It’s An Ill Wind
Sep 13th, 2013 by 'holic
So for two weeks I assume everybody has been wandering around with an inane grin on their face? Once again they came to witness the fabled power shift in North London, and once more we sent the swamp-dwellers back up the road with their slightly grubby tails between their legs. As if that day didn’t get better and better, twenty-four hours later (give or take an hour or two) we had a shiny new world-class play-maker to look forward to.
The word is tonight that Mesut Ozil has traveled this afternoon despite being ‘ill’. Per Mertesacker apparently missed the trip for the same reason. With Bacary Sagna and Jack Wilshere also being ill a fortnight ago I would hope that Rob the chef is having some tough questions to answer (just jesting Rob, I’m told the banoffee pie is a triumph). The loss of the BFG is countered by a return for Thomas Vermaelen, but I suspect Bacary Sagna will be pushed infield with Carl Jenkinson starting at right-back.
In midfield the news about Ozil would suggest he, like Vermaelen, will start on the bench. Tomas Rosicky too is gone in the fetlock and so expect a holding duo of Matthieu Flamini and Aaron Ramsey behind the battered and bruised Jack Wilshere. Nothing would give us more pleasure than to see Jack complete over an hour of a masterclass and remind some of those with short memories that he is a supreme talent in the making.
Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla will probably be tasked with covering every blade of grass on the flanks to make us hard to attack, but even more difficult to defend against. Olivier Giroud, or can we call him HFB now (?) has the opportunity to add to his growing tally, and his growing reputation.
Although this is the sort of post international break fixture that has proved so troublesome in the past we go into it with an air of positivity and confidence enveloping the squad from inside and outside the club. It is important to build on that burst of goodwill with another solid performance. Paolo Di Canio will have his much-changed new team fired up for sure, but like the neighbours they need time to get used to each other.
The ‘holic pound follows that optimistic atmosphere. I go for 0-2 to the visitors at eights if you shop around. The more nervous can get the same price on 1-2.
Now, with apologies for the brevity of the preview I am back to watching Les Girondins against Qatar St Germain on the orders of our friend, Ollie.
Have a great weekend everybody. Here’s hoping this permanent smile is still on my chops next week.
238 Responses to “It’s An Ill Wind”
Into the light (and beyond).
Excellent pints ‘h. Cheers.
Up The Arse!
The only way to change things
Is to shoot men who arrange things
a trophy!
Time for all to fall in line, follow Öllil’s orders, and support Les Girondins on to victory. I must figure out whether I get that premium channel. Nice preview ‘holic and I’m glad to hear you are one of the less nervous ones. 🙂
Sagna in the middle and taking care of business. It proves it’s a new season. 🙂
Is Top Ten a trophy?
Game over, sadly QSG win 2-0. Bordeaux getting truly worse every season though.
I think the stated aim of 7th might still be too high 🙁
Cheeky multitasking ‘holic.
Or did you (understandably) give up before the end? :s
Hope The Messiah is passed fit. We should have enough without him though. I am feeling strangely reassured now that The Flamster is back in the ranks. How odd. Nice post Sir ‘Holic. What price an HFB hat trick?
haha, I see this was written before the end of the game.
I’m truly sorry that I made you watch this though.
Ollie – Bordeaux getting worse is good for me 😉
All the holics – I won’t be able to watch the game as it is gonna be Yom Kippur so I’ll watch it as live, but I would like to ask for your forgiveness for anything I might have done to hurt you.
I apologize from the bottom of my heart.
To any Jews here – tzom kal and Gmar Chatima Tova
Gmar Chatima Tova
Didn’t she toss the cannon ball for the USSR in the 1972 Olympics? Armpits like a grizzly bear’s arse as I recall.
Evening ‘H,
I did say, even as we were signing Özil, that I thought Flamini might turn out to be just as significant a signing for us, albeit not quite such a gifted one.
The Flamster is just what a team needs when heading oop north to’t Stadium o’Light.
While obviously still hoping to see something of our new shining star tomorrow – billious attacks permitting – I wouldn’t even put Holic’s pound on it.
