Will Rotation Necessarily Weaken Gunners On Sunday?
Feb 15th, 2014 by 'holic
FA Cup fifth round, and for the second weekend running we find ourselves up against Liverpool, so impressive in the opening half of last week’s 5-1 drubbing at Anfield.
Anybody who listened to this week’s Arsecast will have heard there is a degree of rotation possible for this match that might not necessarily weaken a side struggling for that bit of confidence we so recently had in abundance. Let me clarify by saying I think all were in agreement that we should field our strongest team, but that will have changed in the last week based on performances and apparent weaknesses in the side.
So, for example, there was little enthusiasm for playing Lukas Fabianski as the ‘cup goalkeeper’ or bringing Carl Jenkinson in if Bacary Sagna is fit, and he is. However, the lack of genuine pace in attacking areas suggests that including Serge Gnabry might not be a bad thing. Up front there was debate about Olivier Giroud. I remain of the opinion that he is still the best in the League with his back to goal, but with goals from midfield drying up he is being put under pressure to return to the goalscoring form he showed in early season.
At what has become the infamous ‘fear of failure’ presser on Friday Arsene suggested that Santi Cazorla would not be able to play as he was ill, but the little Spaniard trained today (Saturday) so we shall see. Normally Lukas Podolski would slot in on the left hand side but the fact he has been largely overlooked since returning from injury suggests there is something going on of which we are not aware.
The other key selection will be in the playmaker role. If Gnabry, or possibly Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are brought in to add pace then It would make sense to retain Mesut Ozil, capable of picking out forward runners at will earlier in the season. There may be some temptation for the boss to rest him ahead of Bayern. I thought him one of the few bright spots against Manchester United, but there is no doubt he struggled as much as anybody against these same opponents a week ago. Tomas Rosicky or Jack Wilshere could fill the role just for this match.
So one possible line-up, and yes it is pure guesswork and probably way off track, would see Fabianski in goal (I think he will be, not that I would pick him) behind the best back four we have of Sagna, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, and Kieran Gibbs (Nacho Monreal may get the nod here). I expect a midfield axis of Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini, back after suspension. The three in front of them could be Gnabry or the Ox on the right, Rosicky or Wilshere in the hole, and Podolski on the left. Up top, whisper it, I think we may see Nicklas Bendtner.
The visitors arrive having been rightly lauded for their performance against us last week, but they were far from convincing in beating Fulham on Wednesday night, and of course on their last visit to the Grove we defeated them 2-0 at the start of November when the midfield was in a rich vein of form. One significant returnee could be Daniel Agger, back after a calf injury. That can only improve them defensively, but as Fulham showed they are far from watertight.
The ‘holic pound is punted in the hope, rather than the expectation, of us finding some semblance of confidence and cohesion. For the second weekend running I’ll tip us to win 2-1. Last week’s twelves are no longer available but one High Street bookie is offering 10/1 and I am on at that price. Another has us at 7/4 just to win. That is a big price and reflects how far down in the bookies estimation we have fallen.
I hope the need to get off to a fast start tomorrow is drilled into the side. The home crowd will get behind them on a big cup day, and will remain so as long as the sort of lapses that crept in last Saturday are not repeated. Confident? Why not? The pressure of the League situation can be put to one side for a day. We are capable of responding.
In the words of a Nike advertising clone, just do it.
276 Responses to “Will Rotation Necessarily Weaken Gunners On Sunday?”
Good call on the team Holic but I hope you are wrong about Bendtner!
We’ll win it!
Bendy’s good for crosses, put him on later and we may score some!
top 4
You’re just like a trophy, baff.
Or atrophy. 😉
Heh @ Zico – the man who specialises in degeneration 🙂
Podolski, one of the best footballers in our team, is treated like he’s Yaya Bendtner and he is obviosly punished for something.
For what?!
Fine preview H.
I’ll take any kind of win at all.
We need a team that will work hard off the ball and harry the opponent in possession. Two pieces of Mesut magic and the Ox and Bendy will take us through.
@ 6
A degenerate’s degenerate. 😀
Thanks for the preview Holic and great job on the arsecast.
I think that the moment the club changed this from a Cat A to a Cat B game told you that there would be changes. Football is a business first and foremost these days for those in charge. Feelings run high amongst fans when it comes to money. An increase in ticket prices, recent reports of 100 plus million sat in the bank would I suggest mean that Cat A prices for a “rotated” team may just have been the final straw for some. So I will be amazed if changes are not made. I just hope that whatever changes are made that they do not come back to bite us on the arse.
On a lighter note, who wants to play a game? Who wants to play “who does Maureen blame this week????”
“Joe”,
You might try using another moniker mate.
I’d be somewhat reticent to accept any compliments for the insight you’ve provided so far.
Thanks.
Nice preview ‘Holic. I see Arsene trying to keep then off the scoreboard early with the lineup you suggested (definitely need Gibbs pace over Nacho) and then try to hit back in the second half with some of the regulars.
Steve T – the weather of course! Man City didn’t play mid-week so they were well rested for today’s match!
Sorry Joe, just seen the illiterati. He is gone.
Hope you are well?
Thanks all, nice to be among thoughtful people.
Howdy
‘hol and all
.
heartburn
what a bollocks
the gaviscon hasn’t
been invented
oy vey
doin my head in
.
herself is tubed
so
difficult evening
ahead
.
i’ll make a point
of
not keeping you updated
.
