Up Next – The Improving Latter Day Saints
Nov 22nd, 2013 by 'holic
It has been a while since the visit of Southampton created quite as much ‘buzz’ as this one. The Gunners may sit at the head of the Premiership right now, but the team with the meanest defence, and newest England caps, is the Hampshire club. The Saints have lost just once in eleven starts, conceding only five goals in the process, and sit three points and two places behind us.
The team news is encouraging. Theo Walcott is back in the squad after injury although lacking match practice. He may have to settle for a place on the bench against his former club. Tomas Rosicky is expected to have recovered from the bug that affected him of late, and the Big Flipping German should be ok to return after missing the last match at Old Trafford.
I honestly haven’t seen much of the visitors this season but they are making an impression on decent judges. I’m told they press all over the pitch and try to deny the ball-players like us time and space to build play. That sounds so very simple but few are able to master it consistently, including us. I still fancy our midfield is capable of opening up any opponents on their day and why should this not be another of those days?
So strong are we in midfield that man of the moment, Aaron Ramsey, could well be asked to do a job on the right with such a talent as Santi Cazorla on the opposite flank. They would be playmakers, first name on the team sheet, at most of our rivals.
The ‘holic pound is wagered on a hunch we may struggle to impose ourselves on lively opponents early on, but tiring legs may be chasing shadows in the last twenty minutes. I am tipping a 2-1 home win and have grabbed the best price on offer, 8/1. (Worryingly I cannot believe the visitors are on offer at fives after their start to the season).
Either side of the game it looks as though we will have possibly the biggest gathering of ‘holics yet at the ‘juicer of choice’ to celebrate TaBS birthday. Have a good one fella. I’m looking forward to meeting some new faces in the morning, and later!
Hope he is a bit more cheerful than this!
To all others may I wish you a happy weekend, and three more point for the Arsenal.
256 Responses to “Up Next – The Improving Latter Day Saints”
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Bring it on. Tollietastic….
Better read the post now.
Evening all.
Top preview and what a picture! 😉
Cheers!
awwww
bollocks
how buggerin often
am i here
and i miss
first
well in
steve t
well in
How’s the kitchen cba? 😉
Aaaargh; top half?
and
you
can eff off
for
a start ‘hol
i’m armpit deep
in the shits
ya so and so
i’d rather
the bloody cattle
were in
sheesh
oh
and
i’m lovin’
the elderly gooner solidarity
i remember
bertie mee , me
Evening all.
Cheers for that ‘H – thought that Daily Mail Pic where I’m sporting the “8 pints of stella and soaked through to the skin” look had long since been buried! 🙂
Who’s the guilty party who found it for you?
Great preview- 6-0 to the Gunners tomorrow. Written in the starts innit!
Look forward to seeing everybody tomorrow.
Ah I got” Treved” on the last blog. Many hehs cba – I would resend but I Can’t Be Arsed 🙂 Best solution to the mice is cats, though the dogs may not like it.
Spot on summary Holic. We could see Theo start and Rambo back in his favoured CM slot alongside Mikel. If the match is half as good as the Tollie gathering we should be in for a cracker. Looking forward to meeting all the faces tomorrow.
A ‘holic preview. This can mean only one thing:
THERE’S REAL FOOTBALL TOMORROW
yaaay. Wonderful to read a preview piece after another bleeding interlull. And a great preview from the Guv’nor to boot.
Have a great time at the Tollie and afterwards, all you ‘Holics. I shall be with you in spirits.
COYG
Can’t flipping wait ;-).
Thanks ‘Holic, and thank you Tabs for a perfect excuse to drink all day :-).
See you all tomorrow. Just sorry that ABB, Hazza and Snir won’t be there. Happy rest of Friday and weekend all.
xx
Good preview, Guv.
I expect Sotton’s tactics of pressing from the front to play right into our hands. If we can take our early chances we could be out of sight before they learn their lesson and decide to sit deep.
Have a good one everyone going to the game and/or attending the biggest party of the summer under a Tollie Brollie. We will awaiting your guest posts and Twitter updates.
Up The Arse!
He was at Villa with Arsenal Sweden.
The look on the face is when Lars told him
The credit card is a myth
It was too much for the other bloke who could only put his head in his hands…..
See y’all amongst the Black Stuff tomorrow….
