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Rambo To Impress Back In His Roots?

Nov 29th, 2013 by 'holic

Still my one and only trip to watch us play at Cardiff City remains a 0-0 draw in the FA Cup in 1980, remembered elsewhere. There have since been some memorable Cup Final trips down there, and one less enjoyable, but a league encounter is something that predates even my awaydays, having been a 1-1 draw in October 1961. I was a cherubic four year old. Chances are I was at the return the following March when Highbury witnessed a repeat of that 1-1 scoreline.

The Arsenal goalscorer at Ninian Park in that last league meeting in Wales was one Mel Charles, brother of the legendary John, and as Welsh as they come. His next club in fact was Cardiff. What are the chances of former bluebird (or is that redbird these days?) Aaron Ramsey repeating the achievement this weekend? The boy is on fire.

Mel Charles

The home side have racked up some impressive performances at home this season, taking four points off the Manchester clubs courtesy of a 3-2 defeat of City and last weekend’s 2-2 draw with United. They also defeated fierce rivals Swansea in the South Wales derby. The attitude has to be right if we are to ensure the points from this one.

In his presser Arsene suggested the squad from Marseille remains intact and that Kieran Gibbs is recovered from sickness. I anticipate three changes to the side that won in midweek but that is gut feel and no more. The squad looks as strong as it has been in some time, so whichever eleven starts I suspect the key to the outcome will be our midfield. If they get going it will be a tough afternoon for Cardiff.

The ‘holic pound has to follow that line of thought. I’m taking a best of 15/2 on the 0-2 away win. I’m sure the Cardiff fans will be looking long and hard at the 11/2 against their team winning the match. Generous indeed for a home team these days.

For those hacking it past ‘holic towers to get to the game, have an excellent trip. Cardiff is an excellent city and the new stadium is handily placed these days. Have a great day out.

Cheers ‘holics.

Posted in match preview | 369 Drinks

369 Responses to “Rambo To Impress Back In His Roots?”

  1. on 29 Nov 2013 at 8:32 pm1bathgööner

    Hero Holic

  2. on 29 Nov 2013 at 8:34 pm2bathgööner

    Mel looks anither broth of a loon.

    Were you ever cherubic, mate?

  3. on 29 Nov 2013 at 8:45 pm3arsenicdaemon

    3rd!

  4. on 29 Nov 2013 at 8:48 pm4Holloway2Holland

    Nice one ‘h.

    Two nil to the good guys sounds like music to my ears, it won’t be a stroll in the park though as the mancs can testify.

  5. on 29 Nov 2013 at 8:52 pm5arsenicdaemon

    Good evening hölics & hölices,
    Now after reading, I have realized that the Guv’nor is a good man. 😉
    Three changes? Third to comment? Am going for a 0-3! Let’s do what Yanited couldn’t do in style.

  6. on 29 Nov 2013 at 8:56 pm6Panglossdroid

    Nice one ‘guv. Here’s to the health (and wealth) of the holic pound.

    COYG

  7. on 29 Nov 2013 at 8:57 pm7David

    Wenger for me has to decide between an attacking midfield trio of Wilshere, Risicky, Walcott, or select the combo of Carzola, Ozil, Wilshere. Either-way Jack is a certain starter. I hope Wenger selects the former option but I dare say he will go for the latter which offers less defensive back-tracking ability. A real shame that Gnabry probably won’t get a look-in with the plethora or options to select from. Judging by how Cardfiff performed last weekend Arsenal will need a top-level display to win.

  8. on 29 Nov 2013 at 9:00 pm8Cent

    Cheers, Guv, not at all shabby for, I presume, a rushed preview.

    I will go with the ‘holic pound and predict a 2-0 win for the mighty gunners. I also expect a few changes to our midfield but with the depth we have in there I’m quite sure the quality of our football won’t drop. Sweet.
    Come On You Gunners.

  9. on 29 Nov 2013 at 9:06 pm9zicoinexile

    No shortage of boozers the last time I was there, which was “recently”.

    That lazy, prima-donna Ozil better DO something tomorrow……

    *sarcasm alert*

  10. on 29 Nov 2013 at 9:13 pm10David

    Actually when did Ozil last create or score a goal…that penalty effort was not far off a sham attempt.

  11. on 29 Nov 2013 at 9:14 pm11David

    Bar wilshere’s second the other night of course 🙂

  12. on 29 Nov 2013 at 9:22 pm12Cent

    We will need a top-level performance to win against Cardiff like we did for every single game we’ve won, drawn or on some occasions lost. But as the enlightened and authoritative ones amongst us know, and we must all accept, Wenger is past it, he doesn’t do tactics and always gets his team selection wrong so if we win please do remember that it’s because Cardiff chose to be shit this weekend and Wenger has fluked it yet again to take us 7 points clear at the top.

  13. on 29 Nov 2013 at 9:29 pm13Holloway2Holland

    I’d wager that that is not Cent.

  14. on 29 Nov 2013 at 9:34 pm14David

    Wenger hitherto has upped his level and as a result Arsenal a much more functioning unit.

  15. on 29 Nov 2013 at 9:35 pm15Holloway2Holland

    I think the big question is, does AW start Feo?

  16. on 29 Nov 2013 at 9:40 pm16David

    Im not the only one questioning Ozil; no one can dispute his level has dipped from the Dortmund home match onwards. if Bendtner had taken a penalty as Ozil did the other evening, the boy would have needed a security escort out of the ground. Players should be criticised when they are not performing well. The best thing he does at present is draw opposing defenders on to him, allow more space for teammates to operate in, which is a positive.

  17. on 29 Nov 2013 at 9:46 pm17göönsterham lincöln

    17th? Survived relegation…

  18. on 29 Nov 2013 at 9:50 pm18göönsterham lincöln

    David, I refer you to the lengthy discussion in the previous thread that you (inadvertently) started but apparently never read. The rest of you ‘holics, lets resist the urge to do that all over again.

  19. on 29 Nov 2013 at 9:54 pm19göönsterham lincöln

    Personally, I’d expect Feo to start, H2H. He isn’t at his best yet but the only way for him to get there is to play. Even with him on the pitch we don’t lack creative midfielders (perm any 3 from Ozil, Cazorla, Ramsey, Wilshere, Rosicky) and his pace forces defences to choose between defending deeper (and letting that creativity + GIROUD pummel them to bits, and holding a high line and giving Walcott the space to run in behind. A difficult question indeed.

    Feo will be chomping at the bit to catch up with Giroud and Ramsey who have a considerable head start in the goals dept. I’d love to see him Saturday.

  20. on 29 Nov 2013 at 9:55 pm20bathgööner

    Good point goonsterham.

  21. on 29 Nov 2013 at 9:56 pm21bathgööner

    that was @18, but 19 is too.

  22. on 29 Nov 2013 at 9:58 pm22Joe

    Holic,

    Thanks for the write up! It amazes me how the likes of yourself and Arseblogger can selflessly give so much, to so many, each and every day. Initially this may have been for the love of the club but of course, that has now grown into the love of the micro community that has developed around those blogs. Its long become a way of life for you both, but also to those who log in every day for the daily fix, updates, crack, banter……..and of course to monitor the performance of the Holic pound. I just feel its important to say thanks so much! I will certainly make an effort to contribute a piece or two going forward in the vague and distant hope that it meets the high standards you have set!

    On another note, and with your kind permission Holic, I link the following article analysing the strengths of Giroud, Benteke and Lukaku which I found most interesting:

    http://www.7amkickoff.com/2013/the-shot-charts-show-why-i-would-love-lukaku-at-arsenal-but-also-why-hell-never-come/?

  23. on 29 Nov 2013 at 10:00 pm23Holloway2Holland

    Well said Joe.

  24. on 29 Nov 2013 at 10:00 pm24göönsterham lincöln

    Cheers, Joe! I echo your sentiments.

  25. on 29 Nov 2013 at 10:01 pm25Lurky

    @18goonsterham knows.

  26. on 29 Nov 2013 at 10:03 pm26Cent

    Joe knows.

  27. on 29 Nov 2013 at 10:07 pm27Joe

    H2H,

    I know Theo is just back from injury, but even before he got injured, he’s been very poor this season. Of course, he does offer a different threat and its important he regains some form, so I expect Wenger will give him some game time because he needs it.

    Bath,

    A nip of Dallmore toasting your good health tonight sir..!

  28. on 29 Nov 2013 at 10:07 pm28bathgööner

    Well said Joe. You vocalise the thoughts of many of us.

    A toast of amber nectar, sir.

    Slainte.

  29. on 29 Nov 2013 at 10:08 pm29bathgööner

    That was toasting you @22.

    A further toast of HP 18yo, to you sir.

  30. on 29 Nov 2013 at 10:17 pm30göönsterham lincöln

    Joe @27, you’re right that Theo has missed some good chances this season and never really got it going. His injury hasn’t helped.

    But let’s not forget that he was our leading scorer last season. He’s always been a little streaky, we know that. But make no mistake, he will hit a purple patch (several in fact) and with the service that he’ll be getting, how is that not a tantalizing prospect?

    I also refer you to mine @19. Even if Theo isn’t hitting all the right notes, the threat he brings makes us much more dangerous, because his pace forces defences to defend deeper, and thus gets Giroud closer to the goal, where he needs to be. It’s no coincidence that Giroud’s goalscoring pace has slackened since Theo has been out.

  31. on 29 Nov 2013 at 10:18 pm31Thundertinygooner

    Mel Charles was in the first Arsenal team I ever saw at Highbury. He never fulfilled his enormous potential
    mainly because of injuries( sound familiar?) but he had some fine moments in an Arsenal shirt.
    Tomorrow we have a great chance to start a charge to nine very attainable points before 10 days in which we play Napoli, Citeh and Chelski. Let’s hope Ozil can orchestrate a fine triumph tomorrow. If we do take nine points we will be in a terrific position come mid December

  32. on 29 Nov 2013 at 10:23 pm32göönsterham lincöln

    @31 ttg, oh how I’d love Erzil to score a couple, make a couple tomorrow and silence all the redonkulous doubters.

