Arsenal Overcome An Old Adversary
May 14th, 2013 by 'holic
It’s half past ten on a school night. With a tumbler of Scotland’s finest I am chilling, the blood pressure is returning to what passes for normal in this ever more frail frame. I have been witnessing end of season games with some meaning for more years than I would care to admit. Most of you will discover as you move through life the feelings don’t change. Rational people become irrational, elated, enraged, astonished. It was all there again tonight.
Fourth place isn’t a trophy, and we should be setting our sights higher from next season forth, but it was patently obvious tonight how important it is for those that have Arsenal blood running through their veins. It won’t go into any record books, but the lack of a crack at the one trophy to have avoided our grasp thus far would cause quite the reaction, and totally understandably.
Tonight was as good an opening spell as we have seen from the boys for a while. For around half an hour we fizzed the ball about and had Wigan chasing shadows. The first opportunity produced what might have been a most untypical and unlikely Arsenal goal. Theo Walcott, returning to his best in the last couple of weeks, produced one of many quality balls into the box and Santi Cazorla went close with a downward header. Yes, Santi Cazorla went close with a header!
Soon we had the goal our early dominance deserved. Another Theo cross was cleared for a Santi corner from which Lukas Podolski headed home his fourteenth goal of his debut season. Pressure relieved, we awaited the second that our control of the contest surely warranted. With the benefit of hindsight the possession we worked for would pay dividends later on as Wigan tired, but with Mike Dean in charge we could surely be forgiven for thinking a second goal was needed.
That seemed even more relevant when he denied Santi a free kick for an exaggerated fall when tugged back, only to award a free-kick to Wigan when Maloney leaned into Mikel Arteta. The equaliser was inevitable and duly arrived from the resulting free-kick. More frustration would result at the start of the second-half as Wigan, buoyed by the strike, were clearly in the ascendancy. Only a great save by Wojciech Szczesny denied Kone a second. Nerves were being tested.
Then, having exchanged chances in an increasingly open game we were ahead again. Santi set up Theo who celebrated wildly. It showed the determination of the side to get the job done. I’m not sure if the half-time talk included the instruction to take it beyond the reach of another dodgy decision, but five minutes later we had effectively sealed Wigan’s fate and put our own firmly in our hands. Santi’s third assist set up Poldi’s second goal.
Earlier frustrations were brushed aside as the ‘holic pound drifted back into my mind. Aaron Ramsey, having a mixed evening but undoubtedly putting in a shift, scored a clever fourth (yes, Santi got the assist!) and twenty minutes were left for my prediction to come true. It didn’t. A deflated Wigan were beaten at last, but what an effort they put in so soon after lifting the FA Cup on Saturday evening.
The post match news of Arteta’s injury took the gloss off the relieved celebrations. Hopefully the early signs are misleading and he will be fit to take his place on Sunday. Tonight he cropped up all over the place. Little Santi may have deservedly taken the man of the match honours for his quartet of assists but Walcott, effective in attack and defence, and Arteta were also critical to the securing of the three vital points.
So it is all up to what we do at Newcastle on Sunday. Of course we can hope Sunderland nick something at the brown and sticky end of Seven Sisters, in which case we will be ok, but we have to assume that the neighbours will see off the side we saved tonight. In that case only a win will do for us, and in an end of season where so much has been decided in the closing minutes in the various leagues who wouldn’t be surprised to see the battle for third and fourth place go down to the wire.
Think your blood pressure was up tonight? Wait until Sunday, my friends, wait until Sunday.
411 Responses to “Arsenal Overcome An Old Adversary”
I’ll have a large one
nudge nudge
2nd
Fourth place isnβt a trophy but finishing above Spuds will always feel like winning a trophy.
TOP 4
Still bloody soaked
Great summary boss. I have just returned and one of my companions was an Aussie paying his first visit to a footie game as he called it. He was thrilled by the intensity ,passion and spectacle. And that was off the pitch!
I thought it was hard to separate Theo and Santi tonight and Koscielny made some crucial interceptions at key moments. And Gibbs made a much better fist of marking McManaman than his predecessor at left back did last Saturday!
But Sunday is another day. I had concessions from Spurs fans during the game but I think there will be twists and turns yet. I just hope we can put in a proper performance up there and Sunderland surpass themselves.
With Higuain ,Jovetic, Gonalons, Williams, Grenier and Begovic all queuing up to join ( funny how these rumours coincide with season- ticket renewal time!) we can look forward to a glorious future. Three points on Saturday would be a start. St. Totteringham’s Day should come much sooner.
Uefa cup??
“scotland’s finest”
meh
get a lung fulla green
π
Got back from the stadium just over 30 mins ago. A few nervy moments, but the boys did well to get themselves up after a slow mid period. Gooners in good voice, too. Here’s to a win on Sunday (a game I fear I may miss).
H2H Home it went well
Apologies but mine went the other with a decent curry on top!
Holic I apologise for butting in in the last drinks but that just got me mad mate!
Got none cba π
Nothing on special at the moment.
Did a half case of Jameson from Sainsbury a fortnight ago.
Hoping the Dew crops up soon at a couple of quid off π
Tonight we were singing in the rain. A proper team performance over 90 mins reaped its just rewards. It now all rests at Looney Toons on Sunday……who said our season was over in February?
Good stuff ‘holic.
Once again the occasion got the better of me and my self imposed jaunt on the wagon was cut short, beer was needed to calm the nerves, especialy when Mike Dean layed on the perfcect assist for Wigans equaliser on the stroke of HT. To be honest I didn’t catch the whole of the second half, I missed Woj’s save, but did manage to catch all the goals, luckily the game will be repeated Thursday morning, timer is set on the recorder and the wagon has been stalled until Monday morning, there’s no way I’ll survive Sunday tee totaling.
I still have this massive Zobrowka sweating at me!
ye tried green spot ?
Let me have it Arthur π
Yum.
What a game and this is what we are all about first half was shte especially after we scored!
Mmm, Ε»ubrΓ³wka
oh the one with the grass in it ?
lovely with a drop of apple juice
We let them back in and after the break we all know what has happened and Zobrowka took them all!…..
Wigan was shit in the second unlike in the second against the Blue Cunts up North……
We have won and if anyone thinks we did it in a bad way then please for goodness of our night sleep walk away!
CBA
Apple juice the best!
Never seen it over here cba, but have heard wondrous tales of it.
One day I am coming over, just to try everything we cannot get our hands on π
there’s no grass in green spot – nice drop – ‘hol – spensive though
there’s grass in Ε»ubrΓ³wka
unfortunately
there’s no grass in me
Anyway next time we are together Holics lets take a walk in the park please π
Wengers not a fool, he cuningly avoided to win a trophy this year…
Don’t believe me?
Check the fakhts;
Last years Cupwinners:
CL – The Chavs – Di Mateo = SACKED
PL – Oily Mancs – Mancini = Got the Spanish Archer
LC – L’poo – Dalglish = Gone with the wind.
FA Cup – See above.
It’s genius I tells ya. π
CBA did you know that this piece of grass only grows in Polska?
H2H Sorry fella I was too busy chasing kids into beds!
Grass?
Oh we have all sorts of “grass” here!
Just pay for me and Scruz to courier it over. π
ATG
wee drop of apple juice – fanbloodytastic
.
‘hol
you’d be carried shoulder high
shoulder high
LuPo is the man.
And I’m amazed how rare are the Gunners, in this glorious virtual space, who can really appriciate him.
He was, and is, one of the best this season.
Don’t give a shit about expensive. Flavour decides market price.
Especially when it comes to whiskey π
i should warn you
i have a bad shoulder
One green grass like that and this is what Polish league is all about heh?
I think we should do a decent comp if someone wants to wind this bottle.
Holic any pointers?
good man , ‘hol
you put an “E” in your whisky
i wouldn’t do me front windees with an e- bereft whisky
or me corns
or
herselfs lumbago
Cba,
Our “grass” would cure that shoulder of yours. Lots of it is medicinal MJ, you know. π
Good stuff Guv. I think Theo played well today because he actually played like a winger today, stuck to the wing, helped in defense, put in nice crosses and most importantly chose the right times to make his runs inside without choking Poldi. Hats off to him for that performance and also every one of those players that stepped into that pitch last night. We’re blessed to have Santi in our team. Hope fully Arteta is not seriously hurt and we have him back for the weekend.
All in all a very productive for us, thank God!
Just back from the pub. I`ve been thinking about this bloody game every few seconds throughout the day, mostly thinking the worst, so I had to celebrate/wind down. One more game, one more game in front of 55,000 of the screaming Toon Army. Let`s just hope we`re really up for it and they reall are already `on the beach`.
Islay malts, cba.
Be fair.
They are the mutts.
norcal
i make a bit of my own liniment
iffin you get what i’m sayin’
nudge
nudge
π
.
aw jeez
pulled one of me winks
SSYella.
It’s not that I don’t appreciate Poldi, but I know he can be better. I hope he gets the surgery he requires during the off season, because if he comes back firing on all cylinders then we will have one hell of a player.
Zobrowka still up for grabs fellas π
What year did the Holic for the first time tried Wisniowka?
OK, go on then Arthur… π
SSY, I think you will find that people in this fine establishment appreciate Poldi very well, some even prefer him to Giroud.
Personally, I think he doesn’t have much of a top, lone, strikers movement but has deadly efficiency, he doesn’t mess about, he just puts the ball in net in the most efficient way possible and for that reason alone I will always find space in our starting eleven for him. Before the game I said he was due ‘a goal or five’ he ended getting just two, I’m happy.
Three tries …..who ever gets the closest wins the bottle! Holic do you mind at all?
Lets get the permission from the landlord first…
#39
whoever you are !
π
yes i admit – i was just being a big david coverdale
as far as i’m concerned – a good drop is a good drop is a good drop
and
when you find a good sippin liquor
as that murderin bastard marvin gaye senior’s – genius genius son said
“oh mercy mercy me”
Lets continue this tomorrow Gooners!
Arthur, did I tell you the year before?
I do remember. Hope I told you right π
Dont need to win it…..hence the offering! holic!
night all
night ‘hol
nytol
Not been in too long. Still drying out.
Great summary holic.
The evening started well with a meet up with a few old faces in the Tollie. Then off for the main event. We started like an express train, took out put off the gas for awhile. Got Deaned and then picked it up again. In the end it was a comfortable victory that will hopefully see us arrive in the North East full of confidence.
Many positives tonight. I also think Theo is hitting some form again. He has been criticised many times for his delivery. Tonight he put in three perfect balls from out wide in the first 15 minutes. He also put in a real shift all night. I was very pleased to see Rambo get his goal. Not his best night as others have said, but he deserves that for his performances of late.
2 great strikes from Poldi and continued magic from Santi. How good has he been this year????
The Grove rocked tonight. The crowd were fantastic. There was no moaning apart from a few choice words directed towards Dean.
The evening concluded with Wigan relegated and us needing one more win. Having had two very enjoyable trips to Wigan in recent years with the saucepans, I for one was sad to see them relegated. But needs must. The customary final lap of appreciation then took place. It was noticeable that Bacs was the last of those in the group. The waving at the crowd tended to suggest that this was the last we would see of him in an Arsenal shirt. If true then that would not be a surprise. That said I am sure that I will not be alone in paying tribute to a real warrior and to someone who has served our club very well.
