Black Monday
Apr 7th, 2014 by 'holic
Twenty four hours on. A good night out helped to ease the gloom that followed our performance at Goodison Park. Reading a couple of quality blogs this morning brought it all back. Most of you I suspect will have read Arseblog and A Cultured Left Foot today. I suspect they reflect the changing mood of a large number of people given what I have seen on social media sites in the last twenty four hours.
Now at the outset I should just recall the fact that we are in a very good place in the FA Cup. Two matches from the oft-mentioned missing silverware, and on paper we are far and away the strongest squad remaining in the competition. From what we saw in the last quarter of the match yesterday we are fortunate to have Aaron Ramsey back again just in time for the run-in, and hopefully his energy and enthusiasm will rub off on those who have lost confidence and touch in recent weeks.
The six, or hopefully seven, remaining fixtures still offer the likelihood of a fourth place finish in addition to lifting the famous old trophy. Would we have taken that after the Villa debacle on the opening day of the season? Some most certainly would have. Unfortunately though that now has to be considered against the knowledge that we were top of the Premiership at the turn of the year and an expectation was created that we would be in contention for the title to the season’s end.
What has followed is made worse by the memory of the way we closed out last season with eight wins and two draws. Our last nine Premier League matches, starting with the spineless collapse at Anfield, have yielded just two wins. Yes, we are unfortunate to have lost the likes of Laurent Koscielny, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, and Theo Walcott at the same time, but the squad players we have are experienced internationals. It is astonishing the degree to which a seriously talented midfield has fallen out of any semblance of form.
All of which means more and more have come to question the manager’s position. That isn’t a crime, as long as you aren’t adding to the mindless bile that has been flung in his direction from the hard of thinking. I get that fourth place and the FA Cup will satisfy his strongest supporters. Equally I understand those who are now voicing concerns and suggesting that a Cup triumph might be a fitting way for the great man to bow out. Clearly anything else would increase the pressure on him to consider his options carefully.
Through the years of famine most who read this blog stayed four-square behind Arsene as he kept us in the Champions League, something I often argued as the minimum requirement. One of ours has championed the ‘are we the best we can be’ given our resources for some years now, and this season was the one in which clearly greater funds were made available to the manager for squad building. For us once again to be scrambling for fourth place is a disappointment given where we were in January.
Watching Olivier Giroud (thirteen Premier League goals this season, the same as Lukaku who many are praising to the heavens) struggling for form and confidence whilst falling victim to the boo boys only highlights the lack of striking options we have. For this to be the case having gone through two transfer windows and adding only the raw Yaya Sanogo is, for me, a long way from being ‘the best we can be’ with the resources available. I know we cannot compete with the financially doped in West London or in the city of Manchester but that is an unrelated point. We have the funds available to have signed some real quality and have failed to do so.
I take no pleasure from admitting for the first time that Arsene’s position is seriously under question. An FA Cup and a couple of stellar signings in the summer might sway many back behind the man who deserves enormous credit and respect for what he did for so long. Perhaps Arsene is a victim of his own influence. Revolutionary when he arrived, now though his methods have been copied by those with whom he is in competition. Time has moved on, and perhaps it is time for another vibrant young manager to be given his chance?
It seems likely that Arsene will choose the time of his going. The current board remain supportive and not without reason. A win next Saturday will buy him time and provide a lift for both club and support. Anything else, and it will be sad to see him suffer yet more vilification. Bow out with a bang, Arsene. Nobody in the game deserves it more.
694 Responses to “Black Monday”
Black as midnight on a moonless night.
Good, balanced report after a real bitch of a weekend.
Fine stuff ‘H. Didn’t envy you having to write that one up. At all. Have a beer on me.
Third! A well balanced report (like saying the sun rises in the east), ‘holic.
Not 5th NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Nicely balanced report Holic, elegantly made as ever.
Most painful to write, no question. Thanks all.
Really honest report Goonerholic!
We have all been watching the decline and now for the last few years alarm bells have rung and rung louder than ever!
Its panic stations again!
Wenger has been the best but now, his philosophies have been bettered by the young and hungrier. Teams have time and again found weakness in the mental attitude of team, lack of preparation for the team we play against (rather than focus on our own strengths) and our hard earned money deserves a better outcome!
We make far too many clueless decisions in the market. We were kings of pass and move; now passing is bettered by other teams, style of play bettered by some too, possession bettered by other teams, better attack. We are now set for a top 6 spot!
Goonerhiolic absolutely right: Wenger please leave with your head held high rather than as Brian Clough.
Its time!
wenger has managed to blow it big time. to go through transfer windows without buying a striker is criminal. giroud is an average player who can only score against average side and only then when the it’s put on his head or on his foot. we should have bought draxler during the 2nd window. i’m not saying he would have won us the title but he would have given us the options that our paper thin squad lacks and he would have also given us a much needed bounce much as the way ozil did when he signed. we have looked ordinary and one dimensional since january and the manager failed to do anything about it when he had the chance. having watched the club for almost 40 years i have become accustomed to us more often than not bottling it on the big occasion and i am not optimistic for the weekend given our current abysmal form and the fact that the majority of the country will be rooting for wigan.
Well done Guvnor! Grand job considering the circumstances!
Have to say that I’m not feeling as despondent this afternoon as I was yesterday! Perhaps it’s because there are still two very realistic targets to play for which is quite remarkable to believe!
4th is still very much a way-out considering the collapse over our harder March/April fixtures, and the FA Cup a welcome objective to attain, however a quick pick-up and refocus is unquestioned if these are to be realised! The squad has to “earn the right to play” over the next 6-7 matches!
Now is the time we see who the true pretenders are in the squad and if Arsene really can motivate in the crucial final furlong and more importantly, has the heart for it with these players?!
Even if Arsene and the squad do achieve these 2 objectives, the post-mortem in the summer really has to now be very serious and pragmatic. No one fears us any longer in any form on the playing field and next season we will really be under the cosh from the off and that’s not something I want the best manager we’ve ever had have to go through as his parting shot in his legacy! Do it for Arsene Gunners and Gooners! Up the Arse!
The Everton crowd were up from it from the start, and the object of their attention was Arteta, who foolishly kissed his badge when scoring against them in the Semi Final. (only scum like Rooney or Lampard would do that)
The noise and venom finally got to the ageing Spaniard who put the ball in his own net and then chased Barkley the length of the pitch to have a go at him (shame he cant run that fast chasing back) only for football’s quietest man Leighton Baines giving him a lecture to get back up the field and stop behaving like a silly brat.
When you see the defensive midfield axis of Barry and McCarthy who cover every inch of ground to Flamini and Arteta who do not there is your difference, Arsenals back 4 are there for the taking with the flimsy cover they have in front of them. Arteta is no more a defensive midfielder than Paul Scholes is or was, he couldn’t tackle a wet paper bag.
‘Holic, you nailed it. I’m just getting tired of defending Wenger after all the “accidents.” Love the man and his legacy, but just can’t take the excuses anymore. The hair supplements comment was the shark being jumped for me.
Would love Wenger to announce that he’s resigning at season’s end, and have the squad whip their sacks out for a few weeks fighting to send their mentor out with an FA Cup and another 4th Place Trophy.
I’m not even going to speculate on a replacement until that’s germane. But it would be nice to know this is his swan song, and have the opportunity to celebrate his tenure rather than decrying another two years of it.
