Swansea Away – A Brief Look
Sep 28th, 2013 by 'holic
A little later than usual, and therefore with judgement even more impaired, a look at the trip to Swansea. This may prove important when we get to the ‘holic pound!
The team news seemed to be we have no new injuries from the League Cup triumph at West Bromwich, although Arsene spoke of niggles for Mathieu Flamini and Aaron Ramsey. It is a measure of the latter’s influence thus far that he would be a huge miss for a difficult trip. Especially in his native South Wales.
The return of Thomas Vermaelen and Mikel Arteta gives us some options. There is a fluidity to the Arsenal formation these days and getting the right set-up behind Olivier Giroud will determine the outcome down in the Valleys. If Aaron and Matty are fit then they could maintain their partnership behind Mesut Ozil and Jack Wilshere, such a successful one thus far. It ain’t broke yet, so don’t fix it until it does, if you like.
The ‘holic pound relies on them continuing an impressive run of form. The bookies seem to favour a 1-1 draw, but shop around for tens against a 1-2 away win. The Swans have had a tough start in front of their own support, losing to Manchester United and drawing with Liverpool. We are in the sort of form to add to that run.
For those traveling, have a great day. Once again at the Hawthorns the volume from the away end was amazing. Have another craic tomorrow.
Have a good one ‘holics.
290 Responses to “Swansea Away – A Brief Look”
Good morning from Saigon.
This is a great country. I commend it to all Holics who like to travel.
Very friendly people, great food and currently incredible vfm.
Looking forward to some roasted swan tonight.
COYG
TLWCDS
Opinion pieces by Michael Owen (Arsenal dont look like a top 3 team) and Merson (What was Wenger doin playing kids the other night, what a kerfuffle) almost simultaneously!
Like this negativity is orchestrated or sumfing?
Top 4 even…
6 hour time difference makes seeing new posts easy over here. 🙂
Now to read it.
If the ‘holic pound comes in tomorrow Michael Owen might consider reconsidering that prediction …
T’would be what, 12 away wins on the trot?
That’s wishful thinking by that whiny broken Mugsmasher personality-free little reptile.
Nice preview.
Work gets in the way this weekend so it might be catching up on a recorded version of the game for me.
I agree totally re Rambo and The Flamster. With Arteta and Tommy V back hopefully the bench will start to look that bit stronger too. 3 nil to the mighty Gunners.
Bath, enjoy your trip.
That was a short preview, hope the Guinness was good! 😉
Cheers ‘holic!
Michael fucking Owen … Really?
Who cares what that fool says – ha ha!!!
Micheal Owen has been irrelevant to football since 2001. Who cares what he thinks?
I saw Merson’s comments, does he not know we’re carrying loads of tired/injured first team members? I loved Merson as a player but sometimes he talks such rubbish in the media…
Hello Ollie,
Hope in the morning jetlag is history…
Saigon, baff?
Incredibly jealous. Would love to be there right now.
nice, concise preview, holic. here is to three straight holic pounds in the league!
Concise 😉
You can head up the marketing division of the Happy Train my friend 😉
Bath, look me up when you get to Japan mate 🙂
CoR, Japan is definitely on the agenda for 2014 or 2015. Will do.
Swansea game is back page headline in Viet Nam News today. Sorry no link on their website.
Maybe the tour and/or our (quote) lofty position (unquote) are responsible for our profile.
If Flamster is unfit Arteta should slot back in. There is no question of leaving out Ramsey unless he really has a knock
Rest of the team picks itself. I worry about Per’s tiredness though
Come on you Reds!
Good morning, all!
I’d be surprised if Per starts today but whoever plays I expect us to come away with the maximum points. 3-0 to the Arsenal is my prediction. Easy.
Morning cent. Just found a couple of posts from last night that caught the spam filter. Have freed them. Sorry about that.
Well well, heartening indeed to see the bullish mood in the bar today.
And good morning all.
What’s this I hear about Spuds fans banging on about being ‘joint top’? So what would happen if the season ended right here and now? Would they share the title with us? I think not. Deluded twats.
And so to the Swans. Their main threat remains Michu, and not forgetting their diver-in-chief Dyer. Wenger reckons they’re worth maybe 7th or 8th in the league and that they have ‘real quality’ in the side. I dare say they have, but if we turn up at 80-90% a win is par for the course. A tough 3-2 to the Arse I think.
