Intensity – Word Mikel
Oct 1st, 2013 by 'holic
Wow. I should leave it there. It sums up perfectly what we saw at the Grove tonight. It became a little bit harder tonight to say it is early days yet, although of course it is. This will be the stiffest test of the new Arsenal yet, they said, and they were right. The response? As good a performance as I have seen in a long. long time. There are butterflies back in the stomach. I love it.
It may be over the top to say the game was finished as a contest in fifteen minutes, but the first forty-five, certainly. Arsenal started with what Mikel Arteta would later call intensity. He wasn’t wrong. The midfield has been winning football matches all season. Tonight they won the respect and admiration of a boisterous home crowd. Arteta and Matthieu Flamini formed a new partnership in front of the back four which released man-of-the-moment Aaron Ramsey to join Mesut Ozil and Tomas Rosicky in a fluid and interchangeable three behind the outstanding Olivier Giroud.
The interplay, the speed with which the ball was zipped about, this all proved to be an examination that the Italians just couldn’t pass. The first goal typified that. Giroud fed Ramsey on the right and his cut-back was finished quite spectacularly by Ozil. The German genius will long remember his first Arsenal strike after only eight minutes. Six minutes later Ozil turned provider for Giroud. It was great to hear the old songs ringing around the new ground on a distant television.
The breathtaking football from the hosts continued, but astonishingly the scoring was over for the night. There were other chances. Flamini and Ramsey could have added to the Italians embarrassment. At half-time we wondered if Rafa Benitez could inspire his team to a comeback. The second-half had barely started when we had the answer. Rosicky could, perhaps should, have added a third as once again we opened the Napoli defence.
We saw a less frenetic Arsenal control the pace of the game as the half wore on, but every now an again that injection of excellence from the engine room provided other opportunities. Laurent Koscielny was denied by an instinctive point-blank save by our old friend Pepe Reina. At the death Giroud was still hunting a near post opportunity. It was the culmination of a very special performance.
The quality of the sides that are in the group suggests there is still much to do to seal progress to the knock-out phase, but I wouldn’t mind betting that Dortmund and Marseille will not be looking forward to visiting the Arsenal after tonight. Team and supporters sent out a loud message. That performance was achieved with Jack Wilshere on the bench, with Santi Cazorla and Theo Walcott in the stands.
Please, please keep the dream going on Sunday. Game by game we are growing, getting used to each other, stimulating the senses.
One game at a time…
273 Responses to “Intensity – Word Mikel”
Ozilllllllllllllllllll
Get in
Great to hear you enthusing, holic. My streams were dodgy almost the whole game unfortunately but I am hoping this form continues against West Brom to keep the positive energy flowing into the international break. UTA!
Still buzzing
brilliance. like a handful of gemstones in the sunlight, that first half.
wow, indeed.
Well in Steve.
Just got in from the game. Did it look as good on the box as it was live? Wow,what a treat we were all served up with. The way we zipped the ball about first half was as good as I can remember. Just like the good old days. Everything about tonight just worked. Two great goals against a previously unbeaten side.
There is a wonderful feel about the place at the moment. It all looks very good indeed.
Some great performances from all over the park. How hard does Giroud work? He is not alone I must say.
Great write up H. Just time left for a quick look at the highlights before bed.
Fantastic stuff.
An easy riddle..
He’s French, he’s free, he’ll break your fycking knee!
Who is he?
Just back to hotel from game
Worth the trip from Australia alone
What a stadium
What a crowd
Son very happy with his shirt
The Napoli fans added to the atmosphere by singing all game
Really don’t know when will get back
Amazed at stadium . This is where we used to park our car/coach in high bury days
Forgot to mention the crowd. What a great atmosphere.
Sitting here a bit over excited still, so I’ve written this:
Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
2-1 at Swansea
Now 2-0 versus Napoli
Open your eyes
Look up to the skies and see
I’m just a Gooner
Hailing from Highbury
But its Flamini come
Flamini go
Goals from Serge and Rambo
Anyway they go in
Doesn’t matter cos we’ve got Oli
And Santi
Wenger, just bought a man
Mesut Ozil is his name
And we’re fucking glad he came
Wenger, he’s a top Ger-man
And now he’s taking Arsenal all the way
Wenger oooo-ooooh
So glad to see you buy
If we’re not top again this time in January
Carry on, carry on
And maybe try for Mata
I’ll leave it there as I’ve got to get some kip. What a fucking result, what a fucking team.
Roll on Sunday and a win that will send us into the interlull floating.
COYG
flamineeeee!
Just brilliant to be there tonight, Holic.
As you mentioned, we were without one or two tonight – Walcott,
The Ox, Cazorla, Podolski, Gnabry and Diaby, from the attacking department, all played no part in the best display of Wengerball for a long, long time, and Jack Wilshere was only a substitute.
The old songs, indeed rang out – a prolonged contest between “We’re the North Bank” and “We’re the Clock End” was very loud and great fun.
Shame I couldn’t join in with the old North Bankers, but it would have sounded odd, on my own, from the middle of the West Stand !
No need to duplicate your fine words on the game – let’s just say for now
WE ARE TOP OF TWO LEAGUES ! 🙂
I’m not sure I want to feel as hopeful as this Arsenal team are almost making me feel right now. The frustrations, disappointments & many false dawns of the past few years have made dreaming of Arsenal glory, something I am very cautious about. But this team, this team… Are stirring such feelings in my heart that I’m not sure I want to feel.
Good night, to the amazing ‘Holic who continues to tend this fine bar & its equally wonderful patrons.
Same as, neighbour. Totally buzzing. 😉
Just back from a very happy Grove. We really were very impressive and on the bench we had quality to come on ….and to think Santi Cazorla has to come back yet.
Ozil’s first goal for the club reminded me of Dennis’s first strike . It was absolutely sublime as was our whole first half performance and in the second half they never got near our goal due to the excellence of Flamini and Arteta and a very good back four. Also a major apology to HFB who was absolutely top- class tonight. In reality everyone was superb. TR7 was hugely effective as was Aaron Ramsey and Ozil revealed the sort of genius any club would love to have. This is a squad that could win something big this season. Very exciting times!
This is not a numbers game, not a percentage one either, but look at this numbers…
Arsenal Passing Acc vs Napoli:
Mertesacker 96%
Flamini 96%
Arteta 95%
Koscielny 94%
Özil 91%
Gibbs 90%
Sagna 90%
Great post holic!
All I have to say is:
We’ve come too far to give up who we are
So let’s raise the bar and our cups to the stars
One game at a time
But the midfield is sublime,
we’re up all night to get lucky,
we’re up all night to get lucky,
we’re up all night to get lucky,
we’re up all night to get lucky,
we’re up all night to get lucky,
And beat all comers (down Wolfie!) 🙂
@7, he’s lé Flamstêr¿
Heh…..
Fucking getting drunk tonight.
Lurky,
To pick up on your point in the previous drinks –
I agree, and don’t think the way we played tonight with such short, rapid passing triangles would suit Theo Walcott. I think he would give the ball away too often and it would not make the best use of his particular talent – speed onto the longer ball into space down the wings.
What tonight’s style would do though, is make it more possible for Theo to play through the middle, in the event of Giroud being rested or unavailable, as he would be like lightning onto little balls played between defenders.
But tonight, who cares. Just bask in the potential of this team – amazing.
Wenger Ahhttt !!!
Get in,I’ve not not felt that relaxed since watching the invincibles.a thing of beauty thanks arsene.
A very befitting review for that performance, Guv. Cheers.
Our boys just keep maturing, some of the stuff we produced tonight were stuff of dreams. We controlled the game and made sure it was played on our own terms. Perfect.
Olivier Giroud(and the team generally)is developing into something frightening, everything about him from his touches in the tightest of areas, to his knock downs and hold up play has greatly improved. His chest control that led to the 1st goal would leave Drogba green with envy. His one-touch pass to Ozil in the build up to his(Giroud’s) goal was one even Dennis would be proud of. He even ran with the ball at his feet to create the chance Rosicky couldn’t convert, Ladies and Gents, we’ve got a striker and then some more in our hands.
Dom and Son will have considered that 40 quid each well spent. Cheque in the post and all that
AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Nice one guv’.
Unfortunatly for me I had too much to do, so only caught bits and pieces of the game, but what I saw was quite impressive, Ill have to catch it later.
Proud of the lads, but I was pretty surprised about how many were worried about tonights game, the gulf in class between the PL and Serie A is easy to see for anyone who’s ever bothered watching games from both leagues. Not taking anything away from our performance though, in that mood we could be a match for any team.
Onward and upwards my friends.
======
Nice effort N7.
WHAT A 20 MINUTES THAT WAS. Did you notice Wenger’s reaction to Ozil’s goal? Haven’t seen him that thrilled for a goal in a while. He’s got the old enthusiasm back.
To be fair it was quite a goal. And Wenger’s reaction still didn’t compare to mine. 🙂
Since Andre Village Boozer said Arsenal were in a downward spiral they would find it very hard to get out of, the record currently is –
P22 W19 D2 L1
Ten consecutive wins now, and twelve consecutive away wins.
