Never Felt More Like Beating The Blues
Mar 28th, 2014 by 'holic
So here we are again. Preview time. Simple enough really. Quote from Arsene maybe, team news, praise the midfield, predict a victory, wish everybody a good one. Job done.
Except there is a very different feel surrounding Saturday teatime’s visit of Manchester City in the wake of a drubbing at the bus stop in Fulham and a dire home draw with Swansea in the last week.
It has been open week on Arsene Wenger and one or two of his players on social media sites this week. Human nature being what it is for some there has to be more than a rational expressing of disappointment at the premature passing of a title challenge.
After a week of carefully controlled media exposure the boss came back today with more positivity than many who really would love to see nothing more than an Arsenal victory.
“It’s all to go for I think, for everybody. Everybody speaks about Everton coming back on us. Why should we then not come back on the teams who are in front of us.”
Of course he has to talk up our chances in public, and attempt to instill confidence and belief in his charges, but he must look at the injury list and wonder what he did to deserve reaching the pointed end of the season with eight players ruled out.
In truth probably only three or four would be considered for a start on Saturday. Laurent Koscielny, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Mesut Ozil, and Theo Walcott are all big misses, squad-wise, and the much-lauded midfield now looks a little unbalanced as a result.
City arrive in impressive shape, fresh from a comfortable win at Old Trafford, and having apparently put right what ailed them on their travels earlier in the season.
On the face of it we are in for a long hard day but years of watching this game have left memories of sporadic unlikely triumphs against the odds. Quite what to expect tactically I don’t know. We have looked to have a very soft centre in the past week so possibly a more pragmatic approach such as that which earned us so many points at the tail end of last season.
Have we the players to keep it tight and hope to nick something on the break? It is a conundrum. Thomas Vermaelen is a natural replacement for Koscielny, but Dzeko will have noted the fact that Bony had the beating of the skipper in the air more than once on Tuesday.
In midfield do we go with the partnership of Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini in order to try and protect or gamble again on the Ox who hopefully learned some big lessons at Stamford Bridge? Perhaps the young England international wil be used out wide again, with Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky for company?
Up front Olivier Giroud is getting among the goals again, but looked to be running on empty recently. Yaya Sanogo unsettled the Liverpool defenders on his first start but it would be asking a lot of him to do something similar against Kompany.
Depressed? OK, here is the bright spot. Accomplished as he is Kompany has been alongside Demichelis who isn’t the most assured defender. City are not watertight, although they have shown a devastating ability and willingness to outscore anybody. Keep it tight at the back and we might just see that little chink of light at the end of a very long tunnel come into view. Oh, and no Aguero, which can’t be bad.
So to the ‘holic pound. I’m steering clear of a scorecast. the away game ended 6-3 and could frankly have been any option up to 7-7. I don’t expect anything similar, but a punt on, say, 1-0 could very quickly be sunk. I’m looking at the 11/4 offered against an Arsenal win. It is a little skinnier than I expected but, ever the optimist, I have to take it.
The crowd will get behind Arsenal from the start tomorrow, and will remain so as long as they see the team giving their all. A win would earn them some breathing space ahead of another tricky trip, to Everton, next week. It might also make Twitter a happier place to be on Saturday night. That will make a refreshing change after some of the spiteful stuff of the last few days.
What was the last thing? Oh yes. Have a good one. ‘holics.
247 Responses to “Never Felt More Like Beating The Blues”
Interesting! 😀
Cheers for that Mate!
So, so wish we could turn back time for a game like this. Need something like the attitude on the day for home to Yanited in FA Cup 88. In the build up Smudger getting a right slagging, knives out for GG if we lost – all according the fourth estate of course. Never known an Arsenal crowd so up for it. Smudger nuts one in and Nutty does a job on McClair at the end as well. Then bumped into a little incognito crew of theirs coming out of the West Lower afterwards. Magic stuff.
But we need the same attitude tomorrow everyone. All together on and off the pitch for the Arsenal, win draw or fucking lose. That’s the real name of the game.
I love this club and my fellow supporters and I always will.
Balanced and hopeful. Everything crossed that will still cross at our age.
Not sure if my BP will rocket or flatline. 🙂
Trophy. ish.
Nice one ‘holic.
I’m hoping for an against all odds win tomorrow for the good guys which will kick start our pursuit of the PL and FA cup double. Well, if you’re going to dream then you might as well dream big… Right? 🙂
Have a great time all you attending, I see that Lars and Joe have also made the trip, so there should be a fine selection of ‘holics in the battle cruiser.
Cheers all.
That side had a little more steel than what we have fit tomorrow, I fear Esso.
Please let me be proved wrong. Suspect a poisonous atmosphere may result if I’m not. 🙁
Roxette’s birthday this weekend.
Imagine asking me to watch this one sober, this one most of all.
And be expected to smile at her thereafter over some poncy glass of wine in some trendy foodie joint where there is more plate than food.
I was meant to be at the Emirates this weekend – the Gods are cruel I say.
Or merciful. 😉
Heh zico.
@7 You were indeed meant to be at the Emirates this weekend. Holic, me and TaBS are still awaiting the round promised at the Liverool game to appear.
Definitely a bicycle clip job tomorrow.
Is true H. But I was really referring to the attitude in the crowd. Need a bit of steel there as well.
My third Citeh home game in the era of the Milk Sheik of Abbly Dabbly. First one was a boring 0-0 draw when Citeh camped in their own half for 94 minutes. Remember that? Second one, we were all over them, Balotelli threw a wobbler and we murdered them 1-0 with a magnificent late strike by Arteta. The trend:
0-0
1-0………so it’s got to be
2-0 to the good guys.
See you there. Enjoy.
Arsenal FC @Arsenal · 4m
Half time: Tottenham 1-0 #Arsenal
Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Nice preview ‘holic.
The recieved wisdom is that we cant possibly win this one — that may prove to be the case but personally I feel we could nick it. I doubt it will be pretty, but those days seem to be gone.
As far as Wenger is concerned, I am in the camp that says the criticism has gone too far. I actually believe that we are about the fourth or fifth best squad in the country, so our league position should reflect that.
In other words, the football climate has changed so radically since Arsene’s (and Arsenals) glory days, that without a sugar daddy model, we simply cant attract the players to the club who would make a genuine difference.
Having said that, its still not beyond the realms of possibility to form a cohesive unit that could one day upset the odds. City and Chelsea cant buy ALL the great players, can they?
Lastly, as emotions are still running high, please remember that Arsenal not winning the title is not a real tradegy — just ask the families of those who lost thier loved ones on The Malaysia Airlines plane, or any of the young people battling cancer and other deadly diseases worldwide. This planet is loaded with real tradegy.