Is it unreasonable to expect ever to get one bit of good news without two bits of bad news to go with it ? We do seem to have more players missing more games for more reasons than any other team I can think of.
The original hope for Arteta was that he would be fit at the end of the international break. That is clearly no longer the case, although I’m not sure anyone ever said which international break.
The thinner the squad gets the more likely we are to see the forced return of NB52,000. So, a song for him – just in case –
“He’s fat,
He farts,
Just pray he never starts,
Niklas Bendtner, Niklas Bendtner”. 😉
Hey Snir, hope you’re well.
Enjoy Your Kippers. 😉
Good to see you in here more often.
If someone asks me, to name one thing where Arsenal are the weakest and must improve instantly, I have my answer prepared- injury front.
I don’t know whose fault that is, is it just bad luck, or there is something more in it, and don’t want to speculate. All I know is that it is unacceptable to have almost half a team on the injury list for every fycking season. And all this when we have a paper thin squad.
Just think about it…. Cesc and RvP were in our team for all those years and we barely saw them playing together.
There are some stats in the post that I’ll link bellow that are shocking.
http://www.washedup.org/2013/09/09/crystal-ankles-paper-tendons/
Nik Bendtner, Nik Bendtner
He we-ent to Juve
They didn’t want to pay
Nik Bendtner……
We live in hope eternal!
Anyway, being bored tonight, I picked over some older posts, debates and comments from the bar. Some distant ones, actually. From 2008.
And there is some mighty stuff there. I’ll paste some of them, without mentioning the authors of course, with your permission ‘Holic.
– “Good post holic. Love ________ response. Apart from the highly amusing festive links I also agree re Denilson. I feel he has been harshly criticised this year by some. he is not the finished product but has on many occasions had better games than Cesc. I am sure this is for all manor of reasons. I do believe that he has come a long way in a short space of time. I know Cesc started younger but he was introduced to the first team with all sorts of minders to guide him through. Denislon has not had that luxury. I do believe in a few years time we will be talking about what a fantastic player he is.
We are currently being linked with Inler and Veloso again. I imagine most of that is paper talk but who knows? The Arshavin links keep on appearing but I will be very surprised if we pay 20 million for him. Time will tell but I will be gob smacked if we do not buy anyone.”
– “I agree with ________ re. Denilson – he has been better than Cesc on a number of occasions this season. It’s up to him now whether he takes his chance or not. Song is also improving.”
-“I agree with an earlier post suggesting we should make a sneaky bid for Mikael Arteta who to me seems very much an Arsenal type player. Only 26 too!! Certainly capable of putting it about a bit too, although if Nasri moves to a central position (and Diaby on the wing), it still leaves us with the problem of who does the central defensive role!?
Alonso has probably increased in value and Zenit St. Petersburg will want too much moolah for the services of Arshavin – can’t see Wenger be willing to part with too much cash for those two.”
-“Several reasons why we should keep Adebayor:
1. He is the only current Arsenal player who has the potential to come close to 30 goals in a season
2. even with his sub optimal performance this season (mainly due to injuries) he is our highest goal scorer this season with 16 goals
3. This season is the worst time to sell a prized asset, the market is down and cash is scarce (remember the economic crises) i would rather be buying than selling
4. Realistically what 30 goal striker would we be able to get with the 15-17m max we would fetch disposing of him in a fire sale? or would we be stuck with Bendtner who would at best do 10 to 12 goals a season (we saw him in action while Ade and Van persie were injured/suspended)”
-“______, you were making perfect sense until you spoke of Bendtner being a 10 to 12 goalscorer. Check your facts first.
This season, when you are so critical of him as a stand-in, he has scored 15 in 27 starts”
The debates are from current bar members. I must say, interesting stuff from today’s perspective.
Lars, the retrospectoscope has 60/60 vision. 🙂
I meant Lurky, sorry.
I stayed at the Sopwell House last night where I think young Mesut is last night and I am fighting fit this evening. And I bet I had several pints more than him too. Hope the lad is not going to turn out to be a lightweight- something Ive never been accused of.
