Mutual Respect Evident Ahead Of Gunners v Marseille
Nov 25th, 2013 by 'holic
Buoyed by the result against Southampton, as well as the remarkable triumph in Dortmund in the last Champions League fixture, Arsenal entertain Marseille on a huge night in Group F. Should the Gunners win at home, and Dortmund fail to beat Napoli, then we will be through to the knock-out phase. However a home win for the Germans will set up a nervous matchday six.
The team news is pretty much as hoped for. Nobody is ruled out after Saturday and Mathieu Flamini returns to the squad after serving a suspension against the Saints. Matty for Jack Wilshere the only change, anybody?
The visitors, without a point from their opening four fixtures in this competition, have battled back to fourth place domestically. Their only hope of advancing to the Europa League seems a forlorn one, involving them winning their last two fixtures and Dortmund losing twice. Arsene is not taking his countrymen lightly, however.
“They have quality, they are in a better period at the moment because they won their last two games and that makes them a dangerous team to play against.”
The two sides met a couple of months ago in Marseille and the Gunners held off a spirited opening hour from the hosts before taking control with a typical counter-attacking display on the road. Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey (who else?) put us two up before Jordan Ayew’s last minute penalty gave Marseille a deserved consolation. Jordan’s brother, Andre, is ruled out of this match by injury, but the dangerous little and large combination of playmaker Mathieu Valbuena and striker Andre-Pierre Gignac should keep us honest. Marseille coach Elie Baup made no secret of his admiration for the Gunners in his presser.
‘They are the best side in our group and are a team which is going to qualify. When you get to the last 16 and the quarter-finals, the teams are all very close together. However, this season Arsenal have an undeniable attacking quality. They also have a lot of French players who are really improving, like Olivier Giroud who is a top quality goalscorer. They have great technical players and have a great spirit.”
Another tense evening awaits but there were signs on Saturday that the engine room is just about to move up a gear again. Given the importance of the three points the side will have motivation, confidence, and no small amount of ability. The ‘holic pound is optimistic perhaps. 3-1 to the Arsenal at a best of 12/1 looks the value bet to me. I’m having some of that.
Those going should pile on the layers. A clear night is in prospect with temperatures plunging to around four degrees (C). The rest of us shall turn the thermostat up a notch before settling down in front of the big screen.
Have a good one, ‘holics.
317 Responses to “Mutual Respect Evident Ahead Of Gunners v Marseille”
In
So sweet. Hello ‘holic I couldn’t have done it without you. 😉
Well in 8Ball
Elie Baup.
Nicely tucked away 8Ball, and a good piece from the Guv’nor. No excuse for complacency tomorrow and no reason to be excessively fearful.
I’m beginning to develop a quiet confidence about this team. They not only turn up, they generally do a good job. When they’re on song, they’re pretty much unstoppable, when they aren’t they are a match for anyone but top, top teams (and Manchester Rowdies). As a further reason for optimism, they’ve been having more good days than bad, much more so than in recent seasons.
Keep the concentration and effort levels up lads,
COYG
I popped into the tollie on Sunday to watch the city v spud game and had the fish and chips.
Was there something wrong with the burgers?
That Marseille coach sounds a decent bloke. Good manners and that. Probably has an ulterior motive though. Thanks H2H. Unpacked the Californian yet? 😉
Nice one guv’.
It would be criminal after the heroics in Dortmond to give our Pole Position in this, by far the best in this terms CL, group away.
I always like to air on the side of caution, but I don’t think they have enough to hurt us, after seeing the lads in the flesh last weekend. it was plain to see that our defence have a wonderful understanding. They’ve improved tacticaly and positionaly and with Woj in great form behind them they are looking strong. Flamini back gives us even more solidity.
Add to that our attack who although may not have been on fire Saturday still managed to put two past the meanest defence in European football and this believes me to conclude we should be OK.
2-0 to the gunners and fingers crossed for a draw in the BVB Napoli game.
Glad you are back in one piece H2H despite the late consolation goal from the transport system. Sounds like I really missed the merriment after the game but domestic affairs required a quick return.
Trev from the last set of drinks. Very nice to meet you as well. If my posts belie my Merikaness it’s because I always run my posts through google translate from English to proper English.
I like the ‘holic pound but feel if Arteta and Flamini start the opposition chances will be few and far between. Another 2-0, 3 points and a draw in Germany please.
Jebus H2H I swear I was writing that post before seeing yours.
Dortmund v Napoli looks like the game of death in the group of death.
They will have to assume ‘holic’s pound on 3-1 in our game is a decent punt, (I can’t see arsenal fecking it up if the team take the game seriously), and that makes the game tomorrow in Germany very tasty.
If things fall the right way, last years finalists may be playing against the spuds soon.
This could be a potential banana skin.
Marseille are a good side, they don’t deserve to finish the group with zero points and I am afraid that they will decide the group.
They were not that bad at home when we last meet, to be honest we had little luck to beat them.
Most of their players had a two weeks rest and are slowly regaining their best form at the moment.
The good news for us, as ‘Holic mentioned, is that Andre Ayew is out injured, but most importantly Dimitri Payet, who along with Imbula was their most impressive player at the first match, imho, is also injured.
According to their manager, they could rest some key players, assuming their most influential one, Valbuena, might not start, which could be a massive bonus for us.
However, we are a better side, and we should win this.
Have to disagree with ‘Holic on starting Flamini. Not sure that this is the perfect game for him to start. We need one more creative player in the middle and we must protect our selves from stupid fouls and yellow/red cards which may cost us a game against inferior opponent.
My starting line-up is the same that started at Soton, except I see Rosicky instead of Wilshere, with Ramsey taking Wilshere’s place along Arteta, and Rosicky, Ozil and Cazorla changing places behind Giroud.
I think we’ll win, but I think Dortmund will too.
The Burgermeister told me. 😉
Bendtner got arrested after training today on suspicion of criminal damage.
Apkom who played full 90 minutes for the u-19 against Marseille this evening to take his place tomorrow is a possibility.
What did he do?
Break into a sweat? 😉
Never thought of you as Wimpey Zico. 😉
I also think ourselves and Dortmund will both win – I join the 2-0 brigade.
