Now I Don’t Believe You Want To Be Doing That
Apr 26th, 2013 by 'holic
So I have. like you, been bombarded with how I should feel ahead of this weekend’s events. I’ve been instructed what I should or shouldn’t do when the teams come out. Trust me I understand, football has always generated diverse and contrasting emotions, and not all good. I may have the body of one who has lived a long and physically strenuous life, but I have the mind and spirit of a twenty something. Therein lies the problem!
At five to four on Sunday I really couldn’t say with any certainty what I will be doing. The grown up hidden somewhere within a painful arthritic joint somewhere in my torso may well lead me to my seat to applaud the new champions for a few brief seconds as they walk through the guard of honour quite rightly being afforded to them by fellow professionals. In all honesty they deserve that small courtesy. They have been the best team this season.
When that fleeting moment is over however I know that I will be taken over by a youthful urge to condemn he who turned his back on so many who backed him through so many years of unfulfilled promise. He may have been with us for eight years but we only had eighteen months of the real Robin Van Stapleton. The fact that he felt able to pour such scorn on the man who made him, and that he so misjudged the support and what endeared him to us so fleetingly, still sticks well and truly in the craw.
Irrational? Perhaps. Immature? The me who works five days a week to provide for a couple’s future would have to concede that, yes. I am a football supporter and we are driven by different thought processes in that role. We are loyal to our club because that is how it is. Disrespect that and you are setting yourself up as an object deserving of contempt. And yet…
Four paragraphs into a preview of one of the biggest matches of any football season and I haven’t mentioned the team news, the possible tactical shape of the two combatants, or the possible outcome. Frankly all of that has become something of a sideshow. What is really important has been overshadowed about the talk of what may or should happen because of HIM.
Let me tell you what matters on Sunday. We need to match the results of our capital rivals, and given who they are playing I would suggest three points would be our requirement from what should be our toughest home fixture of the season. More than that I can tell you nothing.
I can’t tell you who is going to play because I don’t know. I can’t tell you what the score is going to be because I haven’t an earthly, although in the interests of tradition I am chucking the ‘holic pound on a 3-2 home win, because that is the sort of daft thing I do. Most of all though I cannot tell you what, or indeed what not, to do at five to four on Sunday.
Because I might just be doing it myself.
Have a good one ‘holics.
419 Responses to “Now I Don’t Believe You Want To Be Doing That”
New blog already?
Champions’ League?
Cheers H.
cheers
May I apologise to the people outside of the UK and even those inside under the age of thirty something who won’t have the first idea of what this pissed, I mean post, was all about.
Up the Arse!
Joy of six?
ff blog Royalty @arseblog @TheGoonerholic @TheGrove
Fucking heh, some people are weird. Exalted company for holic and blogs there….
I can’t help it.
I will be venting my spleen.
My spleen will be so vented, it will be vent out of shape.
*coat*
Nice preview ‘h, you’ve practically said everything that needs to be said and carefully presented both sides of the debate in an unbiased manner. Cheers.
Your choice z.
I think I will be too.
But the result is everything, and we will know what we need to do…
From Ashburton to Old Trafford…Highway to Hell, I say.
We didn’t force him. It was his own pathetic decision and if there is an ounce of intelligence in his brain, he will regret not taking Bastin from 3rd place.
Now I am glad Clifford is where he is.
I am no flower child like some who are okay with his disgusting move (I thought hippies were banned from football altogether) so, let’s take 3 points and…
For those about to mock, I salute you!
Have it lads. Whatever, however you want to express it. Its OUR club! And no one, and certainly not some johnny come lately dutch twat with delusions of his own self-importance can take that away from us.
Up the Arse! and Fuck ’em all.
Great write-up ‘holic
@ 10
I shall be toasting you Tollie warriors from the King’s Seat – hope you have a cracking day out come what may. 8)
Oh bugger. I thought you were coming down z?
Sorry you aren’t…
Lille collapse from 3-0 and cruising with less than 15 minutes to go to 3-3, horrible keeping mistakes on freekicks.
Not good not good at all, it just helps Marseille and Lyon :'(
I’ve been following Arsenal for over 45 years. From a belligerent mouthy yob with the fabulous North Bank, where I spent some of the happiest times of my life (how many times did we take the shed ??)to a now more sedentary follower, mainly on TV I must admit.
Thinking now about the return of RVP with the detestable Manure, how should we react? Can any of us be ungrateful for what he has done for us in the past, not always fantastic but often uplifting. Should we begrudge him the opportunity of experiencing success elsewhere? The answer must be no. He has to live his own life, not ours. He was a hero for us and he is still a hero, but for someone else. We should honour him for his achievements, for the pleasure he gave us, and for our own self respect that we can recognise and appreciate the beautiful game. Whatever happens on Sunday nothing will take away the enjoyment that he ha s given us. Be kind to him, he has truly enriched our lives.
Let love in.
‘Up the Arse! and fuck ’em all’ I’m sure Wolfie approves…
@Phil C
Admirable. But no fucking way. Then again I wont actually be there so not a problem.
Essssssssssssso!
Great post Holic !
Since i have never had the privilege to watch a match in person at arsenal, i may never have that feeling of deep familial bonding with the club the way many of you , here, feel. I can still love the club, and what i can say is, he dis-respected the club and for that alone, i would sing my heart out (or curse :)) to let him know that. However, all that would be nothing if we go and soil it with a bad result. So like holic said, the most foremost thing about the game is the game itself and the three points. Get that n who cares how they are treated. ignore them, cuss , or give them a guard of honor. We need to look after ourselves and for that i think the support and singing for the team should be far louder than any attention to him. I would do that if i was there …
Very animated piece, Holic π But no one should feel like they are ‘ Losing Their Religion’ for Arsenal if they put their hands together (albeit for a few secs). A game within a game, if you will π True, this spectacle has almost overshadowed what is at stake … but it just might work to our advantage (incentive ). Once the game commences, the kid gloves come off.For players and fans alike π
Fair play Phil.
Thanks for an alternative view. Don’t agree with it, but I understand where you are coming from.
I’ll be there on Sunday and I suspect the majority will be magnanimous for the duration of the GOH…
…thereafter it will be another matter.
The important issue on Sunday is to gain max points against the old enemy. The Dutch skunk statement last year totally dis-respected the club and its supporters….in my book he is an ex employee no longer of any consequence. He is worthy of absolute dis-interest…..energies to be spent wholly supporting those wearing the shirt in the quest for victory!!
@esso
You will grow to see things differently. I’m confident we’ll stuff them on Sunday and you’ll feel much more magnanimous.
You’re basically saying we owe RvP for doing two years work for us on an eight year contract? Go on, I understand you perfectly.
27 was in response to Phil’s first post.
@Phil C
I go back a long way mate. Never feel magnanimous to anyone other than Arsenal people. My best mate is Sperz. We still hate each other when it matters.
Some dutch twat who talked a good game but delivered us NOTHING, sorry no.
If (when) we stuff them on Sunday, I wont be there. If I was I’d love to be right in front of HIM, having it extremely large.
Esso knows π
I dont care too much about Guard of Honor, let them have it and fire up our boys to give them proper hidin. I am fine with crowd booing the hell out of van Pigsty when he touches the ball. Most important for me is to beat them..scraped out victory or comprehensive demolition I dont care, just win!
zico knows π
Excellent post as per usual, ‘holic.
I’ve just taken the first few sips from a pint of Brooklyn Lager, but will need a new drink in the not to didtant future.
Phil C. Have to admit I haven’t heard anyone give an opinion from that perspective and perhaps you have given us food for thought. My gut instinct though is many, probably myself included, will find it hard to be so forgiving
Polite applause toMan U as they enter. Boo Van Persie whenever he gets the ball ( it is what he will expect) but above all cheer and roar Arsenal on for 90 minutes. The result matters . He doesn’t .
COYG
@ 29 Esso
And the important thing thing would be what? Arsenal winning or RVP losing?
The only thing that matters is that we win. Anything else is a distraction. Forget RVP, focus on our boys, give them the support they need and deserve. Don’t make them think they are less important than someone who plays for another club. Look forward, never look back, be positive.
Arsenal are a fantastic, wonderful club. They deserve fantastic, wonderful supporters. We should all reflect on what that means in practice.
I have no idea where that picture in the preview is from, but why the feck is Usmanov standing in the background? π
I laughed at holic vs Tollington opening hours, but I got my answer spot on, made me laugh, I know my ‘holic now π
Looks like Harry Enfield to me, Lars but I couldn’t tell which sketch or film.
heh at younger and slimmer Usmanov in the background though
I used the word sideshow last week, and that’s all it is, a distraction from the only thing that matters at this point in the season, three points to help us reach our goal.
Fuck him, fuck them, let’s keep our eyes firmly glued to the prize, there’s a hell of a lot at stake on Sunday, a lot more important then a GoH or the return of…… what’s his name again?
Boo him if it makes you feel better, call him a cunt, that’s your perogative, but if you’re going to make noise, make it for those who are still wearing the shirt, they’re the ones that need and deserve our attention.
@Phil C
Like I said I wont be there, so not important.
But eulogizsng about the Dutch Skunk? Sorry not for me.
Nicely put ‘H.
Those in the ground should only bear in mind that getting those three points is of paramount value. Whether we achieve that by
– booing CvC
– dragging HIS dirty scoundrel of a little boy all over the grass of The Emirate
is irrelevant.
As you say ‘holic:
“We are loyal to our club because that is how it is”
and that is how it should remain.
Ollie, I did see that it is Harry Enfield but other than that – nope!
Arsenal as a club need to stop players leaving be it thru winning or holding them to there contracts,sooner the better us fans realise professional footballers don’t give two hoots for booing its pantomime,fans calling him a cunt think he gives a shit?no chance,winners medal back pocket end of.we need to show ambition as a club so players don’t think the grass is greener.
Hey Holics !
Kinda off topic , but would love to know if we have any arsenal exclusive chants.. watch the matches on tv and most of the times it very difficult to know what the fans are chanting over the mundane dross of the commentators. Would greatly appreciate if you could let me know π
cheers!
you and me both then, Lars.
Perhaps the guv’ will shed some light later.
Funnily enough GPN I was having a conversation on this theme after hearing chants during the week, concluding they were the same everywhere now.
Sadly the best and most sophisticated ones like the Mertesackerena don’t get much of an airing….
Holic, you are a true libertarian.
What Uplympian said @25 and H2H@40 sum up my feelings entirely.
Support the Arsenal, ignore the Dutch twat and FFS DO NOTHING to incentivise the Manc fuckers.
COYRs.
Trev, I will be there after. Not sure about before.
We love you Arsenal we do
We love you Arsenal we do
We love you Arsenal we do
Oh, Arsenal we love you.
Don’t think too many other clubs sing that one, GPN. π
Dr Faustus, thrilled to report you’re are correct. Fox will be broadcasting our game! xxx Now something to chew on. Which do you prefer. A can of mixed nuts ( oh the variety, yum) or say, umm just almonds( delicious n nutritious), but let’s just say you have a hankering once in awhile for the lowly peanut. Doesn’t mean you enjoy the exalted almond any less. #Variety. π
Hey Ollie !
Thats exactly why i wanted to know. Since i had heard the usual ones being sung by other teams as well and that felt weird! π
I must say, the dortmund atmosphere was amazing . Theres just something about seeing so many fans with flags. We do get that atmosphere , like when we played barca and sadly those 15 mins against mancs in champs league, but maybe its the seating thats the problem? I dont really know how it is on the actual emirates ground.. but fans get to stand up sometimes? are they allowed to? Maybe thats a big factor?
Heh@ trev , you are absolutely right ! silly me π
GPN @46
“Wanky T*tt*nh*m H*tsp*r went to Rome to see thePope,
and this is what he said….
