We Look For An Early Nod In Pursuit Of Big Ears
Sep 17th, 2013 by 'holic
So here we go again. Another shot at old big ears starts in Marseille. Somehow it doesn’t seem like any old beginning. For years we have sailed confidently through the group stage despite on occasion getting a tricky draw with a couple of other decent sides. I have to say I am not sure we have pulled a group of four quite so competitive. It seems amazing that on matchday one there are those who consider this to be our best chance of an away win and therefore this becomes a ‘vital’ game. You can understand it though.
It doesn’t help we go into it with a squad thinned by an already worrying injury list. The key, not for the first time in the early weeks of the season, will be having a decent starting eleven and gaining the advantage before substitutions are required in the second-half. Nervous? Of course we are, but I suspect also more confident than we might have been a month ago.
It looks as though Arsene will give Mesut Ozil every chance to prove his fitness ahead of the game, and if we can get the new signing out alongside Matty Flamini, Jack Wilshere, and the resurgent Aaron Ramsey Then we know we have the ability to get a grip of the game after what could be a lively opening for the hosts. Two years ago they started the strongest, but we weathered the storm to pinch the points, courtesy of ‘Rambo’.
From a distance Marseille would appear to be in the shadow of the new French financial powers in Paris and Monaco. They are not without merit themselves. Mathieu Valbuena is a player with whom we have been linked on more than one occasion. A diminutive midfielder of no small technical ability, you can understand the links. Andre-Pierre Gignac, another French international, was reportedly a target before we landed Oivier Giroud. The gambler in me could make a case for the hosts on Wednesday night.
Which brings us to the ‘holic pound. We’re six quid down this season already, and happy to be so after getting a number of winning scorelines wrong. In the match betting the Gunners are very cold favourites at a best price of 6/4. That is tempting, given the form of our potential starting eleven. That is reflected in the correct score markets, and I have to say I have grabbed the tens available against a 1-2 away win. Perhaps a little back-up is in order. As regulars will know I am not a lover of the first goalscorer bet, but Rambo at 16/1 must be worth a quid, surely?
Whatever happens this is matchday one. Five will remain, and no matter how strong the group appears we still have the squad, if the injured return and Giroud stays fit, to win anywhere. Let’s get ready for another wonderful European adventure.
Come on you riproaring…
196 Responses to “We Look For An Early Nod In Pursuit Of Big Ears”
First?
Yes!
Nice write-up ‘holic! Here’s to a tenth(?) successive away win – which is a fantastic streak I must say.
Slightly concerned about the forward line – hope HFB can pull through fine, as Yaya’S a no go, and ‘Chubaw’ is too raw!
Fingers crossed this is our year.
Nathan @ 2, I think Arsene indicated that Theo would play up front if Giroud doesn’t pull through.
Just £6 down? Pull the other one! 😉
Third? Remove the double vision.
Nice post holic.
Theo, 3-1, please.
Cf.
Ramsey you say?
This season, Pip 😉
Hey, great to see the man who is not a c, and who is not from PB 😉
Love you lot…
Now the bleedin’ neighbour too.
Shouldn’t you lot be back at base?
Ramsey to score? Aren’t we already behind by like 5 celebrity deaths? Love his current form. Keep it up young man. Lots of goals in tonight’s games. I’ll be happy with a 1-0 to the Arsenal. Theo.
Old Big Ears will be ours at last! Very positive about this one
COYG!
I’m generally a positive person but there is something about this team these days that drives my positivity off the scales, I genuinely don’t see them losing this type of games under normal circumstances, I feel like they can beat anybody and I get the impression that everyone in the team feels the same way too. I don’t mean that in the sense that they think they just have to turn up and get the win but in the sense that if they work hard on the pitch they will get the right result no matter who they play against.
I will go with a +2 goal difference win to us, most likely 3-1 or 4-2.
Morning all from Changing. Used to be a prison now an airport. Each in it’s own way hell.