Best stick to talking about the Spuds, AVB. 😉
Most pleasing from my perspective was the confidence exuded in the first half … as dominating a half as I can remember in a decade. Napoli were gone by half time. Trouble is our lot seemed to know that and confidence turned to a degree of sloppiness in part 2.
I do wish they wouldn’t switched off so early in games. It didn’t look like it would be hard to knock in a couple more, but gone was the intensity, and we risked a lucky goal for them which could have led to anything. Chelski managed four away from home, why couldn’t we at home?
But we were a class above Napoli so I shouldn’t grumble I suppose. Particularly as both TR7 and Mikel seemed a bit rusty at times and even Higuain’s absence couldn’t explain Napoli’s lack of bite when you consider who we were without. I mean, imagine if we’d had Ox, Theo, Santi, Poldi, Abu and even Sano fit … heck of a bench there!
Özilla the Hun, what an absolute gem! But just as pleasing is seeing Rambo and OG blossoming. Anything is possible this year, injuries notwithstanding.
Öskar
Cheers Trev.
Anyway, twitter is funny tonight…
Giroud + Özil + Cazorla = Godzilla
Torres + Mata + Eto’o = Tomato
Anderson + Giggs + Cleverley = Shit
Great write up Holic game a ta time please lads!
However something tells me they have a lot more going than this….
The passing in the first half was top notch including the goals!
Let it continue please …..
MNB
You should try try some wild mushrooms please! 🙂
Great review Guvna.
Awesome. That performance defines the word.
It’s morning here now. I am bloody knackered but buzzing.
We are The Arsenal.
right work tomorrow peeps ovwer and out !!!!
COME ARSENAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ON as well……….. 🙂
Wild mushrooms???? What makes me wild is all you Wenger luvers.
Lost one game in 22 ???? He’s fucking lost it. Mugging us all off. Football like tonight will kill the club.
Wenger aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhtttttttttt
My testicals never fully developed either.
Quite right. Utter shite. Sack the useless twat. Liverpool were fucking ace tonight.
Gents, in cold black and white it is not apparent who is ripping the piss. Comprendez?
Up the Arse…
RAFA BENITEZ, the ex Liverpool Champions League winner arrived in London last night and stated in a matter-of-fact way that he believes Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger to be the best coach in the Premier League.
Utter shite. Wenger aaaaaaaahhhhhhhttttt
Highlights done. Might treat myself to the full 90 mins tomorrow night.
Happy days.
Onwards and upwards boys and girls.
MNB that was a joke! Jesus ….
I was being sarcastic to start with………..anyways!
Highlights done. May treat myself to the full 90 mins tomorrow night.
Keep the faith.
Arthur, the MNB you are responding to may not be all he seems.
Excellent write up Holic.
Great to see years of hard work starting to reap dividends.
There’s a real fluidity to our game again. If we manage to sustain it, anything is possible.
And what a strike for your debut goal. I don’t know whether to be more impressed with the sheer technique or how bloody easy he made it look.
Shyte….
There goes Polish hospitality…..in you would say……….
What a T…… great person night all….!!
I English I should have said…. always a slow start!
Holic’. Splendid post. “Wow” would’ve done it.
N7 @ 10 …fine work.
Oscar…….we are lucky it seems to be able to view all CL games via ESPN.
After my initial disgust at having to fork out an extra $150 for the online Premier League Pass online sevice, I can now thoroughly recommend it. All PL games live or on demand — your choice. Only available in NZ.Give it a try Oscar — Day Pass is 24bucks and you can watch every game — you might want to give the spuds and Chelski a wide berth of course (unless they are losing to us!)
Napoli were tamed very easily and it was a joy to see. If AW can serve up this kind of performance on a regular basis, the sky’s the limit!
MNB — have a word with yerself will ya?
Brilliant, one maybe two more signings in Jan and we are in the running in both comps
This was a performance we can compare with the glory days,we destroyed a team that is riding high in Italy.
My heart soars like a hawk COYG keep it going
Breakfast here. Knackered but buzzing. Oh the GLOW of dominance!
Scruz@189 in last set of drinks- heh! Thank you. But I will stick to the original Speyside midgie piss.
There’s a case of 21yo Macallan on the bar for you cognoscenti.
cheers, baff. if speyside is your dram, when you get back to the islands look on the shelf aside the bar mirror and there’s a wee bottle of glenfarclas 105 cask strength with your name on it. 🙂
‘holic, i nearly spit out my dentures looking at the web address you tagged our local haunter with!
I hear it was quite a good performance.
Brilliant post ‘holic!
Only caught the first half (why does my daughter have to be picked up from school?!?).
I’ve not seen such poise from our boys I. I don’t know how long.
Always proud to be a gunner and never more so than now.
Arsene, I love you my boy.
Up with the Gooners!
I have to say I thought H2H was spot on when he said Serie A is snail’ space compared to the PL and he was proven right.
I watched the highlights of the Ems cup and knew we were going to create.
It is the defence which is filling me with joy. I can’t remember the last time our defence gave me such confidence. I now expect us to finish with a clean sheet and any goal conceded is a surprise for me.
One other thing – Ramsey’s spell on the wing really helped his close control and technique. You could see that every time he got a pass from Bac on the wing (who is reluctant to pass those passes to Theo).
Champions in May (my version of BMBD).
Enjoyed the hell out of tonight. Win the next match.
BMBD
Lovely description of the game, ‘Holic!
The Comcast cable here in Boston carries only the Fox Sports 1 where the game on display was Barca-Celtic. So watched the match online on FoxSoccer2Go — wish the NBCSN here in US had gone for the CL as well the PL, with PL they are doing a much better job than what Fox had done until last season — and typically in the half-time when they show the same key moments of the first half repeatedly from different angles I generally get up after the first few repeats.
The highlights of the goals today — especially the first one — were worth watching again and again and again.
Repeat viewing of those first forty-five minutes would be my source of Arsenal sustenance in the coming international break.
As I said in the previous drinks, that first half was just a delight to watch. And Napoli aren’t half as bad a team as we made them look. No side could have lived with that first-half performance.
I liked the fact that we took the intensity down a notch in the second half yet still retained total control of the game. If this side can shift up and down the gears as needed like that, there is going to be silverware at the end of this season. Celtic played at high intensity throughout the game against Barca, but you could never say they were in control for all the hard work they put in. We played Napoli like a musical instrument.
As for Ozil’s goal, that is what top, top quality does — make a sublime bit of skill look ridiculously easy. A run into space, one touch and the ball is in the back of the net. Even most Premier League strikers would have taken a second touch to set up a shot, thus giving Reina more time to narrow the angle, or, if they had tried to volley it, put the ball in row Z. Ozil made it look like a tap in. (And props, too, to Rosicky for his near-post run that took out the two Napoli CBs.)
Thanks Impressive, interesting information about the online service (#45). Do you watch on your puter, or via a cable to your TV. If the latter what is the quality like compared to the HD I currently watch the delayed coverage on my plasma? Great that we still get the CL games on ESPN, but I’m getting pretty pissed waiting 12-24 hours for ‘Arsenal TV’, and then having to wait another hour into the programme before the latest game starts.
Öskar
Cheers ‘holic! Nice review of a truly great performance. Lovin’ it.
Get the kid to walk home from school, aa (#51). If she’s old enough for school (5 at least?) she’s old enough to understand your priorities, aye. 😉
Öskar
Morning all. An early start but still buzzing.
Didn’t get a chance to watch last night, but perhaps one of you, just one, could stop talking in such cryptic terms and give it to me straight: was the performance any good, because I really can’t tell from reading all these lukewarm comments….
Mr. Rosso.
I would be happy to confirm that if I wanted to deny the alleged level of performance the team in periods (long or short) got up to yesterday I would have to say, that I sadly, really am not in any position to make such a statement at this time.
The rest (Well, Mr. Rosso as well)
I understand this “one game at a time”-thing. I’ve been there myself. But to save time, wouldn’t it be better if we actually played two opponents on any single match day? This would give us the chance (not saying it will happen!!!) to be champions earlier, and also prolong summer.
I love summer.
Two games at a time.
Haven’t heard from Danish in a while…..
Inspiring match, inspiring review – thanks ‘Holic :-).
I hope someone managed to spanner a few of those Italian cowards who terrorised women and kids at Piebury Corner.
Ultras? Wankers.
There you go – still in the dark!
That was some first half, wasn’t it?
Can’t wait to see Santi back in this team.
Also, it is so evident that özil is very much enjoying Arsenal at the moment
Here you go porco rosso
http://arsenalist.com/
It seems we were playing 4-2-3-1 yesterday to good effect.
You called it as I saw it, Gov’nor. Not a word to disagree on.
A rather busy morning at work but all done with a huge grin on my face. Colleagues who rarely, if ever, talk about football have come up to me and said “bloody hell, what a performance last night!”.
Back later for a back-drink, take care all and enjoy the sweet after-glow of yesterday!