FUCK OFF
Who’s that team they call the Arsenal,
Who’s that team we all adore,
We’re the boys in red and white…
and we’re fucking dynamite,
and [enter latest Sc*m manager’s name]’s mother is a whore”
Lovely stuff Holic.
Deciding what to do is a bugger, isn’t it.
While the game is on I’ll reserve all my efforts for The Arsenal.
During the Guard of Honour I will show my respect for ManUre in the way that respect is normally demonstrated – Silence (no applause here).
If van Dutchbloke shows his mug before the GoH, or is announced over the PA as part of their team, it’s both barrels from me.
Let him feel the disgust in no uncertain terms, and hope he remembers the welcomes given to Henry, Pires et al.
Phil C,
All very nice and, yes, he had a right to move on etc etc. etc.
He also had the option to leave with a bit of respect for a club, a manager and the fans who had supported him through seven years of indiscipline and injury.
He chose, instead, to insult the lot of them so I hope, as long as it doesn’t detract from supporting our team, that he well and truly gets it.
Abb has finally gone nuts ! π
Thanks Bath.. that’s hilarious
Then follows the acapella:
She’s a hoa,
She’s a hoaaaaaaaaa
{enter name]’s mother is a hoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Wenger is a gentleman to the point were it becomes annoying. Wenger gave Van persie a hug at old Traford and I thought if that was fergie there is no way he would do that to his former players. The man is a competitor and dislikes anything that comes in his way. Took losing the title to city very badly he spent 25 million on a 29 years old who is injury prone and offer him Β£10million loyalty bonus on top of his Β£250,000-a-week wages , a huge risk that paid off. I wish Wenger had that competitive edge in him. you would want him to prove all those players who left wrong but somehow he sees nothing wrong with them finding success elsewhere. He even suggested that Arsenal fans will not be hurt by giving a guard of honour to United. Really?
βA guard of honour is just to respect those that have been stronger than you. In life if someone is stronger than you then respect him. It is not easy.
βI donβt think it deeply hurts the fans. It hurts them that you do not win it. It is a concrete realisation that you do not win it. But you show some class and it will not hurt our fans.β
Come on Arsene, where is the competitive edge?
GPN, officially Dortmund is all-seater for CL games.
I have spent a few games at The Grove behind the goal standing all game.
Just watched the Arsenal iPad version link to some of the goals we have scored against the Mancs over the years. Great to see Barthez on his arse. I would be happy with 1-0 with Aaron scoring (finally).
Nailed it Trev.
We should be vociferous behind the Arsenal for ninety minutes, but lots of Thierry Henry, One Dennis Begkamp, and even Ian Wright Wright Wright being chanted.
Let the twat know which strikers we really took to our hearts.
Nice one ‘h. Brilliant idea. Shows contempt but somehow doesn’t disrespect.
Night all.
COYR
Have none of you played poker. A wink and a nod. And then you make em ante up π Now Trev @ 56, just a delightful game of cat n mouse. π
Wengerscoat.
AW not a competitor? Surely youre making a joke!
Just b/c AW fails in the sir purplenose clone contest – that means hes not a competitor? Good lord coat, thats a conclusion that cannot stem from or be logically at all connected to your premise. Its jus andecdotal hammd waiving. Im sorry to be critical but just is.
Disagree with le boss ? … Sure i do all the time. Second gues his squad selections – am guilty there too.
But i show the man some fooking respect. At least that what i do, or at least hope to do, no matter how pissed off i am.
I’m not sure if people see it the way I see it but the honouring man utd as a good team is not the problem.The problem I have is honouring “he who shall not be named”.
I am an ARSENAL FAN and I don’t take being disrespected lightly.how many great players have we had?too many and everyone would agree,so for this little prick to think he is bigger than ARSENAL makes him unforgiveable to me.
He might have got us out of a few tight spots last season that gave him no right to do what he did,I personally expected him to leave but not in that manner.
I don’t jugde those that I giving him the right chick after he slapped us on the left,u are bigger men than I ever will.
With that being said fuck him and I will cheering the boys on and hope for all 3 points.
Nice work holic.
At 3.55 I will probably be in the toilets.
Re RVP. Will I boo him???? No I wont. For many reasons that will not doubt be spoken about close season, but also for the fact is that all it will do is fire him up even more. The last thing we want is him even more desperate to score against us.
I hope that Stan and the boys are watching on from their big Plasmas over the pond. Arsene said βI donβt think it deeply hurts the fans.β Well it fucking hurts me Arsene, It grips my shit like nothing before to see them arrive here as champions, having purchased the one world class player that we had left. It hurts me massively. I hope they are watching on and pondering the way they have run the club over the last few years and just wonder if they could have done things slightly differently?? The trouble is that for me, I am not sure they are really that bothered.
Come 4.01pm it will be full on Arsenal. I will respect the Champions. I will then concentrate all of my efforts on The Arsenal. Arsene might not think that it hurts us fans. Stan, Ivan and the gang might not be that bothered. But for me Sunday may make or break our season. I want 3 points and donβt really care too much about anything else. Red head, The Guildford Mancs and whoever they bring down will hopefully leave with their tails firmly tucked between their legs.
See you in the Tollie at some stage.
Nice one, ‘holic, the preview you have when you’re not having a preview… π
What’s the betting RvP will start on the bench, and so not have to run the gauntlet of honour? It’s the kind of gesture I believe Fergie capable of. If it occurs to him of course!
And I repeat what I said earlier about this being a good time to meet Manure. The job is done for them this year, and they’re unlikely to be as fully motivated as they otherwise would be.
3-1 home win.
Oskar
An American of a certain age might observe that the man in the picture looks like a slightly Anglicized version of Buck Henry:
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQsTb3jv4wIxv4Bx811tmhLhu5Hf3BlGVcRtqA-gDG5KcuFJGSc
Buck Henry, who along with Mel Brooks was the creator of the television series “Get Smart” and its “cone of silence.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1eUIK9CihA
So who is the man in the picture, and what will he be doing at 3:55 on Sunday, or is this a secret??
The Arsenal women reach another final:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22319995
And the BBC seems to have started calling them women instead of ladies …
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22314500
The women’s league is called a “women’s” league and not a “ladies” league, although the Arsenal website seems to call them “ladies” which always makes me think they break for tea halfway through.
http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/1213/post/ladies/fa-cup-liverpool-1-2-arsenal-ladies
I wonder if the players have a preference?
Time for dozing off, apparently. All the ‘holics must be doing the same.
Great post ‘Holic.
Steve T nails it for me @ 67.
What I would add is this: if Van Persie simply wanted trophies he could have demanded a move to Juventus, who were unbeaten champions and even more nailed on than Utd to win their league this season. Whatever they bid, he could have demanded that they be his destination.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he chose a move to Utd. Because, along with winning trophies, he also wanted to earn a shit load of money, and that consideration outweighed whatever respect and affection he had for his manager and this fine club.
The events of last summer do not reflect well on us at all, but let there be no doubt that Van Persie is a muppet, regardless of what his ticking body clock might have been saying.
I’ll not boo him tomorrow, but I certainly reserve the right to hold him in absolute contempt.
God, I hope we smash these utter, utter cnuts.
Steve T: ‘desperate’ people can do silly things. He could do an Adebayor and get sent off.
He may be a cunt but he’s still human.
I echo the sentiments of majority here (Esso, N7, Zico et al)
I fucking hate those cunts.
Ollie. He earns 200k plus. He will finish top scorer again and now has a League winners medal. Oh to be that desperate???? It must be really really tough.
I caught a few Utd fans online this week who actually want us to win this one.
Their logic is that if we’re top four either spurs won’t be (bale for sale) or Chelsea (no mourinho in the champs league, might affect the players they can attract this summer).
Depressing to be viewed as the soft option.
Suspect our run in may be defined by tomorrow and Chelsea’s visit to OT.
RvP had the privilege to choose last summer, maybe not as much as he hoped for, but he had some decent choices. He picked Man Utd of all clubs in the world. That is enough for me, and should be enough for everyone to hate the hell out of him.
Arsene made a player out of that ignorant, self-obsessed kid from Feyenoord, who we fed and took care of for the next 8 years only to betray us after the first full season and at the first chance he had for betrayal.
That sums it up for me and I am already disgusted of myself saying this much about someone who I contempt so much.
a crackin write up , there , ‘holic
well played that man
and i’m sure you’ll make the right decision tomorrow
there is only one after all
fuck ’em
and fuck ‘im
.
have a roarin shoutin goodun tomorrow any of you who’re goin
.
UP THE ARSE !
Really great post ‘holic and loved your suggestion to sing about our strikers who really mattered and who made a difference.
I hate Man Utd, always have, always will and some of my greatest memories of Arsenal were of us beating them, starting with the 79 cup final.
2-0 Arsenal, RVP to go off injured and a stonking shot of a goal from Ramsey.
Up he Arse!
http://bbc.in/10jdX8K
Interesting article.
Seems to support the theory that we are crying out for a centre forward.
Cracking write up Holic and regardless of the sideshow we should get behind the team get the 3 points and send the Mancs back to Manc land with their tails between their legs.
On a side note probably most may have read this piece but well worth a read.
http://northlondonisred.co.uk/wenger-still-has-fire-in-his-belly/
Austrian,
Thanks for the link – really good read.
No probs Trev π
#83
austrian gooner
enjoyed that arsene link
mind you
i did have to stop – take on refreshments and set up a base camp half way through
but worth the persevere
.
cheers fella
howdy trev
hope all’s well with you
Cba indeed should have warned you need a nice large cold beverage whilst reading.:-)
HAY holics (it’s not just for cows π ). Steve T, stirring post by you! You hit the bulls eye for me. N7 and Austrian, good reads. Today, I’m a Lactic Fan π Tomorrow, my pink tinted glasses will be on. Manu may be #1 in the League but they do not play attractive football. End off. Chelsea, Citeh and us much better in that dept. imho π
arsaBB
i’m very mooooved
π
Ha Ha cba π I’m so corny, even maize myself, at times π Folks, you do realize RVP will be just be a footnote in Manu Hx ( ours too) π
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Nasri shown the exit door soon. This from the BBC website’s account of the Man City-West Ham game:
“WHAT A MISS! – Man City 1-0 West Ham
To quote the Chuckle Brothers – oh dear… oh dear, oh dear.
Samir Nasri misses with goal at his mercy from six yards out after Carlos Tevez plays a square ball to him from the right. He made contact with the ball, but the ball had other ideas and went ‘stage left’.”
Come on you Latics, show us some cojones.
Come on Wigan. Three points for you is three points away for relegation and three points for Arsenal. π
Knackered. Off to the pub shortly, it was great fun but I was lacking a little bit of sharpness.
Yellows won 5-2, sadly.
Congrats to them though, well deserved
No boobs today, please Lactics !!! Just shake ’em up for us. π
Abb, amazes again.
Nuts last night, abb, lactics today ………….. ??? π
Hi cba,
All well, ta,
And we find yerself on good form. ?
Ok, come on Wigan…
(won’t be watching it, though. It’s a beautiful sunny day here in Stockholm so I’ll actually head out for a bit of running in just a bit)
Boyse, boyse, boyse
Wigan equalize! Jeez, when they play us, they are always nipping at our heels. They need to get their act together. Trev, wish you were on twitter π
Boyse
TaBS honour position claimed!
afternoon trev
yup all’s well
am finding meself in the middle of an odd dinner
started off as spicey meatballs last night
became a bit curry-esque
i’m now having them with a chunky tomato sauce and mashed potato
surprisingly delicious
pick a continent – any continent
nope
wrong
2-1 Wigan.
Come on the Latics! Big half hour here.
Wigan are out of the relegation places in the as it stands table. Is that motivation or what?
