield working space and keeping possession like tonight. i liked the job og did on his introduction, very nearly made it 6 (vela woulda, heh). and their defensive shifts need to be emphasized, as well.
TaBS @ 305, Ha!
Dr F@317: would a Theo-Giroud strike pairing mean we’d look more 4-4-2-ish? A central or roaming Theo would leave one of the two opposition full-backs free to attack more, necessitating more midfield cover on our part.
RS@330: there are many many fine American real ales or craft beers, as you obviously know. Anyone who wants a crash course could start at the top of this list and work their way down.
http://americancraftbeer.com/item/homebrewers-pick-the-best-american-craft-beers-of-2012.html
Sam Adams is appropriately ranked, in my humble opinion, but am surprised Six Points didn’t make the list.
You may not hear from me for a while….
Alas, he lied. 😐
But Theo Walcott, impressive in the central striker’s role
Huh, the BBC didn’t see the same game I did. For most of the game, Feo was merely hiding (great run for the chance he didn’t score though).
Great finish for the 5th though.
Arsenal’s fans appreciated his efforts and constantly urged Wenger to sort out the England attacker’s contract impasse
Fuck me, what a lot of bollocks. What about Feo himself ‘signing da ting’ ?
Is Phil McNulty John Cross in disguise?
Apologies, I’m very happy today, but Feo has had better games, this BBC ‘match report’ is bizarrely focussed, given the contributions of Santi and Poldi.
In a weird way, it also completely omits Gibbs’ pass for the first Reading goal.
For once, Ollie, we are not in total agreement. I thought Theo did rather well, at least he did better than I had expected. He was a constant threat and drew attention from the Reading defenders which created space for others.
Really enjoyed the game. Pace and movement at last. Must concentrate and focus all the time.
Mustn’t get carried away and all that. Reading gave us plenty of room and didn’t press. We often struggle against teams who do just that.
Great away support – could hear loads on the telly. Brilliant evening, we must maintain the standard.
Cheers!
Ollie, we watched the same game.
People lambast Vermealen and Per for the Reading goals but conviniently forget it was Gibbs who played a bad cross-field pass that led to their first goal and it was the same Gibbs who failed to step up and inevitably played the Reading player onside for the second goal.
Imo, Theo doesn’t get into a game on most occasions for the first 10 mins – point in case I witnessed this with my own eyes at the NLD to my shok. But after that ‘bedding in’ period he really came into his own, offering the outlet from the opposing CB’s shoulder and attempting to join in the hold-up//link-up play whilst getting shots on target, the bare minimum you’d expect from him in the CF role. My ears and eyes were split between the match and one of my favourite sitcoms that my little brother was watching around 9:30 inbetween the 2-4/2-5 stage but only because I felt confident enough in the team after Ramsey came on for the Ox, excellent tactical substitiution. 🙂
WAGNER OUT !!!
Cent, it was Podolski who played the attacker onside for the second goal. All four defenders actually did very well in that situation, it would have been offside by about a yard had it not been for Podolski all of a sudden popping up way too deep.
My ears and eyes were split between the match and one of my favourite sitcoms
Shame on you, Wind 😉
Get your priorities right.
You might have a point, Lars, and I think he improved as the game went on, but there was a moment that infuriated me when he was just waiting in the nominal centre-forward position doing nothing, hands on shoulders, as if any sort of defensive/getting the ball back work was beneath him.
Basically, I think I agree with blogs’ take on Theo’s best position.
Playing centre-forward seems to only flatter his ego rather than play to his strengths.
Thought it was Podolski (who had a really good game otherwise) who played the guy onside for the second?
Walcott was fine. There will be much more difficult tests ahead where we might find out whether he can really play that position – nice finish for the 5th.
Last night was enjoyable apart from the wobble in the middle – the second Reading goal was conceived and born out of the first, a needless and un-necessary mistake, which saw the team momentarily lose their control of the game, with players all of a sudden nervous and skittish.
God knows how we cut out brain-fart individual errors though.
Be interesting to see what team starts on Saturday – can’t wait.
Thanks, Lars and Zico, for pointing out that it was Poldi who played the Reading player onside.
Wind, i agree with you on the Ramsey/Ox sub, Ramsey helped us keep the ball and slow down the tempo of the game.
I guess my opinion on Theo as a centre forward lies somewhere between Ollie and Zico’s view of the situation.
Oh my head >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Morning all.
Just what the multiple doctors and various quacks in this place ordered.
The berks from Berks got f*cked on the telly yet again, splendid!
Best song of the night courtesy of Little Dutch/WST: ‘How shit must you be, Chamakh scored two’.
A win at Wigan and a Sperz draw and we’re back above the scum. Happier days.
UTA.