Saints Day And The Case For Pricing Compromise
Jan 27th, 2014 by 'holic
When Southampton departed the Grove at the end of November few could envisage the slump that followed. They arrived trailing us at the top by just three points, having lost just one of their opening eleven fixtures and conceding only five goals in the process. Our 2-0 win that day sparked a turnaround in their fortunes.
Fast forward a Kim Basinger movie (ask your Dad, but not in front of Mum) and we are still top of the Premier League and traveling to St Marys to take on the Saints seemingly in freefall some twenty points and eight places below us. We should be wary of over-confidence as they have just won three home matches on the bounce, albeit that two were against lower league opposition in the FA Cup. They also held Manchester City 1-1 but have lost in front of their own supporters to Aston Villa, Tottenham, and Chelsea.
We, of course, go into the match after seven wins on the bounce, and with Thomas Vermaelen, Mikel Arteta, and Aaron Ramsey returning from injury. The only new doubt is Jack Wilshere, seemingly targeted by most opposing sides this season. Wojciech Szczesny should also reclaim the goalkeeping position.
I cannot, it seems, write a report or a preview this season without reference to the midfield that holds the key to what we achieve this season. With Arteta and Ramsey returning I haven’t a clue who the boss will plump for. I just know his options must be causing him the best kind of headache and that whoever gets the nod to start will feel under pressure to perform. Good pressure too. Olivier Giroud and the back four have responded to having that quality around and look better for that themselves.
The ‘holic pound has to be guided by the knowledge that three points are what title challengers would take from this sort of fixture in the second-half of the season. I have to believe the spirit and the quality we have will see us emerge with the points. I’m going for 1-2 to the Arsenal and I have backed it at 9/1, so potentially a better return than Friday’s 4-0. Serious punters might be tempted by the evens on offer just for the win. That looks generous.
Liverpool Draw Creates Genuine Ticket Price Discussion
To the delight of the press the FA Cup draw, and the subsequent pleas by Arsenal and Liverpool supporters groups, have once again brought the issue of ticket prices to the fore. That in itself cannot be a bad thing although it irks that Arsenal alone are criticised for their pricing structure. Have you seen what we are charged at Premier League fixtures away from the Grove?
Sod them. Back to our own legitimate concerns. Should Liverpool be made a grade A fixture we will host three in a week. Season ticket holders will face paying for the last of those, Bayern Munich, and any subsequent Champions League or FA Cup ties when renewing in the summer. Silver and red members, Junior Gunners and Cannon Club members who can afford it will be forking out for those tickets now. Ouch!
Quite rightly the supporters organisations have come out requesting some sympathetic treatment from the club, especially hot on the heels of the massive new Puma deal being announced. There are pleas to reconsider the three percent price increase already announced for next season, and/or the classifying of Liverpool as a cat B fixture.
Obviously both would be desirable from the point of view of huge numbers of the club’s supporters. The Liverpool game is something of a boost for the club although to be fair the gate is split between the competing teams and the FA, and there are considerable expenses associated with hosting the fixture. Still, as already mentioned, cup tie income at this stage of the season is something of a bonus. If the club is considering a sort of compromise at this time then classifying Liverpool and a potential FA Cup quarter-final as category B fixtures at least has the advantage of matchday revenues to cover.
What a bold statement they would be making, however, if they rewarded their loyal supporter base by dropping the proposed price increase for next season. It would be seen as a massive acknowledgement of their own success in delivering boosts in alternative revenue streams as well as the additional revenue being delivered NOW by a successful team on the pitch.
What say you Arsenal?
369 Responses to “Saints Day And The Case For Pricing Compromise”
Yay a preview.
0-2 to the Arsenal. 🙂
2nd
It would indeed be a bold statement H but the chances of that happening are somewhere between none and none at all.
After all, we’re only customers….
Well in zicoinexile,
Nice piece on ticket pricing. it is all getting rather step and looks like season txt holders will kop it next season (the price for home draws!). The press have been having the usual pop about £93 for the away supporters. At last Liversausage are a proper club with proper supporters. It erked me earlier in the season when Man Shitty supporters were moaning about the ticket price. It’s the likes of them and Chavski that have been allowed to subsidise the outgoings that have cause the ticket price inflation over the last 10 years.
I reckon it could be a 1-3 scoreline tomorrow as Soton have injuries to a couple of key players
Speaking as an outsider on the whole attending games malarkey, it does seem fair and reasonable to view the league as the bread and butter, and then a cup run as the jam on top – make them all category B says I … Don’t penalise the fans for a good run.
There. A whole post and I didn’t mention drinking…
Sadly so, it seems Dr z…
Dr z, it seems to be Jambos night on @HomesofFootball 😉
Who’s that there stranger @ 5?
His eyes look too close together if’n you’re askin’ me……
Good stuff, Holic.
It’s going to cost me £123.50 if they make Liverpool a Cat A fixture, and I may not even be able to get there depending on when surgery happens. What are the chances of selling that for an FA Cup tie ?
Indeed it does H.
Gettin a bit scared in case I’m captured unwittingly on the internet….. 😉
@ No 4
Man City are a proper club with proper supporters. Yes they are currently financially doped to the eyeballs, but to be fair, a very large number of their contingent were still going when they had a “derby” at Oldham or Bury.
In some ways, that makes their newly found riches all the more objectionable. I mean Noel Gallagher is rich, but he is an odious cunt. But has always supported City long before City were rich.
Just sayin.
Good preview Guv.
I see your point about ticket prices, but the club is run as a business, which means that they are going to charge the maximum price it believes it can get.
When we sit back, pointing fingers at the oil clubs and telling everyone proudly about our “sustainable business model”, I’m afraid it means charging a high price for tickets.
My own pet peeve is having a new shirt design every season so that the pester power will ensure loads of repeat shirt business – another inevitable consequence of having to make our own money.
In the long term, maybe there would be more fans coming through the gates and higher shirt sales if there were lower prices and fewer changes of design but I don’t think anyone’s going to take the risk.
There’s lots of way the world would be better, but maybe this one isn’t that high on the list. Sorry.
COYG
Would it not be more equitable to price season tickets so as to cover league games only, and then they could charge whatever was “appropriate” for other cup competitions including CL?
Or is that too simplistic?
Good post ‘holic but the outcome could well rest on the status of the Southampton goalkeeping situation which as I recall seemed dire at the Emirates. I saw Saints in one other match since then on the TV and Boruc made another whopper that game too. If we send in a few difficult long ones on target we might get some rebounds and if so a 1-3 might be a more judiciously taken score. COYG.
Sadly I was stupid enough to listen to Durham tonight in the car pleading for reason on behalf of the Mugsmashers. What about usI say as indeed do you Holics! I think the marketing man in Gazidis will come out and we will see a concession on the price of the Bayern ticket . Supporting football is not a hobby for the average earner and as someone says that is partly because of the cost inflation caused by the petrodollar clubs.