Get it done Roberto!!!!
Huh, that was close
Come on Arsenal.
Time to play with a chip on your shoulder and drive the knife in.
Seize the opportunity.
The magnificent Bale FC failed to win at Wigan?
Over to you, Arsene.
WTF, the Swedish broadcaster have Ledley King in the studio to complement the regular pundit who is one of the biggest Spurs fans in Sweden (though suprisingly good as a pundit despite that)… I didn’t see any of the game but two points dropped for Totnum is a good thing. Bit of a shame Wigan couldn’t hold on for all three, but one point for each team is a whole lot better than three for Spurs.
Like zico said, over to you Arsene. A win tomorrow would be absolutely massive.
A win tomorrow would put a real nail in this thing.
Even a defeat wouldn’t be terminal. I expect Spurs will drop more points yet, including at Stamford Bridge. Their defence is letting them down.
COYG
N7. You beat me to it. A win tomorrow will really but us back in the driving seat. Minimum of a point is a must.
Come on The Arsenal. Don’t let me down.
N7 – As far as I’m concerned, Spurs will draw at Stoke and at the Bridge.
Chelsea will draw vs. Spurs and lost at Old Trafford.
A win would really boost our chances, but as you say, even a defeat is not terminal if we beat QPR, Wigan, and Norwich.
That’s how important today’s result was.
N7, I just had a look at the table and noted that our goal difference is also to our advantage at this point. We have +30 and Spurs have only +17 so that is pretty much like an extra point for us, i.e. Spurs will as things stand have to win one more game than us to go past us or catch up that 13 goal difference and take one more point.
What I also noted, to my surprise, is that only Manchester City have conceded less so far this season, and we’re in joint second with ManU and Chelsea. But what’s more interesting is that City is the only team to average less than one goal conceded per game, and that’s only just with 31 conceded in 34 games. This is quite remarkable considering up until just a few years ago, often all of the top four-five teams used to finish the season with goals conceded in the 25-30 range and champions regularly conceded about 20 – so it’s not just us that have become worse at defending.
Liverpool, without Suarez of course, are dismantling Newcastle completely at St James Park and are 2-0 up within 20 minutes, by the way. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, for all the talent Luis Suarez has I am still not convinced he makes Liverpool a better team.
I have to correct myself slightly. Spurs need two more points than us, not neccessarily one win more.
Agree with all the analysis above from Snir, Steve and Lars.
On our defence, I noted this to a mate earlier today: joint second best in the prem and played a game more than the Chavs.
If we do finish top four it will be in large part due to the form of our defence since the NLD. Astonishing given that we keep changing keepers and LBs, Sagna is seen as having fallen off a little and the skipper has had a bad season. I think a huge amount of credit needs to go to Mertesacker. We should have bought him years ago.
Hopefully we can continue to improve in this area next season.
Heh!
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/experiment-can-22-amateurs-beat-11-pros-fvalerenga-fotball/
A bit annoying about the Wigan game but at this point any dropped points for the Spuds are welcome.
Feel really bad for my friend this evening, he supports Brentford and is absolutely gutted. It’s a tall order after getting so close and their playoff record is terrible, but I hope they can recover confidence for the playoffs now and go up.
Messi had just scored a cracking goal.
At work on Saturday. Nothing to do, so I watch as many football as there is.
This Coutinho fella is going to be great footballer.
N7 – About our defence.
I am absolutely convinced that it had to do with Gary Neville’s analysis after the NLD.
If you look at it – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKm85q3t6bQ
He talks about retreating after the midfield three gets bypassed at about 7:45 in the video.
That is in stark contrast to catching people offside (which we led the league in at the time).
What it did, is give this hybrid pressing play.
Press high up, but if the midfield three get bypassed, just drop back, causing it to seem like we’re sitting deep, which restricts opponents to long shots, as seen by Bayern. And seen by the fact, that I can’t remember the last time, our GK was faced one on one with an opposing striker since Robben on Fabianski. That used to be our Achilles heel.
Our hybrid pressing is working wonders.
4-0 at St James Park. 60 minutes played. Thousands of “the best support in the country” are leaving.
Oxon’s lighter note for the day.
We went up to see the management’s mother today. On the way, Oxonne was very taken by one of those mobile canteen things that was called “Mil’s on Wheels”.
I felt it was a little off because “Mil” isn’t, to my mind, a well known name. I suggested that the proprietor run her service from a motorbike and call it “Millie’s on Wheelies”. Other than a lame joke about opening a restaurant on the back of an aquatic mammal and calling it “Meal on Whales” I could only speculate about a book my Mr Kington about female seduction techniques to be called “Miles on Whiles”.
Somebody, Trev perhaps, please, help me. There’s got to be something better?
COYG CCMUED
Snir
That makes perfect sense. There definitely appears to have been some sort of watershed moment after the NLD. It seems to have marked the point of collective realisation amongst the players and management that we are no longer a good enough side to be so slack at the back.
I also wonder if Bould was given some extra freedom to implement his ideas.
Whatever happened, it seems to be working.
We’ll probably ship five tomorrow now I’ve said all this. Touch wood.
Spot on Snir, I thought of the same last week.
But, instantly threw it away as an idea, because it implicates that Arsene was not aware of the things that Neville was. That doesn’t make sense, or does it?
Hope this Newcastle turn up on the final day of the season.
I find it really hard to explicitly give Gary “fucking” Neville credit for anything.
He was right in that case though.
0-5
I love the look of AlaIn Pardew’s face.
Interesting thoughts there, Snir.
5-0 Liverpool. Newcastle have collapsed, it could have been seven or eight by now.
Debuchy off for his second yellow and 6-0 from the free kick. “The best support in the country” are booing their own team. I mean, the ones who haven’t already left.
I like to watch Neville’s analysis, he is usually spot on, and one of the best, if not the best pundit out there.
New Castle get spanked. 0-6
N7 – I had a problem liking Gary Neville as a pundit ’cause I absolutely despised him as a player, but then I think of Wrighty, who I loved as a player, but can’t stand as a pundit, so I am able to make that distinction between the player and the pundit.
Lurky – I wouldn’t completely rule it out. Sometimes it’s good to have an unbiased opinion from the outside. I’m sure managers talk about their teams with some of their colleagues (the ones they’re friendly with π ), and offer advice to each other. That was advice as well, just on national Television and not exactly from a friend π .
He absolutely kills Vermaelen there, and I think that it is no coincidence that our improved defence has come with Kos’ return to form. I rate him very highly.
I didn’t buy this year’s kit with his name on it for nothing π
Agree with Lurky by the way, Coutinho looks like a real talent.
Totally agree re: Kos. After the Dutchman he was our best performer last season. It’s good to have him back in the team.
Re: Neville, I can’t help myself. I utterly fcuking loathe him. I don’t like watching him worm his way into the media and the England set up knowing that ultimately, when push comes to shove, the Dark Lord Ferguson will have his hand up his arse.
Coutinho looks a great find. Good to know there is still some value in the market, and not just a bunch of Joe Allen’s.
If there is one thing that keeps surprising me is how highly Neville speaks of Arsenal, and especially AW.
Totally unexpected, as far as I was concerned.
Apparently tomorrow’s papers suggest we may be offered Fabregas this summer.
N7–I was half joking when I pointed out he is trying to buy his girlfriend’s house here (where she lives with his daughter)but Β£5 million plus is a big investment in property even if her husband thinks he is being ripped off! So it wouldn’t be all that surprising especially if Barca still owe us a big chunk of the fee. My Barca friends don’t think he has settled back into the team/club as well as they hoped and Thiago Alcantara is reckined to be better by many of them. So if you believe we are the only other club he would play for…..? Or are the Sunday’s looking at the divorce settlement and making two plus two equal five.
Very happy to see the LWCs drop two points today (and nearly three)-and they must be worried that Dembele got injured. I would have settled for that result before kick-off. They are so Bale-dependant it is embarrassing.
If we were able to win tomorrow it puts us in a strong position. Chelsea will probably get three points but haven’t done well against Swansea and the pressure will be very much on the Spuds.We should be capable of winning all of our last three.
I seem to recall hearing at the time Cesc left that we had first refusal if Barca sell him.
No idea whether he could fit in a team with Jack and Santi, but I’d bite your hand off for him. He’d take us up a level immediately.
N7: if Cesc really would want to come back and is motivated I’d have him in a hearbeat, but if he would play for us just to be nearer his daughter then I’m not so sure. Would absolutely hate to see him play for any other Premier League club, though…
Hi holics. That Wigan game aged me. By tomorrow nite, should be ready to retire π Oxon, in the states, those trucks are fondly known as ‘Roach Coaches’, not much help I’m afraid π Get a good nite’s rest folks … we are about to enter battle mode. That’s what it feels like to me. Looking forward to your company and support on Sunday π
Oh dear – Alan Shearer on MoTD (again):
“The FA had to send out a strong message …….”
like when players kick other players in the head, Alan ?
Bale’s goal against Wigan is proper comedy.
What the hell were the Latics playing at, poncing around at the back passing it between keeper and defender?? Suicidal defensive play.
And a hilarious goal to boot.
No Spurs goal is ever hilarious!
…heh, I don’t think they wanted to do that.
Ha! At Motd commentator. Bale “certainly played a part” in equalising goal.
Yeah, by taking an almighty air-kick at it.
TTG, I know, everything about them is despicable and none more so than diving chimp face himself, but Wigan asked for that – they really did.
Just couldn’t help laughing.
Are we going to have someone from Everton on here every week now?
Give this a read folks, it very interesting and even if you don’t understand graphs and skip them you will still understand the article, it’s very well written http://t.co/cjVD14aO3R
Camberwell@146
Agree. I hope Wigan are as helpful to us.
150?
AG at #83 … absolutely confirms my opinion of AW.
Messi scores a cracking goal, lurky? Now there’s a surprise!
Man U aside we next have QPR who will have nothing to play for if AV win tomorrow, then Wigan at home, and finally the team hit for six today by Pool. A win today should seal it, imo.
Oskar
I’ve been pointing out the relative strength of our defence for months now … it seems someone’s listening at last!
Now, if we could just score that vital goal when we absolutely have to we’d have nothing to worry about.
Oskar
Morning all.
Not going to get all excited by the Cesc rumours. Yet. Only to add that it is understood that if Pep had stayed last summer then he would have sold PiquΓ© and Cesc…..
Apologies for the photo at the top of this link, but as Dr Z points out, Bale FC would be screwed if/when they have to revert to being Spuds FC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22285545
Starfish and coffee….?
So… what to think about today then?
Well, if there ever is any such thing as a “good time” to meet ManU it must be now. They have wrapped up the title and have (hopefully) been on the lash for most of the week and while Alex Ferguson is a bit of a master in getting his players focused and motivated it is almost impossible to have the same focus that they would normally have had. This is one reason why I think they may rotate quite a bit more than most people seem to expect, simply because players who are not as established in the team will have more to prove. I’m not suggesting they will make wholesale changes, but I would not be suprised to see the likes of Lindegaard, Anderson and Hernandez start.
Having said that, even if it is a “good time” to play them they will be very hard to beat. I have no idea how Arsene is going to handle the absence of Giroud but I just hope he finds something that works.
I feel like I am just waffling on here, to be honest. Guess it’s the matchday nerves acting up. Spurs dropping points yesterday has turned today from a match where we more or less could not afford to drop points into a chance to strike a rather heavy blow right on the massive chimp-looking chin of Bale FC. However, anything less than a win for us (I can’t see Chelsea drop points to a Swansea team that seems to have tailed off rather a lot lately) and we’d be back in a situation where we do not have the top four in our own hands.
So come on Arsenal, it’s time we beat ManU – it’s been to long since we last did it.
