Five Star Performance By The Gunners
Nov 3rd, 2013 by 'holic
Good morning. And what a good morning. The voicebox is croaky, the mouth feels like the inside of a kangaroos pouch. Watching football is all about the days like yesterday. The occasional blips are put in some context by performances like that.
Arriving to discover that Jack Wilshere had joined Mathieu Flamini on the treatment table wasn’t the ideal start to the day. That paled into insignificance when the game got underway and those who were in midfield started with vigour and creativity aplenty. The early result at Newcastle meant we were watching the teams first and second in the Premier League.
I thought beforehand that Liverpool would arrive with a more adventurous approach than we have become used to, and so it proved. Chances were traded as both sides set about each other.
The atmosphere was excellent as the stadium reverberated to the old battle cries. The players responded with a superb opening goal. Bacary Sagna provided the cross from which Santi Cazorla first headed against the post before volleying his own rebound into the net.
It was no more than the Gunners deserved. Olivier Giroud was giving a masterclass in leading the line and bringing others into play. Behind him the midfield, with Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey prominent, just purred.
The half-time rum (thanks Boston!) tasted all the sweeter. The second-half brought more of the same. Liverpool always a threat on the break, but Arsenal putting together some sumptuous passing football. The second goal was needed, and arrived in spectacular fashion. Aaron Ramsey, who else, took his tally for the season into double figures with a strike that had everybody out of their seats roaring.
Half an hour remained and gradually Arsenal retreated into soaking up pressure mode. Suarez grazed the far post with one effort and missed a similar opportunity when Sturridge was better placed. Thankfully the Gunners defence offered no more encouragement than that to the visitors and thoroughly deserved the clean sheet.
Arsene was rightly proud of his team afterwards.
“Today was an important win for the team, for the club, and overall nobody would dispute that we deserved to win this game. It was vital to win, I said that before the game and I don’t change my mind, because had we not won people would say ‘yes, Arsenal at home they cannot win the big games’.”
In the pub afterwards it was also clear that a very upbeat home support was also very proud of the team sitting five points clear at the top of the table. Big games lie in wait, but this team can look forward to them with some confidence.
312 Responses to “Five Star Performance By The Gunners”
Drink! That’s a double with first Arse.
Wasn’t there but saw the same thing from home.
Good to be a gooner.
Heh, well in Esso.
Nice one mate. Should have listened to you.
Fantastic win. On to the next test
Cheers holics
Five star report. Great day out, fantastic football, marvellous atmosphere in the ground all washed down with some fine Guinness and one of the Chip Inn Fish Bar’s finest had docks.
Only disappointment was the non-materialisation of the 3-2 score line. We can save that for next weekend perhaps?
Nice to meet up and see the new, svelte, Holic. TS drank your Glen after your mysterious disappearing trick!
Wow Esso!
2-0.
Morning ‘holic! I see both you and our Oirish friend are still with us. That’s nice.
Heh, Bath and I had docks, we also had each other.
Svelte, heh! 😉
The German oufit will be made of sterner material. Their fast breakway could be dangerous . If the gunners are slow in their buildup to the attack.they would be in serous trouble.
Btw,no team including Barca,RM and rfl Mu are not unbeatable.
However the gunners have to be patient and not be too gung ho on the attack. A draw aint a bad result.
@9 Goonerholic
Well you lost a pound yesterday!
Great report Holic, and what a performance.
I hope the lads watched MOTD last night and read the papers this morning. They’re still writing us off. And it’s not because of who we’ve played (though that’s the excuse). It’s because they think we’ve not got the bottle – they assume we’ll choke when the pressure is on. They don’t know us at all – this is not the same Arsenal as 2011.
Massive opportunity to stick it right up all the critics next weekend at the theatre of bollocks. Utd are soft and we should go for the jugular. Win, and they’ll not catch us this season + we’ll have served notice of our intent, regardless of what happens in Dortmund. Even a draw would do us nicely.
Not much to add re last night that hasn’t already been said. The Em is really starting to feel like home now, do love an evening game. Aaron Ramsey is the sort of upstanding young man you’d allow to marry your daughter.
Thought Rodgers had a shocker. Talked a great one in the papers beforehand but then turns up in 352. Comical.
Looking forward to three points for the blue half of merseyside later on.
COYG
The theatre of Bollocks! Heh!
Excellent write up. You are a marvel getting that out so promptly, sir.
Hoarse, blunted and slightly fragile here.
Fine day, great performance, vital victory, excellent company (y’all know who y’all are), memorable occasion.
Topped off with haddock and chips with BtM.
Life is rich as a result of evenings such as these.
Bucks fizz on the bar for everyone.
On to Germany, boys.
Cheers Guv, we saw the same game.
Loved the game and was waiting with bated breath for the MOTD report and of course they still wrote us off, with the exception of Mr Big Ears refusing to write us off and even pointing out that we have the consistency Mans City/United and Chelski lack.
Will we ever see an unbiased report of Arsenal on a BBC program?
Forget all the biased aholes and let the lads keep showing them just how weak they are 😉
I was surprised to see Liverpool sit back and allow so much freedom for our midfield to receive the played out pass from our central defence with minimal if any pressure.
Cazorla spent much of the game in acres of space lingering dangerously in between the Liverpool defensive 3 and their non existent midfield.
Ozils passing is unbelievably accurate on most occasions no matter what pressure he is under and no matter where the recipient is located. Ozil and Cazorla’s movement off the ball into space is as good as it gets and they always look like they have so much time on the ball.
When we pass the ball around with that speed with those acute angles it is near impossible to mark the runner moving into space.
The result is a non existent opposition midfield left standing and watching like overpaid spectators.
Giroud looks confident now and is a very difficult prospect to handle with a noticeably improved level of skills and fitness.
I would love to see us play like that v dortmund:
BIG WIN FOR ASS
Good morning everyone. Holic, how fun was it writing this one, eh. 😉 Our lads, the atmosphere at the Emirates and here at the bar, something you just want to relive over and over again. More please! 🙂
I all but have my 11 year old locked in as a Gooner for life. His best mate’s dad is English and a Chelsea and Dover supporter so I would like to give him some ammunition in the fight against his Chelsea mate. He wants a long sleeved away jersey with his name and the number 14 to acknowledge Theo. At .com it is 83 pounds (could only find a $ symbol on my keyboard) including postage to Australia. Is that the most competitive price I will find? Any advice appreciated.
Great post Holic. Even better result. … @20 ArsenalUSA store might be a bit cheaper. http://www.arsenalstoreusa.com/departments-home-kit-arsenal-12-14-ls-home-soccer-jersey.html
William…’no team are not unbeatable’? So it’s impossible to win then.
a strike that had everybody out of their seats roaring.
Except those on the Liverpool bench. They did their roaring sitting down 🙂
Short and sweet, Holic.
Perfection is much easier to describe, eh ? 😉
I had the great pleasure, yesterday, of standing in the Tollie garden – which I’m sure was awash with burgeoning red roses – between The Guvnor and the Arseblogger, both of whom’s organs I greatly admire (matron!), thinking what a fantastic sense of fun and community this blog has brought to my love and support of the Arsenal.
Apologies for the name dropping, but these two guys (and they will be the first to say, “among others”) do such a great job of not only writing about the Arsenal, but of cementing the communities that have grown around their blogs.
It was good to see TS back yesterday too, and Ollie – hope that shivering didn’t turn into anything nasty – and a pleasure to have a proper chat with Bath, who turns out to be a haematologist. Bloody hell !
Oh yes, and a perfect performance from by far the greatest team the world has ever seen.
Enjoy your Sundays, Holics.
Like there was any doubt. Two goals that double my heartbeat rate and halved my common sense and we still arent good enough!
As our very own BBC would put it….jus wait, wenger will shut em’ up!
Excellent report, Holic.
bath: Life is rich as a result of evenings such as these.
Beautifully put. And so right.
Depressed: I must say that I don’t really get why Lineker gets so much stick. In my eyes he suffers from having to work with idiots like Hansen and Shearer and with better pundits I think people would appreciate him a lot more.
Aussie: we really did smash them to bits in midfield, didn’t we? Must say that Gerrard was totally invisible, the only time I noticed him was when he had a chat with the ref after the yellow on Sagna. Also, you make a good point about their lack of pressing, and I must say that now that you mention it it strikes me that Suarez, so often praised for being a hard grafter, was utter pants in that respect. And on that note, I had a conversation the other day with a mate that said he had the feeling that Liverpool have pretty much been playing at their absolute maximum and that it probably won’t last and he may well have been right. Now, one game is of course far too little to prove anything either way, but last night Suarez was back to his old “I want to do it all myself” attitude and I hope everyone saw the hissy fit Sturridge threw at him for not passing to him there towards the end? There certainly wasn’t much of that “partnership” yesterday. We’ll see what happens but I think they are too dependent on the two attackers clicking because they certainly have some issues in defense. Kolo Toure and Skrtel aren’t the most mobile of players these days.
A quite interesting thing about next weekend is that for the first time in years we go to Old Trafford and the pressure is on ManU and not us. They more or less have to beat us, while for us a draw would be a rather decent result so the pressure is on them for a change. Now, don’t think I am foolish enough to expect us to turn up and win it easily or anything because they will be fucking well up for it, but like I said we can go there with very little pressure on our shoulders which is a nice change from the last bunch of years.
And speaking of ManU, I watched pretty much the whole of their game v Fulham and it struck me that there are quite a lot of parallells between their current position and where we were in 2005/6. Still a few good players on the team, and a rather potent strike force and still much of the same core that hade been successful in previous years – but all of that core ageing and, while still capable of some really good stuff, increasingly inconsistent. I still think they are well capable of a top-four finish and, if RvP and Rooney can keep away from the treatment table they can still be up there to fight for the title (they are, after all, only three points off second place at the moment) but it remains to be seen if they can be consistent enough over the season to mount a sustained challenge.
Right, where did I put that note with the phone number to the pizza place?
One of the most priceless things about yesterdays was Gary Nevilles orgasmic “oooh” as Aaron hit the net.
I was nervous as hell before the game, then got even more nervous when I screwed up my stream, and got it back just in the moment to see Santi header going towards goal..then the stream stopped…then I saw it bounced off the post and then …YES!
After we went 1-0 up I was very confident points are not going to be dropped, after Aarons strike I was almost sure we are going to win.
Big shout to back 5 including Arteta, Sturridge and Suarez are probably still trying to find their way from Merts and Kos’ pockets.
And my word how tasty was midfield consisting of Arteta, TR, Özil, Aaron and Santi..I have been dying to see those five play together in full flow and they delivered.
Also word for our very own HFB….this guy is turning in to something else, he was at times unplayable and even though he should have buried the chance so neatly presented to him by Kolo (attempted chip speaks volumes about his confidence right now), his workrate, the way he makes the team tick in final third is something which is going to be very hard to substitute.
Seriously, show me another striker in EPL (and maybe in Europe) with his stature, ability to hold up play and first touch worthy of finest midfielders (seriously…I was overawed to see him first touch glue down 60 meters lob from our defense in full run, between two Lpoo players). As Arsene said, we do not buy stars, we make them at Arsenal and as much as I do not want to jinx it, I cannot stop to be excited about Giroud right now.
Cent
You nailed it at the end of the last post 🙂
@Lars
Agree completely, thought it was very telling how both pundits ignored him when he pointed out the odds on Arsenal winning the league, He is not completely unbiased don’t get me wrong but he is far better than any of the “expert” pundits they have on that show.