That’s alongside impersonating a professional footballer and taking money under false pretences 😉
Should this prove to be fact, Bendtner is just an embarrassment and should be railroaded out of the club toute suite.
No, H2H,
Bendy got in someone else’s car after training, started the engine and all the doors fell off. 😉
The usual stylish preview ‘H. I’ll join you on 3-1, without risking any of the queen’s currency.
Wouldn’t be surprised if Arteta is out tomorrow after picking up some sort of knock on Saturday. One holding player should suffice especially against a weakened opponent.
I would expect Ayew to be amongst the French fans tomorrow night if he is not playing as Andre Ayew = Away Ender. 😉
H2H@15 hearty chuckles
I’d like to see Rosicky in this one as well. He adds so much pace and urgency, and having just sat out the entire interlull he should be fresh as fresh. Gives us a chance to rest Jack.
Feo off the bench again?
I’d be very surprised if Napoli manage even a point in Dortmund. Extremely tough place to go as we well know, and having had their relevance questioned in recent weeks Dortmund will be desperate to prove a point, not to mention to qualify for the knockout phase of the CL. I think they’re a far superior side to Napoli and if the Italians aren’t ready that one could turn a little lopsided.
I’m in the 3-0 brigade. I think Theo may start and if he does Ramsey and Flamini may play the deeper roles. I think Arteta had a poor game by his high standards on Saturday and took a slight knock. To have him, TR7 and LJW on the bench would underline the quality of our squad. I hope we can get into a decent position early enough to give HFB some time off even if it means TGSTEL gets on. If we did take off HFB I would be inclined to bring on Tommy and play Theo through the middle.
Important match but we should be good enough to win it and goal difference could be very important too.
Fine preview Guvna but I’m with Lurky@12 on Marseiles hitherto somewhat underachieving quality – I don’t think they have been that bad.
I also agree with Lurky on selection (Flam and MA8 are too defensive for a must win home game) and difficulty. If he’s fit I would certainly start TR7.
The pressure is now completely off Marseilles so they will play with freedom and compete with us toe-to-toe initially and the first goal will be vital. If we score first I would expect them to concentrate on damage limitation and their next domestic fixture and barely threaten us thereafter. If they score, expect a ‘what we have we hold’ siege mentality.
In summary I think it’ll be a tight game and certainly no romp. Hope I’m wrong and we make a statement and show our true potential.
Uply@17 – heh!
Understand TGSTEL was arrested last night for criminal damage in Bushey. He is a stupid and troubled boy who is pissing away his career
😀 @ 15
and heh H2H@15 😀
TGSTEL can get himself fit in his cell the way Steve McQueen did in Papillon. At least he won’t be getting pizzas or, dare I mention it…… hamburgers in klink.
Ttg,
If we can afford to take HFB off then it would be Theo through the middle for me, or Akpom, or Vic Akers, or someone out of the crowd.
I am sick of Bendtner’s arrogant, useless ambling around – let’s play someone who at least cares.
I hope you land the ‘Holic pound, Holic, but I fear this will be a home squeaker, 1-0 or 2-0 with the second coming late.
What will be, will be.
But we’ll win.
Trev, Bendtner cares – he is heading for Care in the Community 😉
As for the match / team selection Bath knows.
Dortmund got a pasting by Bayern Munich on Saturday.
That would have hurt them emotionally, with Goetze gone and Lew on his way to them.
I’ve never been on the Klopp hype parade. BvB are good but a full strength Napoli can beat them.
Ohh, just noticed Napoli lost last 2 serie A games.
Evening all. Glad to see that those on their travels made it home safe and sound. Great to meet up with H2H, Uply, Wind and NorCal as well as all the regulars.
Tuesday is a special night for me. It’s the young mans 10th birthday and as a treat he will be accompanying me tomorrow night. Both are very much looking forward to it I must say. He has already identified where his hot dog is coming from and what sweets we are taking.
Hopefully the night out will be a great evening and a great way to spend a birthday. It will be a big boost for him as he is pain at the moment having broken a finger playing rugby on Sunday. This resulted in a trip to the local casualty to discover the bad news. The doctor he saw will still never understand why I smiled when he said that he would be out of sport for 3 weeks????? I was about to ask the question when discretion got the better of me.
I am hoping for a convincing start. I do think that if we come out fast and get on the score sheet early then marseille may well decide that they aren’t that fussed. I’m going for a 3-0 to the mighty Gooners. That will make the Battenburg taste that bit better on the way home.
Enjoy boys and girls.
I guess it all part of the course to feel nervous before Arsenal games which many of you in the bar are prob used to by now lol…I hope we win, and the next one too…that way would avoid the nerves eh?
A potential banana skin is right, Lurky. But ours for the taking if we want it enough.
This is our patch and we should start as we mean to go on, attacking. And for that I believe TR7 and Theo are essential starters, and I’d have Özilla the Hun, Rambo and OG as the other front players. With Flam replacing Mikel and the defence as is.
I expect a much better showing than we had at the weekend from Rambo who seems to get forward more when Flam is in the side, I think he trusts him more than Mikel.
2-0 has to be favourite, but 3+ nil is possible if we’re in the mood. But 2-1 or 2-2 if we’re not! Can I take a quadfecta?
Öskar
great preview Holic with the 3-1 result. nice…. and yes matty for Jack….please.
Pangloss #5 – it is nice to feel the quiet confidence that has not been present in the past few seasons.
We score quality goals and our team defensive efforts have been impressive and enjoyable to watch.
The whole team gets back (inc Giroud), and defend in sync very well. Flamini does his job so well and covers our backline consistently and aggressively. His experience shows.
Looking forward to watching this game and seeing our team build on their already impressive first half of the season.
Ok. So I have not converted to GMT. But I am not exactly on pacific time either. Where the hell does my body think it is? 315 am and wide awake, again. Ah well, it gave me a chance to catch up on a few things.
Cheers all. I too think we could put a 3-0 past them and I really think we will but ……
I like the calls for flamini, Ramsey, Rosicky with theo, Özil giroud. That’s a bench with Wilshere, Santi, and Arteta. Strong
Nicky B is just a plain idiot. He flushed a professional career down the crapper. His only duty at the emirates should be cleaning said fixtures. Akpom, Afobe, or even Gnabry deserve starts up top over him. Waste no more time on him.