Its only football.
Moon ’em.
That’s quite a memory old timer @ 9.
The last Liverpool game I was at, young master Frimpong was sent off and KD Lang was still playing for Arsenal. 😉
That’s nothing, the last Liverpool game I was at, Charlie Nicholas scored a brace.
The dilemma. Do I compose a stirring message about how I believe in this squad , which I font believe… Or do I tell the truth and say I don’t think we have a serious chance tomorrow and I would sell the family silver for a point ( note of warming , we dont have any family silver!)
I will take the honest course. It’s not all our fault , as Holic says we are missing five players but they are vital players and their replacements are just not as good. Mind you, neither are City’s ! Take out Aguero, Kompany, Toure, Silva and Zabaleta they would struggle. But only one is out tomorrow. In fact looking around the league we yet again have many more players out than anyone else.
I just hope and pray it won’t be the 0-3 that I suspect it might. Nothing would give me more pleasure to come on here tomorrow night after my return from the match and say that I lacked faith and was wrong. Over to you Arsene.
The definition of irony??? BTM moaning because someone has not bought a round??????
😀
I feel duty-bound to leap to BtM’s defence here Steve. Never shy in reaching for the sky rocket 🙂
Only because you’re the guvnor. I’m surprised he does not turn up to the Tollie with an apple????
If Wenger is serious about beating MC,he shd stop his hdl and watch how other teams can beat MC like HUll. I know every game is different but the basics are the same.
For starters put Silva and Yahya under pressure by getting at least two gunners to deny them time and space like what Pool,Chelsea and MC did to the gunners.
Time and space are vital in the modern game. The gunners need these two to play their normal attacking game and when when stifled ,the big losses happen.
Why not do the same thing to MC what they did to the gunners.
So I went back to look at the highlights (lowlights?) of the Shitty, Poo, and Chelski matches to see if I could gain any insight into tomorrow’s match. Interestingly enough all three matches were very different in the goals conceded. At Chelski four of the six goals were a direct result of poor/misplaced passes in the midfield, whereas against Poo all of the goals were from poor defending, both on set pieces and from playing a high line against pace. Shitty was combination of midfield mistakes and poor defending, but we were still in the match until 65th minutes when they scored their fourth. It could have been a lot closer had we not been so wasteful in the final third. On the other hand, we also had Aaron, Jack, Theo, Mesut, and Kos (for the first half) on the pitch.
So given the injury situation, I think we should park the bus and try to get lucky on a counter. A 5-4-1 formation. Per in the middle with Verm and Sagna on either side. Gibbs on the far left, Bellerin on the far right. Arteta and Flamster in front of the five. Santi on the left wing and Gnabry on the right. And, wait for it, Ox as striker. Ox is pretty much the same size as Suarez, has pace, can create on his own, and in the past has shown a decent striking ability. Granted he has been wasteful recently, but no worse then any of our other options.
There you have it, 1-nil to the good guys!
COYG!
ecg – interesting line-up but hasn’t got a cat’s hope in hell chance of happening.
The way this team goes, they’ll probably spank five past Citeh and we’ll all feel even more exasperated about what might have been…
Can anyone remember AW ever starting with a back five?
Fine preview H. Difficult one to write, that.
I can’t make the game tomorrow. I am not sure whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing to be honest. I’ve never been a fan of wakes. However I will certainly toast a renaissance if our boys can deliver it.
We need a gritty and gutsy performance tomorrow. Right from the start we need to get in their faces and do to them what plenty of journeyman outfits have done to our flair teams over the years. It’ll take a great deal of effort but with the right attitude this team is capable of it.
COYGs
Like your idea ecg @23 – suggested similar myself with Jenks at RB. Not the worst idea at this time.
Just looking back at December when our starting midfield was:
Flamini, Wiltshire, Walcott, Ramsey and Özil.
4 of them are injured.
We have to go for the point, so that means playing Flamini and Arteta, fitness permitting.
Then it’s a choice of three from: Rosicky, Cazorla, Ox, Gnabry, Podolski and Källström.
KK looked like he had a bit of physique and strength against Swansea so that is in his favour, given that they have Yaya and Fernandinho. He also scored some pretty spectacular goals for Lyon from set pieces on the edge of the box. Against him of course is his inexperience in the pace of PL football and maybe a lack of proper match fitness. There’s also the possibility of playing him instead of Arteta?
Glad it’s not my job to pick the team :).
This is the second part of a post from previous;
I believe it was N7 who posted above, that only the terminaly daft wouldn’t have bit your hand off if you offered them to be where we are now at the begining of the season, a very good point, however, it’s all about relevance, and circumstances can change perception rapidly.
After the cluster fuck that was last summers transfer dealings I would indeed have been gnawing towards your elbow, because let’s face it, it was a mess from the moment that Gazidis made the bold statement in June that there would be something for Arsenal fans to get excited about within two weeks. The 14 days passed and nothing, Sanogo and the Flam came in for free and the fan base, for once pretty united in their rancure, were all but ready to explode. In fact right up until the last hour of the transfer window it was a farce, it all changed when the announcement was made that we had signed Ozil. This signing appeased the rioting rabble, fackles were distinguished and pitchforks neatly tucked away under their beds.
All of a sudden there was some belief again that Arsenal mattered and we were heading in the right direction, a signing that made a real statement of intent and, by golly, it was indeed. The doom and gloom lifted and the top four was again seen as a realistic target. At the time, I was still extreamly dissapointed that we didn’t get a striker, but non the less was excited about the prospect of the Ozil effect.
As the season progresed towards, and beyond, the festive period Arsenal were looking good value for their top spot and I can honestly say that I thought we could go all the way, I really did and I don’t think I was alone. Maybe that’s why so many are royaly pissed at this moment. Our expectations were raised, it wasn’t that long ago that all and sundry had us “nailed on” for a top three finish. Ofcourse the “experts” were telling us why would fail but week after week we kept proving them wrong, there was a real spirit in the camp and it was plain to see on the field, we were contenders!!
Ramsey’s injury was, although it didn’t seem like it at the time, the start of our descent. The prognosis was he would be out for three weeks, pfft, we shoulda known better. He was quickly joined on the treatment table by Feo, who mocked the visiting swampies with a two nil hand gesture and a cheshire cat grin, a classic moment, but none of us were laughing when we heard he’d be out for the rest of the campaign. There was a cushion available to soften this double blow, the January transfer window had just opened, no superstars were going to be available, most of us accepted that much, but surely this was a chance to bring in some solid reinforcements to aid us in our bid for the title, a midfielder or two, plus a striker to share the load with the HFB.