#wish me luck as you wave me goodbye
Great article. If Bendtner has the right appetite he could give us that spark upfront Giroud has been lacking. Im more worried about Wednesday.
If you get a chance check out my blog
http://www.comeonarsenal.com
It’s about time Nicky B had a stormer of a game – he needs to show what he’s made of to get the class of club he wants to be interested in him. At the moment he would be lucky to get an offer from a Championship contender so he’s got a lot to prove. Tomorrow should be his moment.
cba, sorry about the indiheartburn.
Hope you are well soon.
I must check that email business in the morning…
PH, it’s courteous to ask. Most do.
*waves* to cba
Sanogo to start?
Ox brace tomorrow. 1-0 down. 2-1 up.
Ca – tast – tra – stroph
averted
.
‘hol
thanks a million
for tryin to
sort out
my ineptitude
tech wise
i thought i was
the goofball in the corner
who
didn’t know that
all you have to do
is
press that wee button
round about
the top/bottom/or side
of your site
.
atg and yerself
have said
that its not
that simple
so
i’d really appreciate it
if you didn’t go out of yer way
to accomodate me
cos
lets face it
all i’m doing is reading greatness
and
leaving pointless
(ceptin for tuesdays
when my wisdom
knows
no bounds)
Oh
and
hey ho Z
hope alls well with you
or
have you been
medicinally walloped
by a
disaster
like trev
.
if ever there was
a
physician heal thyself forum
tis
surely here
.
place stinks of erudition
🙂
Ah God love ya Cba,
Are you by any chance related to WB Yeats,Ireland’s greatest poet,
or maybe Seamus Heaney,or perhaps the irascabile,irreverent
Louis Macneice.??
You seem to have the knack for the lyrical prose,even if it is down the page instead of across.!!
That doesn’t hide the fact that you have some talent in that direction.
So i tips me lid to ya.
Cheers
The Sweeper
I’m very well thank you kindly Holic.
Its always a treat to hear you on the arsecast. It’s a little different to the usual format because its so obvious that you are all good friends. And that sense of comfort shines through in the quality of the commentary and feedback. Every year, without fail, my favourite contributors apart from your good self are Stillman and McNicholas. Simple, insightful, logical and accurate. It’s vintage rum & creamy pints.! What more could you want?
I concur entirely with the changes you suggest. I think its possible to freshen things up without diluting our overall threat, yet at the same time give some players a rest. What Z says is also so very true.
Hope to make it over for Citeh and to meet up with you and some more of the gang.!
Clive
appreciate it
really do
!
top man
Hey, cba,
erudition ?
or a rude edition ?
usually the latter
in my case
which tonight
is entirely
lower
😉
oh
and
25
@
54
yup
i knew seamus
mind you
dunno why
i get
accusations
of
poetry thrown
at me
its aggravating
je ne suis pas no fuckin poet
its mincey
Great interview in the Telegraph today.
Highly recommended,Charlie George reminiscing on the 71 Cup Final,and his life growing up an Arse fan,plus his affection for an Arsenal Great,one Frank Mclintock.
A great nostalgic read for myself,Uply,Thunder/Oscar,+ other asstd ‘ ‘Creaky Bones ‘,more for the time when Charlie supported the Arse when he was growing up,and his fav player was the same as mine,one David Herd,and Charlie was on the Terraces like me in ’61 when we beat City 5 – 4 with Herdy scoring a hat trick and the late great Bert Trautmann was in goal for City.
I look forward to a plethora of Golden Oldie reminiscencies after they read Charlie’s interview with Henry Winter.
It’s also a great read for those of later generations,to give them an insight into a little bit of the history of our wonderful Football Club.
Cheers
A very nostalgic Sweeper.
Is it me feelin or just me that this wo(man) that call (her)him+self CbA is just plain ol’stupid but oh so tryin to be funny…..
Or
Is
It
Realllly
Kust
me
Questionmark
(that f^ckin Kust is acctually Just)
Mind me.
clive
as i said before
look forward
to yours
and
uply’s posts
i’m a relative
newcomer
in comparison
early 70s would
be my absolute zero
time wise
proper memories
mid 70s
super mac
big deal
big signing
copies of shoot
had to cool his feet
in a babbling brook
big turn’p head on him
the irish invasion
the great god liam
.
it was the 80s before
i got to
highbury though
.
what with sea in the way an all
.
a strange time
.
a great place
.
UP THE ARSE
32
sorry
if i have
annoyed you
I
only meant
to offend
.
(twatnozzle)?
Cba
Even the mid 70’s you are still coming up to your 4Oth anniversay supporting the Arse.
So full marks to you.
I am celebrating my 50th anniversary this year,since i first was taken to Highbury by me dear old Dad.
I even know the team we played against that day,because i still have the programme,it was March 27th ’54 and we played Man Utd and we won 3 -1,Jimmy Logie scored twice and Cliff Holton got the other,the only reason i know that is because Dad had marked the scorers in the team lineups in the programme.!!
That programme is not the oldest piece of Arsenal memorabilia Sweeper Dad accumulated in his lifetime,but that’s a story for another day.!!
Clive, who knew you had a literary side to you? Your sums are less assured, though. 1954 would take you to a 60th anniversary, and a massive doff of the hat to that.