The picture of Fabregas running down the pitch to hug Arsene (after scoring at San Siro I think); the image of Van Persie doing the same somewhere; and of course Thierry when he came back and scored, to run and embrace the manager. I haven’t seen any other manager elicit such emotional response from his players. Obviously the ones who respect him know that. Maybe he has lost his touch, maybe someone is pricking a voodoo doll of him somewhere, but I wanted him to go out, as and when he does, with his held high. Winning the league and the CL. Ideally. With the preening, confident attitude that made fergie mad. Not whimper out in a hiss of despair and helplessness. I recently discovered Peter Falk’s Colombo, watched the whole series, and learnt that he was suffering from Alzheimer’s or something, didn’t even know he had played the legendary role. Arsene’s situation is a bit sad like that. Hope we win something. ‘Nite all.
@11
8 March 2014 (less than a month ago)
Arsenal 4 Everton 1
Arsenal defensive midfield: Arteta, Flamini
Everton defensive midfield: Barry, McCarthy
Very nicely put guvnor.
Echoes what a lot of fans are feeling at the moment.
Sad that Wenger seems to have lost his touch or that circumstances have changed that brought forward some of the problems Arsene probably knew existed in the squad.
What if he did not spend in Jan knowing he would not start next season and hence leaving all the funds available for the next manager.
Whatever it is, we are all hurting. not sure the players are. Otherwise they would not have showed the same level of abject surrender for the fifth time this season.
Bow out with a bang nobody deserves it more,that’s the least the man deserves after what he has done for our club.hard to read a lot of our fans comments this last day about such a decent man.
Hi all
It sadens me to say this but i think the boss may of lost the dressing room. Never before have we had such a bad run of results and a serious lack of deire and passion to get the job done.
A bad 1st half used to be followed by a storming 2nd half, now a shit 1st half is followed by a worse 2nd half. What has gone wrong ?
Do the players know something we dont *which could be a hell of alot* like is AW leaving and the desire to give all has left the palyers or Aw can no longer inspire the boys ?
The ease in which we have been dimantled recently is alarming but these are the players bar a few who are out injured got us to the top of the PL a few months ago with great defending and slick attacking. Where has that all gone ?
There just has to be some under lining problem within the dressing room, can it be fixed can they pull it back. AW knows but who else does. Arsenal are not a very public team, not alot ever leaves the dressing room or do players run to the press with juice gossip so all fans are left with is speculation.
This is not a place any company wants to be, when you piss off the paying customers only one thing is for sure the finances of that company will suffer. Arsenal fans are so loyal to the club,players and the manager but dont take this for granted and dont take the piss out of us either.
If our greatest manager ever has decided to call it a day then i thank you from the bottom of my heart for the wonders you have performed at my beloved club. I supported Arsenal before AW joined and i will support them after he leaves but have the good graces to let us know WTF is going on.
Cheers
Wise words Mr. Holic,wise words!!
Thanks ‘holic for a good summary
There is no question that AW was the best manager in EPL, but now things are very different.
I do not know if his coaching style has changed, but the other (successful) managers seem to have taken a giant step forward. For them, when a sub is made, they are shown diagrams which clearly contain specific roles both for attack and defence, where our team seems to be required to ‘play as you can’ and we will win – which is clearly no longer working.
Our recent centre-forwards OG, NB or MC, were brought on board because they could score goals – with a certain type of support play which is a mix of good crossing (from the full backs) and lofted balls over the defence – but this has been ‘bred out’ of the support players, who, in general, now only play pretty inter-passing, and very rarely look up to see where the CF is.
The midfielders, who ARE capable of other things, seem to be obeying orders to play one way only, (the no Plan B syndrome when the opposition press successfully)
Our weakness at the back seems to be that whichever the LB , they play remote from the opposing attacker, with very little covering from elsewhere when they go forward. If only they were a mirror image of Bacary, who seems to be, in general(!) better supported.
We do have a good squad, with quality in depth, but the injury list has been a major problem for a number of years – and is only now being investigated
As one who is a few years older than AW, may I say, AW you are now too set in your ways, and the time has now come to pass the baton (with many thanks for all you have done for our great club)
COYG
Nice one ‘holic.
I didn’t manage to stagger home until early Sunday afternoon. I stayed away from phone, tv and computer so I could watch the game as live a few hours ago…….. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
I haven’t read any accounts, or even backdrunk yet, so I’m sure that performance has been taken to task and so it bloody well should be, that, simply put, was just awful. Fair play to Everton, they did what they had to do and beat us without really having to put in that much effort, but it was obvious they wanted it more and that’s what grates the most. Hell, they even tried to help us get back in it with a pretty Keystone approach to defending, but even then we couldn’t take advantage.
As a team we were terrible, hardly anyone covered themselves in glory. I don’t always get into individual bad performances, but watching the HFB looking like he was trying to wade through extra sticky treacle with concrete boots on was just sad. I hate to admit it, but I literaly let out a groan anytime the ball went anywhere near him because I knew it meant a wasted opportunity. It’s all just been too much for him this season, he is broken, the tank is empty, he’s done and you can see it in his demeaner and the way he moves around the pitch. He never was the fasted, but now he looks even slower, plus his touch has deserted him too, it’s painful to watch, but there’s just no decent back up for him and that’s not his fault.
At the other end, the TV5/BFG axis doesn’t work. I don’t think Per trusts Tommy and to be brutally honest, I don’t blame him. What on earth was he doing for the first goal? Maybe it’s just me, because the Dutch commentaters didn’t say anything about it, but it looked to me like he let the ball (to Lukaku) run in front of him, I really thought with a bit of effort that he could of easily cut that out. I could go on about others, but as it’s probably all been said, I’ll leave it that (for the time being).
The only bright spot was that Ramsey and the Ox looked like they may very well be able to conjure something up and pick the team up a bit, which begs the question, why in the name of all things holy were they only brought on when the game was out of reach? I know that Arsene usually likes to give the players a chance to get going in the second half, but that the same XI that were so abject in the first 45 mins came out the tunnel to start the second just beggers belief. This is not hindsight talking, it was as obvious then as it was after the hour mark.
This is going to be a long week, there will be an inquisition, there will be reflection, there will be questions and there will be the ones who have demanded change feel that their side of the fence is the happening place to be, it will probably be busy there too as I feel Sundays’ performance may very well drive many towards their cause.
All is not lost, although even I will admit that it is hard to see where we go from here. Our whole attitude needs adjustment and a serious tactical overhaul is in order, because we looked stale, predictable and pretty toothless. Wembley is on the horizon and we are the only team that has got something to lose. Our long running CL status is also on the line, it’s time to buck the fuck up!!!
ARSENAL BLOODY ARSENAL.
Greetings folks,
Longtime reader , first-time contributor here.
Firstly a word of thanks from an expat to all of you who have enabled me to keep close to my boyhood favourites from afar. It’s much appreciated.
Re our current problems.
I think its the wrong time to be, ( even gently), guiding AW to the exit door.
For better or for worse Arsene’s teams are like a highly tuned car that either accelerates with a purr or stalls embarassingly at the lights. This means our dips always seem worse since we’ve known the highs, but it seems unfair to me to blame Arsene for this.
I firmly believe we still have enough young and improving players in the team , and AW has the intelligence to improve the squad sufficiently this summer, to reduce this frustrating inconsitency.
The season isn’t over yet, and neither is Arsene Wenger.
PS. It is always great to hear our away fans singing from clear across the Atlantic.
Cheers.
Cheers H. But I’m done in here.
Thanks “Holic. Proper.
11 & 14 It’s a thing called confidence. In fairness Walcott, Jack and Ramsey are crocked.
The first season where we have had a transfer budget. The club tried to bring in Suarez, Liverpool don’t respect contracts. Ozil came in and nobody complained about his signing. Every other season players have gone.
It’s time for the Club to move forward. We need to somehow maintain our CL position this season and money permitting sign a couple of £40M players. Do we have the cash to spend £70-100 millions on transfers without including contracts?