I really think that the future is far brighter for Arsenal than at any time in the past; dare I say ten years!
A good point made about the lack of pressure on us ahead of the Man Utd game but I think a win or even draw against Dortmund will increase the pressure on Man Utd even more and boost our confidence levels to a massive degree, just hope for no more of that over confidence Mr Woj 😉
Cheers ‘Holic
I can’t anything than totally agree. Great report!
The conundrum now is how to fit Theo, Lucas and Alex into the picture when they come back. As we have seen, after such a long lay-off, it takes about 5 or 6 full games to get back in the groove of the tempo these games are played at.
I can only see Lucas playing as a sub or alternative to Ollie against some of the lesser lights.
I imagine Theo and Alex will also come back on the bench for a while unless Tomas gets crocked again.
But if any of them can force themselves into a starting role in this team, what a team that is going to be.
MoM yesterday was the team spirit.
Terrific evening for all Gooners. I was apprehensive as to how we would deal with SAS but apart from 2 late chances, when our energy levels dropped, our back 5 and Arteta kept them at bay.
At times our movement and crisp passing was as good as anything seen against a top 4 team in recent times but it was our harrying without the ball that caught my eye. We were treated to 2 more superb goals which were the icing on the cake.
Difficult to single out one player for MOTM as all played their part in a great team performance. I was a little concerned that Ozil was a little below par and wondered whether he was still suffering from the virus which laid him low a few weeks ago.
Confidence should be sky high and providing we eradicate those individual mistakes, we can get something from our next 2 big games, which will enhance our credentials as potential title contenders and see us through to the knock out stage of the CL.
As always COYRs
What a fantastic feeling :-). Ok, there have been a few stressful moments, but this is a season I’m going to thoroughly enjoy, I can tell already. Thanks for the write up ‘Holic, I’m delighted that you and yours had a fabulous time. Roll on 23 November ;-).
Press briefing from the US President: This is to in form all law abiding citizens that the much dread SAS in the EPL have been hunted down, killed and buried last night at the Emirates. We expect to hear nothing else but stories of relief. Hence we encourage all to go about their normal and lawful businesses. Meanwhile, I have directed that all soldiers who took part in this great feat be sent to my office for proper recognition and decoration.
Thank you
Thank you Poppet 😉
Top stuff ‘holic….
Still basking here.
Well in holic! Big effort with the early post. If we show the same commitment as last night, then we have every chance of getting the 3 points on Wednesday. Very jealous of any gooners making the trip!
Nice report ‘ Holic. It’s much easier and nicer to write reports after games like that. I noticed a particularly vibrant mood on the tube and trade as it was clear a lot of Gooners used this game as a benchmark for their hopes for the season. We passed it and passed it so comfortably that we really do have a shot this season.
I hate to quote pre- season friendlies but when we turned over Citeh the week before the Eason began I thought it was an interesting result. They are very erratic this season.Head to head Chelsea are our hardest opponents and the game at Christmas will be a humdinger and I also anticipate a very tough game with Southampton.
Frank McLintock has gone on record today as saying that we desperately need cover for Giroud and that means on 1st January not 31st. ( there is a good piece on Giroud by Amy Lawrence in the Observer ) .If Steve Stammers is to be believed, and he is as close as Wenger gets to a confidante because he used to write his programme notes, Bendtner is leaving in January although I will believe it when I see it. That means unless YaYa Sanogo is the new Pele we need cover immediately. We would never get him but although he is a different player to Giroud , I would go for Defoe who appears surplus to requirements at the Swamp. Most likely option is Llorente though.
Still it’s a nice place to be on a Sunday morning especially if the LWCs slip up on Merseyside
iPad error. 475. I meant train not trade!
“I made 11 mistakes,” Mourinho said in his post-match news
conference. “I should pick the other 11 and not this one and
it’s the feeling I have when my team plays so bad. Of course
I’m exaggerating because I had some players in good form,
but the feeling is that I made 11 wrong choices.
“It is tough at Newcastle. I never won here and I had teams
that were champions. It’s difficult. They are a fantastic crowd
who are always behind the team, but you have to come here
with a certain kind of mentality if you want to win matches,
and today we didn’t come with that mentality.”
espn.go.com/soccer/story?storyId=1603557§ion=soccernetfrontpage&top&wjb=
A ‘top’ manager makes 11 mistakes in a game, he knows it & is still celebrated as ‘the cunty one’.
Please keep the good work Maureen :p
TTG – agreed on the fact that we really need cover for Giroud, but it gets trickier when you consider that Poldi and Theo (and Ox) are still about to make their comebacks.
I start to have creeping feeling that AW will try to use Fussballgott through the middle now given the riches in midfield we are enjoying in the moment.
Cazorla on the left flank works so far and even that Poldi offers a width, currently the team is set up to attack mainly down the right flank, so Theo is probably still going to be used in wide role to stretch defenses.
Then, another thing is that OG became so pivotal in our game because our flow pretty much depends on his brilliant hold up play and how our midfielders are knocking balls off him. If you play different type of striker there, this kind of thing gets disrupted.
So if we are going to buy a striker in January, do we go for similar type like OG is as direct replacement? (cant think of anyone right now..Lewandowski maybe?) Or do we go for more mobile, Bitey McCheaty, kind of player?
Tough one for AW, as old rule states, do not repair stuff which works.
My personal opinion is that it would be good to buy a striker in January but not necessarily for the sake of buying, especially if our injured players come back and find any sort of form first 11 now has.
(Apologies to all ‘holics who have resisted the temptation to make the obvious response to Trev@24. Sadly, for us all (trust me), I have never been big on resisting this sort of temptation.)
Trev – Given the revelations about his speciality, I assume your Tollie meeting with a fellow medic was a bloodbath.
I’ll get my fur-lined cloak.
Oh dear, o dear, not gooner related, but this is just too funny;
Newcastle director of football Joe Kinnear tried to sign midfielder Shane Ferguson after a scouting trip to Birmingham – only to be told the 22-year-old was already a Newcastle player and had been loaned to the Blues.
Full story: Sunday People
Heh, maybe he can propose Alan Pardew for manager, his team beat the Chavs this weekend.
Something that still baffles me is why Chamakh was such a failure in the role Giroud is performing so wonderfully when the Moroccan was so good at it at Bordeaux. AW talked admiring of how Chamakh was “the plank” off which the Bordeaux attackers bounced their passes — which is how he is playing Giroud (calling it hold-up play underplays its attacking effect; Ollie G doesn’t so much lead the line as conduct it). Is it just that we have such a better midfield now firing in the passes, or that we have changed basic shape now we don’t have a natural high-up striker? The turncoat Dutchman’s departure may have proved a blessing in disguise, the piece that has allowed several other pieces to come together.
Fantastic goals, fantastic win. Loved Rosicky though, he was everywhere. Been a while since I saw him like yesterday. The goals were just brilliant. Scz tends to get cocky which he needs to work on. Love it. Drinks all around, ‘keep.
Still chubbed up from yesterday. More drinks for the bar!
NBN – I am sharing the sentiment, I said it many times that I have weak spot for Chamakh before since I have seen that he actually is rather decent footballer (or was in Bordeaux).
I think that it can be attributed to many factors – team being shaped differently in the time he played for us, physicality and pace of EPL and also confidence shattered to pieces after Rottens resurgence when he barely got any gametime.
I wish him to do well, shamefully, Palace seems to be really bad place for him to be right now and I think that he could do decent job for any midtable club in EPL given enough opportunities.
Eändy
You make a great point here
“Then, another thing is that OG became so pivotal in our game because our flow pretty much depends on his brilliant hold up play and how our midfielders are knocking balls off him. If you play different type of striker there, this kind of thing gets disrupted.”
That is the conundrum. OG has made himself indispensible to the team this season. Another striker unless a direct like for like would have to mean a totally different way of playing, negating the occasional long kick from Chezza or long out ball from the back 4. Yet we know we have to do something. I guess it depends on who is available.
Memorable day yesterday. Brilliant atmosphere both in the stadium and also on the walk out. The whole concourse at the back of the North Bank was ringing with “Say we are top of the League!” I have to say I enjoyed the way we serenaded Suarez with “Signed for a big club! You should have signed for a big club!” Did the Liverpool fans sing at all? I couldn’t hear a thing!
What will be will be. Let’s enjoy the moment.
Just partially out of the intimate shrine. Wow, what a game it was. Please permit me to be silly this time. While the game wore on, I just said to myself, ‘we don’t need Suarez’. Let the experienced wanker have him for life. Our defensive setup made them(SAS) look so ordinary -yes that’s what they are. Just a team of class at the moment. From Szczesny to Giroud, every bloody soul did put up a show that worth every stretch of the neck.
So sad Gibbsy is injured, mentioned it in a few drinks back -that bloke needs some rest. I hope it isn’t for too long now.
H2H @42 lmao. That what you expect from people who got no idea about the game, but want to be in it.
Lest I forget, thanks Guv’ñör for this stupendous bar of all places. Looking forward to doing it with you guys in the flesh soon.
Who’s the boss at the Tiny’s?
lloris gets twatted on the head by Lukaku, AvB wants Friedel on but lloris is having none of it.
I’m so excited for Spertz fans. They must have had real pressure on them knowing that a win would have put them second in the table, but they managed to get a goalless draw to move into fourth, why, it’s like a trophy.
I’ve heard it’s better to have Ozil on your side when you are five points clear. 😉
Well, 0-0 it ended at Goodison. Everton were denied a nailed-on penalty. I do not know how but Verthongen just seems to get away with absolutely everything. It’s unbelievable, he just doesn’t get one single call against him.
Anyway, the five-point cushion remains but it is bloody tight in those places behind us. Three teams on 20 points and then three on 19 with ManU in eighth on 17.
H2H: and why the hell didn’t the team doctor say “son, I don’t give a shit what you’re saying – you are off”? Lloris couldn’t even stand up straight unassisted a good two minutes after the knock and allowing him to play on is totally irresponsible.
Maybe he’s not his son ? 😉
I thought he looked pretty out of it too, Lars. Freidel was warmed up, stripped off and ready to roll. AvB or the doc has to step in. I as hoping that Everton would test im more, but nothing came.
Spurs still can’t score from open play, 9 goals from ten games is pretty lean, yet their players keep trotting out how much better they are this term, they never learn.
Agread about Vertonghen, Salado also lucky toescape sanction. Lukaku’s yellow was a bit harsh I thought.
Eandy @ 47 — I think Chamakh’s failure can be attributed to two unrelated aspects:
(a) The team then not having the consistency and class of the current midfield (Cesc and TR7 were both injured for majority of the 10-11 season and Nasri’s six month halcyon period was still unpredictable in terms of the ability to orchestrate, in 11-12 season our midfield came to life only after TR7 returned from injury and before that it was very disjointed and we are often relying on Song-RVP and RVP-Theo understandings) and hence so much need for the striker to be a creative force as well in which role the Moroccan was not even in the same category as RVP. Chamakh played well in matches in the first half of the season with Jack and Nasri being able to use him somewhat in Giroud-esque role. But once RVP was back there was no chance for him because RVP’s abilities were so central to the team.
(b) However, as much as I think Chamakh was a very decent player for Bordeaux and started well for us he didn’t make the necessary improvements — either physically or technically — to make a stronger case for him whenever he get chances from the bench. The little chance he got he played well as Chamakh (the 3-4 away loss at Blackburn, for instance ) but I think Arsene was hoping for significant improvements (the kind that for instance Giroud made this season) and probably a bit more intelligence in adjusting his game.