Hey ‘holic judging by your preview Rambo is becoming quite a prominent figure. I remember when he pinched the points in Marseille the last time, and it seemed more of an anomaly compared to this time when he seems to be the one we are depending on. Can he stand the pressure?
Cent,
I understand your positivity. My concern though is the injuries have already piled up deep. The same players are now going to have to play 3 games in 8 days and we have but one experienced striker. We can beat anyone in any given day but will we get the fresh reinforcements back before the starting XI become ” jaded” or injured themselves. We are still early in the season so hopefully they are still fresh enough to carry us but when you are traveling with Hayden and Akpom for your first CL game, then we are indeed thin.
Cheers
Haven’t been to Singapore for years, iBath, but I remember Changi as one of the most civilised airports. Not that civilisation should ever be judged by its airports!
Even longer since I was in Marseilles (something like 40 years) but a place I wouldn’t mind revisiting … especially tonight, in time to catch our thrashing of the locals. Rambo is on fire and Theo overdue. A first for Özilla the Hun is also on the cards. 0-3 anyone?
Öskar
nice preview, guv.
i’m with norcal, happy with a 1-0 to the good gunners. must be a california thing. oh, and with no injuries.
bt8b, i don’t think pressure fazes rambo. how could he face more pressure than coming back from a potential career-ender? as successful as that’s been, a cl group game should be small beer. but NO COMPLACENCY!!
Plodolicious headline, ‘Holic.
My 2-cents is that the Marseilles game will be won by the odd goal in three. Hope it is us that nicks it, but I fear it may be close.
Morning all
Just watched local news which talks about the revamped Marseille stade for this season, so our away team will just have to shout louder. They are also looking forward to seeing OG again
Personally I hope that we win by 3 to 1
COYR
Very classy welcome video by Dortmund.
http://youtu.be/gVU_0UdmraM
Great group to be in. This is what football should be like.
A Plodolicious (NBN) headline indeed, ‘H.
And “us that nicks it” , NBN ?
Blimey, seems our squad is stretch-ed very thin for a game like this, so Rambo to be our get-out-of-jail-free card.
Sorry, bit of a dodgy sentence, that was.
1-2 to The Arsenal !
that vid is amazing Toby, what a classy gesture from Dortmund.
Privilege to be in this group, BVB video pure class, can’t wait for it all to start !
Let’s beat those French Spu*s!
Wilshere*
/Ollie pedantry
Hello ‘Holic(s).
I’m feeling surprisingly confident – must be my current state of mind – come on Arsenal :-).
Norcal @17, all valid concerns, hopefully our worst fears won’t come to fruition.
Dream score-line for me is 3-1 to The Arse with Ozil, Theo & Giroud on the scoreboard.
However, I think the reality will be quite different and if we walk away with a draw it’ll be a decent point earned.
Meanwhile in N17, blue hats with bells on are being readied for sale on Sp*rsday night. Clive Allen (who?) to audition for the role of Mr. Tubby Bear.
A dream scoreline always will have ‘0’, TS 😉
/purist
TS – “Spursday night”. 🙂
Aahhh, bon apres-midi ma leetle chouxfleurs.
R can tell you zat ear in Moosails, beering in mand one sing and an udder, ze peoples is nit sinking it is gooing to be oozy.
R sink, maself, ze Fronchies are gooing to get a good stoofing by ze Arsenal.
1-3 to ze Arsenal !
A cop of your stringest café, si’l vous plait, bar-kipper. 😉
With the redistribution of footy on tv here, I have somehow missed out on the CL games. Ofcourse I’ll have the games on the free to air channels, but that will be Ajax v Barca tonight, I’ll probably be able to get our games v Dortmond (classsy vid btw) on ze german channels, but that does me no good for this evenings proceedings. 🙁
I’ll stream it on the laptop in the bar, but in all honesty won’t have the time to really watch it, so will follow proceedings via my phone and watch the, way too brief, highlights later.