I don’t see why Arsene can’t be given the budget, he’s done a good job with bottle-tops. Since Wenger’s been he’s spent £50M. When we had the cash he splashed it. Wenger didn’t want to let RVP go but as Stan explained it’s not worth keeping a player in the last year of his contract. Whether you like it or not Stan’s the man. Wenger’s earned the right to spend any money coming from the new deals and forge a new team. Arsene’s not perfect but hell who is? No disrespect to Roberto Martinez but 1 season doesn’t make a summer, Owen Coyle anyone…
Sorry about that Esso. See you soon, hopefully.
@24Goonerlad.
I like Martinez too, he has indeed done well this season, but many seem to forget he’s the same guy that got his team relegated this time last year.
—–
Catching up on the drinks, I see it wasn’t just me who thought TV could of/should of cut that ball to Lukaku out. Strange that neither the commentater nor the studio analysists on Fox(NL) said anything about it.
It’s a pretty hard read, but I shall persevere, not one to stop drinking, me.
H2H
I suspect real drink may be necessary. Good luck in there…
Cheers N7. The real stuff was in overflow over the weekend, the reason why I didn’t get to see the match until a few hours ago, and after which I suddenly regained my thirst. Just tapped in another one as I prepare to wade futher.
A virtual one on the bar for you mate.
Cheers H2H. I’ve some sorrows that need drowning – suspect we all have this week.
Am allowing myself another 24 hours of wallowing and then focusing on the weekend.
Well, Holic, a great write-up and I’m not sure how you manage quite that degree of subtlety.
For me, that performance, and result, was the most painful of all the abject defeats this season for the many reasons already discussed.
This was not a financially doped club we were playing against. This was simply a team who wanted it far more than we did. That will not do.
H2H @20,
Saved me writing every word of that – except the staggering home pissed bit. ;). Great stuff.
Esso – you’ll be missed. Don’t stay away too long.
Just to echo what Trev says – Esso, don’t be gone too long, this place could do with you.
Good man. N7.
====
A quick time out for this, from previous;
258Lurky
@238 Danc
Mertesaker looks Championship quality at best without Kos
Exactly. Kos is our best defender by far. His covering of Mertesacker errors and weaknesses was unnoticed by many till the moment Vermaelen took his place.
So, a defender with a shed load of caps, who’s been a first choice lynch pin of the German defence is championship level and is being carried by Kos?
Come on, get a grip.
Per, like every player has his strengths and weakness’, he’s still a top CB.
Your defencive chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link. Put TV in next to Kos and I can almost guarantee you the same troubles will arise.
Cheers Trev.
Chin up Esso, me ol’ mate, we’ve seen worse then this and prevailed.
Welcome to the bar PT.
Well written ‘Holic.
Yesterday was a very bad day and today isn’t any better.
Today was the first time in my Arsenal supporting career that I didn’t defend Arsene in front of other fans.
I post here my after-match frustrations when we lose and my joy when we win.
I sometimes disagree with the way Arsene runs things on and off the pitch and I don’t hesitate to post, mainly because there are only Arsenal fans in this bar and we all have the same affection and share the same love.
But I’ve never in my life attacked Arsene when confronting with other clubs fans. In fact I always defend him like mad and no matter how stupid I may look to them and no matter how aware I am of his weaknesses I always find a way to justify him.
Today I just stand there in front of the colleagues and later some friends, silent like a grave. I felt exhausted. I had strength only to
mention the FA Cup title that we may win this year.. only to be interrupted by one of my colleagues, who is a Chelsea fan and who told me that it would suit him better if we win the FA Cup, because that might keep Arsene for two more years at least.
“As long as he is at Arsenal I am not afraid of them. “- he said.
“Please keep him for couple of years more.
That, I am afraid is the most common impression of Arsene from the majority of fans outside Arsenal.
And it is such a shame that we are where we are at the moment. Not knowing for sure if it is better for our club, Arsene to win the FA Cup and leave or win the FA and stay.
@ Lurky
Grief off a Chelsea fan?
That lot up the road, who aren’t about to win anything this season?
With the neo-nazi fans?
And fuck all history?
And the manager with the shit excuses for everything?
Who cried when he didn’t get the Utd job?
Don’t have it mate. It may be a bad week, but don’t ever have it off that lot.
Consider pointing out to the Chav the following:
Arsenal’s last 7 results: Won 2, Drawn 3, Lost 2
Chelsea’s last 7 results: Won 3, Drawn 0, Lost 3
And we’ve had tougher fixtures (no defeats to the likes of Palace and Villa), and are far more likely than them to end the season with some silverware.
Then tell him to fuck off.
And from your preview, here was me expecting the Holloway Road Chainsaw Massacre complete with Arsene’s head bouncing its way down onto the Norther Line, being hit by a train then eaten by a TB-ridden rat. You’re becoming more of a tease than Wolfie 🙂
Very fair, balanced perspective. Well done, Mr Holic.
Just realised I’ve only done Chelsea’s last 6 results. They can still fuck off though. 🙂
Heh, that’s what I call making statistics work in your favour, N7. 😉
Holloway Road is on the Picadilly Line. 😛
N7 – may I have a picture of you for my bedroom wall please! I’ll put it up there in lights.
Excellent contributions. Always.
Heh @ H2H
On reflection, just make up whatever stats you want. It’s not like Chelsea fans can count anyway.
I think you have nailed it Holic, very painful write up indeed. I thought about Arsene and Arsenal all day today at work when I was able to free my mind from solving server issues.
It would certainly make me very sad person to see Arsene go as we owe him so much for what he has done for this great club! There are just words of gratitude for what he has achieved, for he has done to the club not only on the pitch and where are we now it’s purely because of him. I wish I could sing his years to come I will definitely do that even if he goes, however it seems a great deal of what is happening now is self inflicted and because we have done so well up until the new year. Everybody’s expectations grew with the team, we played so well so why not? Many thought this was our year that finally we will be able to answer our critics and show them what Arsenal is made of. Unfortunately we derailed at a very important part of the season.
Not sure loosing 5 times away from home (with such abysmal performance) is an accident it sounds to me like this car has had it and is certainly heading for a write-off. It pains me there was no passion even from Le Boss on the side lines during the game yesterday afternoon and the players alike. I hold both accountable for what has been same old story over the years, the pundits are rubbing their grubby hands now I told you so this was going to happen.
Not sure Arsene can turn this around I think it has happened to many times over and over again over the years. Perhaps I’m wrong perhaps I would love to be wrong so that he could prove me wrong.
“You’re becoming more of a tease than Wolfie”
You sure know how to wound Mr BtM. Was wearing my feather boa an’ all, just for you. Need to up my game.
*Flounces off in search of the killer negligee*
Cheers BtM. Times like these, spirits have gotta be kept up.
Here’s hoping the whole bar will be bouncing in May as we celebrate the cup.
It ain’t over til Andre Santos does karaoke.
N7, H2H,
Beware of placing too much value on statistics. Why ?
Well, statistically the average number of legs found on a human being is less than two.
And it’s true …….. 😉
N7,
heh, I’ve tried all that, don’t doubt. The answers usually are:
We are still in the title race and CL, and our fans are nazi but loud and “supportive”, our manager was never after United’s job and it is not their fault that they have an owner that is prepared to spend his fortune for the club’s sake and we have an owner who is not.
And on every “you have no history” goes “we are the first and only London based team that won the CL”.
H2H
I love Mert. But Kos is the better of them two. By far.
Take a look at first goal yesterday, the one you state it’s Vermaelen’s fault. He might have reacted better no doubt, but look at Mertesacker positioning on Baines’s pass to Lukaku. He is the reason the offside trap is unsuccessful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5TJfboOZ30
Mert is often late for the offside traps, but we rarely get punished because of Kos speed and ability to cover.
Trev.
You flatter me above, I’ve just read your effort @301 previous, great stuff.