We are just managing to put out a sensible squad but it is only the fourth game of the season. I hope too that LJW confounds his critics by playing out of his skin tomorrow . Hopefully NB 52 won’t see the light of day.
2-0 to the Arsenal
First goal really important tomorrow.
We’re a tough team to beat once we get our noses in front and this Sunderland side is held together with blu tack and Sellotape – don’t give them any encouragement and we’ll be fine.
2-0 Arsenal, with an opener from the HFB and them the new boy wonder strolling on to lay on a second for Theo.
COYG
I suspect it may be the Flamster and Jack as the holding pair with Aaron in front of them, relying on Santi to provide the early creativity and the midfield overloads. Then Jack off after 70 mins, replaced by the Öster with Aaron dropping back into the double pivot. Then a glorious 20 mins of Santi-Ö razzle-dazzle and a five something win.
NBN,
“Then Jack off after 70 mins….. ”
too much information, NBN ! 🙁
Snir that was an interesting post. One of my buddies i used to watch the Arsenal with was himself Brazilian and loved – loved – Denilson. Many thought he got way too much stick and was an under appreciated player. Alas ….
Back to the present: I likes 3-1 to the good guys. Feo is gonna score some goals!! I can just feel it.
Cheers all. Thank goodness the real football is back!
And … Holy crap!
Weve got Mesut Ozil!! Wo-Hoooooooooo!!!!
Ooh, Trev. You are a one….
Hello everyone, it’s a bit early for a drink in England I suppose, but i’m buying markers for all when you’re ready.
So below is a quote from Wenger about the French national team as an analogy for England
Wenger explained, “You put them all together and nothing happens. It is a mystery. For me when they get there everyone is a bit handbreaky.”
So I’m not sure if Amy Laurence snuck this in or if the original interview was in French and the translator was having some fun but according to Wenger used the word ‘handbreaky’, isn’t that an Arseblog special??
Haha I can’t really remember if blogs used it but it might finally be evidence that the great man reads blogs.
Okay, I’m a bit bored here in Bangkok, how is everyone?
*According to the article* rather
Great post as always, Holic.
In Dubrovnik. anyone know any bars to watch the
game today?
25 miles north of London. Anyone know any bars to watch the game today? 😉
Have a good morning of Öööözil anticipation Holics.
I’m off to the vet with the dog as she has just been spayed.
Would have been a lot cheaper to buy a spade and do it myself. 🙁
“An Ill Wind”
I’m ill? First I’ve heard 😛
In all seriousness though, good match preview Holic 🙂 I hope Özil starts (for the sake of my FPL team!) but I know this isn’t very likely to happen… 🙁 Oh well, we’ve got Mesut freakin’ Özil!!! 😀
Morning Girls,
Happy St Ozil day all. Enjoy your fish wherever you may be.
Top preview ‘H. I think your suggested team is bang on. 3-0 to the Gunners here, though I think N7 makes a very good point – crucial that we see out the first 20 mins and don’t concede first.
Ollie – Sorry about Les Girondins. 🙁
Trev @23 🙂
Cheers for the drink Mondo, I need the inspiration for a Prince of Denmark song.
Ooh aah
Nick Bentnar
Not so good
in a car.
Ooh aah,
Nick Bentnar
too much time
in the bar.
Ooh aah
Nick Bentnar
Shows his pants
Now he’s a star.
Ooh aah
Nick Bentnar
Big belly
Ha ha ha ha.
Normally, I would have been a bit nervous about the upcoming game at this stage but I am still on such a high from the Özil signing that I have entered some sort of zen-like state where I don’t worry too much about the future. I guess I have got my optimism back 🙂
Right, breakfast…
Greetings to Mondo and TommyO from St. Paul, Minnesota where the game should be coming in loud and clear. Come on you Yellows!!
Let’s kick those unlucky black cats to the curb and come home with 3 points! We’re capable so let’s make sure we do it.
Mondo, while ‘playing with a handbrake on’ is a staple of French punditry, there is no sunch thing as handbraky, so might have been Arsène having fun indeed.
Never an easy place to visit but a bit of the spirit of last season’s run-in allied to some Özil magic should see us leave with the points.