Guess I’ll try to sleep……
Otd, Ramsey can get forward more when Flamini plays because Flamini and Arteta form a double pivot at the back. When either are out, Ramsey and Jack share the second DM duties. The other key reason to welcome Flamini’s return is that he provides cover wide for Gibbs in a way none of Arteta, Ramsey or Wilshere does. That lets Gibbs attack more, and Gibbs crossing has improved immeasurably this season.
NorCal: time to ask yourself, what would a jet-lagged ‘Holic do? Single malt. Just the ticket for a restorative sound night’s sleep.
TH14, Podolski and Ollie G walking hand in hand at London Colney with Santi and Robert Pires immediately behind. Pretty unbeatable five-a-side team.
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/photos/arsenals-lukas-podolski-olivier-giroud-thierry-henry-york-photo-131753764–sow.html
Henryyyyy!
I wonder if he’ll get a look-in and score a few cheeky goals? Would be great…
Hmm, that may be Kos in the red boots.
Will he still be there when the window opens?
Good, an interactive post! Holic, since you asked … I want Flamster and TR to start. Marseille are a tenacious bunch and we’ll need the cover from Mathieu and creativity from Tomas to counter their style of play. Don’t see us losing this one. It’s just that the closer you come to realizing your dream, well you know. And I think our lads feel it too.
Hello abb. I hope you are well.
Cheers Holic. And Hello too to abb, likewise hoping you are in good health.
Arsene must be chomping at the bit to destroy this team after they wrecked his chances when he was managing Monaco. Let’s hope they do!
I think we could see an edgy game that will result in a close victory for us. 2-1?
Hello ‘Holic. Thank you. I hadn’t seen what Elie Baup said, how complimentary (I’m taking it at face value).
Hello also to you ABB. I too hope that you are starting to feel much better now.
Oh, and I hadn’t noticed the Spurs counter for a little while now, but it caught my eye today and made me grin. Thank you for that too :-D.
Have a good day all.
Heh, had’t noticed that counter for ages either.
52 years and counting…..who’d have thunk it, the noise that lot make?
Good to see you t’other day, Poppet.
I like Lurky´s idea of getting Rosciky on the pitch.. he sets the tempo. Then when we are in charge we can have Theo on to threaten them with counterattacks. Simple this management game! 🙂
Hi Poppet!
I see Diego of Wolfsburg is making noises about Arsenal being his ideal destination. He’s described in one piece as a “diminutive playmaker.” No thanks, Diego – we got enough diminutives – we want a really big fucker.
Looks like the Bendtner incident has been a tad exaggerated – could happen to anyone after a few bottles of whisky – funny how it always seems to happen to him though. Loved some of the suggested “crimes” earlier, especially H2H’s – nice play on words.
Interesting article about our opponents today in the Guardian:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/nov/26/marseille-andre-pierre-gignac?
Anyone seen Podolskis Instagram Pic of him in a random boozer watching the boxing like a normal Human Being – Loving our Germans, Bring a sense of Normality back to Footballers.
As well as the FA trying to copy the German Coaching Set Ups etc Maybe they should also teach young English players that its ok to visit the big bad world on occasions, and mingle with those that pay their wages..
As for tonight 3-0 Home win 😉
Up The Arse!
Cheers ‘holic.
Number of ° = number of goals, and in the right nets=’holicpound success again.
Afternoon all.
Well it does indeed look like he of the Samurai barnet’s latest caper may have been a tad sensationalised. It would be nice to think that he could take his stubborn door breaking skills and apply them to breaking down a stubborn defense, but that may be just wishful thinking, although to be fair to him, he did spend almost the whole of Saturday’s game warming up on the touchline……..
It must be pretty important to have a good stretch before having a swim. 😉
Hope you’re feeling well Nursie.
*waves to Poppet.
Enjoy it tonight Steve and congrats with No1 son.
Sorry to hear the jetlag’s still got you in it’s grip NorCal, still, have a good one tonight mate and if you run into any of Saturdays crowd say hello from me.
Last time pal,
If you want to spam your blog here have the courtesy to ask.
With the mighty Arsenal taking on Marseille tonight, I’m pretty surprised that no one has pointed out the fact that both teams contain an ‘arse’.
This joke format also works for Scunthorpe vs. Man United.
Blimey, dkg,
That headline ( @50 ) was one word from disaster for the Marseille coach. 😉
Heh!, H2H,
I had just that minute accidently typed ‘Arseille’ too, but my ever vigilant proof reader – me – spotted the error.
“Plunging to 4 degrees” – ha! Call that cold?
Afternoon All,
Finally I have managed to find time for a little backdrink following a combination of a hangover to end all hangovers, and a virulent bout of the lurghi which started last thursday and shows absolutely no sign of any willingness to go away.
A belated and hugethank you for all the lovely birthday wishes that followed in the Bar after I left for the Tollie at an inordinately early hour on Saturday morning.
A big thank you to all those that made The Tollie on Saturday and for the many many drinks that followed. I would be lying if i said I remembered much of it – can we next have a huge gathering of Holics on somebody else’s birthday please? – but I think a good day was had by all.
Afternoon All,
Finally I have managed to find time for a little backdrink following a combination of a hangover to end all hangovers, and a virulent bout of the lurghi which started last thursday and shows absolutely no sign of any willingness to go away.
A belated and huge thank you for all the lovely birthday wishes that followed in the Bar after I left for the Tollie at an inordinately early hour on Saturday morning.
A big thank you to all those that made The Tollie on Saturday and for the many many drinks that followed. I would be lying if i said I remembered much of it – can we next have a huge gathering of Holics on somebody else’s birthday please? – but I think a good day was had by all.
A big thank you to all the regulars and to have our numbers swelled by H2H, Up, Bearded and NorCal for the first time was just terrific. I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone.
Some great reports in the last bar of the day, too many to mention, so I will leave it there, as my memories of it all aren’t worth a fig.