The “problem” as i see it with the gelled one is that he just seemed to give up, some players rise to the occasion and welcome competition, he is not one of those players.
His stat of two shots on target (before yesterday’s game) should tell you all you really need to know. Maybe, like the Gerv, a change of league is the best option for him at this stage.
The problem with trying to find a readymade cover for Giroud is no one really exists (Illorente gets talked about a lot but his first touches or off the ball runs are nowhere of that quality) except for Lewandowski whom I very much doubt Dortmund will sell to Arsenal in the middle of the season or who himself would rather not wait for a move to Bayern. Bendy really had an extraordinary chance — a great beak in his career if he can only see it — to work a bit hard and excel in that role from the bench so that we can play with the same rhythm and strategy while giving Giroud rest. Physically and technically speaking Bendy has all the abilities to be able to play that, but the lack of desire to improve and commitment is just unbelievable in a sportsperson.
I think we may still be able to rest Giroud and play Poldi down the middle. Yes he is a very different type of player and was not a great success last season when employed down the middle, but I think our midfield has the ability to adjust the game and have these essentially two different attacking formations to choose from. When Poldi plays down the middle we won’t be able to use his as a fulcrum to build attack around but work harder on ball retention through a more pressing game in the opposition half and open up channels for Poldi to run and strike. He still is the best natural goal scorer in the club and he will be absolutely lethal in counter-attacks.
H2H @ 58: Agreed. All kudos to Giroud for the fantastic attitude. One suspects that this particular attitude — the constant striving to improve all aspects of one’s game and not just settle into a comfort zone, and not easily unnerved by failures — is more important to Arsene than just raw abilities. In just his last interview about Kolo he explained why he hired him despite Kolo being rejected by a few mid-level Swiss and French clubs.
a very content morning to you all. we’re five points clear at the top of the league. holic well up to his usual standard, having seen the same game live I saw on the big screen chez scruz. scum played to expectations and soiled themselves rather than win. and I have just woken up to a cup of coffee my wife is bringing to the sunny, warm November garden to get my waking day started. bliss.
Speaking of the need for a new forward in January, I wonder why Chambo is not given a chance as a CF.
I know many, including Arsene, thinks that he belongs to the midfield, but he has so many attributes of a Rooney or even Sturridge type CF. At least that is how I see him.
Good point Lurky, but if Ox should appear in that position I rather see him as false no. 9, playing off Giroud knockdowns than solitary striker. He is pacy, has good shot and can get past his man, but I am not sure about his hold up play.
But still, interesting point, he has that drive which makes defensemen crap themselves with fear so why not. Sadly I do not think there is going to be chance to such experiment this season.
Just saw a clip of Lloris being knocked out cold. He was in no condition to make a rational decision. As much as I miss seeing Mathieu play, his groin injury has given him the proper period of time to recover from his concussion.
Re slotting in Podolski for Giroud occasion: don’t underestimate two things. First, Ozil’s presence and his working with him on the German national side has to be a plus. Second, unlike Bendtner, Podolski seems to be the type who would work as hard as possible to adapt to the role and enhance his value as a transfer target.
Holic,
If I may kindly paraphrase what Trev said earlier.
It was indeed a pleasure and privilege to finally meet both yourself and Blogs yesterday. I got to meet Ollie too, so it was great to put a few faces to the familiar names on the blog.
I’m sorry I missed Trev, TS, BTM and the inimitable Bath. Had I known there was a whiskey drinking haematologist nearby – I would certainly have taken some counsel given the onset delirium tremens of returning to family life after a weekend in London!
Heh Joe…..almost a song, that.
Well said re Holic and Blogs.
Sorry to miss you too.
Though the Tollie is an excellent pre- or post-match venue due to the quality of the habitues of the west side brolly garden, it has an awful selection of malt whisky. Generally they only offer Glenfiddich and you have to work hard to stop them dunking ice in it.
Next time mate.
Evening lads!
Basically we beat them two nil it could of been more!
I have a massive hangover from my enclosure last night …….
Yet another round of drinks for everyone in the bar! Guv yet another piece nailing it to the bone!
Shame Hansen was absent last night KOscielny made sure Suarez was quiet all afternoon!!!!!
Lets go to Dortmund and make a mark for ourselves!
Come on you BEAUTY!
Thank you for all the birthday wishes everyone I appreciate it!
ATG You’re here! Happy B’day! 🙂
Nice write up “holic.
Still gutted I didnt get to meet you in the Tollie before the Norwich game………
Now safely returned to NZ, I watched the game (6.30am Kick off) with arsendoftheworld and a bacon sandwich — most civilized.
Strangely,although I thoroughly enjoyed going to the Norwich game,and soaking up the match day experience (and a good deal of ale), I was reminded,once again,that for me at least,the Emirates will never feel like Highbury of yesteryear — cant put my finger on it exactly — just not as much fun (this,in spite of witnessing LJW’s goal of the season).
No need for me ever to return to Blighty now, but if you ever fancy a holiday down under holic,let me know……
does cba
know yesterday
we smashed the mugs
in the afternoon ?
does he understand
it’s so quiet
on his land
‘cos those cows
are all over the moon. 😉
Faustus,
I believe there were a couple of other reasons why Chamakh faded after his initial five months, and they didn’t have a great deal to do with who was playing in midfield.
Hey Joe (why not go all the way, baff? ;)), you made me feel like a recognisable celebrity. Good to meet you (and some more usual suspects)
I have a doppelgänger but didn’t see him yesterday, you could have been fooled 😉
Cheers all.
Heh Trev @72. Excellent.
Good to see you yesterday Ollster – albeit briefly. Great game -great Tollification.
You over for Tbs’ birthday match?
Should be, Dr Jones 😉
Trev @ 73: I have only heard those reasons being alluded to (actually don’t even know what those are, excessive partying?), and not being privy to insider information like your good self I simply tried to make sense of his quick fall as only an outsider would. 🙂
Bayonne @ 65: Maybe I am naive and all that but why should Arsenal and Poldi have to depart ways anytime soon? “Podolski seems to be the type who would work as hard as possible to adapt to the role and enhance his value as a transfer target”. I think Poldi is a fantastic player who hasn’t yet make that final leap to being a true world class, and maybe some of that has got to do with his relatively relaxed attitude and maybe the first experience at a big club in Bayern not being good and then staying at a smaller club like Cologne didn’t help…but I think at Arsenal he has all the necessary support and motivation to make that final step.
An excellent assist from the goal post for our first, and beautifully converted by Santi . I was beginning to think he’d lost the long-range shooting ability he’d shown early in his time with us.
An excellent report from our own ‘holic, as well balanced as Rambo scoring our second.
Surprised no-one has Rambo as Motm, who was back to his dangerous best for much of the match. Apologies to anyone I missed who might have given him that honour.
Two more lovely points dropped by the neighbours. Keep up the good work LWCs. 😉
As for another striker in the Jan window, I’m in favour of trying again for Suarez. His chance of CL football with Pool next year will be decidedly dodgy by then and RM seem to be the only other club interested. But they have to sell Benzema, which explains why he’s being offered to us at a cut-rate. If we refuse to play ball Arsenal could end up as Suarez’s best bet. He must have been impressed by how easily we beat them yesterday
Öskar
111 caps for Germany and “yet make that final leap to being a true world class (player)”? You’re a hard judge, Dr F! o)
Öskar
A half term trip to some old friends meant I missed my second game of the week. I managed to watch the first half before hitting the motorway. I was massively disappointed to discover that exclusive match commentary on the second half came from Talk Shite. Still , beggars can’t be choosers. I did get to watch the second half when I finally got home I might add.
What was interesting was to listen to the change in the way we were now being spoken about. After the Ramsey goal Collymore was quite simply orgasmic at the strike, and about our all round performance. Talk of how we had totally outclassed our opponents. Talk of how our manager was tactically so far ahead of Brent. It was all very strange indeed. The phone in was no different. Loads of scousers saying how they had been outclassed and that their manager had just been taught a massive lesson. One even claimed that AW was the daddy of all managers. The compliments just kept on coming. It all made one tedious journey far more palatable I must say.
The Tollie seemed a right old Jollie I must say. Gutted to have missed it.
Onwards to Dortmund. Get something there and at the mancs and a few more might start to wake up.
Enjoy Holics.
Oskar,
Suarez ? No thanks.
I was in favour during the summer – convinced myself it was a good idea because he was such a good player.
Having seen him yesterday I’ve changed my mind again. His greediness cost Liverpool an almost certain goal with very few minutes to go, when he refused a fairly straight forward pass to Sturridge.
Other than that, Mertescielny kept him very quiet, his main contribution being to go down quicker than a whore’s drawers at any sign of a challenge.
And that stupid praying gesture every time he misses really gets on my nerves.
£40 million plus will get you a really top player of genuine class – both in ability and personality. And, hopefully, one who will not be engineering a move to Real Madrid as soon as they flash their Spanish eyes at him.
Let’s put 50 million on the table at Dortmund for Reus and Lewandoski????? Reus has a 35 million euro buy out clause apparently and Lewandoski has only about 8 months of his contract left to run.
Re. Chewy McCheater, Trev@83 knows.
Re. (Rolls) Reus who “has a 35 million euro buy out clause apparently” – does that mean we only have to offer Dortmund €35,000,001?
Actually, for 50 million euros, I’d rather have Thomas Müller. Not only a good player – he comes with added umlaut.
And as far as accents go, we already have Tomáš Rosický.
Dkg @85,
I think we only need to bid €35,000,000.01. 😉
Steve T
Like the idea, but Reus clause doesn’t kick in until 2015. Lewandowski is going to Bayern. It’s that simple – he’s on a promise.
I would take that same £50m and spank it all on Benteke and Gundogan. What a squad that would give us.
That said, I think he’ll go for Suarez again.
He would be a thirty goal a season man for us, and he can play both central and on the left, which means we can pair him with Ollie G.
Here in Australia we have the pleasure of listing to Burley on ESPN Soccer pass before the game going on and on about Suarez and Sturridge, how they were going to destroy Mert, and not one mention of Arsenal midfield or attack.
Then during the game the dulcit tones of Stewart Robson, who really could not bring himself to say anything good about Arsenal.
why is he is so bitter?
Some games are good wins , others have many reasons to make you happy. This win was so good on so many fronts.
A draw in Dortmund and a win at Salford would be even better
N7. Bild reported that the €35 million clause is active up UNTIL 2015 so it is more than valid now. If it is not activated by then he is entitled to a pay rise up until 2017.
Re Lewandoski. I have read the same Bayern reports. I have also read enough reports saying that it is far from a done deal and that Bayern don’t actually need him. I have also read that he does not want to upset Dortmund fans by walking out on a free to Bayern. There is enough that has been written to suggest that a substantial bid may well raise more than a few eyebrows.
LJW’s master class against Naarch wins goal of the month, managing to claim 50% of the vote.
Cost me £3000 but totally worth it for LJW 😉
Interesting back drinks which improved my mood after listening to yet another BBC bozo , Kevin ( very mediocre player) Kilbane rubbish our chances of the title and suggest Kasami’s strike was a better goal than Wilshere. Where do they find these guys? Mediocrity Street?
Lots of interesting theories about our potential striker addition. It’s a tough decision. Giroud needs back- up but he doesn’t need replacing and the problem is with a Lewandoski or a Benzema ( who I don’t rate anyway) there would be the temptation to play them instead of Giroud. We could rotate with a top striker to preserve Giroud’s energy and of course when chasing a goal we might field both strikers.