    It’s like Arseblogger said recently. First world problems.

    http://arseblog.com/2013/11/problems-in-perspective/

  33. on 29 Nov 2013 at 10:36 pm33DepressedGooner

    I have next to no doubts that we will win by a comfortable scoreline, I’m in a bit of a funk at the moment so have kept away to spare you all my moaning 😉

    We all know Ozil has been below par for a few games, but he still manages to have an effect in each game even if it is just to draw players away, he is probably knackered and taken back by just how physical this league is and he is far too good not to rediscover that early excellent form, keep faith fellow gooners.

    Here’s to opening the best present this Christmas, Arsenal sitting at the top of the tree. 🙂

  34. on 29 Nov 2013 at 10:39 pm34Cent

    H2H, 12 is me.

  35. on 29 Nov 2013 at 10:43 pm35TommyD

    Well in Joe! It is pretty amazing the sub culture that holic and arseblogger have created through their love of our great club!

    Let’s hope we get the 3 points tonight. If we win the next 3 the gap should open up before we then play citeh after the Napoli game. We play Napoli on the Wednesday in Naples then citeh 12.45 on the Saturday. Citeh will have the luxury of resting players for their final champs lge game. If we can get at least a draw then we will be flying going into the chavski game a week later…

  36. on 29 Nov 2013 at 10:43 pm36Trev

    Well said goonsterham, Joe @various.

    Pretty decent for a hurried preview Holic – actually very interesting, hurried or not. 😉

    On Özil, I am happy to accept the opinions of just about every top player that he is one of the finest five or so in the world.

    Time will prove it …… It will.

  37. on 29 Nov 2013 at 10:52 pm37Joe

    G-Lincoln,

    I’m one of the very few on this blog, who have grave reservations about Theo. While I was delighted with his performance last season, and happy to be proven wrong, I still think he has so much to prove. His performance last season was the first time he delivered in 8 seasons! And if I’m being completely honest with you – I think he’s a valuable squad player, but he most certainly is not (in my eyes) a first team player for many different reasons.

    I don’t subscribe to the theory that top teams will defend deeply against us solely because of Theo’s pace. Top teams will defend deeply against us irrespective of whether Theo plays or not. Watch how Chelsea will play us – much the same way Manu did – deeply.

    I’m with Trev on Ozil – top 5 player in world footie for me.

  38. on 29 Nov 2013 at 11:26 pm38göönsterham lincöln

    Joe, fair enough. I don’t think Theo will ever be our best player, and I think his game has always been a little too inconsistent and relies very much on his pace, a problem he needs to sort out if he wants to continue to be relevant after he loses a step, two steps, three…(see Fernando Torres).

    But I still think he is a first team player for us right now. It’s tough to sit last year’s leading goalscorer on the bench. His finishing has improved drastically over previous years, and if he can return to the form he was in last season he will be a very dangerous weapon for us indeed. As I said above, even with Theo in the line-up our team has no dearth of inventive midfielders. He give us another dimension. Without him (and in the continued absence of Podolski and the Ox) we don’t have any natural wide men. Despite our lofty league position, I’d argue we’ve missed them.

    Of course it’s all very subjective. In the end of course it’s not up to me or you. I trust the boss to get it right, and I’ll support the hell out of whoever he decides to put out there.

  39. on 29 Nov 2013 at 11:29 pm39Wind

    Good post Holic, rushed an’ all 😉

    It will be a difficult game, Cardiff have been in good form since winning the South Wales derby but if the lads play the way we know they can, then I can see a very happy gentleman celebrating his successful wager come 4:50pm or so 🙂

  40. on 29 Nov 2013 at 11:42 pm40Öskar the dog

    You’ve created a monster that people want to be a part of, ‘holic, a bit like Mark Zuckerberg. Your only mistake was not figuring out how to make the same kind of money out of it. 😉

    1-2, or 1-3 if Theo and/or TR7 start.

    Öskar

  41. on 29 Nov 2013 at 11:58 pm41Uplympian

    Nice preview scrabbled together Guv’nor….fancy a 2-0 to the good guys as well, but they will make us fight all the way
    To join the Theo discussion, he looked well off the game pace in his 2 substitute appearances since his return ….back to the old habit of watching the game go by as he sauntered around. However he is the type of player that does need game time to get back up to speed and involved – he can only do this by being on the pitch – but of a catch 22 situation. Of course when he is on song, he is a marvellous asset to the team.
    TTG, I remember the Mel Charles signing – a big money deal then of £43000. Many of us were hoping he would get close to the level of his mega star and mega talented brother John. Alas it turned out to be another one that fell by the wayside during that dismal era for AFC. He was not helped by being injury prone, but did score a few cracking goals when he was fit.

  42. on 30 Nov 2013 at 12:24 am42Holloway2Holland

    Joe.

    That is why I believe that the inclusion/exclusion of Feo is the big question this weekend.

    I too have been pretty sceptical about him over the years, his stats make excellent viewing, but a lot of the time what you actually see tells a different story, it’s wierd. It’s definetly like there are two Theo’s, as he said himself, he is “consistant in patches”

    At this moment we need everyone firing on all cylinders, it’s tough getting to the top and even tougher staying there, we have no time for passengers, which may sound a bit harsh, but I wouldn’t mind if Walcott was used as an impact sub, bring him on for the last 25 mins or so, when he can use his pace to get behind tiring defences. At least until he’s proven he is up to speed.

  43. on 30 Nov 2013 at 12:29 am43Steve T

    Nice write up Holic. Tomorrow will be hard fought but we should have more than enough to get a result. It will be interesting to see if Theo gets a start. We have a fair few matches in the not too distant future and will need everyone firing on all cylinders.

    David, I’m guessing you don’t get to too many games if you don’t recognise Özil’s quality. The penalty on Tuesday was poor. I don’t know anyone that has said otherwise. Turn up once in a while and watch is movement both on and off the ball. Your opinions might change just a little.

    3-0 to the mighty Gunners.

    Keep the faith.

  44. on 30 Nov 2013 at 12:32 am44Steve T

    Blimey H2H. We do think along similar lines.

    😀

  45. on 30 Nov 2013 at 12:32 am45bathgööner

    Top comments H2H@42, and Steve T@43. Couldn’t agree more. Worth sitting up with insomnia for. 🙂

  46. on 30 Nov 2013 at 12:34 am46Steve T

    Insomnia Bath???? Don’t worry. Time to get excited. Only two sleeps to Christmas?????

    😀

  47. on 30 Nov 2013 at 12:35 am47Holloway2Holland

    Indeed Steve mate.

    Cheers Bath, sir.

  48. on 30 Nov 2013 at 12:36 am48Holloway2Holland

    😆

  49. on 30 Nov 2013 at 12:36 am49bathgööner

    Heh …….I think it was the bottle of red wine……must have had caffeine in it.

  50. on 30 Nov 2013 at 12:40 am50Steve T

    Best open another just to check…..

  51. on 30 Nov 2013 at 12:42 am51bathgööner

    Nah, drinking alone is a slippery slope…..watching Troy and hoping it will induce somnolence.

  52. on 30 Nov 2013 at 12:44 am52Trev

    H2H,

    The Happy Train always has room for passengers.

    This is Cardiff chaps, it’s taken them over 50 years to be able just to play us in the league again.

    Now just man up with the score predictions and all the stuff about tough games and hard fought battles.

    They will boo Aaron Ramsey as he thumps home a brace. They will ouse envy as Özil zips in for his fourth Gunners goal and provides Ollie Giroyd with his twelfth.

    Oh yes, 0-4 to the rip roaring as we show the Mancs how it’s done.

    Good grief, we almost beat them with the remnants of our injury ravaged squad struck down with a severe case of the screaming ab-dabs.

    0 – 4 to the Gunners I tells ya ! 😉

  53. on 30 Nov 2013 at 12:46 am53Trev

    Ok, Ollie Giroud. ( Giroyd ?? )

  54. on 30 Nov 2013 at 1:26 am54göönsterham lincöln

    One of these days we are going to really ruin some team, an old-fashioned hiding to the tune of 7-0 or so. I imagine it’ll be at home though, and Hull City seem as good candidates as anyone. At Cardiff I like a cheeky 0-3.

    Come on you rip-roaring goal-scoring GUNNERS

  55. on 30 Nov 2013 at 1:34 am55göönsterham lincöln

    Interesting point re: Theo H2H @42. I hadn’t thought about it quite like that before. It’ll be interesting to see how the boss uses him in our newly reconstituted/augmented midfield attack. The same will go for Podolski when he returns, though he was used frequently from the bench last year, even when healthy.

    I still kind of lean toward a fully fit Theo generally being included this campaign, for the reasons I’ve already given, but you’ve made me wonder. We’ll have to wait and see.

  56. on 30 Nov 2013 at 1:35 am56Cent

    Seriously nobody realized I was been sarcastic @12?

  57. on 30 Nov 2013 at 1:45 am57Cent

    Oh and please stick me firmly in the give-Theo-games camp. He will deliver, as someone pointed out earlier, he scores in batches and when he is on song he is unstoppable.

  58. on 30 Nov 2013 at 1:47 am58Cent

    Szczesny has kept 50 clean sheets in his 125 appearances for us. Quite a good record.

  59. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:01 am59Aussie

    Looking forward to seeing the arsenal train rolling on again and would be happy with a 2nd gear 2 nil win or a 4 nil mauling in top gear just for fun.
    Don’t care who is in the middle or out wide, it will be good enough and arsene has more than enough fit players available to rotate properly.
    I would like to see monreal given his chance to keep Gibbs out as he has done nothing wrong and deserves his chance.
    Go you good things and hope most holics continue to support ozil as he is something special for this team.

