Giroud Brace Secures Three More Points
Nov 24th, 2013 by 'holic
The scoreline hints at a comfortable victory for the Gunners, but in truth Southampton made Arsenal work hard for the three points that doubled our advantage at the head of the Premier League.
The early signs were encouraging as Arsenal settled into their smooth passing game. The same post denied Jack Wilshere, with a deft chip, and Aaron Ramsey’s superb flick. Midway through the half we were ahead courtesy of an astonishing lapse of concentration by Artur Boruc. Olivier Giroud harried the ‘keeper into a mistake and plundered the simplest of openers.
Cue a sprited response from Southampton, demonstrating why they are currently occupying a Champions League qualifying berth. Wojciech Szczesny was at his best to deny Lallana and Rodriguez and we reached the interval with the slenderest of advantages.
The Saints opened the second half as they ended the first and Szczesny was called on again to save from Lallana. Arsenal weathered the storm and with the introduction of Theo Walcott started to regain the initiative. Theo went close with a drive when teed up by Ramsey, before the points were secured by Giroud from the penalty spot after Per Mertesacker was fouled at a corner.
So a potentially tricky game was safely navigated and once more we saw spells of sumptuous passing football from the Gunners midfield. The defence also survived a searching examination and it is probably fair to say the difference between the two sides came down to the two goalkeepers. Szczesny is having a very good start to the season and is thoroughly justifying his new contract.
A word too for the ‘holics who turned up in numbers. It was great to see a couple of new faces. The three points were an added bonus.
Bring on Marseille.
149 Responses to “Giroud Brace Secures Three More Points”
First drink?
Don’t mind if I do..
2nd?
Looks like some regulars need a little more sleep today than usual 🙂
Top 3? Get in!
3rd! Great 3 points!
4th will do
Was there a game yesterday? 😉
Thanks guvna for an absolutely outstanding day.
I got to meet some of the best people in the world yesterday, it truly was a honour and a privilege.
Homeward bound via a quick stop off in France, may try to jot a report later when on a proper keyboard, or at least some of the details the access alcohol hasn’t obliterated from the old grey matter. 🙂
Cheers all.
And onward goes this thing of ours.
Can someone give us the report already? The real report, that is. Or do we have to ask the barkeep at the Tollie?
I’ve been waiting for this news, or is it report or review since umply o’clock. Thanks goodness it finally arrived 🙂
Top ten, and at this hour!
Sounds as though a spectacular time was had by all at the Tollie. I regret even more not having been able to join you. Maybe next time?
Was there a footy match too? Who won? Who’s top of the table?
Wow, a match report so soon after the match and the “victory festivities”? You geezers are impressive 😉
Good performance from the boys. Not great but good. Three points are the key.
Win the next match.
BMBD
“Arsenal weathered the storm and with the introduction of Theo Walcott started to regain the initiative.”
This implies that Theo did something to change the game – didn’t see it that way. It was great to see him back but I don’t think he did a lot. I thought Rosicky was more influential. The main game changer though was the substitution of Lallana, who had been playing very well, for Osvaldo, who did sweet f.a. So’ton lost momentum after that.
Whatever – 3 points is 3 points. OG was massive again, Jack seems to be slowly getting his form back and the defence was rock solid.
Really don’t get all the criticism of Özil that’s floating around either. He needs to find a way of handling the more physical sides of the English game but his technique in ball control and passing is a wonder to behold. He was only a (thick) whisker away from yet another assist.
I voted Boruc as man of the match and some people got offended. Pls I want you hölics & hölices to look into the matter with your 6th & 7th senses and tell me what you think. Suffice it to say that 99% of the referees or whistle blowers in the EPl are pr1cks. That reminds me, someone in here used to have the c*ntability list, please help us check where Clanttenburg or whatever is and Webb too.
Also happy to announce that I got my undies back after the game, and for the love of pintness, someone should tell OG that he’s a f*cking beauty. Three points in the bag, now over to Yanited, $hity & 5pur2.
I wonder if all those people saying we we’ve not been impressive actually watched Manure and Chelshit win all those titles recently. They consistently played exactly the way we played yesterday and won titles by been solid at the back and forcing teams into errors they punished ruthlessly. As much as I always want us to win in style I also understand we can’t always do it so whenever we play like we did yesterday I will just take the points, admire our defensive work and forget about those sexy short passes for a day.
Back four looming large. I agree with dk that Rosicky had a greater impact than Theo. Flamini returning at just the right time. Maybe Theo to get a few more minutes v. Marseille? COYG.
Holic. Very glad to hear you are back fit and well. Thought you were going over quicker than Gareth Bale on an extra big win bonus.
Not the best game in the world but 3 points is 3 points. Whilst we did not create massive amounts I really did not see them scoring.
Great time pre and post match. Whatever did happen to that burger???? What a fantastic gathering. Safe journey home to all if those with a journey.
Hahh, spurs with a less than perfect start. 1 down after 1minute
Monreal and Rosicky had more prominent games than Theo. But I think the So’ton defence quit their compact pressing and high line when Theo was introduced.
Again, it may only have been in my imagination.