I’ll have “words” with anyone accusing you of not loving the Arsenal.
@46 Trev
Thankfully the number of brain cells found in the average Chav is also less than two.
Just throw numbers at them. Like showing a dog a card trick.
Heh Trev, did you look that one up before or after they removed your knee. 😉
Hope it’s healing well, sir.
N7, H2H – 🙂
Lurky @47
You’ve got him on the back foot. Keep pressing.
Is he sure their manager didn’t want the Utd job? What was with all the flirting then?
Maybe send him that shot of Hazard in a PSG shirt, for good measure.
He accepts their fans are Nazis?! This is surely argument over. I think that “being Nazis” trumps anything we’ve gone through this season.
Just tell him to come back to you in May. When they’ll be potless.
N7, for every “your supporters are nazi” he has answers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CR6zd84LJ8
“)
Avoided a dressing down from BtM. Surprised 😉
Pffft!
A geezer who doesn’t play for us anymore does a funny looking goal celebration?
He’s comparing that to hundred of Nazi chavs smashing up Paris, hitting women and singing fascist songs?
Yeah, sounds like he’s got all the answers.
Lurky. CB is a partnership deal, you’re only as good as the man beside you.
As for your Chav friends;
It’s not their fault that they nave an owner who splashes the cash, it’s his fault that they’ve even heard of Chelsea.
Excellent post H2H 🙂
I feel better already, we are where we are and all us fans can do is get behind the lads come the weekend!
Plenty of games to play, loads of balls to kick so 4th is still possible and who knows what else will unravel in the next few weeks? Everything is possible in football!
Only 7 more points to st. Totteringham day !
Lurky,
Do you seriously care, at all, what anyone has to say about Chelsea ?
They are a classless bunch of thugs from top to bottom, who are engaged in an entirely different quest to the Arsenal. While Arsenal try to win trophies earned through the fruits of their own labours, Chelsea will buy and cheat their way to the top with unlimited amounts of ill gotten money.
From their owner, who has such a past that he spends match days sat in a bullet proof box surrounded by security heavies.
From their directors who ride roughshod over the rules, safe in the knowledge that the club will scoff at any fine imposed on them. Should they receive any sort of ban – as indeed they did, relating to their transfer activities – they will find a way of delaying the action until they have completed their desired business, and then get the ban commuted or overturned anyway.
From their cheating players – remember the hand-balling, diving, injury feigning Drogba, to the ever odious little creep that is Arjen Robben, and their revolting captain who, by the way, is definitely not a racist.
From their thug like fans who cheer their revolting captain who, by the way, is definitely not a racist, and smash up Paris while terrorising women.
To their ugly, posturing, bullying little turd of a manager about whom more than enough has already been said.
Seriously, Lurky, find something real to worry about.
Who needs stats when we’ve got Trev!
Well in old son!
Holic, a far better report than I could have mustered at this point. I still get pissed off thinking about the “effort”. We need to get our act together sharpish if we want to even have a chance of finishing in the top four.
Trev, excellent stuff@59.
Well done Trev, you totally belittled the Chavs without even having to call out their captain for being a racist. 🙂
Nice one, Arthur.
Trev
Top stuff that has certainly put a smile on my face 😀
Nice post Holic. Balanced and well written. Love the ‘be the best you can be’ bit. The work of a pure genius. 😀
It’s all got a little bit sad really and it is all so unnecessary. It didn’t have to be this way. For me it’s a total mystery why we have not addressed the obvious shortfalls with the current squad. I know what some say about having money to spend but I really do not get that. Of course we are on a budget but a net spend of 11 million over the last 8 seasons is more division one than champions league.
As stated in the previous drinks, I’m far from convinced that this is all down to the manager. I can’t be the only one that questions the ability of those at the top when it comes to transfers??? Love him or hate him but Do you honestly think it would have been like this if David Dein was still on the board????
Despite all of the doom and gloom I still feel that top 4 and the FA cup is more than achievable. In fairness, that should be the minimum we should expect.
So, Arsene’s last year? Who knows? I will be quite honest and say that I need convincing that the great man still has what it takes. I’m still very much of the mind that he has earned the right to try and build the next side, but I need to be convinced he is still up to it. Personally I hope he is, but we have missed one massive opportunity this season in my opinion and the excuses are wearing a bit thin.
Many boys going on Saturday??? There’s a semi final to win.
H2H @32, if I recall, I don’t think that TV5 played away at Citeh, Anfield and Stamford Bridge (be it only for 45 minutes by which time we were already 3 – 0 down)!
Personal opinions about players are just, personal. I “personally” don’t rate Per unless he is backed-up by pace AND positionally aware full/wingbacks. When the BFG makes a mistake positionally without the proper support, his lack of pace is a massive liability. Let’s not forget, he’s won 80+ caps but during that time the German National side have also won nothing internationally! He’s good but not as good as many say and certainly not “world class”. TV can still be immense with Kos if he sorts his head out! Two bad seasons a bad player does not make!
It’s all opinions, but….
I’ve never seen Kos and TV5 look convincing together. Both left sided CBs, for one thing.
I think the BFG is a natural organiser and his partnership with Kos is what it is: two very good CBs who enjoy playing together.
Fine analysis H. Hard work, that.
Good contributions there H2H, N7, ATG and Trev.
Let’s lick our wounds and come out snarling.
Any pre-match congregation on Saturday?
Good stuff ATG – just saw your @43.
Need to dig deep on Saturday, bath ? Or not this week. 😉
OK Dan.
I personally don’t rate TV that highly. As you say two bad seasons does not a bad player make, I’ll retort by saying one good season doesn’t make him great either.
TV chipped in with the odd goal in his early tenure, which slightly masked his defencive frailties, he wasn’t that great at Ajax either and I was pretty surprised we signed him.
Back to the BFG. At international level only Spain have won anything of note over the last eight years, so I think that arguement is a bit of a moot point.
But if you don’t rate Per personally, then that’s your opinion and although I respect it, I also reserve the right to respectfully disagree with it.
The “world class” label is something I’ll never quite understand, I see it as a term invented by the meedja due to a lack of a meaningful superlative. How do you rate worldclassness? And how did Rooney gain that status?
Heh, Trev. It’s the team that need to dig deep this week. Term has finished.
Dan, Vermaelen played about 50 minutes at the Ethiad. Kos got injured when City went 2-1 up at the tail end of the first half.
Finished back drinking. Must admit it wasn’t half as bad as I imagined, some very reasonable reactions considering the tripe that was served up at Goodison, plus measured repectful debate, kudos gents.
You deserve a drink now H2H ‘cos that was some effort. Macallan 12yo on the bar (and a frothy Heineken).
Anyone waiting for semi-final tickets in the post had them arrive yet please? Getting itchy feet…
Yep. Arrived already.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10750921/Arsenal-will-not-countenance-sacking-Arsene-Wenger-even-if-season-ends-in-FA-Cup-and-fourth-place-failure.html
Reading between the lines…. I think he’s going.
And mine. All here
Loved it Trev.
I was so excited when my Semi ticket came through the letter box last week, sadly all I feel at this moment in time is dread!
Can we pull ourselves together before it’s too late? Ox and Rambo our life line is in your hands!
Despondent Gooner.
Trev, N7, Holic, BTM, H2H, Bath, Lars,(in no particular order) cheers gents. You’re all, evidently, stronger men than I am and I love you all for that. Keep up the good work.
darker’n a black steer’s tookus on a moonless prairie night.
It’s good to know he’s in here. Takin her easy for all us sinners.
Thee darkest hour is just before dawn, innit?
Cheers Wind, Delia.
Delia, enjoy the day. Lost count of the times I’ve been to Wembley – never seen us win there.