NBN
Maths was never my strong suit.!!
Yes doing my self a disservice would you believe.!!
60th it is.
i still think one of the other old ‘ creaky bones ‘might come over the top of me with a 70th.!!
What about your good self,how many years in are you.??
Hope you took the time to read the Tele interview with Charlie.
‘Xherdan Shaqiri scored twice in Bayern Munich’s victory over Freiburg but will miss Wednesday’s Champions League trip to Arsenal after picking up an injury.’
So an under strength Bayern also without the pain-in-the-arse ribery! Let’s rip ’em a new one!
You gotta love sunnysider land……
we have already beaten liverpool in the FA cup as if they never mauled us less than a week ago at home with our best squad and we have already beaten an under strength Bayern side because all of a sudden they have no bench, Rvp is returning for less than $5 mil, an injured swede on loan for free and diaby are gonna save our season in March and we will definately buy big next season.
All things are possible in a virtual world, Aussie, and then rationalised in real time.
My crystal football shows unhappy Poo supporters walking alone back to Pooland asking ‘How did you do what you did to me?’ of their beaten team. Whiskey on a Sunday almost certainly in their minds after ferrying back across the Mersey.
Öskar
Steve
Something tells me Maureen is setting the scene to try to nick 3 points in the coming weeks. After all this is the so-called business end of the season.
Scouse Cunts 5-1 against? 12/5 last time I looked. Some funny fucking bookies around eh? Either that or braindead cunts who cant read.
I really have no idea what to predict for this match. When in doubt, go with 1-0 to the Arsenal.
@41
If Liverpool mauled us less than a week ago then they must have done so behind closed doors in a match that no one but you knows about. 😉
No idea how this afternoon will play out. Liverpool look a bit wobbly away from home, while we are still regaining our post Anfield mojo. Also hard to call exactly how much each side will rotate, and whether rotation will help or hinder given that there were midweek games.
2-1 feels about right as the scoreline, but it could easily go either way. I’ll plant my flag on the sunny side and say 2-1 to the Arsenal; my predictions have been pretty well on the nose lately so hopefully we can benefit from that trend.
COYG
Sunny side it is! Besides if pessimism is your flavour, there’s always ‘le groan…’ 😀
Aaaah, Le Groan.
Where you can hear all about how Mourinho DELIBERATELY lost to City yesterday because he is a WINNER who knows how to PRIORITISE.
It seems that Mourinho is such a winner that even when his team loses, he really wins.
i expect a more composed looking Arsenal tonight. going with a 2-0 scoreline.
Hope this kicks starts the season again. we were due a slump in form when everyone else has had theirs. if this is it we can really kick on.
hope the boys are inspired after hearing the moaning one’s foot in mouth exertions this week.
COYG!!
Apologies N7 – Liverpool mauled us 8 days ago at home with our best squad.
BB – I think you are confusing pessimism with reality.
Hard game to call. We need big performances all round and to take all our chances. I hope we start with our pacy passing game and go for their jugular from the KO.
COYG
One man’s reality is another man’s pessimism.
No Jose didn’t say that but you’d feel it if you watched his dog and pony show 😀
Wonder what happened to the optimists then?..! An those were the days..
Aussie, let us get one thing straight here: saying “I’m not pessimistic, I’m just being realistic” is nothing but a big old load of bollocks. You are a pessimist, accept it and deal with it.
Morning all,
and indeed, bath. Liverpool are a circus – let’s go for their juggler. 😉
Come on you Reds.
Lars and BB – how about some acceptance of the Liverpool display and and then drawing with utd who were a team who were 16 points below us first.
Talking about how we will do this and do that going forward is the only thing on here that is BS.
How about wait until we put in a decent display before we talk about how we will beat Bayern
Lars knows.
Utter tripe from down under.
A decent display? What, like beating Bayern? At their place?
I don’t even think we’ll get past them this time, but if people fancy our chances, more power to their arm.
It’ll be an extremely dull conversation if we start a little fatwa against optimism.
COYG
There has been a complete acceptance that we were thoroughly mauled at Anfield last week. There has also been an acceptance that the display against Utd was not up to scratch, though the more “realistic” rather than the “terminally miserable” also accept that the first might have had something to do with the second.
I would rather be on the sunnyside than so perpetually in the dark that I can’t tell my arse from my elbow.
Morning everyone.
Trev 52, with Kolo the Clown in their side, maybe we won’t be Walking the Tightrope.
Aussie, to paraphrase “Past performance is no guarantee of future results”. See Oilers v Chav$ki for example. Its sport innit 😉
Uplympian – fair point but recent form is usually good form and how form has been shite.
Talking about future wins without the form to back it up is also utter nonsense.
Our last five games = exact same form as Chelsea.
ARSENE IS THE PROBLEM OF ARSERNAL. UNTIL HE IS SACKED, ARSENAL WILL NEVER ANYTHING.
Look at Pools away form and our home form, for that matter.
@53
The only thing on here that is bullshit is people coming on here and putting forward their slanted opinions as ‘fact’ before the event, and decrying other differing opinion with accusations of a lack of realism.