COYYs
Don’t know how reliable, Wayne Veysey of Goal.com said this on twitter.
“Told Cazorla is out of #SAFCvAFC , with injury picked up in midweek. Ozil (ill) has travelled & a late decision to be made before k.o.”
Just great..
It has been confirmed.
“Santi & Per out. Ozil is ok at the moment”
Indeed bath,
if Mr õz-ill is well enough to take part. 🙁
Now this is funny.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/sep/13/paolo-di-canio-sunderland-language-problems
Cazorla and Per being out? Not as funny.
Tabs @35,
Two songs for Bendy now between us. Funny how we never had one while he was actually playing …… ?
Cazorla out as well now – just great.
So, if we are not starting with Özil, does that mean we’re going to play:
Giroud
Gibbs Wilshere Walcott
Ramsey Flamini
Nacho Kos Sagna Jenks
?
Or do we play a youngster on the left flank? Gnabry perhaps?
What a mess. Fycking internationals. Rosicky, Mert and now Cazorla. Theo and Jack with knocks.
We might have a decent starting eleven, but no game changers on the bench, though. Gnabry and Chubba is all I can think of, if they even made the trip.
And we have a CL game on Wednesday…
Confirmed where? From Wayne fucking Vesey of Goal.com? Not saying it aint true, but I never believe a word that cunt writes. Ever.
Santi has ankle injury.
Meh.
Esso, sadly but it is true, it has been confirmed from another source that is always spot on.
Source please? Still nothing on NewsNow.
Who. Still nothing on NewsNow.
Our medical room could win the league.
Yeah, we’ve really got half an eleven of injured players that would be considered our best eleven (or very close) material. Now is the time for some of that team spirit, and a Walcott run, a good pass from Ramsey, and a nervous 1-0 away win.
That will do it for me. The players will start coming back soon. Many of the newly injured players are short term (touch wood) or just plain ill, and players like Arteta and Vermaelen are coming back soonish.
Just get the points today, we shouldn’t have to have to live through many of these days before we’ve got Özil up to speed and some players back.
Esso, twitter source that is always spot on, believe me.
NewsNow is always hours behind.
GeoffArsenal? Maybe. We’ll see.
Anyways could n’t give a fuck. We are The Arsenal.
Yep.
Apparently, Santi’s ankle injury is not serious. Should be ok in a few days.
Some good bad-news at least.
Off to the pub.
Up the Arse!
Waited 2 whole freakin weeks for ozil-carzola combo…..whats this shit am hearing? Illness? Un-fuckin-believable
Hair back to red and short. Ready for action.
Come on Arsenal!
An ‘ill wind’ Holic ? Just what is going on at our club. Norovirus, gets my vote. A hardy bug that lives on surfaces for a long time. Time to sanitize the locker room. On a side note, the Tampa Bay Bucs, recently hired a company to disinfect their club, after a couple of their players caught MRSA (staph) infections. As for our mounting injuries … Lurky, read those stats with great interest. So early in the season, so many injuries!!! We know Arsenal have a state of the art training facility, so perhaps their approach to conditioning, needs to be re evaluated.
Snir, Wish you a meaningful observance of Yom Kippur and second what Trev said @ 14 😉
Abb, something needs to be done, for sure.
What I don’t understand is how Rooney and Sturridge aren’t available to play for their national team because of injuries, but they are fit to play for their clubs.
We must do something, stop being naive and change our strategy on that front. I know that is hardly possible, but if I am in Arsene’s place, I’ll tell most of the national coaches to just fyck off and leave our players alone. After all, the players are on Arsenal payroll.
Lurky, it’d be nice to do that sometimes but that is not ‘the Arsenal way’ and I doubt we will ever do things any other way, at least not under Arsene, he is too much of a gentleman.
Hey Cent and Lurky. Rooney wearing protective headband today. Lurky, hadn’t really thought about that aspect, but you have a point. But still, getting back to those stats, they are hard to ignore, aren’t they.
Ashley Young getting booked for simulation. Oh my. What has the world come to.