Thanks for the preview ‘H. Don’t anticipate any problems tonight. Good luck everybody. All those that are going enjoy. Come on the Arsenal.
Tabs certainly put the full shift in on Saturday. Well played Sir!
Nice one Tabs, it was an epic day.
Esso, great to meet you and Big Yin too.
H2H, certainly was mate. Here’s hoping we can all do it again soon.
Esssoooo – Great to see you mate- it had seemed like an age since our last catch up. Shame about that photo that Ian took though 😉
H2H – Absolutely terrific to see you Sir.
Glad to see you are in the land of the living again tabs. Just like the team….gave everything on Saturday and bounced back in time for a Tuesday square up.
Haha, hello Bath 🙂
I’ll be looking for sometime early next year for my next trip.
Have to rack up some serious Brownie pts with the other ‘alf first though. 😉
What constitutes “early” H2H?
February at the earliest, zico.
But I’m working on it.
We’re always working on it mate (brownie points, that is) 😉
Heh, indeed.
Szcsesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Wilshere, Ramsey, Ozil, Rosicky, Giroud
Monreal comes in for Gibbs, Flamini for Arteta, Rosicky for Cazorla
Strong bench: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Arteta, Walcott, Cazorla, Bendtner, Gnabry
Marseille rest Thauvin, Fanni, Valbuena as expected.
Just noticed, no Gibbs on the bench.
Stream hunting amid turkey day preparations. Thank yoy Fox Sports for your customary Arsenal champions league blackout but see you in Lisbon.
Yeah, whats up with Gibbo? 🙁
Gibbs is ‘unwell’ apparently.
Arsenal FC @Arsenal 1m
.@KieranGibbs will not be involved in #AFCvMAR due to illness
There seems to have been more viruses this season than others. Hopefully it is minor and he gets well very quickly.
Come on Arsenal!
Good chance for Nacho to show what he is about, his cameos this season were very promising.
Unlucky for Gibbs.
Monreal a more then capable replacement though
Don’t think I’ll be able to catch much of the game. 🙁
Anyone else having trouble accessing wiziwig site? 🙁
Eandy, Google Chrome can not make contact….
Safari neither.
had to opt for the alternative …for all stream hunters here 🙂 http://livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/199953_arsenal_marseille/
Eandy,
http://livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/199953_arsenal_marseille/
very good 2000kb/s streams, need to have sopcast application instaled though. Enjoy.
Hi everyone. Thanks for your inquiries. Once I’m here, I no longer suffer the company of fools 😉
Steve T, Your little guy takes after you. You both are good at planning! Please give him a hug (but not in public!) 🙂
8ball, I feel your disgust. Fox Extra will show our game later tonite. So player it is for me. So please holics, no skimping on your color analysis during the game.
Tabs, so good to see you here. I do believe another big b’day comes in January, so you’ll get your wish soon enough. 🙂
Ahem…
COYG!
No cazorla but wilshire ?
hehe thanks Lurky, watching the Russian Sopcast already, but thanks nonetheless…come on lads!
WILSHERE!!!
31 seconds, goal Jack !
Take it back Aussie 😆
You’re welcome, cheers.
LOL JACK!
And GEt IN!!!!!
what happened?
Can’t wait to see his goal.
Come on!
Take it back for sure wind…..
Again proven wrong…..
scruz, Jack got one in! Don’t know who provided the assist.
In arsene i now completely trust
Wilshire was provided a top ball down the left by sagna cut back in on his left foot and cirled into the top left hand corner
Looks so far that everytime Jacks scores this season, there is something special about the goal hehe:)
just saw jack’s. fabulous.
good morning all, ramsey almost got a second. brilliant attack. damn, that was close.
First corner for us!
We are cutting them to pieces and ramsey just misses straight in front with only the goalie to beat
Aaron! should have been two
ohhhh our fans are so cool!
Hey Nursie, I’ve finished my match day report, was gonna post it just before the match but Jack scored so early haha, no chance 😛
Probably after but before Holic posts the new blog 🙂
ripping them up down the right. sagna a beast.
Wind, just something for me to look forward too 🙂
just don’t let us down about the burger, wind 🙂
27 seconds, Jacks goal!
I’ve got you guys covered Scruz 😉
they call him wind…:)
Ha ha @ 116!
Dortmund 1 Napoli 0
brilliant ball by Ramsey…Mesuts touch let him down:(
Great save by szcez. Sure goal otherwise
We have #1 keeper!
Indeed they do Scruz 😛
Giroud working his socks off as always
na na na na hey hey giroud…
We are constantly damaging them down the right.
Sagna consisteny oberlapping
lol did Flamster take scissors to his shirt again? XD
Beautiful free by ozil giroud pulled down in the box no penalty
what a delivery by Mesut ..
aussie, i think he’d be oberlapping against dortmund. i think he’s oeuvrelapping against marseille.
Flamster organising the midfield defensive positions and generally bossing the team around.
Love it.
Looks to have sleeves rolled up in medium defiance of kit man
Arsenal penalty
no penalty there? huh.
Giroud misses
penno!
mesut, that was cack. horrible penalty.
why didn’t giroud take that?
Sorry ozil misses
ozil misses ..not OG ..oh my
card card card. too many right now. let’s get another here, mesut, make up for that bad penno.
C’mon Ozil, we believe in you! Everyone misses a pk, just ask our friend Wayne 😉
Ozil really needs to get serious.
another penno 😀
Its all happening here. Arsenal free just outside box ramsey smashes into wall
oh no ..only a fk
I really hope that missed penno will not come back to haunt us ..second one lads please to put the game to bed.
Ozil tried the two step (balotelli style)
so far sounds like we are bossing this game!
Aussie, do tell. Quite familiar with Mario’s PK’s !
successively sloppy last passes. tighten up, boys.
Our wide backs are gonna get tired of spending most of their time in marseille box.
Here we go again
corner to arsenal.
cheeky jack looking for the top corner. wasteful, though.
We are dominating but we need to close out our chances as scruz mentioned above.
Weve had 4 or 5 real chances to be two up.