A line from Fever Pitch as the two lads watch the Anfield game and Darcy is bemoaning the fact that Arsenal have no chance … ” In the real world it’s 0-0 at half time”
Well in the real world, we’re in the last 16 of the Cup and haven’t been knocked out yet, in the real world we’re in the last 16 of the Champions League and haven’t been humiliated by Bayern yet, and we are one point off the top of the Premiership with 12 to play.
No doubt if your ‘realism’ comes to pass then you won’t be shy in telling us how right you have been.Until then … your view has no more legitimacy than those that you decry.
One can only hope that Arsene and the boys have rather bigger bollocks than those who constantly choose to disparage the Club at every turn and laughably call it “realism”.
Anyway, off to the Tollie.
Aiyai yai… someone of biblical proportions has turned up!
See what all these talk of pessimism has made us.. LOL!
We’ll win but if we don’t then we’ll go out fighting like we want to win it!
This is spartaaa….aarsenal!
tabs said it so well before heading for the pub so I will just say I agree with him 100%.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26216070 <– Telling it like it is Bob!
Come on you Gooners
Optimists and pessimists, all
Let’s bury the hatchet in Liverpool.
COYG
Meanwhile, tabs and lars know.
I resemble the remark made by Tabs @56.
Iyaji – nice try. One more go with a verb, perhaps ?
Trev @ 68, which particular bit do you resemble?
a) complete acceptance
b) thoroughly mauled
c) not up to scratch
d) more “realistic”
e) “terminally miserable”
f) first
g) second
h) on the sunnyside
i) perpetually in the dark
j) can’t tell my arse from my elbow
k) all of the above
l) some of the above
m) none of the above
Apologies for the flashback to your last MCQ exam.
Good work all. Thanks for the chuckle Trev. I’ll leave that one there as an example 🙂
The sun is shining, my beef casserole and everything else have been lovingly prepped; just need to mash the spuds (always a pleasure) and pop the dumplings in later. I’m off down The Swan for a few lunchtime pints and then I’m gonna watch The Mighty Arsenal batter some scouse cunts.
Its a beautiful life.
‘Twas a full moon last night…nuff said.
Esso….that’s great, other than a night with Angelina, life can’t be much better 🙂
Trev / Bath Lars, as TaBs said, “heading for the pub” is something we can all agree on, non?
Up: certainly, “heading for the pub” is universally accepted behaviour 🙂
afternoon all
oooooohhhh
its gonna be
a goodun
.
COME ON YOU REDS
Nice one ‘holic.
Very important game this, we need to get back on track. When the draw was made must would have had us as favourites, yet now a few hours before kick off we are definite underdogs, the fickle nature of football (and certain “fans”) never ceases to amaze.
I’m not going to hazard a guess to the squad, just hope that they all put in a performance, the scoreline could be anything, but I feel that if we can get into half time on a clean sheet then it will be ours. Liverpool are very much a first half team.
All those heading for the wateringhole of choice and the Grove, have a great one.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
Was free yesterday an as it was storming like a basterd I stayed home. I had a lot to do, paperwork and what not, but had the football on the background.
Was nice to see, on Football Focus, Wenger being defended and Maureen been called on his disrespect for once. There shouldn’t be a place in football for what he’s doing, by all means engage in the mindgames and the bantz (I hate that word) but he made a personal attack and it’s not the first time. Here’s hoping that everyone in the media will finally be able to prick through the aura of the special one bubble and finally see him for the pathetic egocentric saddo he really is.
The media also love to big up the magic of the cup, but it looked to me that Sunderland and Southampton hadn’t got the memo. Neither put out what could be called a full strength team and the fans were served up pretty poor fare, not that there were many there to bore, the stadium was literaly more then half empty, pretty sad but proves a point, that I and many have made here, that live footy on the telly is all well and good, but without the fans in the stadia it is not such a great spectacle.
The Cardiff -Wgan game went some way to enforcing the magic claim, because it was won by the underdog, who by a curious twist of fate were also the cup holders, but in reality there is not much ifference in the quality of both squads and they’ll be more then likely be pitting their wits against each other in the championship next term.
The oil fueled derby was the billed tie of the day, but it held no interest to me. Maureen played his usual killjoy tactics trying to ruin the game, so I paid very little attention to it. saw the goals and nothing else, glad him and his little whores got knocked out.
Everton and Swansea up now. Looks like Monk is prioritising the other competitions, at least there are fans in the stadium.
Arsenal starting XI: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal, Flamini, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Podolski, Sanogo
Sanogo leading the line? Controversial!
Well Porco mate, that’s what he was brought in to do.
Play wilshere’s kid for all i care so long as we show spirit and we bury ’em 🙂
If they had put him in goal on the other hand…..;)
Before the game;
“Why is Wenger disrespecting the cup by starting Sanogo?”
After the game;
“Sanogo is better than Giroud, why has he Wenger not been starting him ahead of Giroud since?”
Sanogo?????? Things must be more desperate than we thought. No reflection on him but if we are throwing an unknown who has hardly kicked a ball in anger straight in then he is either a world beater or we are struggling.
Nearly there now.
Come on the Arsenal.
He had to start eventually. He’s been with us for almost a year now, not starting would have turned him into another Park.
That Cent bloke knows what he’s talking about; I agree wholeheartedly with his drink@82
Big big gamble today. If it back fires then there will be carnage.
Arsene knows ???? I hope so.
next round is against everton!
anyone gotta streaming thingie?
Sanogo with a brace.