I saw Podolski play through the middle at the end of last season and was not impressed.he might have been carrying an injury but at QPR for instance he was putrid.
My potential acquisitions based on who might come and could slip into the side and do a passable job of replacing HFB are Llorente, Ba or Remy. All might be obtainable , the first two on loan. Benteke would cost a lot and expect to play and as I mentioned earlier we couldn’t buy Defoe but I rate him. The other wild card is Jordan Rhodes at Blackburn. Never played in the PL but he scores regularly and plays at international level. Giroud is very important to our play and our balance and I sense he is very popular in the dressing room. If he gets relegated to a place on the bench it could destroy a lot of the positive momentum we have. I don’t think Wenger will do that with him so we are not looking at an Ozil type signing like Suarez or Martinez of Porto. I understand Falcao is still possibly available on loan at Monaco but he would need to be paid the GDP of a small nation and again would expect to start. I think we all know that the solution will be to bring back Thierry for a third spell. Resigning players usually works well for us and of course on that basis there is Adebayor…..sorry its time for my medication!
Apologies, I am a tedious obsessed wanker who won’t go and visit my doctor
Our HFB sometimes doesn’t get enough credit that he deserves. He played a very important role in the second goal. BWM’s (best welshman) goal was a cracker but without HFB’s excellent work rate we wouldn’t get to see such an awesome goal.
Reminded me of the 2nd goal against Napoli when the Flamster and co. closed down Napoli’s defense to get the ball in a dangerous area.
One thing we could improve from yesterday was our ability to control and keep possesion of the ball during the last 10 minutes. Maybe it was due to AW’s decision to rest TR7 (another player I highly rate) so that he can be in a decent condition for the next two games.
Podolski had an odd season last year, frequently reported as injured but still on the bench nonetheless. And yes, ttg, he looked ordinary at times (when not fully fit?) but he had an absolute stormer against WHU (when fully fit?) and on other occasions looked the most natural goal striker in the forward line. I’d like to see him get a regular run alongside OG benefiting from his knockdowns.
One reason I favour Suarez is I’m assuming we’ll still be in the CL come January, and he won’t be cup-tied. He’s a proven goal-scorer and could only be better if serviced by our midfield. Longer term I’m still a big fan of Marco Reus who looks another DB10 to me, one of the best five players on the planet.
Öskar
1/4 of the season down and 3/4 to go. Hope the rest is as good as the start. 🙂
Get in. One more than spuds today?
Ever since we’ve been top of the league the BBC website has developed a novel emphasis on European football at the expense of the English version. Today the headline is about Torino beating Roma. Anything to divert attention to the fact that we are top of the league, I suppose. Cunts.
Ping. Spuds jealous.
Well in Pa. Not bad for your age. 😉
just wanted to give everyone the brief recap stateside.
went to the pub to watch the game, and it was more packed than i’ve seen it in the past i don’t know how many years. this would be considered an arsenal bar, but a few scousers showed and more gooners than i’ve ever seen, 90% of whom i’ve never seen before so the fans are coming out of the woodwork.
the atmosphere was almost as good as the game that we beat barca at home with rvp and arshavin scoring, and yes, i still watch that video every now and again.
absolute pandemonium when we scored the first, and then the wonder goal from ramsey who many in there have been questioning for some time. to be fair, i was a little disgruntled that he had to play his way into form in the first team last year when we didn’t have any cover, but this year is an absolute revelation. anyway, the ramsey goal brought down the house, and the scouse faithful were completely dumbstruck. well done.
the disappointment in losing to chelsea well and truly gone. we are staking our claim to the top of the league for the first time since 2008, and every one of the players seems to be playing for every other one on the pitch. if we can offload a few more, and pick up 1 or 2 more world class players, we could be untouchable.
it’s really no wonder that we struggled against dortmund. for my money, they are the best pressing team in the world by some margin. you could see that in the CL final last year when they dominated the opening half and only faded away when they started to tire. we still have it in us to beat them and progress, but please, arsene, let’s do the league this year. send a message that the arsenal is back, and on the up.
proud that we did it the right way. proud to be top. proud to see the excitement around this team that hasn’t been felt in some time. a corner has indeed been turned, but just for the memories:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv2mxzmVvdg
Still basking over here 🙂
Reus’s clause only begins in 2015.
Trev – I think the pass to Sturridge was a tough one as Kos was covering that option.
8)
This is one of the occurrences where it really pisses me off that PGMOL are not allowed to talk to media..
I’ve seen people criticizing the decision to stop the quick free kick being played after Bac’s booking from Motd, Espn FC, Gary Neville on Sky commentating on the game, Arsenal TV, and many more.
With two sentences the officials can explain those are the rules and this notion of “Arsenal got lucky with that decision” can fuck off.
Once again – http://twitter.com/Snir_Geuli/status/396861818645544961/photo/1
@Steve T
What I keep hearing from multiple sources in Germany (Dortmund and Bayern season ticket holders, journalists) is that Lewandowski hasn’t actually signed anything for Bayern, but he has given his word that he will join them. Apparently, that’s as good as a signature.
If the above was incorrect I think we’d have seen bids for him in the summer and I think Bayern might have bought a striker.
Likewise, if the Reus clause had been active back in July I think that someone would have triggered it.
Both incredible players.
Snir, fully understand your frustration. Even TA and the northern lunatic Kamara were at it on Goals on Sunday yesterday. Even citing Atkinson as a serial offender, because he did the same thing when we played Sunderland. Northern lunatic did at least have the decency to say we played to the whistle, so calling it disallowed was wrong, however it should have been a chance! Complete with big cheesy utterly mad grin .
Hi Snir. I didn’t realise that the ref should stop play to issue a card, thank you. How ridiculous that someone didn’t provide some sort of informative commentary on the point. I still can’t bring myself to wish the match had been on BT Sports and there had been the Halsey/Owen combo to clarify though ;-). Have a good day.
Great day in the office.
Chelski supporters gutted and mostly off sick.
LiverPool supporters even more gutted and whinging about Atkinson.
Hilarious stuff and thoroughly enjoyable day.
More of it please.
my responses included the mainly the following-
– 5 clear
– table shows us 5 clear
– etc.
Cant wait to see our team for Dortmund.
Top blogging again ‘H great to finally see (what’s left of you) you again after a prolonged absence from weekend biggies.
The Tollie and The HoF were rocking. Block 6 is definitely where it’s at. Who needs safe-standing when you’ve got The Red Action Areas? We all stood and sung for 90 minutes. Hardly heard The Pool.
Brilliant company in The Tollie’s back garden with special mentions for Bath, Trev & BtM. Having a ‘blood doctor’ in our midst could prove to be mighty handy: Bath can we count on you?
Trev @ #83 – Eminently sensible. The head totally agrees with you. The heart says that if he was in the team we would run away with the league. Anyway, not going to happen, is it?
Sh*t – Forgot a special mention for Ollie too – sorry Ollie! 🙁
PS: ‘Thought the Mugsmasher was a top bloke too. I could not have done what he did and kept a smile on my face had my team been taken apart in such an important game whilst being surrounded by opposing supporters pre-, during and post-match. Respect.
Nor I TS, but he’s had years of practice.
I don’t have twitter so can’t see what Snir has put. Re the free kick, the rules as I understand them are quite simple. The referee does not have to stop the game to issue a yellow. He can play an advantage and issue a yellow at the next break in play. If the referee deems the offence worthy of a red then he must stop play and issue the red. The situation on Saturday is quite simple. The referee has blown for the foul. If he then intends issuing a yellow it has to be done there and then. Apologies if that duplicates anything already said.
Re Reus. Everything on line that I have read suggests that there is a buy out clause in place now, or at least one that is in place as of 2014. I can’t find anything saying that it’s 2015.
Re Lewandoski. N7, I agree with you re Bayern. That said it does not stop us putting a bid in. I’m sure that Dortmund would rather take 20 million from us in January than see him walk out for Bayern 6 months later?
HEH! @ Esso. Good point.
Steve: exactly. He doesn’t have to stop play immediately unless for a red card, but once he has he can not allow it to restart before the yellow has been issued. Also, what everyone of these so called experts also seem to have forgotten is that we stopped playing and I think Szczesny would quite easily have cut that cross out if he would have had to.
Absolutely not TS. 🙂
@Steve T
Raphael Honeigstein (who is generally reliable on German matters) has confirmed that the release clause activates in 2015: http://inagist.com/all/397075849494925312/
Re: Lewandowski, I agree that we should chance our arm with a bid, but if the player is determined to go to Bayern then there’s not much we (or Dortmund) can do. Not wildly dissimilar to our situation with the Dutchman.
Re January transfer speculation and wishlists.
Don’t misunderstand me, I’d love us to sign a top, top player in January. However, it’s well known that this type of player generally playse for a Champions League (or Europa League) club and will by then be cup-tied.
Please don’t let us work ourselves into a frenzy of expectation so that in the event that we don’t sign someone in January (I’d guess better than 50% chance) and that we suffer a dip in form (I’d guess around a 75% chance), we all get involved in a mass questioning of the manager.
Thank you.
COYG
We are…
@Pangloss
That’s a fair shout.
My guess is that Arsene will look for a top class forward in January. If he can’t get one (which has to be a possibility, given the time of year), he will either look for a handy loan signing or simply wait. What I can’t imagine he’ll do is buy a player he’s not 100% sold on just for the sake of getting someone in.
I’d guess there’s actually quite a small chance of a big signing in the window.
N7 knows (again).
Why are you all going on about players being cup-tied? Assuming we do buy someone, he’s going to be with us for a few years and being tied for a few games in one season isn’t going to have much of an effect on any deal. It will pretty much only be a factor if we have a choice between two players of equal calibre, but to pass up an opportunity to buy, say, Lewandowski just because he can’t play in what could amount – even if we actually could play him – to no more than two games would be short-sighted in the extreme.
I also still feel that many are over-estimating our need to buy. It would be good if we can get the right man (no, that is not Suarez – this is probably the only issue where me and tabs are not in total agreement!) but let us not forget that we have Podolski and Theo to come back. Sure, none of them are direct replacements for Giroud but to be honest he is rather unique in his ability to bring down long balls so I don’t think we can find a like-for-like backup. But with Theo on the pitch we’d get more running in behind the back four, and if Özil and Theo can develop a good understanding then that presents us with a different yet probably still very good way of attacking. We could sit back a bit more and counter-attack like we did against Sunderland where we could easily have scored four or five before half-time if Theo had had his shooting boots on.
If we are to buy anyone in January I’d say it has to be someone really, really good or it’s just a waste of money. But if said player is cup-tied or not has very little relevance if you ask me.
Yep, agree Lars. The cup-tied issue will have little effect on a purchasing decision unless there are two players the manager wants who are both available, both willing to sign and one is cup-tied whereas the other is not.
HEH! @ Bath. Spec-dracula.
Lars@124. I actually agree with you about short-sightedness. However, I’m a pretty patient kind of guy, so I’m happy for a signing to be able to play “only” in the league and FA cup for half-a-season.
This summer, however, suggests that some wouldn’t be happy with that outcome, and would complain bitterly about the club “thowing money” at a player would was unable to play in the CL.
With our new defensive setup even Theo can excel up front as we’re sitting back more (especially away, and it’s working, last away game we lost was Spurs on 3.3.13, and we didn’t sit deep there) and break at speed.