  60. on 30 Nov 2013 at 6:58 am60Cannöns of Rhetörik

    1-0 to the Arsenal today.
    My Fifa 13 told me so 🙂

  61. on 30 Nov 2013 at 7:18 am61Esso

    Cheers Holic! Duty calls and you never let us down.

  62. on 30 Nov 2013 at 8:03 am62Goonerholic

    Thanks all. Means a lot. You are a great bunch.

  63. on 30 Nov 2013 at 8:19 am63arse_jackeen

    Top o’ the morning ‘holic. Thanks for your continuous commitment in providing us with top class reading material.

    Pint o’ plain for you Sunday week at the Toffees?

  64. on 30 Nov 2013 at 9:10 am64Chippy

    Let’s wade into the theo debate 🙂 He’s not the most cultured that’s for sure,he will never be the most clinical, He will defo be infuriating at times but he has the one attribute we are missing searing pace, If other teams flood the midfield to stop us which they have been doing of late playing with a high line he will have an absolute field day- watch Ozil rack up even more assists with balls behind a back line. As for Ozils penalty Meh some you score some you don’t I’ve seen better players take worse !!

    Tricky game today will need to be at it from the get go,

    Up The Arse.

  65. on 30 Nov 2013 at 10:18 am65Ollie

    Cheers ‘holic.
    Here’s to 3 points, 2 goals the right way and a good day for all!

  66. on 30 Nov 2013 at 11:16 am66Pangloss

    Cent, re yours@12. I think you’re a very naughty boy and came close to troll-feeding. If I follow your argument correctly your target is given far more houseroom than I think he deserves. I have resolved to ignore him and feel much better for it. I recommend you apply the same tactic.

    I’ll still be happy with 0-2 to the good guys, but Göönsterham Lincöln’s 0-7 thrashing would be good fun too.

    COYG

  67. on 30 Nov 2013 at 11:30 am67Trev

    Cent @12,

    I was onto you, even with H2H’s warning, as we’ve seen you do similar before.

    Özil’s penalty was bad for sure but pales into insignificance compared to the rather masterly ” combination” effort that Monsieurs Henry and Pires contrived at Highbury against Man City.

    Not sure who looked most embarrassed – Thierry, Sir Bob or the fans. 😉

  68. on 30 Nov 2013 at 11:33 am68Trev

    Here is a link in case anyone hasn’t seen it. :redfacedthingy:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzPMvAIrtQs

    Oops !

  69. on 30 Nov 2013 at 12:06 pm69Uplympian

    Don’t worry Cent, your sarcasm was spotted straight away but quite frankly he ain’t worth the effort – it probably went straight over his head.

    Trev…I still cringe whenever I see or even think about it, although by now I should just have a chuckle and move on 🙂

  70. on 30 Nov 2013 at 12:58 pm70dkgÖÖner

    Good drinks today guys. Haven’t much more to add – endorse göönsterham lincoln @19 (and @18 for that matter).
    Theo needs game time to get him match fit for some tough contests ahead and I think he should start the next two, if not finish them.
    Don’t think the 7-0 will come against ‘ull – they will have plenty behind the ball. Maybe against Chel$ki 😀
    But 2 or even 3 nil to the gunners today sounds reasonable provided we come out of the traps quickly. Aaron will be raring to get a goal.

  71. on 30 Nov 2013 at 2:28 pm71N7 Gooner

    Another massive game. Win this and we send a real signal and take the pressure off heading into a tough December.

    Bench looks very strong today.

    COYG

  72. on 30 Nov 2013 at 2:34 pm72behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

    Hoping to see 3 juicy points at the end of a tough day. COYG!

  73. on 30 Nov 2013 at 2:43 pm73Cent

    Pangloss @66, haha, I didn’t mean to feed the troll, I actually intended to indirectly tell others to not engage him.

    Trev @67 and Uply @69, well spotted.

    I’m currently in a race against time(I’ve already boarded a tricycle) to get home, have a hurried shower and get to the viewing centre before the game kicks off.
    Come On You Gunners!

  74. on 30 Nov 2013 at 2:46 pm74Cent

    Traffic jam. I’m five minutes from home though.

  75. on 30 Nov 2013 at 2:49 pm75Cent

    We’re moving.

  76. on 30 Nov 2013 at 2:50 pm76Pangloss

    Engaged in my own pre-match routine here in Oxon – watching old MoTDs that I have recorded but not yet deleted. Just seen us beating Southampton and Liverpoo, both 2-0. I don’t know whether anyone here has noticed, but Arsenal are looking a bit tasty this season, and that Aaron Ramsey’s a bit good. This new German fella knows how to play the game too.

    A good result in Cardiff would set us up nicely for a good result in our next match.

    COYG

  77. on 30 Nov 2013 at 2:51 pm77Pangloss

    Good luck with your epic dash, Cent.

  78. on 30 Nov 2013 at 2:54 pm78Holloway2Holland

    Sorry Cent, must of had my Sarcasmometer turned off. 😉

    Just in on time, phew.

    Surprised that the Flamster doesn’t start, but still good line up, with super strong bench.

  79. on 30 Nov 2013 at 2:55 pm79scruzgöoner

    the squad does look strong, holic, though the image of you with a bow shooting love arrows makes for a top, top quality post.

    good morning, all, let’s watch our gunners bag all three points!

  80. on 30 Nov 2013 at 2:59 pm80behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

    Another chance for Lee Mason to unjustify my seething distrust of his motives. Not much chance I’m afraid.

  81. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:00 pm81arsabeatbarca

    Hi gooners. Holic, enjoyed your ‘guest post’ link.

    Should be one to remember. Good luck lads!

  82. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:00 pm82Lurky

    COYG!

  83. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:00 pm83Holloway2Holland

    COME ON YOU YELLOOOOOOOWS

  84. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:01 pm84Eändy

    Hey all!

    and come on you reds!

  85. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:01 pm85Eändy

    or ..yellows rather!

  86. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:01 pm86arsabeatbarca

    What a start from Jack!

  87. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:01 pm87Holloway2Holland

    OOOOooooo LJW

  88. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:01 pm88scruzgöoner

    oooh, the woodwork again!

  89. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:02 pm89Eändy

    ooh Jack!

  90. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:07 pm90Holloway2Holland

    OUCH

  91. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:08 pm91scruzgöoner

    ouch, bfg got a sagna to the face.

  92. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:08 pm92Eändy

    darn Mert down, not looking good

  93. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:10 pm93scruzgöoner

    looks like tv5 is coming in?? no? we got a big tough fucking German!

  94. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:10 pm94Holloway2Holland

    BFG’s hard as nails, he’s back!!

  95. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:11 pm95arsabeatbarca

    He looked like he was out cold 🙁 Hope it is the right decision to let him continue.

  96. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:13 pm96scruzgöoner

    flicks it with the outside of his boot towards the box…

  97. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:15 pm97scruzgöoner

    don’t stop!!!

  98. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:15 pm98Holloway2Holland

    WHY DID HE STOP?????

  99. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:16 pm99Eändy

    wtf who whistled?:(

  100. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:16 pm100arsabeatbarca

    Because he thought the linesman was going to raise the flag.

  101. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:16 pm101scruzgöoner

    horrible.

  102. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:17 pm102Eändy

    that backheel flick from Ozil was sublime…should have really scored there 🙁

  103. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:18 pm103Holloway2Holland

    Nursie, the first thing you are taught as a kid is that you always play til the whistle.

    Bad mistake.

  104. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:18 pm104scruzgöoner

    always play to the whistle. 9 times out of 10 he goes on and shoots anyway, but not this time. ugh.

  105. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:18 pm105Cent

    Now watching the game.

  106. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:19 pm106Eändy

    Arguably it was offside, linesman did not notice Ozils touch, but OG should play to the whistle, hopefully this error is not going to come back and bite us in the ass.

  107. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:22 pm107scruzgöoner

    Cardiff has set out a nice stall, at least defensively. we have to guard against the break, though.

  108. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:24 pm108Holloway2Holland

    Sagna’s taking everyone out today. 😉

  109. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:25 pm109scruzgöoner

    heh, h2h.

  110. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:26 pm110Panglossdroid

    Lord the commentators on 5live are dreadful; Clive Allan obviously still bears a grudge and the other guy is just incompetent. Thank you, that is all.

  111. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:27 pm111Eändy

    I love Per!

  112. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:28 pm112Holloway2Holland

    RAAAAMSEEEEY

  113. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:28 pm113scruzgöoner

    aaaaron!

  114. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:28 pm114Lurky

    Get in!

  115. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:28 pm115Cent

    H2H @78, no worries, mate.

    Pangloss @77, thanks and cheers. Now watching the game goooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaalllll

  116. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:29 pm116arsabeatbarca

    Ozil, beautiful assist to Aaron. Well done, lads!

  117. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:29 pm117Holloway2Holland

    Cardiff supporters still respect Aaron.

  118. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:29 pm118Eändy

    Aaron!

  119. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:29 pm119scruzgöoner

    what a ball from özil. shoulda benched the lousy German.

  120. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:30 pm120behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

    Aaron who? 🙂

  121. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:31 pm121Cent

    How good was that pass and the finish?!

  122. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:31 pm122scruzgöoner

    rrrraaaaammmssseeeyyyy!

  123. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:33 pm123scruzgöoner

    that was a great free kick by Cardiff.

  124. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:33 pm124Holloway2Holland

    Phew, that looked dangerous.

  125. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:34 pm125Cannöns of Rhetörik

    Ramsey did well there.
    Let’s keep it together and try to nick another

  126. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:34 pm126Eändy

    very dangerous ball

  127. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:35 pm127scruzgöoner

    good response to the goal, Cardiff have stepped up their game.