Bedtime. Got to be up in 5 hours.
Keep the faith.
First time? We beat United in the Cup Final that year. Continued to frequent the bosses Polish Club into the year we lost to Trevor Brooking’s header. In fact ever since when I have seen it on special I have glugged it π
Arthur knows…
steve T
cracker stuff
.
i can’t wait to get back in the saddle next season – after a very long time
wallet permitting
(d’you know how much a new roof on your house costs )
not your house
mine
not that i’m
wha
.
eff off !
.
deary me
Holic, I think Lukas headed in his fifteenth of the season and is on 16 total now.
11 in the league.
1in the FA cup vs Swansea
4 in the UCL.
Much as I saw it Holic, though you need to learn how to spell whiskey. Some of us have standards, you know. Only a little under two hours ago I left young tabs and young zico in the Tollie. The latter has a 9.00 meeting in Manchester. Do they do lock-ins at the Tollie? It’s his only chance of getting to Heathrow in time. If he goes to sleep, he is done for.
Meanwhile, on the fit a front, good job Arsenal, three more points on Sunday please.
Glenmorangie all round, even for the philistines who put ice or an ‘e’ in their dram.
Bloody iPad, whiskey = whisky
Fit a = fitba
theres only one bath
be they an i , e , or moo
π
@58: Bath, does “fitba” mean something that Chelsea hasn’t seen for a while? Not familiar with the term. π
Great win last night. Sweaty, sweaty stuff. Can’t wait to see a fitter Pod next season. Such an exciting player at his best.
d’you know anyone delivers coal
#the truth
my bunkers bereft
and my family are going cold
.
i keep them up for badness
well done
coal boy
tell that to my grandchildrens eyes
oh
and
yeah
hello schnookums
i like what you’ve done with your hair
.
racey
.
jeez they were a shite band
d’you remember them
brock of the highest order
anyhoo
some big girls do
some big girls are
‘hol
this site is shite
i for one am withdrawing my previous niceties
you are a bad man and bad things happen to bad men
(i caught me shin on the back gate – luckily i’m still covered by my previous tetanus – next fortnight – was told to be a lifetime tetanus – well – i hope it fuckin is or the doctor was in cahoots with the farmer that owned that fargin wolf- and i was injected with three different shades of morose – but – anyfuckinhoo)
as i say
.
shite prevails
fuckinell – i’ve got racey in me head now
hooray
bullshit wins in the end
poorly constructed arguments and re-hashed shite are no match for me
*flexes*
and another thing . . . . . . . .
Oooops, I missed ‘holic’s >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> in last round. Reposting…
Actually the game was played live here starting 6.45am, so watched while having breakfast in bed. Very comfy, but a drink would have helped! No, not that early. Thank Dennis we have a second half team that can fix our first half teamβs shortcomings is all I can say.
Not taking anything for granted at this stage. Yes, we put 7 past the Toons at home, but we have struggled against clubs lower than them this year β and thereβs no second chance.
That said we SHOULD win and SHOULD score enough to give us third if Chelsea drop points and, as Dr F said earlier, Chelski have a big one today and will be facing a useful side in Everton who will likely be wanting to give Moyes a fond farewell.
One more good one you gunners!!!!
Oskar
Woj’s save was an answer to everyone. That’s now 7 points he gave us.
2 vs Sunderland, 2 vs qpr and 3 today.
I’ll say it again, I don’t think we should waste/spend any of our transfer kitty on a GK. Perhaps only a Schwartzer type, not a Begovic or Mignolet.
A GK’s job is to win points and not cost points for his team. Woj cost us 0 point and won 7.
That’s a great return from a keeper.
(I say he gave us 3 points today because the save on Kone would have made it very difficult to come back from).
Interesting to see TV on for the last dying moments. Farewell to the fans do you think?
Yes, I noticed Santi’s contribution. He’s always been a great asset to the club, but had a poor run in recent weeks, imo. Back to his best today. Well, almost his best. Assists were wonderful, but still room for more improvement in general play.
And Poldi of course has been under-used most of the season, imo.
Oskar
Did santi have 4 assists? is it a record?
HK, yes he did! Don’t know if it’s a record, but it is a remarkable feat.
http://web.orange.co.uk/article/gaffer/Most-assists-in-a-Prem-game
Not sure how accurate that website is but apparently 4 assists in a game is the most assists in a Prem match and the record is jointly held by Fabregas, Reyes, Bergkamp and Adepaymore.
Cheers ‘holic! Dean apart was quite pleasant viewing for a change.
Nice report ‘holic. Hope all is well with you.
Morning all
Big thumbs up for Shezzer and Kos for their timely interventions last night.
Big thumbs down for the lazy agenda driven commentary from Tyler and Quinn. I think Quinn tries to resist it, but then gets swept along by the inanity.
Big FA enquiry into the Milk Monitor (thanks to @Flannyballs) that is Mike Dean. Oh no. That won’t happen.
Lets trash Newcastle 5-0 in the first half come Sunday. The worst at the end is still a 5-4 win. Maybe 4-0 is sufficient, we don’t have Diaby (they don’t have Barton) this time.
It is depressing to think we had bailed out Sunderland last night. They have nothing to fight for come Sunday.
Regarding Dean.
Looked into the statistics a bit. Even if that win percentage of 7% the last three seasons with Mike Dean as ref looks very low, it is not really as bad as it seems.
No. Bare with me.
I just counted the amounts of the games he has refereed us in, forgot the exact number before getting to the computer, but I believe it was like 39. We’ve won 15 of them. It is true that the latter years is abysmal but that might be because he has been promoted. The last three seasons, with only like two exceptions (QPR away loss and Fulham home draw), we’ve played teams like Utd, Chelsea, City, Spurs who can all be quite good on their day, as we know. So, one reason that the stats looks much worse the last few seasons might well be that Dean does referee more “big” games. Our win percentage from the early years is much much much better, giving us an average win percentage of 38 percent or so over our entire association with Mike Dean. And we’ve not exactly been world beaters all the time the last few years, have we?
Now – open for discussion is still the debate if we would actually have lost all those games against the top teams the past few seasons had anyone else been in charge of them. I still believe he is biased, based on my very biased view of just what goes on on the pitch. He surely is a cunt, and he did not cover himself in glory yesterday. Just wanted to look past those first numbers.
And if anyone after this thinks he is a good guy –
Remember this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLdMNZR6QDM
Erhm. “Bare with me”.
Doh.
Oh well.
*waits for cba and wolfie to just rip him apart*
Ooo, bareback discussion π
I think that he got promoted because he started reffing games like an ass, not the other way around. Some fella did a really good write-up about refs and the way they adjust their officiating style to suit the teams (can’t remember who it was now) and there is a clear before and after when it comes to Mike Dean and Arsenal.
But then again, as an Arsenal supporter I would think that! No doubt other clubs feel that he is biased against them as well…
Good evening (weather aside, incredible downpour), and Bordeaux in the Cup final as a bonus (thanks ‘holic).
Ray Parlour was having a couple of pints in the Tollie early on, pie and mash at piebury corner was delicious, then the crowds started arriving and it got extremely busy in the pub!
Sorry I didn’t see you Le Bob.
Didn’t see the baffs leave either, but I can confirm no lock-in and zico and tabs left just a bit before me, I think zico’s plan was still do drink coffee all night and not sleep…..
Hope he got his plane all right.
Lovely write-up Holic, I especially liked the parting shot! Wait till Sunday indeed.
Do Newcastle have anything to play for? Haven’t they been quite gash for most of the second half of the season?
I think I feel ‘more relaxed, with provisos’ about Sunday. Still, happy Wednesday all! Here’s to a Benfica victory!
Camberwell – Newcastle have indeed been terrible in recent months, like Norwich they’ve been falling fast and can probably be thankful that there were two teams as bad as Reading and QPR this year, otherwise either of them could have been in big trouble. Hopefully we can keep their rotten form going for one more game.
And this site is painfully slow today. Has the server been at the Tollie?
Good morning all, and a fine morning it is too, punctuated as it is by the aftertaste of 3 delicious points washed down with some Mike Dean tears. Can anyone pop around his place to make sure the poor lamb is ok?
It was a tense, nervous affair, but in the end the job was done, and the Arsenal Opposition Self-Belief Donation Bank is apparently not in operation anymore. Too often in the past, we have gifted opponents the confidence they needed to get out of trouble by gifting them points. For a while last night, it looked like that annoying habit might be continuing, but we eventually did what needed to be done. Chesney made a huge save at 1-1, and if we do complete the job on Sunday, that save should perhaps be considered as being on par with Kieran’s last-ditch tackle at West Brom last season.
The only bad news to come out of the game was the injury to our lego-haired maestro, and while we hope he will recover in time for Sunday, I think Le Boss might be inclined towards playing the Verminator in midfield which is where he filled in when he came on last night and didn’t look out of place. I know playing 90+ minutes of high pressure football in a position is vastly different from filling in temporarily at the end of a game, but TV5 could surprise us all.
Here’s looking forward to a win on Sunday, no matter how scrappy it may be.
‘kin hell…..
I made it…..but feel like Ian Dowie looks……
My contribution to the meeting thus far has mainly been limited to animal-in-pain like noises.
Back later…..
86 well done Dr Z……you would be at conversation level then if your meeting was in the land of the Orcs. π
heh, good luck zico
Charlie, it’s a shame we can’t relegate everyone who deserves to go down, ie. Wigan, QPR, Stoke and Newcastle.
CoR.
Fitba is north of the border speak for football.
Oh, and morning all.
Good luck zico.
Heh zico,
Normal Scottish dialect then. π
Glad you made it ok, anyway.
And cheers for that pint – they’re on me first game next season. π
Good showing of ‘holics yesterday despite the main man’s absence.
Apparently if we win 2-1 and Chelsea draw 0-0 on Sunday we’ll be level on points, goal diff and goals scored, which would mean having a 3rd place playoff.
Loic Remy arrested on suspicion of rape. Jeez, Redknapp can pick ’em.
And Arsene sure knows how to avoid ’em like a plague.
Camberwell – Never mind a playoff, I’m not sure I could take the nerves if we’re 2-1 up with a few minutes to go on Sunday!
Great to see a clutch of ‘Holics last night including the Celt contingent.
Despite getting drenched a couple of times it was a great evening at The HoF: Atmosphere, singing, action, goals and pantomime villains were all top notch. The Tollie was rocking too.
Hope to to see a few you at The Emirates Cup for the first silverware of next season.
NB for red-eyed zico: Sleep is for Sp*rs fans.
Great summary there Holic. Really appreciate your work.
Describes my own 2hrs rollercoaster-ride i’ve been on last night perfectly.
Now our lads need to keep their heads in the air and their feet on the ground for Sunday and we will make it!
COYG
Looking forward to having Giroud back on Sunday.
Hopefully he’ll be rested and raring to go.
COYG
Cazorla assist: whacked of the miniscule pods of the cheating Mike Dean
Giroud and Jack(?) back N7 with Arteta willing them on from the touchline.