Going to be a real test this one lads. Much will depend on how much the players have left in their legs. Very glad Arsene rested virtually everyone in midweek.
Suspect we will need super Mesut Ozil to do his thing.
COYG
Quite looking forward to the game, it has the potential to be a really good one. If Swansea are on their game they are a bloody good team so we’ll have to be up for it of course. Unlike most away games I don’t think the “getting the first goal will be key” reasoning applies today as both teams can offer plenty going forward and a goal won’t have too much effect on how either team plays.
Right, some solids are needed…
Morning all,
Bath, the holiday sounds wonderful – very envious here.
Now, what’s all this about players possibly not having much left in their legs ?
These are young men in their twenties who are six weeks into a new season, have not played – bar Per and one 18 year old – since last Sunday, and have fitness and conditioning experts and the finest facilities around to help them recover.
Just get them up at 6am, give ’em a cold shower, a bowl of porridge and a quick rub down with the Sporting Life, and Bob’s yer uncle.
Tired legs ? Meh !
Swansea 1 – Arsenal 3, no worries.
Shortest preview ever, H ?
One for the Guinness book of records, perhaps ? 😉
Should be a good open game – can’t see Swansea being defensive given Laudrup’s footballing philosophy and that it’s on their patch.
Any changes will be interesting – I’d have Arteta back but won’t grumble if Flamini holds his spot.
The big question for me is how Gnabry has come out of his 120 minutes mid-week. If AW thinks he’s asked enough of him for now, who else can fill Theo’s spot? But he’s young and looks solid. Maybe 60 minutes?
BFG is an old warhorse so I can’t imagine there being any problems with him – he’ll want to play too – not a shirker.
Swansea also rested quite a few mid-week so I’ll be happy with a 1-0 win.
Trev@24, with you on that one. Tired legs can not be an excuse, only two of our probable starters played against WBA so there should be no problems on that account.
We should win this but to be honest I wouldn’t be too disappointed with a solitary point (unless it is by conceding a late equaliser, of course…) either.
Certainly was Trev.
Keep ’em wanting more 😉
Michael Who?
dk: it’s usually a lot easier for a central defender to play many minutes as they tend to run shorter total distances than most other players do as they rarely run past the half-way line (unless for set pieces) and also, they usually do not do anywheare near as many full-speed sprints as other players and the ones they do are usually also shorter in distance.
Shorter distances, Lars, and the BFG’s legs are so long he only takes half as many strides too.
BFG, “full-speed sprints” ? Que ? 😉
True, Trev – he gets twice the distance in half the steps as someone like Jack does 🙂
I think 3-1 is going to be our normal away scorline this season! If Per isnt deemed fit/fresh enough then Sagna can slip in at CB with Jenkinson at RB.
Gibbs will be needed as much for his forward play as his defensive nous tonight I think, with our injuries to Theo and Lukas/AOC.
Up the Arse!!!
Enough faffing around at home doing bugger-all, I’m off to the pub.
UP THE ARSE!
It’s 5 1/2 hours ’til kick off, Lars.
That’s a pretty severe cut back on your normal drinking time. 😉
Really hope the Jacks get shit all today.
‘Holic @20, no worries, mate.
I raise a very fine Mojito to Armageddon at the Shite House.
Your editor gone into overdrive Holic?
I like brief – Arsenal to win & fuck all the rest 🙂
Red card, couple of yellows, a draw, I would have taken this before the match.
Now, get the three points from Wales. The Swans are a decent side. they can beat anyone in the league at home. We are couple of injuries for me to be absolutely sure that this could be an easy ride. However the quality is on out side, and I expect this to be young Wilshere’s game.
This is winnable.
Come on you Gooners!!!
Just watched the Spuds against the Chavs. Lots of yellow cards, handbags several times between Nando and Vertonghen and a big hug at the end between the two managers.
Totts on top in the first half, then Maureen brought Mata on at half time and it was all Chelsea for a while, until Torres got a second yellow.
And of course, both teams dropped 2 points. Perfect.
Have revised my take on 1-0 to the Arsenal – I think 4-0 is more like it (I’m counting on a hat-trick of og’s from Jonjo).
Come on Villa.
COYG
Good tempo, Maestro. Each of your posts have a certain cadence. 😉 Lurky, pretty much the way I’m feeling, too. Should pull it off.
