Ozilicious Arsenal Get It Done
Sep 14th, 2013 by 'holic
As performances go, that will definitely be filed under mixed bag. Over the course of a season you will get games like that, but the astonishing difference in our attacking and defensive ‘efficiency’ (as Arsene likes to say) hints at a fair few twists and turns as we recover from our opening day defeat.
The big tests await, but with the addition of the sublime Mesut Ozil we have a midfield that will create problems for anybody. The German seemed to me to be operating at eighty percent on his debut, and still lit up the game with his passing accuracy and interplay with those around him. Alongside him once more Aaron Ramsey just sparkled. The stick he started to attract from some last season has been cast aside. The young player struggling to recover from a brutal leg break in an unfamiliar role on the right flank has blossomed as he has been asked to fill the void left by the injury to Mikel Arteta.
Up top there is every sign that Olivier Giroud is approaching the top of his craft. It took little over ten minutes for him to score his fifth goal in six matches this season, courtesy of the first of many anticipated Ozilicious assists. By half-time we could, probably should in truth, have been three or four to the good. Theo Walcott in particular spurned a trio of opportunities but it wasn’t his day. To be honest I thought the flack he took in some quarters was unfair.
It was a surprise to see him start following the butchering he and Jack Wilshere took in the name of England in midweek. A word too for Jack, slaughtered in the press this week. He looked different class when operating with Ozil today despite once again being the subject of some questionable challenges. Martin Atkinson showed an interesting judgement of what did or didn’t warrant a yellow card throughout. Ki in particular was dealt with leniently when he went nastily through the back of Jack in the second-half having already had a final warning in the opening period.
With such a slender lead we didn’t need Laurent Koscielny to make a rash sliding challenge on a player going away from goal. Johnson certainly made a theatrical tumble, but I thought this was one of the few decisions Atkinson got right on the day. Back level, the game looked tougher than it should have been, but we somewhat scarily resisted Sunderland’s purple patch and were ahead again when Aaron Ramsey cracked a magnificent volley home from Carl Jenkinson’s cross.
If someone describes what happened next as the turning point I will take a pineapple to their rectum. I will agree however that Atkinson denied Sunderland a perfectly good equaliser by not playing an advantage when Altidore shook off a clear foul by Bacary Sagna. By now though it was clear that Arsenal would simply outscore their opponents no matter how many goals were leaked. That was emphasised by as good a team goal as you could wish to see set the seal on 1-3 triumph. Aaron Ramsey applied the cool finish, but the goal belonged to all of Arsenal’s creative talents.
So we have to record (it’s the law for bloggers) that such a win doesn’t suggest that the good days are back any more than a draw or defeat would have ended them prematurely. As long as Ollie’s knee has survived a late twist, and the best midfield I have seen at Arsenal since the days of the invincibles stay fit, then there is cause for cautious optimism.
Another good day, with caveats.
285 Responses to “Ozilicious Arsenal Get It Done”
Trophy?
Indeed. A shiny one, too.
All well put, ‘Holic. As I said in the previous drinks, Özil was playing well within himself and keeping things simple, sensible when surrounded by unfamiliar teammates. But his first touch, his movement and the vision and quality of his passing was a class above anyone else on the pitch. A mouth watering debut in our colours.
3d with a shout!
Who needs a new striker when you’ve got Ramsey?
Agree on everything ‘Holic, though I could have done without the vision and feel of the pineapple …
Is Caveats a new loan signing and can he play up top?
Ozilicious blogging guvnor. At times today our football had me smiling from ear to ear
Rough end too, Poppet 😉
First!
Drink!
He’s got a pineapple in his rectum!
Spot on from start to finish, ‘holic.
My knee is fine though 😉
On topic.
I’m so happy that Aaron Ramsey is an Arsenal player. The boy is fucking phenomenal to me. So glad we signed him, remember United was his expected destination. Given their current midfield, try and imagine their discomfort as to where’s he’s ended up. Class in everything he does.
Feeling smug as I stuck Ramsey on the back of my shirt in late July in anticipation of a breakthrough season.
Now sat wearing it and laughing at Chelsea.
Top of the league lads!
Ozilicious sums it up perfectly guv’nor – the future indeed looks bright.
You give us the caveats now, a good lead in to the caveeaters we entertain next weekend. In between we have some frogs to consume
( Ollie excluded of course 😉 )
Mouth. Watering.
And I haven’t seen any of it – really looking forward to MOTD although I don’t expect to manage tonight’s iteration due to my new responsibilities. It’s most definitely early to bed, early to rise for me.
heh Ups
The next Welsh Wonder:
Ladies and Germs, i give you Aaron [fucking] Ramsay.
Actually, i dont. Le Boss does.
God love them both.
The Chavs lose. Happy days.
Toffees anyone?
Cheers Yella. *chomp chomp*
Urgh, these ones taste of stolen Russian oil.
Nice one guv’.
It was lmost like watching two different teams today. We rocked the first half and the opposition barely got a look in, but fair play to them, they come out fired up for the second half and gave us a real game. I think we got extreamly lucky with the disallowed goal, but I’ll take a referee’s gaff, if it’s to our advantage for a change.
Özil looked the bizz, he effortlessly just fits right in. That didn’t look like a player who has maybe trained with us just once or twice, he just seemed to instictively know where his teammates would be. The control, quick look up and anticipation of where Giroud would run to pass that assist to him was simply sublime. Just imagine what he’ll be like when he actually has had time to build a repore? Pants wettingly exciting.
Once again, great to see our Aaron shine, you can see him growing in confidence every week. Theo will get there too, on another day he would of been on a hatrick, the goals will come, the important thing is that he’s getting himself into the position to be a threat.
Top of the league tonight.
Now, if we could only eradicate all those pesky injuries….
“Best midfield since the invincibles”
Now that’s a statement. Cesc, nasri, hleb, veiera pires.
But… I think you might be right! Incredible!
For me, Matt Flame is a massive bonus. He lets the others shine. And kicks people. I like that 🙂
If I ever go back in top (Arseblog Forums) will have a lot of humble pie to eat vis The Flamster. So far been an inspired (free) signing. Fucking love him!
Fine account H.
Özilicious indeed.
And good call on the Flamster, Esso.
Rambo and Flamini plus Mesul and LJW offers fantastic balance, strength and creativity, not to mention Santi, AOC, Mikel and Diaby.
Tasty looking future now.
We may have a new motto, if my Latin isn’t too rusty (there must be some one in the bar old enough to speak it natively….)
Susum amemus ananasam comosam in rectum intestinum.
btw, ‘Holic, only male pineapples have the rough serrated leaves. Female pineapple leaves are smooth. It’s true. Though if you have have either up your rectum, that probably isn’t the first thing on your mind…
When you consider that Mertesaker, Arteta, Cazorla, Rosicky, the Ox and Podolski were injured for this game, the squad is looking pretty decent these days. One top striker in January to share the load with Giroud and I reckon we are challengers again.
Esso
Ramsey was always one of my favourite players and felt sick that night up in Stoke. He’s special and is only going to get better.
Theo should have gone to bed earlier last night. I felt bad for him because I know he knew that on his day he would have at least put one of his chances away.
Hands up if Flamini’s presence reminds you of the good times?
Yeah Catalan, it’s like Flamini’s never been away. Wish he hadn’t.
Özil just sublime, and as for the ones that got away from TW14, watch that vid of Ozil’s assists for RM and see how many CR7 missed – about 3 times as many as he scored. We all have bad hair days.
Once again, great team spirit. OG’s knee a worry, especially as Sanogo is crocked. A lot of weight on young Akpom’s shoulders – unless of course we can get B52 fit ;).
And Cazorla out until late October – midfield thinning out fast.
Stoke next week – time for Aaron to take his revenge with a hat-trick.
Good to see TV back too.
And the Chavs lost so we stay top until Monday at least.
I’m so mesut.
GT @ 27 At least Feo got into those positions and his 3 shots made the keeper work – and the keeper was out swiftly each time and deserves credit for preventing 3 goals.
Feo will thrive on Mesut’s service in the future.
I think Flamini’s technical limitations are even more apparent now than a few years ago, and it feels kind of bizarre at times, as if he came from a different era but he certainly has heart and brings something to the table.
For the good of all I have forgiven him 😉
@Gonnertown.
Likewise. Day he got ‘murdered’ I was living in Sutton, watching in a pub full of Cuntski. Who went fucking mental when it happened (think they’d lost to Citeh earlier though my memory is poor). The Landlady fair play to her stepped in otherwise it would have got right nasty.
Love him. Remember Brighton away last season, when he was getting untold stick for fuck all from where I was standing.
Love him. Well proud he plays for my team. Hope that situation continues. For ever.
Our MF is Rambunctious, Özilicious [(c) Goonerholic] Flamboyant and Willing.