Just about recovered from last night, we could have done without the final 20mins of the first half, when we let Wigan back in the game.
In the end we got our act together and Wigan ran out of steam but we made it hard for ourselves and half time was a very nervy 15mins for all Gooners.
With so much riding on the game it was disappointing to see so many empty seats.Perhaps the weather and Sky’s coverage deterred some ST holders but it was the final home match of the season. Just shows the battle for 4th place holds little interest for some fans.
Santi,Theo and Poldi took the eye but it was 2 clearances from Kos and a great save from my friend Szczesny that saved us from what might have been goodbye to CL football next season. The special moment of the game, for me, was Rambo’s run and great finish, a fitting reward for the lad, who has received less than encouraging support from some sections of the Arsenal faithful.
So on to Newcastle and the final performance. A worry about Arteta but we can only hope for the best. Let’s hope there’s TV coverage and we do ourselves justice, 3 points or bust!
As always COYRs
Thanks for the definition H2H, must put it to good use from now on!
N7,
It looks like you wouldn’t agree but I’m not sure Giroud would start on Sunday. Theo, Santi and Poldi were combining well last night and, while Poldi is clearly not fit, I’m not convinced disrupting things for one game, after Giroyds three match absence, would be a good idea.
Giroud on the bench for me, for if and when Poldi completely conks out.
On the other hand, AW may prefer Giroud’s defensive qualities away from home ‘cos Pardieu will probably resort to long balls and set pieces.
Said I wasn’t going to get into all this team selection navel gazing, so yep, you’re probably right.
Easy this managerial malarkey, innit.
And yes, good to see a band of Holics under the brolly last night.
Zico, Tabs, Ollie, Steve T, bath and bath the younger, True Storey, top man snowy, and a couple of familiar faces whose names I must learn next season.
You were missed Guvnor, but a proud turnout nonetheless.
Did I read above that cba might be over next season – doubtless packing out the Tollie garden with a collection of dogs and farmyard animals.
Bring them to the Tottenham game, cba. You’ll probably get most of them in the away end. π
Hey TS,
I missed that – a strike AND Tabsed it. Impressive.
And indeed, the cheating Mike Dean.
You would have to be a very generous person to put so many of his decisions down to inconsistency.
Heh – Trev @ 104
Hard to know what Arsene will do. This season he’s clearly been keen to stick with a winning team, where possible, but I think he might elect to shuffle the deck a little on the final day, given that we played midweek and the Geordies did not.
I’d expect Monreal at left back, possibly Vermaelen in for Arteta and it wouldn’t stun me if he moved Cazorla inside, switched Poldi back out to the wing and reinstated the HFB up top. That said, the early departure of Rosicky last night would suggest that the Czech will start.
Whatever he ends up doing, I’m good with it. I have to say that, for all his faults, Wenger has put on a bit of a managerial masterclass since the NLD – considering we’ve fielded half fit players, we’ve been without Jack, Giroud’s suspension, the need to drop his captain, the switching of goalkeepers, sticking with Ramsey, etc. He’s really showed his experience in the run in.
COYG
trev, getting animals in the end is just what i would imagine happening in the tottenham away section…
nice post, holic. thanks for your patience with my lack thereof in yesterday’s postgame drinks!
Yep, good points re AW there.
We’ve had some pretty dire performances but alongside big upheavals.
A clean sheet and one mishit shot deflected in off three black and white striped arses will do me just fine on Sunday.
Watching it is going to be a health hazard though.
I told you we’d murderize them.
BMBD
Wigan, that is.
BMBD
Yet another sane, balanced report by the barman. cheers.
To read other sources, one would think that the match was one-sided to Wigan and we were lucky. Sheesh.
4-1 thankyou much.
Onto Newcastle! and finish the job.
Just taking a look at the season stats, and with one game to go here’s an interesting one:
Utd have scored 8 goals less than last season.
Arsenal have scored 3 goals less than last season.
Utd have let in 5 goals more than last season.
Arsenal have let in 12 goals less than last season.
Don’t know what it all means, but it appears to suggest that the move of the Dutchman did not have the effect you might have expected last August.
N7,
That’s weird. I was told that pursestrings added 25goals to yanited and took 25 from us? You mean there is not a goal difference of 50 between us and yanited? π
Seriously, I do think we need a clinical finisher and a healthy poldi to really see the full potential of our attack. I liked yesterday’s interchange between the front 3. Their movement kept Wigan off balance. Adding a mobile clinical finisher to that mix will be tasty.
Cheers
Cheers Trev. As I was saying yesterday, Mike Deanthec*nt’s stats regarding games involving The Arsenal belie any mathematical probability that he is not of The Church of Harry.
Afternoon All,
Great report ‘H. Very little to add to your fine summary and what has already been said in many of the drinks.
Great to see us start so positively. When we decide to play with that sort of tempo, there are few sides that can match us. Poldi’s opener, (though it owed as much to hapless defending as it did to inspired attacking), was a fitting reward for our harrying, our passing and our ability to play a game of such importance without fear.
The second goal seemed inevitable. When it didn’t arrive, the jitters set in around the half hour mark, and Wigan managed to gain some sort of foothold in the game. Even then, I couldn’t really see them scoring, and it was perhaps ineluctable that Mr Dein would play a central role in their equaliser, the prize cunt.
Even given Dein’s cuntheadery, I still think Schez was at fault. Great free kick though it was, it was only ever going in one corner. Schez’s positioning, (both for this free kick and the one 10 minutes earlier and which was smacked into the wall), evoked memories of Seaman’s position when he failed to stop that Koeman free kick in the “Do I not like that” World Cup qualifier all those years ago. I thought he gave Maloney far too much to aim at and paid the price.
Cue a very nervy HT interval. Those nerves carried over into the first 15 minutes of the second half, the only period of the game where Wigan posed the greater threat. Whilst Santi could and should have restored our advantage, Schez redeemed himself with a wonder save. 2-1 to Wigan at that point and the consequences don’t bear thinking about.
As it was, parity was retained and Theo restored our advantage. He was simply braver than their keeper, and his goal was his reward for an outstanding display. More of the same on Sunday please Theo.
At this point the intricacies of the relegation dogfight played to our advantage. Knowing that only a win would do, the size of Wigan’s task, perhaps coupled with their weekend exertions, saw them visibly wilt.
Goals 3 and 4, (great to see Aaron finally score), duly arrived. The game was done, but the relief of the “stranger-hugging” celebrations betrayed the fact that the victory had not been as comfortable as the scoreline might have suggested.
The positives were many. Kos was imperious, and once again with Per, formed a solid backline that has not always been a defining feature of our performances this season. Gibbsy handled McManaman with an assurance that had been singularly lacking in the performance of our former LB at the weekend. Sagna had a solid game to mark what is probably his last home appearance. A true warrior, he has had a brilliant Arsenal career, and it is very sad that he will probably leave the Club without having marked his time with a trophy. Such is life.
In the middle, I thought Arteta was the pick, (whoever it is that does the Player ratings over at Arseblog saw a different game to me), and he will be a big miss on Sunday if he doesn’t make it. I thought both Ramsey and Rosicky were off key for large parts of the game. Hopefully Aaron’s goal, a reward for all his endeavour this past couple of months, will do wonders for his confidence. We will need them both to be firing on all cylinders come Sunday.
Santi was simply majestic. In a season that otherwise will not really live long in the memory, it has been a real privilege to watch Santi play football. A little genius. Theo had his best game since signing his contract. His goal was, as alluded to above, a fitting reward for a performance of sustained energy and disciplined menace. There’s a real player there. Let’s hope Arsene can find a way to get him to tap into that kind of focus more often.
Good to see Poldi grab a brace. He’s clearly not fully fit, but I don’t think that his performances up front have been as poor as some have described. There is a calm assurance about Poldi. Prior to kick off, and a bag of nerves, I walked past a TV screen in the Tollie. There he was warming up, grinning, confident, and looking for all the world as if he was just about to have a kickabout with a few mates in the Park. That kind of self-belief is catching. He’d be in my team to play up at Newcastle.
So The Tollie was a happy place to be post game. Good to see Ollster, Dr Z, SteveT, Snowy, Trev, Bath, Bath junior and TS. I drank far too much of course, but hey fuck it, last home game for 3 months.
Onto Newcastle then. All to play for. Pass me the paracetamol.
Spot on tabs.
Afternoon everyone! π
That was a busy morning and afternoon….
Funny we still might play Chelski for the third spot
Well played, TaBS, I agree with every word of your report except that I think that Chesney did not do anything wrong for their goal, he positioned the wall to cover one side and positioned himself partially to the other side(as he should) it’s a pity the wall didn’t keep to their own side of the bargain(Poldi didn’t jump) and they scored from a nicely struck free-kick.
Tabs
There is a saying in Polish – What you have poisoned yourself with use it as an antidote π
Cheers N7.
Fair enough Cent, we’ll have to agree to disagree. I thought Schez gave himself too much to do. Maloney was always going to direct his shot to Schez’s left.
Heh Arthur, will do!! π
To N7 at 113 you can add that RvP has scored 29 goals for Man U this season, 25 in the Premier League, including 3 penalties. Arteta takes our penalties. LP and OG who were bought to replace RvP’s goals have between them scored 33 goals to date, 22 in the Premier League. Given the chances they failed to convert, they could and should have considerably exceeded his total.
But for some calamitous errors in a number of games this squad would be sitting second in the league today. They seem to have worked to avoid such errors and if they are supplemented with two or three additions in the summer transfer window I am very optimistic about next season.
Great report Tabs. I saw it like you for the most part. I do disagree about Woj being at fault for their goal. I watched it several times and just ended up accepting that it was a brilliant freekick.
I agree with you about arseblog’s ratings of Arteta. His usual perfect metronomic passing was a little off but his tactical awareness, covering for others, workrate and desire to win were exceptional.
Theo also had possibly his best overall game for Arsenal. I saw a desire and determination in him that I’ve never seen before.
Let’s murder the Magpies on Sunday and claim our space at Europe’s top table.
What the Impeccable person said.
I’m loving the antidote…… 8)
I take it the meeting is over π
Must have been a right pain.
Agree with Mr Impec there. Can’t fault Woj for their goal, ’twas a brilliant free kick
The meeting is over – now in another meeting.
Meet Arthur π
Ha! π
H2H @ 41
Even with 60-70 % of his potentials he improved us enormously.
And yes, I can’t wait too for him to be fully fit. He is a footballing monster. Up with the best in the world.
I watched him a long time ago when he played for Koln, then Bayern, then Koln again (!?) and finally came where he, artistically, belong. He’s a cannon.
SSY @ 130: You seem to be a die-hard Poldi fan. He is a very very good player indeed. And despite being half fit and all, his overall return of goals and assists per minutes played I think would be among the top five in Engalnd this season. A very assured finisher and when fit can really do damage in speedy counter-attacks as well as we had seen.
I think his career needed a bit of rejuvenation as it was starting to fade a bit. Following the failure with Bayern and return to Koln his goal scoring records for the national team also had taken a dip. He had a very good season with Koln last year but his international form has not improved that much and he is now fighting with the new superlatively talented generation.