What Porco Rosso said@66, and indeed what, I think, AtG said in the previous bar – The trouble is, there’s now nothing to complain about.
O M G
COYG
With around 5 minutes to go last night, as Napoli played the ball out to the left back, Mathieu Flamini, probably unseen on TV, was jumping up and down flailing both arms and shouting at team mates who weren’t getting back quick enough.
Just one example of the massive difference he has made to this team. That difference means that what the more gifted footballers are doing at the other end of the pitch now counts, rather than gets cancelled out five minutes later.
Nobody switches off with this guy on the pitch.
Spot-on report ‘H. Outside of the Xavi-Iniesta axis, surely we have the best midfield in Europe and in current form possibly even better or at least as good as Farca’s?
That opening 30 mins which is all I could catch on a dodgy stream before other commitments beckoned looked like the best Arsenal performance since we were last champions…. or at least serious contenders.
Trev – Indeed it was lovely to hear the old songs. I think from your seat you can just about come down in favour of the Northbank? Anyway, who cares when the quality of the football is that good?
Dr.z – Heh! @ #63. Answer – Last seen weeping at the side of the road on hearing news of our 12th successive away win?
Now the big question is how do we fit in Cazorla when he’s fit again? Impact sub with Jack & Theo for tiring opposition legs?
Up The Arsenal!
Trev – Is The Flame as important an acquisition as Ozil?
I said he was when they were both signed, TS.
I still think he is – both awesome players in their very different ways.
We are very lucky to have Özil – a fantastic talent.
I don’t normally comment on the post, in my haste to vent, or enthuse! But today I have to… That was as brilliant a report of the match and the emotions it engendered as the game and team performance itself! Thanks H.
Flamini Didn’t get the props his signing deserved mainly due to the media preoccupation with us not spending any effin money and him being free…. But I think it was obvious he would be an astute signing given his qualities.
Old Gerv wouldn’t have had a look-in into this team. Wise of him to have sailed with the earliest boat.
Excellent, passionate write up, Holic. What a fantastic night out. Privilege to be in the presence of greatness.
A fine collection of ‘holics in this morning.
Thank you 😉
Wow indeedy, ‘h.
N7@10: heh, top work on the lyrics 🙂
Oskar@27: “I do wish they wouldn’t switched off so early in games. It didn’t look like it would be hard to knock in a couple more, but gone was the intensity, and we risked a lucky goal for them which could have led to anything. Chelski managed four away from home, why couldn’t we at home?”
I disagree pretty much entirely here. The way we just shut up shop in the second half was, for me, just as pleasing to see as the first half annihilation. Why use more energy than needed on a game that we can simply control the shit out of? And why chase goals when we don’t need them and open us up to counter-attacks? The way we have shut teams out lately after going two goals up has been a thing of beauty and the more often we do it, the more other teams are going to feel there’s no point in even trying after going two goals behind.
TS@74: it will be quite interesting to see what happens if we manage to have anything close to the full squad available. Arsene will certainly have his work cut out for him in keeping everybody happy, but what a nice change that must be for him from having to wonder how he’s going to manage to even get a full starting XI on the pitch at times.
82 Lars
Agree completely regarding the bit about shutting up shop and controlling the game. Its great we can do both, go flat out all Guns blazing, then when the damage is done, sit back and invite them to try and get something. With players like Theo, AOC and lately Gnabry, we have paced forwards who can hurt teams even more when we sit back and hit teams on the counter.
Dortmund scored from counter attacking at home last night. They are set up for that and we would be silly to go all out against them without making sure we are defensively sound. And with Flamini (and Arteta) we have a solid platform to start attacks from and a protective shield too.
Awesomenessiousity! 🙂
Lars, agreed 100%.
What had me sitting, jaw dangling, yesterday was the whole spectrum of our skills, including the way we effortlessly (or rather, with much effort but made to look effortlessly by players so in form it is silly, rather like Özil’s finish) adjusted the tempo of the game as our needs changed.
I like goals as much as the next supporter, but I really do agree that the way we played yesterday was so mature, so controlled and so completely professional, so I’m almost lost for words. What an intelligent, physical, technical and tactical performance from the team.
Having that said, I don’t mean to knock you at all, Oskar, ‘course I would have liked another goal, but I’m so happy we took this route instead, and I believe the way we handled the second half have instilled much more confidence in the team than a more frenetic 3-0 (or for that matter a resulting 2-1)
@65 zicoinexile
Word is they turned up at The Tollie. And got fucked of by security on their own. No bother.
Morning All.
Isn’t it great to be a gooner!!!
Holic on dotcom media watch two days in a row???
They sure know quality 🙂
Congrats!
Still buzzing
Snir @53.
Glad you noticed that.
Napoli just didnt know what hit them, we come out all guns blazing and it was like nothing they had faced all season, after 15 mins it was game done.
Please God(Denis) break van persie’s chocolate foot tonight;)
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/02/alex-ferguson-roman-abramovich-chelsea
This quote from the above article is just hilarious:
He said, however, it was “very important” to “never hold a grudge”
Ah, Slur Alex, you mean like the way you never ever boycotted the BBC for ten-odd years and never refused to answer questions from any journalists you deemed not worthy? OK then…
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/oct/01/arsene-wenger-arsenal-mesut-ozil
Lars @ 91
Nobody does hypocrisy like Ferguson. His most objectionable trait. (Apart from being a Weedgie that is) 😉
Esso @ 85. Glad to hear it.
Spot on about how Flamini’s return was treated in the media, Norris. We signed an experienced 29-year old international DM from a top Italian club and it was written up as if we’d picked up some out-of-work tramp that AW had found in the street outside London Colney. If Flamini proves anything it is that AW is right in his view that it is not how much you pay for a player that matters but what is the quality of what you buy.
West Brom. That is the question.
I’d love to see the Arteta-Flamini Impermeable Shield (AFIS) in action again though. 🙂
There something in here for Wolfie http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/433828/REVEALED-Olivier-Giroud-strips-off-for-French-charity-calendar?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+daily-express-football-news+%28Daily+Express+%3A%3A+Football+Feed%29
Layoff
Dribbles forward…
Boom – http://bit.ly/OG5tCH
Noone to receive…
Well in Toby.
Cheers!
Well in, Toby!
Good links above, H2H and Lars.
H2H@92: that was a great piece by the always level-headed Barney Ronay. Cheers for linking.
You’re welcome gents, I thought it was a good piece too.
—–
We should of all really known that the Serie A was pooh, it makes a clogger like Gervinihio look good.
Before anyone tries to swoop in to defend him, it’d like to highlight the point that he has been badmouthing Wenger over his confidence issues, plus this;
I wish good luck to Napoli against Arsenal, I hope Italians progress in the Champions League.
Soppy slaphead.
The figures are stark: Arsenal are almost £20m in the black on transfer spending since moving to the Emirates, while over the same period Manchester City have spent £640m and Chelsea £880m. Figures like this are easily dismissed in a business where the bottom line is never really the bottom line but they are still remarkable. If Napoli carried to London a sense of elite-level cult appeal then Wenger is, from one angle, an unrelentingly hipsterish figure in his own right, perhaps even the ultimate football purist: utterly uncompromising in his methods and continuing within hair-shirt financial limits to fashion beautiful teams from base clay.
———————
Great stuff from that Guardian piece H2H linked to…
Gervinho has found his level.
H2H, these shit Italians just two weeks ago won against Dortmund, the last year CL finalists.
As for Gerv, when you are that nice informing us, it is fair to post his side of the story. This is from his twitter.
“Arsenal will always be dear to my heart and i wish the best for them!!!”
“I never said that I wished napoli’s victory against Arsenal. My words has been twisted. My comments were about italian football in general.”
Just had a quick browse of tweets from the past few hours, and came across some mild Bendtner-mocking. His hair and beard seems to be the new target for ridicule and scorn, but I feel that pretty much everyone is missing a rather interesting point here. Because I think that the hair and beard is a strong indication that the penny may have finally dropped for him.
Why? Because suddenly letting your hair and beard grow longer (or shaving it off if you already have one) is very often what someone who is changing mentally does. There is a rather simple psychological reason behind this, and that is that when you look into a mirror you don’t want to be reminded of the person you no longer want to be, and a beard is a quick and effective way of achieving that. We have also seen Bendtner write stuff like “humbled” (directed towards the away support after WBA) on his Instagram and while this may be confirmation bias on my part it feels like he has been keeping a much lower profile lately.
I also don’t think Arsene would have kept him at the club – even with the shortage of strikers we have – if he thought he was a genuinely lost cause. Furthermore, Bendtner has been on record several times over the past years saying he would never ever play for Arsenal again no matter what, and to go back on such words does more or less require an admission of being wrong.
If I am right, I think he may yet have time to rescue his career and maybe even as an Arsenal player. You may laugh at this, but let us not forget that beneath all the previous off-pitch shenanigans and ridiculousness there lies a rather talented player and his problem has always been his over-blown ego. If he can get his head screwed on right he still has the potential to be a very useful member of our squad.