Ollie, well said – I forgave him his defection to Milan (which weakened us 5 years ago) with that first tackle v the LWCs.
He definitely brings ‘bite’ to our MF and it’s great to see him organising our defenders.
My spelling is toilet.
Missed the disallowed Altidore goal because my stream dried up. Just seen it on 101Goals – oh dear, Bac – oh dear oh dear. BFG would just have put his foot on the ball.
Thanks Mr Atkinson for screwing that one up.
Do @28: “we all have bad hair days”
All except Giroud of course. 🙂
Sorry, dk
So Jose had loaned Lukaku to Everton hoping that he will help the Toffees get some points off the other league contenders, and Lukaku cannot play against Chelsea.
“So brilliant, so cunning, look at me, ow, I am so smart”. 🙂
`35 G’Linc.
Wouldn’t think Steve Bould worries about that too much either.
Good call Dr Faustus @37.
Santi is off for a few weeks. This would be his first forced absence in Arsenal shirt, he played non-stop last season.
Anyone has any update on the predicted length of TR7’s absence?
Also, for the next international break can Aaron and TR7 (sorry Eandy and other Czechs on this board) — given their teams stand no chance of progressing — be excused from playing their hearts out in meaningless matches?
Nice preview ‘H, We watched the same game.
Martin Artkinson was in too much of a hurry to punish Sagna(and us generally) and ended up blessing us, he couldn’t wait to give Sagna a yellow and award them a free-kick in a promising position so didn’t bother about playing the advantage for the Mackems. I bet if he expected Altidore to recover well and score that goal he wouldn’t have awarded the free-kick. For the penalty; Johnson went down way too easily but Kosh had no business diving in the way he did.
Trev(from the previous drinks) fair enough re Flamini, I too wanted us to start with him but I was still surprised by his passing and mobility.
ChrisGooner @234(previous drinks) I wish I understood those French words but if they were meant as compliments to Flamini then I agree.
Cent @ 41: ChrisGooner simply meant ‘he was enormous’, a bit of an exaggeration, but well meant. He was solid.
No-one will go unbeaten this season now. The two sets of Scousers aren’t nearly good enough to think about it.
Interesting that after four games all of the likely top five have lost a game. We shouldn’t have lost to Villa but its water under the bridge now.
Only cloud on our horizon is the pile-up of injuries. Still wonder if more could be done to prevent them. Giroud’s situation is particularly worrying. We really did need a striker in the window
Akpom,NB52 or Sanogo to step up????
Apparently Giroud (the fake Ollie) tweeted that his knee is fine.
Dk, agreed about Theo. He’s always been a streaky player. He’ll get it going soon enough.
On one hand, yes the team is a little thin in places, but the only place I’d really complain a out is up top. Any team would be scrambling a little bit with an injured list like this.
Podolski
Ox
Rosicky
Arteta
Sanogo
Cazorla
With Vermaelen just now back
All this makes a gutsy away win, by 2 goals no less, all the more impressive…a game we would have struggled to win last year. So while we’ll always have a player or two in hock, it’s unlikely to be quite this bad very often. Our midfield depth in particular does us proud.
Any word on Arteta’s return btw?
No problem Faustus, since our chances of progressing to World cup are pretty much slim to none now, I would love for TR7 having a break from the rest of the internationals.
He is too big of a patriot in that regard though, so if he is going to be fit, he will want to play, unless Arsene hints him otherwise of course.
Cent @41. ‘Preview’? McFly?
Giroud’s tweets seem to indicate that the knee is okay. Phew!
Just no more injuries and quicks returns for those already in the sick room!
Heh @ Ollie’s Biff.
Worth reminding ourselves that our entire defense is healthy now, knock on wood, barring Per of course who should be fine in a day or two. And our midfield depth should see us through in the middle. Positives, fellas.
Eandy @ 46: Thanks. It is kind of sad to see the drop in quality in the Czech team now after TR7. I am sure he would love to end his career with one more WC appearance, he was quite a player in that 2006 WC in Germany.
I would just love to have him end his career with us with at least one or two major trophies. Until now, my second most favorite player in the Emirates era after Cesc. Him and Sagna deserve to win something for Arsenal.
Thanks Dr F and fair enough to ChrisGooner.
Good work Holic,
liking the “Ozilicious” 😉
Pineapples for Lily Savage, that ‘Fletcher’ bloke with him on 5 Live and whoever the commentators were on 5 Live too.
bath @32 – a puntastic midfield ! 😉
The Flamster now has 2 yellow cards in his first two games – just what we’ve needed for about five years, I’d say.
Flamini is hard without being completely Frimbonkers 😉
Ollie @47 school boy error by me. *hangs head in shame*
Faustus,
TR7’s absence ? 3 weeks – no need to ask 😉
Trev @ 55: Yes, of course. 🙂
Against Marseilles we really have no options but to line up the same way, except for a (hopefully fit) Per coming in place of Jenk and maybe Gibbo getting a breather and Nacho starting. Up front we would probably see one of Gnabry/Ryo to join the proceedings early in place of Ozil/Jack/Theo, and another of that trio replaced by Gibbo/TV5 if we are winning.
Spot on Trev! 🙂
Dr F @52
Absolutely agree- fine servants
Tasty stat for you: that was our 7th successive away win.
Not bad for a club in crisis run by a manager who’s out of his depth.
Now that cesc is gone TR7 is my arsenal man crush.
Despite ozil. Rosicky is the man.
Er … And i mean that in the most non-creepy way.
Right. Too late.
Im going now.
Or was it our 9th? BBC News disagree with football365.com.
Agreed there Dr F, on both things. The drop in quality for Czech national team is quite drastic. There was an exceptional generation which included Poborsky, Nedved and young TR7, with Baros and Koller upfront. This kind of players are nowhere to be seen now for us, and will take some time to get (and maybe we never will) back to the same level we were around 2004/2006.
But I dont care that much about that..and as you, I want to see TR7 win some major stuff with Arsenal before he retires.
Eandy, you forgot Marek Jankulovski, Vladimir Smicer and Ujfalusi.
That generation was my favorite in Euro 2004. As far as I remember, they had the most difficult of groups, but won all their matches untill the semis, only to lose there from Greece and their anti-football.
The Czechs were unlucky in 2004 (arguably a little unlucky in 1996 too), especially with that silly Silver Goal rule, but I liked an underdog like Greece winning, so there =P (Greek Cypriot here)
Called what a day?
24 hours presumably ?
Pörcö Rössö @ 62
I make it 9 – but 7 in PL (2 in CL):
Bayern
Swansea
WBA
Fulham
QPR
Newcastle
————-
Fulham
Fenerbache
Sunderland
Sleep well 🙂
DK I’m slightly lost too.
If Ramsey went on record saying, “It’s a day”, I’d be like, “What on earth are you on about, man? Pull your breeches up and stop talking nonsense!”
stef I’m starting to wonder if your being serious ?
Heh! @ Chris
AH HA
And DK – cheers for ‘doing the math’ for me (as they say on the other side of the pond).
PS – I wish they’d give it its proper name and call it mathS.
Stef, quit while you’re ‘ahead’.
Next ones are Marseille, WBA (in CC), Swansea, WBA (again – in PL), Palace, Dortmund, Manure, Cardiff.
So we could be up on 17 by end of November.
PR – the singular form is probably because they only do arithmetic – algebra and geometry being beyond them (as they were me).
H – I think some housekeeping is in order – you can also scratch my 67 while you’re at it.
The Mail on Sunday say we’re back in for Rooney in Jan.
Maybe we can sign a less embarrassing troll while we’re at it.
Wow, that is deep. “The facts are facts.”
Someone’s been reading Existentialism 101.
giroud apparently tweeted that his knee is ok via arsenal.com. good news.
Check, dkgööner@70. Nine out of the nine last away games. and eleven out of the last 12. In the last nine away games we’ve scored 18 conceded three and kept six clean sheets.
Is this stef person … http://p.twimg.com/AxiY1iQCQAA5osx.jpg
Some good news.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenals-mikel-arteta-lukas-podolski-2274628
Mind the gap, top of the league….get in!
MoTD LWC love in.
They came out of the ‘closet’ tonight.
The smell is nauseating.
I do hope that’s true lurky @92
Lurky, if true that is excellent news.
bath, it seems my decision to turn the sound down and back-drink during the lwc section of MOTD was the right one.
A very nice three points today. A really good first half where we really should have scored more, and then a more wobbly second half but there is no doubt in my mind that overall we definitely deserved the win. I’m sure Sunderland will point to two disallowed goals, but the first one was well over a yard offside and as for the second, to me it looked like Koscielny initially stopped running because he heard the whistle (which came quite long before Altidore took his shot) and then became unsure if he heard it right and tried to keep the ball out.
Watching replays of our goals today, every single one of them was just brilliant. But Aarons volley, that is something else, awesome stuff.