However, unlike you I would not say that he is with the best in the world. If anything, he has not really fulfilled the promise of his earlier years and he needs to have a sustained period of excellence in top level club football to be counted among the best. I actually think that the next season, fitness permitting, Poldi-Giroud-Santi-Theo (and a genuine predatory striker) can provide us with a collective attacking impetus that we haven’t seen for a few years in Arsenal and if that happens Poldi would have a platform to fully showcase his abilities.
Arsenal Ladies are on ESPN in the UK, for those who do not wish to watch Chelsea lose the Europa League Final
N7 @ 107: I think Arteta’s availability may also contribute to the decision about Giroud on Sunday. In Giroud’s absence Arteta’s work rate had to go up because there really was no one from the attacking players to drop deep and hold the ball and bring others into play which Giroud does well. So Arteta, and Ramsey, ended up having to switch between attacking nd defensive duties more frequently (repeatedly pressing forward and dropping deep in tempo with the flow of the game) while also positionally covering for each other instead of being able to be more tactical and rely on Giroud as the fulcrum of the attack. If Arteta is no available Jack would most likely start and he cannot simply be expected to put in that type of ultra-disciplined performance.
Jack is fundamentally a forward-driving dribbler and if he is playing in place of Arteta Ramsey will simply have to sit deep — as he did very well a few times Arteta was absent this season — to protect the back four unconditionally and release TR7/Jack on forward runs.
That would mean Giroud would be needed for the hold and link-up play in the attacking third.
Also, even if Arteta is playing given Poldi’s lack of full physical fitness and that Newcastle is physically a more imposing team (than QPR and Wigan) Giroud may be relied upon to win that side of the battle in both penalty areas from set pieces etc.
Another option in Arteta’s absence (as Jack too is not fully fit) would be to play TR7 in the box-to-box role, Santi as the creative midfield, Poldi on left and Theo on right with Giroud down the middle.
Excellent analysis Dr F.
zico, I hope your meeting with Arthur went well!
tabs, for once I slightly disagree with you! I don’t think Woj did much wrong for their goal. It went into the corner that the wall should cover and if Poldi (whom the ball did tough) had jumped an inch or two higher instead of barely leaving the ground then it would never have gone in.
Faustus, I think Arsene will want to play Giroud from the start on Sunday. Even if we scored four last night, we struggled badly against both QPR and ManU in the physical game in central attacking areas.
It will be a long wait for Sunday, I have no idea what to do on Saturday to be honest. I have nothing planned, guess I will have to come up with something to do to prevent myself from going mad from thinking too much about Sunday.
But in the meantime, my thoughts on the other two games…
Chelsea-Everton
Had this been the reverse fixture, i.e. Everton at home, I would actually have been fairly certain that Everton would at least have got a draw out of it. But they have already played their last home game and given Moyes a sending off, and I wonder how motivated they will be for this one. They are a bloody hard team to beat, that’s for sure (they’ve lost one less than we have have, only the Manc teams have lost less and that’s only one less), but their statistics away to top four teams is overall pretty abysmal. On the other hand Chelsea have had a rather heavy schedule and have looked tired in later stages of games lately and were quite lucky that Benteke brain-farted himself out of the game on Saturday. At the time of writing, they are level at half time in the Europa League final and it remains to be seen how that game will affect them. But all in all Chelsea should be the stronger team, unfortunately.
Probability of an Everton win: 5%.
Probability of a draw: 25%.
Totnum-Sunderland
Well, as much as we would all like Sunderland to produce an upset here I just can’t see it happening. They have, apart from the Newcastle game, been absolutely awful the last few months and in my eyes if anything become an even worse team after Di Canio took over. I wouldn’t hesitate to say that lately they have been even worse than QPR in many aspects. Fletcher is out with his season-ending injury and apparently they have a few others injured and/or suspended as well. There is the argument that being safe may set them free, but that is countered by the fact that they are a fucking awful team and that no amount of freedom will make them play significantly better. Totnum aren’t under any pressure either, they have got nothing to lose and can attack without thinking too much about it.
Probability of a Sunderland win: 0%. Sorry, but it just won’t happen.
Probability of a draw: 1%. And that is being kind to Sunderland.
Cunts
French commentators really haven’t been paying attention:
‘He’s a striker who doesn’t require many chances to score a goal’….
Yeah, right.
Good post, Lars, although
‘At the time of writing, they are level at half time in the Europa League final’
It didn’t take too long. Did you get the jinxing ball back from Trev?
Ollie, I fail to see how reporting on the scoreline could ever be a jinx π
Would love a bit of extra time here…
Nah, I want a late Benfica winner in normal time. Bored with this game.
Fuck. Jinxed it.
Who did these utter cnuts sell their souls to?
Fuck me, I take the jinxing mantle all back to myself.
Utter bottling cunts though: lost the title (unless there’s a miracle) in injury time last weekend, and now this.
Fuck off Benfica π
You’re only an amateur, N7: I applied the proper kiss of death at 9.33, not 7 minutes earlier with a half-arsed scenario wish π
Tried to watch the game but actually fell asleep in front of the TV for all but the last 15 minutes. From what I saw you can’t say Chelsea didn’t deserve to win.
I’ll just say what I’ve said before – neither of these sides should even be in the final. This whole ‘eight teams from the CL group stage get another chance in the Europa League’ thing is stupid.
Well, congratulations to Chelsea for finishing 17th in the Champions League 2012/13.
Yeah, that’s true, Charlie. They practically make it seem like it’s better to finish 3rd in the group than reach another stage of the CL. Which is ridiculous.
Charlie, very much with you on that one.
And I know we got to the UEFA Cup final in 2000 in similar fashion, but it’s still a heavily flawed idea. If you go out of the CL qualifying stages, fair enough, go to the Europa League and play in that for the season. But once you’re in the CL group stages, that’s the competition you’re in, and there shouldn’t be some get out clause. Chelsea got given a fifth shot at a trophy this year for being too crap to qualify from their group, so now they can crow over silverware yet again, whilst we get no second chances.
WTF, Cunterry really has changed into his kit again… what a wanker.
thetruth – what’s it like over there in 1990?
How a vile and despicable club like them get so fortunate is unbelievable…talk about getting rewarded for not being good enuf in the first place…. damn.. its a cruel world..
Lars:
a) why did you keep the telly on? :s
b) I could have told you he’d do that, it was so fucking obvious he’d do that if they won as soon as you knew he couldn’t play in the final.
You knew it, I knew it, the entire planet knew it.
Anyway, hopefully the following can still happen:
– We beat Newcastle
– Everton beat Chelsea
– Dortmund stuff Bayern
– Chelsea’s outrageous luck runs out next season
Unbelievable Chelsea cuntery.
And bellendry too;)
Looks like I’m pretty much in a minority of one re Wigan’s goal last night. Fair enough – maybe I was a bit harsh.
Heh Ollie π
http://www.football365.com/ref365/8714207/Referee365
I really have to laugh at some of this:
Under a bit of pressure, the Spaniard limply fell to the ground searching for a free-kick. He didn’t get one. Mr Dean correctly spotted that Cazorla has simply gone to ground, thinking it unlikely that he’d be able to create something under such attention
Er, have you ever watched Cazorla play, you idiot?
Wanker Terry. Full of class again.
Chavs giving it large. Does make me laugh. Champions of Europe they cry????? That’s like saying that the winner of Palace V Watford are the champions of England??????
You’ve got to laugh.
Nah, tabs, I’ve seen that view elsewhere, and possibly his positioning wasn’t completely sound.
But it was still an extremely good and precise free-kick.
Yes, Santi is very poor with the ball at his feet. I’m sure he panicked.
Not harsh Tabs. Just plain wrong. End of really.
π
Yep Ollie that’s pretty much my view.
Never wrong Steve π
Chelsea fans today, reported on radio, wanting to see their team create history by holding both European titles simultaneously.
Strange to be so keen to demonstrate how far your team has fallen in under twelve months.
Speaking of bell ends Ollie.
All sorts of circumcision jokes spring to mind with regard to MNB, but they are all far too unpleasant. Just thought I’d share that thought with you all.
Bloody hell, the guvnor’s been in with the flyspray. Good stuff.
@Tabs – “Never wrong Steve”
Blimey, has Tabs had a sex change ? π
Decent analysis of the other two games Lars.
I’m with you. Can’t see Sunderland getting anything at the Swamp. I do however think Everton might get something. The Chavs are running on empty and surely they used up all their luck tonight?
All about us. Win and I think we will finish third. Anything less and we’ll miss out.
Trev – Haha π
Just got to win the game. I am not bothered what happens elsewhere.
In Arsene we trust…
#fullkitwanker currently trending on Twitter. Although I have no fucking clue what that means π
Won’t get any classier there with Mourinho back in charge.
But we need to get better at closing out opportunities to win things.
Yossi looked more pissed off than any medal winner I’ve ever seen!
Would be great to beat them in a play-off for third place.
Cardoso would do nicely as our striker.
Sunderland will equalise in the last minute on Sunday. Seb Larsson free-kick.
I have just been told that Demba Ba picked up a winners medal????
He was cup tied??????
Full of class.
Ttg, Cardozo as our striker? I will pass.
who and a half pound o wha ?
‘holic
sleepin on the job
i said a wha in the who now ?
please
filter my shite
aww
jeez
here i go again
i haven’t back drunk
but
i hope
none of you have made fun of my erudition
–
i’m between
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaSQNMmezRQ
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La-Ya2zCnaM
What the fuck was that second one cba?
Man up FFS π
i’ve organised a heap
yup
a whole heap
of
hank snow fans
to reighn /rain/rein/etc
stuff and etcs on yer head
.
*waits on results*
.
in other news gimme a P.O. box address and i’ll send you green spot
tis a lovely drop
you should give it a go
aww jeez
just call me – scare off the lurkers
oy
and a wee vey
.
no transatlantics ?
.
you have failed ‘holic
.
i’m giving you a bit of a hard stare !
herself just put a charge o dinner down
evening !
toodle oo
So Chelski get a trophy for winning 17 th place in the champions league and people beat AW with a stick that he views qualifying for CL and the Β£30 million that comes with it like a trophy?
I want to win a trophy just as much as anyone else, but perspective helps.
Wigan win the FA cup and get relegated. They got 3 days of joy and now at least one season of playing in the championship. Not something I would trade for. How about liverpoo and their shiny corporate cup trophy? That was a great boost for them now wasn’t it? How about this years winner, Swansea? They win the cup and then hardly win another game the rest of the season. Would we be happy with that?
Anyone can win a cup and we will again. When we do it will be a great thing but just like not winning one, it will not define why or how I support and love The Arsenal.
Cheers all.
Sunday may we all smile. I’m Arsenal till I die.
Well said Norcal.
While slipping out of the CL into the Europey might look unfair, at least it keeps the team concerned still occupied midweek. I seriously doubt we’d have been as close as we are to 3rd if Chelski had had all that time off.
Oskar
Yes yes ob mighty mind reader.
You m ow exactly what “we” want. Using your own self-serving interpretation pf another’s post, which actually was making an unrelated point, to further strengthen hpur own falcious argument.