Thanks for the preview ‘H.
Match day Speedoes on. Good luck everybody. 2-0 to The Gunners!
Anyone know a good pub to watch the game in the Angel area of Islington?
Does anyone know how to get a stream to work on an iPad?
Does anyone know what would be the difference in points between us and Manure, if we win this afternoon at Swansea?
http://www.ipadforums.net/ipad-3-forum/76221-watching-live-stream-football.html
this seems to suggest soccersclub.com as the way to go Bath.
Have fun in S E Asia
Bloody hell – both Mancs losing! Loving this.
Thanks wuif. The French influence here adds cutting edge chic to oriental style. Great combo in food, clothes, furniture and service. C’est magnifique.
Nice one ‘h, short but sweet.
Afternoon all.
Was dreading the worst, as had to go into the city to get some presents and various not whats for the daughters birthday tomorrow, but managed to sort it all out in record time, found out a fool proof way of doing things, ie, took her with me and told her to point at what she wanted, no fuss and no disapointment, result!
Back in time to pour myself a quick one (or three) and settle in for the game.
COME ON YOU GLORIOUS GUNNERS!!!
Blimey. I hope those who call for our manager to be sacked at the first foul wind are looking at what’s going on at Man Utd. Madness.
Win today and we’re 8 points clear of them.
Gonna be an interesting week….
Results are fascinating so far 🙂
holic@14, lol, does that mean I get to work with the dispensary suppliers for their sponsorships? right, time to sample, in support of truth in advertising. 😉
a London derby draw? perfect. oh, and villa, wba, outstanding. COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
I sense a disturbance in the force…! 🙂 🙂
Indeed N7, some fine results today so far, I hope we do our bit and beat Swansea, always a tricky fixture, very nervous myself.
is kickoff at 530 or 6 pm in Wales? I don’t want to mess around with nbc’s pregame show…
5:30 scröz 🙂 at least .com says so
“Glory glory Man united,
Glory glory Man united,
Glory glory Man united,
As the reds go puking on on on!
Just like the busby babes in days gone by,
We’ll keep the red flags flying high,
Your gonna see us all from far and wide,
Your gonna hear the masses fart with pride.”
London derby draw, Manchester losing, Torres getting a red. Good day so far. Only blot on it is Spurs being top of the league.
Let’s rectify that against some tricky opposition.
It would be a good thing to win today 🙂
cheers, eandy!
Just got in affter drunking all dayt for my birthday which is oming on Monday and saw the results on bbc.
All i have to say, is HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHA!!
Let’s go beat those uppity-swans
Woah, just caught a highlights of the action so far show, wtf.
It’s our time to shine.
: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Wilshere, Ramsey, Flamini, Ozil, Gnabry, Giroud
Subs: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Monreal, Jenkinson, Arteta, Ryo, Bendtner
happy birthday, cor. let’s get you a win in wales to celebrate!
What scruz said.
COYYeeeeellllooooooows
game on!!
Hi peeps! Happy B’day Cor xx C’mon Arsenal!!! 🙂
Come on Arsenal!
Hi holics, just settling down to watch favourite Bulgarian channel when boss says roof is leaking.
Priority is us, so can someone so all this rain here
Coyreds
That’s the spirit cognac!
thanks guys!!!! Let’s do some damage tonight!!!
Jonjo Shelvy looks like an inflated mini me.
Great work by Gibbs there!
Funny @ 73 lol
not bad, so far.
Unlucky Per.
Mert going to get more goals…!
Scruz, I do believe the 2 best teams in the league, are on that pitch.
certainly the two best passing teams, abb
h2heh@73, yes indeed!
Unlucky Rambo
Ohhhhhhhh Aaaron! Almost.
ooooh, aaron just wide.
OOOoooooooo Aaron, close.
oooohhh….close!
oh almost Aaron
agree @ 80 🙂
I don’t know the LWCs are pretty good….at running their mouth 😉
michu similar to god? announcers got to be joking.
Jack is going to have to watch himself.
Take it easy Jack perlease
özil not much in the game…
how good is Kos ..wow
Swans having most of the ball.
They can have the ball, they’re not doing anything with it.
What the heck was that!
Szczesmunia at it again !
Jesus chezza.
OK, let’s not make it more dificult for ourselves with stupidy.
what the hell are you doing? O.o
Going to be a tough cookie, this one.
we are not in it by far ..wake up boys!