The ref could of let play go on, but as the whistle could be clearly heard before Altidore was in the box, it is a moot point.
Bath
It was nauseating but Lineker has been making sarky digs about Arsenal for years. Wonder if hey will rig their poll?
Those goals were pure class and our movement, particularly in the first half, was exquisite at times.
However we remain vulnerable to really quite simple and direct movement from opposition attackers. We must get smarter at defending and stop feckin’ diving in in the box.
TTG
He has. He singularly fails to be even handed and should not be in that chair.
What surprised me more were Hansen and Shearer creaming their jeans over the LWCs.
Probably scripted by the LWC editors.
Great game the lads. Rambo is the truth, and I am so happy for him. Nice post guv.
Remember not to feed the trolls…or scum.
BMBD
Wenger has received a lot of criticism for failing to match up to the quality of his original buys in France but if we consider Sagna, Nasri, Koscielny and Giroud ( too early to comment on Sanogo) then he still seems to have a pretty good touch. Probably only Squilaci was a disaster. Maybe he might have captured Lloris as well? It’s our South American buys that leave a bit to be desired.
MotD has been going down hill at an alarming rate for the last few years. I’ll only watch it on time delay so I can ff all the crap. Shearer, the waste of shirt, is the worst, bland, cliched, no real insight and a PHD in the mothahumpin’ obvious.
Problem is, as it’s the only free to air PL show, it’s ratings are always going to be high, so there’s no real pressure to make any changes.
I do hope Per is fit for the Orc match. We will need is height and calmness.
I second that bath, Sagna did his job well but Per really has that calming influence on whole defense as a unit. By the way, any news on TR7s injury?
Eandy
3 weeks according to Trev. 😉
Dammit you scared the crap out of me H2H before I finished reading that its according to Trev 😀 (fingers crossed he is wrong on this one)
Anyways….perfectly weighed Özilicious pass…
Bang
well in N7, darn, it is well after 1 am but I still cannot sleep, buzzing from todays win and performance 😀 ..also drinking fine greek white wine helps 😛
Assist?
Oh dear
Well in, N7, I need to have some training sessions with a certain German.
I cannot think of a better way to break a fast.
Love it.
N7’s effort will surely be reviewed by the Dubious Goals Committee come morning.
BMBD
Yet anöther perfectly balanced match report. Thanks Maeströ.
Bath @ #32
You may have overlooked Artetulate & Cazinga!
Then again, perhaps the foul troll stench has already been removed. 😉
BMBD
Only 3-1? Özil aüt!!!! 🙂
Enjoyed the first half in a bar but had to leave in a hurry because one of my group was told to leave by the owner. Ended up following events on the arseblog liveblog on the train ridehome.
Just woke up and watched highlights on dotcom though. Seems I only missed the most epic volley of all time by Rambo!!!! Holy shit that was Bergkampesque!
Great result for us, even though we did seem to ride our luck at times.
Off to watch Motd now…(ugh, hate that show so much)
THEO WALCOTT has been told to forget about being the next Thierry Henry and become an England wide boy if he wants to star at the World Cup in Rio.
By: John Richardson Sun, September 15, 2013: Theo Walcott collected his 36th cap in Kiev. Peter Barnes, who once supplied the ammunition for England stars like Kevin Keegan and Trevor Francis, has been there, done it and got the T-shirt, and he is willing to help Roy Hodgson transform the erratic Arsenal winger ahead of next summer’s finals. Walcott excites and exasperates in equal measures – one moment bursting forward with menace, the next provoking groans of frustration. Wingers of any era are often fragile souls in need of some TLC, suggests former Manchester City and Manchester United star Barnes. He says that fully focused and firing, they have the skill and knowledge to unlock defences. Yet too often, as illustrated on Tuesday night in Kiev, Walcott can lead England down blind alleys – a major reason for an underwhelming attacking display in the goalless draw against Ukraine.Barnes believes Walcott, who collected his 36th cap in Kiev, is in danger of losing his way – and that he is not the only one. “He’s not a spring chicken any longer at 24 but nobody has got hold of him,” Barnes maintained.“I keep on hearing he wants to be a striker, that his idol was Thierry Henry. Forget it, he is never going to be a Thierry Henry.“If I was Roy Hodgson, I would say, ‘Play right wing and have one thing on your mind when you get to the top third of the pitch – get past the full-back and get crosses in or come inside and finish off with a shot. End of story.’ There are too many wrong decisions, misplaced passes.“I feel a bit sorry for Theo. If I had the chance I would ask him about his coaching at Arsenal. Does anyone take him to one side and discuss the art of wing play?“I would only need five minutes with him. I would make him a better player. I would give him more confidence – maybe there is a lack of confidence. I would tell him he’s a right winger, not a centre forward. He is not going to be a Thierry Henry.”Another ex-England winger, Chris Waddle, observed a couple of years ago that Walcott didn’t understand the game.It was a lacerating remark considering Walcott is one of the most intelligent players off the field, but it’s painfully true that the brain doesn’t always function in games.The problem for Hodgson is there are few alternatives in a rapidly diminishing pool of talent.Adam Johnson has come and gone, deemed not good enough by former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini, and is now trying to impress the demanding Paolo Di Canio at Sunderland.Barnes added: “I liked him (Johnson). I don’t think Roberto Mancini used him enough. He didn’t put an arm around him.“It might have been different if he had been told he would be in the team every week and would get the ball. Wingers need that. A lot of them are sensitive, mavericks, freaks if you like.“He should have been told, ‘Don’t be frightened of losing it.’ You don’t hear that these days. In my day, if you lost it having a dribble, so what? At least you’d had a go. Now they don’t even have a ruddy go.
Peter Barnes! Pffffffffffffffffffffffffffft. Where’d they dig that ancient cunt up from? I remember him getting PFA Young Player of the Year, some time back in the 70’s. Went on to achieve sweet fuck all.
Is he for real?
Needs to be coached?
Thank you but no thank you.
He’s got more assists and more goals in his career than Bale, why don’t you go an coach him you twat?
Excellent result, three points, difficult away game after the interminable
international break negotiated. Quality of performance functional but thankfully lots of room for improvement. Am happy.
Two points:
BBC – “Ramsey scores twice in CONTROVERSIAL win”. Manure – fantastic win despite another Young dive outside the area. FFS any objectivity in their match reports – I expect it from the other media tossers but as noted by the reviews of MOTD perhaps it’s an out-dated concept and I’m too naive. Fuck-wits.
Snir – another dinosaur, poor manager, poor results, piss-poor teams and techniques – think Pearce, Pubis, et al. Just ignore the provocative statements. Their achievements and frequent sackings say it all really.
Drinks for all.
Good morning chaps, and I must say it’s a much better morning than it would have been but for our brilliant Welshman. He is full of confidence and boy, does it show! Özil would have had a hattrick of assists but for Theo’s surprisingly poor finishing (perhaps his local Sainsbury’s is out of Consistency Patches).
Now, as for talk of them being denied a goal by the ref, any idiot with two ears clearly heard the ref blow his whistle long and loud way before Altidore slotted past Chesney. Could he have played advantage there? Yes, he could have, but he chose to stop the play before the “goal” was scored. Furthermore, our players paused at the whistle which meant the covering defender got back a hair too late to make what would have been a brilliant goal-line block. As such, the suggestion they would have scored off the advantage is rather dubious.
And on the subject of dubious calls, I feel someone ought to have a word with Kozzer. I love the lad’s commitment and dedication, but he needs to stop diving in on players heading away from goal and giving them the opportunity to con refs into giving them penalties by diving themselves. We saw a ref at Old Toilet yesterday totally bottle a second yellow for Ashley Young for diving and instead give a penalty for a “foul” which occurred outside the box and send off the Palace defender. Such is the abysmal standard of what passes for officiating in the Premier League. Given that we already know that we’ll get short shrift from the clowns in the middle, we need to cut down on the chances they’ll get to shaft us.
Enjoy your Sundays, I know I shall.
Good points MrBure.
Morning H and Holics….Buck’s Fizz on the bar for breakfast………mmmmmmmm.
Well said Mr Bure and I echo all your points.
What a great win against an often stubborn (read: 10 men behind the ball) team. Rambo’s volley was the stuff of dreams.
And speaking of dreams, I’m currently dreaming that the media would STFU about Monkey Boy. If I see one more picture of him doing his retarded heart celebration I think I might have a fatal aneurysm.
MrBure and Mr Rosso – totally and absolutely agree with you both. Great observations and posts. Thank you.
Nice one ‘holic!
When I spoke to Lars at half time we were both feeling pretty good about the game an even after the penalty it always felt like we were going to win the game.
But a nervous second half it was.
Ramsey awesome, Gibbs and Giroud very good. Özil dreamy.
As for theo, sometimes they don’t go in, I’m fine with that as long as he gets into the right positions.