Steve, even people that aren’t on twitter can view that tweet. But anyhow it’s a screengrab of the laws of the game that indicate:
Once the referee has decided to issue a card, whether to caution or send off a player, play must not be restarted until the sanction has been administered
As for Rosicky by the way –
Rosicky was having an indifferent season and patchy form in 09-10 playing on the wings. Cesc would drift vertically and anytime TR would move inside it would cause congestion in the hole. With Ozil’s tendency to drift everywhere and anywhere (especially the wide areas), TR is playing very well despite being deployed on the wings.
A bit busy so I’m just dropping by briefly.
Pangloss, speaks for me as regards expectations(or lack of) in the january window.
N7, said what I actually think will happen.
Lars knows re cup-tied players. And Suarez.
Is anyone else enjoying Spurs’ £95m worth of signings collectively failing to score?
Snir, I think a huge part of our defensive solidity is our good use of the long ball out of defence to Giroud who holds it up well(most times) and keeps the opposition’s defence busy for a few seconds and then initiating an attack for us or even winning or conceding a throw-in in the opposition’s half. The difference(in a defensive sense) between having Theo or Giroud up-front is essentially 3 to 5 seconds, those 3 to 5 seconds determines if your defence gets a breather to re-organise themselves(which results in less errors) or stays under siege with every ball they clear coming to them in less than 3 seconds.
Snir,
Dermot Gallagher (Ex PL Ref) has just confirmed your point on Sky Sports News Monday View programme. Said once whistle is blown Referee, it he wants to book offending player, has to issue Card there and then, once play is restarted no further opportunity to do so. Can play on (not possible in this case, as ball had been handled by team gaining the foul), or allow quick free kick and no booking.
Cent – there are breaks we use Giroud’s physicality, like the toe poke chance where we won it and TR controlled it.
There are others when it is sheer pace like the second against Norwich or the second against Swansea. Theo could do well there.
Esso – I’ve been arguing all morning on twitter with Stevie Nichol (he’s a pundit for ESPN FC) and he says he “understands the decision but disagrees with it.” Have a look on my Timeline. How he’s on a payroll for his football opinions is beyond me.
N7. That is contrary to everything else that I have seen published. That includes stuff in the media and internet yesterday. I guess we will just have to wait and see.
Lars, you are spot on. We stopped playing before the ball was even crossed in.
Steve – http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/topics/bild-say-dortmund-have-worry-over-arsenal-and-35m-reus-bid
The best website for foreign reports. They actually translate each article and get to the bottom of every rumor.
Brilliant website.
I may be alone in this, but I’d like to see us go to Manchester next weekend and shut up shop. Sit deep, look to hit on the break and put the onus on them to come at us.
This is a must win game for Utd. A draw would be perfectly fine for us, and we’re very effective on the counter attack. I also don’t think Moyes has the stones to throw caution to the wind and really go at us.
First goal vital, as it always is with this Arsenal side – long way back for the opposition once we’re in front and can play compact.
Snir, of course there are games where Theo could be used up-front but against majority of EPL I’d rather we have Theo on the right and put someone who can hold the ball up well in the Centre. Another problem with playing The upfront is that his 1st touch is not so good, our midfielders won’t be successful ‘bouncing’ the ball off him like they do with Giroud.
Cent – he is not ideal. But he’ll do a job. If we have to wait for the summer to get someone of Reus’ ilk then Theo will do till the summer if Guroud gets injured.
N7 – you are alone. I think we have a chance to humiliate them. Their defence is beyond shite and our attacking play should be way too much for them.
Morning all. My, we are a chipper bunch today! good to see 🙂
How are the ticket sales on the HT coming along??
It’s a sell-out Doc.
Newest recruit, Doogie Blood-Bath MD is busy preparing a transfusion unit for those who like to take things to excess.
PS: Please don’t disturb him during the day. He prefers nocturnal activity.
Sell out?
Me?
Never. 😀
Speaking of doctors, Spurs are getting bashed for allowing Lloris to stay on the pitch yesterday:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/04/brain-charity-headway-criticise-spurs-lloris
Good link, Lars. I’m still fuming over AVB’s decision. The camera panned to Friedel’s face, you could tell he was furious! Lloris was disoriented to place, for heaven’s sake!
Heh! Too many doctors in the house.
Can their be too many? 😎
*there*
Hey abb (waves)
I watched MOTD2 last night (my god that guy is shouty) and watching that was a revelation, AVB has not one ounce of control, I also thought once you informed officials of a change and made the plan you had to do it?
Still no acceptance from anybody that Arsenal COULD actually win the darn thing this year except from John Hartson who then countered that by saying but they won’t.
Friedel is probably thinking about poisoning Lloris as that is the only way he’ll get a game ever again now.
Never ! 😉
That was @144. 🙁
Mutiples heys @146 and 147! we need more nurses! waves back 😉
Snir @ 134 I’ve signed up for their newsletter. Keep me on my toes.
Gentlemen, Goalies stole the weekend headlines. First Begovic’s goal, then poor Lloris and then Vorm’s red. Now if Woj get’s a red, and we’re out of subs, does the captain or the manager decide who dons the gloves. Who would be the best choice. I’m thinking the Corporal or TV (that’s if they’re playing) If not, maybe Bac.
Back in the day, I recall John Radford going in goal once after Bob Wilson(?) got injured. I don’t remember whether he did anything particularly notable but I do remember an interview afterward in which he said something along the lines of “I volunteered to be emergency goalie ages ago. It makes people think you’ve got character and backbone.”
Pray we never come down to seriously having to choose between jenks, TV or Bac.
COYG
…top of…
Oh, c’mon Pangloss! 😉 If memory serves me, think John Terry had to do it a couple of years ago.
Nursie, the only thing JT feels he must do, is somebody elses girlfriend.
We now have a blood doc in the house?
What’s official title?
Dr Acula or BloodBath?
OMG!!! H2H, feeling chipper, we see 😉
Pangloss, Great quote. I was busting your chops, cause I can see TV doing a very good impression of my fav arsenal goalie of all time!
No comment from Bath – where is he ?
Probably watching his plasma TV. 😉
Abb, how exactly does one “bust one’s chops” ?
There are one or two possibilities I can come up with – all equally unsavoury. 😉
I think you are calling him out in vein, Dr T.
I can’t compete with you all. Seriously funny stuff going on here. And TS has been naughty on Twitter! Not too shabby, for a Monday 😉
After Saturdays result,we’ve all had a transfusion of B Positive excepting perhaps David who refused and remains C Negative 🙂
Depressed: you can stop the subbing as long as the player to come on has not set foot on the pitch.
Lars and ABB
Here´s why AVB could have been facing a manslaughter charge (sounds dramatic but…)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second-impact_syndrome
Wholly irresponsible, and should face official action.
Medical staff always should have last word. Especially with head injuries.
Compare and contrast to Arsene´s comments re The Flame´s concussion.
Yestersay during the game, I posted sarcasticaly asking who was in charge at the Totts. Ridiculous decision to let Lloris dictate that he must stay on, he was knocked the fuck out, he was visably woozy, he had to go.
To quote Basil Fawlty;
A knock on the head like that……. is worth two in the bush.
@iLars
Cheers bud, poor old Brad, Lloris is a selfish git 😉
Dr C Frightening, isn’t it. At anytime after he received that first knock, one more could have done him in!!!
No need for a brain check, he was stoopid enough to sign for that lot 😉
No seriously, that was a knock out who would have made Remy Bonjasky proud. The doctors should have shut Lloris that’s it. I think AVB was as surprised as we were when he saw him walking back on the pitch again.
I wonder how proud Lloris would feel if Everton managed to get a shot on target and he found himself catching air because of double-vision 🙂
WTF? WTF?
Nurse – I am regularly ‘not the messiah’ on Twitter…
H2H – I named him Dr. Blood-Bath but your title is equally good. Bath can decide for himself, when he emerges from the darkness, no doubt coffin & spluttering. We must be bats having this conversation.
Dr.T – Maybe he’s off globin-trotting again?
He’s clearly out of circulation, TS. 😉
Maybe he’ll be back shouting “come on you reds” to-marrow ? 😉
Maybe Bath is creating his own blog where he will give out the latest information on Podilski’s injury.
Oh yes, it will be his very own Lukas-site. 😉
Oh, 🙁 Meant to put (leukocyte) in brackets. Bit obscure really.
Evening all,
Great report ‘H for a great result for The Arsenal, and great drinks that have followed. The dream of this team pulling out something quite extraordinary just got a little bit more vivid I think.
Not much to add to all that has been said about Saturday’s game. At times, I thought we afforded Liverpool (who were better than I thought they’d be) too many sights of our goal, perhaps in the first twenty minutes and the last 15, but that is to pick hairs. The big difference now, from perhaps the last 2 seasons, is that when we are good, we are absolutely exceptional. From our first goal to about the 75th minute we were simply breathtaking.
Schez was simply outstanding again, and I was very pleased he didn’t spoil such a display with the one sloppy pass out at the end that fortuitously came straight back at him. In front of him, the Bfg was the pick of the defenders imo with Gibbs not far behind. Hope Gibbsy’s injury is nothing serious, although at least we do have aready-made replacement for him in Monreal, who was impressive I thought when he came on.
The midfield was just everything you wanted it to be. Rosicky was fabulous for an hour, harrying and hustling and driving us forward time and time again, Arteta was the epitome of constructive and disciplined calmness throughout, Santi fizzed in the spaces he was allowed, Aaron was superb, and Ozil, though quiet by his standards, still exudes class in everything he does, and always threatened to sway the game with one moment of brilliance.
Up top, Giroud worked his socks off and was a very dynamic presence, even though at the time I was worried his two missed chances at the start of the second half might cost us. I needn’t have worried when Aaron is banging them in for fun.
I did get the collywobbles a bit late on as a Liverpool goal at that stage would have meant a nervy last 10 minutes or so, and I didn’t get the Jenks/Santi substitution as I felt that that allowed Liverpool to push on with a greater licence than they had hitherto enjoyed, but that is to quibble. The best side by a country mile won, and that is unarguable.
Arsenal 5 points clear, and Smelly Bren sent packing up the M1, with his whiffy tail between his legs. What’s not to enjoy if you’re a Gunner? Superb.
Lars – Haha, yep that’s just about the one thing we do disagree on. 🙂 Without wishing at all to reopen the debate, I’d still take Suarez. Even though he was playing in a side that was getting the runaround for large parts of the 90, I still felt he was ominously dangerous whenever he did get a sniff. I think he’d create havoc in our side. All that said, I’d take Reus over him in a heartbeat. Magnificent player.
Top write-up tabs.
(Isn’t Reus playing slightly further back in a position we seem well stocked with – amusing though when the clamour was for a striker and we got Özil, see what it did, but surely, at some point…..)
I posted during the match to no avail, and I’m still curious about where Vermaelen played after Gibbs went off.
I assume that Monreal went to left back, but what about TV5? There’s been talk of him maybe getting a run as a DM. The opinion here, as far as I recall, was that he wasn’t a great success at left back. What do the patrons of this establishment think about us playing with three centre-backs?
As well as Stillness and Speed, I’m reading Inverting the Pyramid at the moment so am maybe over-thinking things at present, but it feels soooo good to speculate about vaguely positive things after the past few years.
COYG
Tabs, agree wholeheartedly about Reus; I could see AW taking him on and turning him into an Henry-like striker.