Oh feck, here we go again……
Romans
Good one Guvnör, greetings hölics & hölices.
Theo Walcott is back in the squad after injury………. that part tickles me well.
I’d rather go for a 3-1 cruise, and if all seat belts are in place, a TaBs 6-0 whitewash is there for the taking.
I’ve missed my Arsenal so much that I’ve vowed not to wear undies until after tomorrow’s win.
Till ‘morow, good night everyone.
Happy birthday Tabs! Here’s hoping the lads give you a proper result to celebrate.
Massive game tomorrow – the kind that decides where our season is headed. You don’t need to win at OT to win the league, but you do need to bounce back, and the saints are a decent outfit.
2-1 to the good guys.
COYG
howdy tabs
i hope you have a crackin day tomorrow
i hope we all have a crackin day tomorrow
and
can you ask all the bigger boys to stop pickin
on me
for me mice
big rodent free bullys
and
look out
for
cows with red and white toenails
mincing through internetland
tomorrow
possibly carrying
buckets of dead critters
Picking on you, cba?
Sympathising my friend, I know the problem 😉
Heh
you’ll feel the business end
of my creeper ‘hol
*stamps foot and turns up eddie cochran*
Cheers H and all.
Looking forward to tomorrow. An early happy birthday to the meedja star. I was at that rain soaked game as well but I was deep undercover on the home side. No really, I was under cover.
That was probably the most lackluster performance we had all year. I don’t think the same will happen tomorrow. I think a 3-1 victory sounds right!
See you all tomorrow!!!
Poppet – you’re welcome 🙂
N7, – Cheers Sir!
Cba – Hahaha and thank you, and I see you’ve been busy lately in the last bar. Late to the party, but I anticipate many hehs on a backdrink. Hope all is well with you.
Up – You coming as well? Brilliant!
Dr Z – the other bloke is Lars! 🙂
i wouldn’t back drink tabs
it’s essentially just been
institutionally approved
bullying
it’s all i can do
not to flounce outta the bar
and
slam
the imaginary door
@ 22
In normal circumstances I would have said “well that explains everything” but in this case I can only wonder wtf you said to him after he said to you the credit card is a myth.
Could it have been I’m about to strip down to my Speedos….?
There’s a large storm brewing over North London tomorrow. Massively jealous that I’m over here whilst you’re all meeting up. Have a great one (not in doubt). Lets hope Arsenal give you the perfect present ….
Cba – Haha and noted. 🙂
Dr Z – Yup! 😉
Heh!
Magical to have you back cba.
We will raise several glasses to you tomorrow 😉
CBA. Your poetry style is unique. And strangely understandable tonight. 😉
appreciate that big man
tis the home of the arse
you’ve made
.
think of a mouse cocktail
where’s trev
the sharpest tool in the sharpest toolbox
Tabs
Many happy returns. Enjoy! You are only 35 once!
Nice article in the Guardian today about Santi. He analyses the United game and can’t see why we lost. Or rather he did- we fell asleep at a set piece. Never mind the BFG is back tomorrow and we will need him and everyone else at their best. With Flamini suspended we have not got what I consider our optimal midfield at the moment but if Arteta plays like he did against Liverpool we should cope.
We have got a chance to notch a number of wins on the spin starting tomorrow. And if we do who knows where it might take us. We can beat Saints, Marseille, Cardiff and Hull before the fixtures get a little tougher.
COYG!
catalan
i’ve been using a
new swally recipe
the jury is still out
as indeed
am i
Hey at ‘ The Latter Day Saints’ reference 😉 But there can only be one true religion. The gospel according to Holic and Wenger. Amen. Looking forward to getting more then just a glimpse of our Theo.
Uply, have one devil of a good time, mate 😉 With the company you’ll be in, it is a given.
Thank you Poppet! That was so nice of you to say. xx
Tabs, umm, sorry mate. But that pic of you and Lars is fooking priceless. 🙂 Happy B’day in advance.
NorCal, this is for 🙂 xx
Yeahhh, real football is back baby!
I swear the interlull sometimes feels longer than the summer break, at least in summer you have cool stuff to do like drink outside in a tee shirt (yes, and shorts too).
So a fascinating game in prospect: what happens when the unstoppable force meets the immovable object? I’ll be following the action from a probably windswept Brighton so a glass will be raised in Tabs’ honour, many happy returns pal!!