MrBure: One thing that has been almost completely missed in the Sagna/Altidore situation (I missed it too, I only realised it this morning when a mate wrote about it on Twitter) was that Altidore also committed a foul so the ref really didn’t have much choice. When two fouls are committed, you have to blow the whistle and give a free kick (or a penalty if it’s in the box, of course) for the first offence. You can’t gain an advantage by committing a foul “in return”, a foul is still a foul and there is no room in the laws of the game for allowing play to go on in that situation. The fact is also that for a while I actually thought the free kick was for us and not against us as I noted the pushing and shoving by Altidore, and it wasn’t until the replay that I saw that Sagna was the first one to foul so the ref got the whole situation 100% correct in my eyes.
Were you speaking in a strange language, Pontus? 😉
Esso, Alistair is our screwy friend. Psychologists aren’t available on the National Health there obviously…
Now then. Good morning my fellow table-topping team chums 😀
We are the Arsenal and we are the best…
Pontus, agree about Theo. The hardest part about scoring goals is finding the chances, if keeps plugging away they’ll start hitting the back of the net.
Ollie: no, we weren’t speaking in French 😀
heh, Lars
Mr ‘H thank you it’s become apparent that he’s a complete retard and very obvious with the posts, as benefits someone by his very limited postings.
Pontus excellent last paragraph. 🙂
Pontus, good post. No offence meant – drink on the bar for you.
Nobody got any preferences for male or female pineapples then?
Mr ‘H, as said Poppet – both are eye-wateringly propositions that I’m happy to pass on. I suppose it does depend on the orientation of said pineapple. Perhaps Mr Wolfgang can help.
Male/female pineapples? I think I may have missed something here 🙂
Morning All
Didn’t get to see the game until Sky’s MOTD slot, my French stream gave up after 10mins.
Without the BFG’s steady influence, we looked shaky at CB and can only hope he will be fit for Wednesday. Theo let the British element of our team down, perhaps married life has taken the edge off his clinical finishing (sorry about that one).
Rambo just keeps turning it on.His energy and all round play was terrific and what a fab strike to make it 2-1. Ozil makes me smile and I found myself applauding his touch and through ball that gave Giroud the opener.Let’s pray his knee twist was nothing significant.
Ozil will give us all a great deal of pleasure this season but only if our strikers remain fit and can find their top form, will his input transfer into trophies.
Verdict – very promising but let’s get the missing cogs of our squad out of the sick bay asap!
As always COYRs
@Lars 120, Arseblogger this morning described it as a classic six of one, half a dozen of the other situation. Both players were grabbing and pulling each other and the ref could have easily given a foul against Altidore rather than the other way round.
And in fact, having blown his whistle to halt proceedings, he could have booked Altidore for continuing and “scoring”, it’s happened to us, no? According to the Online Gooner’s editor, the ref could have blown his whistle and still played advantage, thus providing us with perhaps one of the finest examples available of someone who has absolutely zero knowledge of how the advantage rule works.
I also failed to understand how Ki didn’t get booked despite having received a “last warning” from the ref in the first half and continuing to commit fouls in the second.
On a more positive note, it was nice to see that Özil, despite carrying an illness and playing like he was carrying an illness, appears to have forged an instant understanding with his teammates. The one-touch passing and movement was a joy to behold, and the perfectly weighted balls through to Theo deserved to be put away. Indeed, if this is Özil at 70% fitness, quite what he can do at 100% is frightening if you’re an opponent. Also, having him, Jack, and Santi (hopefully back soon) in the team means that the “kick ‘im” tactics of our opponents will be thrown into a bit of disarray seeing as it is going to be difficult to avoid bookings and red cards when you have to rotationally foul 2 or 3 playmakers. (Of course that relies on refs actually doing their jobs, so maybe I’m being a tad idealistic.)
It was a relief to wake up to news that Ollie Giroud’s knee is fine as we’ll need him and his hot streak on Wednesday in Marseille.
Cheers guys. And have a pint of the black stuff on me.
Mr Bure….spot on as normal. The HFB doing a hot streak in Marseilles? – suspect Wolfie is booking his air tickets as I type 😉
iStörey, bathööö etc,
Don’t forget our other midfield maestros, Frimbonkers and Diabolicalluck.
Holic,
A preference for male or female pineapples ? That’s just weird. 😉
We are top of the league,
We are top of the league. 🙂
What’s the price on Giroud to get the golden boot?
Nice one Mr Bure.
Considering Özil has had one day at best to train with his new team mates, his appreciation of their running speeds and weight of his passes was astonishing.
Perfectly weighted balls all over the place.
No Wolfie ! 😉
Porco, what’s the price on di Canio to get the boot ?
Wasn’t Peter Barnes the one who went about 7 years without scoring a goal and flopped at every club he went to?
You can keep your opinions fella 🙂
Lars @120,
“The ref got the whole situation 100% correct in my eyes”
That’s the sort of thing I read in here all the time. 😉
Something the pundits seem to have overlooked re: the Altidore “goal”; if you watch the replay the player who tries to clear off the line (Kos?) looks straight at the ref as he blows his whistle, then jogs back and only sprints the last five yards.
If the ref doesn’t blow I think he makes that clearance. For all we know, Woj might also have got out quicker.
Very harsh to say Sunderland robbed of a goal. At most, they were robbed of an opportunity.
Besides all of that, I agree with Holic – if they’d equalised, we’d have scored two more. The whole incident just gave MOTD an easy peg to hang their bias off before they moved on to wanking off the LWCs and Newcastle.
I would also add that if Sunderland were mildly annoyed, Palace should be fuming. Pen and red card for a tackle outside the box, with Young halfway to the deck before any contact was made.
A good, old fashioned Old Trafford ref fucking that got Utd out of a nasty jam.
I’m glad I didn’t see the LWC’s on MOTD, I turned over as soon as I’d had the pleasure of watching the Chavs get turned over.
Thinking back to their ‘analysis’ of our game, the praise certainly was thin on the ground. Pathetic really, we’re playing the best football in the league and the best they can do is faint praise. Twats.
Trev, we would never ever say that the ref didn’t get it right, now would we? 🙂
Di Canio got rather many votes down the pub yesterday for being the most likely candidate to be the first one out the door, and even allowing for his usually twattish behaviour even under the best of circumstances he does look like a man who is losing the plot.
MrBure: good point on Altidore carrying on after the whistle, although it would have been a tad harsh to give him a yellow because it did look like he didn’t hear the whistle. But the Online Gooner ed saying you can play advantage after the whistle? Oh dear, oh dear… it think the old “sometimes it’s better to be quiet and let people think you’re stupid than to open your mouth and prove it” would apply quite well here.
Heh @ Ollie, Lars and Lloydie.
My hangover is doing the writing for me at the moment.
Porco Rosso@ 134 : You can get 14 to 1 on Giroud finishing as top scorer…gotta be worth a punt my table topping chums
Nice one Holic (as always)
Also thought we will win that no matter what. But we need to somehow stop giving away these penalties at that rate! Plus, anyone else thinking that our zone-covering on standarts stil has a lot of room to improve? That header to the croossbar was completely uncovered and should have been an equaliser. I for one wouldn’t mind going back to mancover for corners and freekicks into the box.
3 points and 3 more nails in the fascist’s coffin.
Come on Swans – time for Michu to have a blinder – or have PL teams cottoned on to him now?
Özil is a top top top player.
And Arsenal are top top, top top, top of the league!
Nice to be looking down on everyone this morning with the feeling that it won’t be the last morning we have that view.
(Whether it’s morning or not depends on what time you got up.)
Afternoon peeps.
Some good points made about MotD, shame the so called experts can’t do the same on the show.
I see some are saying that they always thought this one was in the bag, must admit I was pretty much bricing it until Ramsey got his second. We came out of the break looking lathergic and Sunderland had a very good spell after the penalty. I think the Altidore decision (correctly) going against them knocked the stuffing out of them. Still atestimont to the team spirtit, because there have been Arsenal teams in the past that very well might of lost that game.
Having seen the MOTD highlights of the Chavs, and read the report, it just feels so GOOD to see them having the kind of game we used to have a lot in years past. Dominated, lots of shots, NOTHING to show for it!
Lars @ 142:
It seems the OG ed and Herr Di Canio use the same book of football rules as Paolo had a post match moan about how the ref had to wait EVEN after blowing his whistle to see how play developed.
The advantage rule requires the ref to wait after an infringement to see how play develops before blowing his whistle. Having blown the whistle to award a foul, he cannot then signal “advantage”. Complaints about the advantage rule stem from refs being too quick with their whistles, and not that they failed to give the advantage AFTER blowing for fouls.
Good points above on the Altidore “goal”.
Interesting to see Sir Alex Moyes being interviewed yesterday too. Following his Slur Chewy impersonations of two weeks ago, ranting on the touchline at the officials, he spoke yesterday with a barely concealed grin when asked about the decisions that went in his favour.