Catchem on the break, that’s are only chance.
What are we playing at here a nd there is something wrong with the midfield which looks unbalanced to me
away fans in great voice!
Slopping passing by us.
and Gibbsy is exposed to two Swansea players all the time as Jack is not tracking back too much on that left side.
Oscar for Florres – no knee contact that I could see.
Was about to say the exact same things abb.
Balance of the team not right. And it’s not as Wenger doesn’t know it. It’s just problem having all your three left sided attacks injured at the same time, having to play Wilshere there, and having Walcott injured on the other side, as well as midfielders as Rosicky who can do a job there.
We have to drag ourselves through quite a few more of these games, I think. But the club nor the manager really hasn’t done anything wrong.
Hit them on the break, find a way to play with this line-up, hope for the injured players to come back soon. And please, a bit more energy when we don’t have the ball. You’ve had a week of rest!
ok, starting to connect some dots now.
our defending looking strong near the box.
Agreed again abb, but we should try to win the ball earlier if we are to go for a counter attacking win. We really could show some more spirit in defence today, instead of letting the cross come in time after time, however well we’ve defended them this far.
Never offside!!
We need to get one or two running past the ball – all looks a bit static when we’re in possession.
Exactly Trev, walking pace, we need some instigator like TR is. Some energy is badly needed.
nice break, just overhit by özil.
I was about to say the same Trev, not that it matters though, because some of our passing is woeful.
Still…
COME ON YOU YELLLOOOOOOWS
Would prefer if Jack played ahead of Ozzie and behind OG
Florres is their No 2 Dyerver. 😉
Shit, OG down.
ankle for Giroud, ugh.
Bendtner time… uh-oh!
Giroud’s weekly near death experience over 😉
Almost, OG. Great run by Serge.
brilliant by gnarby, damn bad by Giroud.
oooh close OG!
OOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
That was the best chance of the half.
Gnice by Gnabry.
yeah, OG should have scored there.
Nice turnout here in the bar today 🙂
Serve on the swerve and giroo on the slice – me for the roof go for it you guys and n girls
Unlucky OG!
Very technical first half by two footballing teams.
Sobered me up!
Nice to see but any more and I’ll feel like I’m watching a course on how to play the game instead of a game.
I want Route One football second half or Wenger and Laudrup OUT! 😀
How we looking? At work and can’t see the match …
Bad performance, good result so far. Let us hope that Wenger can pass some good advice to the team in the second half. If nothing else, we can always go with Bendtner + Giroud and get Corporal “Crosser” Jenks on the last 10 minutes of the second half.
Joking (or am I?) aside, still happy with the result this far, taken into account the circumstances we’re in with direct players injured and Swans really being high on self-belief. We know they are a hard team to play against, and we haven’t conceded yet.
Hope to nick it, but if we don’t, we’ve still moved a point further away from both Utd and City!
lol@124 😀
Should have scored but it’s a tough game and The Swans are proving to be tough opponents.
Roll on the second half and three points for the almighty Arsenal!
And now we know why we’re so much better in the end of the seasons lately. Rosicky is on the pitch. We miss him so much today. We can’t even get past the first line of defence today. Best 10 in the world can’t get a decent pass in front of the back 4.
Arteta might be a solution aswell, get some penetrating passes.
So what’s occurring boyos?
Spent first half trying to launch stream on iPad and failed again.
Sleep or Liveblog that is the true Shakespearean question. As I am up in 5 hours it should be former but it’s a toughie.
The handbrake is on I see. Come on we are better than this.
Not great by any stretch of the imagination, very little movement off the ball and way too many passes going astray, we haven’t had a shot on target yet, but for all their pocession neither have they and I believe we have had the best chances.
The defence looking solid enough so if the midfield can click then we could still come away with the spoils.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!
lovegood, I think arteta would be a good jack replacement, let arteta play in the middle and özil drift in from the left.
Wonder if OG will be subbed. Hope his ankle ok. Most worrying.
Great intricate passing on display by both teams, but both trying to play for the counter at the moment so it’s hard to get any clear chances.
Hopefully we can break them open early in the second half and get them to come out….
half on!
CoR, I must be watching a different game mate, I’ve seen sloppy passes galore.
Serge very impressive.
COYG
Sleep it is in the absence of tv, stream or even R5L. Sleep and dreams of victory.