Once again the transfer deadline edged ever closer with no news, until finally on the last hour of the last day we captured a player, a solid journeyman, nothing fancy, but someone who may of been able to do a job, unfortunatly we still haven’t found out if this is true as he arrived broken in the packaging. WTF, this was so bad it made the summers dealings seem competent. It has now come back to bite us in the arse at this the pointy end of the season.
“Are we being the best we can be?”
The question that Steve T has been asking for as long as I can remember, this season has proved beyond any reasonable doubt that we as a club are not.
I prefer to try to stay positive, but I fully understand the ire from large sections of the fanbase, how can you really blame them for being annoyed, dissapointed or disillousioned after the last few transfer windows? Once again we are down to the barebones, our season looking to go into meltdown, it’s a damn shame and it was all so avoidable.
I’d like to go on record to say I don’t fully blame Wenger for our current failings. But as El Puno pointed out, someone really should be held accountable and that individual shoud be relieved of his duties. Last summer Arsene recognised the need to bring in a top striker, delegates were dispatched, they came back empty handed. That’s unacceptable. If I charge one of my staff with the responsibility of getting in enough beer for the weekend but it is unavailable at the local brewery, he sure as shit better get it from somewhere else or he’d be getting the ol spanish archer.
Wenger has been briliant for us and I hope he stays, he deserves the chance to build another team around the very capable squad he already has, however I vermently disagree with those who think he is above criticism due to his past achievements. That said, I don’t think there’s a manager in the PL, that is judged and analysied as much as AW, it’s truly unbelievable. The perception of him changes weekly, almost after every game, he’s a master one week, a disaster the next, still going strong or past it, a success or a failure. I really can’t think of any manager that is debated so much or is under as much scrutiny as he is, well except Moyes, but the general feeling is that he’s pooh and that’s pretty much non debatable.
Our next three games are of paramount importance for the rest of this season and our future. If we manage to get some points on the board in the PL games things will look a lot rosier, a positive result in the semi final will also give us a light at the end of the trophy less tunnel. With a (percieved) easy run in, players coming back and a chance to get that wretched monkey off our backs there’s still all to play for and the chance to call this season a success.
Arsenal Bloody Arsenal.
The only other idea I have is to concentrate on attacking them down their left flank if Clichy and Demichelis both start. There are accidents waiting to happen in those two.
Good point re KK dk. I had forgotten him. I think he could well have an important part to play. Looks big strong boy with good distribution though I suspect he can’t yet go the full 90 minutes.
COYGs
Let’s act hard as nails the Simpson McLintock and Storey way for a change.
To what low will Moyes not stoop to defend his monumental failure of a “signing”?
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/david-moyes-backs-marouane-fellaini-6891492?
If I were Moyes or Fellaini I would be nervous that “The FA have ordered improved quality footage of the alleged spitting” taking into account that Photoshop is thought to be available on all the FA computers. 😉
Nothing would give me more pleasure than beating the oilers, the wretched Na$ri and the shirt that went in the charity bag still rankles.
Not exactly relishing the game, we are vulnerable to power and pace and City have plenty of both. The BFG needs to take charge of the defence and parking the bus may be the only way of preserving our dignity!
Certainly we all need to be fortified before entering the fray, it’s likely to be a long afternoon in the sun. Again hoping for the best.
See you all at the Ems.
COYRs
Nice preview Holic. It shows us how quickly our star has fallen with odds of around 3-1 for a home win. It’s still 11 v 11 however and with the right attitude & performance, you just never know.
Bath your call to be hard as nails ala McClintock, Simpson and Storey is well merited. However Storey was like Flamini on speed and would probably be having the earliest of baths, particularly with the ubiquitous Mike Dean in charge of the cards 😉
H2H @ 30, sums up my thoughts perfectly.
ECG, your radical team ideas very interesting but the boss doesn’t do radical these days. I expect a conservative team selection on the pitch which I hope shows plenty of labour without being too liberal in defence.
After recent disappointments, let’s see a performance and a positive result may well follow.
There is nothing better than a win against the odds.
Go you gunners.
h2H- perhaps the reason that arsene comes under the microscope seemingly more than others is simply a lack of results for 9 previous years.
That is fair and reasonable is it not.
I wouldn’t think a party and balloons would be in order for coming 4th and making CL…
Beating the blues? This is the standard approach, I believe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8GwPuKL0e0
British take.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vFuqcEFrlY
@H2H
Great summary, and I agree with almost all of it.
The manager should be subject to criticism, and we’ve seem some great, reasoned examples of it in the bar this season.
My only two reservations are that (a) I think it’s harsh that the team cop such flack (not from yourself, but elsewhere) for raising expectations and then failing to meet them – I’ve quite enjoyed the raised expectations, but squeezing past not one but two oil clubs is a tall order); and (b) the summer was clearly a bit of a clusterfuck – I’d love to hear the full back story one day – but I find it hard to get worked up about January; it’s never an easy time to do business and I hope we take that on board this year and make all the necessary tweaks by 1 September.
One final thought, which is that, oil clubs aside, pretty much all our rivals endured difficult summer transfer windows: Utd couldn’t find a player for love nor money, Spurs bought an unrelenting stream of drop and were gazumped for Willian, Liverpool watched one target after another depart to the likes of Dortmund and Chelsea. Only Everton had a really good one, and they did almost all their important business as the window closed on deadline day.
My hope is that last summer was only partly due to our own incompetence, partly due to an unusual window where the late completion of the Bale deal delayed the opening of the market proper. I also hope that, having now made our statement signing, we are looking at a range of options to fill the various holes in the squad, with the priority being to get them filled. You don’t leave the roof off your house for a year while you look for the perfect replacement.
Anyway, great post and here’s to a good balance of criticism and perspective in the bar – to being the best we can be.
COYG
Perhaps arsenes comments today provide some insight into out current state of transfers and areas of clusterfuck
1- he reckons we havent really been well beaten by anyone except liverpool….. Really arsene, do you truly believe your own bullshit when you say stuff like that.
He reckons that a couple of the other thrashings were so over in 10 mins so for some reason they dont count.
Unfathominable that he can say this stuff.
I liked arsene better during his media block.
I suggest the reason arsene did bugger in transfers this season even with our injuries is his boind belief in the squad as a whole is more in his mind and on paper than in reality.
He never learns and he is so arrogant in his defence of his failures it is truly beyond belief
Maybe a good policy for him going forward.