I.e. troll.
I think i got this thing down now!
C’mon, go again.
Apologies to the ‘holic. I broke the dont feed the troll rule.
Couldnt resist mocking this adolescent.
At any rate. im off.
Cheers holics.
Might as well start the move to the double ton. Receives the ball from the ‘keeper and moves it out to the wing.
Receives the ball and plays it inside while admiring a possible new gold Puma kit…
http://redlondon.net/2013/05/15/stunner-is-this-gunners-new-gold-puma-kit/
Denilson-like square pass….
A Hleb-like pre-pre-pre-pre-assist pass to the left
Flamini intervenes and flings a diagonal ball into the box
…hits Kanu on the back of the head….
harumphs one in the air while pain medication dissolves
Makes a Glenn Helder-esque dash towards the ball…
Eboue swings his leg and bangs one goalward …
Alex James gets on the end of it…
Chapman tips his cap and adjusts his monocle in approval 8)
And well in NBN.
Chelsea cannot schedule a playoff because they plan to be out of the country?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22537372
i think slick is the word the journalists will be lookin for
yup
.
slick
π
Thanks, bt8b. Its the baggy shorts that does it.
Wouldn’t it just be typical of this season if we took third because Chelski defaulted on a play-off game? Couldn’t cut it finer than that.
g’night
and well in ned
df118s are my guide
moscow
tis the sleep for to have
I call Bull shit. If Arsenal won the corporate cup or even the Fa cup but then got relegated or just missed relegation, all you fools would still be clambering for us to execute the board and manager at dawn. No matter who wAs in charge. And that is the wacky truth.
Morning all from Southeast Asia. Haven’t been able to post much due to a grueling work schedule, but of course I haven’t missed following the Arsenal.
Just want to add that I think Theo’s best ever performance for us was against Newcastle last year at the Ems, where TV notched a last second winner in injury time. He was magical that night, unstoppable almost everytime he had the ball.
Newcastle on Sunday now, let’s hope Theo can top that performance last year.
Not Arsenal-related but I saw this and felt really sad
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22537627
3 Points Sunday please and then all systems go in the summer- Hopefully!
On another note only just heard weve invited the knife wielding scumbags over for the Emirates cup – Cannot believe someone at board level over a port didn’t say chaps, I really don’t think this is a clever idea ! That cunt Morgan will have a field day !
Great post somewhere ealrier from NorCal.
Last week 30ΒΊC
This week 9ΒΊC
Schizo Spain…!! π
Bring on Sunday… I have no idea what will happen, but strangely donΒ΄t feel overly nervous. Yet.
Que sera sera…
Well in bt8
At least the weather is consistently shite over here, Dr C π
Preparing for work. This could be hell of a day. The guy I work with is a big Chelsea fan and a big cunt. I will be in the mood like I do not know what happened yesterday, was there even game yesterday? What? European League final? What was that, can’t remember anything similar. No, I didn’t watched the game, was busy watching the Moon with my new telescope.
What, where are you going now? Fucking coffee? Don’t pretend you do not hear me, we won are the best team in Europe, you are eight years without the trophy, and Arsene is a french pussy, Cazorla is a midget, and Terry is the best ever CB in the PL, and Torres the greatest and quickest striker in the world- what Messi, Messi is shit, Raffa is shit too, Moureen is the man, bring back Moureen- the Legend, Lampard is the Legend too- Legendary Lampard- the best, and don’t you forget the first London team to win the CL are us, us- I tell ya, and you won fucking all for 8 years, and you wont another 80 years with that faggot Wenger, because you are a trading company not a football club, like us, we invest in quality, we are quality, we are the best club in London, Abramovic is thebestthemanterryabramoviclampardmatasafkldfsdf;lsdfas.. the best.
I suppose you know that the Moon has that dark side we aren’t able to see from Earth, ever? I watched the other, brighter side with my new telescope last evening…
That kit is horrible. Like the gold foil out of a fag packet.
Ollie. Thanks but North Bank Ned had #200 last night before editing occured. π
Vinnie Jones as a psychotic Gooner in some new TV show called Elementary???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnwIJOUhTDE
Metzelder is retiring:
http://www.francefootball.fr/news/Metzelder-arrete-sa-carriere/371391
I’m waiting for Robbie Savage’s reaction to Arsenal losing a solid defender π
bt8 it’s all about counting it right, you can work out the number of them that are going to be removed: you’re the rightful goalscorer π
Ollie. I’ll put you on the dubious goals panel then. π
Kos, Sagna and Giroud in French squad.
Afternoon all.
After the Wigan game I was struck down with a flu bug, I felt horrid and spent all day yesterday in bed. The Chavs being within a 30 mile radius had nothing to do with my sudden and totally otherwise inexplicable illness……………. Probably!?
====
Good stuff Lars, I definetly agree regarding Sunderland, they are utter poo, still one can only dream of those wheels doing the thing that they do when on the spertz vehicle. The Chav Everton gane could go either way. We just have to do what we have to do, it’s as simple as that really.
===
Nice report Tabs, I must admit, I too was screaming at the TV for Woj to move over a bit. That was the only place the ball was going to go to beat him and that’s where it went, still well executed free kick though.
===
Heh @Ollie 214
This is beyond ridiculous:
http://www.westerngazette.co.uk/Yeovil-Town-fan-slams-1-500-Wembley-play-banner/story-19003583-detail/story.html
Eight people to supervise a banner that is about one by six yards??? What the fuck do they think could happen?
Lars@219 – It’s a sign of the times we live in, I guess. Wembley Stadium need to cover themselves in case the “only 1×6 yard banner” falls and injures someone and they get sued. Eight people to supervise seems a little over the top, but not really all that much.
I was amazed that the guy thought to get in touch in advance to check that it would be OK. It’s the risk you run when you ask permission – it might be withheld. I’m more an “ask for forgiveness” kind of guy myself; apart from anything else, it’s so hard to carry off the “Oh, I’m terribly sorry, I didn’t realise” defence if you’ve actually asked them beforehand.
Anyway, what are you doing scanning the august columns of the Wetsren Gazette? Get back to the Daily Fail!
Oxon, saw it on Twitter π
Breaking News- PHW to resign as Chairman at the end of the season. His successor will be interesting. It is a ceremonial position. I wonder who Kroenke will appoint to shield him from the flak?
http://www.francefootball.fr/news/Leyton-orient-confondu-avec-lorient/371534
haha
Shit weather forecast for ‘as far as we can forecast i.e 8-10 days’….
Deep Joy….
Evening all.
Great story Ollie π
I have written a piece for tonight but decided against publishing for now as the subject matter can wait until after Sunday.
Having said that I would be interested, given the mix of readers that visit, what peoples views are on inviting Galatasaray to the Grove in August.
It doesn’t sit right with me, to be honest.
Holic-it doesn’t sit right with me or anyone else who was in Copenhagen 13 years ago. I suppose this might be construed as an olive branch but personally I’m not sure it was up to us to proffer it.
Sorry guys, you’ll have to explain the anit-Galatasaray feeling. Please note: I’m not saying we should be pro-them, I simply don’t understand why we should be anti. I’m off to research TTG’s reference to Copenhagen 2000, it doesn’t ring any bells for me.
Holic,
I agree that in view of the violence in Copenhagen and the general “problems” that seem to follow their team, it is an odd choice.
Are Arsenal the ones that make the choices for participating teams or is this dictated by the sponsors ? I saw somewhere on twitter that Arsenal does not pick or invite the teams but that the sponsors do. True?
It will be nice to see Eboue.
The only other thing I will add is that it is a preseason ” friendly” tournament. If after 13 years these groups of fans can’t get together and play in a preseason tournament then when will things ever improve or change?
Cheers all
Oxon…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2324990/Arsenal-announce-Galatasaray-Emirates-Cup-opponents.html
Something on Kroenke. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/8797931/Arsenal-owner-Stan-Kroenke-Arsene-Wenger-is-one-of-the-greats-he-will-be-in-charge-for-as-long-as-he-wants.html
Appalling decision in my view ‘H.
Really very sad that there’s no one at Board level with enough football nous to have the foggiest idea of the depth of fan feeling.
No interest in extending an olive branch to those cunts. Never accepted any responsibility, never did anything to subsequently change their fans’ behaviour. In fact, even a cursory glance at youtube will tell you that not only is their “ultra” mindset alive and kicking, it is actively encouraged and gloried in by the Club itself.
Fuck ’em. Cunts.
Well and then there’s Tabs’ view. π
Heh π
I read somewhere that it’s actually the sponsors(Emirates) NOT Arsenal who make the choices of teams to invite for the tournament. Anyway, TaBS and Norcal presents good points for either sides of the debate but I think the point TaBS made about the Club themselves(Gala) encouraging the “Ultra” mindset among their fans outweighs kills every desire to see an Olive branch extended to them.
The link I posted @231 is not just of Kroenke talking about Wenger, it’s probably the biggest Kroenke interview I’ve read and if you want to know about his plans for us and his mindset generally there are things in there for you.
I was planning to take my daughter on the Sunday – but not if that lot are going to be there.
There are very few games that need to be avoided for safety reasons these days but I wouldn’t take her unnecessarily into that situation.
There must be other Emirates sponsored clubs that could have been chosen but you imagine this decision has been made because there are so many Turks living in north London to swell the crowds.
Not the brightest move in view of the history.
Interesting views in that link Cent ! Kroenke’s actions till now have been consitent with what he has talked about here.. All i’ll add is that we need to give the club time to build on the solid foundations. I think this is the year we will see the benefits..
On the Gala invite.. hmm … as im not that aware of the match day experiences in previous meetings or the incident in 2000, my views may not be agreed on by others. Personal opinion is that this is a good opportunity to build relations and start a-new. However, thats coming from some-one who is talking abt ideal conditions. reading the responses and the emotions coming out , i do see that theres a lot of tension out there yet and people have not forgotten or forgiven. I just hope the event is talked about only for the football on the day. it could have been avoided yes..
Galatasaray are not welcome,plain and simple.
Its a different matter altogether should we be drawn against them in European competition, but to invite that lot to pop round for tea,when ANY OTHER club could have been chosen beggars belief.
As per usual nobody asked my opinion,and yes, I’m still slightly miffed about that.
Couldn’t we just “mistakenly” give them Spurs address – it looks a bit like Istanbull down thier way — perhaps our chums at Gala would feel so at home they torch the place. Thus improving the aestetics of WHL.
Win,win.
The Galatasaray story is new to me as I was on hiatus from following the game at the time. If the club encourages the ultras that is not a good thing at all. I would leave other comments about the incident to those who experienced it in one way or another. But it sounds like corporate control is out of control if it is Emirates Airlines deciding which clubs compete in “Arsenal’s tournament” if you can really call it that.
As an aside though, having travelled to Istanbul I expect it is a good deal more picturesque than Tottenham, where I have never been; and the Turkish people in general are very friendly.
If the Emirates made the Emirates Cup an all-Emirates-sponsored teams event, it would be AC Milan, PSG, Hamburg and ourselves. That would provide a decent couple of days of football.
Congratulations Becks, a great servant to English football and sport generally.