Would love the joy of being in on the greatest meeting of Holics ever(TM), oh well can’t have it all eh? I’ll settle for just the 3-1 then, Theo has to come off the bench and seal the points against his former employers.
#33
wha ?
Nice preview H. I too believe that this will be a real test and we will require all our boys to be in top form if we are going to take 3 points tomorrow. I hope your Predictometer is spot on, boss.
Happy birthday in 40 minutes TaBS.
See y’all at TJOC.
COYG
U T A
Southampton will be a tough gig, no doubt.
They press the ball and work really hard.
But then, so did Dortmund.
Bring our A game, pocket the points, and then we can get back for the real spectator sport – Wolfie’s table-jiving. 😉
A tip of the Liffey water to the Tollie Frollickers and another to the birthday boy. May the Arsenal goals come roaring down like a mighty Niagara.
Thinking of you abb. Hope all is well. Great to see you here.
OQWA (overly quick wrist action) has done me in again. Ping Pong, of course. 😉
But OQWA could have applicability in other fields. Drinking, for instance.
Feel like a kid on Christmas Eve.
Trying to sleep. not really working.
See some of you later.
Nice preview Holic. Great Pic. Now, where did that come from????
Happy 50th Tabs.
Soton will be a real test. They have played well this year and are where they are on merit. The first goal is very important.
Hope to see some of you tomorrow.
3 nil to the mighty Gunners.
Happy half century tabs.
Right, back to bed.
Thanks Holic!
8ball, too funny you are!
SteveT, Tabs is 50, holy cow. He’s made it to the big league and garnered more respect from me 😉
H2H, good nite chap, no wonder you can’t sleep. Bet lots of memories will be flooding back, hope their all good ones. xx
Aha ! A preview – proper football’s back !
Happy Birthday Tabs – see you on the morrow.
Zico’s on the way down for his winter dose of vitamin D.
Uply, bath and Holic trecking up from the West, H2H from the East, NorCal granted permission to visit his colonial masters – Holics from around the globe and I hear from Mr Storey that Lars is invading with 87 (!!!) Swedes, and the ever present Ollie under the Tollie Brollie.
A glass will be raised to your health Abb, and we’ll see, with so many doctors gathered, if we can’t muster a dose of warfarin for cba’s rats.
A sharp north wind is on the cards so the ermine lined Speedos and undercrackers could be essential.
This is definitely going to be a whole pinter – wonder if anyone else will manage to keep up with me ? 😉
HBD Tabs and Wolfie.
Neither of you look a day over 49. 😛
I remember when they did z 😉
Arrived back in the big smoke. Happy birthday Tabs.
Zico….Tabs & Wolfie looking 49 – started early with the heavy stuff 😉
Holic…If only a pom could make 49 at the Gabba.
Abb…we shall sure raise a glass to you later today.
Time for some shut eye…nytol.
It looks like NBCSN had a last minute change of heart and decided it was worth televising the 1st place team’s game against the 3rd place team after all. No stream searching after all then so I may be able to actually see the game. 🙂
655 in the am here, bt8b. can’t wait!
happy birthday, tabs. enjoy the rivers of half pints in which you will swim tomorrow, before, during, and after…
its back at last and should be a tight game, will be watching game live at at 1015pm in Perth Australia with #1 Gooner Son at my side. Pizza ordered and beer chilling in fridge. What could be better, well what could be better is that we win and score a few goals keep a clean sheet and we were watching it at Emirates. To all the Gooners going to game I wish you well and will have a beer or two for you tonight.
Just a little worry is AW really thinking we can win EPL without buying a forward, please tell me this is not so
COYG
Got into Paddington about 5 hours ago, got home about 4 hours ago, and I spent the night catching up with most of my siblings 🙂
Got an Oyster card problem to sort in the morning (my 16+ one expired a few months ago 🙁 but other than that I should be ready and raring to go 😛
Happy Birthday TaBS 😀 , win, loss or draw, its going to be a hell of a memorable day.
scruz, cleggy. I am still trying to figure out how the game can start at 55 minutes after the hour California time and 15 minutes after the hour on New Zealand time. Certainly can’t say for sure but I suspect there are some unusual atmospheric conditions in New Zealand throwing things off by 20 minutes. 😉 Enjoy the game. 🙂
my guess is tv bs prior to a 715 start, bt…
nope, .con says 7 am kickoff.