Speaking of Dortmund: there’s a revealing article/interview with Klopp in the Guardian, where he talks amusingly about the differences between himself and AW.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/03/borussia-dortmund-jurgen-klopp-arsenal
Shows you why neutrals in general don’t take to AW. AW is admired, but from a distance, whereas Klopp comes across as the manager from central casting.
Article also mentions something about Dortmund players collectively running 11.5 kms. more than the Arsenal side at the Emirates match. Saw the match and find that hard to believe; the only way that’s true is if Klopp had the team run from their hotel to the Emirates beforehand.
Cheers mate.
You’ve probably seen him more than me Ollie, but my impression of him is that he could play up top in time as a very mobile centre-forward, or play as the second forward coming in from a wide position.
I think you can discount that probability, tabs, or if ever I have it’s by a very small margin. And I am not a great technical analyser of football
So I bow down to your opinion on that, and bring him on! 😉
Bayonne – That’s exactly my feeling on Reus, but I haven’t seen a lot of him to be honest. I just know that I’ve always been mightily impressed whenever I have seen him.
Thanks for the article. The more I read of Klopp, the more, I have to say, I like him. Not a patch on Arsene though 😉
Haha, fair enough Ollie. We’re both in the “We know nothing, but we absolutely want him anyway” Club. 🙂
Pangloss – I don’t see TV5 as a DM, and never have done. Just my opinion. I just don’t think he has the passing ability or quickness of thought to ever play there as anything more than a stop gap.On Saturday I only had a TV but I thought he played LB and Monreal stayed in the more advanced situation.
I also wouldn’t play 3 centre halves. Most teams now play with only one up top, and as Liverpool showed on Saturday, playing 3 centre halves allowed the numerically superior Arsenal midfield to dominate for large periods in the first half before they switched it.
ahem *TV view*
Did some call for a Dr?
Top of the league! 5 clear.
Enjoy the week everyone.
The TV view was correct tabs 😉
Monreal has actually been very good playing as a kind of left-wing sub the last few times he’s come on (well the way I see it :)).
Thanks TaBS.
I have no real opinion on where TV should play while Mertescielny keeps coming up with the goods, nor any massive desire to see us switch formation. I was just asking.
Pangloss
Vermaelen went to left back in place of Gibbs despite Monreal being on already . I agree with Tabs that Monreal played well in the time that he was on.
Back- drinking I notice you refer to the John Radford goalkeeper is ode which was in the FA Cup semi- final with Stoke in 1972. I remember this game because I split up with my girlfriend for going to see the Arsenal in Birmingham and then breaking down on the way back ( we broke down on the way up but that was in another car).Now you can see why I remember it. I also remember discussing it with Messrs Mclintick and Wilson who said that Storey threatened Wilson with serious injury if he didn’t return to goal. So he did and in trying to protect him Simpson scored an own goal. Rad day’s goalkeeping cameo was superb and saved us from losing and we won the replay 2-1. I had another girlfriend by then so it was a damn fine week
Sorry about the typos my iPad doesn’t like me
Agree on Monreal Ollie. Think he’s done well this Season wherever he’s been asked to play and whenever he’s come on.
Pangloss – Cheers.
Ttg – Heh, nice story 🙂
Memories of outfield players in goal.
Stewart Robson (‘fraid so!) home to Villa in about 83. Evening game. George Wood got sent off, no goalie subs in them days, and Robson went in nets. Did all right as well, pulling off a quite smart save against Peter Withe from memory. Also fairly sure we hung on for a narrow victory.
Vague memories of that Esso. Also remember Platt going in goal for Villa in 91 when we hammered Villa 5-0 in 91. From memory I think Platt only let in 2 or maybe only the one.
Struggling to think of another Arsenal player during my time that has gone in between the sticks.
Pangloss.
I believe Vermalen went into LB with Nacho the more forward player.
Personally I think the three CB idea is not a good one, TV as a DM not for me either as I feel he lacks the positional tactical discipline, he’s way too toegaven to race forward. However I think TV would be a better CB with Flamini in front of him, as Mathieu would provide cover for TV’s forward forages.
Nice write up tabs.
I would take Reus over Suarez too…………….
but then again, I’d take having my left testicle removed by a physco brandishing a blunt rusty spoon that his rabbid dog had just urinated over while being forced to watch a collection of the best of James Corden on a full IMAX screen with dolby suround sound over Chompy McKKKunt.
OK maybe I exagerate, watching Corden would probably break me. 😉
@Tabs
Just found it. December 7th 1982. We won 2-1. Goals from Chalky Whyte and Tony Woodcock. No match report but I know it was that game. George Wood started in goal.
Attendance = 17,384!!! And I was one of those fucking die hard cunts!
Ah, I see others have also answered Pangloss’ query (easy Wolfie)
Esso, I seem to remember something like that too, a bit hazy but if it was in the early eighties, I would of been thee for sure, don;t think it wasplayed to a full house though.
Nice story TTG.
Ah, good find Esso, nice one.
You’ll have to excuse me, sometimes I have to leave the keyboard after starting to type something, returning and continueing to type without refreshing.
Thanks for confirming my John Radford memory, ttg. I remember a commentator making vaguely approving noises about Radford marking aline from the penalty spot to the middle of the goal, saying that it was illegal, but all good goalies did it. I can see why you’d remember the week, you quick working smoothie, you.
By the way, having puzzled long and hard over what your iPad deigned to transmit, I believe you intended to remark upon “the John Radford goalkeeper episode“. Whew, I may have to go and lie down after working that one out.
H2H – I was beginning to think I was the only person in the world who couldn’t stand Corden. I was vaguely indifferent toward him before seeing a Children in Need special with him and Rio Ferdinand a few years back. He was practically fellating Ferdinand, such was his deep joy at being in his company. Eurghh. Hmm, I daren’t go and lie down after summoning up that image.
Monreal done well. Didn’t Santi say he would? 🙂
Pangloss et al
The pleasure was mine in recalling the second part of that story . Football and young ladies vied for my attention in those days and it was a hard fought contest with uneven results. While the original semi- final saw football win out the replay definitely didn’t as the new girlfriend came onstream. To use a football analogy given that we have potentially young readers I was pleased to convert the unexpected chance that fell to me in the box.
I need to lie down now.
*kicks it*
*heads it*
Hahhh TTG
You scored! Three posts to early though 🙂
Heh Datsyuk, you scored.
Say it wasn’t me 😉
hehs, congrats Datsyuk
Datsyuk
To my horror I find it was forty one years too early. April 1972 was the date of that match! Congrats on your marksmanship.
Thanks, easy with these assists 🙂
Well actually, you know what they say about the blind chicken…
TTG
But you still remember the games and the girls from that time. Remarkable!
Re Suarez
I still can’t see him wearing our shirt and to be honest, it turns my stomach upside down thinking of it.
ttg I was at that semi-final. Went without tickets, secured 2 standing tickets from a chap in a pub near Villa Park the night before and on the walk down to the ground met 2 blokes who had 2 seats in the main stand and sold them to us at cost. I found myself sitting in the front row next to Bernie Winters, (comic with the St Bernard dog) and big Gooner!
I did lots of crazy things in those days.
I am not surprised to find out that Dortmund outran us, as they do to pretty much every side..and to that extent that when you count the miles/kilometers ran, it turns out that in some games it is like if they effectively played with 12 men instead of 11..so high is the difference.
I think that they are currently among top five sides in Europe and winning (or even draw) on their home turf would be massive result for us. In the home game against them we have shown that this Arsenal side can be very much on par with Dortmund, but must be vary of the individual errors.
I still fancy cheeky 2-1 for us there, but honestly 1-1 would do for me aswell.
Also, if same Arsenal as against Liverpool turns up on Old Toilet, we are in for some game..they have been pants so far and Fulham pretty much gifted them victory by effing up offside trap three times in the span of 15 minutes.
Not underestimating them by any means as Manure are always tough opponents, especially away but I want us to completely obliterate them there.
It’s a plan for Sunday, N7 (shut up shop, sit deep, look to hit on the break #135) but I agree with Snir (Their defence is beyond shite and our attacking play should be way too much for them #137). My tactics would be a hark back to the not too distant days when we didn’t care how many they scored cos we would score more. Attack, attack and attack again. Manure are ripe for the taking.
Yes Reus plays deeper where we are well served currently, but he’s better than any we have (at least as good as Özilla, imo) and such players should always be signed if we can get them. But I’d still like Suarezcos he’s the best sniper in the league and (bar a brief moment with RvP) putting away goals when we absolutely have to has been a major weakness since Henry left.
Öskar
Still very much in “no Suarez” camp as I have been whole summer.
Yes, he is brilliant footballer and yes he would probably bang them in for fun in this team, but I think his presence would be too disrupting to the current feelgood factor and “solidarity” in and around the team.
Actually ..is it weird that I do not feel any need to sing “star” player in January? Just good back up in case OG needs a breather? Also, still firmly believeing that Poldi will show us that he is the real deal after he returns.
We are on the same page Eändy. Also re Poldi. May we be right an Lukas return in a stunning form.
I have just treated myself to watching the Spuds game from February 2012. The version with the Arabic commentator. Still can’t work out whether I prefer not being able to understand a word of what he’s saying or would it be better with an English translation. Bloody hell, though, it still sends tingles up the spine more than 18 months later.
UTA FOYS.
Bring on Dortmund and ManYoo.
Night all.
pangloss, thanks for mentioning that. i went and spent five minutes reliving the joy of that day, and the anger at that fucking diver bale.
then i found this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQJuL7Eg330
and it brought back a further flood of memories. love how diaby, aliadiere, ade, and kolo are all standing there stirring their tea…like they don’t quite know if they’re supposed to drink it, or not. 🙂
I still wonder if the stars won’t align so that AW signs a contract renewal that will take him through to the same time that Klopp’s contract extension at Dortmund expires. Klopp could then come to the Ems, having just turned 50 and in his prime.
what do the monks at castle ned reckon the odds, nbn? i’d enjoy that, very much. we’d even have a biter on our hands, so no one would get in our faces, much 🙂
So, what do you guys and girls think of Klopp’s interview?
Mind-games via a charm offensive?
Vying to be our next manager?
Or did he just call Arsene an old fogey and describe us as boring?
🙂
Regarding my Rosicky post @127.
This is all leading me to believe that Ozil fits our style better than Cesc.
This is an absolute disgrace!!!
http://espnfc.com/podcasts/index/_/id/1605793?cc=4716
From 10 minutes on.
Peter Walton, a former Premier League referee DOES NOT KNOW THE RULES!!!!!!
Said that the referee can brandish the yellow whenever he wants. That is NOT TRUE.
It is an absolute disgrace that a former PGMOL referee does not know the rules.
Makes you wonder how many more cases like that there are.
Snir,
There have been some “interesting” interpretations of the advantage rule this season. As you say, there should be no discussion if the quick take of the foul on Sagna. It is clearly stated that once he determined it was a card and had blown the whistle that the card had to be issued at that point. If the whistle had not been blown or the foul had occurred away from the ball then he could have issued the card later. That however was not the case. The refs have had a relatively poor showing this season but then that’s been the case for years.
170 – that bites!
Appalling…
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/liverpool-loss-arsenal-caused-policeman-2677045
NorCal: it’s also amazing how everyone of those who say the ref should have let play go on seems to completely ignore the fact that the only reason Henderson could “score” was because we stopped playing entirely. I have watched the whole situation again a few times and while Gibbs probably wouldn’t have caught up with Sturridge in any case, Sturridge was in such a tight angle that Szczesny would almost certainly have caught the cross, and if not then Arteta was also there and was ahead of Henderson until he heard the whistle and stopped running.