I think this is a good group for Arsenal to be in, as every game will be taken seriously, we have had a tendancy to underestimate, so called, weaker, opponants in the past, this will not happen with the strength of teams in this group. Unlike many of the “experts”I think we have a great chance of qualifying from this pot.
COYRRR’s.
The plot thickens;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-24133145
Agreed H2H.
There have been quite a few group matches in recent years where we have been expected to win easily and, to be fair, many where we have done so.
Not this time.
This group should provide us with six cracking games which is what Europe’s top competition should be all about. The players should be similarly excited by the quality of the opposition and, if they are going to win trophies for the club, raise their game accordingly.
We should have the quality to come through the group – the injuries are clearly the main worry. Those who get their chance as a result will simply have to perform. Their ability to do so, or otherwise, will prove a thing or two to the manager, and may build the squad quicker than we thought.
On subject of which, is Eisfeld in the squad for tonight ? He seemed to have huge talent but never really appears on the first team radar.
Nervously looking for a 3-1 win, provided we get the first goal. Have to try to keep that crowd quiet though.
H2H @35,
We really don’t need to insult the LWCs on religious grounds when there are so many other valid reasons to do so. 😉
Indeed Trev.
On tonight’s game, history tells us that with so many Germans in our side the French should pretty much give up without a fight. 😮
Trev@23: and I still hope that it is us that nicks it…
Heh H2H @38.
History rules OK.
Cheers from Hanoi. Best VFM seafood on the planet.
Gnabry with another goal in CL for u21. He is going to be a big, big player for us in near future. Fancy to see him in starting lineup against the Orcs on Sunday.
Droit Au But, I say…excuse my French.
Evening chums 😉
All doom and gloom predictions for AFC tonight in France. Ha.
I say 2-0 to the good guys – and I’m sticking with Feo … FEO!!! to get it going. Our man with a brace. Cannot wait.
Evening all.
Homer, I share your thoughts. This has to be Theo’s game.
This is winnable.
COYG!
Szczesny: Sagna, Koscienly, Mertesacker, Gibbs: Flamini, Wilshere, Ramsey: Ozil, Walcott, Giroud
That’s strong under the circumstances.
Come on you riproaring…
Evening chaps.
Have to say I don’t buy into all the negativity from the pundits and talking heads about how we’re going to struggle to get out of this group, we have the hardest task of any of the British clubs and various other nonsense statements of a similar colour.
Let’s just explode all this bullcrap point by point.
1. Of course they’re hard games – it’s the Champions League, not the Johnson’s fucking Paint Trophy. Sure, you’ll have an easier job against someone like Basel but when you play them, everyone’s like “meh”. Take on someone like Dortmund and people’s mouths start watering (and we know we can beat them).
2. I know the others are good teams but, I mean, come on. We’re the Arsenal. We can go toe to toe with any of them.
3. None of them will be looking at the draw and saying, “Phew! Only Arsenal.” The exact opposite, it’ll be, “Bugger, they always qualify from the group games, this is going to be tough.”
4. Our midfield can tear anyone a new one and we have Giroud and Ramsey currently on fire.
Feeling confident in case you hadn’t noticed.
Bollocks to the pundits. We’ve said it before and it’s never been more appropriate.
COYG
Any sopcast link holics?
‘Evening everyone. Listening to player, 🙁
anyone figuring on swimming in an online stream tonight?
COY…….Yellows.
sitting in a crowded first row.
theo getting lots of early touches.
Harsha you will find some here 😉 http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=218600&part=sports
marseille pressing well.
Wake up boys!
That was too close.
streams suck.
ouch that had to hurt :S
how on earth is that not a penalty for per?
Agreed scruz, shows what the fifth refree is useful for..absolutely fucking nothing.
credit to marseille, easily the best organized team we’ve played all season.
say it again, *uhn*.
right, eändy?
Final ball letting us down so far though.
bac and gibbs playing a blinder, though. tough to get by on the corners.