Jack looking much sharper and fresh this evening
Thanks Aussie and scruz, appreciate your commentary 😉
Well in arsenal half time
not a bad first half from what i’ve seen, but a second when we were way on top in the first 15 would have been dandy. and of course, if özil had converted.
still, hardly a sniff for chezza.
I’m missing it all, damn it//
Keep the commentary coming holics.
Yeah..we should have been three up by now ..Aarons chance and Mesuts penno should have ended in the back of the net.
Except for the lucky ricochet to Gignac we are not giving them a sniff ..second goal should be enough to see this game through ..but we really need that, as comfortable in defense we are now ..I really fear some fuckup to happen. Which would be a shame since right now we deserve to win this one by gulf of a class.
One of the few pleasures of being an arsenal supporter in aus is hreat live coverage of most arsenal games.
I look forward to my first pilgramage to watch arsenal live at the emirates and a visit to the the tollie one day in my life.
Why do goal line referees even exist?
Giroud pulled down by defender with two handfulls of shirt in the box right in front of the official and no call. Keeper is two feet in front of his line on the PK, right in front of the official again; no call (rubbish PK from Ozil notwithstanding….)
What’s the point?
I’m sorry but after the first 10 minutes or so, that was crap – both teams. There’s an opportunity here to really bulk up the goal difference and we’re fucking it up. Sloppy, unconcentrated, just really really poor.
Worst performance for a long time. Walcott should come on – he’ll have a hay day.
Good 1st half. I have absolutely no complaints about that performance. Little margins are what is stopping us from scoring more than 1.
Anybody notice flamini had done the cuttin sleeve thing again?, he really doesnt like em long!
Arsene will rip into em at half time to put those chances away in the second half.
We look well in control and marseille not offering much
Flamini covering the few minor marseille attacks with calm
You’re easily pleased Cent. I hope AW doesn’t share your lack of complaint.
I can officially report the flamster has his shirt sleeves cut in half in full defiance of the kit man.
1 to flam 0 to the kitan
love it.
Guardian half-time summary:
We can’t dress this one up: it’s been very boring. Arsenal scored early and ambled their way through the remainder of the half against a Marseille team that look like they’re turned up merely to fulfil contractual obligations. Arsenal have been negligent in not scoring again – Ozil’s soft penalty exemplifying their lack of oomph – and if OM somehow equalise the home side will have only themselves to blame.
I dont get the point of the sleeve cutting though, why not roll em up like Giroud does. It is a tradition that sleeve lenght is chosen by a captain and all players should respect it. It is a minor thing I know but it just seems kinda nonsensical to pretty much ruin whole shirt just because you dont like long sleeves O.o
That was 0 to the kitman.
Apologies for iphone auto corrects
Was more of a 9-meter penalty then an 11-meter penalty. That goalie was so far out, rubbish penalty but hard when he got that much to start with. He seems to have nerves.
Love the spirit of Flamini! Love a rebel, me 😉
Wilshire a real spring in his step back live
Ohhhhhhhhh, good play by us!
never an offside
Arsenal back on top quickly playing in marseille final 3rd
Monreal nearly free in the box. Could have been close
Oooooh giroud so close with a long range shot
Ozil sounds very involved!
oooh Giroud almost!
I reckon the team have given the flamster permission to cut his sleeves as a real team man.
Love a rebel too abb.
Ozil denied after a superb ball by wilshire
hey Aussie, cheers!
game’s calling out for gnarby and theo.
Marseille only hanging on now until we score.
Valburna on for ayew
Frustrating! If we don’t score in 10 minutes I fear the worst.
seriously …handbrake off lads and put in the second one
that really was a brilliant ball from jack, with the outside of his right boot from near to midfield all the way to the box.
Chances coming thick and fast.
lurky, you always fear the worst 🙂
Calm down boys. We’ve got this.
Araenal supporters loud and happy in the ground.
Cmon arsenal.
All the play in marseille box or just outside
great work by jack again, great pass from mesut. we’re really pressing them hard.
I’m hearing we’ve taken a lot of shots on target. That bodes well for us!
again..not offside
two really marginal offside calls by that farside ref.
oh, look, chezza touched the ball 🙂
hey@ 184 with stellar response @ 188 😉
This is a much more solid defensive arsenal team lurky.
I still think we will score 3 when we bring on gnabry or theo.
I fear for the holic pound as i dont see marseille getting near out box
Dortmund up by two!
ooh almost a half chance for OG
Dortmund 2 up now
Wilshire scores a beautiful goal
Told you we’ve got this!
kaboom!….
Wilshere!
Jack! finally!
Beautiful passing movement by the team and well deserved
great assist from mesut, and great throughball by aaron.
Goal!!!! Who! Jack again, OMG! OG >Ramsey > JW Brace (yourselves)! 🙂 🙂
Evening all 🙂
Get the fucking in. Mandanda the spider you can now fyck off.
i’d like to see theo on now, please. almost a guarantee for two more.
Beautiful play for the 2nd
And Mesut! 🙂 Thanks scruz! Must lay off the booze 😉
Also if anyone ever again tells me that OG has no skill, I will tell him to look what he did just prior the goal, the flick around the player was pretty neat.
The arsenal fans singing loud and proud booming through the coverage
Outclassing them.
67th minute, up by 2, and pressing like *that*? spectacular.
unfortunately, aaron down with a rib issue after valbuena decides to lay some little manwood on him.
Ozil is mr calm and just continally makes the beautiful game look so easy
gnarby on for aaron, please. and theo for mesut.
Gawd, commentators talking about permutations…
Szcez saves and monreal clears off the line
Nacho man is there if needed
yikes. cleared off the line after a 1-1 save by chezza.
Walcott and cazorla onfor jack and tr7
dont get complacent!
rozza and jack replaced by theo and santi. yum.
Timely defending by us. TR off for Theo. Jack off for Santi. Team win thus far!
2-1 Napoli. Surprised by that!
Flamini screaming at our midfield to get back and help out.
Thats what we have needed when weve been in front in previous seasons
love napoli to pull back another.
Another golden glove save by woj!
Come on boys, keep that sheet clean
fucking chezza again…what a save.
Cracking save by szcez after loose marseille players left free in our box
woj!
marseille acting like they might be able to get two.
lucky, matty. don’t dither.