Sandro retches all over the pitch. What could be better, other than Sp*rs players retching over each other or over their fans? 😉
8 ball
You see that as well 🙂 not really impressive what they show so far is it?
I am not quite in the same camp as most observers on this game. While we didn’t stroll it we were comfortably the better side and I’m a bit surprised that Ches is getting praise as our best player . He made a few routine saves and a very good one from Rodriguez but that was all,I think it must have been the contrast with his Polish compatriot Coco the Clown Boruc which influenced people. Let me make it clear I like Ches very much and think that in the last year he has matured considerably but yesterday a decent but limited Saints team were well held by a good defensive performance . I would liken it to the Napoli game although we didn’t get the second until late in the game. I thought it augured well for our chances this season. Once Boruc boobed we didn’t have to chase the game and could afford to play within ourselves.
As I write Spurs are getting mullered. Might be a nice weekend!
Fine review H except I am also of the opinion that TR7 made significantly more difference with his direct running at their defence than Feo with his three touches.
As for the official report of the Tollification, that is apparently to be written by tabs……in due course.
Please spare a thought for that young man today.
…and I agree with TTG that we were very much in control at the back bar a couple of runs through by Lallanna who should have buried one of them. Arseblog News’ ‘By the Numbers’ demonstrates our defence’s (aided by HFB) superiority at set pieces against a team noted for their goals from these.
Haha! Spuds are being ripped apart. What an awful team.
fF@19 Good point about So’ton’s high line – hadn’t thought about that – maybe that was what ‘holic meant too.
While it’s always nice when Spurs get a pasting, I’m not so sure about them improving City’s goal difference by so much. I’ll be happy if they get a couple of goals back. Unlikely though – they’ve only scored 9 all season – only Palace and Sunderland are worse. At least they won’t have the “distraction” of European football next season.
Ttg@22 – well, I watched a stream with the awful Stewart Robson as co-commentator (so-called expert) and he gave the MoM to Ollie, which was a good pick imho (I was surprised he didn’t give it to Lallana or Rodriguez, both of whom he was praising to the skies).
I think Ches is getting so much praise because his command of his area is very much improved, or was yesterday – apart from the actual saves, he was very instrumental in making sure corners were dealt with safely.
Same here dk
I’d prefered them to steal a point from city and blow it in the games to come. But I take it that way as well 🙂
Great to meet you H2H and all the regulars. Safe travels.
Dam it, they can’t stop shit today
4-0 and still plenty of time.
Now I don’t care about City’s g-d.
May they get 10.
Tottenhahahahahahahahahaha…
Poor old spuds. Seventeen years ( and £100 million) …and counting.
AVB- another vacancy beckons!
Was hoping for a draw to be honest, but this is such a joy to watch.
Pellegrini resting as many as he can now for mid-week.
A quick stop over.
Time to grab a French Beer and maybe have a oui oui. 😉
Bwahahaha LWCs!
Called it last night @238 in the last drinks; this game had “humping” written all over it. AVB decides to start Lamela at Eastlands. Then, at 3-0 down at half time he decides to go 442 at arguably the toughest away ground in the country. And brings on Adebayor, of all people. He had a tactical shocker today.
Mad to think that it’s only three months back the press were sucking them off for their “amazing transfer business” and we had people on here telling us all that arsenal could have been improved by signing any of these players (most of whom we’d never even heard of a year ago).
Also makes you appreciate the rebuild Arsene did after we lost Van Persie, on a fraction of the budget.
Now: come on Cardiff!
Looking at positives for the LWCs they have a nice, soft game against Man Utd next.
Twitter is a funny place at the moment
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BZ2HnVoIYAAEIv3.jpg:large
And, come on Cardiff, indeed!
Thx for that Lurky.
They’re certainly not “joint-top” anymore.
I remember the press and others were creaming themselves over Vertonghen last season but I’ve never been impressed by him. He has a shocker everytime I see him
play. He is very overrated in my opinion and can’t walk in the shoes of the BFG or Kos. I even think an in form Vermaelen is better than him.
Lurky @ 40: That is hilarious!
What a game. Thumping, ripping, nipping, raming, raping, banging, wanking et al, all visibly obvious this afternoon. I’ve got a place for $hity in my heart. That’s how to show them, they LWCs.
LMFAO 😀
What spurs really need to worry about is the lack of goals. Any team can have an off day and take a stuffing. But the only other teams scoring as sporadically as them are currently in the relegation zone.
And Soldado is fucking pony.
Soldado is fucking pony
Funny you should say that – I seem to remember Real Madrid saying something similar.
Positives for AVB:
– he’s lasted longer than he did at Chelsea
– errrrm – that’s about it.
Haha, Lurky has won the drinks for today!
DK, na, they are still joint top…on points difference.
From Wikipedia:
Villas-Boas is a keen motorcyclist who owns five motorbikes and is part-owner of a dozen sports cars. In June 2013, Villas-Boas revealed that he would end his managerial career within a decade to compete in the Dakar Rally.
I think his managerial career may end sooner than that.
Maybe that cockerel was off to Dakar.