It’s hard enough to win the league title against the financially doped, but Refs United make it almost impossible.
They’re not called the Ref Devils for nothing, you know.
Delia Block 112,
Nothing unusual for those Frenchies to give up after 10 minutes. 😉
I am hopping ye are nit tacking the puss.
Noo, while I am pissing your coffee, could I please have a small bear.
Messy buckets. 😉
Mr Bure,
Bang on. Again.
By the way, I only saw MoTD highlights yesterday, but I felt pretty uneasy, more than once, over Sir Chesny’s lack of command of his box.
For a fella of his size he doesn’t seem to get to much in the air.
Or is it just me ?
No Trev – it’s not just you. It’s definitely a weakness, but then he has the odd game when he seems to be over it. Not yesterday.
I remember reading when we bought Viviano that he was very dominant in his box – unfortunately, with Wojciech no.1 and Fabianski no.2, doesn’t look like we’ll get much chance to find out, unless he gets used for the CC.
My stream also packed in yesterday just before Aaron’s volley. When I finally got another one working, it was 2-1. I missed the disallowed “goal” too.
But I’m afraid I don’t know the nationality of the miscreant stream, Col. B 🙂
And French Piloceman (sic), where did you get that Scottish accent from?
Bookmakers agree that Di Canio is likely to be first to be shown the door:
http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/next-manager-to-leave-post
“They’re not called the Ref devils for nothing” Trev.
BBC objectivity (from their website):
PREMIER LEAGUE
Arsenal win amid goal controversy
PREMIER LEAGUE
Rooney on target in Man Utd victory
I think Gooners should withhold their licence fee.
and
PREMIER LEAGUE
Super Tottenham on track for glory
(I made that one up 🙂 )
ha ha ha, dkgooner@156, now I’m really, really curious where French Piloceman (sic) does his policing – surely he has never knowingly been near earshot of a French speaker in his life…
Since his injury against Switzerland (when, as Arsenal’s jinx with internationals would have it, both he and Djourou went for a 50/50 ball with equal commitment and almost inevitably both got injured), we have only gotten glimpses of Wilshere’s fabulous talent. But against Sunderland, he showed more than flashes, and I think it’s due to two reasons: first, the Flamster provided both Wilshere and Ramsey a degree of freedom from defensive concerns for the first time in ages, and second, I feel that Wilshere’s sense of being Arsenal’s anointed “main man” has been shattered by the arrival of Mesut Ozil. Did anyone else notice the absence of real pleasure on Wilshere’s face when congratulating Ozil after Giroud’s goal? But like Bogie and Claude Rains, I think this is but the beginning of a beautiful friendship…
bstrum@161. Further investigation has revealed that “French Piloceman” is a typing error – it should have been “French Pliocene Man”, at which point in geological time, who knows what accent the French had?
And I totally agree with your observation about the influence Flamini’s presence had on Jack and Aaron. But I think I’d still have Arteta back when he’s fit. It will be interesting to see the line-up when both Arteta and Cazorla are fit again – not to mention Rosicky & Chamberlain & Diaby. Certainly gives plenty of room for rotation and what a fantastic midfield bench we’re going to have when (if?) all are fit – whoever starts! In fact, when all are fit, the bench won’t be big enough to accommodate them.
Hi everyone. Holic, did you feel a sense of occasion, when you penned “and the best midfield I have seen at Arsenal since the days of the invincibles”. Cause I sure did when reading it. A long, long time coming. Clasping my hands together and looking upwards, giving thanks. 😉
Why, is Wolfie there, abb ? 😉
Are am certainly nit Scittish.
I am oozing a crufty disguise to catch these Fronch abusers and stoop them in their tricks !
And befive you ask – yiss, are am following them doggedly in my crufty disguise. 😉
Oh Trevor, always good to see you here! 🙂
Afternoon All,
Top blogging ‘H.
Still beaming today, despite the hangover. Great win yesterday, say we are top of the League, say we are top of the league! 🙂
Must admit I didn’t really have any caveats. Thought we were magnificent in the first half. Played ’em off the park. Aaron was once again magnificent as was Giroud. Jack had his best game since last January and the way he linked with our new German maestro actually had me dribbling at one point. Ozil, what can I say? He just oozed class in everything he did. Superb. That we didn’t have three or four by HT was the only worry.
Kos ruined what was an otherwise imperious performance to give away the pen. Not really sure what was going on in his head for him to be so reckless. Hopefully he’ll learn from it.
Given the adrenaline rush of the goal, Sunderland gave it a real go and played some good stuff. Fair play to them, they gave us an uncomfortable 15 mins or so. Someone like Altidore is I think the type of bulky tall forward who will always give a hard time to Bac in his new centre-half guise, whilst Johnson should really be playing for someone better than Sunderland.
By the time however that Aaron swept in his magnificent first we had already regained control. Sunderland were chasing shadows. The disallowed “goal”? Dreadful refereeing obviously, but personally I thought the first foul was committed by Altidore. Anyway, justice was done even if it was by the most circuitous of routes. That’s my view and I’m sticking to it 🙂
The third goal just proved what the game had long hinted at. With the wondrous Fishgod in the side, Wengerball 4 has finally arrived. A goal of beauty.
Didn’t really agree with our subs ( I thought they handed the initiative back to Sunderland when we were in full control), but that is to quibble.
A very good win against a better than expected Sunderland. Can’t argue with that. Arsenal top of the league, a tweet from Esso informing me that England had won the cricket against the odds, Maureen getting the right arse-ache as Chelsea lose, and a free (and very decent) meal at the away juicer of choice care of some Golf Club do. I’ve had worse days!
Right off for a backdrink and a search for some cricket highlights.
Arsenal top of the League? This calls for a celebration.
Pineapple me up!
Speaking of Wolfie, is dkgooner@162 trying his hardest to get him worked up? To be of his era, French Pliocene Man would have to be Homo erectus, no?
We are tip of the log, say,
We are tip of the log 🙂
Wolfie, ” … a celebration ” ?
Go on, have a whole tin 😉
I like caveat reference Holic! Great attacking display for the first half. Ozil will be sublime for us, though I wonder what he makes of Theo Wall-banger??? Two weeks back the German-Turk was having his slide-rule passes finished off by Ronaldo, now he is presenting Theo with scoring gifts and the self-proclaimed star striker fluffs his lines which could have cost us points yesterday!
In the first half, out of the four chances he had, Walcott SHOULD have scored 3 (one being that headed opportunity). I know I will be criticised for stating this but this guy is far too hot and cold. Ronaldo would have taken 3 of four chances Walcott had – Ozil’s assist tally may not be as high going forward as it should be if Theo can’t find his shooting boots.
A even bigger concern than Theo’s shooting, is having to play Sagna at CB – I got pillared on here 10 days back for stating Sagna is too small/lightweight to be relied upon at CB when up against 6ft plus forwards – well what happened yesterday then. Hey-ho, Altatoire was far too big and strong for him at a crucial moment! The disallowed goal should have stood, and as long as Wenger continues to deploy him as a CB, then the scenario that was played out yesterday could well occur match in, match out – only the ref won’t come to the rescue in the future.
It is great to be top but if we keep getting injuries until January then there is no chance of sustaining the challenge; should Giroud be out for even a few weeks then…. Wenger’s folly in not strengthening across all positions is beyond belief.
On the positive, Ramsey is playing as if he is the new Cesc, and a special word for Chuba Akpom: leaving aside the lack of striking options and the failure here of Wenger, how good must that young lad have felt yesterday! A year ago he was at school, now he is playing in the EPL & if he has to start of Wednesday night, or in the coming weeks, good luck to him – I would rather see him given a go leading the line then Bendtner or Walcott! as he has good movent and his a real physical presence. I liked the way Wenger appalled Akpom for blocking a clearance upfield in injury-time yesterday – that was a brilliabt jesture by the manager in encouraging his young charge to contining his closing down approach even with the match won.
Tabs
Cricket was excellent. Buttler played a great knock.
I agree with the comment about the advantage rule . If you remember the Villa game and thrie first pen that nice Mr. Taylor who gave us such an even shae in that game waited until their player had whacked the ball into the side netting before giving the pen. I didn’t think that was what the advantage rule was about. If you play advantage you forfeit the other decision. For that and for a host of other cock- ups ,many of them related to playing advantage,he was demoted the following week. I thought that the whistle was so clear that it affected the reactions of all the players afterwards.
Finally surely Viviano is our no.2 keeper not Flappy? If not Wenger must have been very persuasive in getting him to join!
Ttg,
I just don’t see what logic or consistency has to do with any of this 😉
The silly Spud, the bitter Scouser and the plain idiotic Shearer on MoTD will gleefully take any excuse to criticise Arsenal when they lose, and discredit the victory when they win.
They neither know nor care what the rules are so why should we ?