Luckily, I can’t go this time. 😉
N7 @78, I don’t think so myself. I think he is made of sterner stuff. However I wouldn’t blame him if he decided he has had enough. He has done enough to choose his own time of departure imho.
Trev – thank DB10 for that! 🙂
@bath
I don’t think it’s a new decision. This contract thing has been going on all season. He won’t break contract and he can’t announce he’s leaving during the season. I think this may well be it.
Could be that we are about to get a big dose of careful what you wish for…
Hi all. Just been doing some back drinking – won’t claim to have matched H2H but respect to Trev for post yesterday 2 hours after. Expressed exactly what I was feeling at that point. Only saw first half because had to leave to catch flight – glad I missed 2nd half if it was worse.
SteveT above – an 11 million net spend the last 8 years and still qualified for CL every year is the stuff of genius.
Whilst respecting the general feeling around at the moment, admirably expressed in ‘holic’s post, I refuse to comment on AW’s position until the season is over. In the meantime, we have plenty of opportunities to get behind him and the squad so I will be trying to do that, albeit from a distance.
Now is not the time for defeatism, despite the nature of the recent defeat.
Next stop Wembley – twice!
dkgooner
Thanks Trev
N7
Hard to say if this really confirms it, he will do as he pleases I suppose. Time will only tell………..
@ATG
Doesn’t confirm it at all, but the alarm bells are ringing, for me. All signs point to this next six weeks being the end.
The only ones who seem sure he’s staying are the press, and they can’t find their collective arse with both hands.
we must all come to grips that Wenger may have already signed da thang…(if you remember the Rosicky incident)
While digesting the losses to the top five away from home is rather distasteful…
I for one thinks that he deserves at least one more year…progress being the key indicator…of course that goes out the window should we cough up the FA cup of finish out of the CL places…
I am seeing a re-occurrence of a lot of ‘cock up’ moments like the manner in which we threw it out last time around….own goals, mental brain farts….
I don’t know what to think regarding our swoon. We are missing great players but the tactics could be part of the issue. Perhaps way too aggressive when our best are out, we might be better off going a more conservative route even though that is not our way.
So you want another manager do you? Who? Martinez? I like the guy a lot but didn’t his club get relegated in the last few years…..jumped to Everton with a loaned player that is playing out of his mind (same goals as Giroud, thanks Holic) that he can’t re-sign. The tactics would be different but will he get to spend, spend, spend as everyone wants?….I don’t think so.
The Board and ownership will remain the same along with our adherence to a strict spending policy which a new manager will have to deal with. He won’t be able to build a bench with world class players like City and Chelsea so player development will still be required. Watch what you wish for.
First time contributor here, so please be gentle. I just want to say that Arsene is still by far the best manager around, oozing with integrity and putting the rest of the ignorant, undignified bunch to shame. Stay behind him and ignore the media and press. Yes, we have been poor of late, largely, I think because of injuries to several crucial players and therefore having to field the same group of players every game. If we win the Cup and finish fourth it will have been our best season for nine years. If we don’t, then tough, get on with it and get over it! In the end, there is no one better than Arsene out there who is at all reachable. We won’t get Klopp or Guardiola, at best it will be a Mancini, so don’t wish that upon us. I have supported Arsenal since 1971 and the two greatest managers in the premier league and the old first division have been AW and Brian Clough, with our man shading it. Do not give up on him!
From being top of the league we are now in a dog fight to avoid falling to 6th place. The greatest manager in the history of the club is a dead man walking and does not deserve this fate. We must get behind the the team on Saturday to drive them on. I hate the booing and abuse of players but any player who takes to the pitch against Wigan and does not deliver a performance I would be happy to see driven from the club after the game on Saturday.
Devon Stu.
Props sir. Argument well made.
I’m not sure at this stage what AW will do. I am also not sure that the board or back room staff know what the future holds. I must say that I don’t think that this is a healthy situation for us as a whole. If the board and staff really do not know what AW will do then that makes planning for next season almost impossible until that is resolved.
Whatever happens I think the situation needs to be resolved one way or the other.
Been a tough w/end for all Gooners.
Sad to see that an old Stalwart like Esso has retreated from the bar due to one caustic contributor calling him a Racist.
I’m surprised you didn’t step in there H’, but perhaps your mind was on other things and you missed the interaction.
Anyway Esso,if you are reading this,remember 99.9% of the bar are your friends,and we all enjoy your contributions to the continuing, never ending debate about the ups and downs of our favorite football Club.
As far as the Everton debacle goes,i think enough has already been said on the matter.
I will only repeat what i said a week or so ago,about the majority of our squad being of the 2nd/3rd tier in terms of technical excellence,and that gets you competing for 4th place ad infinitum.
Everton on the day were technically and tactically far superior to us.
We seem to have forgotten we bought one top tier technical player in the summer,who instead of playing with others in that bracket at Real Madrid,has suddenly found himself playing in the 2nd/3rd division in that regard.
It is now up to the Boss,who should stay unequivocally in my opinion,to make the right ‘ top tier ‘ technical excellence purchases in the summer,to complement Ozil.
That along with the continuing emergence of the ‘ younger hungrier ‘
brigade that are still on an upward learning and maturing curve,should see us competing for trophies for many years to come.
Cheers
A still ‘ Fuck em all ‘ Sweeper.
PS Kudos to some top posts in the back numbers.
Every word ‘H, nothing to add.
Trev – You take Chel$ea hating to a new high. We needed you in The White Horse post match after that awful day when we collapsed at the Home of Racism and got into a friendly-ish argument with some Kiwi Chel$ea fans. I guess you had a reasonable excuse what with getting your knee replaced and all. BTW, rumour has it that the Chelsificaton of The Bus Stop included painting swastikas on the walls and serving hot dogs on third-reich crockery.
Looking forward to Wemberlee on Saturday. Let’s hope the players are too.
UTA
If Wenger does decide to go, I hope we don’t go for Martinez. He’s a nice guy, he’s done well at small clubs but he’s still having to rely on another club’s player to get his goals..
As for Simeone, five words for him – Gilles Grimandi beat you up.
Klopp may flop, but he’s the stand out candidate really.
Transfer rumour that we’re supposed to be after some French striker who hasn’t scored for 50 games. Which is not true. I hope 🙂
Holic – a very fair and honest post.
Kudos. A special Aussie bundy on the tab for you sir.
I truly hope Arsene and all at Arsenal are able to look at the situation that presents itself in the same open and flexible mindset.
Instead of a French striker who hasn’t scored in 50 games, looks like we need to sign Cynic, who just scored without realizing it. Nice in! 🙂
H2H & Lars,
Regarding the Per vs TV5 debate, there are clearly differences in what we see as a purely good Central defensive partnership in the modern game. It’s true that Spain have won most international competitions of recent but if you digest the whole collective defensive organisation when they don’t have the ball (the central defensive partnership being just a fraction of that puzzle) that will explain more as to why they have been so successful. Piquet is on Par with Per in my mind (although Piquet’s distribution and footballing skills are superior due to his marginally greater mobility) I also don’t rate him as “world class” either. The use of the term “world class” as a description for a player at the very top of his footballing profession doesn’t bother me in the slightest as neither would the use of the term “world-leader” in cardiac medicine wouldn’t bother me either. I’d rather have a peer-assessed “world leader” looking after my loved one rather than one that is reputed to be one by lay-persons. That’s just my own opinion of course.
Dapper @ 103: Piqué is Catalan, not French (Piquet) . 🙂
Per is a good but not great central midfielder, not exactly the best of his type, but the fact is that he and Kos have struck a fantastic partnership where they complement each other and understand each other very well.
His mobility and distribution abilities are both rather ordinary, but game reading, aerial coverage and organizational skills are top notch. Problem with him and TV5 is that when both play Per is uncertain about how much he can impose himself on the rest of the defense, he seems to become less of a vocal organizational leader that he otherwise is.