Just a quick one to thank all the holics for a fantastic day yesterday – you really are a top bunch of people. Currently necking a few Guinness with Uply junior in leafy Teddington before heading back to Devon later this evening. Will report more later.
And great tweet Lurky.
Lurky @ 40: He he, not bad, not bad at all. 🙂
About Szczesny’s performance yesterday, it is not just the obvious saves his command in the area in set-pieces was very impressive. Sanits have been very good at those this season and all their corners yesterday were of high quality. Just think this would have been a very difficult game if we had conceded first.
Against Marseille hopefully TR7 would start, if he was still carrying the after-effets of his illness he didn’t show that at all when being introduced. Any news on Arteta’s injury?
No Dutch bloke in the team at Cardiff according to the Beeb website. Not injured is he? Couldn’t be, surely?
And Rooney should be off for a kick out against Cardiff! And out for three matches accordingly. Referee is spineless. Interesting that SAF is in the house; are the refs still in his pocket?
It was a very important win yesterday against a team that convinced me are real top 6 contenders.With the way they are set up and how they go about their impressive pressing game , I can’t see them losing too many games and crashing to the ground come end of season. Makes the win very impressive as we were hardly bothered thanks to an immense performance from Per and co. 2 mistakes from Soton decided the game.Only worry is Giroud desperately needs a strike partner/backup.Looked knackered after putting another tremendous shift both front and back of the pitch.
Oh and Spuds played their best game of the season.25mn for Soldado who’s so slow and lacking in place and isn’t a fox in the box poacher like Nistelrooy and Jeffers , 30 mn for showboating Lamela who had absolutely no reason or anything to back it up.
It’s funny though..Bendtner and Adebayor have fallen to such depths when once upon a time they were starting strikers for us.Real pity..
Ouch, unlucky Cardiff
Get in !
Truly great day yesterday. Absolute pleasure to meet up with so many ‘holics, and some for the first time. Have to try and do it again some time.
Also quality drink from ‘Goonerholic’s Burger’ in the previous drinks!
A later flight than normal should’ve meant that I was well rested before heading to the airport, but the compelling nature of Ashes cricket meant I was up half the night, running the risk of an oversleep and an inevitable lecture from Rox. For all that, I was up with the lark, or whatever it is that scurries around in the dark at 7am.
On arrival at Turnhouse, I heard the dreaded “this is for the attention of all passengers on the BA1445 to London Heathrow” and awaited, with teeth gritted, the inevitable announcement of a delay. I was mentally jousting with the implications of this for both beer and match, (a not too complex equation of inverse proportion), when I realised that the next announcement had simply stated a gate change. zico 1, transport system nil.
The later flight was quite deliberate. It would have been sheer folly for me to arrive as the Tollington’s doors were being ruptured from their hinges by a thirsty Goonerholic. On account of the (legal) drugs I’ve been taking, (to counter a virulent strain of lurgy that Roxette passed to me in that selfless way of hers), I simply wouldn’t have been able to focus on the details at 3pm, if I started quaffing too early. You know, simple stuff like, which way are we shooting?.
I needn’t have bothered. I got on the tube, plugged in the zPod and closed my eyes, expecting to be at Holloway Road if not in a flash, certainly with enough time to get a couple of appetisers for what promised to be post-match carnage. I should have realised by the time we got to Hammersmith when I was already 25 minutes late that something wonky was going on. I got as far as Covent Garden, ever so slowly, and as the clock arced past one, I came out of the tunnels in a quest for a cab. zico 1, transport system 1.
Covent Garden on a Saturday afternoon is not the best place to hail a taxi. I realised this fairly quickly and legged it toward Charing Cross. Fortuitously, as I turned a corner a cabbie was dislodging a fare and only too happy to make room for me. zico 2, transport system 1.
“Going to the Emirates, mate?” he asked, the colours round my neck giving him a massive clue. “Yes, but via Tollington Road……how long – ten minutes? I asked, almost pleading. “Mmm, more like twenty he said….” The journey seemed interminable. I don’t think I had ever spent more than ten minutes in a London cab (work apart) and as the meter climbed increasingly northward I had visions of having to remove another £100 from the hole in the wall. To a Scotsman, this was equivalent to waterboarding. The cabbie, sensing my agitation, then said somewhat surprisingly, “forget the meter mate, I’m only going to charge you a Score”. Turns out, he was a Gooner. zico 3, transport system 1.
I eventually got to the Tollington at 2:20. Time enough to put a few new faces to old names and to be offered a pint by the Birthday Boy. But it came with a condition – I had to neck it in a oner. I managed a couple of gulps, but given my recent illness, I simply wasn’t up to the task and the bastard snatched it back. Wanton cruelty. Snowy though, top man, shared.
Snowy and I left soon after and walked to the ground. With only about a half pint inside me, it was the most sober I had ever left the Tollington. I clambered up high in the North Bank. I regretted wearing contact lenses rather than my glasses as I was quite far back and found it hard to distinguish players at the Clock End. But the guy beside me was something else. He kept moaning at “Ramsay” when Jack was the “culprit”. Drove me bananas, he did.