Hi. Know its match day and time for the rallying calls. Here’s hoping for an outcome like the 1-0 in 2012 with Arteta’s sweet strike. Not impossible. But what do the bar here think of Wenger’s comments on Sagna yesterday ? I’m a bit surprised I haven’t seen more comments. ‘I am confident he will stay, but we will accept his decision.’ ‘No matter what his decision will be, we will accept it and go on with it.’ Am I the only one horrified by this, especially with Citeh lurking and tapping up in the background. Is this not a highly symbolic, apalling admission ? Bac is the first name I’d put on the sheet, pretty much always, but especially in times of stress. Not least cos he can switch to CB without deploying our erstwhile “Verminator” (remember him). Why not give him the few extra quid for fux sake. Big boys’ league this and we see guys going on towards 40 these days (maybe in part because of Wenger’s transforming ways in the 90s). Arsene YOU might accept it, but I fucking won’t. This guy belts up and down our right flank every week and is as brave as a lion. Also crucially he regularily smashes a fibula but comes back stronger than ever as if nothing ever happened. Our other injury prone stars well…they’re just that. Anyway if we can tie in TR7 we can tie in Bac. Jenks not ready we all know that. Lets not complicate what will already be a savagely tricky world cup summer of transfer shite. I’d pay him 80-90k for 3 years right now, remortgaging the family home if necessary. COYbloodyG.
Sc- asking for an honest sensible interview with arsene where he actually tells the truth on any subject is beyond repair.
He is so defensive he is beyond help
@Aussie
I couldn’t give a toss what Arsene says to the press. They are vultures and I’m amazed he still answers their questions with even the slightest shred of candour. Pretty much whatever he says, it gets written up negatively and then foamed over on Twitter by the perpetually enraged.
He can stride into a press conference and fart into a bucket as far as I’m concerned – it’s what happens on the pitch that matters (for good and ill).
How big would the bucket be?
Unfortunately N7 his on field BS is equally matched by his interview BS, that was my point.
He wants to ignore and dismiss the reality of the team including the sagna saga.
As detailed above by SC- here is the one player in arsenes squad that has busted his hump for many seasons long and arsene wants to fuck around with his salary or bac has told him enough is enough, he has other plans after many years of good service
@45
Maybe several differently sized buckets so he can play a little tune.
Morning all,
Big day. Sorry you won’t be there bath. I shall have a Glen somethingorother in your honour.
Vocal chords on red alert 🙂
Arsene farting in a bucket ?
A little beyond the pale, gentlemen …….
Morning H,
Sorry I won’t be there. Hope all’s well.
Have a good one.
2-1 to the good guys for me. Don’t ask me how though.
Ok, “regulars” who have posted have no views on Sagna, let him walk, Wenger sends him and others exactly the right message with that comment. You’re an impressively knowledgeable bunch but remind me to not ask a question again ! Cheers
Slainte H.
Dig in and give ’em ‘ell.
Let’s find our inner Stokeites.
sc – I would have hoped that they could meet half way. I have already observed that he was very angry after the summer departures in 2011 and 2012 without adequate replacements coming in and suspect that he has decided to leave. He does deserve his final big contract and certainly owes us nothing. However time is not on his side and his bombing up and down days are numbered….. thus there has to be a ceiling on his reward.
Re: Bac, can’t give an informed opinion without having some idea of what’s actually going on.
Is he asking for a few extra quid and we’re giving him the raspberry?
Does he want to double his salary for his final contract/is he sitting on a bunch of oil club offers?
Some point in between?
I get the sense it’s not a simple negotiation. I’d like him to stay, but we’ll live if he goes.
The Sagna “saga”?
He’s been made an offer. If he doesn’t like it, we might offer him a bit more. Can we, or should we, offer what for example, the Sheikhs would offer him?
Should we fuck.
If they don’t want to be here, let ’em go I say.
Yours irregularly
Dr Feelgood
Sc, re Bac,
Exactly what bath, N7 and zico said.
Can Bac be a modern up and down full back for another 3 years. I doubt it.
Would he stay to be a stand-in centre back. I doubt that too.
Do forgive me for not answering before but I was quickly saying hello to a mate ( Holic) before he leaves for the game, while waiting for a dose of morphine, codeine and paracetemol to put the fire in my knee out.
When all’s said and done, we don’t know any more than you.
Zico @ 55 knows. My thoughts exactly. Arsene discovered him, made him the player he is, his years salary is much more than I could earn in my lifetime. So, he wants more money, bigger contract?
Thank you and off you go, you’ll be missed, but surely replaced with someone younger, faster and why not- better.
Morning Holics perfect weather for a perfect result?
Why not!
Sagna is a great player it’s a shame sometimes he doesn’t take his own initiative when running on the right flank I think that would make him a complete full back. Always professional about his actions so whatever happens he will be remembered in the good books!
Here’s to a blinder!
Come on Arsenal!
Time to dig deep and fight for our lives.
Cue Agincourt address, Nelson’s exhortation to duty, Churchillian call for fighting on the beaches.
Come on Arsenal. Do it for the little guy.
Morning All
Come the business end of a season all games are big but this one adds a little more incentive due to what on the face of it can only be called disaster March. We need a win not only for the 3 points but some self belief as the teams above us have all handed us are arse in previous meeting this season, so a good showing and hopfully 3 points will put a bit of steel back in the players who have lost all confidence. Players who would make perfect triangles while passing the ball around thier opponents now are affraid to even have the ball.
So another showing like previous meetings would have far more implications than usual. IF ! thing dont go are way and we then also loose to Everton we could be in 5th next Sunday which would be nothing short of a Sp*ds collapse.
Today if the players dont stand up and be counted the boss needs to re-think who is worthy of staying at the club. If we loose today and the players ran them self into the ground trying to prevent the result i will have no complaints. If they stroll around not looking to touch the ball and hide then there is no forgivness for that.
We are weakened due to injuries but weakness is no excuse for for not trying. I am not confident that we will get a result today and that is not down to pessimism or let me jump on the AW and Arsenal bashing band wagon, that is down to the players not given thier all as the fans do week in week out.
Here`s wishing for a great result, fingers, legs and anything else I can cross.
Cheers
Wow… villa isn’t half bad…. 🙂
…spoke too soon!
Sorry chaps, thanks for the views on Sagna. Take all your points on not knowing exactly whats going on behind the scenes. However I side firmly with Aussie on this one. If you give Wenger the benefit of the doubt, as Board and Kroenke do, nowt will change, ever. We must break this cycle of allowing players slip off after 5 years. It’s suicide. I’m not proposing 300k a la Rooney, there’s a middle ground between 75-100k, a flexibility, a pragmatism and some simple commonsense to add a mill or 2 over the final 3 years. I don’t want to see Bac starring elsewhere at age 34, because he will. We all know that. He’s worth 3 or 4 Clichys.
Penalty for CP not given Mason got the the blue envelope as well?