COYG!
http://gofirstrow.eu/watch/240434/1/watch-arsenal-vs-liverpool-fc.html
streams
http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=245166&part=sports and
http://livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/215387_arsenal_liverpool/
COME ON ARSENAAAAAL
We need to pick up their runs faster…!
dankie, bruvs…
We need to cunt Sturidge in the bastard.
I hear that at tonight’s BAFTA awards, there will be one for stating the bleeding obvious.
COME ON YOU GUNNNNNNNNNNNNAHS
better first ten than last time…
Ox is bback.. give him more games.. looking good!
OX!!!!
oxxxxxxxxx!
Heheh… what did i say about the OX? 😀
Get in
Good work from the new guy.
OX!!!
tails up, boys, kick on…
Attention Uply!
Not only is the editorial content on this site superior to that on the Beeb, but this site is first with the news.
COYG
How are we looking fellas? Can’t believe they aren’t showing this in the states. Have to wait for ArsePlayer I guess
suarez you diving fuck.
nice, coutinho in the book.
we’re looking 1-0 right now arsegonian… 🙂
…mind you, with editorial content like “Goal! Arsenal 1, Liverpool 0. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal following a set piece situation” this site doen’t have much to compete with.
Yellow card for gratuitous use of the word “situation”. Also, both “corner” and “free kick” are more informative and, at worst, no longer than “set piece”.
OK KOS!!!
1-0 to us and all andy gray can do is fellate liverpool and their quality. useless.
nice pressure on agger, sanogo.
Maybe it’s good I can’t see the match if Andy Gray is commentating. I’ve already felt under the weather.
Yes.. sonogo is gaining in confidence. He might get one yet!
now they have a “coat cam” for arsene. really?
Ozil showing them around our field 😀
i am liking the workrate of our front 3.
Show em flam! He’s up for it allright!
Come on Flamini…THINK!
ohhhh.. german connexion nearly paid off!
damn. beautiful, flowing break. not quite pulled it off.
again, beautiful break. ox just overhits the pass to ozil.
Web is making a meal out of it Suarez calling him puta ha ha
looks like, hopefully not calling it out too early, that suarez is picking kozzer’s pocket lint from between his teeth…
Dirty bastard gerrard!
sanogo doing a fine job so far. well played, son.
Sonogo just swings at everything! 🙂
Did sterling just put his hands on Webb? not going to endear him any!
Good first half, started shaky, but steadied the ship well.
Ox looking good and I’m gonna say it softly, but Sanogo is doing pretty okay.
good first half so far, impressed by Yaya, apart from two mishits, works well.
Very satisfactory first half as far as I can judge, looking here and on the Beeb’s site.
A lot of nervousness in the bar, and not surprising, but we do seem more than happy to lap up any meeja criticism of the Arse and run with it. One or two stuffings might actually be a worse indication of a team’s ability than several months sat atop the Premiership table.
COYG Win the next half
Pangloss.
This team works better as an underdog, I prefer it that way too.
@arsegonian, they are showing it in the states. Channel 1651 HD
Att uverse I must add
WTF is going on at Bramall Lane? Sheff U appear to have scored two, one a penalty in the 90th minute. Yet another indication that you should anticipate that fat songstress.
COYG 50 minutes more focus this weekend.
That should of course read, “you shouldn’t anticipate…”. Changed the sens a little. Oops, could do with more focus myself.
Agreee Eandy, he reminds me of Adebayor and I say that as a compliment. Still raw, but the main ingredients are there. Technique, speed, stamina, strength.
Watched him for France this summer, has bag full of trickery too.
He is going to be very important player for us, maybe as early as this season.
Pangloss 137….only I mistake – much better than the beeb 😉
Keep it going second half boys and no silly red cards pleeze.
Quite so, Uply. Sensible red cards or none at all, please. 🙂
COYG
POOOLLDDDIII
HAHAHHAHAH! Up The ARSE!
FUCKING POOOOLDIIII!
POLDIIII
Goallllllllllll poldi
Poldi’s right foot.. bet that caught all by surprise!
That was vintage Arsenal
dat Özil pass
Come on lads! Keep it up and we’ll have our revenge yet!
Only listening to 5live but they’re saying good things about Sanogo.
:=)
damn, missed the goal, that’s fine i’ll miss ’em all if we win. 🙂
Has something happened?
COYG
Poldi chocolate leg
ooooh, almost by özil.
Ozil should take more shots!
Shit
fucking hell. come on fabs.
Stupid penalty.
COME ON ARSENAL
poldi, mistake. shake it off, move on. get another goal, lads.
Silly silly!
Now Keep at ’emmmmm!
Fab
Super Fab!!
Holic Pound in play?
Wow! Brilliant save!
Academy Award for Suarez!
Surely a pen on ox. Not called.
Wheew!
BB@165, only the BAFTAs tonight, but many take them as a good indicator for the Oscars
COYG
They are shredding our defense.
WTF is gong on?
Ozil’s control is just mesmerizing..!
Santi for Polldi.
Blow the fucking whistle.
Oh Santi
con calma, santi…con calma.
Heh, just said exactly the same thing.
Oooh Santi wtf
Ohhhh Santi… you had timeeeeeeee! arghhhh!
Ox putting in a real shift here!
That has to be a yellow and Gerard off.