The knighthood is in the mail. Well, in the bag anyway, whenever the next list comes out.
Oskar
Whole heartedly agree with the Old Skool view here. Galatasaray not welcome at all. If we have to play them in a competition fair enough, but to invite them? No fucking way. Shows scant regard for our recent history and little respect for many long established supporters. Might work with a statement from the club about trying to ‘rebuild bridges etc.’, as don’t forget there is a massive Turkish influence in our bit of North London, but even then – meh.
Morning all. Could not agree more re Galatasary. It just shows how distant the board have come from the fans. I have long feared that the board lacks genuine Arsenal people, or genuine football people for that matter. This just goes to confirm it. Esso, spot on above.
Like Trev and many others I guess, I had plans to take the kids to the Emirates Cup, as I have done on many occasions. Not this year. I am not going to watch a pre season friendly worrying if my kids will be safe.
I wasn’t in Copenhagen but I know those that were.
Disgraceful decision, typical of the scraping and bowing at the altar of Mammon, that football has become.
There must be 100s of alternative options that the club and their sponsors could have chosen.
As for the Kroenke piece, it was written in 2011! I’d prefer some insight into what he thinks now, and in particular whether he plans to put his hand in his pocket in a meaningful way this summer.
Galatasaray at the Emirates Cup? Bad decision. Really, really bad decision.
Agree with all the above re Galatasaray. Telling decision in terms of whoever made then approved that decision.
Zico @245, Kroenke plans to put his hand in our pockets, pal.
Rooney to Arsenal? Please god, say it ain’t so!
A bit late into the discussion but I’m surprised at people’s reaction to the wall not “jumping” for Wigan’s equalising free-kick.
When a ball is smashed at you from 10 (often less) yards, you basically have bugger all time to react. When I was playing we were told never to jump. If the ball gets over the top and the keeper can’t get it then it’s either bad luck or a fabulous strike, depending on who you support. On the other hand, if you jump and it goes under you ( which seems to happen a lot ) then you not only look like an idiot but you’ve basically failed in your primary task of presenting an obstacle to the kick.
My view is to protect your vital assets, stand still and let que sera, sera.
Oxon
We played Galatasaray in the 2000 UEFA Cup Final . In the semi- final a Leeds fan was stabbed to death in Istanbul.
As I left at the crack of dawn for the airport a rather worried Mrs TTG mentioned severe fighting in Copenhagen bars overnight. When we arrived in Copenhagen Gala fans were touring the greets looking for Arsenal fans to attack. I saw someone pounced on and kicked not far from the Tivoli Gardens. I was meeting some friends for a leisurely lunch in the town centre. It was the early days of Internet usage and my daughter phoned to ask where we were because there was sustained fighting in the main square.
After the dismal match I met many of the walking wounded at the airport. Some had really nasty injuries. On top of this my plane was delayed three hours. Apart from that it was a wonderful day.
It takes two to tango and some Arsenal fans clearly relished the chance to kick a few heads in themselves but I was with a family group where the mother was absolutely terrified the whole day. I have resisted the opportunity to go to Turkey ever since because I was so appalled at what I saw that day. The Danish police were by the way absolutely pathetic. I stood beside them during the match and they hadn’t got a clue how to police a match like that.
It took away the pleasant memories of mixing happily with Parma fans at the same stadium in 1994.
Thnaks for the link ‘holic. Reading the opinions above, I am swayed away from my neutral view of the decision to invite Galatasary towards a mild preference that we hadn’t.
Why mild? Well, I wasn’t there, and no-one I know was, and it’s been 13 years, FFS. I think you need to have a constant flow of incidents in order to preserve such bad feelings.
Passing to the Daily Fail article, if I had wished to provoke an anti-Galatasary reaction from Arsenal supporters, that is exactly the type of article I would have written. All those emotive pictures, with slightly inappropriate captions that mean you have to look even harder at the pix to understand them. (Note that I’m not saying the article was written to provoke a reaction, simply that if that had been the intent, then such an article would have followed.)
Who are the “Black Scarf” movement? Are scarves this season’s binbags?
PS I refreshed after preparing this drink, and reading the TTG’s above I am swayed towards rather stronger feelings that the invitation is a bad idea. It’s still 13 years, though.
And thirteen years on, there are still people walking around with whacking great scars from knife wounds.
Thirteen years on there are still people whose lives are materially affected after losing their jobs for the dreadful crime of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Thirteen years on, 2 Leeds fans still lie six feet under because they went to a football match.
Unbelievable decision.
What tabs said.
Poor judgement by someone.
tabs, bath: Utterly reasonable comments, which I cannot and do not disagree with.
Is it sensible that the supporters of a leading European team should forever hold another leading European team in contempt? If not, how do we move forward from here? Perhaps playing each other in a “friendly”, pre-season “competition”[1] can be a start to the road to better relations.
As I say, I wasn’t personally affected by the events of 17 May 2000 and neither was anyone I know from outside this bar; perhaps it’s too soon, but surely it has to come some day, somehow.
[1] Sigh, so many inverted commas.
@ 247
As has been confirmed by e-mail this morning. π
tabs, and in Turkey there is a Fenerbahce fan who has probably not even had time to go six feet under after being stabbed to death by Galatasaray fans just days ago.
So, who is this Yaya Sanogo we will be buying if nothing goes wrong? Won’t be the first time we buy from Auxerre.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaya_Sanogo
Bt8bb… come on…
We’ve got a few followers of french football, was hoping for a bit more than that from you π
Sanogo seems to have an Arsenal pedigree on several fronts including this:
“On 18 September 2010, while playing in a league match against Mulhouse, Sanogo suffered a fractured tibia in a 2β0 win … On 21 September 2011, he made his first league appearance in over 17 months appearing as a substitute in a 1β1 draw with Lorient.”
Including exact dates of fracture, Toby. π
New players always excite me. I like getting to know new players. How they play, what their strengths and weaknesses are, etc. It’s like dating. Some you end up disliking, some you end up adoring. So, sure, Wenger, please, if you get a good price for a young talent, go for it! But save a few bob for some other players as well, please?
Contempt is far to nice a word for them murdering bastards the only time they should be anywhere near our ground is if we are playing them in a European Game,
That we are playing them in A Friendly is utterly laughable,
As Takeabowson commented plenty of good people came home with scars,banning orders or to find out they were getting sacked, They are and should be considered scum by any English Fan not just Arsenals,
And, heh, bt8bb. Nice one.
I need coffee to survive now. Way to much to drink yesterday. See you in a bit.
Good stat btw from Pravda:
“The balance has shifted since Van Persie left last summer, so much so that Arsenal’s class of 2012/13 are only the fourth squad in Premier League history to have four players reach double figures.
Walcott leads the way with 14 while new signings Santi Cazorla (12), Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud (both 11) have weighed in regularly to become the first Arsenal players to score 10 league goals in their debut season since Thierry Henry in 1999/2000.”
Three new players in one single season all getting more than ten goals in the league, and none of them has played in England before. Good buys. I mean, we knew that already, but the Henry-thing puts it into perspective. It’s not every year even a single player does that for us. Apparently. Good buys.
Oh right! It’s this guy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo1jIKvL-s8
I remember that.
@256 – Indeed Lars.
That’s my major problem with it. Nothing has changed.
I don’t want to tar all Galatasaray fans with the same brush, that would be stupid. But the fact remains that they have a very significant number of Scumbags within their ranks, who enjoy a huge influence over how their Club is run.
What sickens me is that this decision has been taken by some twat in our marketing department (and if it’s the Emirates marketing department as suggested above then that’s even more reprehensible), who’s seen a large turkish population in north London, and thought heh ho, there’s a few extra bucks. Doubt that they were even aware of what went on in 2000 when they took the decision.
I won’t be going. Not because I would fear for my safety, (I very much doubt that there will be any trouble), but because Arsenal have shown themselves to be either crassly ignorant of what went on or in the unlikely event that the decision-maker was aware, wholly impervious to fan feeling.
Chippy – completely agree.
As a Swiss we have a little bit of our own history with the Turks.
It just seems that they are involved quite a lot when push comes to shove and that includes their players and managers.
So how do I feel about this invitation? Bad decision! Really bad decision.
I fear Steve T is not far from the truth @244 by saying that the board lacks some real Arsenal-blood.
tabs is right, Galatasaray can cock off.
The club should, at minimum, have entered into meaningful consultation with supporter groups before making this decision. It reflects extremely poorly on them that they did not.
takeabowson,
To be fair to the current board the one in 2000 didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory by banning anyone that the Mirror/Morgan decided was a hooligan !!
Its not just an Arsenal thing either im sure if you asked any fan of any clubs that’s ever had the misfortune to play them you would get the same response,
Hey Ho rant Over lets get them 3 points on Sunday π
Living here in Turkey, I too think the decision to invite Galatasaray to the Grove is lamentable and sadly shows how distanced our club and board have become from their support, seemingly ignorant, or disregardful, of very recent history.
I too was in Copenhagen for both European finals – sadly, I didn’t recognise this beautiful city from the year before against Parma when a festival atmosphere both before and after the game prevailed. I just remember being glad to get the hell out alive. If I hadn’t known Turkey well, I, like TTG, would probably have made a similar decision never to visit. However, their hooligan problems do not reflect the generous and hospitable nature of the country and its people at large. And, do they have hooligan problems over here!
As Lars said, only days before a Fenerbahce fan was stabbed to death after the local derby with Gala:
http://www.goal.com/en/news/467/turkey/2013/05/13/3975311/fenerbahce-fan-stabbed-to-death-after-istanbul-derby
A fixture such as this is completely inappropriate for a ‘friendly’, opening season tournament. I cannot see it as being a fun, or safe, day out for families and children (which surely comprises the majority of the crowd for this tournament) and hope that fans do show their level of opposition to this ‘friendly’ by letting their feelings be known to the club and to desist from buying tickets. A staggering show of ignorance by Arsenal as well as disregard for the safety of its fans. Who on earth came up with this one?
Indeed Chippy.
Well said Bodrum.
N7,
Completely agree. Why on earth was there no consultation? Either because (a) they were completely unaware as to why consultation might be required or (b) they knew that they wouldn’t like the answer that they would get.
Not sure which is worse frankly.
Seems that Galatarsaray aren’t content with just attacking oppo fans these days. Youth team kids are also fair game.
http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=230872
On a more light-hearted note, I kind of enjoyed Arsebloggers rendition of Somewhere Out There in this mornings pod. Have a listen.
Despite it all, Red Membership just renewed.
@ 276
As if we had a choice π
Bllllleeeeeeeerrrrruuuuuugggggh
It was Fergie’s last press conference today. We wondered how the journalists present would treat the old boy, given he’d frankly been a right bastard to many of them down the years. Would they not attend in protest? Would they ask some of the questions they couldn’t ask before because they wouldn’t get away with it? Would they go out in style?
No. They wouldn’t. Instead, they made him a cake.
And not just any cake – this cake. http://www.joe.ie/home/pic-of-the-day/fergie-was-given-a-cake-at-his-final-press-conference-today-a-hairdryer-cake-0037932-1
The Sun, apparently so proud of their rubbish front cover from last week that they simply had to see it in confectionary form, had the cake made up, and their Manchester correspondent Neil Custis gave a moving speech, complete with cue cards.