Greetings
Let’s all save our breath this afternoon and give all our energy to the team. Booing that lot and “him” is just futile. We are better than that and it will do nothing to help our cause.
Let the team feed of our support, no better occasion to be the super 12th man. Here’s to 3 points and a clean sheet, perfect!
As always COYRs
Having just checked FPL table, I spotted the last team on the table, the Bell End FC. Thank you Lars, I almost died there.
Rumours that poldi starts up front….
Lurky, I haven’t even checked the team in months. Last time I looked, I had three or four players who either aren’t even Premier League players anymore or out for most of the season through injury…
Points so vital today! This could decide it for us
well, nice post, thanks for share
Harsha.
Based on nothing but gut feeling, I reckon if we win today we get 3rd. If we lose 5th.
Just from the positive / negative effects on us and the other two teams from this result.
God I’m nervous…
Nervous doesn’t even begin to describe it for me, Catalan. “Absolutely brickin’ it” would be closer to the truth.
Hoping that we tear them a new one today.
And although I hope we do it, I am not too concerned about losing out on CL football.
It may just lower expectations, and let us get into a tournament that suits our squad and more importantly concentrate on a good league campaign next year.
We are definitely not going to roll over for them. Hopefully the players feel the hurt the fans feel and put on a fighting performance.
Well Lars, I thought your selection was done on purpose, that is why I laughed. You have VDV- Hamburg, Barton- Marseille, Hutton- Mallorka, Balotelli- Milan, H. Gomes- is he a goalkeeper anymore, Bramble, Nasri, Adebayor, Carroll.
Please tell me you did it on purpose:)
Anyway, just kidding, I’ll do anything to ease the tension before the match.
My prediction: we’ll get at least a point today, but if we win our last three we’ll be in the champs league regardless of this result.
Lurky, it was very much made on purpose. It’s a team full of bellends, hence the name Bell End FC!
Spurs will drop at least three more points this season. Their form is in the toilet, they’re being carried by a half fit Bale and they’re serial bottle jobs. Even last season they had control of their destiny as late as the penultimate game.
I also think that QPR and Wigan may prove tougher games than some might expect. Two very volatile sides and if the crowd get started (which they rarely have lately) Loftus Road can be a tough place to go.
Right… time to head off to the pub.
COME ON, ARSENAL!
It would be rich if all Arsenal Players threw their shirts at RVP at the interval !
I love it; Keith the Gooner on twatter just compared today’s event as similar to Sylvester π returning to OT.
And people are biting…!
Now that’s how to troll. π
Lars @166 – π
Billp79 – it won’t happen but it would be brilliant to see. π
N7 @165 – i really want to agree with that – so I will. π
Ok, off to get the train.
See some of you in The Tollie shortly I hope.
COME ON YOU RIP ROARING !!!
Catalan – π
Enjoyed the post Holic.
UTA!
Right. It will be Tollie post match, not pre. Will there still be some faces about?
Come on Arsenal. Time to negate the northern neanderthals!
Enjoy your day all who are going, I’ve invited a few mates over to keep me in check, always get over emotional when we play those kuntz.
Anyone expecting an easy game, or that they will take their foot off the gas (so to speak), think again, that’s not their style. They’ll be after the points record, plus they’ll wanna beat us no matter what.
Sp*rs dropping points yesterday hastaken the pressure off, just a little, but at the same time making a win today a priceless comidity. If we manage to get the three points then I believethat would almost (and I do mean ALMOST) guarentee us a top 4 finish.
You’re a cunt Robin, you’re a cunt.
You’re a cunt Robin, you’re a cunt.
You’re a cunt Robin, you’re a cunt.
Ohhhh Robin you’re a cunt!!
You know the other verse….
I hope QPR are this awful next weekend.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky, Cazorla, Walcott, Podolski
Utd – 10 cunts plus one Judascunt.
Heh.
Ha! They just showed Judascunt heading to the wrong dressing room.
Sorry, no cunts allowed in the home dressing room Judascunt.
Hmm, Walcott starting? Isn’t he ‘the most out of form player in the whole squad’ ATM?
No beeter time for him to turn that around Cam’.
*better. π³
Robin, you’re not the boss of me π , no matter wot !
Hey all..already nervous as hell, lets beat them lads, come on!
Hi Eandy and the lot of you π We’re all nervous, tis a good thing!
Here we go! God bless Arsenal!
Theooo, Goal!!!!! OffRVP?
FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
FEOOOOOOOOO!
That’s a start.
Re: Camberwell @183: You called that one! π
Like TR taking a long shot! Keep up the pressure lads!!!
was Feo offside of course he was heh heh
we are shooting from distance?..wow! good going!
Being a supporter of course I must say I enjoy the goal a tad more, it being offside. Enjoy decisions such as these for your team, and scream at them when they go against you for the last few years before the game will be under constant video refereeing. I’m not saying it will be a wholly bad thing when it comes, but as many of the rule changes football has gone through up until now, it will change things.
TR good with the tackles!
Lovely by TR
Good for Rambo on Nani π
Shoulder to shoulder, Ramsey. Nice.
Win or lose, if we keep this up during the game we can be proud enough. But 78 minutes left. Much can change.
Emotions rising, mcPurplenose already not pleased…brilliant by Aaron!:D
ouch ..Poldi
Reading all comments, but eyes glued to screen!
Aaron keep calm please
Two Utd yellows, a few bad passes by the dutchman and a goal for the Arsenal. I have a hard time seeing us not letting one in during 90 minutes, but it sure is a good start.
That’s my brain talking by the way. Of course I’m hoping for a 6-0 mauling of the mancs.
He is a cunt, Persie, but I can see why he went for that.
The little boy just had a temper tantrum. Took it out on OUR Per! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
The boys are playing like lions..more of the same please !!!!
Wow..thats lot of yellows for Manure..not that I am complaining..
We got them on the ropes, the Kuntz.
They’re trying to hobble us. Told you they don’t play pretty footie.
Shame it was not Poldi with his left now instead of TR
I love our poles.
Good save by Woj!
Nice face stop by Woj.
Brave save by Woj…Vito warming up.
Sagna WTF???????
I see Eboue is back.
fuck me Bacary ffs
Absolute clown
Gifted this goal really …such a shame
To be fair, he didn’t have any passes on really. We need to help each other out in those situations. Didn’t. This is how it goes.
Sagna that was naΓ―ve!
How to thrwo away a lead part 1.
How fucking stupid was that?
He had a pass on, he just underhit it by about 15 yards.
Wow that was a bad mistake.
“To be fair”, Toby?
Sorry mate, that was inexcusable.
Don’t defend the bad pass nor the tackle, but it never should have had to come to that. We didn’t have to have everybody forward, being 1-0 up with a minute or three to half time. Someone has to show himself as well. Sagna’s fault, definitely, but had the rest of the team played a bit more cleverly it would never have had to come to that.
Ramsey’s passing has been dreadful. Working hard, getting the odd tackle in but he couldn’t pass wind today.
God, H2H. I’m as fuming as you are with the situation. I just felt his frustration before he played the pass, screaming “someone come short”, and someone should have. The rest, he did himself. Absolutely shocking, I agree. I just chose to remember the situation that led to it as well. That alright, mate? Now, let’s continue to play as we have, minus stupid mistakes, and we’ll get another. Never thought we’d keep them out for 90 anyway.
Yeah, if they tied from some well made counter I would be less bothered then conceding from stupid penalty like this ..all the good work we have done thrown away..shame. However, if we keep such workrate I dont see us losing this one.
Oh Sagna you wally
Former Wales midfielder Robbie Savage
Arsenal 1-1 Man Utd
“They [Arsenal fans] are stilling booing him [Robin van Persie] now even when he didn’t celebrate!! No class.”
-Courtesy BBC.
This guy needs to shut up.
Unfortunately a individual mistake Sagna has been a player fort far too long to make these sort of mistakes twice in a row…..
Anyway we need to do better in the second!
Come on Arsenal!
COME ON YOU REDZZZZZZZZZZZ
Nathan.
Lily Savage is a cunt, but he knows what he’s talking about when it comes to “no class”. π
Oooh TR shameee!
Heh, H2 π
Do these players think they can sleep walk their way t champions
League.
Where’s the intensity gone?
Sagna needs to be pulled.
He’s gotta take Sagna off, he’s having an absolute western….
Sangs was lucky there
Sagna lucky to be on the pitch admittedly
Bac should have been off there
LJW for TR7
Come on you gunners
Watch out for the counter attack
Make the goalie work ffs
We need some fresh legs.
What a fackin’ traitor π
Slowly getting a bit of a grip again. But it’s going to be tight from here on out.
And when I say grip I don’t mean control. Just that we are slowly getting in it again.
We need some magic boys
Now now now
The Ox for me and Giggs for pis
Whew…
If you told me its going to end 1-1 before the match ..I would bite your hand off …now this feel like two points dropped..still not that bad result.
We should have won this big massive two points lost. No excuses individual Fuck up cost us the points.
Wilshere really annoys me though. He so often gets into Lampard-like positions but he NEVER shoots. He needs to add goals to his game but if he will never shoot, he can’t do that.
We needed the second goal during the opening half hour when we had full wind on our sails. By the end it felt like a point saved.
It was there to be won still another point is good
We are still in with a CL shout
What is so frustrating about this team is that it can play the league champions off the park for half an hour, just as it did the German champions for a whole game, but in both cases not come up with the necessary result.
Should have capitalised on first half. Didn’t. Managed to wake them up and spend a bunch of energy to no real gain.
Thought poldi looked unfit and we spent the afternoon without a striker. Can’t be doing that vs united. Please address in the summer Arsene.
Kos motm. Ate the skunk for breakfast. We looked OK at the back but lack balance going forward.
We’d have lost that a couple of years ago, so not a disaster, but does feel a missed opportunity. Shipping before the break is a sickener.
Happy enough with a point. Just win the last three and we’ll be fine. Hopefully Utd will win next weekend and suddenly chavs/Lwcs is a play off for who joins us in the top four.
COYG
that should have been ours. disappointing result, though I am glad of the point. ramsey was cack first half, and bac’s legs are gone, sadly. could have done with a fully fit jack…
Too spent to say much. ATG, De Gea denied us one or two. Kos and Mert, massive. OX has a bright future. And yeah, Sagna’s tuning out cost us big time, but by God he tried to make up for that. How many damm balls that were over hit, forcing him to run them down. Gonna stick around, chill and read your thoughts. We’re still in it! π
Oh and I hope that those who were glad Giroud is not going to play could see how much his aerial presence was missed. Poldi is so clearly nursing the injury it hurts me to watch him. With front three of Santi, Gerv and Theo, there was no chance for us to win one single aerial duel, hold up the ball and bring others in ..which is exactly what OG does.
out of our hands now unfortunately. .. a lil worried.
Koscielny MOTM by some distance.
I think there’s something not right with Wilshere. His play is much less direct from normal; maybe carrying an injury?
We’ve only scored two goals in our last three games, so props to the defence, which has conceded only one. Kos and the BfG again outstanding today, particularly Kos. Agree with N7G that the Frenchman was MotM.
Not sure why it was necessary to start with an obviously injured Poldi. Not willing to run, go into tackles, speed into box. If necessary Poldi could have been brought out later.
We missed Giroud’s physical presence and link-up play. Ramsey for all his energy and workrate today had a rather bad passing game.
We still tend to be too tense and apprehensive against Man U. A relaxed Arsenal could have scored at least one more goal in the first half. And a relaxed Arsenal in the final 10-15 minutes should have crafted some more chances.
Kos my man of the match. Theo played well. TR7 was good in patches, one or two more direct shots could have benefited us.
Mathematically it is again out of our hands. But I am sure winning the remaining three will get us fourth, may be even 3rd.