You could of course argue that it shouldn’t have been a yellow, but let’s assume that play had been allowed to go on and we had saved it and Sagna then being given a yellow later in the game for something else… “boo hoo, that wasn’t an advantage, why didn’t he book him, he should have been sent off, boo hoo whine whinge!!!”. I wonder what the “experts” would have said then? I do suspect they would not have been praising Atkinson for allowing Suarez to take the free kick that came to nothing but instead lambasted him for not handing out a yellow, anyone disagree with me on that? No, thought not.
Snir @137, agreed.
As for the PGMOL and their Refs, they are all clueless.
Lars – spot on.
Also, why are this situations glossed over and over when it happens in Arsenal match in our favor and no one is continously mentioning Chelski against Crystal Palace when rules were clearly broken by Etoo who stole the ball from Palace keeper while he was still very much in possession and did not restart the game.
That goal ultimately led to changing the whole match..but no..its fucking bus stop in Fulham and we do not mention their wrongdoings!
I know I might be biased as an Arsenal fan, but the constant shit stirring towards the Club in british media is totally freaking appaling.
I also notice it in czech sports paper I buy every morning…there was just short mention about Arsenal beating Lpoo..game of first two teams of the league…if it was Chelski in same situation I would be presented with two page special about how awesome they are.
But I constantly keep telling myself “Let them be like that …let us be under the radar for so long until they realize it is too late and we are too far to catch for anyone”
*rant over*
Lars knows (again).
Ok, completely nothing to do with football, but imagine standing on the side of a street playing a very well-known song and all of a sudden the original artist just happens to walk by and joins in. Well, this guy knows how that feels!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_DWWE3cjgg
Cheers, bath.
Eandy, nice little rant there 🙂
Morning people. Dortmund awaits. On my way soon.
Nice link Lars. What are the odds?
Enjoy, Ollie…..have a great trip. Go win!
Chelsea goal that never should have stood was against Cardiff not Palace. Otherwise rant is 100% correct.
Morning Ollie. Is it going to Weissbier & pretzels for Wednesday morning’s breakfast? Safe travels. Bring us a point back, at least.
Trev in the late 160s – Expert punnery again. I love a leukocyte me. Especially after 5-a-side.
Didn’t big John Radford go in goal for us once in the 70s for an injured Bob Wilson in a cup tie? My memory is really starting to creak.
Morning Dr.B.
Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping during the day?
A nice brekkie of clot-ted cream & scones served on small, fine china platelets? Or are you going for the jugular with stake & chips (no garlic)?
Oh Cardiff, I stand corrected, was not sure to be honest but knew it was against the team who was just promoted and began with C:P
Safe trip Ollie, you have no idea how envious I am, Dortmund is really close but I have ultimately failed to secure any sort of ticket for the game so once again, the support from the armchair it is for me on Wednesday night:P Enjoy:)
TS @ 232
Covered it yesterday.April 1972. arsenal vStoke. 1-1
He made a great save in the last minute.
TS @232
I’ve given all that up, mate. De-mobbed. I am now a civilian.
Now it’s cave paintings, hand axes, barrows, round houses, Samian pottery, mud and cider.
Think Raddy went in goal during the SF v Stoke in 1972. Can’t remember if it was Hillsborough or Villa Park.
Ah! Apologies bath. De-mobbed and happy. We shall never speak of this again. Mud and cider sounds like it would go down a storm at Glastonbury?
Ttg – Cheers for (1) proving to me that my memory is not as bad as I thought it was & (2) for proving that my lazy-ass doesn’t have the courtesy to back-drink.
Drinks of your choice are on the bar fellas. I’ll join you when ready with a Leukocyte Sport with a Bloody Mary chaser.
UTA!
Flint, you’ll need to join me on the naughty step now….
Sorry just seen already answered.
Oh sod it, always there these days, TS……
It’s THE place to be Flint 😉
tabs
Really enjoyed your report, we saw the same game.
The bit about being exceptional when we’re good is bang-on IMO. The flip-side is that those kinds of performances cannot be replicated week-in, week-out.
Therein lies the problem with the internet generation. One fabulous performance followed by one that is less so but still decent simply isn’t good enough, even when we grind out a win. I say bollox to all that.
Along those lines going to (foolishly) predict two draws for the next two games – I’d be quite satisfied with that. If we’re going to squeak a win, The Old Toilet is more likely from where I’m sitting but I’d be delighted to be proved wrong in a positive way.
COYRRRs!
With you there @243, TS. Bloody spot on. :S
Let’s set up some more goalkeeper replacement questions then.
Who replaced Jack Kelsey, when he broke his arm v Sheffield United in the Cup in 1958?
Also I think it was Jack McClelland, who got injured at Leicester in the early ’60s & we lost 7 odd, who picked them out of the net?
TS: a draw at Dortmund wouldn’t be a bad result at all and would put us in a rather good position to qualify. Everything assumes that we’ll beat Marseille at home of course, but failing to do so would indeed be a failure and I also presume that Dortmund and Napoli will also win their games against them. Any team that slips up against them are pretty much out of it, I reckon. Anyway:
A point would mean us and Dortmund on 7 pts each, with Napoli presumably on 9 because I assume they will beat Marseille at home. When we play Marseille, then of course Napoli play Dortmund away. Now, a Dortmund win would mean them and us on 10 points, meaning we would only need one point at Napoli against a team that has to come out and attack since only a win will see them qualify.
A win for Napoli would mean us on 10, Napoli on 12 and Dortmund on 7 – meaning we would only need a draw against a Napoli team that is not only already through but who will also top the group if the game is a draw. Anyone up for a 0-0 under these circumstances?
A draw between Napoli and Dortmund would actually be the worst result for us in that game. That would place us and Napoli on 10 with Dortmund on 8. Now, this would be quite an interesting situation because that would mean that all three teams could finish on 11 points, if that happens we would be ahead of Napoli (a win and a draw), and Napoli would be ahead of Dortmund (a win and a draw) who in their turn would be ahead of us (a win and a draw!) so it would come down to goal difference between the three teams.
It really is a pity that we couldn’t beat Dortmund at home, that would have all but secured qualification. And for this reason I really don’t think it was all that stupid to go for the three points. Yes, the one point would have been good but like I said, three would have meant that one point on Wednesday would have secured qualification. You can’t always play it safe and Dortmund were there for the taking and when you have the chance against a good team like that you have to try to take it in my opinion. I am also pretty sure there would have been quite a lot of whining about not going for the jugular had we retreated and just secured the one point. We lost due to being too eager to chase the win, but that is another matter altogether and something we must learn from but to keep attacking was, I think, the right thing to do.
Heh! @ bath. Bloody spot on mate.
Lars, yet another logical & methodical analysis. I actually think there will be a few twists and turns in our CL group, such is its quality.
Marseille might be the weakling in our group but they’ll be playing with the handbrake off now and will want to salvage pride and some points before their campaign comes to an end. Let’s just hope it’s off the other two.
I fancy us for a backs to the wall win vs Napoli, hopefully a point tomorrow and who knows what when we entertain Marseille at The HoF. We’ll see….
Lars,
I agree that we were in the ascendancy and Santi had hit the crossbar. Going for the win was exactly what we should have done. However, we could have gone for the win and still kept a little better shape. Both fullbacks should not be pressing that high up the pitch at that time especially against a Dortmund team that can fly on the counter. We were a bit naive in that regard. It is done. Maybe the tables will be flipped this time.
Let’s turn Dortmund into a BloodBath?
Sorry it was just begging to be said. 😉
Cheers H2H, and don’t sit on the fence re Suarez 😉
Esso @192 – Cheers mate. Can’t say for absolute certain, but given that it was just before I went to Uni, I’m pretty sure I would have been one of those 17,000 odd. Different times 🙂
Pangloss – Don’t think you’ll be lonely in the “hate Corden” Club. 😉
TS – Cheers, and agree with you on the over-reaction to all defeats or perceived setbacks. Fair enough giving opinions as to where it all went wrong etc but I’ve got very little time for all the “State of the Club, manager’s position etc etc” debates that even a draw now seems to provoke. Arsene is with us until the Summer at the very least. Even those that don’t love the man as I do might as well just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Agree with you on 2 draws this week.. That would be fine. Be lovely to win though, especially up in Manchester. We owe them big time. 😉
Have a good trip Ollie, and all on the way to Dortmund.
Why do so many hate James Corden? Is he just a general bellend or has he said or done something particularly stupid? I’ve really only ever seen him in Gavin and Stacey, and at the risk of uttering an unpopular opinion I liked that show – but then again the Office was also quite brilliant but pretty much anything Ricky Gervais has done since has been bloody awful so is it perhaps the same with Corden?
Nice link, Lars.
Safe trip, Ollie.
Fine punning from TS. 😉
With you @249 Tabs.
How anyone can watch the football we are playing again, and look at some of the players we have, and not appreciate what this manager has done is beyond me.
I heard some people actually wanted him sacked last week for the team he picked to play Chelsea.
I do agree with Lars that the Dortmund performance was disappointing in that we didn’t really go at them, and our stunning displays against Napoli, Tottnum, Liverpool, especially, have been when we’ve really attacked and pressed the opposition. But I guess it’s natural to be a bit apprehensive when you’re playing the CL Finalists.
Also agree with TS that two draws in our next two games would be just fine.
Re: Eandy @225. I think the point you were trying to make is that Eto’o and his Chelski partners in crime will be flaunting the laws of the game against Cardiff and Crystal Palace and every other club and the media will applaud him for it. The ore they and Sp*rs do it the louder the media will applaud, if I may expand upon your point. 😉
*The ore + The more they do it. My m key is starting to stick. Anti-edia rant over.
I don’t hate James Corden, Lars, I just think he’s as funny as a terminal decease.
In relation to the Suarez debacle, I would still have him in a heartbeat although I can’t see Liverpool letting him go anywhere until the summer and as Buck Rodgers mentioned in his presser before the game, they would never sell to “a rival”. (Guess he meant Everton then!)
As for Lewandowski, I agree with N7 and feel he’s all but signed for Bayern. Can’t see Reus being sold in this context.
Watching the game on Saturday, what you never really get to see on TV is the level of work done off the ball and I have to say, I was most impressed with Giroud and Ramsey in this regard.
Its a joy to watch and I only hope we replicate that work ethic tomorrow night. I felt Dortmund worked harder at the Ems and that was the difference in the end.
Tabs,
Sorry to have missed you at the weekend. I did enquire as to your whereabouts and would have liked to have met you over a beer! Next time I hope.
Joe – work off the ball – been looking at that too, especially with regard to second goal. Couldn’t understand at first how Ramsey got so much space and time to strike the ball – it bounces 3 times first!
When you watch it again, you can see that Lucas leaves the spot in front of his CBs and gets drawn out towards Özil. Ramsey immediately moves into the gap he leaves. Özil strokes the ball to him, Touré is closest, but Ollie makes a run into the box, taking Touré with him for a couple of strides before he stops and seems to get mesmerised, giving Aaron enough time to get the strike in before Sakho comes in to try and block.
So – bad play by Lucas, exploited by our young maestro, with the willing off-the-ball help of the hardest worker in the team.
I think we’ll see a different Arsenal tomorrow (enjoy your trip Ollie), we were very tentative in the home game, I think we’ll play with a little more freedom at their place, still a very tough game expected.