Personally, I thought that we were lacking a proper tempo to our game, and that only materialised when the subs came on, Tomas in particular. But defensively I thought we were magnificent and in both defensive and offensive operations, young Gibbs was my man of the match. The guy beside me went for Giroud. He probably meant Ozil.
When Boruc started his wayward kicking I was probably not alone in sensing that he was a brainfart waiting to happen. I was not at all surprised in his part in our opener. He has previous for this sort of thing in Scotland with Celtic, often veering from the sublime to the ridiculous.
And for the second goal, Clattenberg surprised me by awarding a pen when he appeared to be blind to everything else going on around him. Good to know we have a confident player to tuck them away when Mikel is not around. So it was 3 points and job done, despite being far from our best.
Back to the scene of the crime.
I know you want a full report. So here goes.
There were drinks.
And some more.
Especially for the Birthday Boy.
Lots of great chat with great people. Holic deserves enormous credit for bringing this international community together. Everyone had a blast as far as I could tell. I got to meet two people with Edinburgh connections which will make the Arsenal globe even smaller on a personal level.
Old man rum eventually arrived (thanks Darren) and fortified me for the challenge of getting to Hatton Cross with the Picadilly Line fucked. As it happened it was fixed. I put London Calling on the zPod and closed my eyes and the next thing I knew I was there. zico 4 transport system 1
I crashed out instantly when I got to my hotel room. Yes it was soulless, but we were Top of the league and I was on top of the world.
Postscript: It’s supposed to take an hour to fly to Edinburgh from Heathrow. On account of a passenger taking ill when we were taxiing out to the runway, it took over 3 and a half. A late consolation goal for the bastard transport system.
Cardiff!
What a great afternoon for us.
Whohoo, Cardiff scored again
Looks like Fergie-time turns into Moyes-time. Love it!
Up with the lark to watch the Arse secure another delicious three points — left me on a high.
Spent the rest of the day watching England capitulate to the Aussies.
Feckin’ woeful.
Ruined my day,in truth.
This Cardiff side are going to be tough to beat next weekend. Strong and direct football, they run a lot, never stop running actually and the fans are 100% behind the team for the whole game making really loud noise.
I am sure Arsene was watching, because they are not that tight and god in defense and lack creativity in final third, something we might utilize. But, they are quite scary side on free kicks and corners, Stoke might learn a trick or two from them. They’ve already beat City with three goals from corners.
Dangerous team, we must be fully concentrated.
Dr. Faustus: Arteta listed as a knock, no return date. But Diaby has advanced from no return date to March next year.
Agree with those who have praised the defence, and that should include Sir Ches as well as the back four. Looked really, really good against Southampton. As mentioned in the last drinks, the defence looks so much more solid when the BFG is there. And a shout-out for Gibbs who had a top game.
The Tollie must have rocked post-game. The far-flungs remain envious, as ever.
Lurky@40: 🙂
How the hell was that NOT a red card?
What a bottler, ref.
I did something I’ve not done before which was to go on the comments section of a Spurs weblog as they were capitulating to Citeh; absolutely priceless. They went from their usual and quite unmerited arrogance to strident calls for AVB’s head in the course of about 45 minutes. As it dawned on them that they face United next week they got even more morose. Cheered me right up!
Saw quite a lot of Cardiff v United and agree they won’t be a pushover next week-but then we have got a midfield which the Mancs seem to lack today. They really missed Carrick and will until his return. Its back to a 7 point gap between them and us now. Citeh and Chelski are the real opposition and December is a huge month because we play them both. It would be really helpful if the Napoli game is a dead rubber after the results this week.
Dr, Z. Thanks for the report @59. Your style of writing and choice of words made it very easy for me to imagine and enjoy the experience in my head, gave me a few chuckles too.
More Twitter goodness http://pic.twitter.com/KBLkfOPLAE
Back in the Lowlands to find all rail links towards home are down. A challenge indeed.
Still the thought of the Tinys and Manure dropping points keeps me soldiering on.
h2h nil, bastard transport system 1
Always a pleasure to share a drink with you zico 🙂
And great to meet so many other ‘holics – including a few I’d not met before – it’s a pleasure and a privilege to be able to spend time with you all.
Only downside to an otherwise excellent weekend was to discover the Man $hitteh lot did not spontaneously combust after their roasting of the Spuds.
And good luck with your travels H2H- and any other travelling ‘holics still making their way home.
Best of luck with your travelling, H2H.
Heh @73.
Overall an excellent week-end for the Gunners weighted by the series of point losses suffered by the other wannabees – except West Ham must do better. They let us down unable to scratch out at least a draw.
Then there was that delicious icing on the cake as N.7 is plunged into deep mourning today. AVB is changing the home uniform colour into all black for the rest of the season to commemorate that SIX – ZERO result.
R.I.P. White Hart Lane Tossers.
Cheers!
Good luck H2H, trains are my specialty 😉 Back home here.