Palace 1-0! Ledley header.
Even better….actually went in off Terry.
Hows that lil ditty go?
John terry john terry,
don’t leave your missus with john terry,
he cannot shoot he cannot pass,
but he’ll take your missus in the …
🙂
Ha ha @ BB
Waiting for a train at sunny ingatestone. Should hopefully get there just before kick off.
Come on The Arsenal. Bollocks to theses oil laden twats.
Broom cupboard, BB ? 😉
@Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Rosicky, Flamini, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud
Crystal palace doing well
City : 10 cunts and one lesbian
Always good to recognise the opposition zico, that is the least we can do
Mourinho going off literally
Palace up 1-0 into extra time. CP supporters singing “Sit down Mourinho” to the tune of “Guantanamera”…..
Glad All Over!
Well done CP job well done!
Eat that Maureen! 😀
Come on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Today we shall make up for lost points!
Up The Arse 🙂
We are going to win today. Don’t ask me how I know, I just know
Anything can happen in this league.
Not going to make it back home in time for the game, luckily had the foresight to record it. Enjoy it all.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS.
Shit – I can feel my blood pressure has gone up a couple of notches after that Pubis-Chavs result.
Forget it dk – we can’t win the league. Repeat 500 times.
hey all…streams here
http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=246477&part=sports
and
http://livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/223821_arsenal_manchester_city/
lets fucking win today
Wonder if that will look like a 4-4-2 ?
Probably not, but that side looks capable of counter attacking.
Great manager, Tony Pulis :throwingupface:
Come on Arsenal!!!!!!!!!!!!
As with recent times opposition attacks targeting gibbs
Arteta making the his first mistake come on fella pick it up!
Good to see that Mike Dean is back to his old self. I was getting worried there.
No comment on Rosicky’s little dive 🙁
Fuck fuck fuck!
Once again caught on a break
We never learn
No we dont Aussie same old really!
Good policy ATG
I wasnt gonna mention the war either
The first of many, I’m sure
We don’t seem to connect passes going astray in Man City’s half fuck sake
Where was Sagna for their goal?
Full backs not even anywhere near – as usual
Jogging back Raddie – again
Fuckity fuck
OG shot of hope come on man!
Is flamini playing striker ?
Arteta is strolling fuck sake!
Keep the faith gents
The rest for the team are doing well so far today.We just need Sagna to be more conservative and stay behind the ball.We are playing well.
YYEEESSSS !!! Dean gave us a free kick
Been a while since we looked this good…
Our passing is really bad we need to sort it out
Dirty Yaya cunt!
Did we actually had a shot on goal yet apart from that offside?
No spirit,no fight…no desire…at this rate its going to be a long, most difficult run-in in very many year..WHERE IS GOD-DB10 when you need him???
Onya poldi
We scored a goal that was disallowed ATG…
Come on Arsenal!!!!!
City seem content to hold the ball and be patient
We are playing at home come on Lads!
Good on ya tomas get the fuck in there
Only one with a big heart
Clichy is playing, we are going to score a couple, I am sure.
We losing so not playing well in my eyes! Hope for a miracle after the break.
Sagna is one of the most overrated Arsenal players. There I said it.
Almost every attack on his side is slowed down, either with a pass backwards, cross hitting the opposition player or lost ball.
Now watch him score and assist.
Men against boys at times. No shots on target all half. From memory that’s not how you win games.
But it’s only 1-0.
Physically second best although effort is ok.
Sagna very poor for their goal, Gibbs ruins our momentum on the left over and over again. Has absolutely no right foot so has to pass backwards every time he turns inside – practice your bloody right foot man – it’s been going on for years.
For all Giroud’s very good early season he doesn’t look any kind of threat at all. Stick Poldi in the middle, Ox out on the right, Santi left, Rosicky central.
My comment here will show now what I know:
Substitute Gnabry for Podolski and switch him to the right wing with Cazorla on the left. The put Chamberlain in place of Giroud!
Had to get it off my chest 🙂
And let’s not forget, we are without:
Koscielny
Özil
Ramsey
Wilshire
Walcott
If you want a clue as to why we struggle check out the Citeh goal. When silva scores they have 5 players in our box. For the vast majority of the time we are lucky if we have more than 1.
I wish we could get past even one layer of their defence. Ball up to Giroud, he loses his duel and we just have to be lucky to get it back.
Gibbs beaten for fun again
Oh YYEESSSSSS
Yes.
Another good Poldi cross
Who sais we don’t have versatile players…. flamini STriker!
Should have been two. 🙁
We will now see the most charming side of the oily cnuts
COME ON RREEDDDSSSS
Navas ran against Poldi’s legs ffs
Demechellis will win it for us 🙂
He’s due a cock up!
Arsenal Squad XI 1-1 Mancy Megabucks
Giroud.. you can do better! Get it on target!
Sitting a sushi bar how we looking Holics?
It’s Alamo time – come on you Reds !!!
We ‘re playing well this half Arthur
Are substitutions forbidden for our team today?
Cone on management not happy with me phone refreshing going on
Well it isn’t 6-0 and we might still get something out of it 🙂
Flamini’s forgotten his meds and is rampaging!
Ox is coming on… i think
Pod off, Ox on Atg
A draw’s no good for us… OX for Poldi!
Critical point in the game…we have to defend the alamo…. at all cost!! Come on you reds!!!!!!!!
Best stuff we’ve played in a while.
My sneaky 2-1 might just be on !!! 🙂
They bring off their striker…. WE bring off OUR striker…
Let’s see who does better!
Nothing against pelegrini but that old vulture looks a lil constipated..
Mayhap a touch of tea might help…!
Dirty bastard garcia… we were gong through there!
3 mins added… COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Citeh booting it anywhere !!!
COrner to us…… last chance?!
COme on!!!!!!!!!
Memories of dormund at home…anyone?? Hope doesnt happen again..
Both teams have got their YaYas out
Cheer up Highbury
I am proud of these fellas.
Superb second half.
Missing 4 starters and 8 stalwarts.
As are Henry V, Horatio Nelson and Winston Churchill.
Some e performance after our week. Great stuff. City were on the ropes at the end
ooo’er Trev @156.
Never saw that.
Well this morning people said they would bite arms off for a draw.
We got one, and with the injuries we had that wasn’t half bad.
Well done lads.
Great second half performance – augurs well for the future.
And maybe will shut the doomers up, but I doubt it.
Hi bath. Not bad at all, I’d say.
Glass half-full
Glass half-full
Time to top it up.
I’ll have a VERY LARGE Bowmore please barman.
A point isnt too bad…considering the 6-3 reverse and last weekend. On to the blue scoursers!!!