Eandy @ 270: Exactly. Poldi is carrying something major IMHO. I have never seen him this tentative. A summer surgery most likely.
Two points thrown away, there’s no other way of looking at it. On such things are league positions decided.
Given the state of our squad, with our only real centre forward suspended, plus current players who are playing through injury, e.g Podolski and Wishere, that was a massive point for us today.
Koscielney was monstrously good today, and Per a close second.
Oh and agreed about Kos, he had van Pigsty in his pocket whole game, bar that close range header which was facesaved by Woj.
This is what is left. Should be nine points for us, but equally three potential banana skins. I think we only got one point out of the corresponding games last season. Squeaky bum time.
Arsenal:
QPR (A)
Wigan (H)
Newcastle (A)
Chelsea:
Man U (A)
Tottenham (H)
Aston Villa (A)
Everton (H)
Tottenham:
Southampton (H)
Chelsea (A)
Stoke (A)
Sunderland (H)
Everton:
Liverpool (A)
West Ham (H)
Chelsea (A)
Arsenal tackled my players – its not fair….
Fuck off Fergie.
Poldi’s been off all season, I hope he get’s it fixed during the summer.
A 100% Poldi will be one hell of a player.
Props to the defence today, but a moment of madness has lost us what may of been a nice little cushion, and with all due respect, the culprit hasn’t really been at the races since after the Sunderland game.
NBN @ 279: If we win against QPR next week — they have nothing to play for and we should have everything, and should have enough despite whatever happened last season — by the time we play Wigan at home the other two teams would have already played their 37th matches and depending on where we stand it may become relaxed or really tensed for us. Wigan at this time of the season always has bite, but hopefully the FA Cup final in the weekend before would help us.
Can’t believe writing about requiring a bit of help against Wigan. Wigan! … that kind of a tense finish to the season.
H2H @ 281: Poldi started off well. The away match against Liverpool etc. But I agree pretty soon it was obvious that he was carrying something, never playing for the full ninety minutes.
I agree a fit Poldi today at least in couple of occasions, in the positions he found himself, would have run with the ball and take a shot. His off the ball movement was slow as well.
Dr F@282: we should have enough to take all nine points and secure that CL spot — but if this team knows how to do one thing, it is always to do it the hard way.
Moreover Newcastle are also in a relegation dogfight. I don’t want to go into last day needing a win. St James park will be a tough place to get all 3 points if they are looking for survival
I was hoping stoke would be a banana skin for spurs but since they (stoke) are safe now, Fuck em, I think spurs will breeze past them.
Spurs are even better than us at making things hard for themselves, don’t assume they’ll breeze past the Orcs.
Anyway I’ll take a point and we can definitely win the last three games. You can’t really quibble too much with our form since the start of February at the moment, if we miss out on top four, the damage was done from October to January.
Fuck Spurs, they will implode, it’s in their DNA.
Agree Charlie.
Anyone getting worried: we have better form, better fixtures, a better record than the LWCs of closing out a run in (not saying much) and the other two need to play each other.
Win the last three and we’ll make it.
Drop points and perhaps not, but we’ll only have ourselves to blame.
Newcastle should be OK. They’ve played a lot of football now and look knackered to me, plus we’ll have a refreshed OG back.
The main thing the boss needs to figure out is where the goals are going to come from. Suspect Gerv the swerve may start at QPR.
Next match is a big one now. Three points puts the pressure right on the other two.
Just popping in to say what a cunt cunt van cunty is. Home dressing room? Not celebrating? Just piss off you horrible wanktard.
As for the game, can’t fault the boys for effort, but sadly not enough quality where it really counts.
Come in Bacary, your time is up.
On a knife edge. Unlike last year I have a real sense of foreboding as to how it is all going to play out.
As for QPR next weekend – is it an easy game? Certainly not and I hope the players don’t treat it as such. But if we don’t beat them, we don’t deserve to be in the top four anyway, they’re one of the worst sides to play in the top flight over the last decade (leaving aside Derby, who were a class apart in awfulness).
QPR are a squad full of talent, but they have no cohesion and the crowd are on at the players.
It’s a small stadium and can be a bear pit on the rare occasions the locals get going (usually against Chelsea).
We should give the crowd no encouragement to get behind their under-performing side. An early goal would be lovely, but it will also be important to start in gear. This is not a game we should be taking lightly by any means. Remember Norwich last year? At home against a team with nowt to play for and we made bloody heavy weather of it + dropped points.
COYG
In 16 years of management Wenger will never have an easier game to beat Manu. Its never an easy game but Manu are the only team in the League who have absolutely nothing to play for at the moment. We had arguably everything to play for to qualify for the CL and those two points could have gone a long way to copper fastening qualification.
Despite having so much possession – we were utterly toothless up front. We rarely troubled de-Gea. No width down the wings, we never took the game to Manu by running at their full backs. Our full backs and wingers are incapable of crossing the ball and even if they could cross – there was no one in the centre with any aerial ability to capitalise (apart from Kos and Per for the occasional Corner kick). We showed very little creativity. Overall we had as much penetration as a marshmallow and its all down to the lack of quality we have in key areas.
The decision to leave Sagna on the field tells you all we need to know about how Wenger rates Jenkinson. That must have been Sagna’s worst performance ever for the club. The penalty tackle at 1-0 up was nothing short of reckless and I felt Dowd was kind to us by not sending him off for that offence alone, never mind some of his tackles in the second half when he was on a yellow. His pace is clearly gone and he should have been hauled ashore at half time.
I am no fan of the Ramsey / Arteta partnership. Both players slow the game down and neither have the pace to expand and contract effectively. For all the work that Ramsey does to win the ball – it just becomes wasted by either his inability to retain possession or some profligate decision making. I don’t blame the individuals – its not their fault they’re being asked to play there.
I also could never understand the point of playing Oxlade in Midfield. Surely the right thing to do was play Cazorla in the middle and play Oxlade on the wing???? To have Oxlade in midfield and someone like Tomas on the bench makes no sense at all to me.
What was even more pathetic was we could easily have lost the game given how reckless we were at times.
For me its definitely two points lost. I’m just sickened by that display because its clear to me now just how far we’ve fallen. There was a time we were good enough to beat Manu when we were both playing for something. Instead of competing with Manu – now we’re a team who just might qualify for the CL because we’re less worse than Spurs ffs. We nonchalantly think we’re going to take full points from teams who actually have something to play for and Spuds / Chavs won’t. Its a high risk strategy and given how we “qualified” last year – you’d think we’d have actually learned something!
Fellas, considering the opposition, our striking options, and the general burnt-out condition of the little fella, Cazorla – who’s played every single game of his first season – it doesn’t look like we’ll be getting 9 points off the last three games.
It seems to me and my crystal ball, that the only way we’re getting in the fourth place is if Chelsea beats Tottenspam Not-so-hot-Spurs, we manage 7 points of the 9 available and we end up fourth on goal difference. This is the solution I see, and we can afford a draw between Wigan and Newcastle. My fingers are double crossed π
N7@ 290: I would rather Theo starts as the CF. Yes Gerv is much better one-on-one, but Theo is a better finisher and against QPR’s relatively static defensive line he will get a few chances. That would also allow Ox to start on the right, who I think can be pivotal at the business end where the oppositions defenders are physically not at their best. Sagna has the weight of experience in his favor, but Jenks-Ox down the right would be really handy.
I hope we still start with TR7 and not Jack. TR7 over complicated a couple of times today but against weaker defenses though direct runs and through balls would be useful. Jack still looks tentative.
Joe – actually there’s a couple of teams who have nothing to play for. Southampton, West Brom, Fulham, Swansea, to name but four. And today’s performance sickens you? Really? Really?? You do realise we lost to Bradford and Blackburn this season, right? And a draw against the best team in the league is so bad in your opinion that it actually sickens you?
sunspot – I think you’re being overly pessimistic there. We’re still very capable of taking maximum points from the final three games.
Charie.
Stoke are the worst team imho in the PL over the last few years, how they’ve gotten away with it for so many years is beyond me, this year they’ve almost been found out, next year they’ll be fucked (I hope)
Joe, agree with a lot of that, except for Man U had nothing to play for. I hate to say it, but IOU are the kind of team that I wish we were, they always go for it, losing or playing for a draw is not their style and SAF HATES losing.
Agree with charlie
Charlie,
Disagree – Manu have won the league. All the others still play for places – but the only certainty is that Manu will finish first. So as such, they’re playing for nothing.
Bradford and Blackburn were also gut wrenching. At each of those two fixtures we played weakened teams we thought would get us results.
We’re now at the business end of the season playing for a much bigger prize than either the Beer or FA cup. CL is far more important and qualification is an absolute priority for the club at the start of every season. The same cannot be said of either of the cup competitions. 3 points today would have went along way towards seeing us qualify.
As I say, if we miss out on the top four, it won’t be because we drew to Man Utd at home.
That, I agree with 100%, Charlie.
Agreed to some extent H2H.
Old red nose always seems to get a performance from his players.
But I really thought Manu were there for the taking today.
We just didn’t have the substance to get over the line – and now we wait for other teams results to secure qualification.
Like Tabs, I really don’t feel at all comfortable that we’ll see out the next 3 games and think other results will just go our way. Today was a real opportunity missed.
Well of course it won’t Charlie – because without stating the obvious, the league is decided by a multiple of games and not just one.
But today was a big opportunity to go along way towards securing CL qualification – and we didn’t take it.
I think what we saw today is that there are good habits driven so far into that Utd side that you could play them in a summer friendly and they’d still go for it.
For the first 30 mins it appeared they were going to chuck us an easy one. Then the second goal wouldn’t come, we got frustrated, the game spilled over a bit and we fucking woke them up. As the half drew to a close they started to play (presumably knowing that otherwise they’d be getting a half time skull fucking off the dark lord), and we then shipped a daft goal at the most inopportune moment. A habit I thought we’d managed to kick.
Utd are never a soft game. Not under the current manager. And I thank fuck for that, because we now need them to do us a favour next weekend.
I agree that we’ll never play them at a better time, but they’re never a soft touch, and particularly when we’re playing without a centre forward all afternoon.
As others have said, if we finish fifth it won’t be today we look back on with regret, or any game since the NLD for that matter.
Anyway, still all to play for and we’re well placed. If we can find a handful of goals we’re capable of winning the next three.
N7 –
We gave back all the momentum we had created by conceding that penalty. It was naive, reckless…..utterly stupid thing to do from one of our most experienced players.
I actually think Manu will take the Chelsea game very seriously – because it’ll be an opportunity for them to eliminate Chelsea from next years CL.
I agree with that Joe, as I said, I too thought it was two points dropped.
If we can’t beat the next three teams that we have to play, then we have no right to be in the CL, although I still see the Chavs and the LWC’s dropping points.
==
Unfortunatly I missed a large portion of the second half, it got busier then I’d imaginerd in the bar (not a bad thing) so nI’ll have to catch up with MotD (not a good thing)
Enjoy your evening all and remember………..
Sometimes, thetruth hurts. π
Back in from The Emirates,
too exhausted, exasperated to say much, but have taken a very quick skim through the drinks.
That was another game we should have won. Great fight shown by the players today – with one notable exception.
I am doubtless going to get lots of “Oh, but he scored” stuff back at me for saying it, but Theo Walcott’s (or Theo Walk-It) first half performance was a disgrace.
He failed to show for Sagna up the right wing. He failed to show for throw ons. He failed to do anything much except drift inside, and out of sight, every time we needed any kind of ball out of midfield or defence.
He might have noticed that Man Utd stretch defences by always having their wingers stationed wide throughout their attacks. More accuracy from their wide men today would have meant curtains for us. Luckily they did seem to have been celebrating during the week.