Good to see so many ‘holics in various states yesterday :O
Fellow ‘Holics, enjoy yourselves.
http://i.minus.com/iShm1wUJjbAe1.gif
Thunder @ 69: Napoli will not be a dead rubber for AW under any circumstance, for he’s going to want to finish first in the group to avoid all of the big sided in the first round of knockouts. Even if Gunners beat Marseilles and Napoli Dortmund draw, would have to go for at least a draw in final match at Napoli to secure first.
I see the Dutchman was out with an injury today.
Let’s hope it’s nothing trivial.
z@59. Thanks for taking the time to write that up. Thoroughly enjoyable reading. There are several very good writers in this bar who could easily have their own arsenal blog. Well, if good writing was any prerequisite that is.
Our ‘holic is of course among the best and showed it again above. So grateful for the simple, measured, insightful commentary here week in week out. You forget sometimes how rare that is.
The LWCs got their pants pulled down today. And their pecker inserted into a woodchipper as well. As the inestimable Andrew Allen put it on the twitter (@AAllenSport):
“Don’t worry Spurs – ‘It’s always darkest before the dawn.’ Unless of course you always live in a shadow…”
haHA
Up the Arse!
Agree with Bayonne Jean @79 about winning the group. If at all possible (and it is) we should try to come in first.
Last year we could have won but for a regrettable 2-1 defeat at Olympiakos, where a win would’ve seen up go top and thus avoid Bayern in the round of 16. Arsene rotated the squad heavily in that game, which frustrated me no end.
Evening all,
It’s always a pleasure meeting Holics new and old, or would it be more respectful to say unknown and familiar ?
Yesterday was no exception, but was unusual in that there were so many new faces all at once.
Zico compiled a fine list of the more usual suspects in the last drinks – which I will check again to make sure I don’t offend anyone by omission – and it was a shame he was so delayed and was only just arriving as hunger got the better of me and I was leaving for the stadium and an extortionately priced hot dog and a cup of tea. Ahh, tea !!!
Really good to meet Uplympian, who looked somewhat shell-shocked at the vast array of new faces surrounding him,
NorCal, who was still managing a passable pronunciation of some very long medical terms after several hours in the pub, and even more in transit, Bearded Gooner, who turned out to be several decades younger than his wise posts would suggest, and had a Merkan accent, again belying the London flavour of his posts – and last (?) but by no means least –
H2H, who does a rather excellent, and permanent, impersonation of Steve Maclaren doing a rather awful impersonation of a Dutch man speaking English.
Seriously, H2H, great to meet you, all steeped in Holloway history an’ all.
As we spoke in The Tollie, we were able to look out of the window on the Hornsey Road side and see the building where H2H grew up as a child and, turning 90 degrees to the left, we could see the windows of the school he attended as that child.
Somehow, he had not ever been back to see The Emirates and was salivating at the prospect of the stroll up the Hornsey Road when I last saw him.
Sorry to have missed you when I left, mate, but I did look and that was some crowd in there.
Hope you enjoyed the day, Tabs – slurring well when I left pre-match and I can’t remember seeing that before !
It was interesting to see so many people from so many places around the UK, Europe and beyond, who have found the Arsenal for whatever reason, and who are all so fantastically attached to them.
It was also interesting to see how so many great people among that following have found this blog and adopted it as their “Arsenal” home.
That has to be down to the tone that the Guvnor sets in the bar. I know he will be the first to say, rightly, that there are other great communities, like Arseblog, and I have had the pleasure of meeting some of them too.
But thanks for what you have created here, Holic. It seems there are ever greater numbers of real friends in this old virtual bar.
Nice one @59, Dr Z.
Good stuff, Trev.
Home!!
Was great chating to you too Bearded.
Good stuff zico. The BTS got me good today, delays reroutes whatever etc, it only took me about 11 hours to get home, I think I’ll swim next time. 😉
Cheers Ollie, Cent, Snowy.
Hay you Trev, wat isch you meaning I isch Schpeaken width a Dutsch akshent?
Briliant meeting you too mate and all the other ‘holics, it really is a great and diverse group of characters. I’ll try to make an account of my adventures another time.
I’m a bit cream crackered now.
OK, whoever made this is no grammer wizard (but neither is I)
http://sabotagetimes.com/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2013-10-06-at-22.00.45.png
While it’s always a bit of a laugh when the Totts get stuffed, I don’t feel like laughing too long at today’s result. Maybe because I haven’t quite recovered from an 8-2 scoreline.
What is fascinating about today’s match is that City put 6 goals past a team that had only conceded 6 in 11 previous PL matches. City are an enigma – one week they lose to Sunderland and the very next game they steamroll the Totts. We have to play them in 3 weeks – I wonder what version will turn out for them. They have the strongest squad in the PL – on their day, they’re just about unstoppable.
“They have the strongest squad in the PL – on their day, they’re just about unstoppable”
I beg to differ, DK, I do.
Well at the moment City’s problem is simple – at home they’re formidable, away they’re all over the shop.