Perchance……
Based on other results, I’d take a draw. Obviously prefer the 3 points though
Dream us up 3 points Bath. 😉
Any one got a spare roof tile to replace a cracked one
Good spell by us. Lets do that again, with some finishing!
well read by Woj
Get in!
GNNNNNNAAARRRBBBYYYY
GET IN!
MOTM, Serge goal! ♥
GNABRRRYYYY YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY YYYYYYYYYYYYY YYYYYYYYYYYY YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY YYYYYYYYYYYYY
Serge the surge
Goallllllllllll
Get in Gnabry! Having that said, goal really came due to a fucking awesome attack by us. Woken up a bit. Good team goal.
I mean
GNNNNAAAABBBBRRRRY
SEEERGEEEEE!!
far out! ramsey to gnarby, well in and well deserved.
what a move that was!
özil ooooohhhhh
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Unlucky Ozzie
We should really call him Sarge. Then we’d have a right side consisting of The Corporal and The Sarge.
OOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
Almost two.
Top by Ramsey again
Wilshere, Ramsey, Gnabry ……
Read it and weep Man Citeh, Chavski, Spuds …..
Save some fcuking money !!! 🙂
Toby, great idea!
omygosh..that should have been 2-0
Bath goes to bed and we wake up. 🙂
Mini Me goes off, must be an evil plan needs hatching somewhere.
Nice cynical touch by Flamilanini. 😉
Bony on..familiar face from czech league.
Heh Toby. 🙂
AAAARRRROOOOOOOOOOOOn
yessss!!!
Fucking brilliant!
Get the fuck in!!!!!
Rambo scores when he wants
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!! Fucking get in Ramsey lad!!!
Aaron Ramsit home. 🙂
YEAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
He really likes to silence teams that boos him, doesn’t he? Fucking great attack.
What a move!!
Ramsey!!! Goal! And the best fucking run to set up that goal, all season!
awesome stuff. sumptious.
GET IN..AARON!
Language, nurse ! 😉
both brilliant team goals, awesome play.
How strong was Gnabry there? Wow.
Sorry Trevor, drinking Passion juice with Chablis 😉
lol trev…
go baby, go…
We love the Arsenal, we do! Oh arsenal, we love you!
Went up and the whole table full of drinks went up with me! Damn u ramsey!
Put it on lars tab.
Chezza!
Well stopped Woj
Woooooo, great save by Chezzer
Thank you Woj!!!! Great save!
hope all else ok kenyang
good save woj!
og limping. bring on nick.
All good scroz@202 cant say the same about the bar manager, he doesnt look too amused
Listen to our fans, god I love them!
YES ..ARteta on… consolidateeeeeeeeeeee! 🙂
Phew, thanx again Woj,
fucking lucky, there.
Xactly, good work by Woj and Kos!
wow..that was brainfart by Jack..whew
Sarge off, Arteta on!
özil, lovely. aaron with a heavy touch.
well done, gnarby!
Ooooooo
Right on Pers’ noggin again, nice cross Ö’.
ooo free header for Mert.
Sagna is a beast.
WHat a player Sagna is. He’s fucking everywhere
SHIT.
“holic pound is on though.
cut us apart there.
holic pound is on, yo!
COME ON ARSENAL!!!
heh2heh.
saw that happen in slow motion … please lads, don’t throw away all the brilliant work you’ve done this half.
well…that was nice move by Swans
Really, really disappointed there. We did not even try to defend that. Fucking complacent. Love the boys, we’re doing well, having a blinder of a season, this is not me giving them unwarranted shit, but that was really bad play by us. Remember how hard this game was before we went 2-0 up ffs! Complacent.
Nice goal..though.
Not good for the old nerves this.
Having that said, I really agree with the rest of you, great move by Swans. Just too bad we can’t look back at it and say that “that move really deserved a goal”, us defending it better.
PHEW.
Nervy
Nacho for Özil
Nacho on to close this down. I hope!
Macho Man Monreal Cometh
heh@ chezza
4 mins ET.
No fingernails left…
Most nervous I’ve been all season!
Corporal Jenks on for Jackie Boy!
jack to clattenberg: “I got a bad boot” for walking slowly.
Come on lads, keep the ball.
yesss!!!
YEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS
I’m going to plant a big sloppy kiss on our goalie! Unbelievable game!