Walk-It only came to life as The Ox was called back to the bench ready to come on, probably expecting to be hauled off. When he did, we had a brief glimpse of what he can do with his pace, but it is time for the young man to stop blithering on in the press about what he wants the team to do, and to start working to get his game in order.
And Sagna. What can you say ?
Such a hard working, consistent performer for such a long time but, to me, he looks knackered. He was struggling to get in front of his man for a while before ‘the’ error.
Sure, he was, as usual, given no cover by Walcott but, if there is no better easier option on, kick the stuffing thing into touch !
The attempt to recover was desperate but at least he tried.
Van Persie could have put the penalty over the bar, or let someone else take it. But no.
Our problem though, is not an individual error in this game. It has been a collection of individual errors through the season, right up until the Spuds away game.
And we are paying the price for not increasing our striking options last summer, and have been for some time.
Brilliant performance from Koscielny today and, after a sloppy start, a great show from Aaron Ramsey.
If he continues his recent improvement into next season he will be some player. He MUST, like others, learn to hit a decent shot though.
A great pity that a draw against the champions feels like a defeat, but three wins will see us home.
Phew – lucky I didn’t feel like saying much π
Just back from the game. It was an unusual match because it lacked some of the usual intensity on the pitch but was VERY tense off it.
I would have settled for a point beforehand because I thought we would struggle to score ( OG wouldn’t have helped much in scoring but would have held the ball u well) Podolski is patently not fit.
Very impressed with Kos/ Mertesacker who were our best players for second week running. Rosicky and Ramsey worked very hard but Theo was very poor and part of Sagna’s problem was that Theo does not track back.
Wilshere isn’t fully fit but he did well after coming on. Our tempo went up and we created more chances. Also thought Ches had his best game for a long time. Very good save from You know who
Trev,
As you were posting so was I
Very similar thoughts especially about Theo and Sagna. He gets too exposed at RB now. He hasn’t recovered from the second broken leg IMO.
In retrospect I would have played Theo through the middle and Ox out wide
Cannot disagree with any of that from Trev or TTG.
Joe – absolutely agree re: the pen. Just a terrible moment to ship one. Agree also re: utd/Chelsea. If Ferguson has half a brain it will have occurred to him that this is a chance to fuck Mourinho good and early and possibly drive a stake through the heart of their Falcao deal.
Good point Joe @307 – let’s hope you’re right.
thetruth –
at least Chamberlain constantly tries to be positive and drive forwards around the box.
Can’t really expect him to hit top form and be consistent when he hardly ever gets on the pitch.
I would hope to see him a lot more next season – there is a highly paid, not so very young anymore, winger who should be taking a concerned look over his shoulder.
Spot on Trev!
I think the same about Theo. He plays in a very important position in the team, considering that we now have a very slow right-back, and he barely helps Sagna in defending. He almost always jogs, and has absolutely no intelligence at his defensive duties. He do not cover space when defending, he is not tackling, not winning aerial duels, actually doesn’t have strength to hold out any kind of duel.
To be honest, he is pretty much bad in attack either. He is our best goal scorer and all that, but he has only that one trick, which is not actually a trick, to run behind the fullback in empty space, waiting for the tough ball to come. Other that that, he is useless. His positioning is criminal. I don’t know if someone else noticed his position this whole season when Giroud was winning aerial duels against opponents CB’s. He is nowhere near the bouncing ball. Never. In contrary to Gervihno for example, who is almost always sensing where the ball would be.
And finally, why he is taking the majority of the free-kicks. Has he ever scored from a free-kick maybe?
I did expect no points so I suppose I should be happy with the one we got, but… I don’t really know. They were there for the taking but we couldn’t get that second goal. 2-0 and I think we’d have won it, but then again if my auntie had bollocks she’d be my uncle.
Only done a very quick backdrink but I agree 100% with Trev about Walcott. What the fuck was he playing at? Fucking move about some, mate!
If there are any doubts that Podolski isn’t 100% fit I refer you to this game. He was hobbling pretty badly at times, he is clearly far from fit.
QPR away next, and I must say that that is the game I fear the most of the three remaining. That small pitch of theirs does not suit us one bit and especially so without Giroud.
And we are paying the price for not increasing our striking options last summer, and have been for some time.
I’m afraid I can’t really agree with this. We have Walcott, who keeps telling anyone with the patience to listen that he wants to be played as a striker and last summer, we acquired Giroud and Podolski. I assume we believed Poldi was fully fit when we brought him in. What more should we have done?
Well I assume Arsene didn’t see Podolski as a striker as he has practically never played him there.
Giroud is, therefore, our only recognised striker.
If Walcott is a Premier League central striker then I am very glad, ‘cos so am I !
“What more should we have done?” Bought another one.
No striker new to the English Premier League is ever going to maintain form and fitness for an entire season.
That is what we gambled on Giroud doing.
And please don’t tell me that Arsene saw Walcott as a central striker because, since he signed his contract, he has never played him there either.
Second the comments from Trev and others above about Walcott. He was anonymous during the first half. It was almost as if, having scored a goal, he thought his afternoon was done. If he his going to be the player he already is in his own mind, he has to start to take games by the scuff of the neck and start to make things happen, not just wait to be put in behind a full back.
Regardless of the cover he got, Sagna was below par all game. He just hasn’t looked the same player since coming back from the second broken leg.
To be fair, rvp scored 36 goals for us last season.. And giro and poldi together have around 32 I believe. So we have more or less replaced the goals but not the quality.
Oxon
I don’t think Wenger did enough re striking options in the summer.
we shed Bendtner,Chamakh and Park as well as RVP-and signed Giroud. Neither Podolski (who has simply got injured this season it wasn’t anything more sinister than that) and Walcott are not seen as central strihers. No-one replicates this job that Giroud carries out and that is one of a number of mistakes that Wenger made last summer although he didn’t make the horlicks he did the summer before.I think we can take it that Arshavin (who is not a striker but has been played there) has played his last game for us.
United have Rooney ,Welbeck and Chicarito who can play through the middle if RVP doesn’t.That is an example of proper squad construction.
Trev @ 317: I agree with you about Walcott but Arsene did play him as a central striker in the first leg loss to Bayern. Of course Walcott’s performance that night showed that he doesn’t possess the necessary skill set to efficiently perform that role in our present system.
I meant Trev @ 315.
Trev,
I can’t argue with you either about Walcott. I think apart from the Sweeper, I’ve probably been his biggest critic on here.
Lest people think I have some vendetta against him, I’ve stayed quiet of late. But he has scored this season, and thats the only reason I believe that Wenger extended his contract. There are many other players who have never received the same patience that Theo has been given – and for all his pace and ability to score (this season alone), he also represents much of what is wrong with the team (lackadaisical views towards his defensive responsibility; poor decision making; as well as a propensity to talk himself up in the media at every given opportunity).
With respect to Oxlade – I do differ somewhat. I think by far and away he has been most effective on the wing running at full backs. While I concur that midfield may very well be his final destination in an Arsenal shirt, its not the time to be experimenting with him at such an important part of the season and against Manu when 3 points is all that matters.
We really should have won today. I only hope we don’t rue the opportunity missed.
Trev spoke for me @ 309 and also on the Walcott debate.
Oxon,
What could Wenger have done??? Hahahahaha.
Funny guy.
Evening All
Just in from the Ems. I agree with Trev, it was sad watching Sagna struggling to compete. Theo was no help and Poldi,obviously handicapped with an ankle problem, was unable to make any impression up top.
Again we had the bulk of possession, especially in the first half and in the last 15mins, but ran out of ideas when we reached the 18yd line. Apart from TR7 and a really good late strike from Santi, no one seemed prepared to take a shot on goal, a common failing this and last season.
We had no width at all on the left until the last 10mins, putting Santi out wide is futile as he moves inside the whole game. It might have been a good move to have moved Gibbs forward and brought in Monreal at fullback.
Kos and the BFG were our stand-out players and Chesney had a really good game. The lack of a proper striker is holding us back and needs sorting this Summer. We look a really small side without OG and Diaby, a strong,athletic, class DMF is another requirement before next season.
Gooner Malcolm and I both felt that the Dutchman deserved a second yellow, before the penalty. for a very poor tackle. Did any one else see it?
It was a game where the 3 points “got away”, a pity because United were there for the taking in the first half. It’s going to be a nail biting 3 games, with 9 points a must have.
As always COYRs
Joe, Chamberlain did NOT play in the middle today, he subbed Rosicky but Santi moved into midfield and Chambo replaced him on the left wing in front of Gibbs.
Delia, there were 2 tackles from him that were quite mean spirited. Trev and Cent, what to do about Theo. Well, I’d start Gervais over him, as I’ve always thought Gervais does better when he starts whereas OX is a really good option as impact player. But AW needs to start him @ begin. of 2nd half of a game! Like I said earlier Kos (Per) MOTM and runner up. Not worried about QPR at ALL. Their game against Reading today was the worst I’ve witnessed in a very long time. Wigan really the only game I’m fretting about. Chelsea will bury the Totts.
Corporal Jenkinson deserves to come in next week . Wenger also needs to decide who his best left- back is as chopping between Monreal and Gibbs creates uncertainties between defenders. He seems to play Monreal away from home. Ramsey and Arteta have played well but I believe a fit Jack could replace Arteta because I would not want to sacrifice Rosicky or Santi. I would play Walcott ( reluctantly ) through the middle because Poldi is unfit and Ox wide.
The speculation about playing Vermaelen upfront isn’t quite as stupid as it first seemed. He gives physical presence is good in the air and is at least as quick as Giroud ( mind you so am I and I’ m 62).Away from home Walcott and Gervinho might do a job but at home TV might be an option. That confirms the point about the paucity of striking options.
Just read Arsene’s post match comments. Please holics, would luv to know your thoughts on what he said π Can’t address you each individually, but trust me, I gobble up everything posted, chew it over and leave satiated π
Hey Abb! Hope all’s well. I agree with you that QPR vs Reading was one of the worst games I’ve watched in a long time.
If we can’t beat that relegated QPR team, we simply don’t deserve Champions’ League Football.
Hi Impec1! I just found out our Jack, also needs an operation on his ankle this summer! Where have I been π ! Did you read Wenger’s presser?
Two points dropped. Same problem we’ve had all season, we cannot score when we simply have to. Goals for fun on occasions, but rarely when we need them most.
Why Poldi played CF instead of his usual wing beats me. Theo should have been up front with TR7 to put him through on goal (as he did). Santi has been poor for weeks and should have been on the bench. Sagna should have been subbed (for fear he would be shown red, never mind his poor form), with Rambo to RB and Ox on the right.
AW’s selections still worry me.
Maximum points from our last three is beginning to look like a dream. But hopefully Manure will beat Chelski, who will draw with Tottnum, who will have Bale Shawcrossed at Stoke and lose their last to Sunderland. We may still get third, fourth, fifth or sixth…
Oskar
Oskar @ 331: Poldi’s ankle is evidently in such a bad shape that he was running at half his natural speed, opts out of any challenge whatsoever, and even the trademark quick spin on the ball has become slow. I don’t think he can play for more than 10-15 minutes in the left wing now. Hopefully post-surgery next season we will have the real Poldi playing for us.
A lot has is being written about Sagna not being withdrawn at halftime. To be fair to Arsene that strategy is always 50:50 and with a relative rookie like Jenk it can go wrong. In the second half Sagna played it safer, pushing forward only rarely. It has been evident since his return from in jury that Sagna can no longer really stamp authority as the right back in Arsenal’s formation. His recovery speed has dropped alarmingly. But he still is a very good defender — the clearance right in front of a flying Jones was a good example — and Arsene probably thought that against Evra-Valencia and with no support from Theo it was better to leave an experienced defender in that position.
I have a feeling we may be selling Sagna this summer.