Literally getting ready for work. But I just had to read the drinks first. There are no adequate words to describe how I feel about the holics. Really just isn’t just about football, here. As Holic points out…
Suffice to say, you’ve all made my day. xx
On the train back home to Devon. Great write up by the holics I had the real pleasure of meeting yesterday – will try to give a report of the day in the morning. Was in the pub today in leafy Teddington ( S W London) with Uply junior chasing the hair of the dog, my gooner scarf neatly rolled up next to me. Out of the blue an American lady came upto asking where she could buy same scarf for her son. They have flown in from San Francisco and were going to the Marseilles game on Tuesday. There are more Norcals in California. I didn’t ask her if her name was Ivana 😉
Goo Goo Goonah. That is all. Or, as AW is wont to say, c’est tout.
Would one of you kind gooners explain to me the permutations possible in our remaining Champions League group matches? Of course if Arsenal win their 2 remaining matches they will top the group, that I understand…Thanks!
I’m on a First Great Western train back to Plymouth, I’m not up to recounting a report from the moment I stepped into the Tollie to the moment the three musketeers (me, H2H & NorCal) departed right now, as good as I have been in the past on a Blackberry keyboard, the events of that day will need a full keyboard to do them justice. Plus, I’m smashed from today’s resource gathering trip in preparation for the return to my student home (also known as shopping to the non-student) 😉
But for now, all I can say is, it was great to meet so many new Holics for the 1st time and to see all the old ones again, truly a privilege & a pleasure. Its nice to be surprised by putting new faces to familiar names, got to tick a fair few faces of the list of Holics that I hadn’t met yesterday. I can only hope that such a grand gathering of Holics can happen again in the near to far future, if we’re lucky it will be centred around another great occasion to celebrate like a Holic’s birthday.
And on the subject of a Holic’s birthday, the only way the night could have been better if the legendary TaBS hauled himself above a table to dance 😆 Here’s to many more happy occasions with this online community 🙂
He tried a few times Wind, but the bouncers were having none of it.
Peter.
There’s too many permations, suffice to say, any two of three can still qualify, we are in pole position, but we can take nothing for granted.
Ahh what a sight to miss H2H! I was locked in scintillating conversations with 2 greeks, one familiar with me & one new 🙂 Or I could have missed the attempts when I was conversing with Lars’ mate Martin & Liz, one of the Swedish Gooners. Oh well, its the thought that it could have happened that counts 😛
Wind,
You are a student – and you are fantasizing about an old fella dancing on a table ?!?!?! 😉
And in case you don’t know what ‘fantasizing’ means – it’s something to do with measuring elephants. 😉
Before I crash tonight. I’ll lay one across the middle looking for a nudge towards goal.
Since I’m so late in reporting anything today I will just say it was a real pleasure to meet so many of you yesterday. I wouldn’t have even thought about making this trip by myself without knowing so many from the Bar would be here to greet me.
Cheers all. I will attempt to add a little color commentary to the evening when I not so tired.
H2H,
Thank you! I’m learning not to take anything for granted with The Arsenal lol…only hope we qualify!
I will take the Tabs position by adding that I did get a few pictures of the table dancing. So if anyone wants to purchase a few (hundred) they should be on eBay next week.
Cheers Tabs happy 49th.
Well in Peter
Nice one NorCal,
Stitching Tabs up from the Tabs position.
Classy and ironic. 😉
Heh,
Rooney should have seen red, and Manure likely to have lost. But look on the bright side, if he had been sent off he wouldn’t be available to face the neighbours next week. Great decision that ref!
Not that Manure really need him against the spuds, who have scored more than only Palace and Sunderland so far this season.
Now, having read others’ opinions I have no reason to change what I wrote at the tail-end of the last drinks…
Three points is three points, but we were far from convincing winners. Apart from OG no-one north of the defence had much of a game, looking uniformly sluggish and carelessly giving the ball away. Jack and Santi might as well not have been on the pitch and even Özilla failed to spark much going forward.
Excellent games by OG, Woj, Kos and the BFG, and the fullbacks tried hard all day. But it wasn’t until TR7 arrived that we looked even remotely like league leaders.
Let’s hope it was a case of saving something for Tuesday, although a team which sees themselves as serious title contenders wouldn’t have been this lethargic, imo.
Öskar
Trev @ 98, “fantasizing”!? You cheeky bugger, it was gonna be one of the highlights of this particular Tollie visit especially after tales of the occurence from esteemed Holics on previous occasions, the conditions were great (49th birthday celebration + an Arsenal win) so understandably I was a bit peeved to have missed it 😛
But in all actuality good sir, as a student I fantasize about other things & scenarios… 😎
NorCal @ 101, shall we take this potential transaction to the backchannels? 😉
Back in the student house now, a relatively comfortable journey home on the train (no stopovers 😀 ), turns out one of my housemates was on the same train back but in a different coach so I had some welcome company on the uphill walk back 🙂
Sounds like a good time was had by all on the weekend.
Happy birthday tabs, looking forward to those pics!
Man City looked imperious against the silly spuds, but then again, it WAS just the silly spuds! I wonder if they’ll make Utd look like world beaters next week too?
Top quality post @59 Zico
Morning all,
Glad a good time was had by so many.
Just sorry I missed it. The meet-up that is. The game I watched. We do not convince all over the park in every game, that much is true. But we keep racking up those points, and our last four games have been Liverpool (second), Dortmund (then second), Man Utd, and Southampton (then third) and won three of them conceding just once.