  128. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:37 pm128scruzgöoner

    santi running his legs off!

  129. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:38 pm129arsabeatbarca

    That pass from Ozil to Gibbs, just one of many examples, that set him apart.

  130. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:39 pm130arsabeatbarca

    Whst a tackle by Jack!

  131. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:39 pm131Cannöns of Rhetörik

    Sagna under lots of pressure from Kim, disrupting our ability to use the right flank…

  132. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:41 pm132scruzgöoner

    agreed, abb. and cor!

  133. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:43 pm133arsabeatbarca

    Thanks Professor Scruz 🙂

  134. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:43 pm134Cent

    Scruz good one @119

  135. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:44 pm135Cannöns of Rhetörik

    You can even say it’s almost Kimpossible to use the right side even 😉

  136. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:45 pm136scruzgöoner

    how is that not a foul? if not, Kim touched the ball out and it should be a corner!

  137. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:45 pm137Cannöns of Rhetörik

    Arrrrrgggghhhh! Unlucky

  138. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:45 pm138Eändy

    hows that not a foul on Sagna?

  139. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:46 pm139arsabeatbarca

    Cor, What a battle between Kim and Bac, very entertaining!

  140. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:47 pm140Holloway2Holland

    Nice ball OG, unlucky Aaron, maybe should of hit it first time.

  141. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:48 pm141arsabeatbarca

    Lovely recovery by Mikel!

  142. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:48 pm142Cannöns of Rhetörik

    Unbelievable tekkers by Arteta there 😀

  143. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:50 pm143Eändy

    Good first half, should have been at least two up

  144. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:50 pm144Holloway2Holland

    Decent enough half, pretty much in control, but we need to show a little more ruthlessness.

    Wrap this one up lads and we’ll be sitting pretty.

  145. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:51 pm145DepressedGooner

    With a Theophile on the pitch I think Wenger is being mean not letting Theo get his adulation properly from a true fan 🙁

  146. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:52 pm146scruzgöoner

    abb, professor of pedantry with a subspecialty of the obvious, at your service 🙂

    cheers, cent! it had to be said. didn’t match yours at 12, though.

    a decent half, I’d like to see rozza and flamini on first. arteta and cazorla have been really quiet today.

  147. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:53 pm147scruzgöoner

    depressed, agreed. I chuckled when I saw his name, thought rogue the same thing.

  148. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:54 pm148dkgÖÖner

    Good intensity throughout. Defence solid as ever. Commentators as crap as ever. Why is that they make a call, the replay proves them wrong, and they continue to maintain their call was good? Brainless.

    What a ball from Özil – useless waste of money.

  149. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:55 pm149NorCal at Heathrow

    Morning all. We are in control but they are dangerous on set pieces. Lovely assist by Özil.
    Keep it up Arsenal!!!

  150. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:56 pm150Cannöns of Rhetörik

    Özil aüt!!!! 🙂

  151. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:57 pm151Holloway2Holland

    You back in London, Norcal? 😉

  152. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:57 pm152DepressedGooner

    Come on guys, lay off Ozil, he will eventually come good, the assists and stuff are not what football is all about, he has to be sold on for a profit in 24-36 months 😉

  153. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:58 pm153Panglossdroid

    Still @LHR Norcal? Say it ain’t so.

  154. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:59 pm154Holloway2Holland

    Heh @ Depressed

  155. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:59 pm155N7 Gooner

    Ozil now leads the league for assists. And he’s widely regarded as being off form.

    Just wait until he gets going.

  156. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:59 pm156arsabeatbarca

    Oh, more folks popping up at the bar, that really makes my day!

    Safe fight NorCal and try to enjoy it!

  157. on 30 Nov 2013 at 3:59 pm157NorCal NOT at Heathrow

    They are completely congesting the middle on defense (not a surprise) maybe a Gnabry or theo out wide would be good. Ah well. Let’s keep up the pressure

  158. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:00 pm158Cent

    Good 1st-half, the boys are working their socks for each other. More of that and more goals for us in the 2nd-half is what the doctor ordered.

  159. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:01 pm159NorCal

    I’m home. Glad to have spent my time in London but glad I was home for Thanksgiving.
    Cheers all.

  160. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:03 pm160arsabeatbarca

    Very much a team effort thus far in my eyes. We knew The Bluebirds would be up for this. Keeps us on the edge of our seats, doesn’t it lol. Agree, want Flamster out there, see what he can get up to 😉

  161. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:04 pm161arsabeatbarca

    NorCal, that was quick!!!

  162. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:05 pm162Holloway2Holland

    OOoooooo Giroud.

    Top work Ramsey

  163. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:05 pm163arsabeatbarca

    Lively start by us!

  164. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:06 pm164Eändy

    ooo unlucky OG!

  165. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:07 pm165Holloway2Holland

    I think Cardiff play too deep for Theo to be fully effective, NorCal.

  166. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:09 pm166Holloway2Holland

    What a save!!

  167. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:10 pm167arsabeatbarca

    Brilliant save by Woj, whew!

  168. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:10 pm168Eändy

    Santi is very quiet today

  169. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:10 pm169arsabeatbarca

    And another save by him!

  170. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:10 pm170NorCal

    Great from szcz. But poor from Gibbs.

  171. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:10 pm171Cent

    Save! Arise Sir Chez!

  172. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:10 pm172Eändy

    WOJ! massive save!

  173. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:10 pm173Cannöns of Rhetörik

    Höly shit! What a save!

  174. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:11 pm174Cent

    Santi has been lively in my eyes, Eandy.

  175. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:11 pm175scruzgöoner

    lots of pressure by Cardiff ATM. top save, woj on fire!

  176. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:12 pm176NorCal

    Santi is getting bullied off the ball too easily. Come on arsenal!

  177. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:12 pm177Holloway2Holland

    COME ON ARSENAAAL

  178. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:12 pm178Eändy

    Too many passes going astray Cent, but I might be judging him by the freakishly high standard he set for himself over the course of the time he is with us.

  179. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:14 pm179arsabeatbarca

    Another save by Woj. Good defending by us!

  180. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:15 pm180scruzgöoner

    santi is working hard, not particularly effective though.

  181. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:17 pm181arsabeatbarca

    Lee Mason, get your specks on. should have been called a foul on Giroud. Good effort by him on taking that shot!

  182. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:18 pm182Eändy

    Slightlest push done by OG judged as foul by mr. Mason, same situation three minutes ago was not …baffling

  183. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:20 pm183arsabeatbarca

    Eandy, OG thinks so too, judging by the look he gave Mason.

  184. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:20 pm184Holloway2Holland

    That was a bit Mutch. Dirty git.

  185. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:20 pm185Cannöns of Rhetörik

    That challenge was a bit Mütch eh?

  186. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:21 pm186Holloway2Holland

    Cardiff to bring on Peter Odd and Whingey.

  187. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:22 pm187scruzgöoner

    heh, h2h and cor.

  188. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:23 pm188Holloway2Holland

    That was a corner ffs

  189. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:23 pm189dkgÖÖner

    Crap officials too.

  190. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:24 pm190Eändy

    O.O no corner?

  191. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:24 pm191arsabeatbarca

    There is a battle brewing between OG and Mason. Hope Giroud keeps his cool (though OG has every right to be pissed off!)

  192. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:25 pm192Cent

    Eandy, I would say he has been a bit in-efficient with the ball.

  193. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:27 pm193Eändy

    triple sub prepared by AW? Theo, Flamini and Monreal warming up

  194. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:27 pm194Holloway2Holland

    Weak, unlucky Santi.

  195. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:27 pm195scruzgöoner

    damn, that was a chance…

  196. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:27 pm196arsabeatbarca

    Great play by Jack, Santi just needed more umph!

  197. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:27 pm197Eändy

    Hehe yeah Cent, can settle with that.

  198. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:28 pm198N7 Gooner

    Huge twenty mins coming up here…

  199. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:28 pm199scruzgöoner

    where’s rozza?

  200. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:29 pm200Eändy

    anyone else getting just BPL logo on stream now?

  201. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:30 pm201Holloway2Holland

    COME ON YOU GUNNERS

  202. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:30 pm202N7 Gooner

    COYG

  203. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:31 pm203N7 Gooner

    Heh – great minds H2H

  204. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:32 pm204Holloway2Holland

    🙂

  205. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:34 pm205scruzgöoner

    Kim’s off, now maybe the right will open up.

  206. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:34 pm206Holloway2Holland

    Cardiff have now taken off their best two players.

  207. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:35 pm207Cannöns of Rhetörik

    Heh, guess who’s replacing Kim?

    No one.

  208. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:35 pm208Holloway2Holland

    Sleeve chopper for sati.

  209. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:35 pm209arsabeatbarca

    Mathieu on for Santi.

  210. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:35 pm210scruzgöoner

    Matty for santi.

  211. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:36 pm211Holloway2Holland

    *santi

  212. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:36 pm212arsabeatbarca

    Ever alert our keeper!

  213. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:38 pm213Holloway2Holland

    Come on ref ffs

  214. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:38 pm214scruzgöoner

    god how I hate lee mason.

  215. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:38 pm215arsabeatbarca

    C’mon Arsenal!!! Love excitement, but a little reassurance would be lovely right about now 😉

  216. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:38 pm216Eändy

    Theo should be brought on, Cardiff are adventurous and they would not push that up with him looming on the half line.

  217. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:39 pm217Holloway2Holland

    Nacho for LJW

  218. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:39 pm218scruzgöoner

    nacho for jack.

  219. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:40 pm219scruzgöoner

    aaron working on it, abb!