It was a fine performance, we won, we’re top of the league.
They hate that – we love it.
Leave the miserable little nitwits to bitch.
Ttg – Yep just watched the highlights – terrific stuff. Loved Buttner’s straight(ish) six into the river. Must have been very exciting watching it live, though not as exciting as watching the Arsenal win 😉
And completely agree with you on the advantage thing.
Trev @172 – Haha 🙂 And you’re right @175 – Shearer is a joke at the best of times but he was particularly disastrous last night. As for the hashtag vote on which of the North London Clubs would finish higher, give me strength. Is this sort of juvenile nonsense what Sports coverage on the Beeb is all about these days? The really annoying thing is that they generally do other sports so well.
Oops. Get out of here Wolfie!
Clearly Davy@173 has not watched the match carefully nor read the drinks. First, since the whistle had blown clearly enough to be heard on TV and by the other players long before the shot on goal, neither Altatoire nor Altidore scored a goal yesterday and so hey-ho, there was no “goal” to be disallowed. It has been mentioned several times here and elsewhere that it is rank stupidity to think that somehow whistles can be ignored upon consideration of subsequent play. Second, since Altidore was also manhandling Sagna, if Martin Atkinson had not whistled for the foul by Sagna and let play go on, he would have countenanced Altidore’s fouling, which a referee is not supposed to do (and by the way, I can think of several centre-backs Altidore could quite easily manhandle if he chose to). Third, Koscielny had slowed to a trot on hearing the whistle and, accelerating only when Altadore’s shot had squeezed through Szczesny, he was a fraction of a second too late to prevent the ball from crossing the line. Had there been no whistle, Koscielny would have stopped the ball from dribbling in for Altidore, claiming he had heard no whistle, would not have been affected one way or another. In sum, no goal, no “controversial” win for Arsenal, no debate other than for wankers in the media and in certain blogs.
Hey-ho, there was no goal in the “disallowed”
ttg@174 re Viviano:
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-signing-viviano-was-no-brainer
From the master’s mouth.
Dave@173 “I liked the way Wenger appalled Akpom …”
¿Qué?
Arsenal Ladies are rubbish. Whoever the manager is thesedays out.
Bring back Vic and his achers.
Have only seen the highlights on MOTD, but based on that, it appears we should have been out of sight at Half Time.
@ tabs, hopefully, he’ll learn from it. Frankly he should have learned already – this is not the first time. The one complaint I have about Kos is his out-of-nowhere brainfart moments. A stern lecture from Mr Bould is needed, I think.
However, mere quibbles – we are top of the league!!
Meanwhile, the planning of a trip to Manhattan which coincides with Mesut’s first game at the Grove now seems like the worst planning ever. A consolation prize, Roxette and I will find our way to New Jersey next Sunday to see TH14 at the Red Bulls.
And I should be able to see the Marseille game with the NY Gooners in the Blind Pig on Wednesday.
Laters, good Gooners 8)
Sounds like a pretty good consolation prize to me Dr Z 🙂
David, you’re not by any chance the Duke of Kent?
Doubt it, Esso – DofK is Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick.
Besides, I’m still convinced Dave isn’t English, just someone pretending to be.
dk,that confused me too, but I can only infer, given the end of the paragraph, that he meant ‘applauded’.
Greetings all from a Minnesota Twins baseball game, the first I have attended. Nice stadium but wrong game. And no Mesut either. 🙂
Yeah Ollie – I’d worked that out too – just like taking the Mike out of our Dave.
Dk, Ollie, et al, whoever Davey@173 is, it sounds like he spent some time with Wolfie given that he was “pillared on here 10 days back”…
Also, TABS@183, you must not have spent too much time with the NY Gooners…ok, ok, just kidding…
bt8b@187 baseball – isn’t that one of those strange American games where they have a “World Series” which only American teams play in? And where the spectators all walk around chatting with each other and eating hot dogs?
Does anyone actually watch the game?
Or is this just all my British prejudice?
On second thoughts, I seem to recall spending many a happy day at county cricket matches in the beer tent. That was in the days when the pubs were shut from 3 till 6 so the cricket was somewhere for uninterrupted drinking – that’s my excuse anyway.
Somebody please send the smut patrol over to lock Wolfie in the pineapple palace. Up the Arse! 🙂
dk@190, that’s because the wrong countries can win when other countries are invited, namely the Dominican Republic once and Japan twice in the three MLB sanctioned “World Baseball Classics” to date…
What fantastic football we played yesterday. This midfield is going to create a hell of a lot of chances, only thing to worry about is to finish them off
Ramsey was fantastic, unbelievable engine!
Ozil with a great debut and jack is getting back to his best
Datsyuk with studs – if he is half as good in studs than he is on skates then he’d be the classiest player in the PL. And that’s coming from a Red Wing hater. 🙂
As for Kos – he doesn’t do it that often but he’s done it twice in 6 games so it seems like its common with him. He’ll learn. Plus to me, it seemed he slid to block a shot, and not to tackle Johnson.
As for the goal – it was a clear goal and we were let off but I could care less.
H2H – I don’t think we were lethargic after the break, it just looked to me as if Sunderland upped their game due to the crowd getting back in it. Overall, their only dangerous moments cme in the first 20 minutes of the second half with two chances that were offside and one cross across the face of goal. We will concede chances in the PL. Games that the opposition has no chances whatsoever are very rare and we restricted them to chances which weren’t that clear cut. I’m ok with that.
We should have been five to the good at HT.
As for United – Mark Halsey admitted in his upcoming autobiography that he was on texting terms with Fergie.
Talk about blurry boundaries.
I didn’t really see enough of yesterday’s game to judge myself, but there are enough good comments in the bar to suggest that Jack W is getting back to some good form.
Strange that he was “awful” (quote on Radio today) on Tuesday but looking so good yesterday.
Could it be that the players around him yesterday were making themselves more available, and appreciated his game and movement more than those on Tuesday, who were not suited to a pass and move style ?
No, that can’t really be the case. After all, we are talking about world class Frank Lampard and Steeeve Gerraaaard ………
Picks the ball up in midfield…
Oh dear, oh dear,
MoTD2, with Lawrenson and Savage and Chapman (?) presenting, have just succeeded in making last night’s opinions on the disallowed “goal” seem quite well informed.
Punditry of shockingly awful quality.
As we are compelled to pay a licence fee for this stuff, are we not entitled to some modicum of intelligence. Savage is a screaming tart and surely one of the least likely people you could ever dream up to discuss the laws of the game.
Utter crap.
Slides it Ozilesque into the centre…….
Assist/goal
Well in Cent….class is permanent 🙂
Cheers, Uply.
Good strike, Cent.
Evening all 😉
Who will be there next Sunday then?
dk, there were several Venezuelan players on the field and many bratwursts in the stands, including one now in my digestive system. 🙂
I’ll be there ‘H.
Evening and cheers ‘H.
I will be there, one day, soon.
Finally got to see the game, so nothing much new to add.
Specifically I thought Jack showed up with a new gear today, looking really sharp and as good as he’s been in ages. I said when he returned last year that we shouldn’t expect too much until this season, and I do like being proved right! Let’s just hope that the refs give him more protection than Atkinson did today, and that Jack keeps his temper intact.
Rambo gets MOTM, not least for scoring two great goals. In general play he shared the award with Jack and Özilla the Hun. What a fantastic debut for the newbie, and what a lot we have to look forward to from him. Already looks our best buy since Henry and Dennis, maybe on a par with them.
Much angst at Kos’s idiot challenge. When is he going to learn, ffs???
Great result, but tempered by our nemesis of recent seasons:
Santi Cazorla – ankle
Yaya Sanogo – back
Tomas Rosicky – hamstring
Lukas Podolski – hamstring
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – knee
Mikel Arteta – thigh
Abou Diaby – knee
Olivier Giroud – knee
Gedion Zelalem – injury unspecified
Per Mertesacker – ill
Öskar
Ozilicious indeed Holic. Excellent report. From my vantage point in a Hong Kong bar I saw a game that looked uncannily similar. Her Nellieness has the tickets for the Stoke game on Saturday. Wouldn’t be surprised if she toddles round to the Tolly. Lucky lady, being there for the Wizard of Oz’ first game.
Champagne football in the first half. We’ve got to have more of that.
BBC Fottball website has reports on all manner of Prem games played,but noticable by its absense was any mention of Arsenal, who by winning away,went top of the table. If any other team had gone top,it would be headline news — pack of Twats.
Ozil — what a friggin’ player!
When we have a fully fit squad, my humble opinion would be :
first team :
Scz
Sagna, Per, Kos, Gibbs
Aaron, Ozil, Wilshere
Cazorla, OG, Theo
Second Team
Viviano
Jenks,TV5,Sagna,Nacho
Arteta, Flamini, Rosser
Ox, Sanogo, Poldi
Third Team:
Flappy
?,?,?,? (Do we only have 7 defenders? Sagna appears twice)
Zalalem,Frimpong,Esfield
Gnarby, NB52, Ryo
Fourth Team
Diaby?