I’m a happy gooner.
Good point about Rosicky boys, now I have watched it all back.
http://youtu.be/7faFPYaj4d4
Everyone loves Giroud 8)
Oskar, I think our performance was exactly that of a genuine top team. Far from our best but still a win that we deserved every step of the way against a team that has proven to be very hard to beat. After all, this was only their second defeat all season and their defensive record is second to none in top european leagues this season.
Off out in a bit, but if anyone is in town and wants a drink tonight we’ll be having an Arsenal Sweden pub night at the Gunners this evening, feel free to drop by if you like!
Lars, probably won’t drop by, me being in the latter stages of getting over a cold (ie feeling quite well but coughing enough to twitch like ol’ arry) but could you specify what you mean with “The Gunners? From my experience you tend to meet at´O’Learys? If there was a pub called The Gunners around here, how come I don
t know about it? And, why a pub night the night before a game (not that I’m complaining about more chances to drink beer)?
Think you’ll find that The Gunners is not within walking distance, Toby. 😉
Zico, been to the Gunners in London, Zico, just forgot the fact that Lars was over there, and wasn’t helped by the fact that it was s’posed to be an “Arsenal Sweden” night :p
Everything has fallen into place now. Cheers Z.
Much mirth on the radio this morning.
In answer to the general question, “so what is going wrong at Tottenham ?”, a very pissed off Spud treated us to this reply –
“I’ll tell you what’s wrong at Tottnum – wiv spent a nundred and ten million paahnd on a pile of absolute garbage !”
Sorry, I can’t type any more for laughing …… 😆
Zico, Trev, Norcal et al. Great post-match write ups!
Makes one feel as if one was there, without the disastrous hangover the next day! Win-win! 🙂
Back home in sunny devon after a fabulous weekend in London Town.
Saturday morning took a trip down memory lane visiting all my old haunts of North Islington of 50 years or so ago.
My home was still standing but some of my mates houses no longer there ( now a local park). I lived next door to the City Of London Maternity hospital where the birthday boy himself entered the world
( 39 years ago was it Tabs;-) , then down to my school which has grown in size and changed name from Tollington Park to Islington Arts & Media Community School. Down past the churches where my parents were married, also my sister and various aunts & uncles. Back down to Finsbury Park and along Isledon Road to the welcoming sought of the Tollington Arms.
The place was buzzing and I soon found the Maestro under the brolly entertaining a crowd of friends. Introduced myself and he took me inside to meet the large gang of holics who were there and thereabouts. Slowly got round to meeting Tabs, Trev, H2H, Norcal, Wind, Top Man Snowey, Bath & Bath junior, Lars and I believe I said hello to Poppet & Bearded. Steve T then arrived and Zico even later. A steady amount of Guinness was imbibed….there was still a long day ahead. All to soon the time to walk to the Ems arrived and off we departed. I was seated right at the top of the North Bank next to 2 very amusing blokes, 1 of whom spent most of the match standing and arguing (pleasantly) with the steward who was insisting he sat down. The match itself was good in patches, Boruc supplying the most entertainment. We found it hard to keep good possession & forward momentum until Thomas came on in the 2cnd half. Soton were a good organised side who had a fair amount of possession but somehow never really looked like scoring. Our defence looked very solid inspired by the BFG and it is notable that both Szcez and Kieran seemed to have moved up a level thus season. All to soon the game was over and a quick walk back to the Tollie.
Unsurprisingly it was jammed packed but I squeezed my way to the bar and drinks were flowing. The Guinness was going down a treat, all the familiar songs were sung and much merriment ensued.
The holics were on top form, particularly the birthday boy who was intent on showing his speedoes to anyone who enquired. Somewhat later he made a few attempts to give a rendition of liar, lush from the table top but the security stewards intervened each time….another day perhaps. As the evening wore on, the crowds slowly thinned out but the holics were still going strong. Wind spent the evening eyeing up a burger left on the table for the Guv’nor but he had departed and finally went for like any good student who sees the opportunity.
As the evening wore on H2H speech sounded more like a Dutchman speaking English (but not as bad as Schteve 🙂 ) and in fact Lars spoke with a perfect English accent.
Now Norcal is worth a mention. He declined any Guinness pre match but post match joined in and spent the whole evening emptying pints down his throat without any noticeable change in his demeanour…when I left just before 10pm he was still going strong.
Esso and Big Ian joined the throng but I left Zico & Big I as they were talking in strange foreign tones. Zico in fact was very well behaved even after I bought him his Rum & Coke. I had a thoroughly great day out meeting the wonderful holics – everyone one of you was interesting, fun and had a top view on what Arsenal Football club is all about.
Sorry but somehow I missed meeting Ollie & TS who I believe were also there. Hope tabs had recovered from his celebrations and apologies for anyone I missed out mentioning….it’s an age thing!
I certainly intend making another trip up later in the season. Cheers everyone.
Sorry I missed you Ups. Next time hopefully!