“There have been some times when I have not agreed with what people have written and when you write positive things I tend to dismiss them,” Fergie said.
“But I have never held a grudge. It is not my style.”
Sure.
tabs
What I find disturbing about the lack of consultation is that the club lately have a fairly good track record of talking to the fans, the AST, bloggers, etc. For a large football club, they’re unusually touchy-feely, and I think that’s a good thing.
The fact that they saw no need to consult in this instance suggests that, exactly as you’ve identified above, they were either entirely unaware of the history here or they’re only interested in consultation as a token gesture (i.e. giving the support a chance to vent without really listening to them).
I would hope that it’s the former, and that lessons will be learned.
What a shame that we’re having to talk about this when we should be looking ahead to the great feast of St Totteringham in just a little over 48 hours time.
COYG
N7 – spot on.
Nice contributions from everyone above.
Zico, yes that interview is from 2 years ago but it pretty much answers all the questions we ask as regards what long-term plans Stan has for us. As for this summer, I’d rather he kept quiet and let Arsene’s actions in the market do the talking.
Afternoon all.
What a terrible decision. Talk about throwing the cat amongst the pidgeons. Now, don’t get mr wrong, I’m all for rebuilding bridges and trying to right the wrongs of the past, but to do such things you need both sides to be willing to do so. They have never attempted to distance themselves from their “ultras”, worse still their fanbase is still rife with houligans and recent events suggest that still nothing is being done.
An absolutly disgusting choice forced upon the club and it’s supporters by the corperate sponsers greed and done with disregaurd for visitors safety just to turn a quick buck. DISPICABLE!!!
Blleeeuuurgh indeed Ollie!
Geez, how Ferguson manages to deliver this kind of hypocritical guff without collapsing into fits of giggles is completely beyond me.
As for the back-slapping cock-tugging journos, don’t get me started.
N7 – Bang on. Party hats, cheese and pineapple sticks, dancing girls and sequinned elephants all at the ready here. π
N7 knows.
GPN @238, I think so too.
I’m not sure who’s in the board these days, but surely they’re old enough to remember Copenhagen π
Rather strange decision. Not sure about the ‘quick bucks’ though, surely there are plenty of other teams that would help fill the stadium for a pre-season friendly, with no downside, Turkish community or Not.
Greeks&Cypriots for a start, heh.
It’s baffling, really.
Naive at very best, negligent certainly.
Cent @ 281
I don’t think it answers anything at all but if you are happy with soundbites in a telegraph article from Sept 2011, then party on.
I wouldn’t trust Stan as far as I could throw his syrup.
zico, I guess we both ask different questions, that article told me everything I needed to know about Stan’s style of ownership, it’s not exactly the type I would ideally want for our club but it’s our best realistic option and better than every other type that currently exists in the EPL so I’m glad we have it/him. I do not trust him, and I don’t have to, but neither do I trust any other business man worldwide, I will give him the benefit of doubt because till date he has not done anything to make me think otherwise. Thanks for taking your time to respond.
What Cent said.
Every
Single
Word
(Layout style copyright (c) can’t be arsed 2013)
Cent thanks for taking the time to respond to my taking the time to respond.
It is now time for me to respond to that man asking me What are you having, sir?
Wouldn’t want to keep him waiting….. 8)
Cheers Oxon.
Zico, go on mate, have it large! π
Zico@286
I’m so with you on Stan.
The Gooner is not everyone’s favourite publication here ( for quite logical reasons) but there is a good piece in there this month where the author has interviewed editors of the fanzines of all the franchises he owns. None are absolutely up in arms but neither is anyone a believer that he will make their team great. He is not visibly ambitious to dominate sport on the field.
This means he is not a vulgar,classless oligarch like Abramovich and won’t turn his club into a monument to bad taste but neither will he emulate his trophy haul. I would hope there would be a way of getting the second without the first and that would be the sort of owner I’d love but who fits the bill is another question.
Syrups like that tell you an awful lot about a bloke.
Any Silver Members on here? I seem to remember reading somewhere there would be a ‘cheap’ renewal option on offer from the club this year. However email I’ve had says they will be taking Β£45 by direct debit, which is the same (fucking rip off) price as last year. Did I just imagine that then or what?
I’m beginning to get really confused here. How would an owner who gets a large haul of trophies without turning his club into a mnument to bad tast behave? Would he tie his money up into little bundles with pink ribbins on before chucking it around? Would he insist on some kind of “good chap” test before issuing new contracts or allowing expensions. Please, tell me, how would such a saint conduct himself?
I know he is supposed to be at the ground for every game, but where should he draw the line between sitting in a plush box, looking delighted as his team amass their trophies and sitting in the stands drinking with the fans?
Maybe I’m breaking ranks with Cent; I’m actually quite happy with Kroenke; he seems to be an owner who wants to make money out of the club for a good long time. He’s not going to throw huge amounts at it – remember he wants to make money from it – and nor is he going to saddle it with enormous debts because he wants to be fairly sure it’s going to be around, delivering profits (sorry, I know, dirty word) for a long time.
I’m happy to join in any general condemnation of his taste in wigs.
I’m with you Oxon. Only reason Glazers are held in any regard at all at United (and I know some real old skool united heads who fucking hate them, nearly went off with FC United etc.) is because the trophies kept flowing. That was down to Purple Nosed Weegie Bastard really knowing the score and Cuntski managing to fuck up an infinite pot of gold, rather than any serious moves on their part. To load that institution with such eye watering levels of debt, mostly to line their own pockets, was / is fucking criminal in my eyes.
More power to Silent Stan’s elbow, he has n’t done the same. Even if he does wear a syrup. Which is inexcusable.
Bloggs Arshavin and Bendtner duet – quality π
Oxon, you’re not really ‘breaking ranks’ with me, that’s almost exactly how I see him just that I think he will take his ‘profits’ at a go when he decides to sell up not through terminal dividends. I think he basically allows the people in charge to do their jobs so long as he doesn’t have to put in money and they live within the clubs means while growing the clubs value significantly.
Tip
Hleb pass
Santi through ball
Bing bang bong
Gerve-like attempt
Lands the coveted tabs award. Well in NorCal
Well in Norcal.
More tabs-like indeed, Oxon! π
Get in there! Well done NorCal – I thought no one was going to finish that.
And what the fcuk is going on over at Stoke? Pig’s heads? Smashed car windscreens? Since when has that been cause for an investigation round that way – standard Friday afternoon at the Britannia.
Oxon
He would run it like a business but allow a significant injection of initial capital to fund stock( players). He would communicate openly with shareholders and fans rather than lurking in Colorado. He would attend matches and engage with the business and he would promote stability rather than sacking managers every few months.
That is how
There’s an awfae smell in here.
Wigs … agreed. A billionaire should be able to buy better hair.
My single biggest issue with Silent Stan – and there’s no getting around this one: his mustache creeps me the fuck out.
Jernade Meade will be departing the club according to always reliable
http://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/what-next-for-the-academy-after-meade-heads-list-of-15-departures/?
As far as I remember he is a real quality LB, and his performances provoked many compliments in this bar. I expected at least that he would be out on loan, why is he let go is a mystery for me, but what do I know- for me letting JET go was a big mystery too.
To be fair JET has achieved the square root of fuck all since he was ‘let go’.
there’s only one – really quite debilitating – heartburn
there;s only one – thin frenchman
ther;s only one
see above
oy
bad guts
i’m only one
oh
right
knuckle draggin dumb numpties
are in the pond
oops
.
Who you calling a knuckle dragging dumb numptie?
you
peaches
you
π
.
of course not esso
jeez louise
i hand deliver insults
The square root of fuck all is undefined, i think.
Intriguing question tho.
Given the undefined, the square root of fuck all might actually be:
“spend the money Wenga.”
Rafts of youngins – spend the cash /100 million war chest = what?
Not sure, but those numbers seem unlikley to hang together well.
Though, admittedly math … never my strong suit.
esso – i’ve read your stuff
without sounding like a big girls blouse
big fan
mind you
what does a big girls blouse sound like
Lurky Gibbs is barely 23 and with the purchase of Nacho I don’t think we will be needing another left-back anytime soon + there is a 17-year-old left-back(BOO) who people inside the club apparently rates higher than Meade, I guess he smelled the coffee and decided to walk.
Heh! Easy peasy! Have a fucking breather mate. You might hear (them) if you clear your ears out.
‘hol
i do apologise for my incessant rants about nothing arse based
i don’t intend to do any of your heads in
but
i hear – as i am now – cows roarin
roarin
like they’re being slaughtered
.
but
tomorrow
there are wee calfs all over the fields around me
fuckin brilliant
π
Sort it out Wenga!
Spend it out Wenga!
Yeah sounds about the same.
Notice how its only really old sad bastards in here on a Friday night?
Just found something better to do. Tara.
boom boom boom boom – esso blue !
.
d.you know that jingle ?
a seventies classic here
Read everyone’s take on this invitation with avid interest. I’m not qualified to really have my say π but a very interesting debate, for sure. I’m used to the ‘antics’ from Lazio fans, so it isn’t new to me. Tried to find out if Galatursaray had cleaned up their act since then. Found one article from 2012, which listed their fans in the top 10 most dangerous fan bases π So it would seem (?) that maybe this club isn’t really trying hard enough to reign their fans in. Same article said their fans are the loudest. Hmm. What I found absolutely wild was that during these riots, ultra fans from Leeds United Service Crew, Chelsea Headhunters, Cardiff City and Swansea City joined in with The Herd and the Gooners. And you know what my reaction to reading that was ? I felt a kinship with these fans from other clubs! How strange. I don’t support violence, but to be quite honest, it made me feel like there is a brotherhood out there, that goes beyond one’s own club. Oxon and NorCal, I was tempted to embrace your views (redemption!), but w/o data to support they have taken steps to curb fan violence, I’m hesitant to agree π Plz, if anyone can link more uptated sources, I would love to take a look.
in other news
howdy doody abb
i hope all’s well with you and yours
Hey cba :), Spring cleaned all day! Pics of Holic’s set up (watching the games) put me to shame! No dust bunnies in site. Felt guitly and gave my home a good scrubbing π Hope you have healed nicely π
a dirty home is a .. well . lets face it .. . . a ?
dirty home
i’m a big fan of dirty homes
“clean meat never fattened a pig”
.
dirt
in moderation
go for it !
oh and i’m guessin you’re askin about me dog bite
yup
thanks
all well
.
me thigh muscle still a bit fucked but alls well in the grand scheme o things
Madrid losing at home in the Spanish cup final.
2-1 at the midway point of extra time.
Come on Athletico!
Evening all,
Late to the Galatasaray debate apart from the brief “daughter” related comment.
Tabs and N7 have said it all for me with one exception.
I’m not nearly as confident as you Tabs, that there will be no trouble. I wonder if a mix of hot weather, beer and some really deep feelings, might not see fans of at least one other club converging for a chance to get their own back.
I would imagine there must be some kind of Fenerbache supporters club round the corner from N5 too, amongst the Turks in Turnpike Lane, Harringay etc. who would also be pleased to meet a few Gala fans.