I’d tend to agree with many of the above sentiments that even without Ozil and Cazorla, we ought to have enough to sneak a 1-0.
Look who we have: Walcott, Giroud (on blinding form and scoring without Ozil’s assists), the Flamster guarding the back 4, Vermaelan (please no…), Rambo (also on great form), Le Sagna, and so on.
Gutted if Nemo doesn’t get a look in but hardly surprising that he caught the lurgy: new country, new germs, new job.
Interesting comments by Sanga on .com about seeing his future at center back. “I’m getting old and at right back you need to put in a lot more effort. I don’t know how long I can do that to my maximum so maybe one day I will be able to play centre back.” Might have something to do with the club’s decision not to buy a center back…? I can certainly see it. He’s very self-deprecating in the interview but we all know he can already play center back pretty darn well.
Huh.
Crystal Palace look really, really poor btw. And still Manchester United haven’t been able to fashion even a half-decent chance against them.
BBC confirmed Özil will be starting. If that’s true or not is anyones guess.
Toby @69
A world without SAF.
The rules are now the same as for everyone else, perhaps?
Poo
Chuba on the bench as suspected. I really like him, had a good summer.
Unt penalty as I am speaking, and a red card for CP. It should be a second yellow for Young though.
Yes Lurky he leaned into that contact. What a little punk.
Really bad rule. Pen and red card is too great a punishment. Fair enough one or other for denying clear opportunity.
What Lurky said.
Why was Robin looking so pensive. Sent the keeper the other way. Was there ever a doubt. Sigh. @71 We want Bac, either position! @72 Hope so, really excited to see him play for us!
Bath @73
I think we’ve got our answer.
To be fair, I’d say there is a definite shade of penalty over that. Theo got a penalty a few games back, getting in front of the defender and slowing down to turn. That for me was more of a penalty, since he was really trying to move towards the centre of the goal though, in this case it was more of looking for a pen, but it would probably have been one even if he hadn’t, and that probably would have looked better for Young. So that’s what saves him somewhat in my book.
That’s not to say he didn’t dive. He sure was looking for it, and for me, started going down before the challenge.
Ps. having all that said, I still thought the challenge was outside the box. But hey, I’m just an Arsenal supporter.
BT reviews show it was definitely outside the box and Young leaned across the defender who was going for the ball. He’s clearly after the Chimp’s Diver of the Season trophy.
Loo brush being pulled out to get the shit out of a hole.
Arsenal.com @Arsenal 48s
Ozil starts. Full team to come. #OzilIsAGunner
Arsenal.com @Arsenal 14s View translation
#Arsenal team to play Sunderland: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Sagna, Koscielny, Gibbs, Flamini, Ramsey, Wilshere, Ozil, Walcott, Giroud #SAFCvAFC
COYG
Tasty lineup! Broad smile 🙂
Bench will be revising for their GCSEs though.
Purdy free kick by Rooney. Should include that one in training video 😉
wall didn’t jump. GK no chance. well taken tho.
Any decent links for the game, or it is to early?
Here you go Lurky, I am watching bloodzeed one and its flawless http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=216475&part=sports
Thanks Eandy, I knew I can count on you, always with a decent stream 🙂
😀 *beams*
Good stuff ‘h.
Afternoon all.
No Arsenal on dutch tv. 🙁
A stream hunting I go…………………
*points to his link* and hey everyone btw 🙂 terrible news regarding Santi, but I hope our new boy Mesut is going to fill in just right.
Still kinda nervous about this game…
Co On You Gunners!!!
Nervous as hell, but optimistic.
This is winnable.
Come on you Reds!!!
*too much excitement.
Come On You Gunners!!!
BAMM
That’s it gentlemen, take your seats. No cover charge here 😉 Bit nervous myself. But I put it down to all our injuries, not lack in belief of our players! For all you holics, wherever you are, have a truly awesome day!
Özil’s a gooner.
I know this to be true as he’s just walked out in glorious yellow.
It’s real boys and girls.
COYRRR’s
good morning all.
we’ve got mesut fucking özil in the cannon!!!