I was going to make my usual incisive comment about the game when Hollic mentioned Kim Basinger and I came over all unnecessary. I think I was going to say I agreed that we would win it 2-1 but vague memories of Kim keep taking my mind off the match.
Giroud and Cazorla will be our Basingers sorry our match winners tomorrow.
I can’t see them scoring one. Our defence too strong and focused.
Don’t know about their injuries but I read that Osvaldo got suspended by the club for 2 weeks for bopping a team mate on the snozzle. But since he had previous at Roma, can’t feel sorry for them.
Doubt that Aaron will play a full game – maybe start and play 60 mins, or come on in second half at some point. Ease him back in lightly. Same with Mikel.
1-0 to the Arsenal? That’ll do nicely thank you.
Nice preview, Guv. I’m rooting for a 3-1 win for The Arsenal.
Whoever wrote that ‘appeal’ to the club for the BSM needs to take a few lessons on humility from you.
Cheers ‘holic.
I think the Club will say “successful team” “signing big players” … pay up!
I do too Boz. Fine if they do just that.
Good to see you here.
Nice preview H and excellent statement on prices.
We sheep are being fleeced.
At the moment the club are playing the market – they know that they will sell those tickets – at the moment. However there is a limit and there are many previously loyal regulars who have dropped out because their limit was reached.
If the team goes off the boil that limit will fall and the loyalty of those who can currently afford Club Level and the sky high prices for other seats will be tested.
Dangerous game.
Sheep, ba ba bath ? 😉
221 – meh
You bleating again Trev? 😉
Evening bath 🙂
Have been reading you guys for many a year.
Lived in London from 1997-2000, and have followed my beloved Arsenal here in the States thereafter.
Sneaked an Arsenal in the flesh game at Stamford Bridge in 2006, a game in which Arsenal took the lead away through Hleb, 0-1, only for Essien to reply and tie the game 1-1, and that’s how it finished. Toured the Emirates Stadium the same time, saw the locker rooms and all that.
Must see an Arsenal home game in person. I have the opportunity to be there for the Arsenal v W.B.A. game on Saturday, May 3, 2014.
The last time I saw Arsenal, at Chelsea away, it was because I could book a Thomas Cook Travel plan to see Chelsea. Nothing like that exists for me to see an Arsenal Home Game.
This may be completely off base, but can anyone help me or point me in the right direction? I cannot follow some convoluted route, thus my question.
Many thanks,
mec
p.s. I said last summer that the guy who we need to really spend the money on is Marco Reus. I see no reason to see it any otherwise right now, and think we should pursue him in the fullest!!!
A propos of nothing, Ukraine was voted as last year’s “most corrupt country in Europe” but I wonder, Should Ukraine settle for such a small stage? 😉
By the way, mac, I didn’t mean to steal your thunder or divert attention from your excellent and interesting initial drink. Welcome and I hope you have a wonderful time at Arsenal v. WBA. 🙂
Sorry, mec not mac it’s my spillchucker getting in the way. 🙂
Me bleating, Holic ?
Everyone’s lambasting the club over ticket prices. 😉
Evening all. Nice preview holic. I must say that with the fixtures on the horizon I think that Southampton is a must win and a convincing must win. I would hope that the way we have been defending that a clean sheet is more that on the cards. I would also hope that with the attacking options from midfield that we should have more than enough to open up the Saints defence. I would expect Ollie G to start up front and hope to see Poldi on the left. 3 nil to the mighty Gunners. Bring it on.
The ticket price debate is an interesting one. Especially in today’s current climate. I was somewhat shocked to see a 3% increase for next season. I fully understand why we have 3 categories of ticket prices but have always thought that the Cat A prices are too high. How can we charge £130 for a seat to a game that is being shown live on TV?? At least Dick Turpin wore a mask.
The whole ticket price debate always generates feelings. I must say that prices are now ridiculous. Of course the club will point to a business model and simple market economics. So what does it actually take to make things change? I guess the only way for it to happen is for the ground to stop filling up.
Ticket prices for me also cause many other problems. We have debated many times about certain fans booing the team or individuals. The increase in ticket prices for me has only added to that problem. If fans are being told that the cost of following the club is going through the roof then fans become far less tolerant. If you are paying top dollar then you expect some sort of return. Previously the whole experience was enough to compensate for a poor performance or a poor result. I would suggest that for £130 the least you should be able to expect is some sort of performance. Especially in the light of some monstrous new sponsorship deal announcement.
Will the club listen???????????? Don’t be daft. It is a business these days. Perhaps it would be nice if they took a look over to how things were run in Germany. Then they might realise that fleecing fans for every penny may not be the only way to run a club???
Mec – check the Arsenal America website…they work with the club to provide US residents with tickets.
Interesting preview ‘Holic.
As a lowly red member, it does get expensive to get to those Category A games. I haven’t minded too much since my Category A games have always been the best of the best, North London Derbies (I’ve only felt comfortable parting with Category A sums of money for those games since I’ve started going to games). I won’t be particularly affected since its unlikely that I’ll be able to go to any of the games that have caused all this recent furore due to my university timetable & what not.
However, from the student’s perspective, if I was able to attend all 3 games in a row, I’d be making a conscious decision to hasten a decent into the unpleasant mire that is an overdraft with a minimum spend of £186 (before booking fees) that would come with the unlikely scenario of managing to secure three £62 lower tier tickets, the cheapest for that tier of ticket pricing. There are plenty other types of people that would be placed in similar financial situations just because they wanted to watch the club they love in the flesh, and this is even before you get to the people that shelled out the most before the season even began for their tickets, the season ticket holders.
Hopefully the club comes up with a solution that primarily and foremost benefits the people filling up the stadium and providing the atmosphere that those around the world enjoy with their localised matchday experience, the match attending fans.
Great preview Holic. Thanks. My prediction is the club will do the right thing with the cup game but there is zero chance of the 3% increase being recalled. The reason they stated was inflation, the ultimate built in excuse.
On the Liverpool website they list domesttic cup ties at a field as cat A games with a price of £52. Given that home supporters cannot be charged less than away, is this not all rather one sided? It would cost an Arsenal fan more than the difference on a return train journey to Liverpool given that travel from/ to the provinces by train is more expensive than from provinces to London.
Can anyone tell me what Arsenal supporters are being charged the previous weekend for the dubious privilege of going to that hole up north?
The monks at Castle Ned are much conflicted on this one. They make an away win only marginally likely, and a 1-1 draw the most likely specific result, followed by a 1-0 home win and a 1-2 away win. This might be the banana skin we have so far managed to avoid. I will be more than satisfied with three points, however ugly it is in getting them.
word, Ned.
Mec
Welcome and I would echo the previous comments about Arsenal America. I believe there are supporters associations in various cities and many of our US friends here might be able to help as well. If you come in May you might see the clinching of the title!