Why Ox
Ox off for Gibbs
gibbo for ox. well played, ox. beauty of a goal earlier.
should have been second yellow indeed
Resting the OX for bayern no doubt!
We are hanging on
christmas, we don’t make it easy on ourselves.
Our passing is poor.
Pools looks superior in every way. Depressing.
Fab looks great tho!
Jenks looks dreadful.
Again.
Fabianski going for a 10/10 performance?
hands shaking, heart pounding, edge-of-the-seat stuff. COME ON ARSENAL!!!
Behave yourself Homer.
Hi Homer, I missed you earlier.
By the way, the Beeb has us 2-1 up. Probably another mistake. Pesky BBC.
COYG
That Holloway2Holland bloke @189 knows what he’s talking about. I agree with every word.
COYG
Greetings Pan.
Hope all s well in your world.
Fuck, we were lucky there.
Sooo glad we didnt buy suarez.
Odious little cheat he is
Better than last weekend, thanks Homer.
COYG
OG for sanogo.
Why, I’m not sure.
bravo, sanogo. well done today, keep this up and you’ll have a certain spot in the side.
Giroud on!
professional finish, arsenal, professional finish. as you are completely capable of doing.
Well claimed Fab
Wates some time perhaps h2h@196?
Bum. That would be the tbas position for me.
COYG
three minutes of stoppage. COME ON YOU BLOODY GUNNERS!!!
3 mins ET
fuck off andy gray.
Go on, Scruz. What’s Gray said now?
COME ON…HOLD…HOLD…
Job done!
that our season’s basically over if we were not to win from this position…AND WE DO!!!
HahhahahahHHAHAHhahahah!
YESSSSSSSSSSH!
YEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. BRILLIANT result. YES! YES! YES!
Wheeww!!!
look at what they gave during this game. that’s what they should give in every game. and it’s arrrsenal, arrrsenal fc, we’re by far the greatest team the world has ever seen….
To the Barman,
Sir,
I pulled an extra day in work today. Your drink @171 did not help me to relax.
Yours Sincerely,
P Gloss.
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES
Well in Holic !!! Well done Arsenal !!!
Exactly! We don’t expect them to win every game BUT we do expect them to come out playing like they would want to!
UP THE ARSE!
Get the fuck in.
Well in with the pound, guv.
yep, well called, ‘holic. tens, if i remember rightly? that’s a good start on the blacks stuff.
Get in!! massive result in terms of confidence 🙂 Fair play to the lads out there they gave everything for the cause !!
Now bring on Bayern!!! We’ll show em how it’s done 😀
my hands still shaking…”black stuff”.
Boy, I don’t have any nails left. Thanks U sweet boy Fabianski, COYG!!!!!!!
Fabianski definitely my MOTM today, closely followed by OX, glad to see Yaya proving that he can be useful option, it does not get much harder to debut in leading the line than this.
Maybe arsene should rotate more often, definitely those rested show more zip in their game!
Really looking forward to Bayern now! OX should have a role in that and with Giroud rested mostly for today we should have the best team that we can play against them.
Shall we win it.. yes we shall 😀
So, 3 games into the season-defining 4-game stretch, it’s Won 1, Drawn 1, Lost 1. To judge by those figures, it sounds as though this team is a little short of top class, but capable of competing.
Which is pretty much what most of us thought anyway.
By the way, I’ve seen in several places – I can’t remember any of them – that Arsenal’s actual season-defining stretch is next month, when we play the two Oil Clubs in quick succession. Reminds me of the “So, you went through a season unbeaten? Pah. To be a really great side you have to defend a championship.”
It’s on
COYG
huge confidence builder today…simple as that….Sanogo worked his socks off and Fabianski definitely MOTM
Fabianski. Wow.
What a game.
And the Ox! Heavens. That man needs to play a lot more.
Nice win. Seven changes and liverpool still struggled to create anything too clear cut. Couple of Suarez snap shots and that agger header were the only real chances. Though listening to that sexist pig commentate, you would think that we were very lucky to go through.
As for the penalty not given, karma for that ryan babel dive in the 2008 champions league quarters. Yes, I do hold grudges for a very long time.
Fantastic performance by Fabianski. Especially the double fisted clearance of Agger’s head. 🙂
Sanogo showed great strength and work rate. A few silly moments on the ball but didn’t let the situation overwhelm him. Has a bit of personality on the pitch. Impressed.
Ox was pretty good, and Ozil contributed significantly when it mattered. Poldi had a good game as well, excluding the mistake.
Jenk showed some signs of rustiness, but great spirit to continue to battle.
Nacho was good again, but against really fast wingers he would alway be a bit suspect.
Great confidence building win. Everton at home it is.
In Luton airport missed the second half what did Fabianski do holics? Great performance from the lads will have a celebration drink when I will land in Poland!
Come on Arsenal!
ATG @ 230: Some very good saves, one otherwise goalbound by his outstretched leg. And a very confident and composed display. He is going to have a decent career and won’t be surprise if some of the top European teams come for him next season, given that he is leaving.
TR7 and Bendy were not even on the subs’ bench. Hopefully nothing major .
Great TEAM performance. Great effort from absolutely all players.
In games like this it is quite hard to pick MOTM.
Fabianski was brilliant. MOTM performance, One mistake on the long ball, but we all know that this is his weakness. Improve that and I am sure that whatever team sign him next year is going to have great goalkeeper in the squad.