It seemed like all the air got pushed out of Arsenal shortly before the half, compliments of a half-brained half minute by Sagna; and that’s all it takes at the very highest level. Up until that time we definitely looked the better team. I think that hurt us, confidence-wise, in the second half. Oh well, such is being an Arsenal fan. It hurts mostly!!!
Cheers,
mec
Maybe a draw is fair, we have an offside goal and we gift them a penalty.
Plus, we are luckly that Sagna is not sent off in H2.
What an immaculate game Kosh had today!!!
Cheers,
mec
Phil Jones is a frighteningly good player in the making, Dr F. I believe we were looking at him before Fergie grabbed him. AW really does need to move quicker sometimes and bite the transfer fee bullet when necessary.
I wasn’t suggesting Bac should have been replaced at half-time, but I was definitely worried he was going to get frustrated midway through the second and get himself red-carded. I quite like the idea of pushing Rambo back to RB and bringing on a striker/midfielder late in the game. By the way, if he’s sold I’d like to see us steal Kyle Walker from the neighbours!
Sad about Poldi, but very obvious he’s not fit enough for the bench even, which begs the question why he’s been there lately. Certainly not up to the rigours of leading the line, which is why I believe he should have played on the wing. Although, having seen him today I’m now wondering why he played at all. Ox surely would have been a better option on the left with Theo up front. Do we not even have a CF in the reserves? From this distance I know next to nothing about players not in the first XI squad.
Oskar
Trust me, mec, it was way worse being an Arsenal fan in the ’70s and ’80s and most of the ’90s…
Oskar
Sorry all, proper sauced last night. Report will be tonight.
Oskar @ 336
The way I remember it, Blackburn accepted bids from both Utd and Arsenal for Jones – the player opted to stay in the North.
@ 338
I wouldn’t have expected it any earlier π
zico@339: that is my memory of it as well. Same with Chris Smalling too, I believe.
I have an unjust *boilk*. I protest….
I see the 1.30am blog didn’t make it. I suspect ‘holic drank more than he bargained for.
I have to plead not guilty for that one. If anything he was the bad influence yesterday π
I echo what Trev said about Theo above(and about Sagna). I am glad I am not the only one who noticed he came back to life as the Ox was getting ready to enter the fray….
Anyway, dearth of striking options is tellling indeed. Suspect Gervinho will start next though.
I suspect he’ll have to Ollie. Poldi was reduced to walking from the half way line to the opposition box during one attack in the first half.
He did seem to recover a bit but he’s not going to trouble anybody in his present state of fitness.
“We’ve got Cesc Fabregas,
We’ve got Ce …………… ”
Oh sorry, too soon ? π
No report? What a shambles. This place is going to the dogs.
You tell him, Steve!
Good to see you yesterday.
tabs was a notable absentee. I think he should have come down on the Saturday though, with no bouncer in sight in the Tollie
The bad influence was baff. I shall say no more π
Ha! π
Oh dear @ 349.
Any of our national product left? π
TaBS was probably busy on a modelling shoot for Disgruntled Weekly
Baffled?? π
Anything beginning in Glen is now in severe shortage π
Ollie – Haha. Wasn’t in London sadly.
Me and old Jackie Pallo are on kissing terms I’ll have you know.
No tongues though. Maybe next season π
Good stuff above from all. I have to say that Joe’s piece best reflects how I saw the game. I am very much in the camp of “two points dropped”. It was a huge opportunity against a United side that had probably been out on the piss for most of the week, an opportunity that ultimately we were not good enough to take.
Once Yanited woke up from their slumbers, I thought the difference in quality between the two sides was stark. Rooney and he who cannot be named offered a movement and speed of thought that we can only now dream about.
Agreed with Trev too on Walcott. A lazy and wholly complacent performance from him, in keeping with most of his displays in the last 2 months. And what was he doing wearing a Manc shirt in his TV interview? Having secured his signature, I’d bite your hand off for Β£15m for him. Sadly, I doubt that there would be any takers at that price.
Sagna is off in the Summer. We know it, he knows it, and it really shows. Jenks must play in the last 3 games.
Tend to agree with Arsene. Win our last 3 games and we will qualify. Anything less than that will not, in my opinion, be enough. Are we capable of winning our last 3 games? Of course. Do you trust this team to do it? Not me I’m afraid.
That we are still in this position of scrapping with Tottenham having secured another year of Champions League money at their expense this time last year is bordering on the criminal.
Holic – Haha, sounds a good one! Gutted I missed it. π
Dr C – Disgruntled Weekly? Well I Would have been if only I had a decent agent! π
Wolves fans react to their probable second successive relegation by contacting the owner to let him know how they feel
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/6872/imagepgac.jpg
Hey Tabs,
Β£15 million for WalkItt in the summer, I’d bite your hand off too.
So would Luis Suarez. π
Disgruntled Weekly – certainly, and twice a week in January. π
Heh π
I am your motivation for disgrunterary π
Fulham at home was two points dropped, this was not two points dropped in my opinion.
No idea why everyone is so down on our chances of winning the last three games, we’re in much better form than we were at this point last year, and it should be pointed out the goals had largely dried up then too (we averaged less than a goal a game between QPR away and Stoke away). If we win the last three games you can’t have a go at our form post-January. It’s October to January that’s the damage this far.
Afternoon all.
I’ve been saying for weeks that Poldi’s looked way off the pace, Sagna too, yesterday was painfully obvious that both were missing that extra zip. It was always going to be hard playing the newly crowned chumpions, to be brutaly honest I was scared shitless when I saw the line up, it’s hard enough to get a result when it’s 11 v 11, but when it’s 9 and a half (8 and three quarters if you count Feo) v 11 then you don’t really stand a cnance, so I suppose that a draw isn’t such a bad result……
Still begs the question why the hell would you let a player, so clearly not up to the task, lead the line? It’s totally baffling. I kind of understand why Sagna was in there even though he too has been strugling, that was because of his experience, it has to be, but after that performance we surely have to promote the corperal to first team duties, maybe he can get a cross in that will be worth a toss, because I’m afraid, and sorry to say, Bacary can’t. Not that there’s anyone actualy in the danger area to cross to most of the time anyway, we realy, realy, realy need to work on our offencive positioning in the close season, this running into dead ends and passing to thin air really needs to be sorted, a few more adventurous shots wouldn’t go amiss either, if you don’t try you’ll never know, right!? (that was an observation over the whole season not necassarily yesterdays game).
On the brightside, we have improved in the defence and save the moment of madness, we’d pretty much kept them at bay. As others had eluded to, our BFG was great and Kos was simply outstanding, long may it continue. I’m actually pretty optimistic about our chances in the next three games, if we keep up the attitude we showed in the early first half. QPR have given up, Newcastle are disorganised and we’ll have OG back for that one. Wigan looks the toughest fixture but we’re at home and we really should be beating them, personally I think they’ll be the final team to complete the relegation trio, they’ve bitten off more then they can chew with their F.A Cup exploits, Wembley may be a nice day out, but I think it will be one distraction too many, if Villa can manage a result tonight then the Lactics are in deep doo doo.
Just to reiterate a point from a few months back and that will become increasingly pertinent in the weeks ahead:
It will be scant consolation to finish top 4 if we don’t spend some actual money this summer.
There is the germ of a good side here, but we really do need some investment so that we can stop fielding injured players and sticking square pegs in round holes.
When you consider that we are now in late April and it is not remotely clear who is our first choice back up striker behind OG, who is our first choice goalkeeper, whether our right back has any future at the club and what Santi Cazorla’s best position is you get a glimpse of the problems that have been caused by our prudence.
Man Utd now seemingly spend Β£40-50m net a summer. That’s what keeps them competitive. I don’t propose we match that, and I don’t propose we attempt to keep up with their wage bill, but I believe that just a few summers of spending Β£15-25m net would give Arsene enough ammunition to go out and actually win us a thing or two.
Without that sort of investment, we’ll tread water at best.
I am therefore keeping my fingers crossed that we win the next three games. But I am crossing fingers and toes that we produce the rarely seen chequebook come May (and do our business early), because another top four finish will be a mere plaster on the wound if we continue to scrimp and save.
H2H. I’m certainly agreed about Jenkinson deserving his chance now. There may be other factors involved in Sagna’s continuing subpar performance such as his age (30) and recovery from two broken legs but if so why was he the first team selection yesterday? Major messups in huge moments of huge games are not the way to endear yourself to the manager or the fans as I’m sure Bacary knows. What comes to mind is Clichy falling over v. Sp*rs allowing them to come back to 4-4 a few years back. Gibbs was close to ready at that point and he has grown into the position admirably, with Monreal’s recent help. Jenkinson is poised to do the same, having looked better than Sagna most of the season in my opinion. Sorry but the love is never as strong after a botchup like Sagna made yesterday, even if you’re talking about a player who was such a great stalwart in the Arsenal team for so long. Unless we move hiim this summer Bakary’s role next season could be as Jenks’ backup and/or as a backup CB where less speed is required.
I can see why he plays Sagna.
This is a team that has been brought together relatively quickly, and still shows signs of needing to gel. In that context, having an experienced defender on the pitch who has played for the club for some time must feel important.
Put it this way: after Bac, who are the long standing first XI players (i.e. more than two years in the team)? Woj (only made the firsts two years ago, recently dropped), Kos (spent most of the season on the bench), arguably Theo (say no more).
I suspect Sagna will be off in the summer, and he had a howler yesterday, but I can see what he might bring to the camp just at the moment.
I really hope that Jenks can make the step up and become our regular RB.
I wasn’t surprised he played Podolski and I’d rather have had him there than Gervinho. The thing that most surprised me was his decision to take off Rosicky and what disappointed me, although going on past performance it wasn’t a surprise, was that we didn’t switch things around a bit tactically.
Too set in our ways.
One thing you must remember: without Giroud we hardly win any headers (see arse lot’s numbers and stats). Sagna can win headers so that may be a reason for playing him too
8Ball, one slip up is not going to change my opinion of Sagna, he has been a great servant to the club and one of our most consistant performers over the years, I just question his continued inclusion when he looks off the pace. He doesn’t pick himself now, does he?
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N7, some sensible stuff in there, we need to finaly ship the deadwood out and strengthen where we need to…… deja vu all over again on repeat mode. π
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MMM (manymonikerman), it does indeed seem like we can only play one way sometimes and are destined to repeat the same mistakes over and over, but, to his credit, Arsene did manage to make a sub a good 10mins earlier then the cast in stone 70min mark…..
Maybe we’re evolving. π
Now then.. just to give you a laugh; The Spanish papers are linking us with a β¬35m bid for Casillas….!
The silly season has begun π
Catalan
Are we buying his house?
Ah, thatΒ΄s always the clincher. Good point TTG π
Mind you, if he brings his girlfriend…
Didn’t mean to disrespect Sagna in his overall contribution to the club which has been over and above the contribution of just about any player since he joined us. Especially in this era of players moving from club to club so fast, his loyalty and consistency have been stellar.
I think Arsene finds himself in a ‘lose-lose’ situation as regards his team selection, people have been screaming for him to bench Giroud and play Poldi as a lone striker, some of them even celebrated OG’s red card, now some of the same people are slating him for starting a half fit Poldi.
Walcott : I think that if wasn’t for the recent exodus of our “star players” Arsene would have gladly sold Theo last summer, he probably would have sold him anyway, but we the fans would have gone bat shit crazy. He played him upfront against lowly placed EPL teams and Theo scored off a few through balls and thought he had arrived but then fell flat on his ass against Bayern at the Emirates showing all the rational people in world football that he is not cut out for a role as the lone centre forward in our system.
Sagna: he has obviously lost his pace and can’t cross a ball to save his life but his experience counts and he has to play for us all to realize that he is no longer the solid right-back he used to be so that when he is sold in the summer there won’t be too many fans screaming about how we’re selling our best players.