Just one pedantic point. I thought Flamini not Hleb scored at the Bridge. I remember the game that you refer to. Must ensure you get to your spiritual home ASAP.
COYG
NO Draxler this window!
http://football-talk.co.uk/88101/draxler-latest-alfred-draxler-insists-star-wont-be-joining-arsenal-this-month/
Cheers ‘H for the preview.
Tough game tonight. Don’t think we’ll walk it and any victory will be hard-earned. Don’t see any changes from the side that beat Fulham, other than perhaps Gibbs for Monreal, and perhaps one of either Ramsey or Rosicky (if fit) for Jack who is reportedly injured. I expect Santi to come back in so AW will have to decide whether Poldi or Gnabry makes way. After a run of games, it might be time to give the youngster a rest, retain Poldi’s goal threat and play Santi on the right.
2-0 to the Arse after chewed fingernails is my punt.
Pricing for category A games is scandalous. About time both Football and Arsenal woke up to themselves. A mindset of “we’ll charge what we can get away with” can only ever work for so long. The clock is ticking. Sort it out Arsenal.
Steve T and tabs know. They can’t keep raising the prices indefinitely. £123 for a ticket like in Trev’s case is just ridiculous.
And speaking of you, Trev: the Ladies’ team is hiring a full-time physio – time to look for new employment perhaps? 🙂
Apparently club is about to put Liverpool as cat B game, not official but very strong rumours.
AFC – I just refuse to believe anything written about transfers in general until the window shuts and we end up with someone or not.
Alfred Draxler writing for Bild, which is pretty much alternative to The Sun and notorious for its sensantionalism, is not someone I would consider as reliable source, if anything, they want to sell their paper.
So I will just sit back and wait what is going to unfold in regard of Count Drax. 🙂
Did anyone notice that here was no mention of Sanogo at the pressie yesterday, and he doesn’t show up in the training pix on the website? Any news on that front? Didn’t Le Boss say he was due to be back in full training this week, or did Arsene just dally the name around last week so that it looks like we have loads of strikers in the box, so don’t need to be signing anything this window…
…you can leave your hat on, Baby, take off your coat, real slow…
Thanks for the image, Holic.
Dr Z @13 – Good idea but the Club won’t go for it. They know that with the present system, season ticket holders are already “on the hook” for all the cup games, and that they’ll pay for any additional games over and above the seven included in the price of their ticket the next season rather than lose their season ticket.
How many would pay potentially cat A prices for a dead rubber at the end of the Champs League group stage or dare I say it a friday night game against Coventry if those games were not included in the Season ticket?
The Club won’t risk sub 50k crowds. The only way they could safeguard against that is to reduce pricing to the very reasonable levels of the League Cup, and they ain’t gonna do that, more’s the pity.
I don’t have a problem with the categorising of games as Arsenal have done, but the variable between cat A and cat C is far too large.
They (all Football Clubs, not just Arsenal) are walking a tightrope. Sponsorship monies flood in in large part because of large and passionate crowds. If those crowds start dwindling and BT’s/Sky’s hyperbolic promises of bringing the “atmosphere into your living room” is shown merely to be empty rhetoric as the camera scans empty seats, it will only be a matter of time before TV greatly reduces the amount of money it is prepared to pay. In that scenario, bust follows boom as sure as night follows day.
Reduce ticket pricing to keep bums on seats and the sponsorship monies flooding in, and Football will continue to ride the crest of a wave. Leave it too late and it will be very difficult to reverse a trend of declining numbers once it starts, as it has done at other Clubs.
As Steve T says, Arsenal better hope that AW and any subsequent managers continue to keep us right at the top of the game. At those prices, nothing else will do for many many people.
Thanks for your well thought out reply, Mr Bowson.
Was beginning to feel well and truly ignored (even more than normal) 😉
As I am so not ITK, can anyone tell me whether our game is on TV tonight or is shuddery-juddery stream time again?
Peter: Sonogo expected back second week of February.
Cheers Doc 😉
Stream time I’m afraid unless you can hop on a fast one to the away juicer of choice? 🙂
Heh – that would have me quickly following up with an appearance in the Divorce Court of choice. 😐
Haha. 🙂
I know someone who can sort that out pro bono 😉
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/liverpool-cup-tie-is-b-category-fixture
Looks like the club have listened to a degree 🙂
RIP Pete Seeger, an impact sub if ever I saw one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kxn6lXyRHPI
Ned: was i dreaming or was it mentioned Sanogo would be back this week in training? at this rate he’ll prob be back in June!!!
If this is true then it’s goodbye sagna… 🙁
http://www.sportpulse.net/content/exclusive-arsenal-bid-abate-13422
Zico,
Why is it exactly that Roxette craves your constant company so much ? 😉
Nice one ‘holic, excelent Nine and a half weeks reference, Miss Basinger still looking good today, Mickey Rourke on the other hand, not so much. Maybe taking up boxing wasn’t such a great plan.
So, the Saints tonight then. This seasons home fixture will live long in the memory, as it afforded me the chance to meet so many great ‘holics with a very long and excelent day in the battle cruiser, even managed a visit to the Ems inbetween the many pints. 😉
They were indeed, at the time, one of the form teams in the league. Not anymore, but they’re still dangerous non te less. In years gone by we may have underestimated them, but this seasons Arsenal seem to have a humility about them and treat no games as a home banker. I believe that with the right attitude and aplication we can come away with the desired result.
I’m hoping for, yet another, clean sheet from our very impressive Pole in the goal, while our forward line stick a few past theirs. It may be a little bit too much too ask Boruc to be quite so giving as he was back in November, but if I were the HFB I’d be on him like white on rice.
No broadcast on any of my channels, so I’ll have the Miseryside derby on the box, with a streaming laptop stragically placed on the bar following the action at St Marys.
COYG’s.
Tabs @43,
Good stuff re prices / attendences / TV monies etc.
Grounds emptied of fans ( or even “so called real supporters” 😉 ) would kill the whole thing. It couldn’t run for ever on crowds of wealthy tourists who know nothing about the club or the game.
Good on the club for at least making the Liverpool tie a Cat B game though.
Southampton will be up for it so any complacency on our part will be too much. It is a game we should win and if we do the job properly we also will, but Southampton are no mugs so don’t give them anything any we should be ok. I must admit I don’t know if they have any major injuries but if they have to play that Dutch central defender whose name escapes me at the moment (he scored two own goals at the Emirates last season, I think) that would certainly help our cause because he’s fucking rubbish.
Pangloss@12. Sense!
goonsterham,
There’s no need to follow the comment that Pangloss made sense with an exclamation mark !!! 😉
Relieved to hear the news Wind that the Club are thinking of my dwindling resources. Being a Red member and having been to every home match at the Ems this season, any reduction in ticket prices is gratefully received.