  220. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:43 pm220Eändy

    Mason looking for every opportunity to give Cardiff FK

  221. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:43 pm221arsabeatbarca

    Yeah scruz, he sure is. Just that they keep on coming at us, relentlessly! Exhausting game to watch!

  222. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:43 pm222N7 Gooner

    What is wrong with Lee Mason?

  223. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:44 pm223Holloway2Holland

    FLAMMMI

  224. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:45 pm224Panglossdroid

    Never in doubt

    COYG

  225. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:45 pm225Lurky

    Get the fuckity fuck fuck in!

  226. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:45 pm226scruzgöoner

    there it is, again from ozil. well struck, matty!

  227. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:45 pm227Cannöns of Rhetörik

    Flamini!!!!!!!!’

  228. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:45 pm228Cent

    Mesut flukes it. Again.

  229. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:45 pm229arsabeatbarca

    Ozil to Flamster! Hopefully this puts to rest any silly talk about Ozil!

  230. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:45 pm230Eändy

    FLAMSTER!

  231. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:45 pm231N7 Gooner

    Get the fuck in!!!

  232. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:46 pm232dkgÖÖner

    What a useless buy he is.
    What a brain-dead commentator Stewart Robson is.

  233. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:46 pm233Holloway2Holland

    WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE, SAY…….

  234. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:48 pm234scruzgöoner

    heh, cent. crappy player, should be on the bench.

  235. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:48 pm235Cannöns of Rhetörik

    Weeee shaaalll nooot, we shall not be moved!
    Weeee shaaalll nooot, we shall not be moved!

  236. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:49 pm236Holloway2Holland

    Feo for Ozil

  237. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:49 pm237behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

    All bow down in the church of Flamini.

  238. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:50 pm238scruzgöoner

    theophile is to be made happy. mesut off, to the bench where he belongs.

  239. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:50 pm239Trev

    Only two assists for Özil today ?

    Pah …….. 😉

  240. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:50 pm240N7 Gooner

    What a fantastic result this is.

    Tough away ground. Seven points clear. Two Ozil assists. Clean sheet too.

    No quarter for the chasing pack – just try and keep up with us lads. And Utd/LWCs will be a pleasure to watch now; whoever drops points in that will be virtually off our radar.

    Love this team.

    COYG

  241. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:51 pm241scruzgöoner

    yesssss!

  242. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:51 pm242N7 Gooner

    Rambo again!!!

  243. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:51 pm243Holloway2Holland

    Aaaarooon

    There goes the ‘holic pound

  244. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:51 pm244arsabeatbarca

    OMG Theo to Aaaron!!!! Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  245. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:51 pm245Cent

    Perfect performance.

  246. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:51 pm246Cannöns of Rhetörik

    Fück yes!!!!

  247. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:52 pm247Eändy

    second for Aaron!

  248. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:52 pm248Lurky

    Porn? This early?

  249. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:52 pm249scruzgöoner

    great exchange timing theo and aaron, who finishes it off in the top corner. outstanding!

  250. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:53 pm250Trev

    Well I did say 0-4 last night ! 😉

  251. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:54 pm251Holloway2Holland

    Ooooo unlucky Feo.

  252. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:54 pm252N7 Gooner

    Jesus Christ, what a performance.

  253. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:54 pm253behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

    Goonah on the moonah

  254. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:55 pm254scruzgöoner

    top of the freaking league. beauty today, just a fantastic outcome.

  255. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:55 pm255Eändy

    job well done, great display, resilient. Glad to see Theo contributing even in this short of time, I think he is going to start against Hull along with Tomas and Nacho.

  256. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:56 pm256Cannöns of Rhetörik

    Great performance by the team, excellent support by our travelling gooners! Never in any doubt, although I thought my 1-0 prediction was coming through 🙂
    Happy to be wrong though!

  257. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:57 pm257dkgÖÖner

    Classic Stewart Robson:
    “Arsenal not a good side defensively despite what their record shows.”
    In other words: “My biased opinion is more important than the facts.”

    If I did my job as badly as him I’d be out of work tomorrow.

  258. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:57 pm258arsabeatbarca

    Couple of years ago I said RVP was a superstar and we had him.

    Feel it is quite safe to proclaim Aaron Ramsey as world class. And he will never leave us.

  259. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:59 pm259dkgÖÖner

    Eändy: starting line-up against Hull – you could well be right.
    Nice to see Theo get an assist and almost break through for the 4th goal.

    Great that Cardiff have a player called No-one.

  260. on 30 Nov 2013 at 4:59 pm260dkgÖÖner

    Careful abb – careful.

  261. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:01 pm261arsabeatbarca

    No worries with him, dk. Aaron has great character. Robin turned out to be a ‘character’. 😉

  262. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:01 pm262Pangloss

    dk – The commentators on 5Live can give Robson a run for his money. They were truly woeful. To be fair to the Beeb, they were (approximately) the fifth string, but I would be surprised if they made the step up. Despite the quality of the radio commentary, it struck me as a perfectly routine 3-0 to the Arsenal. God, it’s fantastic to type that last phrase and mean it.

    COYG

  263. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:05 pm263Wind

    Great game 😀

    Unlucky to the maestro though, he had the holic pound within his grasp, then one Aaron Ramsey strode downfield… 😉

  264. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:05 pm264Cent

    Dk @257, I doubt you would have gotten the job in the first place.

  265. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:09 pm265Holloway2Holland

    Cardiff had a strong 7-8 mins in the second half, other then that we were in almost total control. But as it always is with one nil leads, you’re sitting on tenderhooks until the second went in.

    Ofcourse it could of been different, that save from Woj was absolute class, Campbell did everything right, got power in and aimed the header down, it literaly bounced a whisker for the line, not only did Woj keep it out, he managed to push it out to safety so there was no chance of a follow up, brilliant!!

  266. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:11 pm266scruzgöoner

    well, time for breakfast and see what the day has in store. enjoy the afterglow, dear holics!

  267. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:12 pm267Uplympian

    Great team performance….withstood the pressure when we had to – yet again crucial saves from Woj. Aaron Ramsey heading for player of the year….magnifico!
    DKG, if Stuart Robson is commentating I simply turn the sound down rather than listen to that bitter & twisted knobhead.
    “Say, We are top of the league, we are top of the league”…. 🙂

  268. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:12 pm268Tim

    So lovely to see the team working all over the pitch…..time to believe if you didn’t already. We’ve got a keeper – he deserves so much credit yet again.

  269. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:14 pm269thundertinygooner

    Robson is a jealous scumbag
    Lovely to see Ozil do so well today.
    His cross for the first goal was superb.

  270. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:14 pm270Sajit

    Mutual respect all around. Cardiff fans cheering ramsey and he did the ayatollah celebration in response.

    Thats football. Respect to both Cardiff fans and Ramseyyy..

    And what to say of Ozil.. super quiet for large parts and bangg two wolrd lcass assists.

  271. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:15 pm271Eändy

    Totally agree H2H,

    that save was something else and it clearly shows how important it is to have in form goalkeeper.

    Word for Mesut, even though his body language might be deceiving, that lad is really starting to find his feet in the league. Both assists were incredibly good, perfectly weighed. When you realize that there are still better things to come from him..and whole team, it truly is a great time to be a Gooner.

  272. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:18 pm272Bayonne Jean

    All who were wondering what’s wrong with Ozil, please crawl back into your holes. This means you, Mr. Robson….

  273. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:18 pm273bathgööner

    That Ozil fella should be dropped immediately. Never does a bloody thing. Hides all game long. Diabolical waste of money. Wenga ahht.

    Oh?

  274. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:19 pm274arsenicdaemon

    Like I predicted @5, we’re where we belong.

    Guvnor, may I suggest the match report?

    ‘Cardiff RAMmed’?

    ‘The RAMmer keeps arsenal aloft’?

    Another weekend of made for the love of guinness.

    Terrific goals. Happy the Flamster got his name on that sheet. 🙂

  275. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:19 pm275Wind

    Good call on the result goonsterham @ 54! 😉

  276. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:20 pm276bathgööner

    SZCZ is definitely a keeper who will win us games. I reckon that’s 3 critical match-saving saves this season at least. Who knows what would have happened if that had gone in. A keeper in all respects.

    COYG

  277. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:24 pm277göönsterham lincöln

    If only I’d put real money on it.

  278. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:25 pm278Trev

    Bath @273,

    A bit harsh ! 😉

  279. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:25 pm279göönsterham lincöln

    Honestly though I thought at the time I was being a tad optimistic, something I’m occasionally accused of where the Arsenal are concerned. Not this time!

  280. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:27 pm280arsenicdaemon

    ouch!

    ^*Another weekend made for the love of guinness.

    And did I forget to mention the Szczer & BFToughG? In fact, all gooners who played, watched, cheered and wherever they were.

    Fair play to Rambo & Cardiff fans. Football at it’s best.

  281. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:35 pm281bathgööner

    I wonder whether the Ozil-critics have crawled under their foetid little stones with their tails between their legs?

    How can these people survive in the modern world with the need for critical decision making and judgement calls every day when their judgement is clearly so flawed? Do they have to be helped across the road?

  282. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:36 pm282bathgööner

    Is that strong enough, Trev?

  283. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:41 pm283Doctor Faustus

    Never in doubt. But if Cardiff continues to play with this much energy and discipline they would stay up.

    What a save by Szczesny! It is now 3 or 4 matches in this PL where he pulled out saves like that in crucial moments. But today’s tops the list. With the ball just bouncing in front…

    The referee had a horrendous game. An obvious corner was missed. A barrage of fouls on Giroud went unpunished and towards the end for a while it was free for all physical challenges.

    First time in the season Giroud looked lethargic…hopefully against Hull him and Rambo can enjoy a break because after that three tough matches.