Ready to board……
Happy birthday TaBS.
Have a good trip, travellers this morning.
Morning all.
Safe trip H2H.
Right, football training, shower and off. I may be struggling pre match but will certainly be there post match.
Enjoy boys and girls. Make sure you wrap up. It’s not a warm morning.
Happy 60th Tabs.
Ah well. Been up since 5. But no worries there is live football to attend today!
Happy birthday TaBs!
Scruz,
Keep the Northern California silent screams coming.
ABB,
Hang in there nurse. You’ve got a lot of people behind you!
Breakfast and a trip to the Tollie and HOF on the agenda.
Now Come on Arsenal give us the 3 points!
Morning Norcal. Looking forward to drinking your Guinness, I mean meeting you, later 😉
Morning All,
Thank you for all the birthday wishes.
SteveT – Ahem 49th, but then numbers never were your strong point 😉
Invincibility is here!
See some of you later today. Good luck everybody. Come on the Arsenal!
London Baby!!!!
What time are you Tollie bound H2H? I will keep my eyes peeled for a pair of clogs 😉
Heh. I’m on the DLR at the mo, will head towardd Finsbury Park, check out the Arsenal shop, dump my stiff and either hit the Pins or the Tollie. Have apped with NorCal so look out for a star spangled banner flying next to those clogs. 😛
You are excited fella 😉 heh!
Indeed.
Got to make a detour though, as all overground services are suspended from Shadwell.
10 mins to go before the off. Happy birthday tabs. Feeling anxious about this game we will need to be patient but an early goal would settle all our nerves.
Sorry can’t persuade the Kings Lynn Gooners to try the Tollie, we will be at the Hemmingford Arms, we like to drink our beer from real glasses, must be our age.Enjoy your day Holics.
As always COYRs
Happy birthday Tabs!
Have a great one along with all the Gooners invading the real bar today 🙂
Very jealous here but still happy for you all and that the real football is back.
Getting ready to watch the game somewhere in town.
COYG! 3 points are there for the taking.
Here we go, here we go, here we go….
COYG
Laters Tollie Brollie Dollies.
For God’s sake don’t let Wolfie see @65 !
Train time !
Safe journeys to all the travelling Holics.
Thanks for that Trev@71. I wondered why H2H’s commendable caution about inadvertantly importing horticultural produce hadn’t extended to the smuggling of dead bodies.
Have a great time under the Brolly all.
COYG
Just knocked the first one down in the Pins.
Tollie time, Lars, NorCal, tabs en the maestro himself present and correct
Happy birthday tabs! 32 right?
Enjoy it and have a good day.
NorCal, hope you having good time, mate. Your liver doing fine?
Nervous about today, but it is more a result of a long two weeks without proper football and less from the fear of our opponent today.
No disrespect to the Saints, they are a strong, good and likable side managed by a good coach that likes to play football the right way. They have plenty of good players, who are both technically good and they run a lot.
However I feel that if we play near our best, Boruc is going to be the busiest of the two goalkeepers by far.
Never preferred predicting results, but I expect at least three goals from our boys today.
happy birthday tabs
here’s to a big dollop of joy
round about 5
’tis for the beer am i
UP THE ARSE
Central line from Epping. Who knows, might make a pre match swifty after all. Save me a place lads.
Happy Birthday Tabs!
May all your wishes come true!
Mugmashers are one up already! Come on Everton!
Correction it’s one a piece now! They must have heard me 🙂
Re: Delia. Beer in real glasses? Who would have thought? 🙂
Begs the question. What do they use in the Tollie? Their hands?
Lukaku is a beast I must say O.o
Monster Day all! And so many Happy Drinks, slurped them up greedily 😉
Omg. now tied at 3-3!
and hey all!:)
Hehe Eandy 🙂
All the Chelsea discards put on quite a match at Everton. Lukaku is a beast. I just hope Mourinho thinks he needs a few more years of loans before he brings him back.
apparently the match will have a 15 minute delayed kick off due to the travel problems. Simply staggering news methinks
Our match apparently delayed 15 minutes due to rail maintenance work or something. Could be just enough time to make the difference, drinking-wise. 😉
washed up. Staggering due to drinking, perhaps? 😉
Come on Arsenal!