I would guess the police will also be highly delighted at this completely unnecessary and ill advised invitation.
Wouldn’t it be nice if “we” as a club could just do one thing the easy way, even if it’s only organising the pre-season friendlies.
oh cba, sorry!!! Guess you’re lucky wolf doggy didn’t aim any higher π Cheers!
abb
))
zactly
Toby @263,
“I like getting to know new players – how they play – what their strengths and weaknesses are. It’s like dating.”
You must have some fun – not to mention some ‘understanding’ prospective girlfriends, who perform while you watch from the upper tier of a football stand! π
π zactly!
evening trev
how’s yer spudlings ?
Hi cba,
Definitely no spudlings here
Just chips off the old block
Good junior Gooners.
Sorry to hear
That the Wolf induced tear
Hasn’t yet healed up quite rightly.
But give it some time
It will all mend just fine,
You’ll be running around again,
Sprightly. π
Madrid have just lost a cup final, at home, to their local rivals, who’ve not previously beaten them in 14 years.
I wonder if Le Grove still want Mourinho. I dare say there are some Madrid fans who would drive him to the airport.
thanks trev
i mightly
but
i’m not holding my breath tightly
just rightly
On the other hand …..
Try not to cough
Cos it might just fall off. π
Mourinho sent off.
Ronaldo sent off.
Fighting on the benches.
What a cup final. Just when you think football has lost its soul something like this gets served up.
N7, I enjoyed every bit of that.
Ramsey strikes, again! http://t.co/zsIHtI6DI5
mind
i sort a hinted at an apology to holic and all of you fellas
i am more than aware i talk shite about nowt arse – based
but
earlier today
a youngfella said
well
made a great roar cos herself had told him when i was in the bog that i was a gooner
him and his small friends started wankin about – wigan have won a cup
i asked them who they supported
a voice from the background emerged
“how long you an arsenal man”
i paid no heed
well
i told him to have a polite word with himself
he went on and said – who was the manager when you started with that “shower”
bertie mee i said
wallop
he came up like a shot to talk about terry neill
.
he was an gooner himself
.
a shifty undercover cunt of a one as he now knows he is !
trev
i imagine you languishing with a margarita
counting your millions from the “pun app” you eventually sold to apple
am i right ?
or
am i wrong ?
mind you
i’m seldom right but i’m wrong again
yup ?
Rooney? No ty. He peaked years ago and is on the long downward slide. Anyway, he’s a midfielder now and we have them in abundance (except a DMF which Rooney is not).
Otoh I read somewhere than Kun Aguero is unsettled at Manshitty. Now there is a talent we could definitely accommodate.
Oskar
Heh Cba, well played sir.
evening cent
how you ?
i hope you’re well and rarin !
Evening Cba, I’m well sir, I see you’re doing good too.
well cent
i’m as well as can be
aww well
.
its hard to avoid eatin the twats isn’t it
‘hol prefers if you ignore
i find it hard to ‘cos i bought new ambivalence
but
i’m in two minds whether i should use it
.
meh
either way
Mighty might Atletico. π π
any lurkers out there ?
“the truth” – got any pretend butter spreads
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgYexeWklDU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvnGrpnqg2U
now who’s mr peevly ?
cba,
“Languishing … Counting my millions from a ‘pun app’ I sold to apple”
Oh, appley, appily, mate
But, sadly not.
not for the want of trying ?
nope ?
yer like a fargin lightning bolt with the puns – trev
i can come up with crackers
but
i write them on stone face with a blunt butter knife
“pretend butter spreads”, cba?
That reminds me,
My Auntie Marj has been ill in hospital so long, they’ve started calling her “I can’t believe she’s not better” π
next season
yourself , ‘holic and tabs are gonna get rotten on my wallet
no better men
no better men indeed !
and ollie of course too
Cba
Love yer posts.
Cant make heads or tails.
But they all have a mellifluous vibe.
Dqmn. Thats almost hailu!
Cheers holics. Drinks on my tab for anyone left in the bar at this late hour.
I know Pique is not a popular personality around these parts but wtf is Song doing provoking a fight with him during an open top bus victory celebration? Maybe he thinks this is just the thing to resuscitate a downward spiraling career? Another case of the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, but only before you pass over to the other side.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/song-pique-fight-barcelona-pair-1895462
‘provoking a fight’? Looking at PiquΓ©’s face, I’d suggest he said something stupid or provocative and Song reacted.
PiquΓ© strikes me as a bully.
ta
homer
i had a crested ten
cheers
didn’t finish me stout – bit bilious
but thanks all the same
i’ll probably get it later on
never leave a stout behind !
“does my bum look big in this”
Ollie knows!
zico @ 286. Just curious, how far could you throw Stan’s syrup?
I reckon I could manage around 12-14m under minimal crosswind conditions.
TTG@322, 7.22 yesterday evening.
A “proper business” featuring open communication with stockholders and fans (customers in other contexts) would be a good trick. I can’t bring to mind any that are all of, run that way, around for the long term and of significant size.
The communication bit aside – it’s not one of my top criteria as you see from the above – it sounds to me as though you would welcome Sheikh Mansour. I’m not certain I would welcome Arsenal’s re-emergence in that guise.
Sorry, TTG’s post is at 305
herselfs friend
just looked up something
on t’interstuff
i didn’t notice
but
in the top right corner
type in g
and
it comes up goonerholic
then google
.
i have my priorities prioritised
Camberwell @ 360
About 2 m less than I could spit. Unless I wore some gloves that would give me some traction…..
grown men
throwing their juice
wolfballls where are you ?
Trev @330.
You’ve got a point there Trev. It might not be like dating at all. It might well be that I, being in your typical serious relationship for the past six or so years, might have forgotten what dating is like.
Might well be that I’m desperate for a substitute.
“thetruth”
(sorry ‘hol)
i’m confident that you are a twat
a twat of the highest order
seldom has a twat twatted so well
bless you
twat
“thetruth”
painful attempts at intellectuallism once again
crash
wallop
flat as several pancakes
if only i had enough veys to add to my distressed oy
thickoes to the left of me
thickoes to the right
thickoes all around me
–
not that
that
is a bad thing
it’s just you appear to be humour bereft
nuff said
couldn’t houl an argument in a big bucket
probably couldn’t houl a big bucket
what with all that opposable thumb requirement
i said it before
and i’ll say it again
“thetruth”
you are a twat
twat takes heavy loss
snaffles for style
but
fails
and fails well
at least you can do something well
.
twat
cba @363. The “goo” thing happened to me too. π
bt8
zactly
you think you are politely goonering in with like minded soldiers here , but the ‘holic is a man of many what-have-yous
i swore i saw him shadowing me last night on the road to dunfanagy
i just walked on
maybe he’s like a guardian angel
he oversaw my drunken staggers
and
saw me home
.
i love ‘holic
thank you
from
the depths of my etcs
Hi holics! Playoff against Chelsea, oh that would be something…and a first, too (?) But the Toons are on my mind. They score more at home and their 38 yr old goalie will likely be playing his last game for them π and he seems a really likeable chap π which is regrettable, cause we need to be ruthless from the get go. If Theo and company can replicate their performance against Wigan, we’ll win. And for me, it will feel like a trophy! This season was about growing pains. Four new lads to find their footing. And about loss, RVP and Song. And injuries, Diaby. And promise of better things to come (the signings of the awesome six π )
oh
and
“thetruth”
you’re still a twat
–
i don’t wanna leave anyone out
–
i wasn’t raised that way
–
and
me mother says you’re a twat as well
well
she said you were a sea with three stars
but
jeez
ye can’t legislate for weemin in their 90s
i wouldn’t dream of callin you a cunt
When trolls cry out about been trolled, priceless!
Abb, I like the idea of a play-off too, it still irks me that we lost home and away to the Chavs this season when, I feel, we could have easily won against them so maybe the play-off will give us another chance at redemption and hopefully the joy of winning when it mattered most will be ours too.
As for the Toons for some reason I don’t know I’m actually more confident than I was by this time ahead of Wigan, maybe the doubts will creep in with time, just maybe.
Hey Cent, Yeah, feeling ok about our chances, but in football, you just never can be 100% certain. Scratch that … nothing in life is a given ! sighs and looks wistfully to Sunday π
Agreed Abb, the only thing that’s a given is that the truth will always be a troll, well until he gets trolled and starts crying.
Lies, delusions, etc. They certainly have their place.
Come on Arsenal.
Hope the rumours bout Caesar are wrong,don’t think he would be an improvement on our current keepers,even if he’s just brought in as experienced back up thanks but no thanks.heh at cents 387 quality. π
Plays a cross-field pass…
Cent – I make your post @ 5.00 number 382; a long build up; I like it!
Collects ball and delivers slide-rule pass to opposite wing.
Picks up the ball and goes Ham on the full-back a’la Mcmanananananamanaman vs Clichy and sends a cross in…
Slight but significant touch ….
Step-over and flick
Well in Camberwell! Might still score with this post though.
Nice one Cent, bt8, couldna done it without your tasty build up!
Hang on, 389???
I been robbed of my quadruple century!
Another shot at glory?? Just think, Camberwell, you can have a special place in history. π
…back in the move, preening over calculating Cent’s post number correctly, gifts the ball to the opposition…
…recovers posession with inch-perfect sliding tackle from which the ball dribbles to…
…himself! Plays the ball to the far wing…
Collects the ball at the wing, plays quick one-two with Oxon…
Collects the ball and runs at the defenders…
Beats one…
…Beats two…
Put me in coach!!
I can play ball!!
Little bragging time:
Little poldi’s last game in U-6 this morning. Totally needs the step up to U-8. He was murdurin them. I had to limit his game time. He was absolutely shreading through them.
Love the little guy. Congrats Robots. Fun season. Not let’s do the same to those Toons.
Assisting
Gets the 400 but is too nervous about tomorrow to celebrate…
TaBS it
Runs off to celebrate…
Well in Lars.
Just for Trev as he is not on twitter:
Evian 2-0 up, looking good to avoid the drop now.
Would that be a drop of Evian, Ollie ?
Don’t mind if I do. π
Nice lurking Lars !
Poor lurking lurky !
Hopefully, we won’t bottle it tomorrow.
Need a sparkling performance, not a backwards moving naivE one π
Do not re-verT
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Oxon @ 361.
A criterion for me for the main stockholder of Arsenal is that it is one of the preoccupations of his life in the way that it is for the majority of us on here. Why I resent Kroenke’s ownership is that I just don’t believe it messes up his weekend if we lose. He has a stable of interests and apparently is most interested in basketball. Arsenal has to be more than a set of figures on a balance sheet. And that goes for Usmanov too.
Arsenal prospered when the driving force on the Board was a passionate Arsenal fan ,David Dein.
My ideal owner would be a fanatical Gooner with deep pockets who respects the Arsenal culture and wants to restore us to the summit of English football and take us to a similar position in Europe. I really don’t see Kroenke doing that.
And it would be better if he didn’t wear a syrup.
Well well well, third could be ours. Need a spring in our step, and not too much tippy tap-py, and a goal or two to cap it off.