    The weight of the pass from Ozil on Flamini’s goal was just extraordinary… but I really liked the first goal where from a patient build up play a very simple plan was executed with superlative quality: off the ball run from Giroud to drag defenders away, a nice lofted pass and a brilliant header. Speak volumes about the variations in attack this team can execute.

  284. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:46 pm284Doctor Faustus

    bath @ 281: Survival comes in many shapes and forms. Never underestimate the survival intelligence of the irrational. 🙂

    The Ozil criticisms from an Arsenal fan comes from a place of insecure paranoia about self-worth. It is a form of meekness that masquerades as aggressive behavior … a look around in the political wilderness would tell you some of that type survive and thrive.

  285. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:48 pm285True Storey

    Bath, Trev – Ozil has already made an enormous contribution to our club both on the field and off it.

    He’s raised the bar in training and now everyone’s fighting to start in a team that features two of Europe’s best players (Ozil + Aaron Cruyff).

    On the field, he’s the first player that all the others seek to pass to when we break out of defense or in general build-up play. Most of our attacking moves pass through him.

    …. and he’s not even at his best yet.

  286. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:50 pm286True Storey

    ‘Holic – Your ‘pound’ took another beating today.

    You must be delighted? 😎

  287. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:57 pm287Chippy

    Ozil is shit, That is all.

    Fully up the Arse,

    3 Points everyone else under pressure tomorrow Happy Days 😉

  288. on 30 Nov 2013 at 5:57 pm288Doctor Faustus

    In whole of November Arsenal conceded only 1 goal in all competitions !

    When was the last time we had a November like this?

  289. on 30 Nov 2013 at 6:02 pm289bathgööner

    Ozil idles his way round the field, occasionally closing down defenders when they have the ball, occasionally tracking back to cover the oppo attacks then makes a couple of game winning passes to top off a masterclass in ball distribution and [b]people think he’s a great player!!!!![/b]

    What are these people smoking?

    Clearly needs a rest and a month of acclimatisation to real English rough and tumble.

    Should be dropped immediately.

  290. on 30 Nov 2013 at 6:03 pm290bathgööner

    bold fail

  291. on 30 Nov 2013 at 6:03 pm291CMDrunk

    Stuff of champions today! Woji made an absolutely critical stop to keep the lead in favour of Arsenal . MOTM after Ramsey who got a great homecoming reception from the Cardiff fans.Was great to see that.Ozil did nothing and yet provided 2 glorious assists.This guy plays below his best and yet pops up with the goods.Can’t wait to see him hit his peak with us.

    Everyone keeps saying this but Giroud needs a breather.Poldi back to being fit again can’t come soon enough..

  292. on 30 Nov 2013 at 6:11 pm292Doctor Faustus

    CMD @ 291: I think against Hull at home we may see TR7-Theo-Jack to start as the front three with Theo down the middle. I won’t mind seeing even Gnabry start ahead of Jack, he has shown enough abilities and maturity in the limited chances he has got.

    Flamini-Arteta-Ozil/Santi to start as the midfield three. Giroud, Rambo, Ozil/Santi on the bench.

    We would need to rotate before the Everton-Napoli-Man City games within seven days.

  293. on 30 Nov 2013 at 6:19 pm293Trev

    Exactly bath, all I can add is “Özil can do one along with that other horrendously slow, useless German bloke, and Wenger AAHHHTTT !!!”

  294. on 30 Nov 2013 at 6:19 pm294Chippy

    The Clash on the juke box and Ozils still shit 🙂

  295. on 30 Nov 2013 at 6:23 pm295SanAntonioGooner

    Yep another 3pts in the bag, I hope people keep underestimating this team till April and boom Arsenal is still top to the league. Let’s keep rolling under the rader I am loving it!!!!!!!!!!

  296. on 30 Nov 2013 at 6:24 pm296SanAntonioGooner

    Top of the league

  297. on 30 Nov 2013 at 6:26 pm297Uplympian

    Ok…that Mesut fellah can dink a ball with perfect weight onto the toe or head of anyone he chooses but it’s all about winning innit. Oh…………..

  298. on 30 Nov 2013 at 6:32 pm298Uplympian

    Bath 290. Bold fail = Spuds
    Bould success = Top of the League. 🙂

  299. on 30 Nov 2013 at 6:34 pm299Uplympian

    Dinks it Ozil precision like into the box……who wants it???

  300. on 30 Nov 2013 at 6:36 pm300Holloway2Holland

    Lurks in

  301. on 30 Nov 2013 at 6:39 pm301Lurky

    Agree Dr. Faustus.
    Would not like to underestimate Hull City but, that game should be a perfect opportunity to rest Giroud and give Theo a chance up front.

    Rosicky and Nacho should start as well instead of Ramsey and Gibbs.

    The question remains, would it be to risky to start Gnabry and give Ozil a rest.

    It will be a great achievement is we could rotate 4-5 players and still manage to win the game.

  302. on 30 Nov 2013 at 6:45 pm302North Bank Ned

    Great save by Woj from Campbell. A keeper who wins you six to eight points a season by saving a win from being a draw or keeping a draw from being a loss is the difference between winning titles and not.

  303. on 30 Nov 2013 at 6:49 pm303NorCal

    Great day. Enjoy it all. We are Top of the League, say….

  304. on 30 Nov 2013 at 7:08 pm304tippytappy

    Giroud is way to isolated and he suffers for it. Giroud needs his team mates to support him otherwise he’s as useful as a chocolate dildo.

  305. on 30 Nov 2013 at 7:09 pm305göönsterham lincöln

    Just talked with a big Real Madrid fan. Was sure to thank him specially for the gift of Mesut. His comment. “He’s a brilliant player, so influential. He was our best but for Ronaldo. He has flashes of genius…his highlight reel is incredible but he did tend to go missing for stretches of the game.”

    Thought it was an interesting enough comment to reproduce here.

  306. on 30 Nov 2013 at 7:15 pm306North Bank Ned

    Ozil showed why he is world class, creating goals that matter when they matter. The cross for Ramsey’s header and the through ball for Flamini’s goal couldn’t be bettered.

    Giroud had one of those hapless days all strikers have when not much goes right — the offside/not offside mix-up, the goal line clearance when any scuffed shot would have scored, the deflected shots given as goalkicks etc. But he still put in a shift as ever.

  307. on 30 Nov 2013 at 7:21 pm307Chippy

    Whatever will be will be we are challenging thats all I can ask – Oh and Londons calling Happy Days 😉

  308. on 30 Nov 2013 at 7:22 pm308Pangloss

    Quite a bit of pressure on Manchester Rowdies tomorrow, playing a team that their neighbours trounced 6-0 last Saturday. Anything less than a 4-0 win is going to look as though they are completely in the shade of their oil-funded rivals.

    The spuds have a bit of pressure on them too; they probably should have made some moves in the summer transfer window. Looking on the bright side for them, there’s another transfer window opening in just over a month’s time when they’ll have the chance to bring in some decent players.

    Interesting to see how Southampton get on playing their second tough match in the capital in the space of a week. Tomorrow, of course, they are playing against a proper big team that has taken points off their rivals, not some penny ante chancers who kept their hands in their pockets over the summer picking up a squad player here and there on a free.

    COYG

  309. on 30 Nov 2013 at 7:24 pm309Pangloss

    Cent@12, I hope you’re watching

    🙂

  310. on 30 Nov 2013 at 7:55 pm310göönsterham lincöln

    Pangloss @309 haha.

    Yes I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s fixtures as well. Nothing would please me more than a Southampton win, and more misery for ManU.

  311. on 30 Nov 2013 at 7:58 pm311Thundertinygooner

    goonsterham@306
    I think that was a very helpful comment.
    I think Ozil is a very unusual player, one we’ve not seen before. Not a modern workhorse but a player who can change games with flair and vision. His ball for Ramsey was quite excellent and the ball to Flamini was not far behind. He is a luxury player but one that we can carry because of the work ethic in the side but his stats can’t be denied. I must admit that I have found him difficult to work out but I was very impressed today.
    I would take issue with those who believe Giroud will be rested on Wednesday. He will start every game he is fit to start until we can get back- up for him. He is a very fit guy but we must pray he doesn’t pick up any serious niggles.

  312. on 30 Nov 2013 at 7:59 pm312Thundertinygooner

    A good night for all Gooners but an even better night for all Gooner Badgers. Top of the league and the cull over. Does life get any better?

  313. on 30 Nov 2013 at 8:01 pm313zicoinexile

    Full 90 minutes coming up on Sky – be interesting to see if we were as good as we looked on my stream……

    Cold beer in the fridge, Management out and Arsenal on the box…..

    If Carlsberg made quiet Saturday nights in……

  314. on 30 Nov 2013 at 8:03 pm314North Bank Ned

    ‘Holics, a word of advice, if you would. I need to send a bottle of good single malt to a London address. Can anyone recommend a reliable online whisky retailer in the U.K. who could fulfill the order?

  315. on 30 Nov 2013 at 8:03 pm315Holloway2Holland

    I agree with TTG, as in I can’t see OG being benched, Ozil neither. Ramsey maybe, which I think would be a mistake. I know the games are coming thick and fast, but what;s that saying about what you shouldnt do to a winning team?

    I thought Santi wasn’t quite at the races today, was knocked off the ball far too easily way too many times, but to give him credit he never stopped running and never hid.

  316. on 30 Nov 2013 at 8:21 pm316arsabeatbarca

    Ttg @ 315, oh you are a soul mate after all. Badger cull waste of resources and so cruel.

  317. on 30 Nov 2013 at 8:38 pm317Uplympian

    Abb /TTG….the badger cull is like the spuds spending spree – both a forlorn waste of money. Mind you some of my neighbours complain mildly that “visitors” from the nearby set eat their plants during nocturnal visits. Unfortunately the motor car is their biggest danger.
    Now if they extended the cull to Chel$ki supporters……..;-)

  318. on 30 Nov 2013 at 8:40 pm318Cent

    Well in, H2H for the 3rd century.