Top defending by the BFG
free header for gignac, whew.
waste of a freekick, thankfully.
again we look most dangeorus on a break…shame this did not come off.
well played, cheeze. almost really unlucky there.
we have to step it up for the second half.
What are you doing Woj?
napoli up 1 aganst dortmund, in napoli.
Marseille playing well, well organised. This will be a close game.
I think it was well read by him H2H..mishandled the ball in the end..luckily we did not pay for it.
Grim viewing, can’t keep the ball and over-run in midfield. It can only get better in the 2nd half, I hope!
Ok Eandy, I’ll take your word for it.
Looked a bit of a cock up to me.
why are we so over-run in midfield ? wonder if a change of shape might help
Haven’t seen nowhere near enough of the game to give any kind of educated opinion, due to constantly walking away, crappy stream, etc. HT opinions would be welcome.
Yeah, Marseille are playing really well but we are making it bit easy for them. Looks like nervousness crept in somehow, Özil was muscled away from the ball bit too easily on few occassions and our passing is bit off in general. I hope for much improved second half display.
the first 20 mins we kept misplacing passes ; it got better but need to pass a bit quicker
Hopefully we come out flying second half !
eandy’s 74 is pretty on, h2h. and we’re playing slowly, moreso than we have been. maybe caution, maybe jadedness, maybe marseille’s pressing. we haven’t had many opportunities for a break, and very few shots. theo had a couple possibles early on, then supply dried up.
i am impressed with our defense, though. with the exception of chezza’s little lucky jab at the end of the half, the covering and trading off has been excellent. per has been all over the place, and top flight. flamster has held well, though his touches haven’t been where they should be to keep the ball.
and our crosses haven’t been anything to write home about. giroud is having to come way up to the center circle to get involved.
Marseille have been very organised and we’re looking a bit leggy. Theo is struggling with something( I can’t put my hand on what it is but he’s clearly struggling). Our lack of a left winger is showing as we’re not making use of that side of the pitch well. Hopefully we can do better in the second half.
Agree re Per and the defense, reminiscent of the heyday of Arsenal’s back 4.
OK, cheers all.
COYY’s.
Waaayy tooo close! Start playing something lads 🙁
oooooh almost!
shame..Özil almost put Theo 1 on 1 …
come on you gunners!
Well covered Gibbs.
*Change of shorts please
I wish i never said that about the back 4….tempting fate again !
scary moments ..really scary moments.
Get in !
Get in! Theo!
Get in there!
damn, missed it if it’s ours…goal?
Theo scores 0-1 Arsenal 🙂
FEOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Get in!
there’s the 1. now keep the nil. and we’re on to stoke.
OMG my stream went down at the vital moment THEOOOOOOO !!!
Theo with a cracker
Theo I hear rumors you have scored. I feel like a blind man. 🙂
outstanding. stay thirsty, my friends in the arsenal defense.
Now hit them on the break boys!
Jack carrying a knock I am afraid :S
who set theo up?
scruz, Gibbs ?
Gibbs cross from the left, bad headed clearance from Marseilles defender, Theo hitting it first time volleying in top corner
schweet. cheers e and a.
ooh, close, og.
Come on boys, kill them off!
‘Sounds’ like Kieran is playing quite well.
nacho man in, theo out. nice volley, kid.
who was up front left? now should be gibbs, with them switched right.
Where is the foul?
damn, nicely played across goal, could have been another.
nacho playing in front of gibbs, so much for that.
and bmg, yeah, flamini was thrown.
Nearly Ozil….ohhHHH!
Basel looks good though..!
You fuckin’ beauty !
scruz. Must be Ramsey based on the players I’m reading are in the team.
Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Rambo get in
Aaron scores! OMG! 🙂 0-2 Arsenal!
Ramboooooooooooo!!!!!
Aaron on fire!!!!
Did he do something good then?
Get the fuck in!!!!
Ramsey you beauty
Away wins are huge in this group.
rambooooo! there’s a happy guv’nor.
Fuck yeah AAAROON!
get the fück up, valbuena.
yeah, bt, sweet goal from the top of the box.