I HATE DELAYS!
Arsenal v Southampton
Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Wilshere, Ozil, Cazorla, Giroud. Subs: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Monreal, Rosicky, Walcott, Gnabry, Bendtner.
Theo is on the bench
This LAST MINUTE, EMERGENCY 15 minute delay means that clergy was correct in predicting the starting time of 15 minutes past the hour on here a few hours ago. Is this clairvoyance or what?????? Maybe the Twilight Zone??????
funny that cleggy had the x15 start time right last night… travel delays, eh? their slip is showing?
will do, norcal, especially with the MIL here from Devon. don’t want to wake her from jet lag sleep.
hope you are doing ok, miss nurse. big hugs.
ah to have been at the tollie today!
lol, bt, great minds and all.
Here come THE LADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Come on Arsenal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey scruz, big hug back 😉 This delay is very nerve wracking, must say!
Deep breath, HERE WE GO!!!
waiting is the hardest part, but here we go!
graaah stewart robson on setanta *scrambles quickly for another stream*
come on Arsenal!
clatterberg a joke.
og got a stinger. run it off, lad.
Giroud hurt! Damm 🙁
OMG, Almost by us!
ooooh, so close.
Jack that was close come on!
ooioooooh
atg, I just realized, two poles in goal!
Looks like I’m missing a cracker of a game. Keep the commentaries coming!
goal of the season if that goes in, aaron.
Unlucky Ozil!
oooh Aaaron..that should have gone in!
Cent, we should have been 2 up by now!
And now Jack is writhing on the ground!
Clattenberg typical Man u fan!
did I say he is a joke already, clatterburg?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…1-0
Hey Hey! OG Goal! Their keeper a fool! Ha ha!
OG! 😀
boruc, what a maroon.
You know, I was going to say earlier that their goalie looked a tad nervous 😉
Being Polish I can’t believe he’s done that ha ha ha ah ah haaaaa
nothing wron with your eyes, abb.
What a prick!
🙂
All the better COME ON ARSENAL!!!!!!!!!!!!
g. :). corner to them. and good defending, and another.
Thanks, Nurse.
I hear Giroud is making sure Sir Ches remains the undisputed Polish no 1.
tough going in the midfield.
Cent, Woj just made a great save!
Clattenburg gives them everything O.o
rare mistake by arteta leads to great save Chezza.
Unbelievable refereeing
OG taking some tough knocks!
OG getting kicked up all around
Lovely stuff by Ozil.
WTF! League leaders vs 3rd and i can’t find a single place showing the game 🙁
Nice to walk in here to get the news we’re 1 up
Clattenburg is not having a good game 🙁
Sexy save by Woj!
Umm, make that saves!
Scary stuff Holics but we are in the lead!
Come on Arsenal!
another great save, Chezza. boy is on fire!
WOJ!
Comone Gibbsy!
we are *so* good when we goose the jets.
Now watching the game. What a save from Sir Chez on Lallana’s shot!
Giroud is Superman! So everywhere!
That was a nasty tackle on OG!
Ok the Sir Ches save was from Rodriguez’ shot.
ht, 1-0, on a lucky break. though I think we deserve to be up, and thanks to great work by Chezza. especially the second.
Hahaha so Boruc wanted to try one of those Cruyff turns Szczeszny does.
Re: Abb. Clattenburg thinks it is his mission to allow as many Southampton players to clatter into Arsenal players’ backs as he can. 🙁
8ball, amazing isn’t it. So blatant.
Would gladly settle for 1-0 to the Arsenal.
So far so good. Let’s keep on keeping on!
Is Clattenburg going to cost us points this game? He clearly has the intention.
I fell Arteta is looking vulnerable at the center of the pitch, he is working hard as ever but sometimes he lacks height, speed and help from other players.
The Saints are playing high back line and we are not fast enough to do them on the counter. Theo or Gnabry would be nice subs.
Too true Lurky – we need a quick one out there.
Would gladly settle for 1-0 AND no injuries please Mr C.
Hey more folks at the bar, terrific! 🙂
C’mon Arsenal!
Thanks for the first half commentaries, I was at an Uncle’s funeral, rushed off immediately after it. I’m now watching the game.
Rambo and Jack both went close with two delocous attempts. Let’s wrap it up.