I believe ‘crackling’ best describes the atmoshere at the HOF last night. Couple of truly enjoyable things stuck out other than the performance which holic already covered brilliantly.
1. The absolute joy on the players faces as they congratulated Ozil on his goal.
2. The absolute joy on AW’s face when Ozil scored. He usually does the two arms out front with fists after a goal, but this time he added a hammer blow to the move. Absolutely wonderful to watch, although the goal itself wasn’t bad either 😉
Everyone from manager to players is thinking the same thing I imagine. What a player we managed to steal, and this could be the start of something very beautiful.
Thanks for that Guardian link H2H, a great read and about time the ‘meeja’ started to do a little fawning when it comes to Arsene & Arsenal.
Well said and well written Lars @ #110.
Whether or not any of it is or becomes true, forgiveness and the willingness to change for the better should always be lauded, IMO.
Bendy may be in ‘last-chance saloon’ but he is IN the saloon.
UTA!
OK Lurky, my bad over te “quotes”.
Don’t forget though, that Dortmond played a lot of that game with ten men and against a pretty dubious ref.
Oscar @57 — I’ve done both — quality is very very good — no delay lag or freeze frame — not HD — but I think thats down to NZ’s archaic broadband. Give it a go for a Day Pass — you dont have to watch live at 3am (Ido!) but you can watch at you leisure. I was a sceptic, but I’m over it now!
BBBBBBUUUUUZZZZZZIIINNNNGGGGG! STILL BUUUUUUZZZZIIINNGGGG!
Still far too buzzy here to write anything sensible, so I shall just say thanks ‘H for the top-quality match report, and thanks ‘Holics for all the drinks that have flowed from that. Great stuff.
I’m off to buy some vodka and some charlie. Arsene Wenger’s having a party don’t you know.
Go on you Gunners!
Agree completely Lars. He basically has until January to show a new found humility and dedication and it’s impact on his football. If he can do that I will not only be happy to have him back but will be incredibly impressed that he was able to change his entire mentality so dramatically.
Dear Mr Cent @97,
Thank you very much for the pics – a very fine pair of cheeks indeed. However my heart belongs to another. I have not felt this way since Bobby Pires used to come knocking for me, wooing me with his D’Artagnan impressions and his rapier sword. Mesut Ozil, I am yours!
Yours fish-worshippingly,
Wolfgang Smallballs.
As usual, agreeing with Lars. Arsenal Sweden really is in capable hands.
Dear Mr Lars @110,
I’m off to get my eyebrows trimmed. Do you think I might have turned a corner?
Yours soon to be surprisingly,
Wolfgang Smallballs.
Still buzzing here though the amplitude is slowly decreasing. 🙂
Scruz Glenfarclas 105? Mmmmmmmmmmmm
…and Lars himself seems soon to be in Wolfgang’s capable hands.
I now see that tabs is also still buzzering around. Good evening maestro.
Afternoon Baff, how goes it Comrade? I take it Vietnam is treating you well?
Wow.
Just wow.
Perfect!
Wherever this ends up, we are in for some beautiful stuff!!!
Well thank you tabs. Now in Cambodia. Vietnam was great but it’s rainy season here and I didn’t bring my snorkel. 🙁 I was a drowned rat this pm at the Killing Fields. Not inappropriate all things considered. However the hotel had the game on channel 31 at 01.45am and I’ll forgive anything after that favour. Look forward to a reunion at the Tollie for real rather than virtual refreshments. BTW discovered a Ginger Rogers at the Foreign Correspondents Club here tonight. Fine drink. Wolfie would want an umbrella in it though.
Nice physc analysis there Lars. If he has really changed remains to be seen, but if he tries we should give him a chance.
Nice one Bearded.
Afternoon TS, Toby, tabs, bath and Wolfmeister.
Afternoon H2H, readyfor a large BM easy on the green?
G’day H2H. How’s tricks?
Bath,
Haha, a Ginger Rodgers sounds superb with or without Brollie. 🙂
Yep, it certainly knows how to rain in that neck of the woods. Take care matey and see you in The Tollie soon. When you back in Blighty?
Whew!! … that Ozil fella can play some football, cant’ he?
Hilarious how OG was belittled last year. He actually had a fine first season in the BPL and many said he’ll only get better. And he has. And he’s turning into an BEAST. This is just the beginnnig.
And Flamini, wow – what can you say. Welcome back son, we’ve missed you. Welcome back!
Many fine drinks up in the bar, cheers to all.
Wow Lars is Sigmund Freud.
Who knew?
Cheers tabs.
Not too bad Bath, thanks, got a dart team practice session going on at the mo’, alot of fun, but this early drinking may not be the best idea as i’ve got a bust evening still to come.
Ah well we live and
neverlearn. 😉bust?
BUSY.
Re: Sydneyred @8. So glad your first game at the Ems was a great one.
Some prophetic words from a Mr R. Benitez of Naples writing in the Independent last month:
There has been a rise in goals scored [in Champions League games] from cutbacks from the goal line which shows the value of wide players. The percentage of teams who win ties after scoring first is very high, so teams are good in possession when they go ahead.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/the-rafael-benitez-column-theres-no-need-for-pessimism–english-kids-are-often-better-than-foreign-ones-8813084.html
Wolfie@120: I thought you always turned corners? I mean, this “going straight” thing isn’t really for you, is it? 🙂
Toby@119: cheers!
Indeed, good call 8ball.
That’s some trip you made there Mr Red, glad to see you got a great game to witness.
116
Can I come???!!! 🙂
Arsenal are in fine form.
Since mid January, some 22 games ago, Arsenal have accumulated more Premier League points than any other team.
54 Points from 22 games, losing only twice during this period. That’s a points per game (PPG) ratio of 2.45.
Putting that figure into context, 2.45 PPG would’ve won you every Premier League Championship bar one (chelsea 2005 Ave 2.5 PPG).
Not saying I’m convinced Arsenal will win the league, just putting a figure on our recent run of form.
Heh @118 and 137.
Trev,
Just a note to endorse your comments on Flamini earlier.
Wonder how many of the holics still think we shouda chucked 25m on Fellaini now?
Lars – 🙂 🙂
Lars@110 on NB. Just a little addition to this. Morten Olsen has recalled NB to the Denmark squad for the next WC qualifiers (he needs all the help he can get. LOL) But a reporter on Danish TV said he’d heard that MO had given NB a bit of a talking to – when asked what he ahd said, MO just replied that that was something between him and NB, but he’d been very impressed with the hard work NB had done to get fit again.
So that’s two people who think he’s worth another chance – maybe the fans could all follow suit.
If I am still compos mentis enough to read it I look forward to the Arsene Wenger biography ( not a hagiography written by Myles the pseudo- intellectual prat Palmer) because I hope he will lift the lid on the early Emirates years. What were the constraints? Who did we have to pass up on signing and just how did our defectors behave as they tried to engineer transfers away? Above all was he never tempted once to lift the lid on the handcuffs that he operated In which forced him to endure abuse, criticism and rebuke from a lot of Gooners including me , and almost everywhere else. This estimable site,whilst raising questions was very balanced in its assessment even if many of us scratched our heads throughout the summer.
Last night felt like a watershed where a new Araenal ,emerging as a European powerhouse again, took shape and everything that Wenger intended started to fall into place. The sheer joy on his face when asked about Ozil made me feel very unworthy. I have lost patience several times with him and doubted he would ever get his mojo back. These are early days but anyone with a heart for the club can see what is developing and that while we spent £42.5 million we also got a wonderful acquisition for nothing. Sorry Arsene. While I cannot promise to never criticise again because I am a picky old git I love this new team and the sheer quality of what you are producing. Somehow it makes all the others like the LWCs and those who frequent the bus stop seem tacky and classless.
Lovely stuff Ttg.
Wow! So much love here 🙂
Let’s remember this feeling even through the tough times (when they come as they surely will)
Till then.. bring on WBA!
Good stuff TTG and BB.
I think nearly the whole gang has been in after that. Evening all.
Still eating bananas sideways? 😉
Evening ‘holic. Ear to ear all day. How long do we have to wait before the next masterclass?!
Norwich game weekend is now free or me but tickets on Exchange as rare as rocking horse shit.
As if I’m surprised.
Who said there was nothing to complain about 😉
Daylight Ribery making Hart look a bit of a twat.
Well said TTG….
Zico there is always something to complain about 🙂
Evening all Man Shitty looking a bit stunned if you ask me!
While I wasn’t watching the Premier League table it appears that Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea have all fallen out of the top four. This at the same time Arsenal are top. I haven’t seen any stories about this on the BBC, however. They must not think it’s very interesting.
It is happening again….It is happening again…4 – 1 against Napoli. Chuba x 2.
bt8bbgfg
They always are interested in our downfall! Never ever they are so negative towards Man U, Man City or Chelski
How typical?
Clichy oh dear
” There are butterflies back in the stomach. I love it.” – Word, ‘Holic!
Ha ha ha ha
City in crisis?
Moyes/Pellegrini–who’s going first?