I hope in January we can add Lewandoski (or Suarez, NO Rooney please! ), a defender and Casillas (who have the big game experience which our GK lack).
Come on Arsenal! and come on Swansea!!
Oskar
Santi Cazorla – ankle (expected comeback Oct.)
Yaya Sanogo – back (?)
Tomas Rosicky – hamstring (?)
Lukas Podolski – hamstring (seems to be back earlier, Oct?)
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – knee (?)
Mikel Arteta – thigh (2-3 weeks?)
Abou Diaby – knee (when?when?when?)
Olivier Giroud – knee (1 day?)
Gedion Zelalem – injury unspecified
Per Mertesacker – ill (3 days?)
Oskar, any more detailed update on their comeback date?
In 2003-04, we had
viera, Pires, Ljungberg, Cesc, Edu, Parlour, Gilberto, Bentley (!!!!)
Now , we have
Ramsey, wilshere, Ozil, Cazorla, Rosicky, Flamini, Arteta, Ox
Which lineup is better?
Good morning all,
All together now ( to the theme of ‘another one bites the dust’ by Queen’)
‘we are top of the league, I said we are top of the league’ (repeat until you piss off every over teams supporters).
🙂
Have a good day fellow gooners
Fukcing enjoy this sheet!
abc,
My view would be the vintage crop only just but more balanced, We are going to have great fun watching this years lot mind 🙂
Fantastic Otd – love Özilla the hun – perhaps the next metamorphous will be to GÖdzilla the Hun. That would sort out the Orcs.
H2H, Mr ‘H laughing out loud at the images of todgers in honey and rectal pineapples. Are we seeing a sea-change, or as I’m regularly told a “paradigm shift” in the direction of the bar and blog? You’ll be able to recognise the regulars at the Tollie as they won’t be sitting down and I imagine that there will be lots of pained expressions between sips.
Hölic, I’ll be there!
abc @ 213 : Have to agree with Chippy that the old line up still wins, but the current batch includes a lot of youth. In a couple of years time we may well be looking at things differently.
I can’t stop thinking it is extraordinarily funny how Ramsey got two goals to make it five in total in six games this season, the last two coming from pretty much a Bale-position. Oh, he has an assist as well. Ramsey is 22 years old, Bale is 24. Five goals does not a summer make, but to paraphrase Game of Thrones, I believe summer is coming.
Will be interesting to watch the stats of the two at the end of this season. Perhaps we will have to fend off 120m pound-bids from Real next summer. Got the wrong Welsh?
Cesc called it a few years back:
“‘Ramsey, Wilshere, Fran Merida. They are at the level of everyone. Perhaps even better than me. They are top class. In training, phew, they are so good.
‘Aaron has really developed. Physically he is bigger and more powerful, as you could see when we played Liverpool in the Carling Cup. If I go to sleep I will wake up and find him in my place. No, it is true.”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1231548/Cesc-Fabregas-In-revealing-interview-Arsenals-genius-reveals-sign-Barcelona-fight-overcome-demons-slur-haunts-him.html
Rest theo for against marseilles. play gnabry.
Never gonna happen Merts, not in a champions league game
I’ve just had a horrible thought.
What if Ozil is not the start of the big transfer splurge, but is actually the last transfer of any note we’ll see for a while, because Wenger has done five years transfer budget to get him?
😉
Morning All
CYNIC – Living up to your moniker I see (smiley face)? Chill… my bet is AW really does have this covered but we’ll have to wait to January to prove each other right or wrong. I would be amazed though if we splurged another 40M in that window…. unless a bitey Uruguayan beaver decides to insert his transfer request into Brendan Brent’s anus and flashes his gnashers in Arsene’s direction (probability 2%)
ZICO – So The Blind Pig is gonna get Dr.F’d for the home game against Marseilles? I am hugely jealous but know that you and Roxette will have a really good time. Are you hooking up with a Scottish Time Lord whilst you’re there or has he relocated to another part of the Gooniverse?
TREV – HEH! at ‘The Screaming Tart’. I hope the big cream puff gets his just desserts *grabs coat*
Drinks on the bar fellas & UTA!
TS: not too sure anyone at Arsenal wants anything to do with the Suarez camp after having clearly been led up the garden path in the summer.
Lars – I don’t know. Clearly we were interested enough to put in a record bid at the time but now, you may well be right and that particular ship may have sailed and sunk without trace. Great player, questionable human being.
Heh @TS to Cynic. 🙂
TS, Lars,
Can’t see any toothy Uruguayans arriving either. I think you’re right, TS, that ship has disappeared up the Suarez Canal. 😉
OtD, abc 11633: according to the Premier League Injury Table, these are the expected return dates:
Sept 18 — Giroud, Mertesacker
Sep 22 — Sanogo
Sep 28 — Arteta
Oct 6 — Oxlade-Chamberlain
Oct 19 — Carzola
December — Podolski
No return date — Diaby, Rosicky
Suarez was about the best smokescreen you could hope for though. Just whisper his name and the Fleet Street types come running with one of those cornucopia-like listening devices attachesd to their ears. Gold plated, no less. http://zagg-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/community/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/94__600x800_gold1.jpg
Heh! again at Trev. It’s alimentary dear boy.
NBN, I agree. Poor Mr.Diaby is probably beyond the point of no return.
8ball, is that a reference to Sir Chips’ ear trumpet?
Afternoon all.
Ned, I thought I read something about Poldi reacting well to treatment and coming back earlier then expected, he could be ready in three weeks….. OH!!
==
Please, please, please not the whole Suarez saga again. The very thought of him in an Arsenal shirt makes me sick to my stomach. Definetly not the kind of player I’d want anywhere near what looks to be a squad who are willing to do for their team mates, Luis is all about Luis, always has been.
Afternoon Holic and Holics. Just putting the finishing touches to our packing for a late summer jaunt. Here’s hoping our PR in Vietnam in the summer ensures that our games are readily available in Vietnam and Cambodia and that there may even be some Gooner bars out there.
In case I can’t get on line, I wish you all an Özilesque 3 weeks and a continuation of our winning form.
Case of plonk on the bar and a barrel of blackstuff under it to keep y’all going in my absence.
Slainte Holics
TS,
In relation to Suarez and as someone who categorically supported the bid for LS during the summer, I feel Trev is spot on in saying that the good ship Suarez has long since sailed. I say that judging from Wengers body language when he absolutely dismissed the possibility of making another bid (after the 40m offer) given what transpired in relation to the contract clause. We definitely need to loose Park and Bendtner though and get some cover for Giroud (who cannot be dropped given his current form irrespective of who we sign I feel) and preferably someone who can also play on the right wing as I think Theo could do with a little competition also.
I’m delighted to see mention of Diaby. Given that we have a berth of midfield players, we will no longer need to rely on Abou as much. Hopefully the lad can get the time and formula right to maintain some fitness. He’s an absolutely wonderful talent and Wenger rates him very highly which makes his career to date all the more frustrating.
And a question to some of the regulars: I wonder if the reason Wenger didn’t strengthen at Centre Half is because Sagna is now being seen as possible cover in that area? (I was kinda surprised we passed on Sakho) And if so, does that mean young Hector Bellerin is being groomed for right back?
Happy holiday Bath!
Have a great trip, bath.
I’ve ordered a bottle of Mekon on your arrival. 😉
Joe,
I know what you mean but I’m struggling with your idea of “we will no longer need to rely on Abou as much”.
About as much as the Queen relies on the local bus service to get around !
Seriously, it would be great to see a fully fit Diaby at his best but this must surely be his last chance.
There’s a scene in that movie, “A River Runs Through it” in which the father is teaching his young sons how to get the timing right in fly-casting. It involves synchronising the movement of the arms to the beat of a metronome, so that the fly line will extend fully to load the rod for the perfect cast. Watching Ozil on Saturday was an enthralling experience so perfect was the weight of the pass, the timing of the run and the simplicity of the delivery. It reminded me of the days when once we were kings while at the same time drawing attention to what we’ve been missing for so long. One signing that has transformed just about everything!
And a nod to young Rambo too. If he continues in this vein, he’ll score 20 plus goals this season and will become one of the most valuable players in the PL.
Good evening, all.