Hola Trev – I agree.
Macallans all round.
I saw some heart in that second half. City was holding on at the end as we finished stronger.
That point could prove to be very, very important when everything is tallied up at season’s end. Let’s face it, the league title was going to be a stretch, and Arsenal will be fourth no matter what result plays out at Goodison next week.
Scousers will be top after tomorrow’s fixtures; they play LWCs, so don’t count on any help from that lot.
Trev@161: I think I did get quite a long way through my left arm in the last ten minutes.
Considering our injuries I thought we did well. City are a good team but we had them, if not on the ropes at least slightly worried there in the second.
Flamini did well for the goal and was fighting all the way through. Arteta better than recently, Giroud as well.
Cazorla was very good and Sagna really is a fantastic player, wouldn’t mind keeping him around for a while.
We needed 3 but 1 point may prove crucial in what is, at best, a fight for third. The league is City’s to lose now and if we don’t manage to steal it from them I think they should keep it.
much more encouraging display, I expected Poldi to smash that one home..if only he went for power he goes 9 out of 10 times in this position. Should have just blow Harts leg away instead of trying to place it.
Second half performance best I have seen from boys in last few weeks, Rosicky head and shoulders above the rest from the start to finish.
Shame about their goal, you really feel we are unlucky when it comes down to these situations, was it not for Flamsters own goal against Swansea we would now have 67 points..its still on…by stretch..but I do still believe..and todays display gives me something to cling on in that belief.
Rather good performance, with some very intelligent on field adjustments especially down the left wing after being threatened to be blasted down that flank.
Many have mentioned this already, but for the next few games playing Giroud from subs’ bench would be a better goalscoring threat, he is visibly dragging himself through games even though he puts in all the effort. The early season Giroud would have gambled on that very teasing cross from Sagna that evaded Demichellis.
A few more runs from midfield into the box and a bit more interchanges down the flanks and cutbacks … we will be scoring goals again.
Ozil – Ramsey – Walcott … sigh. 🙁
Hear hear, Eandy
As I said. Being unbeaten at home was a bonus.
However, my question earlier this week was answered. We played to win and did not lose.
Let us beat Everton, get Rambo and hopefully Kos and Ozil back, things could you get interesting and at least a better chance of securing top three. Except for the away match to Hull after the FA Semi no more mid-week matches as well.
Eandy @ 171: That was a great save from Hart, just have to accept that. Poldi was almost off celebrating… 🙂
These pricks on Sky just can’t say ‘Arsenal’s title dreams are over’ enough times.
I sit behind these idiots at The Ems. Next time I’m there I’m looking for one of them for a few words. Intensely annoying – like kindergarten finger pointing – “na na na na na your title dreams are over”.
Do your job properly – twats.
When I saw the ball fall to Podolski in that position on his hammer, I had no doubts that the net was going to be bulged.
Jamie Carragher has just explained how City scored. He said:
“Eesshh eh aah ur jeesh en eh err ash mee er jeesh en sgishk er jaeshht”.
Obvious, innit ?
Heh Trev
Off out for a nite of Roxetting. (If I am not on here tomorrow, call the coast guard!).
Well pleased with that 2nd half performance – great to see the energy and confidence returning. With the players we had out, got to be happy considering recent displays.
Much much better performance in the second half. Still no real cutting edge but far more fight, heart and spirit. I’m not unhappy with a point. It also just goes to show even more how frustrating the Swansea result was.
Great shift from Tommy R. BFG and General Flamini also mentioned in despatches. Crowd support excellent throughout.
How’s the knee Trev??
Hi Steve T,
I’ve been home for a couple of days – still on some powerful drugs – knee is just raw and extremely painful. Massive bruising and swelling – just too damaged to do all but a bare minimum of exercise – but I really had three ops in one, and all involved damage to the bones.
Will tale a while but i couldn’t really expect a quick recovery being an Arsenal fan, eh. 😉
Good stuff. I’m glad it is on the mend. I just hope it’s not a Ramsey 3 weeks.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
H2H@30. Awesome stuff mate. Agree with every word.
Cheers Trev. Chin up!
Proud of the squad today. And Poldi … Where has he been all season?
2 good things: KD Lang didn’t score and we found a new #10 when needed – Flamini was everywhere at the end and pushing forward. 🙂
Anyone else notice how Clichy now looks like the artist formerly known as Prince?
Arseblog explained why Poldi has spent all season on the bench. Unreliable and in team terms, a bit of a liability.
However he put in a reasonable shift today.
Not Arsenal quality outside the box though.
Yes, jet, and I also noticed how Na$ri, or lesbo orientalis, to give him his botanical name, looks like the artist still known as K D Lang. 😉
Where was Bloggs’ Poldi bit, bath ? Must have missed it.
Yeah. Me too.
He was immense today. Tracking back. Going forward.
Hmmm …
I have just returned courtesy of the quickest moving line to Arsenal Station I have ever seen! I thoroughly enjoyed a game I was dreading beforehand. I enjoyed it because we showed the capacity to fight and graft against a top side and Citeh finished hanging on the ropes like a cagey old boxer.
Santi was absolutely superb. I love him as a player but he has not been performing anywhere near thus level for a very long time. Rosicky was inspirational and Bacary Sagna had a terrific game and showed what a loss he would be if he departs. Given our injuries we did very well. Giroud worked incredibly hard but managed to make De Michelis look quick and Arteta turned the ball over too much for my liking but never let his head drop. Frankly given today’s results, if we get a win at Everton and given the other games we are still in the title race but will need to win every match. It could be a very interesting end to the season
Trev,
Nice to see you in good spirits. That one would have been worth dragging yourself in for. Amazingly I don’t think if Chelsea can lose to Palace those twats know what they are talking about. If Liverpool draw with Chelsea and City it makes life very interesting .
Apparently we have finalized some sort of agreement for an in-form 21 year old Swiss striker Drmic playing for Nurnberg in Bundesliga.
Btw, much credit due to Arsene for today’s performance , no?
Only seen the first half I had too attend a sushi outing with the family. Have also seen Flamsters goal, nice assist from Poldi. So I hear we should have nicked it?
Trev @189 – Wednesday morning, I think.
Dr F @ 193 – lottsa credit due – big balls there.
Homer @190 – didn’t track back nearly enough in first half. Left Gibbs exposed to 2 runners way too much. Much, much better in second.
Dr.F@193: Assume you’re referring to this:
http://metro.co.uk/2014/03/29/arsenal-sign-nuremberg-striker-josip-drmic-4682747/
Source: Fjortoft and Matthäus – the duo who brought you “Draxler has signed for Arsenal” back in January.
Yawn.