The tennis has occupied me for the last 2 weeks but have tried to keep up with the drinks.
My main thought on leaving last Friday’s game revolved around the striker’s position. If ever there was a game which should have told Arsene we needed another striker, that was it! Poldi is not suited to a central role and TGSTEL is not up to the task of filling in if OG is injured. Our Feb/March programme of games will push our current resources to the limit. Arsene you are running out of time, we need reinforcements!
Tonight is a must win 3 pointer, will be searching for a viable stream with the rest of you.
COYRs
Lars.
Lovren and Gaston Ramirez are definetly out for Soton. Boruc should be back, as well as Lambert.
The defender (I believe) you are reffering to is Jos Hooiveld.
Yes, Hooiveld is the one I am thinking of.
I’m sure he’s thinking of you too, Lars. 😉
@ 53
Do you want a list?
OK,
£10 notes
£20 notes
And a long line of flexible friends…..
TaBS @ 48 – I do not believe the law firm of Suem Grabbit & Runn handle family law cases on a pro bono basis…
On the ticket prices issue, I have no familiarity at all with the various membership/game-pricing packaging schemes, but I wonder how the costs of following the Arsenal compare to, say, a season ticketholder for the New York Knicks/Yankees, LA Lakers/Dodgers, or Miami Heat?
Are outrageously-priced tickets not the fate of all professional sports? I’m sure if you took all games into account, the average ticket price to a Major League Baseball game is comparable to the average Premier League ticket…I also think the Bundesliga model is no panacea. Bayern gets its revenue for transfers from some place, no?
Anyways, win the next match.
BMBD
TMI, Dr. Z, TMI…
BMBD
A tough game yet sense we will win( when do i ever say we wont), Arsenal need to remember how the saints played when they came to THOF, they will hustle us, will play the high line and will definitely limit space in the midfield, wanyama not being there helps us but the excellent morgan schniederlin will be on the toes of our midfielders( summer signing maybe to replace arteta/flamini). Lallana and luke shaw the men to watch but if our midfield ensure normal service, we shall win this albeit closely, 1-2 looks a fair deal.
Why do i sense that our little neighbours down the lane will help us, do fancy them nicking something of those sheikhs.
Trev,
I hear some people are upset about recent ticket pricing.
I’d tend to agree, I think it’s ‘shear’ extortion the prices they’re asking. Many will have to ‘dip’ into their savings to fund it, and I feel the club are exhibiting woolly reasoning on this one.
Massive, massive game tonight.
Win, and we put pressure on all our rivals, some of whom play tomorrow and some of whom must drop points this week, regardless of results.
Fail to win, and we let slip a really golden opportunity to open up a gap between ourselves and our challengers. The path ahead suddenly looks more daunting.
Southampton are not on great form and are missing players, but they will still be tough opponents.
COYG
FWIW – from what I’ve seen of Shaw in recent weeks he’s excellent going forward, but very raw defensively. Reminds me of Gibbsy a few years back.
I think Serge can get at him, assuming he starts.
Vinay@66. Why do i sense that our little neighbours down the lane will help us, do fancy them nicking something of those sheikhs.
I dunno Vinay – you been on them African Woodbines?
Sheep puns?
What are ewe like?
No mention of Woolwich Arsenal?
Apropos of ticket prices, have to say I became a fan (i.e. one who follows from afar) as opposed to a supporter (i.e. one who coughs up for the club coffers) many years ago – about the time the price went over £10 (standing). I’ve thought for a long time that football clubs take the piss and I’ve also thought that it would all end in tears – been wrong so far. You would never get me paying £1,000 for a season ticket or anything over the price of a cinema ticket for a match. Especially when I can get it free on stream. I’m a real miser as far as entertainment goes. I always said I would pay what it took to see Leonard Cohen live, but when he came to DK last year, the cheapest tickets were around the 90 quid mark. Gave him the finger too. Hate being ripped off. Rather buy a round of drinks with the money. Although that probably wouldn’t go far nowadays – not with you lot anyway.
And for all you old romantics out there, here’s a classic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGjAy9HgS_A
Trev – Cheers and various hehs 🙂
Lonestar – Ha! Always wondered who was behind that Firm 😉
I don’t know enough (anything) about American Sports to comment one way or the other on the comparison you make, nor do I know what sections of society Baseball or other American sports draw from for the majority of their attending fans.
I do know however that a ticket for a category A game at Arsenal will, in most areas of the ground, cost you vastly in excess of a day at a Cricket test match or a centre court ticket at Wimbledon, two sports which have at least traditionally relied on a far more middle class fanbase than Football. In addition, an outing to the Cricket/Wimbledon would be viewed by most as a once a summer treat, and not the 9 month marathon of Football where fans often face forking out for 3 games in a fortnight.
Football clubs have a captive audience that they have exploited to the full during the boon years. Season tickets at Arsenal have gone up at a rate of inflation of approximately 300% over just 15 years. Time to stop the madness or start paying the price.
Sorry, tabs, I think you damage what is a strong case by exaggeration.
“Season tickets at Arsenal have gone up at a rate of inflation of approximately 300% over just 15 years”, means, I believe that season ticket proces have trebled every year for fifteen years. At that rate of increase, if they had cose 1p in 1999, they would now cost £143489. I don’t think they were ever that cheap, and I don’t think they cost that much now.
I suspect you mean that season tickets have trebled in price over 15 years, which comes to a rate of inflation of 7.5% – a shocking enough figure.
As I say, sorry. Some may see this as pedantry, I see it as a combination of numeracy and accuracy.
(Ducks out of sight.)
COYG
Porco, H2H, – Hehs 🙂
No Pangloss, I said that they went up 300% “over” 15 years not “each” year ie a ticket that cost X in 1997 now costs 4X.
No problem with pedantry, as long as it’s right! Good job you ducked 😉
And call me a pedant, but a 300% rise is a quadrupling and not a tripling of price.
Just so you know 😉
Lock up the women and children… there are pedants on the loose. 😛
BMBD
The pedants are revolting……
🙂
The football bubble will burst, it’s only a question of when.
Football is, and probably always will be, the sport of the working class, yet it’s already priced out of the market or alienated an inordinate amount of it’s target base. You don’t have to be an economist or a finacial whizz kid to work out that in the long run this is a disaster waiting to happen.
Sugar daddy owners can be blamed, but only to a certain extent. Footballers and, worse, their blood sucking scumbucket reperentatives (that would be agents in laymans terms) are extorting every penny they can from clubs, plus a good 10/15% for themselves into the bargain. There\s only so much that can be covered from sponsership and TV deals, so the rest must come from admission, merchendise, in other words the supporters (that would be paying customer in today’s game).
They may have started the fire, but it’s us who fan the flames.