Come on You Gunners!
Sooo, on a scale of 1 to 10 on keeper gaffes, where does that one by Boruc rate?
Does it beat the time Mannone refused to catch the ball despite being in the box? Or the time Almunia ran straight out the box and knocked over Squillaci leaving an open goal against West Brom?
Or the time Fabianski threw it in his own net against Porto?
Those were all 10s 🙂
Saints keeping the heat on us. What should we do!
Now we’re stringing some passes together, finally.
Looking dangerous, we are 🙂
some of our interplay today has been sublime.
Haha! Boruc, dodgy keeper
theo in the wings
Theo coming on! Feo, Feo, Feo!
Nice cross by Bac, good header attempt by Jack.
good game, santi!
Theo on for Santi! Love em both!
hope we don’t suffer in defense with theo
arteta hurt, damn. rozza or gnarby?
rozza!
Arteta injured, TR comes on! A little music, please!
Another good save by Woj.
Hey abb! What’s up princess? Enjoying the match?
come on gunners, hold!!
Thank you Kos, superb tackle! End to end action!
Wasn’t that handball by Boruc there?
Hey Cor! Nailbiter, this!
nacho for mesut.
oooh!
Ramsey to Walcott, almost. Great shot!
Damn stream, can’t see anything lol
penno!!
We got a PK awarded! Whipee!
come on, og!!
Pelanty!!!!
And OG is our hero!
2-0!!!
You beauty!
OG!:D
top of the league, we’re still going to be top of the league!!
Top of the League and Injury table, too 🙁
woo hoo!!!
Great result!
Fulltime:2-0 to the Arsenal.
Definition of a dogged performance.
Well done boys!
Great work today. Glad the visiting holics got to see a win tonight!
Good fighting spirit by us and the Saints, too. Wonder who is available now for Tuesday, but no need to stress about that now.
Cent, Sorry about your Uncle. xx
Boom?
Enjoy your weekend holics. Pretty sure their having one hell of a time at the Tollie 😉
what a result come on Arsewnal!
We had a meh kinda game, good thing is whatever we did bad southhampton did worse
That was not a meh game for me, it was more of a dogged performance. Seemed the players understood that getting the three points and getting back to winning ways was way more important than anything else.
Great goal Abb. Keep them coming. 🙂
agreed, cent. hard work and some lovely stuff, plus two moments of idiocy from the saints.
sorry about your uncle, hope he lived a grand life.
I dont give a shyte!
Three points thank you very much do you honestly think The Invencibles year was as smooth ???
Too many complaints!
Three points thats is all that matters!
Jsut to add to my silly comment!
Saints play some top notch footy! Not just technically but physically as well!
If I think Santi was off today what do you expect from being in to SA and back again!
Rosicky covered very well it was a tough game and for a many time to mention we have NOT made any mistakes!
This place is quiet fuck me!
Strange game this was. Two quality teams somewhat canceling each other out. But not a lucky victory any way, we had all the better moments and on another day at least one of Wilshere’s and Ramsey’s superlative efforts would have come off.
Giroud had his usual hard working, tenacious, intelligent hold-up play but the clever one-twos didn’t come off that well. Good to see him back among the goals. I think in senior football he is yet to miss a single penalty or something like that.
My MOTM was though Szczesny. Some really crucial saves and good command of the box against a team that excel in set-pieces.
It was interesting to note that though Jack was often dispossessed trying to dribble through a maze of opposition players others were always cleverly positioned to recover and no one — including Arsene on the sidelines — asked him to cut it out. I think more and more Jack will be allowed the freedom to perfect the timing of his driving runs and work on dribbling out of cluttered midfield. Just like last season Ramsey was patiently allowed to build up the confidence of his hold-turn-and-pass abilities even though for many months he was well short of the requisite speed of thought.
Against Marseilles I expect TR7 to start, and Flamini would probably take the place of Arteta as whatever that injury was he cannot recover in a couple of days.
Thanks abb.
Cheers, Scruz, sadly he went a bit too soon, he was 54, his liver ran it’s course, loved booze and fags to a fault and would never visit a hospital except he was really down. Worst combination.
we Love you Arsenal we do……..
we Love you Arsenal we do……..
we Love you Arsenal we do……..
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhh
Arenal we dooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!