TV5 may be the captain but even in his best days he is not someone who organizes defense, and has always been susceptible to that overly aggressive early committing of tackles without looking over the shoulder about lack of coverage. His greatest strength is ability with the ball: distribution & long range passing, shot, the typical marauding run through the middle. He is very level headed player with a no-nonsene good attitude whom we all had embraced after the horrors that were Billy and Mikael. But he is not a great defender. Good, yes. Very good on some days, but not great. Lacks consistency also.
After Sol left, Kos IMHO is the best defender we have had. He is still not at the level of the great Arsenal defenders of past as he hasn’t yet fully mastered the penalty box tackles and gives away probably a bit too many PKs, but he can improve on that front and the rest of his game is brilliant. He has kept just so many good (and a few great, including Messi) players well under control , his reading of the game is superb, covering is excellent and like TV5 very good with the ball on his feet.
All that said, I would be more than happy to have Per-Kos as the CD pairing and TV5 as the back up and some new versatile player as the fourth choice (who can also play maybe RB). But only if we really invest in a genuine world class Defensive Midfielder who can screen, can tackle, is mobile, is positionally sound, can hold on to the ball and run with it to start counter-attacks and can of course pass. Arteta ticks some of the boxes, Flamini ticks some others, but even if we merged them we are not going to have a truly world class DM.
If we have a good quality DM to anchor and if we can keep Rambo fit then we have a great base — Arteta and Flamini would be invaluable squad players, contributing through their unique abilities and experience but not as first choice — where we can let Ozil-Santi play (again TR7 as much as I like him can’t see having a season long influence anymore, but would be used in key matches) without having to worry about defensive duties, use Theo-Ox as the fast wingmen (Ox has enough time to move to the center later) and we buy another world class player for the left wing who can also play centrally as a striker if needed.
No point in wishing AW gone unless there’s a replacement worth having available. In any case, at his age Wenger hasn’t got many years left in management and there would have to be a suitable challenge for him to even think about leaving. Going to a club with heaps of money to throw around would hardly be a satisfying way to bow out. Better, for him, to complete the mission at Arsenal. In my opinion.
Öskar
The major problem, as Steve T, Lurky, myself all season and others have said, is our second rate squad. And the solution to that, if we are to compete seriously with those above us, is to spend a couple of hundred million strengthening all areas of the team. Same as Manure will be doing. Will we be doing that? Of course not, with or without AW.
Unless we invite Usmanov to the party. Not that I’m suggesting that as a solution. I’d far rather support a club run along proper business lines and never win anything than sell out to some fat plutocrat with no real love of our great club.
Winning stuff regularly these days has a price I’m not prepared to pay. It makes occasionally winning against all the odds even sweeter.
Öskar
You’re never as good as you think you are.
You’re never quite as bad as people say you are…but, my goodness, we’ve been close of late.
No matter. Win the next match.
BMBD
Dr F – as always enjoy reading your thoughts and again good stuff above @ 104.
ozil/santi central playmakers – tick
per/kos central defence – tick
theo/ox out wide – tick
based on the theory we have $100+ mil to spend –
big strong fast classy striker @ $40-$50 mil – we have
big strong fast tough DM @ $30 mil – we have
right and left back – experienced tough campaigners like sagna should he choose leave $15 mil each – we have
surely this is very achievable and do-able and possible and add the likes of Giroud/tr7/gibbs/gnabry/poldi/jenks etc off the bench plus a couple of up and coming youth kids like zelalem etc, surely you have the makings of a very decent globally competitive squad without spending a squillion.
Arsene W must stay , it is as simple as that . The man is not driven by ego , he is very intelligent , he know the club , the players .
Clubs have changed manager after manager and then what , just look at Spurs, Liverpool .
We have stability , operate within our mean and always have a high standing .
The market today is driven by players going after the best salary , are we going to chase after all these mercenaries , 30 millions here , 40 millions there , it is a stupid idea .
The man know he must deliver, so leave him alone and let him do his job .
Cheer up , spring is coming , we will win the FA and the 4th place
Next year Champion League will be tougher , 5 strong teams will fight for four places : Arsenal , Chelsea , two Manchester and Liverpool and then maybe Spurs .
To change horse in mid stream just invite chaos and disaster
Keeper at 108.
With all due respect: Go pound sand, sir.
Sincerely,
An arsenal supporter.
I won’t salt the slugs (feed trolls) but one thing I’m pretty certain of regarding that vile sort who visit the bar from time to time is that they are probably 10-14 year old kids with some extensive emotional problems and signs of mental instability.
So I suppose when I look at them like that, it’s more about a pathetic sympathy that forms in me than getting wound up or a desire to address their moronic arguments.
And for all of the mentally stable 14 year old etc. Who have intelligent comments, I mean no disrespect to you.
But for the rest of you who try to sabotage this bar you come off like simpleton sociopaths—it is quite pathetic to see you crying out for attention and displaying your deep seeded emotional problems on the Internet for everyone to see.
You need help, contact a professional and kindly leave this bar alone.
Cheers and good luck with your uncertain journey into adulthood.
Thanks guys. I’ll call the box office this morning.
Started writing my thoughts about what is going on now and in the summer and just gave up. I will enjoy the rest of the matches this season, (I hope, results permitting.) Then we can see what happens, no point going nuts anymore. It took me 2 weeks of serious anguish, but I am past the 6-0 now. After that the rest was just smoke from the collision.
I will say this though, I would be delighted if Arsene stayed. Get him a squad of comparable talents to the rest and he will win. Getting him some help doing the business side of that may be our best way forward. (He can pick the players and someone creative and aggressive can figure how best to stretch the budget, rather than preserve it.)
UTA
108 – I am mad hot on Gnarby, but I think we would be better off letting him, Jenkinson, Ryo, Akpom etc take a year away and play on loan. We shouldn’t be a finishing school, other places can do that for us imo.
That is how you end up running the established players into the ground. In a title chase every game is massive and that starts in October, just like this year. Then the boss can’t risk an uneven performance from a youth and leans hard on the big boys until they crack. Selling on a player to make way for a young star is not the worst problem, nor is too many good players.
Way I see it we need a striker, winger, midfielder to be stars for the first team. After that it is rotatable talent. (That Schurrle the chavs got is a decent example, talent, versatile, but not expecting to play every game straight away.) I’d put the Ox in that category for us now. Not yet holding down a regular place, but wonderful to have to use as needed. My worry is that we need at least 4 like that, on top of 3 starters. Given our history you can’t be backing us to do that volume of business. Joel Campbell back from loan is a decent start though.
As ever, it is exciting times looking forward to next season at our club – to say nothing of the FA Cup.
UTA 🙂
Dr F @104,
Good stuff and agree with pretty much all of that! Couldn’t have put it any better myself!
Piqué-t’d it right and proper! 😉
Some great posts overnight – love the attitude in this bar, spot on.
Heads down, drive for the finish line. Sort the rest out after.
An ever pertinent quote from one R.Balboa: “it’s not about how hard you can hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. That’s how winning’s done”.
I hope the lads remember on Saturday how winning’s done.