Back to reality: Wasn’t the much maligned and underrated Matthieu Flamini an absolute trojan today? That’s the way to respond to the misfortune of the o.g. against Swansea. Absolutely man of the match for me, despite Rosicky and Cazorla (second half). He just loved scoring that goal. Haven’t seen such a rampaging display from one of our midfield since Aaron got injured. Even Gary Neville commented on it.
Did Fjortoft and Matthaus bother to mention that one of his legs fell completely off during a stretching routine two years ago and he hasn’t kicked a ball since.
They heard that Arsenal specialise in the treatment of the Permanently Injured, and it is their last desperate attempt to wring a pay rise out of Nurnberg.
Does that Bundesliga club have any other good prospects.Ii hear they used to do a lot of trials there ……
Now that’s what you call a performance. That’s all we have been asking for, give your best and let the chips fall at the right places. How I wish we had held on for the win against Swansea. Oh well it’s going to be an interesting finale.
Dkg,
if you look back to 31/8/2013 I said I thought our free signing might, in his own way, prove to be as important to us as our rather more expensive capture.
Can’t really understand why he has been left out of so many games against the top sides.
Trev: One thing for sure – if he’d started against the Chavs, it wouldn’t have been 6-0.
5-0 maybe, but not 6.
Right-on bath. Youre surely right.
I just wish he played more. That left boot of his is lethal!
Cheers bath.
And to all of you doubters and moaners and whingers out there, just want to say, this is the squad that produced that storming finish to last season and dragged themselves up from all the defeatist talk and secured a place in the Champions League once more.
No, it’s not a trophy, but still shows they have a lot of moxie.
They will qualify again – no doubt about it.
Bring on the Blue Scousers.
(Where’s that whisky bottle?)
dk knows @205.
Looking at the fixtures list of the top four we have the easiest run on paper. I reckon the PL title will go down to the wire. Hopefully those LWC will do us a favour tomorrow which I doubt very much.
I’m yet to see the second half when it becomes available on pravda.com
Should have seen me jump in a restaurant people looked at me as if I was on drugs and management told me I’m nuts!
Win the next game!
Saw something on TV this evening about a place called the Scablands. It’s where I would like to send all those miserable Scabs (you know who you are) so that when the next flood comes, they’ll all be washed away or ground to dust.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channeled_Scablands
DK
Zobrowka on the table just make sure you have some apple juice to go with it 😉
Trev
A drink of your choice for the updates appreciated fella!
Thanks ATG – no disrespect meant, but I only use water to boil my potatoes 🙂
The lad we are due to have signed has scored half his side’s goals this season. His team are fighting relegation but he is very highly rated. It’s a typical Wenger signing as they say which won’t satisfy a lot of people who want £50 million purchases every time but he is a Swiss international. There are rumours that Mrs Giroud wants to move back somewhere where temptations are less( do any clubs base themselves in monasteries?) I’d be very happy as long as he is not our only striking purchase and it’s good to see us making plans well before the start of the season rather than scratching around on the last day of the window. My only concern is his name is rather hard to pronounce. I do like to get these things right you know so that I can abuse players appropriately
Don’t forget to put your clocks forward tonight other wise you will turn on tomorrow and the LWCs will already be five down.
By the way, well in San Antonio – nice one at the far post I see.
My God – this evening was only a draw but anyone else feeling like it was a victory?
Belief is restored.
Really, really solid performance, and I felt rightly or wrongly that we probably should have snuck that one. Seemed like City might have come for the draw as it will probably win them the league (not to lose at the Ems), but we still looked the better team for some good portions of the second half.
It seems as though our trouble is really giving the ball away in the middle of the field, again surprising, because holding the ball in tight quarters should our strength. Arteta looked a little sloppy and Giroud disappointing again, but Flamini was an a monster today, and Rosicky had us charging up the field. Podolski really needs to work on his defensive game; a cheer went up when he poked the ball away from the attacker, something like the last 10 minutes. Thought the game plan was mostly solid and steady, but I think that Ox should have come on a little earlier as he always seems to be a genuine game-changer from the bench.
I certainly wouldn’t mind keeping Flamini another season, even if he doesn’t play all that often; he just seems to bring a lot of fight to every game, saw toward the end that he motioned Vermaelen to stay back, even though we were pressing hard for the winner. It’s going to be a shame to lose our captain, wouldn’t mind seeing Wenger try him out in a defensive midfield position instead of Arteta, though not sure when that would be at this point in the season.
ttg. Are you the all knowing? 😉
That poor little horse from Fulham left a big pile of dung at Selhurst Park this afternoon.
And speaking of Mourinho, as if he could have stooped any lower, he decided to put an armm round a CP ball boy and have a word with him this afternoon. Thought the young man was costing Chelsea the game by taking too long to return the ball.
How typical of Mourinho to shed responsibility, and how brave to dump it on a young teenager in front of a crowd of thousands.
Will the FA act ?
Will someone, please, turf this ugly, cowardly little shit out of the English game.
I honestly prefer Tony Pulis.
By miles.
Nice one Trev.
Trev. Surely not Nuremberg trials puns????
At least that must suggest you are feeling somewhat better I hope. 🙂
Trev, Pulis is lightyears more respectable than Maureen.
I wonder what the Porto reptile whispered in the wee boy’s ear?
Front page of the Sun on Sunday beckons, methinks.
One thing on Poldi yes he fucked up on the goal but didn’t we beat sides around us by high scores when he was a starter at the beginning of the season?
And yes he’s not a player to dribble the ball going past players, he’s different more direct and with more effect for that matter. And most of all always committed.
DK heh? Who talking water?
Fascinating game and a descent result considering our recent performances. Good atmosphere too at the Grove! Well done lads and well done the gooners; you really helped the boys to believe this evening! Good stuff! Let’s carry that vocal support forward till May both home and away!
Citeh are certainly favourites to win the crown this term but if it’s not us (and we are still in it no matter what some cunts say) then I wouldn’t begrudge them that except for that lesbo!
I’m still optimistic of us sneeking in under the radar come May 11th! If only we had had a fully fit squad from January till now to choose from; much would have been very different.
Onwards and upwards to 18 points from the last half dozen matches and atleast a top 3 finish in the league will be secured with the FA Cup duly placed in the new trophy cabinet at Ash’ Grove!
COYBG! Up the Arse!
The thing is, bath, Mourinho will think that such an action serves to illustrate what a perspicacious, omniscient presence he is.
Me, I just think he’s a cunt. 😉
(and that’s a word I seldom to never use – but he is!)
Bt8b
Not according to Mrs TTG!