    Pangloss, good work @309, the bit about Sp*rs and the transfer market had me in stitches.

  319. on 30 Nov 2013 at 8:40 pm319Uplympian

    321 – now that’s a proper cull Guv’nor .

  320. on 30 Nov 2013 at 8:57 pm320Eändy

    Mesut on twitter – “3:0 away. what a game. I love this team and this Club. ”

    This team really is something special and he seems to fit in seamlessly.

  321. on 30 Nov 2013 at 9:01 pm321Pangloss

    *blushes and waves his appreciation to cent@323*

  322. on 30 Nov 2013 at 9:17 pm322Goonerholic

    Evening all, been celebrating St Andrew’s Day so report will follow at some stage of tomorrow, unless someone fancies a bash at it overnight?

    Thanks for all your kind words today. Really appreciated right now.

  323. on 30 Nov 2013 at 9:34 pm323Holloway2Holland

    Raises glass to all those of the northern persuasion.

  324. on 30 Nov 2013 at 9:35 pm324dkgÖÖner

    While not wanting to take anything away from the assists, let’s not forget the runs by Ramsey and Flamini to give Mesut someone to aim at and the manner in which they each took the opportunities offered to them. Just as the assist for Jack’s second in midweek came from a great run from Mesut which Aaron picked out perfectly. There is so much skill and vision in this team, as well as the way they work for each other. And it was Mesut’s replacement today who provided the assist for the third goal.
    Hope Theo gets to start on Wednesday.
    Aaron Ramsey goes from strength to strength, not just this season but since the turn of this year. And it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy – modest, hard worker, team player.
    The exact opposite of a certain TGSTEL who looks like he’s pulled on the shirt for the last time. AW’s comments midweek about not knowing where he was in his head and today not even making the bench. Sad really – what a waste. Time to pay him off and get him out of the door for good. After all, there are teams queuing up for his services.

  325. on 30 Nov 2013 at 9:46 pm325dkgÖÖner

    Just seen that Aneke scored Crewe’s winner today.

  326. on 30 Nov 2013 at 9:52 pm326Lurky

    Great day, very important win and nearly perfect display from our boys!
    Cold and rainy day here, staying at home tonight, Mrs Lurky is watching some James Bond movie, I am reading Arsenal related news, happy to share a couple.

    Happy to see that our ex GK Mannone with a second clean sheet in three games as a starter.

    Glad to see Belerin MOTM performance for Watford earlier today. I have high expectations for the Spaniard, our future RB.

    Aneke with a winner for Crewe as DKG mentioned.

    Strong rumors that Madrid’s Alvaro Morata have agreed to come on loan in January. Would be really great to have such a talent with us and maybe Arsene could persuade him to join us permanently.

    Currently we are second best defense and second best offense in the League.

    Gareth Bale (the name sounds familiar, wasn’t he playing for some small London club in the PL not that long ago) scored his first hat-trick an added an assist for his new club.

    Delighted!

  327. on 30 Nov 2013 at 9:56 pm327Thundertinygooner

    Abb/ Uply
    We have them from time to time in my garden and they do nasty things to the local hedgehogs but they are infinitely preferable to Chelski fans. My only exception is that greedy badger in Manchester !

  328. on 30 Nov 2013 at 9:56 pm328dkgÖÖner

    Sturridge out with an injury – possibly long term.

  329. on 30 Nov 2013 at 9:59 pm329dkgÖÖner

    “Bellerin MOTM performance” – is that a joke Lurky?
    Watford lost 3-0 to fookin Yeovil.

  330. on 30 Nov 2013 at 10:00 pm330Trev

    We will have more money than we know what to do with in January if we sell the greatest striker that ever lived – even Lamela cost the Spuds £30million – Hahahahahahahaha

    Uply – several hehs! above. 🙂

  331. on 30 Nov 2013 at 10:01 pm331göönsterham lincöln

    I know others have alluded to it already but ARSENAL ONLY CONCEDED ONE GOAL IN ALL COMPETITIONS IN THE ENTIRE MONTH OF NOVEMBER. Dating back to October 26 we have kept 6 clean sheets in our last 8 games, over which period we have outscored opponents 12-3.

    Oh to be a GOOOONER

  332. on 30 Nov 2013 at 10:04 pm332dkgÖÖner

    gl@331 Can’t be true – I have it on the very best authority that “Arsenal are not a good side defensively.”

  333. on 30 Nov 2013 at 10:09 pm333Lurky

    dkgÖÖner

    This is from Belerin’s twitter account.

    “Bittersweet debut for me tonight. Grateful for the fans who gave me Man of the match. Gutted for the result though. Thanks for the support.”

  334. on 30 Nov 2013 at 10:12 pm334göönsterham lincöln

    Much as I’d love another Spurs humiliation tomorrow, I’d be happier with a Spurs win. They don’t pose any real threat to us at the moment, and the quicker Man United drop completely out of the title chase the happier I will be.

    It’s a win-win really.

    To think just a couple of months ago people were bigging up the Spurs. This was going to be their year.

  335. on 30 Nov 2013 at 10:17 pm335göönsterham lincöln

    dk: the very best authority. 🙂

    All I have to say is, keep up that poor defense fellas. All season long.

  336. on 30 Nov 2013 at 10:22 pm336Pangloss

    Sigh, time to settle down in front of MotD to listen to “the experts2 explain why we’ve been wrong all these years; the table does lie.

  337. on 30 Nov 2013 at 10:22 pm337Thundertinygooner

    I had dinner with a keen Watford fan last night. We’ve lent you a good’un I said, referring to Bellerin. We need it he said but at least we should beat Yeovil tomorrow!
    Glad in the carnage Bellerin seems to have played well. My mate predicts the imminent demise of Zola who seems to be going the way he did at West Ham. It must be bad he thinks Almunia is one of their best players!
    I agree its a Spurs win tomorrow that’s best for us. All points dropped by United are very useful. Spurs are an irrelevance to us again!

  338. on 30 Nov 2013 at 10:30 pm338Trev

    Indeed, göö l,

    November had become an annual nightmare for us not so long ago.

    In general, it is amazing to look at the players across our squad now and where the team sits, given that this summer was the first time we have been allowed a net spend for around a decade.

    I have to say that I treated BtM’s claims, a year ago, that Ramsey would become an Arsenal captain as pure bravado, and I think he has admitted that many of his remarks were made with the tip of his tongue in cheek.

    Would anyone now bet against that eventuality ?

    Another class performance today – please note, RvP, his post goal scoring behaviour – and lovely to see the mutual applause for ex-player and fans at the end. Richly deserved Aaron.

    So pleased to see that he has been able to really fulfill his potential, and that is said as someone now looking at a knee replacement after mine was wrecked by someone deliberately stamping through it off the ball.

    It is a hell of a long way back from an injury of that seriousness. I never made it, and I was never aiming at the levels that he has fought to achieve.

    Good on him, and good on Arsene Wenger for being one of very very few who maintained the belief that he could do it.

    Did I mention that I love the Arsenal ?

  339. on 30 Nov 2013 at 10:33 pm339Trev

    Cheers for the heads up btw, Zico,

    I watched the Sky full replay and can now spare myself the annoyance of MoTD.

    Just laugh at them, Pangloss. 😉

  340. on 30 Nov 2013 at 10:40 pm340Lurky

    göönsterham lincöln

    About tomorrow’s game, I have a better scenario

    A draw with couple of red cards, season long injuries for Rooney and … well I was thinking of Sp*rs player good enough to wish him get injured, but there isn’t any, Kaboul punching RvP’s face changing it’s shape, but doesn’t get red carded because he is shyt and I want him to continue to start for Sp^rs as long as he can, AVB decides to commit suicide but after serious consideration decides not to, because I want him too to continue being their manager, Moyes finding it hard to be humiliated and second best to Fergie so he finds him in the audience and shots him with a shotgun, just before vertical pitch-sized earthquake accompanied with a pitch-sized meteor strikes the ground for the complete pleasure.

  341. on 30 Nov 2013 at 10:44 pm341Holloway2Holland

    No Hansen again, ofcourse not.

    Lineker seems to be the only one who takes us seriously. Murphy praises us but says we can’t be taken seriously because we haven’t played the big boys, would that be the big boys who dropped points away to two teams that we put three past at both their grounds?

    7 points clear but still pretty much under the rader, you gotta love it.

  342. on 30 Nov 2013 at 10:46 pm342göönsterham lincöln

    Trev, one quibble.

    I appreciate Ramsey’s restraint after scoring because he still loves Cardiff, quite rightly so, and they still love him. He left a Championship club as an unproven teenager to go to one of the biggest clubs in Europe, and there were no hard feelings either way. His non-celebration was completely genuine. Anyone who follows him on Twitter knows he still watches Cardiff’s games and cares genuinely for the club. He grew up just outside there I believe.

    RvP, on the other hand, left one big club for another, while at the very top of his game, for purely financial reasons. He doesn’t give a flying fuck about Arsenal (as the manner of his departure made abundantly clear), and we don’t much care for him either. So celebrate all you want, RvP, and don’t make us all sick by pretending you still love the Arsenal. (To his credit, he did celebrate his goal this year, in typically self-aggrandizing fashion, having evidently got all that bullshit out of his system last year.)

    Did you notice, though, Ramsey’s reaction when Flamini’s goal went in? Both hands immediately high in the air. 🙂

  343. on 30 Nov 2013 at 10:51 pm343göönsterham lincöln

    Haha, yes Lurky that would be ideal. Clearly my scenario wasn’t nearly ambitious enough…

  344. on 30 Nov 2013 at 10:55 pm344Cent

    Good stuff, Trev.
    Aaron is an inspiration to me. Growing up, I knew the chances of me playing for The Arsenal were lower than anything that has ever been low, but that didn’t stop me from dreaming about it. When Aaron signed for us and I got to know we are age mates I naturally started living my dreams of playing for The Arsenal through him.
    seeing him flourishing against all odds, having overcome that most horrible of injuries warms the innermost parts of my heart. Hopefully he will keep getting better and better till he eventually becomes the best in the world. I had dreams of been the best in the world wearing Arsenal colours.