Time to rock n roll boys.
come on you gunners!
Some promising forays by Jack!
santi on the bench?
yeeeeesssssssssss!
MOTOR OZIL with the assist!!!
Get in!
özil to girooouuuud!
OMG Ozil to OG, what a beautiful cross and terrific finish!!!!
!!!:D
He’s gonna be worth every penny.
Great bring down, one look up and a perfect pass.
Well taken by the HFB.
Great pass
whew!
totally agree, h2h.
oh theo!
Wow, shot blocked by Woj (whew)
Radio 5 Live – “Arsenal playing from right to left …..” ?!?!?
So if I turn round the other way, do they change ends at the Stadium of Light ?
Spooky (oo) 😉
what a pass from özil to Walcott. another good save.
Nice move, unlucky.
No disrespect to DBK … but Mehut MASSSIVE signing!
Just love Flaminis bite …glad we have his type of player in our ranks.
Jack really needs to learn when to release the pass ..good play though.
Sweet stuff by Jack, there.
oooh, brilliant movement. theo on a hattrick of misses.
Get your card out ref ffs.
oooh sooo close!
wonderful stuff at times by our lads. if theo is clinical, we’re wiping the floor with these cloggers.
Arsenal Ozils class?
OG with beautiful flick again, I know its all about Mesut now, but I have to say …HFB is putting in once again absolutely magnificent shift.
Looking good. With Per we would look even better. Ramsey and Flamini bossing the midfield, and even Wilshere looking better today. Ozil made for Arsenal. But Ramsey and Flamini doing a Barcelonaesque job of winning the ball back. Come on Arsenal.
Does it seem like the guys are pulling back after an early goal? Maybe it’s just me.
Unfortunatly I have a bit of a sticky, starty stopy stream, so it’s difficult to guage the flow of the game. As far as I can see we are pretty much in control, however, I’ll be a lot happier if we can quickly knock another one in and put this game to bed, which honestly, we really should of done already.
Ah Ha !!!
Vorsprung Der Technik……This team is purring like a beautifully engineered german motor car; theo could have had 4 already aaron is a beast in the tackle, Jack must think all his xmas’s at once playing with Mesut, WENGER OUT !!! ha ha ha
Come on the second half. Flamini won’t let us put on ze handbrake.
On 0-2 are we?
Common theo! Damn score one of these damn chances, I need to start drinking now, but can’t theo please give me the go ahead to start my weekend!!!!!!!!
73 % possession…Sunderland gonna have to pull one of their front 2 back in midfield. Please Arsenal don’t throw this away now !! More Wengerball coming up …Theo gotta be next to score hasn’t he ?
Diakite asking Ozil for his shirt at half time…! 73% possession.
Would be interesting to see us against some proper opposition.
As it is am not complaining today though 🙂
fuck
Sloppy Kos.
Why oh why
didn’t need to be, either. one aspect of his game to be eradicated.
Walcott having an off day…!
Wake up boys
OG does it again ..ffs Theo put one of those in finally..
pheeeeww
Saved by 2 off sides calls. C’mon Arsenal!
okay enough ..time to play boys!
WAKE THE FUCK UP
OHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhOG, almost!
Yet again individual errors costing us… What is it with Kos at the start of seasons and playing shite?
aaaaaaaron!!!!
Get THE FUCK IN!!!!
Fucking brillant strike by Aaaron! Jenks luv you two!!!!
AAAARRROOONNN.
thats fucking brilliant!! AAAROOON!
Rambo!!!!!!!
Whew.
A bit lucky there.
Lucky lucky lucky
well ref fucked up with pen, which was a dive..and now robbed Soton ..so it evens out.
eeer Sunderland
I dont fuckin believe it n am an arsenal fan…..get in!
deuce!
Rambo en fuego
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS. GEt the fuckity fuck fuck iNNNNN
Ozil to Aaron … rest is history 🙂
Lovelyyyy
Absolute magic!!!
HFB – Ö – Aaron, BAMM.
RAMBOOOO!!!
Walcott needs to be taken off, ineffectual.
Verm with the chops
Stellar debut by Ozil. Welcome back TV!!!