Remember how we got mullered by the media when we lost to them last year? Bet they don’t win 2-0 in the Allianz Arena!
Its RVP and Nasri I feel really sorry for(not)
ttg@145, that drink deserves a drink on my tab!
Bayern playing like Barca.. oh wait!
Citeh getting taken apart.
Maybe they should have spent some f’in money.
United conceding now too!!!
Arsenal Football Club – The only club NOT in crisis of the “Big 4”!!!!!
What The Fuck?!??!?
Great pass from Vidic to the Shakhtar striker for that goal. 🙂
Maybe there is something to this 2012…!
I sense a disturbance in the force…
Great post Holic, I’m loving this team and the way we are playing currently. It’s gunna be a fantastic side when Corzola and Prince Poldi make it back. The work rate that the whole team puts in is the key to our success, everyone chips in and works hard throughout the 90. Thank goodness for Champs league because 7 days is too long to wait between games.
Negredo is dangerous that one…. something to look out for.
TTG
I reckon Moyes will stay for the season they will try and bolster in Jan…
As for Pellegrini Xmas and he’s gone if they continue like that and I hope they do!
ATG, I hope Pellegrini is sacked by Xmas aswell, but only because he is actually quality manager who could bring order to that circus Sheik City are.
But I suppose if they are going to continue like this the impatient lot will sack him pretty quick.
Agreed about Moyes, he is going to be given a chance to strenghten his squad in Jan, with Baines being obvious target and then that fella from Atlético they failed to sign in summer. (along with crapload of papertalk about Cesc)
And they play Wonderwall right at the end in the stadium ….
Well, that was quite a show by Bayern. They were so much better. Reminded me a bit of another team in red and white last night.
Loved the look on Clichy’s face after the second goal.
Now Müller’s a player we should buy next summer if he’s got bored with winning everything with Bayern and fancies a new challenge.
City? Good goal from Negredo and Silva made a difference when he came on. But otherwise? I thought their shorts looked nice and crisp and white.
Eandy @ 170: Pellegrini, though a very quality manager he is, doesn’t do circus well. He could not manage his dressing room of galacticos in RM, and his best managerial performance was with a Villarreal side that for all their enterprising and eye-catching football was never a serious contender for anything. He and City may yet prove us wrong, but I agree with you that a mid-season separation is more on the cards.
On the contrary for Man U, they do have a reputation for patience (all before my time but Fergie was allowed to build for many man years before the trophies started to flow in, right?) and one suspects that Moyes will be given time.
I hope by that time we are so far ahead that they will be chasing us for the next couple of decades.
That is how these cycles go, right? 🙂
United have a lot more they need sorting than a left-back and a midfielder. The whole defence is going to need replacing for a start – 3 over-30s and Rafael does not a defence make.
Michael Carrick 32
Little Boy 30
Giggs 87
Evening all,
Sideways bananas here.
Think Wolfie prefers his at a more conventional angle though. 😉
Cheers Joe.
Nice one, ttg.
If I ever wondered whether AW was “losing his mojo”, I would just watch a re-run of his delight at winning that title up at Old Trafford. You cannot just lose the motivation for that kind of desire and joy.
He’s driven most of us to distraction at some point during the last eight years – did you realise we haven’t won a trophy in all that time ? 😉 – with his mantra of “spirit, quality and giving absolutely everything”.
As many here have just as consistently said, he really had no choice. We have wished him the chance to use the resources once better times returned and boy has he done that.
The football that Arsenal played last night is years of development ahead of any other team in the country. Man Citeh and Chelski are capable of flashes of it, but last night was a 90 minute, whole-team masterclass in ripping a side apart and then not giving them any chance to get back into the game.
There was even one round of “One Arsene Wenger” in the stadium last night, albeit a slightly hesitant one. For some, he apparently has more to do, despite the commitment he has shown through all the flack he has taken and deflected from his players.
Whatever your view of the manager, it would take a hard heart to begrudge him the spring in the step and the smile that is back on his face.
Nobel Prize 2013 for wishful thinking:
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/official-manchester-city-twitter-feed-claim-they-could-have-nicked-it-v-bayern-munich/
The irony is that no matter what, City, United and Chelski will still find the way to finish in the first two places of their groups, considering the easy opponents they have, while we have the most difficult task of the all English teams, considering the opponents we have.
Arsenal Youth 4 Napoli 1
2 each for Akpom and Lipman
Doc Faus’
You are indeed correct that SAF got cut some slack, however that was by a different board in a different time. Social media can be judge jury and executioner, the fans have been reared on succes, that same succes has also brought a new bread of fan who are only there as glory hunters (they’re the ones usualy bleating the hardest). In this want it all, want it now, twitter and internet driven opinionated society. I wonder how long the Glazers will give Moyes if things continue this way, before they succomb to the weight of public pressure.
Lurky.
That’s what City thought last year too…..
They didn’t even make it to the Yourhopless Leage
Nice post Trev.
On that note, I think one of the most frustrating thing about the fan base-Wenger relationship in the recent years is our tendency — yours truly included — to put under microscope every single decision he used to take or not take: from signings to plan Bs to substitutions to goalkeeping coaches …
Even though we all intellectually realized that many of these decisions could have gone our way when they didn’t, and this profoundly engaged and highly intelligent manager is not being stubborn just to irk his supporters, at an emotional level it was rather difficult to let go our deeply rooted attachment to the notions of our own invincibility. We are Arsenal under Arsene after all!!!
We won’t be missing the forest for the trees now anymore, I hope.
Fergie: I seem to remember something about a banner at the Stretford End reading, “Three years of excuses and it’s still crap … ta-ra Fergie.”
H2H @ 179: Very valid points. I just think unlike the petro-dollar clubs Man U (as a collective) would not really have much of a choice than to be patient as their team needs rebuilding in the truest sense of that word.
Fergie has failed in recent years to bring in and stabilize a young core in the team and that would be their more serious issue than changing a manager at this stage. Because no matter who that manager is he will come against the ghost of Fergie’s living soul in all its manifestation: the reputation, the aging team, and a financial model that cannot just compete with City or PSG in terms of arbitrary money-wasting exercises.
a nice article about our HFB. the lad’s got his feet firmly on the ground, clearly. wolfie will be happy about the “stiff as a stick” thing, too.
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1570107/arsenal-olivier-giroud-happy-disprove-detractors?cc=5901
Lars, Norris, Toby … Nothing wrong at all in easing off against Napoli, but only in retrospect. Because this time it worked out well, we didn’t concede and no-one got injured. But I have seen this relaxing all too often in recent years, only to have a late goal scored against us (or 4 in the case of the Geordies). Everyone knows 2-0 is a dangerous lead, and that 3-0 makes all the difference (usually). We are far better going forward than holding the ball up, and not yet so perfect that we can take unnecessary risks, imo.
TinyTG … I too cannot wait for Wenger’s autobiography, which being an intellectual I’m sure he’ll write himself (our version perhaps translated from the original French). I’m particularly interested to get the inside story on the most recent transfer window. The truth about Suarez, Higuain, Özil etc.
Öskar
Well I thought Moyes was well appointed initially, but I have serious reservations now. There’s been some serious errors with Moyes so far. For starters, he’d do well if he shut his trap when it comes to passing any comments about any of his players. I’ve no doubt he’s lost Rooney and I fear others (Kagawa) are seriously frustrated. Thats two of the three world class players they have!
Will he be given time? Yes, I think so, for a number of (wrong) reasons:
First of all, because Fergie is still on the board, when he should have been told to go altogether. It means Fergie still has an influence and will want to see Moyes succeed (because he appointed him) rather than judge him objectively. And secondly, because they gave him a 5 year contract which will cost them a fortune to buy-out.
Its a risk appointing a manager to a club of that stature without having track record.
Nice summary ‘h!
Something very special is brewing this season, and beyond! COYBG!
Fair points Joe.
Another thought: perhaps this dip/crash in ManIOU’s form is a suprise to nobody and DM will get most of the 5 years (or maybe at least 2.5) to get things in line.
Yanited squad has some issues. Sure, they won the league last time. But they have big issues. If Lord Ferg is still on the board, then I doubt DM will be sacked too quick for the reasons you state.
Much as one hates to say it, Sir PurpleNose is probably one of the top living football managers ever. Anybody coming in behind him would not do as well. I dont’ care who. He worked squads up into something much greater than the sum of their parts.
DM seems a decent sort so i got no ill will for the man. But man do I love seeing Yanited struggle.
right, “living football managers ever” is illogical.
I’ll shut up now.
Sideways bananas? Wasn’t it just upside down pineapples?
PaGooner. I think you are on to something. 🙂
Male or female upside down pineapples, PaG?
That Ollie G interview is a Wolfie wet dream, SCG:
Not just stiff as a stick, but:
“in the big boy’s playground”
“I’ve had to root around in the s*** to get where I am”
“the more I progress, there’s less which seems inaccessible to me”
re Fergie: one of his great strengths was that he rebuilt winning teams on the fly. He did it time and time again. Until last season. He had the title the previous season on goal difference. So he went out and bought the best striker in the Premier League to fix that, knowing it was going to be his last season and he wanted to go out on a high with a final league championship. And sod the future. It wasn’t going to be his team this season, so why bother to rebuild it?