  345. on 30 Nov 2013 at 10:57 pm345göönsterham lincöln

    Cent you are seriously Aaron’s age? Man

  346. on 30 Nov 2013 at 11:02 pm346Pangloss

    Sound advice, Trev, but sadly I couldn’t follow it.

    Credit to Linneker, “I keep being told, in this studio, that Arsenal can’t win the league this year. Well, it’s almost December and they’re still top of the table. Why not?”.

    Two answers from the third string pundits (they couldn’t find any “experts”):

    o They haven’t taken any points off their main rivals; and
    o What happens if Giroud gets injured.

    Well, I remember several years ago – probably around 1998-2001 – Arsenal always doing really well in the big games and not winning the title because they didn’t turn up “on a cold night in Stoke” or Blackburn, or Barnsley, or wherever. So you don’t actually have to beat your rivals if they draw against the poor teams and you beat them. Also the main reason we haven’t taken points off Man ¢ity and Chel$ki is because we haven’t played them. Granted we lost to Manyoo, but – don’t laugh at the back there – we have played Liverpoo and what’s their name, you know the ones, play at the far end of the Seven Sisters Rd, and we beat them.

    As for Giroud, I’m genuinely puzzled by this one. For years people have criticised Arsenal, and Arsène, for being unwilling to change our style by bringing in players off the bench. Now, when the starting XI at long last starts delivering results week in, week out (the table doesn’t lie) people complain that we’re over-reliant on one player and will be in trouble if and when he gets injured. When it’s pointed out that we have other players either just back from injury or just about to be back from injury, it’s “No, no they don’t count. You can’t play them without changing your system”. Sheesh, there’s no pleasing some people.

    Thanks for reading; I’m glad to have got that off my chest. One last look at the league table, a quick attempt to work out whether or not it lies, and I’m off to bed.

    Night all.

  347. on 30 Nov 2013 at 11:16 pm347Cent

    Goonster, yes I am.

  348. on 30 Nov 2013 at 11:17 pm348Trev

    Good stuff Pangloss.

    Sorry, H2H, let’s get that straight,

    Murphy says we can’t be taken seriously ……

    Zico, can you turn those italics off please. Just in case. 😉

  349. on 30 Nov 2013 at 11:17 pm349N7 Gooner

    I do love MOTD.

    Can’t even spell Wilshere’s name correctly. Also got another round of “they’ve played no one and what happens if Giroud gets injured?”.

    On that latter point, what i’d guess will happen is that the 90 cap German international who smashed goals for fun at his last club playing centre forward – you know, the one who’s arguably the best natural finisher at the club – would return from injury and play up top. In front of a midfield that would still include the likes of Ozil, Rambo, jack, Santi, theo and rosicky, and which will presumably keep scoring goals even if he doesn’t.

    I love the handsome French bloke, but the fears over his fitness were only really urgent when Poldi was still 2-3 months away. Don’t get me wrong, I’d prefer Ollie up front every day of the week, but to me Podolski is a better plan B than Eto’o, Sturridge, Defoe and probably even Negredo. So maybe MOTD would like to cock off and ask how some of our rivals will get on if they lose their first choice striker.

    Hope they keep on with this line of argument. It’ll only make it all the sweeter if we do somehow nick the title.

  350. on 30 Nov 2013 at 11:18 pm350Delia- Block112

    Oh my word, how they make you sweat. I was yelling at the laptop/Arsene to get the Flamster and Monreal on 30 mins before the end, AW took his time in shoring up the back.

    As it turned out I need not have worried but we do leave it late. The mid-field looked great in the first half and we would have been further ahead but for the woodwork and Giroud not playing to the whistle, a most curious incident.

    Cardiff and the crowd did get going for a spell in the second half but a truly great save by TPIG at the foot of the post and a stirring performance from our back four saw the danger pass.

    All three goals were a delight. A great low cross from Ozil was met perfectly by Rambo, whose header was directed into the top corner. The second goal saw the Flamster racing on to another assist from Ozil, the ball being thumped into the roof of the net. Rambo’s second, in added time, another great strike from Feo’s run and unselfish assist.

    Ramsey did not celebrate either of his goals and was given a great reception from the Cardiff crowd.Our fans were fantastic, I could hear them singing throughout the 90mins.

    Things are looking good, top of the league and 7 points clear. My main concern at the moment is the threatened tube strike on Wednesday. If it goes ahead I will need to make a very speedy exit well before the final whistle to make it back to King’s Lynn. Come on you tube workers.

  351. on 30 Nov 2013 at 11:19 pm351Uplympian

    Trev 338. ” I was never aiming at the levels he has fought to achieve” – you shurely weren’t aiming to play for the spuds 😉 Seriously though spot on synopsis.
    GL….the Dutch skunk is just another ex player mercaniary,unfortunately not the first and won’t be the last.
    H2H…..not having to listen to that bitter & twisted scots scouser is a bonus whatever our result 😉
    Cent…you may not become an ace player for “The Arse” but you are already an ace supporter 🙂

  352. on 30 Nov 2013 at 11:22 pm352göönsterham lincöln

    Cent, didn’t mean to be smug. I am 27. Thought I was the youngest one on here!

  353. on 30 Nov 2013 at 11:26 pm353Trev

    You’re a few years ahead of Wind too, goo linc. 😉

  354. on 30 Nov 2013 at 11:35 pm354Holloway2Holland

    Hehs @ Trev and Uply.

    Indeed N7, indeed.

  355. on 30 Nov 2013 at 11:51 pm355Cent

    Thanks and Cheers, Uply.

    No worries, Goonster, and as Trev pointed out young master Wind is the baby of the bar.
    *hides from Wind*

  356. on 30 Nov 2013 at 11:58 pm356Holloway2Holland

    Young Wind is wise beyond his years.

  357. on 30 Nov 2013 at 11:59 pm357Trev

    Steve T is wide beyond his ears. 😉

  358. on 01 Dec 2013 at 12:44 am358Lars

    Just home. Or, to be precise, just home and having watched our highlights on MOTD and then very drunkenly fastforwarded to the Football League Show. Oh yes, we’ve had our Stockholm Xmas part today and it was a smashing success! (where “smashing” means we all got smashed, that is)

    Too currently-drunk to back-drink right now. Will do that later. Like tomorrow or somink. But at this stage I’m orf to bed… Zzzzzzzzzzzzz…

  359. on 01 Dec 2013 at 12:57 am359behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

    All November passed and we conceded only one goal in all competitions? Holy shit! That is unbelievable after you consider who we played.

  360. on 01 Dec 2013 at 1:19 am360Cent

    ‘Holic @322, I’m on it, half-way through it now. Just send me an E-mail address I can send it too.

  361. on 01 Dec 2013 at 1:21 am361Cent

    H2H @356, agreed.

    Heh@ Trev.

    Good stuff, Lars.

    8ball, the prospects of this team are really scary. Fingers crossed for them.

  362. on 01 Dec 2013 at 4:29 am362Öskar the dog

    Only 7 points clear? I blame everyone. Where will it all end….

    Öskar

  363. on 01 Dec 2013 at 5:56 am363CMDrunk

    @292 Dr Faustus – That has got to be the lineup. More than capable of besting Hull who have played well under Bruce in the few games I’ve seen them play so far with Huddlestone their key player. I’d much rather we play like Spain without any strikers rather than play with Theo through the middle where he’s at his most ineffective.Bendtner could start this match and I really want him to be back to the level he was before his bust up with Adebayor which to me at least was the starting point of his spiral downwards.Let’s not forget he has a decent goal scoring stats to back it up:45 goals in 83 appearances isn’t bad by any measure.

    http://www.arsenal.com/first-team/players/nicklas-bendtner

    @326 Fat chance that Morata would be sent on loan to us or to any other team considering that he’s their only backup striker after Benzema.Reminds me of Morientes a lot though.Good poacher though and would gladly take him as our backup without any qualms whatsoever.

  364. on 01 Dec 2013 at 6:05 am364CMDrunk

    @349 N7 Out of your list of strikers none of them presently can be considered as a plan B for their respective teams! Sturridge starts regularly with Suarez , Negredo has also started most of the games with Aguero.Eto’o is Chelski’s main striker now that Torres is injured; Demba Ba is plan B for them and Defoe can’t even come on a substitute in the games that Spuds have played so far ,so to call him as a plan B is going too far.

    Looking forward to a interesting Spuds vs Manure game today.If Spuds have a modicum of pride they need to bounce back with a display that shames Manure and puts them further back in the title race.Manure winning is also good because that’d heap further pressure on AVB who I still rate as a fine coach though he needs to take some responsibility for the way his team plays instead of blaming everyone else.He can’t blame the fans who have a right to expect that their team plays better attacking football rather than the dour sh*t they peddle presently.Draw also would suit us just fine.

  365. on 01 Dec 2013 at 7:36 am365Goonerholic

    360 Cent. gooner(at)goonerholic(dot)com

    Thanks my friend.

  366. on 01 Dec 2013 at 7:39 am366Cent

    Sent, Maestro.

  367. on 01 Dec 2013 at 7:43 am367Esso

    Some great drinking going on here. More power to your elbows, holics!

  368. on 01 Dec 2013 at 7:44 am368Goonerholic

    Cheers Cent.

    Morning Esso.

    Seven points…

  369. on 01 Dec 2013 at 8:17 am369Goonerholic

    Cent writes 🙂 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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