COYG
Super readiong all this stuff. What a community this fanbase is and so good that people can come together this way and talk so artculately and with such respect and decency shown to all, even us rare visitors Bravo Holic and, especially in fact, the regulars who keep it all going. Just wanted to say Arsenal has given to Arsenal too you know. The first 10 years were glorious but now the credits have run out. I personally believe he was very, very comfortable and snug in his financial straight jacket (which never applied to himself by the way and his 7 mill p.a.) . It gave him a shot at true immoratlity, first trying to mould a Barca type team mainly under 25/26. Noble, but it failed. Then blending in fairly cheap experienced players. This too has failed …tho financially a success given CL participation throughout. I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy the Bertie Mee years, the George Graham years and the first AW1000, like lots here. But with financial rude health in the last 18 months, he has an obligation to reward season ticket holders, the amazing away fans and even us thousands and thousands of supporters around the world. In particular he had a duty of care to put on a show that our amazing new stadium DEMANDS and requires. He knows the atmosphere has never been right, bar one or two great nights like Barca 2-1 (I was there, thank god). He has failed in the last 12 months. I don’t know why, really. If he was deffo planning to leave, he would have splashed the cash, so this is why I fear the inertia and torture can drag on, especially if we get that “better than last term” school report after the FA Cup final, if we’re there. Shifting almost 20 players last summer was good but saved the club a fortune. We saved a hell of a lot on wages and even recouped some transfer fees (eg that juicy 8 mill for Gerv). So Flamini, Sanogo and Viviano was simply a pathetic effort until the high-risk, fortuitous signing that was Ozil and, at last, the theatre at the Emirates came alive with his brilliance, how we’ve missed those killer passes (he made 63 chances) and his instinctive running. Suarez, I’m not going there but I believe 55 mill or 60 mill would have brought him to the Emirates, his star was that low at Anfield. So to January and it looks, tho we cant be sure, like he wooed Draxler, looked at Kalou as a fallback..and he fu*ked up. It’s inexcusable. Walcott and Ramsey already gone, OG exhausted, the lads fighting in 3 competitions. No good cover for Kos/Mert, no success with locking in keyman Sagna. A few days later the collapse begins v Liverpool. It’s a sackable offence for anybody else in any other job. His boss Kroenke waon’t do it so it’s up to the customers, the fans. I understand AW might leave himself anyway, but if it’s TOO MUCH fanfare and gratitude how will it be any different under the new guy? If we’re not happy we need to shout our fekkin heads off….NOW.
sry, Arsenal has given to Arsene too, doh ! multi-tasking, tricky
This week, I will indeed be shouting my fecking head off… in support of the Arsenal.
You can spend the next few days trying to get the manager sacked if you think that’s the best use of your time.
FA Cup semi final. This is what it’s all about, lads. Or what it used to be about, anyway.
COYG
I can’t wait to get to wembley this wend to get behind the team especially after this last few weeks the game is huge for the club.the fans have a massive part to play in this one.i for one won’t have a voice coming home.ill be at both games as my brother captains sheffield united in the other semi,hopefully we get them in the final what a day that would be.coygs.
Morning All
On a morning with the sun shinning and the world still in one peice. Some very good reads this morning in the posts, alot of what, why, when and if`s around.
Aw is the boss and until he decides otherwise he will have my full backing. Betting my life on AW knowing the frailites of his current squad isnt lost on him, he knows were he needs to strenghten and who needs to be replaced. This summer I think we need about 6 players and can we please and pretty please do our business before the the WC kicks off and every average player gets at least 5m added to there price.
I hope AW has a list of targets that we will go for a soon as the last ball is kicked at the end of the season so we can sit back and laugh at the merry-go-round that is the transfer deadline day.
Have a great day Holic`s
Cheers
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10749414/Arsenal-are-paying-the-price-for-Arsene-Wenger-avoiding-confrontation-and-dodging-big-issues-for-far-too-long.html
So fair points made 🙁
Should read some fair points made
Sorry @ #122, but that piece smacks of agenda at a time when Arsenal are low and the spotlight is firmly on AW for all the wrong reasons.
It’s mostly supposition and almost entirely the writer’s own opinions. The bit about the Szcz selfie was poor too. If it was viewed so dimly, how come it was featured on the official AFC website?
UTA!
There are some fair points in the article.
There are also some that are nonsense. Ashley Cole and Ryan Bertrand were barely playing for Mourinho even before the Christmas party, and there’s absolutely nothing to suggest that Schurrle got less game time because of it. The journalist has conjured that one out of thin air.
I’d also query why, if Mourinho is such a genius disciplinarian, Chelsea have recently lost to Villa and Palace, and are likely to end the season trophyless for the first time in a while.
Or why he let Lukaku go on loan – isn’t that the other side of the same coin? The lad missed a pen, so Mourinho dispensed with him (foolishly, as it turns out).
The thing about criticizing a team on a rocky run is that you can suggest any old bollocks as the cause and no one will pick you up on it. Fish in a barrel.
This is truly the very best virtual assembly of Arsenal fans anywhere. Kudos to the regulars and to you, ‘Holic.
An FA Cup Winners medal and a chance to play in the UCL next season should not be viewed as a disaster even though a club of this magnitude and pedigree should be doing better. AW should be given an opportunity to turn things around as he has it somewhere in him to do so. He has proved that in the past.
Now on to Wigan on Saturday, tough but absolutely doable. We need to get behind the boys no matter what.
The past few weeks have been nothing short of horrid on the Arsenal front but, there really is only one truly loveable club in the whole wide world.
COYG.
Just had time to have that massive backdrink in the wake of the game. Had to steel myself, I can’t say i was looking forward to it, but with a few of the (usual) exceptions. can I just say that it’s rare to read so many considered and well thought out posts. Props to most.
It seems wrong to pick out individual posts, but a tip of the hat to Trev for his heartfelt angst @301. I felt every word mate. Props too to to many people to mention – Faustus, Chippy, Lars, Ttg, Pontus SteveT and many others – who all spoke eloquently of our current failings without resorting to the type of boneheaded abuse and inflammatory language that seems beyond the few that follow a set agenda.
Kudos too to BtM for pointing out the dark and uncontrollable forces that Arsene has battled against for so long (perhaps too long). Mention the oil-funded and the gangster-controlled and some say “What about Liverpool?”. Well, fuck that, what about Liverpool? They haven’t built a new stadium last time I looked. I wouldn’t swap Arsenal’s last sixteen years with Liverpool’s ( I wouldn’t swap our last eight with theirs), and I certainly wouldn’t swap our next ten years with theirs. Granted, they’ve gone a lot further this season than I ever expected, but it’s a one off, an alignment of the stars. A striker on fire who they won’t keep, very few significant injuries, and a half-decent side that hasn’t had to contend with either Champions League Football or any measurable domestic cup run (wonder who knocked ’em out?). All that, and I’m still willing to bet that there will be more silverware in our cabinet at the end of the Season than theirs. That is, of course, unless you count top four as a trophy, and we all know what the agenda-driven think of that (until that is, it’s not there any more).
Props too to N7 for his balanced approach (as in all things) to the injuries that have beset us. Of course the injuries are not the full story, but to discount them completely? Utter drivel. Even the oil-funded, with their array of world-class stars who are paid a handsome fortune to sit their preened arses on a bench, would have struggled with having the heart ripped out of their side.
With the good though, there’s always the bad, always the bad. A photo is posted that means the square root of fuck all, unless, as Cynic has already pointed out, you wish to ascribe some ridiculous meaning yourself. A fan who actively wants Arsenal to lose an FA Cup semi-final. A fan? Get a fucking grip. And finally a broken record that comes out with stuff like … “The only joke with arsenal is that there are still those who believe arsene somehow deserves another few years…” and then in the next breath applauds “an open and flexible mindset”. You couldn’t make it up.
The last 2 months have, for host of reasons, been disastrous. No-one will quibble with that. I have been as frustrated as anyone with Arsene’s team selections (the persistence with Arteta and Giroud, the fielding of a midfield and frontline devoid of any pace when at different times Gnabry, Ox and Sanogo have all been available), and the reluctance to make changes until the game has gone. But I make those points, and I’ve made ’em pretty strongly over the last weeks, knowing full well that he has more footballing knowledge in his little finger than I will ever have. Of course he gets things wrong, he would be the first to acknowledge that, but if you’re talking about replacing him, the pool of Managers that would do a better job is still a very very small one.