Flamster limping and went to roll his sleeves up but he doesnt have any….
Not gonna feel sorry for Manu. Nor Tottenham. We have waited so bloody long for a season like this.
abb, you’re sweet. why on earth would you *ever* feel sorry for them, even if we were having a dire season?
Arsenal free 30 out
oh, theo, need a better pass, lad. you did the harder work.
Stupid Rafael.
Arteta on ozil off
arteta for mesut. quite game, but effective by the tcherman.
About 8 min left. Dortmund 3-1.
Our red defence is holding well
Bfg has bfg long legs.
scruz, just saw your ?! Hey, I’m just a softie. Really feel bad for spur fans. Losing modric, then Bale…
We are setting ourselves up for another i feel.
Ooooh cazorla just misses a cracker
Ooooh Santi
if we lose to Napoli by 2-0, will we go through? Provided that VB beat Marseille.
lol, abb. definitely a softie 🙂 me? i hope they lose no one else, and avb is their manager for a good long time 🙂
we’re controlling the game now, santi should have scored…
Cazorla working hard in his defensive duties.
Flam wins the ball back again
Walcott just misses only goalie to beat
ha ha. we have the advantage of teamwork! Our players are friends. Spurs will have to get to know each other, respect their teammates and not be selfish!
ooooh, theo. just wide left on a great break pass from sagna.
Feo so unlucky!
Basel 1 nil up on Chelsea btw. Haha!
Marseille back four very flat And easy to get in behind
we should have had at least 4 if not 5
as chances go, we have been pretty fucking wasteful tonight ..should have racked up goal difference by many. On the other side, it does not get any more comfortable than this, it is a nice change to be honest to just relax and enjoy the game.
Bit boring, but very professional performance.
All over
Well done the arse
and there it is!
Very comfortable, nothing wrong with that! Best team since the Invinceables!
Yes, very professional indeed. I’m enjoying this new mature style of play but sometimes I miss the craziness of a 7-5 😀
Agree cannons
Very solid and look like the real deal team
Cor, I’d settle for the Joy of Six 😉
I dont miss the 7-5 style at all….
Give me clean sheets any time
Repeat myself, Nacho really showed that we can count on him. Nice to have two such good left backs
So who is up for a win in Italy on matchday six?
Off to work and some chelski fans ribbing
A professional team would have been 4 up at half-time.
When goal difference could be important, that was a missed opportunity. Loads of sloppy passing, especially from Rosicky, but Aaron, Mesut and Jack too. They looked like they thought it was an Emirates Cup game.
OK, it’s a win and two good goals but overall not very impressive against such weak opposition.
Sorry to be so negative but you lot are all so pie-in-the-sky positive, I feel someone has to say it and put a bit of balance into it.
So 2-0 it was.
Easy that prediction lark. 😉
With you dk
Not big of a test so we really should have 4 or 5 to the good
@ dkgÖÖner
The results against Marseille will be discounted if it’s a three-way tie so it didn’t matter if we scored 2 or 10 in this game. All that matters is that we won.
Goal difference for the three teams in contention: Arsenal +2, Dortmund +1, Napoli -3.
If Dortmund beat Marseille (as we all expect) then Napoli has to beat us by three goals to go through.
dk – I agree that some of our passing was off and the team never really was in highest gear, but still managed to stroll to comfortable victory.
Such “weak” opponents often used to be a banana skin kind of slips for us in the past, now we just do not give them a sniff and do what is needed to have points in the bag. Yes, I agree that we should have scored more, especially Özils penalty was really really bad but then again, on the another day many of our chances would be buried.
All in all I know there are negatives in this performance but look at Chelski vs Basel how to not play against “outsider”… so I m going to sip some more wine and enjoy another three points collected.
Basel by the way become a nightmare for English teams
Chelsea lost without having a single shot against Basel!
Champions League? You’re having a giraffe mate!
Farcelona lost to Ajax too.
Loving this season…
OK xiper – point taken.
Let’s hope we take one against Napoli – really want us to top this group.
MoTM, Jacky boy followed closely by Nacho and Ramsey for me.
Unfortunate not to score two or three more goals in this one; could use the cushion for goal differential with the others if drop all three points at Napoli.
Agreed, topping the group of death would be lovely.
I just hope we play positive football against Napoli instead of playing with the handbrake on.
@ Bayonne Jean
It’d have made no difference. See comment 272.
And let’s hope there’s a bit more urgency about the performance on Saturday.
On the plus side: another clean sheet – Nacho’s strong performance – Woj kept his concentration – Flamini excellent – and a further display from Jack which indicates he’s playing himself back into form.
Think I’ll have a Bowmore to wash the grumps away.
‘Night all.
We are going through a bit of iffy period with respect to the quality of the final ball and finishing, and some of our passing was off in the middle, however you cannot expect a team to play with such consistent high quality in all matches.
There were some very encouraging performances as well. dk @ 269 — I thought TR7 had a good game, some very creative passing mixed with a few missed passes but excellent pressing and opening up channels for others, tactical discipline to cover the left flank, and quite a few great tackles in both halves as well. Rambo and Giroud both were visibly tired — well may be Rambo not so visibly because he never stops to run but his poor passing was the result of fatigue — but as they always do never hid.
Defense very good with Flamini providing good cover for wide players, Szczesny and Jack had excellent games, and Monreal really grew into the game as it progressed and was equally impressive in attack and defense. Our best left back pairing by far after many many years.
MoTM, Jacky boy followed closely by Nacho and Ramsey for me
Just ask the Doctor, he knows 🙂
dk @ 281: I don’t think there was a lack of urgency. There was simply fatigue when the mind and body don’t work in sync and players make mistakes but I didn’t see anyone taking anything for granted.
Giroud and Rambo need a break though, IMHO.
Even with the loss chelsea are through unbelievable math involved
Watched the game down the pub – strange thing, it was packed to the rafter for the Dortmund game but very nearly empty tonight. I have to disagree with Doc Faustus @282, I thought TR7 was poor tonight; too many misplaced passes for me, I also thought the Fishgod was a little off tonight. On the other hand I was very impressed with both fullbacks, and thought Jack looked better than he has for a couple of seasons. Excellent work from Szczesney and the BFG and Kos had the kind of anonymous games I’d like them to have 40+ times a season!