Arthur @ 211: Santi had a few moments of brilliance but I was surprised to see him start after that African trip. He did okay in my opinion.
Credit must be given to Saints. Really high tempo, committed but at the same time intelligent football. They lack enough creativity to be a true challenger but Europe is very much on teh cards.
Cent I’m sorry for your loss who and how?
Cent — my condolences to you and your family. That is too young indeed.
Cent I will shut up now this perhaps is a way of saying Goodbye!
I’m so so sorry fella!
Let this win be a mark of someone going to the the place of rest!
Chin up fella I have ben through this many ofd times!
Thanks for the kind words Gents and ladies. No need to tone down celebrations of our newest three points, my uncle has been laid to rest and I’m sure wherever he is now he will be willing us to celebrate every single breath we take.
Classic Arsenal beats New Arsenal.
Condolences, Cent. Three dogged points dedicated to your uncle.
The defence looks much more solid when the BFG plays. I thought we made a pretty useful attack look pretty average today.
Sorry that I didn’t post earlier, wifi in the Emirates is not great.
It’s fucking brilliant here, all the holics are top notch people, the Tollie is rocking.
Back to my drinky…..
On a funny side Wojetek must be laughing at Artur (my name) in stiches!
Thanks H2H, for that brief posting from the seat of the action. It’s damned quiet in the virtual bar tonight, good to hear that the real one is more lively.
By the way,
WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE WE ARE…
UTA
Cheers, NED.
H2H, Pangloss and Authur knows.
Oh to be at the Tollie now!
Carlos Vela scored 4 goals for Sociedad today.
this is well worth watching again and again and again
http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/arsenals-aaron-ramsey-almost-scored-a-ridiculous-backheel-volley-against-southampton-gif/
Just back from the match having had rather a long detour because of tube problems on the way there. I thought we were a class better than a decent Saints side. They never created any major chances and all this suggestion that Ches was MOTM is a bit . pessimistic. One saw the true quality of England’s Rickie Lambert against Germany’s Mertesacker and France’s Koscielny. They never gave him a sniff. Wanyama was their best player and is one for the future.
OG was excellent today. A great shift put in and enormous strength upfront. This was a defence that had conceded five goals all season and he really gave them difficulties. It was comical to see Boruc deal with almost every back pass. My four year old grandson is just learning to kick the ball and he looks more assured than Boruc.!
We struggled a bit in midfield because of their high- tempo pressing game but we were very good without the ball. My only real concern is that Ozil while playing a few great passes is too peripheral. He’s a luxury player not an integral one at the moment. I hope he can step out to the plate a little more concertedly.
well, sorry cent. 54 is way too young. at least it sounds like he enjoyed himself while here!
I’m cold and very lonely.
Not been in long. A top day. Great result if not the greatest game. Am I bothered???? Nahhhhhhhhh
Met holics old and new. All fantastic people. An honour and a privilege to share a pub and a beer with each and every one. It makes you realise just how lucky you really are. I thank each and every one of you. And all those I have yet to meet in the flesh.
Keep the faith.
Here is some more hapless goalkeeping including a freak goal from our peripatetic Joel Campbell, who has scored four goals in eleven games for Olympiakos.
oops forgot the link:
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/arsenal-striker-joel-campbell-scored-a-freak-header-for-olympiakos-at-panthrakikos/
Yes, Carlos Vela scored 4 goals but the Celta Vigo defence looked like they were playing with their bootlaces tied together – shambolic.
Joel Campbell’s goal also a defensive error, but good to see he’s getting goals – he has plenty assists too. Still don’t understand that he was sent out on loan.
We could draw Olympiacos in the first knockout round.
Result was all that mattered today. Saints are a tough outfit this season and we needed to bounce back. Thought we looked very solid indeed.
League table makes sweet reading tonight. Eight points clear of the LWCs, and I’ve a feeling they’re about to take a pasting off the blue Mancs tomorrow afternoon.
Now we need to take the next six points on offer before we head into a tough patch of games next month.
COYG
Top effort and great 3 points.
Our team defense looks so well drilled and solid.
Bfg is awesome.
Giroud is so strong And his skills are tight and he works like a trojan horse all over the park.
Unfortunately i thought Wilshire and arteta were very poor tonight giving the ball away too easy and poor passing. Both very frustrating to watch.