Trev
Moaninho has achieved the remarkable feat of making Tony Penis seem a gentleman
Matt F
We will certainly keep The Flamster for another season. He oozes passion and epitomises the sort of character you need in big matches
Hope everyone had good late afternoon Holics I know I did!
Sleep tight all…
Come on Arsenal springs to mind!
Better performance than result. Two points from the last nine possible is not the sort to stutter we needed at this point of the season. But good to see the fight and the quality is still in this team even if both have been inconsistently shown this season. Good to see Santi look interested again, too. TR, Sagna and Flamini all put in top performances, as others above noted. Also thought Woj had a strong game. I would have taken Giroud off with 20 mins to go as he was treading water at that point, though he sticks at it regardless. But let Sanogo’s young legs have a run at the Citeh defence or even put the Ox up front as some suggested with Gnabry wide for some pace. And fantastic support getting behind the team. Even watching on Spanish-language TV you could hear it coming through loud and strong.
More of that and 4th should be safe, and 3rd still possible. And even safer with more trip-ups like the chavs today. Next weekend finally sees the end of the ‘horror run’ and not losing should just about wrap up CL for next year.
Arteta a disappointment and Cazorla still a worry, being indecisive and giving the ball away in the first half, but improved in the 2nd. Neither fullback inspired much confidence either, but some excellent performances with real spirit from the rest with special mentions to Flam, TR7 and Per.
I still don’t understand AW’s subs policy, either who comes off or when whoever comes on. Our 2nd half enterprise was screaming for an injection of Ox or Gnu pace, but when it finally came the former was given just 10 minutes+ to contribute. And who came off? Poldi of course, despite poorer performances by Santi, OG and Mikel among others. My choice would have been to bring on both youngsters for OG and Santi, and play them on the wings with Poldi in the middle.
On another day would like to see Poldi on the right wing for once. Every time he steps in off the left his only option for a shot is with his right peg, or he has to cut back for a much narrower angle with his left. From the right he’d have the left thunderbolt option from a much better angle. Right wing was where another leftie, RvP, was most lethal.
So, still unbeaten at home since Villa on Day 1, which I admit is something I wasn’t expecting. Well done the team.
Öskar
I thought Dean controlled the game well for a change. No complaints at all from here, and he could easily have red-carded TR7 late in the second half. Credit where credit is due.
Öskar
Matt @214:
Agree regarding Flamini….he is a fighter in the midfield and keeps us organized. Saw him wave off Verm to get him back into position and thought that is exactly what we need. Arsene can pick certain games for him to play in if tactics call for him. He wont take any crap in the locker room which is good with young players.
We have to keep Sagna. The guy was fantastic today and will be a good role model for Jenks going forward. He has played way above 60k a week for a number of years.
A good point today…will come in handy as we fight off Everton. Get at least a point next week and we will be in good shape. COYR!!!
DOesn’t matter what position we finish this year… So long as it’s above chelskis!!!!!
I really like Gnabry, but he’s a kid. If you play him in a massive game like yesterday, he makes a mistake and we get beat then the manager gets crucified for his naivety.
I liked what I saw yesterday; precious little of the naivety we showed at the Bridge and a superb result and performance, given the circumstances. The mind inevitably ticked over to what might have been with all our players available, but a point was an unexpected tonic.
Worth noting that in our last six games we have played Everton, Bayern, Spurs, Chelsea and City, with half our first team out. We have lost once. Clearly, there is progress to be made and two of the performances we put in were entirely unacceptable, but credit where it’s due – this has not quite been the collapse described in some quarters. I just wish we could have run this particular gauntlet a little closer to full strength.
Two massive, season defining games coming up. I think a draw at Goodison would be a great result, assuming Spurs lose today, and the Wigan game is the key to our season.
Still all to play for, just got to show that same hunger again.
Oh, and well done Matty Flamini. That celebration was proper.
COYG
A performance to be proud of me thinks. Especially the second half we can build on. Felt like we could win it.
Öskar, i would not praise Dean too loud in here 😉
Btw, am I the only one who thinks Silva should have seen red just before the break? That challenge on MA8 was studs first and pretty much above the ground if you ask me.
On to the next one, we still have a lot to play for.
Josip Drmic – this is the funniest rumour for a long time.
Matthäeus says Drmic’s wife is in London looking for somewhere to live. Fjortoft retwats enthusiastically.
Josip Drmic is not married.
LMFAO
Quite agree and said so yesterday on Twitter; studs up and two feet off the ground. Look at this gif;
http://arsenalist.com/f/arsenal-vs-manchester-city-highlights/silva-yellow-brings-down-arteta.html
Silva’s a dirty little cunt – check out the number of yellows he receives, but gets away with it on account of his ‘skill factor’.
Morning All
A game of two halfs, giving the ball away cheaply in midfield followed by a fluke goal. 2nd half we were outstanding, we close them down and didnt give them an inch and shity were worried.
That was the reaction i was after from the lads Flamini and TR7 were stunning.
Gooner for life !!!!
Cheers
Quite agree about Silva. That was a red before half time, and it wasn’t his only transgression yesterday either.
“Strange” how Dean managed to spot that Zabaleta on Rosicky wasn’t a penalty (correctly), but failed to notice a mid-air, both feet off the floor, studs first leap into Arteta’s shin.
And galling that he doesn’t have to explain it either.
It’s clearly not possible to have referees explaining every decision, but so much time is given over to hopeless punditry and questioning managers after games, would it not be possible make referees explain, say, up to two decisions from each match.
Some refereeing performances are so bizarre you are forced to suspect foul play. If there is any funny business going on, refs would feel a lot less comfortable if they knew they were going to have to publicly explain one or two odd looking decisions.
Hello all,
A guest post on the way from TaBS, may be late as I am off on Mothers Day duties.
It will be worth waiting for.
Great game yesterday and the support was fantastic. Recovering my vocal chords slowly 🙂
Well roared ‘Holic 😉
Agreed Esso
Arteta knew it was coming cleared the ball and prepard for impact. Silva jumped and turned away in one move – clear of the ground and no vision of the tackle. Out of control. Keown would have sorted that out.
RR
Glad I’m not the only one who sees it that way. I was saying to my friend that with our luck we would probably have had two players sent off for a similar challenge 😉
Agreed on Silva tackle, absolutely no control, studs up, both feet off the ground, that is a straight red in my book and I was yelling at the screen when Dean brandished only a yellow.
Adepaymemore was sent off in NLD for similar-ish challenge on Santi last year.
That everton game is looking more interesting now!
Got to win that!
Fulham gave it a good go 🙁
and the spuds conspiring to make it difficult for us again……!
Ok, I’ll do it 😉
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thanks D
FA okays Fellaini’s spitting frolics. Shameful complicity.