Even here on this site, which is an oasis of common sense compared to other places, I’ve seen such comments as;
“he’d only cost around 25mill”
Stop for just a second and let that sink in……
Now, tell me, in what world we are, when 20mill can be classed as “only”.
Other example, when Theo was having his contract “dispute”. All I was seeing was;
“give him what he wants”, and “it’s only 100K”
Again…….only 100K? That’s a frigging weekly wage!? It’s beyond ridiculous, and please don’t come back at me with any of that “market value” bollox, because the market is whatever the powers that be decide that it is at any given moment.
We’re again in the same boat when it comes to Sagna, don’t get me wrong here, I love Bacs, he’s a solid pro and a consistant performer and as much as I’d like to see him stay, I don’t think we should match what he is being (supposedly) offered elsewhere……….
Not unless we want another ticket price hike.
H2H – back of the net!
h2h knows. Again!!
If we are going the way of FFP (I’ll believe it when I see it) then maybe the next logical step could/should be a salary cap of sorts.
I read somewhere that the new bloke at the FA was thinking about implementing one for players under the age of 21, this would be a good start.
There also needs to be new rules to govern loan deals, to stop the financialy doped clubs from stockpilling players and using them to influence the league by loaning them out to teams that are not direct competition but can hurt their rivals. (eg Lukaku)
H2H spot on, agree every word both at 82 and 85.
As for Bacary, it looks like he is staying.
http://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2014/bacary-sagna-set-for-3-year-contract-extension/
Interesting idea H2H and your previous drink is spot on in regards to finances.
I think that loaning should be at least tweaked in a way that loaned player can play against his parent club.
If you are loaning the player out he is obviously not good enough for your team yet, so why should you fear to play him?
Extra motivation from the player when playing against his club to show that he is good enough to start for them? Well even better, shows you his determination to make it.
Nothing would please me more to see Moaninhos face when Lukaku bangs hattrick against Chavs for Everton….not going to happen tho:(
fantastic news if true Lurky!
Agree Eandy. Bacary fully deserves it.
Strange rumor that the game kick-off may be delayed due to some traffic problems. Unconfirmed.
Jon Cross confirms the possibility of a delay.
There are some worrying whispers that some of our players are ill.
Oh no not again, that would be what? ..third illness in the season?
The team has arrived on time, no delay.
http://instagram.com/p/juRq5xpO-d/
Huge game this. I’ll admit that I feel confident. Don’t know if that’s a good sign though.
I’m getting sick and tired of all this talk about illness and fatigue.
For comparison purposes, best seats available for tonight’s basketball match between the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics will set you back $430.35 (£260). The cheapest seats available, up in the rafters, go for $86.40 (£52).
In the post-industrial age, it doesn’t make any sense to think of sports in terms of working- vs middle-class audiences.
hahahaha touché H2H 😉
Gnabry starts
Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny,, Arteta, Ozil, Giroud, Monreal, Cazorla, Flamini, Gnabry
H2H@82 & 85. Right on the money. But I’ve been expecting it to implode for years. It’s like addicts who will pay anything for a fix.
Mainlining Arsenal.
oh streams are up
http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=236162&part=sports
and
http://livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/210007_southampton_arsenal/
🙂
Double pivot of Arteta and Flamini, I like that approach in away fixture.
BOIIING
NBN@94 – interesting comparison – it’s a global plague.
As expected young Gallagher starts upfront for the Saints as Osvaldo is suspended and Lambert is not even on the bench.
Boruc, Chambers, Fonte, Yoshida, Shaw, Cork, Schneiderlin, S. Davis, Lallana (c), Rodriguez, Gallagher
Worried for Ramsey, he didn’t traveled at all.
Well in, H2H @82 and 85 and 100!
#COYG
Team news out.. Arteta and Flamini in.. looks like it’s in anticipation of a tough cagey match.
Looking forward to it!
Well in H2H, or should that be Zebedee?
DKG, sadly so.
Lambert has a hamstring injury, Lurky.
There are reports floating around thru ladyarsr.com that Sagna had agreed to a deal …. With US!!!
Good stuff H2H 🙂
And well in for the Century!
please, whatever gods are there, let the sagna re-signing rumor be true.
good late morning to y’all, from cold and dry hahafornia…
and well in, h2h. a true billy and the boingers moment.
come on!
COYG!
Kick off…. Stream crash, meh.
Ahh it;s back
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
Serge chose wrong boots, slipped three times already
COME ON YOU YELLOW-SHIRTED LADS.
On child care duty at amusement park due to cold weather induced school closure. coyg but put that in capitals please!!
well, *that* was lucky.
well in chezza for being awake.
Saints started brightly
aye, eandy, they came marching in…
santi dispossessed past midfield, they break, and only poor communication stops them from getting off a decent shot.
their third corner. SORT IT OUT.
Özil with Rosickyesque sliding tackle
We have no shape at the moment….
They are dominating the midfield.. and walking it in.. Arghhhhhh!
Under huge pressure at the moment.
more urgency please!
Yeah, Saints pulling “Everton” on us so far.
we’re playing this at a trot. how about stepping it up to a canter, or whatever’s a notch above that?
ooh, monreal played that well.
we’re losing the midfield because our double pivot is sitting on top of the back four, there’s a huge hole between them and the forward four.
There is no urgency in our game currently, hope we pick it up a bit.
One down. Fully deserved.
never a foul
fuck.
Ah….fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff
how was that not a foul on monreal? fonte held him, his jersey, and his grandmother to get his head on the ball.
MEH
They are going for a second one. We look horrible.
Arteta and Flamini?
At this rate, they’ll get another..
Agreed, our performance is not short of shambolic so far, goal came after no-foul from Per and foul on Monreal ..no excuses tho..we need to step up not one..but several gears.
finally a bit of possession. get in rhythm, boys.
Wow.
Soho has 70% possession and 6 shots.
We have 30 and none?
WTH is going on?
homer, they’re handing us our ass. that’s what.
This was a bad game to play the double pivot of MA and MF. Both struggle when pressed and Saints press very well. We miss Jack.
Let’s be positive fellas. The Holic pound needed a goal 🙁
That said, see out this pressure and the game will open up.
i love kozzer.
Did they whole team catch a bug or something? We look… decidedly SLOW!
Looked to me like a definite foul on Nacho.
Since when are you allowed to lead with your elbow?
n7, ox for flams would be my change. a bit of speed, leave arteta in the back and pair ox with mesut for some speed and creativity.
Kos, what a player!
kozzer…beautiful turn!
half an hour plus in and not a shot.
lallana playin for time. fuck off.
yes, we need a drive forward, ox for flams would be my turn aswell, tomas and jack sorely missed so far
Come on…. pick yourselves up and close them down faster!
Cazorla is wasted on that flank.
WTF Nacho.
Mickeys one up
oooh, man we are lucky.
woah, I suppose this moment is nadir of our performance, pick ..it…up..lads!