The summary of everything I’m saying is that we put too much pressure on Arsene while hyping the players way too much, the result is that someone like Walcott now believes that the only thing he requires to play as a centre forward is pace and the ability to finish off a few chances, he no longer bothers about contesting aerial balls or helping his right-back, he doesn’t stick to the wing when we need him to do that but will always run inside and choke the striker, now Arsene on his part can’t tell him to stick to the wing or get benched, and ultimately sold, because he knows he will bleat to the press and some of us will read it and support Walcott instead of the man who bought him for us, so Arsene has to risk us losing games and points by sticking him in the middle in games like vs Bayern so that we can all see that Theo is not good enough yet. I’m not saying Arsene is not to blame for some of these issues, far from that, personally I blame Arsene for not been stubborn enough and allowing our opinions affect his policies, and Theo is not the cause of all our problems, I just used him as an example.
Cent @ 374: Interesting perspectives. I agree with some observations and disagree with others.
I agree that Arsenal fans, and more so the British media (the continental media still remains great Wenger fan and if rumors are to believed he can walk into a job in RM or PSG), heap too much criticism on Arsene and he gets skewered either way.
But that should not distract him from making the right decisions. As he himself always says, his job is to make sure Arsenal gets the best result that they can and to ignore the rest. And I think he does ignore as much as humanly possible.
I just think that he has been trying to do so much for so little over more than a decade that his intuitive judgments are not as sharp as they were used to. And by nature he appears to be more of a forgive-and-give-another-try kind of manager (it speaks a volume about Bendtner’s character that he managed to fall out of favor despite so many years of patience support) and hence his perseverance with players and positions that seems contrary to all rational thought. Sometimes they pay off — RVP despite season after season of injuries — and sometimes they don’t. With Theo I think there is still some possibility, hence the persistence. I think the next season would be pivotal with Ox breaking through fully.
Henning Berg gets paid Β£2.25m in compensation for 57 days work!!
Blackburn really are a laughing stock. The Venkys demonstrate just how unfit the FA’s “Fit and Proper” test for ownership of a Football Club is.
I meant over more than half a decade @375.
Sorry but the idea that Arsene makes any decisions on the basis of fan opinion is utterly risible.
Whether you like him or dislike him, agree or disagree with him, what cannot be disputed is that Arsene is his own man, and makes his own decisions accordingly. And quite right too.
Opinions differ so much within any fanbase that reaching any kind of consensus, as a means to making a decision, would prove impossible to attain in any event.
Theo was not re-signed to appease the fans. Theo was re-signed because (a) AW believes he’s the man for the job and (b) if it doesn’t work out, he’s likely to now get a bigger fee for the player than one who was in the last year of his contract.
Sagna is not being played to convince the fans of anything. He is being played for the reasons extolled by N7 above, experience and defensive nous. Whether one agrees with that decision is another matter entirely (I don’t), but Sagna’s selection has absolutely nothing to do with what may or may not happen in the summer.
tabs knows
Hullo !
Just popped in to say that it was a relief to get some points from it. Still feel like 2 points dropped, but at-least we were level with spuds on points gained on the weekend.
Agree on Sagna being in the team for the experience and nous that he brings.He may have lost pace, but he is a fighter. Theo.. sigh.. hope he improves.
Hearing that the internet is a buzz with rumours of Cesc .. maybe its just all bs.. but how i wish hes back .. sorry.. i think i’ll go and cry now..
Tabs, with you at 379,
And @376 – that will be a chicken stock presumably π
It is bollix indeed, GPN. Just like the ‘RvCunt captain/RvCunt on the bench’ pre-game on Sunday.
People will say anything to get attention.
Quite similar to the old song, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” it is my (relatively) firm belief that the internet is not the place where the decision will be made regarding Cesc’s rumoured return to Arsenal.
Oh, BTW, when was it announced? π
One final thought on Bac: he’s been a near ever-present in a defence that has a good shout of being revealed as having been the second best in the country come the end of the season.
Yes, he’s made a few high profile ricks, yes his pace has reduced, but we should keep things in context: he’s been far from the villain of the piece this season.
Our problems right now are at the other end of the pitch, where the goals have dried up alarmingly. That’s what Arsene will surely have his focus on right now.
Dr F, I agree with your disagreements, cheers.
TaBS, I’m not saying that Arsene makes decisions based on fan’s opinion, I’m saying that I think the pressure from us, fans, affects his decisions indirectly without him actually knowing it, an example is Chamberlain’s substitution against Manure last season at the Ems, after the reaction he got that day. Every human being will sub-consciously think twice before making such a decision again.
I do, however, take your points on Sagna and Walcott aboard ( even if I don’t agree with everything).
Thank you two gentlemen for taking the time to respond.
How long have you been watching Arsenal our goals dried up years ago
And of course many thanks to Ollie and Trev too.
For once I have to disagree with Ollie. I think there may very well be something to the Cesc rumours. His girlfriend lives in London with their new-born daughter and he’s trying to buy that flat in Belgravia. If I am not mistaken he’s also still got his house just outside London as well, a house that he bought just a few months before moving to Barca. He’s never really settled at Barca and they have often played him on the left in a position where he can’t really use his primary skills.
I’m not saying it is going to happen, but I would not be the slightest bit surprised.
Vernon’s urban myth.
League goals scored:
03/04 73
04/05 87
05/06 68
06/07 63
07/08 74
08/09 68
09/10 83
10/11 72
11/12 74
35 games in 12/13 66 if continued at this rate should be 72 for season.
N7 – I would never describe Bac as a “villain”, and think that those that do do a huge disservice to a man who has given six years of great service.
That said, I don’t think it can be disputed that he has had a poor season. Reasons for that may be manifold, the impact of two broken legs, disappointment at the lack of a new contract offer, or simply age catching up with him. Whatever the reasons, he hasn’t for the most part been at the races this season.
The only outstanding game that I can remember him having was as a makeshift centre-back up at Sunderland. As a right back this season he has, to my mind, mixed the mediocre/average with the downright poor (yesterday, Soton away, Chelsea away).
Jenks has shown in the past that it often takes him a game or two to get back into the swing of things. For that reason alone, it may now be worth sticking with Bac until the end of the Season. I do however think that Jenks was incredibly unlucky to have been dropped after outstanding performances in Munich and Swansea.
It may seem a silly thing to say but I don’t think “goals conceded” is, of itself, a complete test of how good a defence is. I’m afraid that I’m very much of the view that if we have the second best defence in the league then I’m a grapefruit. There are other reasons as to why we don’t concede too many – greater possession etc. On those occasions where we are put under the cosh we are often found wanting in a way that other top sides aren’t.
Cent – We’ll have to agree to disagree old chum. I really don’t think public approval/disapproval registers with AW at all.
Trev – heh π
Lars – You tease! π
Vernon, It does FEEL that way, even though @ 389 suggests in the long run it hasn’t. But it is our #1 problem NOW, where have all our goals gone?! Who is going to step up. Kos tried to score, a gutsy move (applaud his effort) Beginning to think Theo thinks that sort of a crazy but beautiful effort is beneath him. Is he afraid of appearing foolish, if the ball doesn’t go in? As for Bac, I plead for understanding. He has to chase down some god awful over kicked passes, which make him look off pace. Yes he’s slowing down, but I see the whole picture.
Cheers Tabs, have a drinky on Lars’ tab, mate.
I’m confused. π
Henning Berg is a laughing chicken stock – Bacary Sagna appears to have become a lemon – and Tabs has turned into a grapefruit.
And one of the “manifold reasons’ that Bac is playing poorly is that he’s exhausted.
Nicely researched point from ‘vernon’ too ……
Villa vs Sunderland becomes quite an interesting to watch.
To be fair to vernon, we have struggled for goals in a number of games this season. Our overall tally is good because we’ve banged hatfuls past Newcastle, Reading, West Ham etc
I would take the young right back at Villa in a heart beat – been impressed every time I have seen him.
And Tottenham Trev, don’t forget Tottenham! π
Cheers Cent.
Villa-Sunderland is a rather cracking game so far, by the way. It’s 2-1 Villa with 38 played. And in case anyone’s forgotten, one point for Villa means that QPR (and the same goes for Reading, btw) can no longer escape relegation.
Shit no! And Tottenham !!!
Want Villa to win this really, to keep Sunderland desperate to beat the Spuds, and it may deflate Wigan a bit too.
Boom!!
WTF, I refreshed and saw no new posts, posted my drink and up popped several posts that should have appeared when I refreshed. Sodding Internet Explorer cache…
Oooh, I tabsed it!
Congratulations Lars on your 401.
The most confusing post of the season to date – but very refreshing. π
Lars, use firefox or chrome – IE is pants. End of.
tabs/Trev: that we have put a handful past these teams is a bit wierd. It is often a sign of strength to put 4+ goals past so many teams in one season, but this season it just shows our incons… sorry, our consistency in patches. If memory serves me, we are the only team to score seven, and I’m not sure ManU have scored more than four in any single league game – but their strength does of course lie in that they so often score at least two or three goals.
At the same time our record v Southampton, Spurs, Reading, West Ham, Newcastle and Reading again shows that the capacity to score goals is there. We “only” have to be more consistent at it.
Who’s this Villa RB then Dr Z?
Quite like Seamus Coleman at Everton.
Lars – Think Reading and QPR are already down because Wigan still have to play Villa.
Let’s just hope AW doesn’t start putting our problems down to IE caches. No doubt the man uses Firefox. π
zico@404, I really should get round to installing Chrome. I’ve tried Firefox but I didn’t like it. It kept telling me to install all sorts of add-ons that I wasn’t interested in and I could not make it stop nagging me whatever I did.
Well in 8Ball.
Lars – that was Mrs Firefox. π
tabs @ 390
Just for once, I’m going to disagree.
I think a lot of statistics in football need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Goals conceded is not one of them – if you concede the least goals, you’ve got the best defence. It’s not like goals scored, where one 10-0 win against a soft opponent can skew things.
Where I will agree is that we’re still not a particularly great (or indeed settled) back line, although we have massively improved vs last term. Nobody has a particularly impressive defence this season (bar maybe Utd recently): I note with some glee that until about half an hour ago the LWCs had only shipped two less than relegation threatened Sunderland. How Vertonghen made team of the season off the back of that is beyond me.
Agree re; Sagna. He has certainly gone backwards. My point was more that if we’re looking to point fingers, he’s not where I’d start, partly for the reasons you state above, party because I think he gives 100% and partly because I think the worst performances this season have come from more attacking players.
Lowton.
2 good feet, very impressive going forward. His contribution to Villa’s second goal tonight typical of his ability.
Defensively, hard to assess playing in that Villa back line – maybe a bit raw, not unlike the Corporal.
You beat me to it Tabs –
Young Coleman is a fine talent and Everton need the money too.
Hey Tabs. I hear you were absent from the Tollic frolic. What gives??
I think there is some minor problem with the server, and there is no Guvnor to fix it.
Lars, Chrome is a must. To clear cache, optimize your system, fix registry and all that try ccleaner, free download from here:
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner
I recommend it to everyone who doesn’t know about it. Free software and user friendly.
Would the crowd be prepared to cut Coleman a bit of slack ? π
Who’s fuelling these Coleman rumours ?
Guess there’s no smoke without fire …… π
I’m tired – better leave you serious pundits to it. π
N7 – Yep that’s all fair. “Back line” was what I really meant rather than the more generic “Defence”.
As for Vertonghen, I couldn’t agree more. Think he’s made that all star team on the back of a couple of goals rather than any defensive excellence.
Dr Z – Cheers. Will keep an eye on him.
8Ball – Out of London. Bad planning π
Don’t think Di Fascio’s knees are getting dirty tonight. 3-1.
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