Very drunk after that back drink but all the better for it. So great drinks written. Love this place.
Re watching the game now. It really was beautiful football. This one will stay on the DVR for a long while.
I just want to thank Arsenal and Arsene for the run they have put together over the last 6 months. Something that can put a smile on your face and be proud. Nothing is won yet but this team seems determined to keep fighting. Thank you.
Cheers all
Mr Receptacle,
You’re trashed. 😉
a basket case indeed, norcal. but I won’t waste any more time on puns, because once trev gets on it mine will be in the bin.
This is the slowest build up to a goal ever…
Did I see a new inmate there from Sydney? All convicts welcome here sir. Just kidding. Glad it went so well. Sounds like a great time was had.
That’s the Arsenal for you 😉
Heh, laughing at this “article” at the moment
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23001874
@cannons 200….more accurate upside down dont u think?
On Arsene; my view is and has always been that it’s totally valid to criticise the manager, but that criticism should come with some respect, and also a recognition that (a) while he’s not infallible, the man has forgotten more about football than any of us know, and is generally a pretty smart and accomplished human being; and (b) he repeatedly turned down opportunities to earn more money elsewhere – he’s loyal.
What he isn’t is a “Cnut”, “senile”, a “ditherer”, a “spendthrift”, or someone who doesn’t care when the team does badly (quite the opposite, in fact). All of the foregoing have been levelled at him on an almost daily basis on some of the more negative blogs and websites, and the people responsible should be hanging their heads in shame just now – not because Wenger is perfect and will never make a mistake again, but because it was no way to speak about a fundamentally decent man who has a track record longer than my dick for proving people wrong.
Criticism is totally healthy, but the tone needs to be right.
It’s been interesting to watch the behaviour of Arsene’s chief critics in the last couple of weeks. Some of those who would have headed the lynch mob after Villa have put their hands up and admitted they got it wrong – respect to those folk. Others are essentially keeping their heads down and pretending they never said anything. Others still are making it clear that there is plenty of season left for the manager to fcuk things up and vindicate them. That last cohort can fcuk right off. On this note, I think the AST owe the gaffer and open letter of support, if not outright apology.
Anyway, that bit of finger pointing aside, I look forward to putting away all these inter-familial disputes and having all Gooners unite squarely behind the team and the manager – it’s where fans belong and where we do our best work; it brought a lump to my throat to hear some of the chanting on Tuesday night.
One Arsene Wenger
COYG
Absolutely, N7.
It’s a little early in the day, but there’s a drink waiting for you on the bar.
COYG
dk@182: there were certainly calls for Ferguson to retire around 2005/2006. You know, just before this past it, out of touch with modern football, senile old codger won them three straight Premier League titles, the Champions League, a bunch of FA/League cups and then a few more Premier League titles…
Oskar@185: I think you are missing an important point here. It’s not retrospect, I was saying as it was happening that we were brilliant. And the Newcastle game is neither here nor there in this discussion – two joke penalties, a joke of a free kick from which they got their forth, Joey Barton given free license to scythe down our players, Kevin Nolan not being sent off for a WWF-style neck swing on Szczesny etc. We didn’t exactly wobble to bits after Swansea scored the other week, did we? Also, against Stoke we just turned it up a notch after they scored and took the lead again within not too many minutes and then went back to controlling events pretty much flawlessly.
Joe@186: to be honest, I think far too little time has passed for anyone to judge Moyes as a ManU manager. But like Ned@194 I think the squad has some serious issues, a topic we touched upon the other week as well here in the bar and I’m quite sure this (I mean the state of their squad, not that we talked about it in this bar!) must be what Arsene means when he says he saw signs that made him understand Ferguson was going to retire. I’m not at all saying that they are going to become a mid-table team overnight, but they have some serious rebuilding to do in the near future with players like Evra, Rio, Vidic, Giggs and within not too long (or maybe even already, though that remains to be seen) RvP starting to decline at an increasingly rapid rate.
N7@202: very well said. A drink of your choice on my tab!
N7@202 – Well said that man.
Here’s an interesting bit of reading:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/oct/02/arsenal-mesut-ozil
… especially the first paragraph (lol) and what Arteta says about stadium atmosphere – something for the moaners and groaners to think about.
Holic at 199
Cheeky bugger
Born bred in wapping
Lived in Sydney since 1986
First game v Aston villa in 1966 I think. 1-1 draw
Will have to start saving again
I barely comment nowadays but usually make time to read the posts and drinks.
Lars @110 has prompted me to put a word in for Bendtner as I totally agree with his sentiments. I was shocked to see that on the Wenger-era he makes the list of top ten goals scorers and that when you put into account he never really played that much. I hope as long as he puts on the red and white and plays for Arsenal and works hard we all get behind him, he still has something left to offer.
Cent thank you for that Giroud Pic, it got this girl going 😉
Lest I forget the team did us proud on Tuesday, I am still buzzing and can’t wait for Westbrom. I love you ARSENAL.
It’s so easy to stay high – I just go and watch the Özil goal again. Sums the man up in a nutshell – supreme timing, supreme skill, supreme confidence. In this sense, he reminds us of Bergkamp.
I reckon at least 9 out of 10 players would have controlled Ramsey’s pass, then taken another touch to set it up before shooting, by which time they would have been closed down or the keeper would have had time to set himself properly. And most of those who would have taken on the shot first time would have blasted it high and/or wide.
What a way to open his account for the club (another reminder of Bergkamp’s blaster against Leicester).
But we move on to West Brom (after the Lord Mayor’s parade …). They may also be on a high after beating United, but an opening spell on a par with Tuesday will soon burst that bubble. I think we will face determined defence allied to a hope of nicking something from a set piece, so a swift goal would be a blessing. And the Baggies will no doubt be aware that the team that faces them on Sunday will not at all be the same one they faced in the C1C.
I think a punt on a big score is worth a quid or two.
parade = show (of course)
Lars,
Granted, I’ll accept its somewhat premature given that he’s only in the job a wet week, but it doesn’t deflect from the fact that he’s made some very serious errors in some of the things he has said (such as saying Rooney was effectively back up to RVP when he’s largely been carrying the Manu team on his back this season or this week or when he said that they were missing 6/7 world class players and that last year they won a poor PL League! Whats the team supposed to think of that? What has Moyes ever won?). It all smacks of a man who is in way over his head and who, I fear, is not going to be strong enough to cut his own ground amid Fergie’s legacy.
In relation to the re-building process Moyes has tried to purchase Alcantara, Strootman, Fabregas……..all to no avail. Cesc apart, these are not even established big names. Eventually they ended up paying Everton 27m sterling for Fellaini, a pretty average DCM who, incidentally, is making Flamini look like the bargain of the century! What I can’t fathom is how will Moyes be successful if he can’t attract the calibre of player he needs? He’s not an established manager with a track record of winning. And it was the elephant in the room all summer long during the window. Its much better for us though, now that we can match them financially.
Given a choice, who would you play for: Jose, Wenger, Ancellotti………or Moyes?
Cheers all.
Re: Moyes – I suspect he will be OK. They have had a tough opening run of fixtures and results like West Brom did happen under Ferguson. They still have 4 or 5 top class players and the spine of the team is strong – they’ll be OK. His broader issue is that his better players are often 30+ (RVP, Carrick, Vidic, etc) and will need to be replaced sooner rather than later. I think that Joe is right that Moyes’ greatest challenge will be to get on top of the transfer market.
On the field, what the press have missed thus far is that Utd were very wobbly at the start of last season (they actually have a better defensive record than at the same stage last year, and they’ve played better sides this time out), but were saved by Van Persie being in the form of his life. If the opposition scored 3, they’d score 4.
Van Persie isn’t in that form now. At 30, and given the height of the water mark he reached, I doubt he will ever hit that level again. They will need to find other solutions. And I’m sure they will, but it may take some time – there are issues with that squad that have been left unattended for years.
Of course, if they drop further points in the next few games the analysis will change, but at this point I have to say that they need to stay calm, back their manager and reflect that the squad he’s been left with isn’t perhaps as strong as people were pretending back in the summer. Oh, and if I were Moyes, I’d be looking at my wingers, because I don’t think what he’s got on the flanks right now is up to the necessary standard.
Oh, and finally a word for City.
You know what their problem is? They did their transfer business far too early 🙂
£100m spent and the first eleven has barely been improved. That’s because they spunked their money up the wall on the likes of Fernandinho (who?) and Jovetic, when if they’d had a bit of gambler’s nerve about them they might have waited another few weeks until the real world class talent became available.
N7,
Manu are currently 12th. From 6 games they’ve 7 points. It seems incredible to say this, but I honestly don’t think I’m exaggerating: Moyes has it all to do to even make the top 4 and qualify for next years CL.