We’ve lost this if we go another down before half time… 🙁
lurky, i was just thinking that. put *him* in the middle for flamini and bring in poldi.
chezza gets a boot in the nuts.
well..penno worthy handball that?
fonte twice lucky. fuck off.
Can’t see Flamini coming off since Arteta is just back from injury. He probably won’t go 90
flams is now pissed. watch for him to get carded soon.
Mason letting their CBs dish Giroud some serious treatment.
Liverpool up
Giroud seems to be the only one trying in their half…wtf!
What a mess.
Fonte. A yellow maybe? Of course not. Fucking joke of a ref
Maybe it’s not so bad we got punched in the mouth. Wake up call for these big games.
Fonte should be carded here, no intention to play the ball..third time getting lucky ..cunt
not a yellow on fonte? bleah.
ooooh, so close.
What a chance. Nice save Boruc.
aaaarggh
better from us. not yet good enough, but better.
Ok… i’ve written off this one to one of those bugs or food poisoning.
Well that was fucking dire.
great tackles by ozil and per.
Wenger looks disgusted…
glad to get to the half one-nil down, only.
We’ll come out a different side second half
Mickeys score another two in a minute.
Slow, cannot get possession, looked better only at the end of first half. Credit to Saints tho, they are working their socks off and pressing us well.
Need a big performance in second half. Switching Santi to the centre and Poldi on the left looks like obvious change to me right now.
I wonder if Sturridge managed to not grimace during either goal. What a douche bag he is
Well on the brightside its only 1 – That was as shit as weve played for a long while, Arteta and Flamini dosent seem to work one needs to be replaced to give us some extra drive and support for Giroud. Still say it we are a pacy forward away from really challenging, Still 45 to go Come on you Yeloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooows!!
Ozil, the worst half in the shirt. Apart from that one tackle.
We look disorganized, non creative and out of pace.
Not a sign of a pressure in their midfield when they have a ball as Gnabry don’t know how and when to press. We miss Rosicky!
Cazorla is wasted on that flank. Scruz I agree, Podolski on, one of Arteta/Flamini of.
Our fullbacks. Overrun at every occasion. Both of them. Disappointed with Monreal.
Kos is the only one who deserves to be mentioned as a positive. Imperious.
This is a huge test of our “mental strength”.
Didn’t see too much of that, but what I say was, let’s say, dissapointing.
It could be worse, were only one down, and plenty of time to do something about it. But we will have to apply ourselves a lot better then what I saw in the previous 45mins to get anything from this game.
Awful first half by our standards could of been worse too! We need to show some urgency and we need make a fucking presence!
Kos man of the match so far!
Come on Arsenal!
Lurky,
Ozil has no one in front of him to find, hes a player that always looks to pass forward, at the moment hes having to go backwards as he has no options.
At Lurky, Most recent Cazorla interview on Player, he says he likes playing on the flank so he can drift in and out to space. It’s one bad half. 🙂
roll up your sleeves boys….
we’re missing Ramsey…and width…and passing…
we’ll tonk ’em second half
Come on you yellows!
I’ve been saying on here since November that Ozil is extremely over-hyped and yet again it seems he is disinterested and making no effective contribution tonight. He has so lazy he makes Arshavin seem energetic by comparison. This one-paced luxury does not even appear to want to do the bare basics of running around to press the ball, let alone make tackles. If we get a draw tonight it will be s bonus point based on the first half ineptitude.
1 shot all half????? Now where have we seen that before???
Not good enough.
Time to earn some of those extortionate wages they are all on.
Koscielny is beyond brilliant…come on the others…
lol@ david. really. really? now?
Flamini/Arteta duo needs changing. With no LJW or Rambo we look inept in breaking out of mid-field. We must press higher up the field . Arsene sort this lot out.
David
I wouldn’t blame it all on Ozil!
Amazing…a poor half all round and it’s due to Ozil? come on now….
Pick it up Arsenal, for your own sake & ours.
David, please do us all a favor…
BMBD
Holic pound still in play here. Come on boys let’s see your stuff.
Chippy, agree on Ozil. No runner in front of him.
David, back in the cave please.
There’s a le grove type feel here right now. One Arsene Wenger. He’ll sort it
Get in!!!!!!
Giroud!
SAAAAGGGNNNAAAAAAA
ONE ARSENE WENGER!!!!
Whats the problem 🙂
THERE WE GO!!
BAC!!!
GREAT GOAL….believe!
GIROUUDDD !!!
Come the fuck on! Get in!
Thats better!
Get in there Giroud!
fucking beauty. sanga is our warrior. great backheel, og, just tasty as fuck.
We’re back bitches.
Haters can fuck the fuck off.
sanga. eesh. sagna.
Great response 🙂
Did anything good happen? It’s tough to tell out here.
Suffering Sky and Phil Phrigging Thompson here – can’t find a stream that works without demanding credit card details ???
Any good working ones ?
Cheers. 😉
oooh, more prettiness in the box. COME ON YOU GOONERS!!!
Comeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!
Huh, close
http://gofirstrow.eu/watch/235828/1/watch-southampton-fc-vs-arsenal.html
Holic pound looks probable
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Cazorla
Get in@!@@@@@
bt8, high octane tea at the half, i think.
and how the hell is the amusement park open, but not the schools? priorities, heh.
Santi! XD
YESSSSS> 2-1!!
Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Got rid of that food poisoning double quick! Whatever wenger said it worked!
LIKE I SAID!!!! HOLIC POUND!!!!
What the fuck Arsene said to the players ????
SAAAANTIIII!
2-1. F*ck off, Thompson.
Needs to go and get a room with Hansen. Tosser.
SAAANTIIIII.
Yeah, that Ozil is shit.
This is what champions are made of.
that bloody Ozil and his endless assists 🙂
Fuck!
gosh, david, wasn’t that a great run and pass to santi from that lazy loaf özil?
David, I hope we’ll never see your face around here again!
COYG!
FUCK
FUCK!
Arteta late
Scruz I think it is all the beer the bureaucrats drink.
kurvaaa 🙁
lurky’s stream is showing first, clearly. fuckity fuck.
nicely done for their second, though chezza and arteta could have done better.
Cheers BB. – access blocked though. 🙁
Thompson exploding with delight. 2-2 think I’ll have to turn this off !
Watching on TV scruz
What the fuck!!! I’m not used to seeing us give up 2
trev, hopefully he has a full box of tissues, then.
I thought we’d erased the concede right after scoring trick? Come on lads..two more please
Not this year anyway 😉
now we’re going grindhouse on them. come ON>>>
Try some of these :-
http://www.footballstreaming.info/streams/todays-links/
Monreal needs to change boots. Lost count on how many times he slipped and felt.
Mancs up 2. Ashley Young managed to dive into goal with the ball stuck to his foot
Shaw is a baller
Shaw is very good. He’ll be on Shitty next season on 150k a week
og playing hella defense. both blocks, there. man up.