The screen tells me assist by Gibbs, who along with Ramsey can’t seem to do anything wrong.
I’m “watching” this match here, and on the Grauniad MBM – Mr Grayson is consistently a minute or two ahead of everyone else. A drink on the bar for you, Sir. How do you do it? We should be told.
Oh yes,
C O Y G
nice grab, chezza.
Great job tonight Gibsy
bt, gibbs has been stellar. my stream got stable about minute 65, just after feo’s, and was on and off before then. and i haven’t seen gibbs put a toe wrong. nor aaron. actually, we’ve played pretty well, and as marseille tired we’ve become more active.
ryo for flamini. nacho man to hold?
3 minutes of stoppage.
Wtf
you’ve got to be kidding me. how was that a penalty? they both got ball, and that fucker dived.
Never a penalty!
save it?
That’ll do
though that does win the ‘holic pound.
i was wrong about the 16-1, though. it was first goal.
GET IN!!!
Job done
Job Done 🙂
Whew! Final whistle blown (apparently).
never a penalty …wtf ..
a win is a win, but the ref was pretty crap.
Veni, Vidi (get pissed) and fuckin’ Vici!!!
Cheers Pangloss.
and basel beat chelsea, if the bustoppers don’t score in the next minute or two.
Moyes and Rio are right, diving needs to be punished with use of video play backs. Shame. But we won’t let THAT, spoil our win. 😉 Looking forward to ‘seeing’ the game (2nd half).
Great win.
pressure absorbed and hit them where it hurt, got to love that. Looked like a dive for the penalty, but I’ll have to see it again…. Still, great result and if I’m not mistaken a record breaking 10th away win on the trot.
Damn that Bayern result turned us around.
No job done Chelsea -ha
outstanding. moaninho will be just livid.
Chelsea 1-2 Basel.
Hahahahahahahaha
off to work, then. cheers, all, and COME ON YOU GUNNERS! well done, boys.
Porco Rosso. May I add this:
Hahahahahhahahahahahahhahhahahahha
Well played you gunners ! The feelings I have for Aaron Ramsey do not befit a 50 year old hetrosexual male !
Hey…..did you nick my rip roaring free scoring never boring gunners?
Great result but a boring first half, Mesut seemed off the pace and nobody seemed quite up to grabbing the game by the scruff.
Great goal by Theo following an Arsenal like defending error 😉
But Rambo fully deserving his goal albeit with a slight deflection, so glad I stuck by him when so many were calling for him to be moved on.
Come on you free scoring rip roaring etc etc etc
Great win!!!
And aaaahahahahahah at Chelski.
…and once again aaaaaaaaaahahahahhaahhaah…
Speaking of crappy refrees, Dortmund apparently undone by refreeing shambles of such proportions that Klöpp ended up in stands.
What Porco Rosso and 8ball said.
What chance Tromso continuing the midweek turnaround after a frankly disappointing Tuesday set of results?
And the ‘holic pond comes good too!
And a special aaaaaaaahahahaha for the Special One.
Gibbs is my MoTM.
Aye Gibbs was superb.
Think we miss Rosicky a bit 😉
3 points
Congrats to the ‘holic pound (I hear there’s a police investigation on that penalty :p)
And cherry on the top at the Bus Stop.
Lovely lovely evening.
I think I’ll have a whisky to celebrate.
Cent, spot on. Gibbs is the man, Ramsey not far though. And a special mention for Flamini. What a player!
Good win that especially given some were understandably showing signs of fatigue. Tactically disciplined performance. Theo’s volley was lovely, as was Aaron’s run in the box for the goal.
Hopefully everyone who played today is fit for Stoke, then for the League cup match away at WBA we should basically play mostly the reserve side (including Ryo and Gnabry et al.) . With this injury list we should make no attempt at playing first team members.
And forgot to mention, Gibbo my MOTM. Almost had a great goal as well.