As for the trip oop narf to the Old toilet, well, this is the first time in a long time that I feel they are there for the taking. I understand those that say we should sit back and hit them on the counter, but I don’t think it’s wise to let the dutch bloke and rooney come at you, however, their midfield is their major weakness, Moyes is still pretty in the dark about how to set them up, I think we can over run them there and that could be the difference, plus thier defence looks a bit shaky too, (Stoke scored twice ffs),get in front and “the greatest fans who never boo their own” (yeah right, Fergie) will turn on them, boo them, call them nasty names, throw the remainders of their prawn sandwiches at them and make Evra and van Stapleton cry. Ha ha.
Well, I thought that Liverpool were going to whack Arsenal out of the box on Saturday, which goes to show that I had no faith in our team…so I am going to stick my neck out here and say that I think we will win tomorrow against Dortmund…I think this team, if they can keep up the energy, is capable of anything! go Gunners!
H2H @ 258: The thing about Dortmund is for all their excellent technical abilities and a really superlative pressing game there is a tactical inflexibility , they never slow the game down or vary the tempo, and continuously insist on that high intensity pressing game. Arsene had his game plan perfect for the home match and just a bit of defensive naivety and a little lack of incisiveness in the attacking third caught us out.
I expect we will play the same way, let Dortmund run and press, absorb their movements in a congested midfield and counter attack, more and more as the game wears on and they tire (they always tire, that is how Bayern caught them in the last year’s final).
If we are drawing or chasing the game I expect Gnabry — who seemed to be fit again from the training pictures — to join in from the bench and drive at their defense in counter attacks. This would have been a perfect match for Theo or Ox.
Also, I think it may suit us better to start with Ozil in a relatively deeper position (a #8 rather than a #10), away from their defense (who had marked Ozil very well in the home match), this would allow him a bit more space and time on the ball and use his brilliant long-range passing to create counter attacks for the first hour and so and then he can resort to his standard up the pitch position.
Lars – he had no choice but to book Sagna as “holding an opponent” requires a booking. That’s in the rules as well.
I’m still shocked a former PL ref does not know the rules.
I’m with Faustus on this one. I think we’ll try to make them chase the ball as much as possible early on to make them run themselves into the ground. It will be a bloody difficult game no matter what, but if we could beat Bayern away 2-0 last season we certainly have a chance to beat Dortmund too. It would be optimistic in the extreme to think we are favourites to win this game but it would be far from a shock result if we did.
Snir: yes, that is what I mean. That must be a booking so Atkinson had little choice. The only argument against it would be the “common sense” one – which I find most pundits only ever apply when they already know the outcome of the situation.
I’m not sure why everyone is so shocked about this whole referee business, it is ARSENAL.
The media in this country absolutely love knocking a team that actually tries to play football, we get short term admiration and long term jealousy.
Anyone else remember all the fuss over Eduardo diving……even when replays clearly showed he was in fact caught and then Rooney came out saying he could never dive and it barely got noticed that he dived against us.
hah Santi and TR XD https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1426252_10151831084767713_821195657_n.jpg
Lars,
I think, technically, we’re a superior outfit to Dortmund.
I just think they work harder than most other teams and have the players to really make the most of the few breaks that they get in each game.
If we can negate their intensity, by keeping our shape, and not be as naive as were at the Ems – we have a great chance of getting a result. The two goals we gave away in the first leg were very soft and the thing is, we have a propensity to cough up chances like that in most games. We did it again at the weekend despite controlling the game for large tracts. But the bigger teams in Europe tend to punish you more for that and thats what I feel is the difference.
Our defence and shape have improved since Bould arrived. But there’s still room for improvement.
Eändy, Great pic. It’s hard to tell if Santi’s or Tomas’ grin is the more maniacal one. 😀
Not sure they work harder than us.
This seems to indicate that we’re on par with them in terms of application (distance covered).
http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/statistics/round=2000479/players/index.html
Really surprised to see Özil so close to Ramsey in terms of distance covered.
Distance covered doesn’t seem to list all the bright lights at the top. Were they all running in the wrong direction?
Flint
You threw out two challenges which only an old stager like me would remember. Most Holics weren’t born in 1959!
When Jack Kelsey was injured I think that Len Wills took over in goal but I can’t be certain. I will try to look it up.
Whenn Jack Mclelkand was injured I haven’t got a clue who went in goal. If you put a gun to my head I will say John Barnwell but I will see if there is evidence to this effect in the stuff I have at home.
Good questions mate. Interesting one too is how many times have Arsenal had two proper keepers in goal in the same game and when was the last time we subbed a keeper for another keeper? Finally when was the last time we subbed a keeper when he wasn’t injured. All much more recent!
ttg: the last keeper sub (which was due to injury) I can recall is Fabianski coming on for Szczesny at the Camp Nou in 2011 (this then set off the Lehmann comeback at Blackpool as Fabianski too got injured and Almunia got ill on the day of the game). And didn’t we sub Seaman in 2002 for… Richard Wright, was it? It was to give him enough games to win a Premier League winners’ medal anyway.
TTG,
I have a feeling it was Joe Baker at Leicester but am far from sure.
Can’t remember a ‘keeper being subbed, when not injured, in a competitive game. Jens was when he had an appalling half, when playing for Milan.
Have a feeling Pat Jennings was replaced by John Lukic but it must have happened more recently than that. Funny how you can recall the really old stuff but forget what went on last week.
Lars,
You are quite right but I think it was Taylor, who came on…
Dortmund are Top Notch both technical and very hard working – What they did at the Emirates was mark space rather than the opponents basically players filled in the areas we cause the most problems in – It’s very hard to do both mentally and physically over 90 minutes – Hence we started to find areas to play in the later the game went on – Not so sure those tactics will be applied in their home game so may be a tad more open I’d happily take a draw – A win would be great !
As for the Mancs let’s go at em we owe those fuckers 🙂
Was just re-watching the game now, I wonder why people(me included) thought Ozil had a quiet game, he caused Liverpool all sorts of problem in their half, he kept moving into space to receive the ball(dragging their players apart in that process), he was central to all those quick short passes we exchanged in their half that resulted in us dominating their own part of the pitch over long periods. His assist to Ramsey was not just an ordinary sideways pass it had to go in between 2 to 3 players, it was as good as they come and he didn’t have to look up for too long to notice that Ramsey was free in space. I would say he is one of the best exploiter of space in world football.
Flint: I googled it and it was actually Wright that was subbed for Taylor so my memory wasn’t totally wrong! They were both on nine games before the last game of the season so Wright started and Taylor came on with a few minutes to go.
Joe – Very sorry to have missed you too mate. I’m afraid I wasn’t even aware that you were on your way. Definitely next time. You picked a good one to be over for! 🙂
Great stuff, Lars..
Wasn’t our last ‘keeper sub(due to injury) away to Olympiacos in the UCL when Mannone had to come on for Fabianski?
Wright, Mannone, Fabianski ……..
Just when I thought Halloween was over …….. 😉
Can we risk Tabs and Joe meeting in the Tollie ? If they start arguing it’s going to cost someone a fortune. 😉
Interesting, Chippy @276.
Hello Joe, it was great to meet you on Saturday, and thanks for the invitation. Should I make the Emerald Isle I will get in touch.
Always good to see Flint and ttg chewing over the fat about the old days.
Excellent stuff from the usual suspects.
Preview will be a late one after tonight’s games.
Cent, that’s right – I had suppressed that memory… that was the game where Mannone had a proper nightmare of a game.
Lars, Haha, I almost invited a migraine remembering that nightmare of a performance.
As for the Mancs let’s go at em we owe those fuckers – Chippy@276
Yes please. Very little in football would give me as much pleasure as getting one over properly at Old Toilet. I’m not insisting on 2-8, but if anyone has recently released a genie from a bottle and has a wish to spare…
As for tomorrow’s match, I’m fairly happy about it. I saw a little of the first leg across a crowded pub while a quiz was going on – I didn’t spot the other room where the sound was audible until I was leaving. As far as I could see at the time – and nothing I’ve read since makes me think otherwise – we were slightly on top and got sucker-punched on the break. I have no doubt that the players will have learned from the experience and that it’s unlikely to happen again. I would imagine that tomorrow’s game will go much the same as the first leg but with Dortmund slightly more interested in attacking. I think the most likely result is a draw but a win to either side by one goal wouldn’t surprise me. Either side winning by more than two goals would be a huge surprise, as would a high-scoring game. Put a gun to my head and I’d say 1-1.
COYG
Actually, I’d probably say “Please put that gun away”, or possibly, “Yes, of course you can have my wallet. Here it is.”
Always hand over the wallet, Pangloss. Always.
I, myself, fancy a bit of smash-and-grab tomorrow in Deutschland.
3-1 to the good guys.
BMBD
Lars. It was Almunia for Woj.
He actually played well there.
I’m sure that’s good advice, Lonestar. I hope you don’t speak from experience.
The more difficult question is, of course, “Would you take a 2-0 defeat tomorrow night if it guaranteed an 8-2 win on Saturday”. Not just interesting, but for me, bloody hard to answer.
Late punt on Vela to be first scorer v. United?
Pangloss, I’d bite your arms right off for that!
I mean today for Real Sociedad, not on the weekend for Arsenal. 😉
8ball, not worth it in my opinion, they have rarely posed any meaningful threat to Manure this night.
Cent, That’s why the odds could be good. 🙂
Juventus are up on the Real Madrid of Bale and Ronaldo. More than 120 millions in those two players alone and they can’t score for 45 minutes. Shameful.
Wouldn’t make that Faustian bargain, Pangloss. I think we’ll take the hosts tomorrow night AND do the Red Mancs on Sunday (2-4 sounds about right.)
Win the next match.
BMBD
What George Dixon said.
Juve commit suicide but Llorente would be a good alternate for HFB.
baff@298 – “Mind how you go”?
Lurks
Well in H2H. Saved me from a card as I belatedly worked out Bath’s DofDG quote: “Evening, All”.
D’oh.
Evening, Bäth
Llorente gets on the scoresheet.
We can rule him out then. 😉
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Klopp doesn’t even work for us yet and he’s already sowing dissension in the Manchester United dressing room:
“Shinji Kagawa is one of the best players in the world and he now plays 20 minutes at Manchester United – on the left wing! My heart breaks. Really, I have tears in my eyes. Central midfield is Shinji’s best role. He’s an offensive midfielder with one of the best noses for goal I ever saw.”
Exactly how did Everton get Manure to part with all that cash for Fellaini?
I’ve just caught the last 5 minutes of the match in Spain. Did Manyoo look that, err, err. Did Manyoo look like that throughout the match?
I hope Arsène doesn’t let the players watch the game, it might breed complacency. There for the taking? Oh, yes.
COYG
Pangloss I only saw the first half but they were not too errr … sharp I suppose you could say, and Real Sociedad could have easily gone ahead on a shot that whistled past the post just before the half ended.
Cent.
OOMOYES has been sent undercover into OT to destroy the enemy from within.
That’s probably the best explanation for it, H2H, he’s doing quite well.
Heh Pg @299.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sub appearances by goalkeepers:
Alumina 1
Fabianski 2
Lehmann 1
Mannone 1
Manninger 1
Taylor 4
Bartram 1
May have missed some but I make that 11 occasions in about 20 years but most in the last 10/12, probably because of red cards. Obviously wrong about Lukic.
Sad old sod….