I’ve not had time to back-drink so I don’t know if anyone has posted this link, it tries to explain a lot of things as regards been the best we can be and our “eight years of total mismanagement” http://www.arsenalvision.co.uk/articles/4383-in-defence-of-arsene-wenger-why-its-time-to-give-the-manager-the-respect-he-deserves.html
Trev,
Well of course, you can’t rely on someone who isn’t there. I just feel the emergence of Rambo and the signing of Ozil & Flamini makes his absence easier to bear or less conspicuous. Maybe that’s a better way of putting it? It not his fault he gets injured and I just feel he takes alot of flack because he has been injured so much almost all of which is unwarranted. And its a dichotomy for Wenger because you either decide to support the player, or you don’t. If you don’t, what kind of message does that send to other players? So I don’t believe its his “last chance” because no-one can predict the future. If you believe in his talent, you’ve got to stand by him unless the medical reports say differently. Just like Wenger did with RVP (for all the thanks and respect he got in return but at least the club got some return from his sale, which is alot more than what we’d get if we sold Diaby now). We’ve just got to be patient I feel and hope things come good for Abou.
What Trev said, the only thing you can rely on Diaby being is injured.
A horid thing to say, I know, I also realise that it is no fault of his own, but it is what it is none the less. I thought it was time to end “Project Diaby” last year (the year before too), but Mr Wenger has continued to stay loyal to him, which is comendable, but ultimatly of no use to the squad.
Joe @237,
I can’t remember us having a song for Aaron Ramsey but it’s about time one got going this weekend. There’s one person here that will be singing loud and clear.
Never mind quite how good a player he is now, he deserves it as a man for the way he has come back from a truly gut wrenching injury.
For as long as I support The Arsenal, I will never forget the sight of his leg hung in two separate halves.
Absolutely epitomises the spirit in the current squad.
Trev, Joe – Abou and Suarez are probably on the same ship when it comes to their (possible) future careers at The Arsenal…. if you get my drift….
Joe – Bellerin is all about the future. If he was going to be given a run-out in the first team this season, he would have been included in it like Serge, Ryo & Gedion. I know Chubs got a few mins on Saturday but probably only because we are so thin in that area of the squad that there’s genuine talk about using TGSTEL as back-up for Ollie. Sagna is now almost a proven CB option but with TV back in the squad my guess is that injury crisis aside, he’ll spend most of his playing time this season on the right flank.
Joe, H2H,
By “last chance” I meant I just can’t see his body ever repairing if it breaks down one more time. Definitely not a dig at Diaby.
If he can stay fit we have a tremendous player, but another one who will need two years to re-establish himself.
Might just be too late.
Blimey, a tide of puns from TS in the current drinks.
*waves at abb*. 😉
Cheeky Arsene…..
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/team-news-who-is-fit-to-face-marseille-
Wasn’t it;
“There’s only one Aaaron Ramsey”.
Not very original, I know, but it’s the one I remember been chanted on his comeback.
Yes, I seemed to think so, H2H, but it’s never really been repeated.
After the football played on Saturday, a mention for the manager might be timely too. 😉
Trev, more of a ripple than a tide. Tsu know me….
H2H – That’s the one.
Toby @ 220
Thanks for quoting that mate. I remember reading that at the time and realising that Cesc realised that his place was at stake. I really believe that when he said that, at the time, he realised that Arsenal would be able to survive without him. He subsequently left us three years later.
😉
Re numerous comments about Jack on Saturday. I agree he looked better than for some time but he’s still trying to beat too many players, then falling over and looking aggrieved every time someone tackles him and wins the ball. Plus his little flick through balls often have too much weight on them.
In comparison, Özil always looks calm on the ball, has the strength to hold it and protect it, and times/weights his passes to perfection.
Jack needs to watch and learn from the new boy’s je ne sais quoi (or should that be “Ich weiß nicht, was.”?).
He’s getting there.
Stoke on Sunday – methinks we’re due a penalty. A nice early one, please ref. Stop those cloggers sitting in their trenches.
On the official site (the chronology is bottom to tom)
3pm
Arsenal Ladies deducted three points
ladies
Kerr on important three points
ladies
Ooooooooops 🙁
top not tom
Mike Dean has been appointed for the Stoke game on Sunday.
Zero chance of Arsenal being awarded a penalty from that bloke.
iBtM, she will be most welcome.
Lars, good stuff. See you there.
Bath, have a brilliant trip. Jealous here.
‘holic, congrats on a spanking 7-year run. happy anniversary of your first non-test post!
bath, safe trip. trev@235 that’d be their delta issue, right?
come on swans!
Lars about on Sunday? Good stuff.
I see that Stoke tickets hav’nt gone to open sale but have got as far as friends and family.
I am not as cynical as Cynic but I do worry that lower ticket demand had something to do with splashing the cash on özil.
Anyhow two sleeps and I’ll be seeing the wonder of özil and the rest of the band of Arsenal comrades in the flesh.
still top of the league
1 all after 3 minutes
Enjoy, washed up!
Shelvey apparently having a very mixed bag of game today, scoring a goal but then gifting Liverpool two goals… come on you Swans..time for Michu and Bony do their stuff.
Michu has great hair! Jealous. Eandy, you know it’s tied up now, courtesy of Shelvey. All you traveling holics, just have the time of your lives ! Live it up and don’t give a thought, to the rest of us 😉
Holic @255, obviously not impressed that I will be there.
Too much of a lightweight. 😉
Scruz @256,
Mekon is the river that runs through Bangkok, I hope I remember correctly. The Thais make the local spirit from the water.
Oh I see, and evening abb:)
You’ve got to hand it to Shelvey, getting one goal and three assists in a game that finishes 2-2 is quite an achievement. Swansea massively improved in the second half and should perhaps have won it.
trev, that’s what i thought. but i thought the vietnamese version of the spirit was called “mekon delta”…
Good game. Love games in which both teams score early and feel they can get more. Entertainment. 2-2 quite fair, even if Swans just edged it for me. Swans play some good stuff when they play with the handbrake off.
Trev @ 265: The river that runs through Bangkok has an old European name called Menam and the Thai name is Chao Phraya.
Whereas Mekong/Mekon delta is in souther Vietnam, and runs close to Ho Chi Minh City (which you may like to remember as Saigon 🙂 ).
Dr.F is right re the Chao Prayo.
When I was in Bangkok it wasn’t the cleanest river I had seen.
Re the transfer dealings even though I’ve been very critical of our lack of activity I really do think they will release the purse strings . If Ozil still continues to weave his magic I think the fans will come back.
Thanks scruz, I forgot about the blog birthday 🙂
Seven years, and all thanks to you lot. I’m a lucky bugger 😉
I bow to all of your superior knowledge – I was apparently misinformed by the Thais in Bangkok. Wasn’t the greatest tasting stuff in the world either.
And I only had half pints of it – as usual. 😉
Happy blog Birthday, ‘H.
Think you deserve a little bit of the credit too. 😉
Ttg,
I am very confident that the club will invest more heavily.
And there are a number of reasons for this I feel:
The club won’t keep a player like Ozil unless they invest. I would be stunned if he didn’t have a release clause entitling him to walk if we failed to qualify for CL but more than that, I would expect that Wenger has told him that we will build a team around his talent.
This will be Wengers last contract. The one trophy he hasn’t won is the CL. If he felt that the resources weren’t there, he’d be gone in the morning. Whats more, he’d earn far more at PSG, or RM, or Barca, or……
The next four years will define his legacy at AFC. If he wins the CL, his tenure will go down as one of the great managerial achievements in bringing the club to such heights. So I expect more signings at the very highest level.
Now that Fergie is gone and we have money to compete for signings, Wenger will have an edge over other rival managers in England because of the style of football we play. Who would want to play for Moyes? Does Pellegrino have real pedigree? And Mourinho is a retard.
Happy blog birthday ‘holic! You deserve all the praise you get.
trev @273, a half pint of that’d strip the hair from your collys…yikes, you’re well hard (speaking english)…damn, you’re tough (speaking ‘murcan).
cheers, ‘holic. a pint of mekon for ya… 🙂
Don’t mess about, me, scruz.
Half a pint – whatever it is. 😉
Me too Holic! And thank you for attacting such really nice people here. xx
supressing the urge to fly to florida and give abb a hug 🙂
trev, ha!
OMG scruz, bring it on! 🙂
Lucky boy scruz, I’m jealous 😉
12-16? Want to see the Ozilicious debut? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Happy Blog Birthday ‘holic. This establishment remains one of the finest communities I have had the pleasure of encountering, and the quality of the content has not wavered once in my years as a patron.
I wish you many more fruitful years and I am sure I speak for all when I say that I hope come May, we are gathered here to toast the end of our long wait for some silverware, and looking forward to our period of dominance.
A bottle of Johnny Walker Blue Label for our esteemed barkeep.
H2H @ 232, don’t you mean
AHA!!
Holics,
Happy blog birthday. Apart from the quality of the comment the reaction to Gooner Terry said everything about the quality of drinker here.
Joe
I agree with you especially as I reread Ozil’s statement on joining describing us as a club with “huge ambition”. The CL clause is a worry. Can you imagine the letdown if he leaves after a stellar season but we fail to qualify through having no back-up to HFB?
Still mustn’t think negatively. I’m starting to feel this is the most even Premiership for many years.