It was good to meet you Uply (as with all the others who were new face-to-face acquaintances on Saturday). I’m glad you survived?
Has tabs emerged anywhere? Should we send a search party?
Re: Trev @117. Tottenham fans admitting they are absolute garbage? Have they finally reached step 1 in the 12 step program? 😉
Good stuff, Uply, and good to meet you.
Cheers Catalan.
8ball,
First step ? Today’s caller said that the fans are not at all happy with whatever it is that AVB is trying to do, and we know what that means.
After 12 games it seems like madness, but they may already be one step beyond. 😉
“zico, was very well behaved even after I bought him rum and coke…..”
Told you I was ill…….. 😉
Heh @ Trev and thanks to all above who had the patience to read my hangover-induced spraff.
Another grey day at the shit hole. Hardly a house of fun. Levi needs to calm down or he will be bordering on cardiac arrest. If they stick with AVB then it must be love.
Yes, it is the Gunners Pub in Islington, London! 🙂
Nice one Uply, although was TS really there?
If so, I didn’t get to meet him either. 🙁
Blackstock road that one, eh Lars, enjoy with the swedish massive, good people.
Heh, Steve T, they’re an Embarrasment.
TS was not there on Saturday, fellas.
Thanks Trev.
If you want to spam your new blog on here it is common courtesy to ask.
Here it is, the infamous burger;
https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Camera%20Uploads/2013-11-23%2017.59.42.jpg?w=AABH-Tc5z_tL51t_roFuUP7Un75cBhvokqmrgsHRdhrYTA
It sat there on that table for quite a few hours. 🙂
H2H – That link doesn’t seem to be any good – it’s telling me to sign in. Maybe it’s your private link to the image, is there a public one somewhere?
I have no idea what an abandoned Burger looks like, so a piccy would be a real help 🙂
pangloss, I thought the burger being in box with chains is *why* it was abandoned on the table for hours. that means young wind is a real Houdini!
Good point Scruz.
Oh, I uploaded it from my phone, via dropbox to this macbook. I’ll see if I can get it sorted (later)
In the mean time, it looked delicous and, as far as I could tell, it didn’t seem to be suffering any kind of trauma or be struggling with abandonment issues. 😉
scruz, at first I thought that too, just that the burger was under lock and key. Fellas, guess we’ll just have to use our imagination, for now 😉 Course I did try to log in, haha.
Uply, beautifully written account. Can tell you really had a special day.
In fact, all the on scene reports were top notch. But I know some of you fellas get squeamish with compliments, so I will spare you from being singled out 😉
Good, an update on Burger Gate! Looking forward to that H2H!
So we are uploading pictures of burgers from apples or blackberries, I assume, into a drop box and then onto a macbook.
Apart from the fact that the drop box, whose only function seems to be to drop the burger again, seems to be a wholly unnecessary complication – could the apple or blackberry not drop the burger directly into the macbook ? – I would only say “Sheesh !”
Either I, or they, have gone completely mad ! 🙁
Thinking about it, if we could get enough handsets together, we could make a lovely blackberry and apple pie.
Finally, it begins to make sense. 😉
I have a galaxy S4 phone Trev.
Which opens up a whole new world(s) of problems.
Trev – If we tried to follow your advice @139, we’d end up getting kebabbed.
“Coat for Dr Pangloss…”
Trev perhaps if it had been a Mc burger, there wouldn’t have been a problem downloading. For all those concerned, Wind kept a protective eye over it for several hours before temptation got the better of him and he had no problem down loading it 😉
Thanks for all the kind words everyone – meeting you all was the icing on the cake.
Bath….arrived back at chez Uply junior in an acceptable condition. I managed to pace myself throughout the day….it’s a marathon not a sprint ;-). From what I could gather from my Danish daughter in law, everyone in Denmark also think Nik B is a c*nt ( my words not hers I may add).
Steve T…hope all the kiddies birthday pressies / celebrations went down well. The place I was trying to recall but had a brain fart ( combination of alcohol & age) was Hastingwood.
Pangloss….if you can make the trip one day, you won’t regret it.
Oh & super sp*ds….hahahahahaha.
or skewered, pan. i do like the apple and blackberry pie idea, trev. per h2h’s 141, it’s out of this world.
Heh, Uply. 😉
Holic, with your permission as usual, here is a good analysis of our pressing game arseblog.com/2013/11/tactics-column-arsenal-make-a-compelling-case-for-the-defence/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+arseblog+%28Arseblog+-+It%27s+fucking%27+excellent+-+an+Arsenal+blog%29
And for the person who asked for possible outcomes to our UCL group this article takes care of it http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2013/11/25/4426181/all-the-group-of-death-permutations-for-arsenal-napoli-and
That’s a good link Cent.
Although it doesn’t factor in all permatations (i.e goals scored, away goals scored, goal difference)
This really is an interesting group, but just like in the PL, if we win our games we don’t have to worry about anything else.
Aye, H2H, the possibilities are endless and I don’t think anybody can write an article that can take care of all the permutations at this stage.
Listen. I don’t eat on matchdays, although I really wish I had on Saturday. I didn’t order a burger. Enough already 😉
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