Return of The Verm’!
Rest up Ozil… CL action next!
Theo needs to be taken off… To save him for mid week. Seeing as how important he is for us…
Aaron Ramsey u muthafucker. Hahaha. No one deserves it more for all the shit u been through.
Loving the chant of “is there a fire drill” to all the makems making an early exit.
Take Wilshere off…!
What we feared, OG down 🙁
Great…Ramsey just took out our only striker 🙁
please no please no please no knackered no 12
work well done, OG, Rambo and Ozil really sublime today.
motm rambo again
I thought LJW looked a lot better today too.
Plus the HFB finaly got a goal outside the Capital, hope he’s o.k.
Ozil seems to be the real deal.. what a first touch!
Going to be an interesting season… if we have enough personnel fit to last the season.
Mesut marvellous
Rambo colossal
HFB incisive
Feo needs practice
Kos needs to stay on his feet
And Flamster excellent.
OG seemed to be walking about ok after the match….keep it all crossed ‘holics
Rambo is our engine this year. never stopped, never gave up. two great goals.
Wow, never thought a bad refereeing decision was going to go in our favour 😉
All bad luck aside, I thought it was a decent performance with Mesut stealing the first half and Aaron stealing the second, Theo was a little wasteful but it will grow on him again I hope.
top of the table, too!!!
What scruz said
Who was the ref who had such a bad game when we lost to Villa ? was it Atkinson ?
nah, anthony taylor…
@chrisgooner
Nah, tosser was Anthony Taylor
RAMSEY!
rhumba
Well in, Eandy!
Any news on Giroud, anyone?
Theo needs to find his finishing back soon, otherwise he is going to give up a lot of scoring opportunities. Something seems a little off with his confidence again in front of the goalmouth, last couple of seasons he has been very potent latching on to the through balls and then beating the GK. Should have scored at least one goal two.
I thought Jack was very good. Some stray passes and some over elaboration but kept the movements well orchestrated in the first half especially. His combination play with Ozil and Giroud both were brilliant.
Rambo was a little rusty to begin with but got better with the match. Two really superb goals and of different types. Giroud’s assist in Rambo’s second goal was wonderful.
I thought a bit of complacency was creeping in the team around the end of the first half as they probably felt that with Ozil showing the skills and passes we would easily get a couple more anytime. This used to be a problem in the Cesc days, sure Arsene and co will remind the players that their resilience and focus can never be compromised.
Ozil was just a class above everyone else in terms of technical abilities. This is going to be fun.
Lurky @ 202: In TV I saw him standing on his feet at the end of the game and smiling and walking back with Ozil from the bench, make whatever of that … staying optimistic.
well in, eandy!
my Faustian doktor, methinks having santi, at least, in the team should make a repeat of cescdependance unlikely…
Well in, H2H!
Great game by the boys. That Ramsey dude is quite a player, innit? I wonder how much we paid for him.
Agreed regarding Feo, last season he was smashing them in from those positions. However, to not take credit away from the keeper, he stopped the shots well.
Those missed chances did not cost us in the end but might, on the other side, I think this was good preview of how our game might look like with Mesut in our line up. And to consider he was ill….bring on Marseilles!:D
Agree every word, Dr. Faustus. It is going to be fun. I wonder what we would look like when the mighty Cazorla returns.
Lars Bender who*? One Flamini-for-free, is my order barman.
Thanks DG and SG @ 198 and 199
Aaron ramsay.
Take a fooking bow, sir.
Flamini was huge today as well.
AW – he may still know a thing er two.
Cheers all!
And that German fella.
He did ok too.
Wo-Hoooooo!!!!
Flamini a “minor” transfer according to press reports. EAT. MY. ARSE.
scroz @ 206: Hope so, also hope no complacency about ‘we are always going to outscore them’ creep back in. In Per-Kos-Sagna-Arteta we have some very level header defensive leaders and Flamini seems to have fit well in. The best thing about last season’s performance — other than the occasional magic from Santi — was the collective attitude. As long as that stays, Ozil’s contributions would be more telling.