Ox- fantastic player. Another MOTM candidate. Once more prove that this is his position, not the left side. I would like to see him as a striker in the future, he has all the attributes for that role.
The fullbacks- magnificent. If only Jenks has Sagna power in the air. Engine is there, speed is there, confidence nearly there.
Monreal, total opposite of the last time these teams meet. Accurate passing, lots of energy and intelligence.
Sanogo is going to be great. Enough said.
Flamini and Arteta – true warriors. Resolute, experienced, compact, tough and uncompromising performance.
Wilshere needs to look and learn. Since then, no place for him in the starting line up against good teams. He might have something to offer against lesser opposition, but not as a box to box that is for sure. Thank you Arsene, for not picking him up today and please don’t do that on Wednesday.
Poldi and Ozil, both fighting hard, pleased with both of them today. Well executed goal for Poldi and what a through ball from Ozil on the second goal.
Mert and Kos are just Mert and Kos. Fantastic!
Congrats Holic on the pound.
Massive win this. Expect to see our team with regained confidence against Bayern.
2-1. Now that is a proper Arsenal v Liverpool score.
Fabianski my MoTM. Showed today he is the keeper AW always thought he would be rather than the one that had such a flappy start in the first team. Woj will have to be on his toes to hold onto the No. 1 jersey.
Ox impressed, too, but battling performances all round. Team looked a lot zippier today, too. Some not overly tired legs, perhaps.
Sanogo start? You read it here first @21. Thought he looked raw but not out of his depth.
The FA Cup is winnable. Man City knocking out Chelski has done us a huge favour. It is less difficult to beat City than the Chavs.
DF,
Think you may have a point with Fabianski its long been known that in training hes world class but he never transmitted that to the pitch or the players around him come match day – But he seems a different beast the last few times hes stepped on the pitch whether its just age or something has clicked with his mindset i dont know but ill be sorry to see him go, And another club side will no doubt benefit hugely with his signing.
Just hope its Shalke and we see a certain Draxler coming the other way 😉
Cheers DF
That’s a very decent run down. He wants to play regularly so fair play to him.
OK – so anyone know whether the Everton game is going to be on Saturday or Sunday?
Lurky, Sanogo our LANS for the January window?
And BTW, one Arsene Wenger!
Tactically strong, right team combination, in-match changes of shape and formations. We could have scored at least one more goal if Santi was not still feeling the effects of flu.
Seven changes from the first team and yet a composed (yes, the penalty made it look closer but ) victory against the current in-form team.
Apologies Holic Just logged on from a new laptop
SCG: Watch the games on Fox Deportes or Mun2. The commentary is half way intelligent, and even if you don’t speak a word of Spanish it still makes more sense than listening to the Sky commentary in English.
And congrats on the ‘Holic pound, ‘Holic.
still feeling the high adrenaline wearing off…fabianski’s save from sterling was so important, that was match-saving.
chez has competition. and now so does Giroud. does sanogo get an assist for ox’s goal? he did a fine job, and on today’s evidence can definitely play the holdup role a la OG. looking forward to seeing more of him.
From bbc:
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on Chelsea rival Jose Mourinho calling him a “specialist in failure”: “I do not want to go into that – those were silly, disrespectful remarks. I never spoke about him in my press conference. I know one thing, it is more embarrassing for Chelsea than it is for me.”
Touche.
And that is all there is to it!
Cent@82: 🙂
Ned, I would have but the new couch means the TV is just an ornament until I move the cable hookup.
NBN, don’t use the LANS term please 🙂
Yes, I quite liked what I saw from Sanogo. Like I’ve said previously in the drinks, he reminds me of Adebayor a lot, he is still raw and just back from injury but has all the basic ingredients to succeed at Arsenal.
Doctor Faustus. spot on. Right team combination. One Arsene Wenger!
Wigan to knock City out of the FA cup again! You heard it here first 😀
Chippy @ 234: As long as he is moving to a PL rival, I am fine. Wish him all the best.
@248: I meant ‘not moving…’, of course. 🙂
Sanogo has 34 goals in 56 matches for France in age-group internationals and 11 in 24 for Auxerre in Ligue 1 so he obviously knows how to play up front.
BB@247: If only…
Evening all, and thanks. Now to find the right words… 😉
zico @ 236 – it’ll be on the Saturday as we’re playing on the following Tuesday
*playing Bayern
That is most excellent news Charlie as i had already booked flights for the Swansea game. Thanks.
Just back from the game. Great performance and a fantastic atmosphere. Hats off to Fabianski. I’m not his biggest fan but with the exception of one flap he was outstanding today and you could see how pumped and up for it he was at the end.
Kos and Per outstanding. Both full backs gave me the wobbles at times.
Lots of hard working, battling performances. Flamini was a General again and Özil caused problems.
Impressive debut from Sanogo. He covered more ground in the first half than Bendtner has in 3 seasons. If he can get used to the bounce and cut out the air shots then we could well be on to something.
I must have missed the bit in the transfer window when Liverpool signed Howard Webb????
Excellent performance, great result and a fantastic atmosphere. I thought the home crowd were awesome today.
Rotation, smotation.
Fuck off Scouse Cunts. And die.
Great game all around. Apart from a few shaky moments, the lads were on top throughout the game.