Press higher come on!
we’ve gone a bit wilt since their second. bring it back up, lads.
Ozil. So so so close
O ozillllllllllllllllllllllll…sooooooooooooo close! argh!
Unlucky Mesut. One of those days??
For all the Mata lovers, he assisted the Mancs second
OOOO so close
Woah, that was some amazing shit from that lazy guy.
oooooh, fuck. great run by ozil, tipped off the crossbar, damn.
keep the pressure on, then!!
I didn’t know Ozil could run!
ouch this looks bad
ouch. bac just broke his face on shaw’s head.
calling the corporal.
boy, that’s one miserable looking blonde, right there.
ooh, nice break, corner for us. overhit a little to monreal, or that could have been a goal.
luke skywalker is on for them…
Maybe Poldi can come to the rescue here
Come on Nacho!
Poor from Nacho. Can’t believe it
aaaaaaarrrggggh
ach, nacho.
man, does og hustle.
Nacho should have chipped that 🙂
Not a yellow?
Woj. What a save
heart in mouth, chez. heart in mouth.
Ok we need a fucking goal
WTF Flamini
Straight red and fully deserved
Really, Flam?
Flamini fucking stoopid.
reeed?..
Fuck’s sake.
Take the draw, lads.
stupid to jump in with two feet, matty. damn.
fully deserved …stupid…
Fuck me
Starting Flamini was a bad decision. Not subbing him 15 minutes ago was a worse one.
Looks like we’ll have to beat chelski and city then… we always do things the hard way!
Come onnnnnnnnnn!
Agreed take the point and hope the cunts up the road do city
and santi hurt…fuck
We need subs come on!
take the point and hope the cunts up the road and city draw, rather.
This is where no Theo hurts. We could sucker punch them while they pour forward
and that sorts our midfield for a few games, too. damnit flamster.
now, if gibbs plays front left we suddenly have some speed up there.
chezza just saved us a point.
twice.
Poldi on for OG, grab the win Lukas!
Szczesny MOTM
Poldi should have come on 15 minutes ago
easily, arsegonian.
Özil is stellar in the second half
Monreal’s had a shocker tonight
A point.
Shame, but after the first half I suppose a draw is a fair result.
In the circumstances a point is OK. Should have closed out at 2-1 though.
Need to be careful at the weekend; Palace aren’t conceding many goals at all right now.
That’s now a must-win.
torn about this, in the grand scheme of things two points lost, considering how the game unfolded one point gained I suppose.
Poor in first, did very well to turn it around, soft goal to draw it, unlucky to not go 3-2 and stupid to go down to 10 men.
twe got out of that what we deserved, no more. fuck.
Well done to Chesney and also Ozil. Twists my melon that some people still doubt him.
Had the Miseryside derby on the box.
L’pool lording over Everton. Sturridge missed a penalty, plus has been going for own glory, Toothy McBite is pissed with him.
a point was (just about) all we deserved, Southampton do play some nice stuff and work their collective arse off
Still would have been nice to see the deflected Ozil shot go in – simply to reward that run
Not a terrible result but adds pressure
That was a big wake up call for the boys. You can’t take any away trip lightly.
Would have taken a point at half time so cannot be to downbeat, And to be fair Southampton were superb tonight and what a player Shaw is going to be ! Bit of a chance missed but at least we didnt lose, Onwards and Upwards
Up the Arse !
The worst thing is that we allowed them to score straight away when we took the lead. This is something that should never happen.
For me two points lost nothing else…
That’s it seasons over
Sack Wenger and spend some fuckin money
We’ll beat Palace but still can’t see us doing the business against the top sides next month. We’ve exceeded our expectations this season, but we’re clearly still 1 or 2 players short of a title-winning team.
Arsegonian@325. I don’t think they took the opposition lightly. Southampton have played really well tonight – especially the first half. We took a bit of time getting going against a team that were really up for it and support each other really well.
agreed Chippy, the conceding after we scored was a turning point for me, should we prevail in that moment I suppose we would have won it.
And what a game of two halves, I cannot wrap my head around the fact why we cannot play with the same urgency from the start.
Per, Kos and Woj were superb today albeit Woj could do better on their second…but made some huge saves afterwards.
And word about Özil, as much as not influental he was in the first, he shone in second, that half was pretty much the best I have seen from him so far in the shirt, and should prove to the doubters what a player he is. That run deserved a goal.
Considering the game coulda been out of sight after 45 minutes I’ll say it’s a point gained.
Thought the team selection was totally wrong tonight.
Is Ramsey back or not?
Why bring on poldi that late? Am i missing something here
We definitely need someone to make those runs for ozil. We cant let this season slip away. You cant tell me there is nobody out there that can make this team go the distance. Common wenger do something 4 more days lets go
When we were down to ten SAG it was a bit of a gamble, OG is really valuable asset in defending.
Flamster would have been subbed in my opinion for Lukas if he stayed on the pitch, Santi moving in the middle and would go for the victory ..the situation we ended up in required more careful approach.
I don’t think we took the game lightly – considering the next away games are Liverpool, Stoke, Bayern, Spuds, Chelsea, Everton, it’s a real shame we couldn’t do better with this one. But still a long way to go.
Chavs will go ahead on goal difference when they do fat Sam tomorrow
This gunner is hoping and praying that some reinforcements will show up before the transfer window closes or this season could end up being a tad disappointing and nobody wants that.
I thought the game was not good, end of thoughts.
City will go ahead by 1 point when they roast Spuds.
Can’t win every game, lads.
We’ll just have to take some points from those upcoming “big” games, is all.
COYG
Despite the very nice second goal, Santi had a poor game, as did Monreal some good defensive covering notwithstanding. Someone in the first half should have told Gnabry to not always cut inside but to stretch the game. Luke Shaw didn’t have much defending to do as Gnabry was constantly moving in and getting easily dispossessed by their DMs. We needed width down at least one flank especially given that the play-through-the midfield scheme was not working.
It showed that Arteta and Flamini hadn’t played for a few matches. They provided no screen against the runs down the middle and not much of a composure when pressed. Arteta got better in the second half, but one of the worst midfield performance in PL we had this season.
Would have liked to see Poldi brought on for Gnabry much earlier, moving Santi-Ozil to right, forcing Luke Shaw inside and then switching play to our left flank down where faster one-twos would have meant more opportunities.
Two points dropped, definitely.
Also critical we get at least one of Jack and Rambo back sharpish given the games we have ahead.
Some of the negativity online tonight.
Wow.
Thank Dennis for this place.
zico@332: Agreed about team selection. However Rambo, TR7, Jack none were available and not in the bench.
I find TR7’s absence a bit odd…he was ready to play with face-mask against Fulham but after that he has not been available. Hope nothing major but simple recuperation from surgery.