Eandy @ 208: Many other aspects of Theo’s games actually have been improving: positional awareness, defensive discipline, interplay with the other forwards etc. The finishings are always a matter of confidence which generally comes from practice to make it intuitive and natural. Maybe Theo has stopped practicing them with the same intensity he used to while hoping for a central position. Just a guess.
Lurky @ 209: I think Aaron would get the nod ahead of Jack who will most likely rotate with Ozil, while Santi starting on the typical left. Santi offers fantastic defensive protection and workrate as well. Aaron would start in front of Flamini or Arteta.
Once Arteta returns it would be interesting to see if we ever play him and Flamini together.
Solid three points from a place where a singleton has too often been the haul. Lot to like about the first sight of Özil in our colors. He played well within himself and kept the passes simple, which was sensible given how he doesn’t yet know his teammates too well. But his first touch, his movement and his vision and quality of pass were just a class above anyone else on the pitch. He could have had three assists in the first half alone if Theo had remembered that his target for the season is 20 goals, not 20 shots. Jack didn’t have to try to drive forward on his own so much with Özil there, and had a much better game for being able to play off him. When Özil settles in, as Dr Faustus says, this could be fun.
Speaking of Cazorla, he is out for a month.
Football Gods clearly don’t like us.
1 Arsenal 4 9
2 Titts 4 9
3 Liverpool 3 9
4 Man City 4 7
5 Man Utd 4 7
6 Chelsea 3 7
7 Stoke 4 7
Just saying like.
Outside of the defensive covers our bench today was comprised of all league cup candidates fresh out of mid-week reserve match: Frimpong, Gnabry, Ryo and Akpom. This is some illness-injury crisis (excluding Diaby): Per-Arteta-Santi-Ox-Poldi-TR7 . Six fantastic players. Unbelievable!
It is so good that we can now have these debates about who should be starting, and who rotates when. That is what having strength in depth means. Arteta, Flamini, Ramsey, Wilshere, Özil, Carzola, Roskicy. That is a seriously good midfiled however you perm them.
Lurky @ 216: 🙁 . Hope TR7’s is at least a short-term one.
Expect Gibbs to deputize on left wing for a few matches then. Maybe Gnabry-Ryo can surprise us. But this really is an unbelievable injury list.
Stoke 7th, H2H? That sticks in the craw a bit.
Anyone else impressed by Flamini’s Mobility today? His mobility and passing were the only things that worried me a bit prior to today but based on today’s performance I’m resting easy.
@ 220, That is what stop’s me from full celebratory mode. Feels like we are in Agatha Crisitie’s ‘Ten Little Indians’, holding our collective breaths. Is OG the next victim ?
Agreed CB @222 Mathieu, il etais enorme !
BBC reporting Santi out until after next international break.
Oh, I see Lurky has beaten me to it.
No news on Giroud yet ?
Cent,
I will immodestly point you at my @13 😉
Very cool but very big photo of two young Arsenal fans before the Spud game
http://imageshack.us/a/img845/9639/30xk.jpg
Come on you toffeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzz
Chavs 1 down at half time 🙂
That is a seriously good midfiled however you perm them.
Perm them?
They’re not scousers mate. 😉
Aaron muthafcuking Ramsey.
Most tackles of any player on the pitch. Most passes. 93% pass completion. Two goals.
Like a new signing?
If we can get Jack firing on all cylinders (I see that Le Boss is predicting October/November for that) then this will be one scary looking side. Good times.
COYG
BTW, agreed with everyone about Flamini. Was pleasantly surprised by the passing and distribution. Tactically too the stint in Italy has definitely helped.
Oh, and that Ozil fella could turn out to be a decent player too.
N7, that boy is well on his way to earning his soubriquet “RAMBO”.
N7 @ 231: I just want everyone to stay fit and fighting for starting positions. The rest would then take care of itself.
“I don’t think you understand. I didn’t come to rescue Rambo from you. I came here to rescue you from him.”
It would be nice to see the Verminator push Kos for his place. The frenchman can be a bit reckless at times
I am copyrighting Ozilicious… >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>