I got a little nervous a couple of times early in the second half but once we got a second, the result really didn’t seem in any doubt.
Great results for Basel and Ajax. Bring on Cardiff…
COYG
And people(pundits) have been worried about injuries to Gibbs. Nacho is probably the best backup in the defence we have. Great going forward and stable in the back. Hope Wenger rotate those two a bit more, can’t risk an injury to Gibbs and we keep Nacho fit.
If you forget everything you know about our other teams of more recent years and watch this team play you will realize that there is now more emphasis on defence more than attack.
When we went 1-0 up in past years we continued pouring forward while the opposition sat deep and tried hitting us on the counter. A positive effect of that strategy was the high-scoring wins we always had but the bad part was that we lost leads that damage team moral.
This new team goes 1-0 up and plays the around the back to try and suck the opposition out of their shell then pick ’em apart when they come out. The result is that we won’t have too many, if any, high-scoring encounters but it ensures we don’t throw away leads and points because we are pouring forward in a bid to increase our goal difference. In fact I’m quite convinced that if we continue this way we won’t win any game by a 4 goal margin this season but we will create a new record of the highest number of games we won by a 2 goal margin in a season in recent years.
Manure where the masters of this tactics under Fergie. Think of how many times you watched their games under Fergie and thought their opponents had a chance of getting back into the game but somehow it never quite seemed to happen for their opponents.
Can’t understand why everyone is scared of a match at Napoli.
We will get AT least a point. The fat Spanish Waiter is still sweating following the roasting his team took in the first half at The Emirates.
Another Aresnal win, another clean sheet.
All good. 😎
Aresnal?
And that’s without a drink…..
Arsenal win; Zico manages to switch off italics; this evening just keeps on getting better and better.
Dr F, knows!
Like I said Pangloss, without a drink 😉
My only fear is that we will be tired in the middle of December when there still is a lot of month left and a lot of games to play
Cent. Sport on. Not saying we won’t get a big scoring win or two, which might well happen anyways due to the attack we’ve got, but you are quite right. This team is a team set up to get three points no matter what. Which we’ve been getting quite a lot this season. Without being boring in any way, shape or form.
Sport on? Spot on!
Xiper @ 280; OK with explanation on why goal difference in this match doesn’t influence the three way tie scenario.
What happens if Gunners lose by one goal at Napoli, and Dortmund beats Marseille to create the three way deadlock. Napoli drops out on their three way goal difference, but Arsenal and Dortmund are tied on GD (both would be at +1 in the three way round robin). So who would be first in the group then?
Pass into the middle
My Saturday started out with me catching up with my family (the secondary reason for my return to London 8) 😛 ) in the morning after my late arrival home a few hours earlier then departing for the Tollie once an Oyster card for transport had been secured, my mum being kind enough to let me use hers for the day 🙂 The ‘Thierry Henry’ at Piebury Corner was decided against once I reached Holloway Road Station due to lack of time, a quick trip to the nearest cashpoint followed and it was onto the Tollie. Past the bouncers with a flash of the Membership Card (they don’t ask me for ID anymore, guess I’m growing up 😉 ) out into a beer garden to avoid having to squeeze past people and back into the Tollie to spot the Holics.
H2H was embraced then mistaken for NorCal in that order (it had been about a year since I’d seen the American in my defence 😛 ), the Californian himself was then greeted and slowly but surely I began to see the main culprits: the birthday boy TaBS happily conversing with fellow Gooners, Top Man Snowy, Poppet, Lars with that Legendary Wallet, Ollie here and there, the maestro ‘Holic in the Tollington Road Beer Garden, Trev with his Half Pint. I was then able to put some new faces to old names: Bathgooner looking wise, Adam (who I now understand to be Bathgooner Junior? 😀 ), Bearded Gooner with beard mighty and American accent faint ;), Uplympian looking both bewildered but pleasantly surprised 🙂 Later on I was finally able to put Steve T’s face to his name, and Zico joined the thrall later, his arrival coinciding with Liverpool’s late equaliser for 3-3… 😛
I was able to have some great scintillating conversations with some of the Holics: one with Bearded about his move to London + the similarities between London & New York but the differences between New York and San Francisco’s transport systems, another with bathgooner about his career as a hematologist, one with bathgooner jr/adam about recent arsenal games and the day’s prospects + the Merseyside Derby that was on in the Tollie at the time, me and Uplympian chatted about the West Country and my University studies, and Steve T and I chewed the fat over the attitude of Arsenal fans in the Emirates, good away games to go to, how to accrue away points but also about his away game trips with his kids 🙂
Too soon it was time to leave for the Emirates, even if 15 minutes extra were had in the Tollie due to the delay in kick off because of the difficulty in getting to the stadium on the day via London Underground/Overground or the DLR (nice one TfL! 🙄 ) Assurances were granted that Holics would be seen again after the match but it was a fond farewell with the Holics that couldn’t return again after, and I set off down Hornsey Road with H2H and NorCal. This was one of the best parts of the day, as H2H provided a very accurate description tour of how the immediate area looked when he was a kid: the places that he lived, the school he attended and the shops that were present were all recalled with amazing clarity, giving a different type of presence to this particular walk to the Home of Football. The Matchday programme was purchased, as it has been at every Arsenal game I’ve gone to watch. H2H said I didn’t need one (and in all truthfulness I didn’t, but those are the sort of things I want to show my future kids when bringing them up as Arsenal fans 🙂 )
After me and NorCal had figured out with the help of a friendly steward which lettered gate area corresponded to our area in the stadium, we looked up to find out that H2H had already seized the initiative and entered the North Bank at the nearest electronic block! 😆 We duly followed & made our way upstairs to our area, only to find our Ollie & Silva from the Arses standing outside! Turns out they were in the same one by chance, only quite a few rows down. Seats found and taken, we awaited the arrival of both teams. A different & new experience it must have been for both of my companions on the day, for one the first time viewing Arsenal live from the lofty heights of the upper tier, for the other the first time viewing Arsenal in the Emirates full stop. The game kicked off, and I was pleasantly surprised with the increased chanting from the home crowd compared to the last time I’d been at the Emirates. Shouts of “We’re the North Bank, We’re the North Bank, We’re the North Bank Highbury!” and the counterpart chant from the Clock End were heard, H2H providing a bit of a history lesson on the chant in his Highbury days + other chants that originated from that stadium. Boruc had his cock-up and the Emirates laughed 😆 Every time he was near the ball, an “Ooooooooooohhh….” would go up followed by ironic cheers, it threw him off his game for sure. At Half Time or so Silva showed me a picture he’d taken of King Thierry in his box with his daughter, made sense with the great man currently training at London Colney.