Worried about our defensive midfield options. Arteta has a really bad game. Je was nowhere near the ball for the whole game and was off the pace on too many occasions.
And Flamini, well, what did we expected, he has that lunacy in him. Sometimes it’s good, but sometimes it’s not.
On other hand that Schneiderlin fella impressed me. Reminds me of Busquets a lot. We need someone of his qualities in the squad.
I have this to say. Fuuuuuck
Why were they so lethargic from the get go? Gibbs has always been the right choice at the back for me, Monreal is good but far from consistent. A bit of a cliche really, but this is the kind of game the team would have lost in the recent past. There is a certain resilience that has come to the fore and it stands the club in good stead for the future.
Reports that Ramsey is out another 4-6 weeks. Flamini suspended 3 games.
Draxler, anyone?
Fuck me, I’m outta here. Don’t have the stomach for it tonight. What a shitty night.
COYG
What’s the source on the Ramsey thing? Please let that not be true.
Fuuuuck. Blogs reporting it. New injury.
In terms of challenging for the league the draw is a poor result, for claiming a top-four spot it is a good result. This match has shown how recently the Gunners have been performing of late with regards to being lackluster for the first half and totally transformed into an energetic cohesive attacking unit in the second.
I will be back tomorrow with critical analysis as to why Ozil should be starting from the bench – Risicky when fully fit deserves to be in the side ahead of him the case can vehemently be made – and why Arsenal need to begin matches against so-called ‘lesser’ sides with far greater attacking and territorial purpose otherwise missed opportunities will increasingly present themselves.
Saints were the better side by far, so the boys deserve praise for claiming the draw. Such a shame Poldolski seems to be destined for a summer exit – I struggle to understand why he is continually overlooked currently for EPL matches, but Wenger should be praised for continuing with the promising Gnabry.
The treatment of Podolski is shameful.
There was a report that the team were delayed in arriving at the stadium due to traffic. Is that so? Could explain some of the dross in the first half, but ultimately that’s no excuse. Looked painfully slow in that half; worrisome vs. Liverpool at Anfield.
Riiiiight.
That’s me for the night. Chin up lads, don’t let the doomers get you down: their hard-ons only last until the next win.
COYG
Dr. Faustus, for the first time I can’t agree with you. I thought that Santi had a good game. He did his best considering that he was out of options on many occasions. Flamini and Arteta just didn’t make themselves available for a pass for a large portions of the game. And Monreal had a really poor game, so Santi was always covering that flank. He took his goal well, and was good on distributing the ball.
I still think that he is wasted on that flank.
Ramsey from a 10 days light injury turns into 80 days injury. Same old, same old.
Bayonne – you could say that Liverpool’s recent game against Villa is worrisome for them, one recent performance doesn’t give you an exact science on what will happen in a later game though.
Just back from the pub. Haven’t had time to back drink. I know we aren’t going to win every match. And we are going to have some bad/unlucky matches. But playing with what seemed to be poor energy and poor attitude (maybe not taking the opposition seriously) is not what I would expect from a title-contending team. And seemingly playing for a draw after they scored their second is not what I would expect from a top-of-the-table team. I thought Soton played with more energy, passion, and desire. I hope this is a reminder to the lads that every match is important, and maybe we can go on a run for the next couple of months!
COYG
Lurky @ 356 — Santi was full of effort, yes, but I thought his passing was off and his otherwise impeccable close control let him down quite a few times. Part of that was definitely due to a superb pressing game from them, but we would expect Santi to raise his level when challenged with that. But I agree that the lack of mobility and positioning from Arteta-Flamini contributed to limited options.
I really think Poldi should start if he is fit. He is a much superior winger — in addition to being an excellent goal scorer — than Gnabry or Ox and we always need some quality wing play otherwise it all gets narrow and predictable. Start him on the left, using some axis of Ozil-Santi-TR7 on the right and center. Use Ox/Gnabry from the bench.
Lurky, I agree and disagree with you about Santi. I thought his passing was poor and he held the ball too long. But I can’t deny his energy and finishing today. He has said that he likes to take ball on the wings and move laterally to the center. Which means someone needs to recognize when he moves to the center and overlap from center to wing. Overall I thought Nacho had a rough night, but he also didn’t get much support when Santi drifted to the center.
Random thoughts.
In the end Flamini’s deserved red card locked Wenger’s substitutions in place. Ideally we would have had both Giroud and Podolski on the pitch in the final minutes, Giroud to aid in defence, Podolski counter punching as we know he can but it didn’t work out. 2 points dropped for me, especially as we were ahead at one point but its not like we didn’t have chances to go 3-2 ahead, no luck with Özil’s effort and Monreal made the wrong decision on the ball.
We can hope that Sp*rs and West Ham do something positive for us against our title rivals but that’s highly unlikely, especially West Ham. At least we’ll still in the race, if tomorrow ends with us in 3rd place, as long as we can go ahead of our rivals with a win against them in the upcoming fixtures, I’ll be content.
AW’s player picks and substitutions have, in recent years, been baffling. Sometimes, rotation doesn’t seem to be his thang.
It’s a draw to a pretty good Southhamton team. Disappointing, yes, but all the hand wriging and jumping to conclusions seems a bit premature.
I’m more disappointed with people’s reaction to this result than I am with our players performance. We have been consistently racking up points since the beginning of the year, we are into the next round of the FA Cup and UCL, we’re top of the league with 2 points ahead of our closest rivals(even though they have a game in hand) and then we draw an away game and all of a sudden the managers team selection is wrong, Cazorla is wasted on the wings and Özil should be starting from the bench? Pffffftttttt.
Wenger on Ramsey’s injury: “He had a setback yesterday in training. I hope it’s not for too long but certainly not for Sunday’s game.”
Doesn’t sound like 6 weeks out from this assessment. Hopefully he’s back for Liverpool next week.
We drew 2-2 after being one down at halftime to a very tricky Southampton side. We had ten men for the last ten minutes. City drew 1-1 there. Please stop treating this as a disaster.
So Chelsea will thrash West Ham. So would we. City might win at White Hart Lane but they lost last season. Ok so we might be just third a point behind City who we have to play at home. City play Chelsea on Monday and we play Palace the day before. It’s the title we’re playing for and it’s tough to win. Please man up and stop going into a decline . This was a performance that started awfully but proved our fighting spirit. And for David who jumped on Ozil in the first half I trust you saw the second. Arsenal always do things the hard way. Better get used to it.
Chins up please!
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“That was a big wake up call for the boys. You can’t take any away trip lightly.” Arsegonian.
I’m not blaming you for the quote because every report I heard of the first half was dire. The question is why does a team as experienced as ours need a wake up call. We are packed full of internationals and players in the peak years of their careers.
We cannot expect to win every game we play but it sounded as though we were sloppy and slow into action.
Off to find some highlights now to get a better idea.