I thought Wilshere’s volley (saved) was also fantastic, technical beauty.
Smash
http://imageshack.us/a/img202/1392/8dr5.jpg
Agree with the Doc, Gibbo for MOTM. If he hadn’t made that goal line clearance it could have been a whole different story.All in all a great night
Agreed there, that one deserved to go in.
not surprised by the Dortmund Napoli comment above – bad referring.
I don’t rate them. Not by a strecth. And the Fat Spanish Waiter is a total charlatan.
We will spank them in Italia and humiliate that blowhard and the Ems.
Well done tonight AFC. Well done indeed!
So Basel have now:
Knocked Liverpool/Man Utd out of the CL
Knocked the Spuds out of the Europa League
Won at Chelsea tonight
Clearly a team we can all admire!
Rumors that OG and Ramsay were limiping around at the end.
Is that right?
OG looked tired, but they both seemed fine to me Homer
Any info on why Flamini was subbed?
He had a severe attack of face.
Giroud looked to be limping shortly after going up for a header late on. Looked like he might have just tweaked his knee on landing, but probably nothing serious.
I think Walcott went off with the shits. He was pointing to his guts as he went off so maybe he’s got the runs off the Jerries.
Don’t know, Lurky.
Seemed strange to alter the centre of midfield just for added time so must assume he had felt a little bit the tightness. 😉
Rambo seemed to be walking fine to me, and Giroud just looked knackered. Three days off now and then ready to go for Stoke. Easy life !! 😉
Gibbs and Ramsey have improved massively on a year ago. Jack looking stronger again tonight. A sloppy first half from Theo preceded a great finish. One or two odd moments from Sir Chesney, but who is complaining about another Champions League away win and 10th consecutive away win overall.
Not I. 😉
Hey guys, don’t forget, Arsene has lost the plot, he can’t do tactics and he’s no longer the coach he used to be. Almost all our players are not good enough, we are just been lucky and if we don’t splash the cash like Chelsea and Sp*rs have done, we will be hanging about in mid-table as usual. That’s just the truth.
A bit harsh, Cent. 😉
Basically, I think tonight’s results are really poor for British teams. Chelsea lost, Celtic lost and Arsenal’s defensive frailties and inability to close out a game were exposed when Olympique wiped away half of the deficit to leave themselves in with a huge shout when they get back to the Emirates. Thank heavens that the Manchester clubs got the job done on Tuesday night.
[Note to BBC commissioners: I can be contacted via messrs Sue’em Grabbitt and Run at their usual address.]
Wow! Just wow!
Have a look at this fella.
http://i.minus.com/iOfqC2Ibg5sze.gif
We are blessed to have Arsene as a manager. Class and dignity, no matter what. We must never forget that.
Aaron has scored more goals than Chelsea this season? HAHAHAHAHAHAA *pause*…HAHAHAHAHA
Cent @183 you have good comedic timing, and Lurky @100 I saw what you did there. 🙂
Trev, that’s the truth, the truth is bitter, you can’t handle the truth.
Cent knows ;}
Tough game -Marseille were much better than two tears ago but good teams keep a winning habit. That’s ten successive away games (three of them in Europe) won in succession.
Gibbs should be a serious challenger to Leighton Baines and I thought cock up aside the BFG was great too. Hopefully later in the season we will get some stonewall penalties not given against us. That was never one.
Well done lads
Heh, 8ball, it was not intentional as you might noticed. What can I say, pure instinct it is.
“Sign him up, Arsene, sign him up”
I can’t remember the last time I felt so calm during a game. It was clear after just a few minutes that Marseille had very little to offer. We did what we had to do and nothing more, got the three points and that was that. A nice couple of hours down the pub and three deserved points – not too shabby for a Wednesday evening!
Off to bed now, back-drinking will have to wait until tomorrow. Night all!
Cheers fellas.
Wenger out!
‘Night, Lars.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Current odds on Mourinho being sacked by Christmas?
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/sep/18/chelsea-basel-champions-league