Despite his problems in attracting players, if Moyes seriously thinks that he’s going to pop into the January transfer window and sign 3/4 world class players, then he’s deluding himself even more. Signing world class players in January is almost impossible because most teams are mid-competition and no-one wants to weaken. The only exception might be with players who are nearing the end of their contract and the selling club wants to crystallise some return.
If he’s going to turn it around, he’s going to have to it with the players he has. I’ve a feeling it could all end in tears.
@ Joe
Obviously, their current league position isn’t good. But they’ve already played Chelsea, Liverpool and City. They’re only five points off 4th – we’ve come back from much worse positions in recent years.
I do think Moyes looks uncomfortable, but his first XI has a spine that contains Van Persie, Rooney, Carrick, Vidic, Ferdinand (who has started poorly and is a massive bellend, but was arguably the best defender in the country last term) and De Gea (bit flappy, but a decent keeper). Plenty of senior pros, lots of experience.
You could probably remove the manager entirely and that bunch of players would work it out between them, enough for a top 4 finish.
Looking at it another way, what’s the competition? Liverpool have Kolo Toure and Jordan Henderson in their first XI, and a far from convincing midfield. The LWCs are the LWCs. They could be 8 points clear of Utd in Feb and it still wouldn’t be a done deal.
It will take a collapse of epic proportions for them to finish outside the top 4. As I say, another bad result or two and maybe it starts to look possible, but right now I think they’re just starting slow and they should be regarded with caution.
I agree re: the January window though. Moyes had a shocker in the summer and it does point to an inability to attract top class players. I do enjoy hearing from Utd fans that their boss turned down Thiago and Ozil. I almost hope it’s true, because that would mark him out as the most clueless fuckwit to manage a major English club in quite some time.
Oskar at 185
But I dont think the team did ‘ease off’. They changed their game plan and chose to sit back and soak up what ever napoli had to offer. They have done that a few times already this season, particularly away from home. I agree in the past, the team have been guilty of taking their foot off the gas, thinking a game was won and then being caught out. But I think (hope) this isnt that and is designed to give the players a breather mid-game and also sucker the opposition in and catch em on the break.
Morning fluffers (that was a joke).
Firstly I have to say that the last time I posted on here I behaved quite badly. I got involved in an argument that had nothing to do with me and through my frustration at what had been an underwhelming summer I insulted/offended some people. That was wrong and for that I apologise.
I have also on more than one occasion called not only the manager into question but the general management/ owner. Whilst I stand by the criticisms that were made at the time I heartedly acknowledge haste on my part and the consumption of as much humble pie as Nicky B is having.
That’s not to say that I will never criticise either party again or that through frustration take the occasional cheap shot/act like a dick (fuck it I’m too old to change). However I am man enough to hold my hands up when I’m wrong.
To hear either end of the ground volley back and forth ‘we’re the north bank, we’re the clock end’ raised feelings inside me I haven’t had in a while and made me have a long hard look in the mirror. Thank you Arsene. Thank you the 25 in the squad. And thank you fellow Gooners.
That’s all.
Glory for The Arsenal.
NB1 – respect. Excellent post.
N7 Gooner
Top drawer stuff on #202!
I just love the way you put that to “paper”.
As for Moyes or all the other managers struggling. I don’t want to invest my energy into their homework. Fine with me if they face a hard time. More important to me is that I really start to believe that whatever they’ll come up with, we soon (if not this year already) will just be too strong for any other team in England. Fingers crossed I may just be right 🙂
N7,
Great points. I guess its possible to support a valid argument either way. From where I sit though, Manu no longer have that fear factor. I can’t wait until we meet them.
Was very impressed with Bayern last night. Its like they’ve adapted the Barca work ethic of fighting for every ball, sharp passing and retaining possession and married them to their existing strengths. I think there are two big differences that this team have over Barca: First of all, they have genuinely wide players in Ribery and Robben who stretch the play and make it more difficult for teams to defend. Secondly, the average Bayern player is physically much stronger and imposing that the Barca players. Citeh were absolutely crushed and couldn’t get near the ball for 80 mins.
I don’t think Moyes will be ok at all.
I think that he will steal the ring from Frodo but end up falling into the fires of Mount Doom.
Old Trafford will then spontaneously combust and the world will be free from evil for ever, full of fair flaxen-haired maidens serving free beer to all members of the Feelgood Foundation. 8)
Inspired by previous posters recently, I’d like to apologise for my rather mocking tone in some posts when disagreeing with someone. In future I will make sure I disagree respectfully as I would do if we were having a beer in a real bar (as opposed to a virtual one).
I’m telling Holic that free advice is being offered to our enemy in this here internet café. But hey, here’s my advice to Citeh. Quit being selfish, you know who you are (2 players) and no, Samir isn’t one of them 😉 First Lady, I prefer my men in faded jeans and a simple white tee 🙂
Fair play, NB1.
zico@220, I like that prediction!
Similarly to NB1, I found the responding choruses on Tuesday night really heartening – it’s been a while since I’ve heard them so clearly on dodgy streams.
I think Joe is right when he says that Moyes will find few top class players available in January, partly because of mid-season reluctance and partly because of the David Who factor. Mid-season reluctance will also make it difficult for us to find a top-class striker to supplement the current squad, although Mesut’s words about the importance of his talk with Wenger tell us a lot about the importance of our manager to the club, in case anyone has forgotten. His ability to speak several languages more or less fluently makes direct communication so much easier. But I think we have to accept that, for this season, Bendtner and Sanogo are our two main back-ups in the case of Giroud’s absence. Sanogo is not a player we’ve seen much of as yet. Podolski can also play central but I think he has more influence coming in from the wing.
By all of which I mean that patience will be called for in January if no-one of sufficient quality can be found to strengthen the squad. Personally, I’m happy as it is with the CB and goalkeeper situations, as long as we don’t get multiple, simultaneous injuries and we have a wealth of talent in midfield.
For those not on Twitter .. felt that you should all have a chance to see this.
Goal of the Season….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh-2eGezFeI#t=79
Afternoon all.
Some good stuff, as per usual, above.
Nice one NB1@216
As for Manure,
Moyes will make a bid to bring in Baines in January, first offering 7mill but will end up paying 35mill plus add ons. He will also try to bring in a creative midfielder, making 77 seperate bids for Cesc only for the deal to “fall through” at the last moment, due to the fact that it never exsisted.
He will make enquiries about bringing Ronaldo back to Old Toilet, but, due to the shananigens of the Bale transfer from the swampies, Florentino Pérez says he refuses to deal with “mid table clubs” anymore. Desperate to make things happen he’ll try to get in touch with CR(ap)7’s agent who refuses to take his calls as he believes it to be from a prank caller. “Who de hill es thiz Divid Miyas pirson?” he is quoted on saying in Marca.
Feeling the pressure, he goes on bended knee back to Bill Kenwright who feels pity for his old charge and grants him the loan of Steven Pienaar to solve his midfield crisis and throws in Jelavic as long as he promises not to bring him back, this does not please the little boy inside of van Persie who throws all of his toys out of his pram in a giant hissy fit, screaming inconsolibly something about ambition to a bunch of guys who wern’t listening anyway.
Wayne “once a blue, always a blue” Rooney, remembered he’d already left Everton before and decides to do it again, packing up his nifty headband and inflatable granny and getting the fuck outta there, not before half inchin’ Fergies legendary hairdryer from it’s shrine in the home dressingroom and pocketing all the sugar and Jammy Dodgers from the tea ladies trolly. (once a scally…..)
You heard it here first!!!
It must be the day of atonement based on the comments today. Snir was a few days early, apparently, 😉
H2H – always nice to have something to look forward too.
Catalan – erm, that Canvey Island goalie – isn’t that Josh Vickers on loan from Arsenal?
bt8b – heh.
Hm – thought so:
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/vickers-joins-canvey-island-on-loan
dk…. not sure anyone would have gotten near to that one! It was still rising. Incredible connection.
North Bank 1,
Good sentiments @216, albeit not directly addressed to your erstwhile targets. We were all frustrated by events in the transfer window.
Easy to be generous when things are going well. Let’s hope we can all maintain it during the next rough patch.
And yes, the chanting on Tuesday was special and great to hear.
Is it just me or does anyone else think this footballers Tube map is just stupid.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-24378791
..though anyone up for a round of Bert Trautmann?
Some quality drinks from the regulars, above.
Moyes will settle in eventually. He only won five of his first 14 games at Everton. Slow starter. And as I said earlier, Fergie didn’t do much by way of starting to rebuild an aging squad for him.
And Zico@220, we can but dream…
Zico @220 – I concur! Sounds perfectly plausable to me! 🙂
Afternoon Holics
Made it to the Ems on Tuesday having travelled back from Hvar earlier in the day. Case to the left luggage at Kings X and as I awaited the arrival of the King’s Lynn Gooners I nipped over to Foyles at St Pancras and treated myself to a copy of God’s “Stillness and Speed”.