Cazorla is so dangerous even though southampton give little space.
Good to have theo back, cant wait to be dangerous on the right again.
Podolski returns soon, flam back in replace of artetta and we will be a big force for rest of season.
Congrats must go to arsene who has the side humming along even when not at our peak.
What a night.
Left H2H walking towards his hotel in the North London area.
NorCal is on his way to his hotel via the London Underground System.
I’m on my way to a friend’s, then on my way home.
3 points attained.
4 points clear of the chasing pack.
Top of the League.
Red Army.
Victoria Concordia Cresent.
Arsenal, Bloody Arsenal.
What Steve T said @234.
A real pleasure to share a pub, a club and a virtual bar with you wonderful people, Holics old and new and yet to be met.
And safe trips home all you travellers.
PS spare a thought for tabs. He is going to have a very sore head tomorrow morning….even if he didn’t have another drink after the game.
…and for those in the know, the Rite of Spring was excellent.
Just in to my hotel.
Top,top,top day.
An honour and a pleasure to meet and share a real drink with so many great gooners.
I feel truly blessed.
Back home at Uply juniors abode…..condition passable – letters of apology not necessary;-)
What a top top day…meeting up with you wonderful gooners / holics and sharing a drink or 2 or more. The match was tight as expected but class came through in the end. Thanks to our esteemed guvnor who started the whole thing off.
Just back “home”. Match report tomorrow as I’m plain knackered
Cheers all
The Holic Burger @ 233, don’t fret meaty treat.
I’ll warm you up & comfort you… in my belly 8)
Headline: Gunners Deft, Boruc Daft….
Aussie: Wilshere is having his last-season Ramsey season, i.e. playing himself back to where he would have been without injury.
North bank ned- sincerley hope you are right.
Ramsey was exactly like it last year you are spot on.
I know it seems harsh to criticise or nitpick arter a hard slog win.
To me it seems jack is trying too hard and tries to thread the impossible pass too often or run through tight gaps that close on him.
Its like he is trying to rush the golden run or pass.
When you watch ozil even when he is not at his best he just takes his time and makes the simplest of passes that allow others space.
Three points is three points, but we were far from convincing winners. Apart from OG no-one north of the defence had much of a game, looking uniformly sluggish and carelessly giving the ball away. Jack and Santi might as well not have been on the pitch and even Özilla failed to spark much going forward.
Excellent games by OG, Woj, Kos and the BFG, and the fullbacks tried hard all day. But it wasn’t until TR7 arrived that we looked even remotely like league leaders.
Let’s hope it was a case of saving something for Tuesday, although a team which saw themselves as serious title contenders wouldn’t have been this lethargic, imo.
Öskar
Nervy game yesterday. IMO Arsenal are now comfortable at not having the ball for long spells. A couple of seasons before if that happened you would see Arsene on his feet. Perhaps he is more comfortable with our defense.
And it looks like at the moment Rosicky is our best player driving forward. We need to use him well this season.
We were careless in possession. I believe most of the players were saving their stuff for Marseilles. I hope I am right and we do the business come tuesday.
Oskar @ 250 – that’s not the game I saw. And maybe you’ve not been watching the Saints too.
As for Marseille on tue/weds(?)I watched them play and win on Friday against poor opposition .But what was interesting was the post match interview of their managér Ellie Baup where hé blamed their récent poor form on their champions league campaign.Now they have not got any possibility of C L or éven UEFA place they will more Than likely pût out their reserve team and à few first teamers who need matchtime.
From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the fun and games yesterday! I had an absolutely outstanding day and got very, very drunk in the end 🙂
Just another boring day down the Arsenal…….. 😉
Thanks, in no particular order, to Snowy, Trev, Wolfie, NorCal, H2H, Uplympian, Lars, Bearded, Wind, Esso, Ollie, Steve T, Darren, Poppet, Baff, Baff Junior, Big Ian from Mussy but now the Dean Village, cunt from potter’s bar, the plastic beside me at the game who couldn’t tell the difference between Wilshere and Ramsay, and last but by no means least, that very efficient barmaid. 🙂
Oh, and Holic, even if I saw more of his burger than I did of him. 😎
The pleasure was all mine.
If I can get a pint at the airport, I might get round to sharing some more.
Tell me about it Lars 🙁
What is all of this burger nonsense?
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