TOP TOP TOP TOP TOP OF THE LEAGUE!!!
top of the league and the holic pound!
Lovely. Now to celebrate. Will back-drink and mayhap add something of my own later. Thanks for the company everyone!
Brillllllllllllllllllliant!!!!!!!! 🙂
Nervous at the end there but a great win. Fantastic results throughout the rest of the prem as well !! Love it
and we’re arsenal, arsenal fc, we’re by far the greatest club the world has ever seen!
Brilliant game well done to the lads they gave everything and it paid off!
A bit nervy end but hey we are top of league we are top of the league!
🙂 🙂 🙂
What a match. After 45 minutes of cat-and-mouse it exploded into action in the second half. Two great goals and (almost) solid defence today away from home resulting in what must be a new club away win record I believe? Can’t knock that, even though I felt like we could’ve gotten away with a clean sheet. Doesn’t knock me off my stride though, I got my birthday win”! Fuck yeah!
Best week for a long long time. The best of the best if Liverpool and Everton lose their game in hand tomorrow.
cor, tied it with 8, I believe. now, go get drunker for to celebrate!
Great result, was nervous but much improved second half display. Mesut should have really scored but sod it, another goal for Aaron and Serge is off the mark.
More importanlty, both goals were as good team goals you are going to see this season (shout to Swanseas goal aswell, very well done).
I really cannot wait to see our injured players back to see us in full flow.
What a performance, what a game. Ramsey and Gnabry — who would have thought that you a few months back. We’re looking the real deal…
That makes 11 away wins on the trot and still counting.
Two wonderful goals, shame about the one conceded, except for followers of the ‘holic pound of course. Well done sir.
*doffs cap*
Now we have daylight at the top and West Brom next.
We’ll be out of sight by Xmas.:D
1 Arsenal 6 6 15
2 Tottenham 6 4 13
3 Chelsea 6 4 11
4 Southampton 6 3 11
5 Man City 6 7 10
6 Liverpool 5 2 10
7 Hull 6 -1 10
8 Everton 5 2 9
9 Aston Villa 6 1 9
10 West Brom 6 1 8
11 Cardiff 6 -1 8
12 Man Utd 6 0 7
Gotta luv it!!
All I want now is to see the look of RvP’s inner child face.
Eight points below us, and they haven’t even played against us yet. So, make that eleven.
Cap doffed to Serge Gnabry too. Played 120 minutes on Wednesday. Provided fantastic cover to Bac today as well as setting Ollie up for one just before half time and then scoring the first. Looks to be here to stay in first team squad.
Some strange results elsewhere – well done Villa and Baggies. Southampton 4th – well I never.
Per-Kos had a fantastic match: intelligent, committed, disciplined, organized defending of the highest quality.
For all the possession, Swans didn’t really threat and both Giroud and Ozil missed chances they would generally take.
Loved the way we just moved up a level in terms of pace, creativity and fluidity to score the goals and then confidently protected the lead. Probably eased off a little earlier as there was one more goal at least for taking, but the team would learn this balance better over the season.
Gnabry has a lot of Ox in him, very similar type of player. The goal was great, but loved the confidence to take on players.
The hardworking performances by Giroud and Flamini in their own ways were very crucial for this win.
Very very vital that we won today. Last few years we typically had shown tendencies to blow off our chances when the others around us dropped points.
We are only just two points ahead the rest of the League? Venga aht!
I would like to know if anyone here can do a statistical analysis of our performances.
Everybody talks about Fergie’s hairdryer but I am convinced our performances in second halves of matches are far better than our performances in first halves.
Arsene knows how to talk to his players.
Not for a second was I worried during the first half and apart from the last ten minutes I didn’t feel stressed at all. That’s how much confidence I have in our back four.
Loved our two goals, one was a show of our superior passing quality, and the other was a show of our lethal counter attacking ability.
Best team in the league, by far.
Champions by May 2014.
Bring on Napoli!!
Should be toughest test yet!
Faustus – agree on pretty much everything. Also this is kind of the game we might have tied year or two ago, exactly as Santi pointed out in his most recent interview.
If we want to be genuine title challengers, we need to close out games like this (Fulham home last year comes to mind), which we did today. Great great result, Swansea is difficult place to go to get all three points (well not recently but still). Buzzing with delight here and might go for celebratory Pilsner Urquell even against the fact that I am fighting nasty cold last few days. 🙂
Poor Szczesny, despite a string of good performances the clean sheet alluding him. A very confident display today on aerial balls.