Is it possible that Arsene actually picked a team to counter Liverpool’s major strength (pace)as opposed to resting players for the Bayern game? Bar Arterta, is this the paciest Arsenal team available to A.W? I believe so. That showing was from a man who is adaptable and teachable unlike some would have us believe. A.W, fortunately, can now catch a break.
On to the next one. Do the same to Bayern and I wonder what angle the meedja would try coming from. Well done boys. Nice one on the Holic pound, H.
Upwards and onwards.
COYG.
Charlie/zico.
Don’t want to be a doomer, but the draw is still subject to change.
At this moment our tie and the Manc Wigan game are schedualed for a Saturday 3 o clock kick off, which doesn’t really suit the TV companies…….
A small measure of revenge for the Cup Final when we battered them and got beat. We bleated then, they are bleating now. Karma.
That felt like the biggest game of the season. Lose, and it all unravels and recent history repeats itself.
Massive Win.
Fabs. Man of the Match, and whatever you do in the future, thanks for today mate.
Fucking get in!
Did we ride our luck at times? Sure. Am I going to apologise for that? Hell no. We’ve been on the wrong side of penalty calls enough times this season to have a few in store. We were robbed of penalties v WBA (twice), Chelsea and ManU. Also, who knows how the game last Saturday would have panned out had they not got their offside goal in the first minute?
And besides, most other players would have been off the pitch before half time if they had behaved like Gerrard. And even allowing for that, how the hell was he not shown his second yellow for scything down the Ox in the second half??? You think Flamini or Nacho would have gotten away with that? No? Didn’t think so.
A word, finally, for Fabianski and Sanogo. Fabianski, apart from when Agger should have made it 2-2, was absolutley brilliant. Sanogo showed strength and mobility and although he definitely looks like he has to work on his touch I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw. He was far from the rabbit in headlights that he was in his only PL appearance so far at Craven Cottage early in the season. It’s just one game of course but I thought he performed really, really well.
H2H @ 259 – I just meant that the game has to be on a Saturday (whether that means 12.45 or 5.30) because of the Bayern game on the Tuesday.
Admittedly they might bung us on a Friday night again but hoping that’s not the case.
Wenger shows his class again in response to Maureen!
“I don’t want to go into silly disrespectful remarks”
That’s right Arsene, keep it up!
Amazing result. Well done the players and the manager.
Called it @44. Will see if I can dig out a sunny side prediction for midweek.
COYG
Wenger has had Maureen up like a kipper this week.
Dear Mr N7 @267, you owe it as a point of duty to your club and this bar to dig out a sunny side prediction for ALL The Arsenal games hence forth. Thanks in anticipation of your valued co-operation. 😉
Heh @ Cent!
I’ll do my best. It feels good to use my powers for good instead of evil.
Where’s the canuck goose fucker then? Hope you spunked loads on Scouse Cunts at 5-1. You fucking plum.
No doubt he is Still burping the worm over his Maureen pictures Esso.
Very well summed up already . There were three wrong Webb decisions.
The first penalty was soft the second which we got away with was a clear pen and he should gave yellow carded Gerrard in the second half.
The good thing is that this is a really exciting Liverpool side and all the other top sides have to go there. They are very tough to play against at the moment.
Lovely to see Flappy do so well. Ox is a fixture as far as I am concerned and Poldi looked to me to be choked to be taken off. Cazorla did little after he came on except sky a sitter. As for Sanogo it would be wonderful if he could keep fit because he is a player. We would probably not have won with TGSTEL up front today. Also we look much more secure with Flamini on the field.
If you believe in Karma remember the 2001 Cup Final. We got you back today.
For tj
For those that watched on the small screen did the atmosphere come across???? I thought the place rocked today, especially during the last 10 minutes when the team needed that final push.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
tabs … love that bit from the Fever Pitch movie when Colin Firth is convinced Arsenal are going to lose that final game against Pool … right up to the final whistle. That’s ME every effin game, even when I have confidently predicted victory based on facts, logic, history etc etc etc. And after the game it was never in doubt of course!
Öskar
A victory for guts, determination and a little bit of luck. Well, two bits of luck with Webb denying Pool what looked like two pens in addition to the one they got. Plus Mikel got away with some disastrous attempts at clearances (he really is looking slow this season) and some poor attempts by Sturridge.
But, hey, it’s time we had some luck and just three games to go before we lift a trophy at long last?
Motm has to be Ox, perhaps we won’t miss Theo quite as much as we thought. And Sanogo showed a lot more than I was expecting, I am much encouraged about his possibilities – especially as this was his first game for about ever. He looks more than useful in comparison to that Danish pastry some thought would get the nod.
Now to back-read, and advance apologies if I have repeated anyone. 😉
Öskar
Okay, have back-read and should add honorary mentions for Flappy and Nacho in particular, great to see Poldi actually starting a game (and scoring) and yes, perhaps Gerrard should have been offed, although I thought he was a danger to us in both recent games. I don’t get how so many seemed to have written him off lately. I hope he plays as well in Brazil. Oh, and well done the defence for keeping the Suarez goal-sheet blank. Although he still had a great game, hardworking and a constant threat.
But whatever, WE WON and AW deserves credit for the team he put out and, more importantly, the energy and spirit they displayed. This Arsenal team has character.
Öskar