The 2nd half was fairly uneventful bar us being awarded a penalty & Giroud converting, Lallana in particular coming off reduced the minimal threat that Southampton had. H2H did note that all of our play came down the left hand side, even with Walcott’s introduction.
Full Time came, the chants of “Top of the League” reverbating around the stadium, and we made our way back to the Tollington, even with NorCal doing his best to lose me and H2H in the crowd 😉
The birthday boy was in an even better mood as we arrived back to the Tollie & for good reason 🙂 Esso appeared allowing me to put another face to a name, apparently I’d met Esso before but maybe it was him who had met me, I had no recollection of it for some reason 😕 I got chatting to Lars’ mate Martin and one of the Swedish Gooners Liz as the West Ham/Chelsea game was on the TVs, I’d met them (along with TS & TaBS for the 1st time!) at a Arsenal Sweden pub quiz at the Tollie that Lars had invited me to. Holic’s burger had been eyeing me up the whole evening (although this may have been the other way round in all honesty… 8) ) and I could no longer resist the temptation, as by that time I was sure the maestro had departed without most of us seeing. For those asking for a picture of this now infamous burger…
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BZx8r6JCEAA7VoS.jpg:large
The dual pint glass technique was applied, one hand with Staropramen, the other with Strongbow, that I could do such a thing was due to the generosity of the Holics on the day 🙂 I ended up chatting with Mario, a gooner I met at the second 5-2 NLD of 2012 (love how we can say that 😆 ) and his friend Christa (they’ve now become my two favourite Greeks 😀 ) so I missed the table top “Liar Liar” attempts from TaBS as a result, but all too soon it was time to leave. Goodbyes, handshakes and hugs were exchanged with the Holics that remained and me, NorCal and H2H ventured off into the North London night. H2H was all too happy to point out various other important landmarks as we walked towards Finsbury Park Station. A quick walk was taken partway down St Thomas’ Road to show NorCal where Highbury once stood, we could see the silhouette in the night sky.
H2H offered to treat us to a meal, so I used my expert eye & existing knowledge of the area to discern the best Chicken & Chips shop in Finsbury Park. It had been a while since I’d had some so it was wolfed down with vigour, but also with the hunger of a student 😉 (they just don’t do it in Plymouth like they do in London 🙁 , and even if they did, it would be a bleeding rip-off! 😡 ) It was soon time to depart after hugs were shared and handshakes were given, H2H walked to his hotel and I walked NorCal to the Tube Station.
It truly was a great occasion and with myself studying out of London nowadays, there are longer and longer intervals where I don’t get to see Arsenal live so I find myself appreciating these opportunities more and more compared to when I was still based in London and could go as freely as I wished. I hope that we can have more Holic gatherings like this in the future, with more far flung Holics joining us on their pilgrimages to the Home of Football.
BJ
Should be we with better goal direct to BVB
Best. Century. Ever.
Rosicky was good as ever. He pushed forward, worked his socks off, contributing both in defense and offense. Started to tire and lose concentration maybe five minutes before he was subbed.
On other hand…
I was watching Walcott closely when he came on. Not good.
Not tracking back, jogging behind the last defender.
There were couple of situations where Flamini was terrified and very vocal, yelling for him to come back and track the fullback.
He just doesn’t have a clue of covering ground and getting into good defensive position. He is almost always behind his man, and in rare cases when he is in front of him, he gets passed way to easy.
There is something he should really work on if he wants a place in this Arsenal.
Especially considering Wilshere performance on that right side. . Putting Ramsey back to CM and Jack on the RW, what a masterstroke by Arsene
Ramsey is not a winger, he is a classic box to box midfielder, but Wilshere proved he can be whatever he wants to be.
Anyway, Szczęsny MOTM for me. Class goalkeeping. Enough said.
If I knew I was joining a thrall I would’ve refused membership….. 😛
But Zico, are you not in bondage to Roxette? Then, the Guinness? 😉
Roxette? Bondage?
Feck, loose tongues on Saturday obviously….. 😀
Wow Wind
I wish even more I could have been there.
I sincerely hope that you & all other Holics who haven’t already will get to experience something akin to that Datsyuk 🙂
Wind
I’ve been to the Emirates already but didn’t know the bar. Neither this nor the real one 🙂
I’ll be in London for new year and will try to get tickets for the Cardiff game when red members get a chance next week. Can’t wait
I’m going to try & get tickets for that game too, can only go to so few while I’ll be back home for Christmas. Who knows… 😉
Who knows 🙂
I’ll keep that in mind
What a century indeed Wind. Well played and great write up of a great day.
Btw, I sure want to visit the real bar then. So what about that membership, is one required?
What a strike Wind, can’t learn that in school.
Sorry Wind.
I will copy and paste it to the match report you must have known was coming.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Solid performance nothing to add!
We will never be able to play 110% of our beautiful footie throughout the whole season.
A two nil win is a well deserved win we worked our socks off tonight. Tomas was a bit off with his passing but he went forward and tracked back you could tell we was a tad disappointed when subbed, however it was the right call.
We lost our shape a little with those subs Walcott wanted to score a goal and didn’t tracked back Flamini was fuming! And rightly so!
Watching the highlights of the Chelski game and if have seen it then fuck me they were fucking awful!
@Bayonne Jean
If we lose by 1 goal to Napoli and Dortmund win, then Dortmund finish top of the group and we’ll be second since they have scored more away goals between the two teams.
I hope it doesn’t come down to this and we get atleast a point at Napoli which we are more than capable of.