TR7 is back soon, his pressing and direct movements would open up more space for Ozil to operate.
So who was on the ‘holic pound then?
Napoli also won and are top until tomorrow’s matches. They are undefeated this season. First time for everything.
Never thought I would say this but…
Aaron Ramsey is the best midfielder in the Premier League!
Hat off to the young lad.
Dr. Faustus, agree your every word, as usual.
Really impressed with Gnabry.. he’s getting more confident with every game! Hope he keeps on playing for the next few matches.
Mezut in training
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/skills-arsenals-mesut-ozil-spits-out-gum-kicks-it-back-into-his-mouth-in-pre-match-warm-up/
Great prediction ‘holic. Interesting day today.
Maybe we are seeing just what great managers SAF and Wenger were/are.
I can’t wait to see Santi playing with Ozil. They will create havoc. LJW really struggled in the first half and that role does not suit him but he kept going well. Very good performances by Ches,Sagna,BFG and Gnabry. Aaron is a monster and Flamini has done a great job since he came in. But I worry like hell when OG goes down!
No insight to bring to today’s match as have neither seen nor heard it.
Massive heh to Trev@169
Fantastic set of results – I refer, of course, to the ‘Holic pound.
Oh, and Manchester Oilers, Manchester Rowdies, the Chavs and the Scum (Esso, please note) all lost points as well.
Say it loud, and say it proud.
C O Y G
Sp*rs claiming to share first place honours with Arsenal because “point difference is less than a win”…
lol, jay, hilarious!
Snir @ 260: I think we have generally played better in the second half in this run because we are slowly building up our confidence and as a team have decided to play well within ourselves at times and be more strategic and less gung-ho.
Even when playing very fluidly at the start and scoring early goals we have almost always slowed down the game afterwards and peaked up when needed. The control of the tempo and balance have not been as comfortable as we fans would like, but I think this is the sign of the team who are slowly and quietly learning to build up consistency over a very long period of time.
What a great day!
Look at the players we have out and we still keep on winning. It’s looking good.
I am going to get (even more) hammered!
Laters, Arseurs. 8)
Forgot to mention Gibbs. he is becoming a terrific left back
Mezut practising the accurate pass.
bstrum
No!! Where did you see that?
Eandy, I thought Pilsner can cure any and all that may afflict a Czech being. 🙂
You are right, we will of course have quite a few games like this, especially towards the end of the season and at that cluster of games over the holidays. In those games if we can repeat these types of performances — a combination of dogged and creative — we should be able to mount a challenge.
Lurky, the fine thing about Ramsey’s performance nowadays is even when he is making mistakes — wrong decision, bad pass, too much time on the ball — he doesn’t overreact. No drop of shoulders, no over-eager challenges, just positioning him correctly for the next move and inevitably the next pass or tackle is of excellent quality. A player constantly learning to be better and enjoying that process. Hats off, as you said!
Aaron Ramsey won the most tackles(7), made the most interceptions(4), created 3 chances, got an assist and a goal. Beast!
Always relieble Jeorge Bird has just tweeted tjat Gnabry, who was ineligible against Marseille, has been added to AFC’s Champions League squad, so he can play on Tuesday
Of course, relieble= reliable and tjat= that.
Lurky @ 267 – I’m just surprised that its taken you so long to get there. Next Arsenal captain.
Anyone know where Frimpong is these days?
He’s not on the walking wounded list on the AFC site but he wasn’t in the squad against West Brom.
Dk, Frimmy is nursing a thigh strain.
Thanks Cent. Wonder why he’s not on the injured list.
Correction to my 255 – that’s 12 away wins on the trot.
And 9 consecutive wins this season.
We are top of the league, said…>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Great day!
Well done the ‘Holic Pound. The boys are maturing by the game. Developing some good understanding. We sign a striker in January and watch out.
BLG added 6 more goals today against bigger boys. Bloody proud of her. She makes this manager stuff simple.
COYGs. Win the next match.
BMBD
Serge was the dope this team needed today, happy they got it.
We’re playing like champions this days -always identifying winning strategies.
FYI, am now on a 24 pints already just in less than a dozen games.
So glad to be associated with the arseönonical Wenger.
Good night peeps.