What a great treat was in store for us all, I’m still smiling at the quality of play in the first half. It was shades of the Cesc/Rosicky/Hleb/Flambe ensemble of 2008. May we have unlimited encores this campaign.
I hardly dare to anticipate my earlier predicted happy ending but there is something about the side that does give one confidence and with other rivals still very much in transition, we must make hay while the sun is brightly shining on us.
I had a great holiday, found a local bar that screened PL matches BUT have missed out on a Dortmund ticket, the game being sold out and not on the TX. If there are any spare tickets out there ,perhaps you would bear me in mind.
As always COYRs
H2H @ 226: with the way Clichy absolutely screwed up on the second Bayern goal, don’t be surprised if the Abu Dhabi sky blues do everything in their power to outbid the Manure — and by a lot — to secure the services of Mr. Baines.
@233. Ned, you are correct. It is just stupid. However, it is especially stupid in my opinion to include Beckenbauer and Cruyff.
Another sunny day in the Gooner universe. 8)
Still smiling me! Working in travel arrangements ( and final permission) to cross the pond for Tabs’ birthday tour in Nov and also to catch the Soton and Marseille matches. Oh yeah!
Dr C
Clearly Rene has dipped into some of the good stuff before that goal. A heat seeking rocket, incredible.
Great post H2H @ 226, LMFAO
Heh, H2H. 🙂
What zico said @220.
Dkgöö,
Re striking options – I think Theo Walcott could play centrally at the head of Tuesday night’s midfield, should Giroud be missing. Not so sure about his usual style on the right wing though.
However, we may therein have found our Plan B, which has of course, up to now, been Plan A.
This management malarkey is easy. 😉
NorCal,
Gooner universe = Goonerverse.
Saves space on the universal hard drive – unlike this rather stupid comment. 😉
NBN,
I’m with you. Piece of illogical nonsense.
First time I’ve frowned since Tuesday evening. 😉
Some top quality drinks as usual
Re: Moyes, I will reserve my judgment until Christmas but their playing style has drastically changed since he took over. They are a strict 4 4 2, and that’s not going to cut it in this era of football
B Jean @237,
Always thought Clichy had a great attitude during his time at Arsenal. He just didn’t seem to be able to concentrate for 90 minutes.
Apparently, little has changed. Oh dear …….
Watch out fellas, Delia’s after a happy ending. 😉
Arsenal = Great. Absolutely not taking the foot of the pedal after the two goals, just changing the tactics. We worked so hard to keep the ball and attack when it suited us after that, and it nearly resulted in another goal through at least two great chances we missed.
Man U + Moyes = Not any world beaters by any stretch but they’ve had their share of hard games this season. They will improve, they’ve got the experience. This isn’t the season they should worry about it. It is the next, when the old guard is even older and they can’t recruit ready mades due to Moyes instead of Fergie. They will do alright this season, is my bet, but the next? Or in four years? Their future isn’t so bright, methinks.
Bayern = Watch out. We’ll beat them again, if need be, in one of the two games we’re bound to play this season, but the second? It’s one hell of a team.
Striking options = We won’t buy unless we can buy the best. As many (including me) have said before, Theo on the top of the midfield we played against Napoli would probably do great. We would lose a lot in general play, but the goals would be there. Not my preferred choice by any stretch over Giroud as is at the moment, but it surely would work for a few games here and there. Theo can score, we would probably just look a tad more disjointed and let one more in every second game on a corner.
Bendtner = What a man. In every sense. Bad. And good. He has scored numerous goals. Won the U-21 scoring league in the PL a few years back. He could really be quite a player. Always liked him, always defended him, back when he played and scored regularly. His problems, as many have noted, are not on the pitch, and the ones he got there are purely down to not having played for a while and a somewhat lower (!!!) confidence than he usually has. Perfect player to be with us for half a season. Of course I would love a recognised world class forward at the club, but Bendts got loads of experience and loads of goals. Both feet on the ground, son, and you’ll do fine – for us, and for your next time. There is a proper career there.
Gervinho = Very much like Santos. Great player, but not for us nor the League. He’ll do fine, and we’ll think “what if” but we shouldn’t. We’ve got other players to adore. He will absolutely come good, just not here. Was probably never the right answer, but how are we to know in advance? Wasn’t such a big loss, monetarily, for us, and he scored a few whilst here. Wish him all the best. Not too dissatisfied he is gone. Again, very much like Santos. Much to like, just from afar.
There we go, did I miss any topic?
Arsenal (reprise) = what a fucking team we’ve got.
A tad drunk by the way, so if anything is a bit unclear, I’m blaming it on that.
Trev,
Will have to type Goonerverse a few more times before autocorrect autocorrects it correctly.
Hope all is well with you and yours. Perhaps I can buy you a half pint if I make it in November.
NorCal, fingers crossed that you can make the trip!
@Lars 110
Excellent point. He is a deliciously easy target to mock but he is a Gunner, he played well enough last time and there is talent there so I hope he does come around. Maybe TGSTEL’s head is tightening in the correct position, we’ll see I guess.
Some great drinks over the past 24 hours and lots of confessionals. Here’s mine;
“Forgive me Holic because I have sinned;I once called Graham Rix a curly-headed tosser and laughed at Terry Mancini “.There that feels better.
I keep saying I never thought I would say this, this season but I think our best striking option should HFB perish at the hands of dastardly centre backs is to play ….TGSTEL. He is much closer to HFB in terms of pace, style and strength than Theo. Frankly in the league I think Ozil feeding Theo might be orgasmic in terms of the havoc we might create but we have someone who holds the ball up really well in TGSTEL (if he can be arsed) and as on Tuesday we now use the out ball to HFB very well.
I had a long chat with a group of sensible Gooners and others today and I have to say even the United, Chelsea and Citeh supporters were worried about our form. There was widespread acclaim for Ozil’s goal on Tuesday but a big division over Bendtner. I don’t think he will get the goals that HFB will but he can link the attack. I like Theo but he is a little bit of a pussy when one on one with strong defenders. While we needed to buy in the summer ideally, if Bendtner got in the team and got goals it could reignite him despite the fact that I don’t ever think he will be absolutely top-class. But the fact we are debating him at all shows just how far things have moved this season.
Thanks Lars. It will be sans family this time so I will actually get to step into the Tollie and raise a toast to the birthday boy or possibly help raise the birthday boy. Ha.
I’ll look forward ti it, NorCal.
Reignite Bendtner, ttg ? Now there’s an idea. 😉
I think NB sparks up on his own just fine.
That’s the issue I have with him. Hope he has matured and finally realized he is only about half the player he thinks he is and may actually have to work hard to get any more.
@Zico220…and whatever gandalf has in that smoking pipe would come in handy too in celebating the fall of evil
TGSTEL — the greatest striker that ever lit, NorCal?
Theo’s return will provide an interesting test of his tactical nous and decision making. Özil will be able to get him in behind defences as never before, but he is going to have to be switched on and not fade from games for periods as he tends to do to make the most of it. And he is going to have to be much more selective about when to cut inside and when to stay wide, and much smarter at switching positions with Giroud.
NBN. 🙂
It’s nearly November 5th! Maybe we could ignite him then.
Yessssssssssssssssssssss
Get in Maccabi!!!!!!
It’s by far the quietest bar
The world has ever seen !
Everything must be just fine, 😉
Our record since AVB said we are on a “negative spiral” reads as follows:-
P 22
W 18
D 3
L 1
F 45
A 14
crisis????????
Good old Peter Andre VB.
Well done Snir’s boys. I could have predicted it though 😉
Oh, an Ollie sighting! 😉 Good for you, Snir! NorCal, I’m so jealous 🙂 Toby, umm, just imagine how the otherworldly Ozil could have facilitated Gervinho’s game. What might have been … now, we’ll never know!
steve, aside from the killer spiral that record shows we’re on, i really like, and i mean, REALLY like the “A 14” part of that. 14 goals against in 22 games? if we carried that over a full season in the prem we’d only give up 24 or 25 goals, making for the lowest number of goals *ever* conceded in a season by arsenal since 1912-1913 (26 goals).
stunning, if we can keep that form for the season.
sagna out for west brom and the internationals (no, not the band):
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2443111/Arsenals-Bacary-Sagna-weeks-hamstring-injury.html
first brown spots on the banana…
Scruz. Didn’t we have a season in the Seaman era where we conceded less than 20, or have I got that wrong???
That said the whole stat is impressive regardless. Long may it continue.
As much as I am loving it all at the moment I must say that I have always been someone who does not really look at the league table until about Christmas. For me it is then that you start to get a true perspective of how things are going.
There was one season when we conceded 18 – can’t remember the year, of course.
Can’t tell if that was sarcasm or not so I’ll take it as sarcasm and say the answer to that which is the 90-91 title winning season.
74-18 in the goals column.
Ollie – what’s been going on with Bordeaux? We deserved to win by a whole lot more…
If only we woulda scored that penalty last match day at home vs. Apoel we’d have six points.
But we’re still looking great to qualify so all is good.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Competition time!
I go to see daily a few sites and blogs to read posts,
except this weblog gives quality based articles.