Personally, I think he’s made up his mind to go, and have thought that since he fielded questions in the run up to the Chelsea game. If that proves to be the case then he goes with my grateful thanks for providing Football of a quality over 16 years (yes 16 years, not just the first trophy-laden 8 years), that I could only ever have dreamed of as a kid, when I watched an Arsenal side that was moribund through most (though not all) of the seventies and eighties. If he still wants to carry on, (and that is a big if), then he gets my full support through any remaining highs and lows of his tenure.
And I tell you this for nothing. I’ll be at Wembley on Saturday with I’m guessing a fair few from here and countless thousands of other Arsenal supporters. And I’ll be juiced. And if anyone wants to use the occasion of an FA Cup Semi final to spout their WOB bollocks or do anything other than roar the side home, then there’ll get very short shrift from me and thousands upon thousands of others.
Finally with the good and the bad, comes the ugly, always the ugly. NB1, you are a fucking disgrace. Calling Esso – a decent and honourable man who is as far removed from any prejudice as it is possible to get – a racist without a scintilla of evidence is gut-churningly spineless. But then you’ve got history at this sort of thing haven’t you lad? That’s the modus operandi ain’t it. Make an ad hominem attack, get the desired response, and then fling out a casual and utterly unsubstantiated allegation of racism. I speak from experience. My crime, for anyone interested, was to slag off Usmanov. For that, I too was called a racist. So Esso doesn’t like Klopp. So what, you bellend. Well I’ll take you up on your offer. Here’s an email for you – ay59617@gmail.com. Get in touch. I don’t want your North Bank photos, you can stick those up your arse, let’s instead talk about the legal and financial ramifications of your casual attitude to such emetic pronouncements. Shame on you.
Esso, make sure you come back soon. This place is much the poorer without you.
Rant over. Have a good day all.
@122
Some of it is total shit, but as said some points are fair.
1. I do believe TV5 shouldnt be captain, no desire, passion or leadership shown.
2. NB should not of been the 2nd choice striker for this season.
3. The signing of Kall when injured, makes no sense at all.
These 3 points i agree with.
Tabs@127
You and the likes of N7, Dr Faustus, Trev etc make me proud to be associated with The Arsenal.
Objectivity is usually lost in swirling passion on most occasions but there are good few here who are masters of the balancing act. Keep up the good work.
COYG.
Tab`s : Fantastic ! Well writen and on the money in ALL case`s !
@ N7 & @ Arsenal1971
Indeed, there are a few reasonable points made, as per the list at #128 although I actually only agree with point 2 of that (sorry) but it is reasonable to hold those opinions.
However, the fact that ML’s article is using a (thin) veneer of popular opinions and an even thinner veneer of vague fact to drive home a ‘stick-the-knife-in’ agenda still grates with me.
Anyway, who cares about journos and their opinions? It’s all about clicks and revenues.
The only thing that matters to me right now about The Arse is Saturday evening.
Come on your Rip Roaring!
Cheers Red Lion – much appreciated.
Well in, tabs @ 127! Epic stuff.
For anyone who is in any doubt what football is all about, and what this week is all about, have a look at this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRGiMoRforg
FA Cup Final 2003 highlights.
We’ve an opportunity here to make some more memories like these.
Whatever you might think of the manager, the team, the board or the price of hot dogs, THIS is the stuff that really matters, and the stuff that will be remembered long after we’re all gone and that important argument you’re having on the Internet is just a distant memory.
Get behind the team this weekend and let’s get this thing done. One Arsenal, cannons out.
COYG
I would also hope the players are feeling the same as the above.
Whatever has happened this last month, there’s a big chance here for someone to make themselves a fucking hero in the next few weeks.
I hope they’re itching to get out on that Wembley pitch. I know I would be.
True Storey@131
Thats what i love about this site, great debate.
My 3 points are only my opinion and im sure plenty of the regulars may not even agree with one of them.
Your points are very valid too and there can be no arguement with them.
Cheers all
I dont know if you have ever read any of my posts, but I am not a part of the AW witch hunt at all.
I am dissapointed with the players response not the boss.
Hear Hear Tabs.
Seconded.
I have never met Esso, but I have met some of his friends. And if your friends are a direct reflection of who you are as a person, then all I can say is his friends are the highest calibre of people above and beyond reproach.
@Arsenal1971
Pint of whatever on the bar for you.
Tabs @127 – I agree with every word mate. Love your dialectic – down Wolfie! 🙂
Cheers TS
MOOB! Semi ticket arrived today. Fully expect a thumping cup-tie. Would never bet against my team, but no way this is as one sided as the bookies make out. Should be a superb match and I fully expect we will earn our place in the final. Got a feeling this will be a nerve jangler…
🙂
UTA
Great post all Tabs you have nailed as usual!
Let’s man up, grow a pair and get behind our team and the manager come Saturday!
In fact there is only One Arsene Wenger!
Good call ATG @141 – with you 100%
COYGs
‘holic and all the usual suspects: fucking well done! And TaBS: poetic! You lot cheered me up no end — here’s to Saturday!
We’re not fans just because things are going well we are fans when things get tough too and the only way to show it is to support your club in the darkest times!
Once a Gooner, always a Gooner through thick and thin! 😀
Great link N7 @132
Great memories – first time I managed to get a ticket for the FA Cup Final.
A great day for all concerned.
Perhaps the clip should be sent to the squad.
Let’s go do it again, fellas.
Johan Cruyff on Jose Mourinho:
“When things are going well, it’s the result of his good work, but the players are to blame when things are going badly.”
Respect.
Afternoon all.
First off, a hearty welcome to the bar to our newest drinkers.
Porco Rosso.
You asked in the previous drinks why kick off will be at 17:07 at Wembley. All matches will kick off 7 minutes later this weekend as a tribute to those that lost their lives in the Hillsborough tragidy.
Cheers to Bath for that most excellent tipple, the 12yo stuff’s much too good for a philistine like me, the cold frothy one went down a treat though. 😉
Arsenal1971.
That article does raise some questions that we ourselves have asked, but I tend to agree with TS that it’s more of a sensationalist, come look at the car crash, kind of piece. hitwhoring journalism at it’s very best/worst.
Joe.
I have had the pleasure of meeting Esso, a great gooner and a sound as a pound geezer. Before we’d even met he was sending me messages to aid me on my trip to THOF, an Arsenal gent.
Finally, watch out haters, tabs is about. 🙂
Interested to see if Fabianski keeps his place as cup keeper. On the one hand, be good for Woj to bring us through to a pot, on the other, think I would rather see Flappy in on current form tbh.
Some decent points in that Matt Law piece. No idea of details of Chavski wallopers at our party, but issue of dodging big decisions does ring true with me. Captaincy, big money deals, team selection, even pragmatism of playing style. Whether it is true or not, you can certainly form an argument that says our inertia in big moments comes from the top and exists because we are happy to accept 4th and talk a better game than we play. (Not my view, but “losers mentality” one I hear a lot.)
Things aren’t bad, but it fascinates me to see how we set about bridging the gap from 4th to 1st. I still trust the people in charge, but this is real balls to the fire time.
UTA
ATG @144. all day long.
It’s sad it needed to be said,but I’m glad you did.
fair weather or foul.
Chin up Esso.
Consolidate Gooners.
We’re in danger of behaving like Middlesex followers.
Some change for the dancing girls please barman.
The “slots” on the dancing girls are not for depositing change, Larry. 🙂
H2H@171
I agree that most of it was total shit, however i did agree with the 3 points I made @128.
As said it was only my opinion and that it wouldnt be shared by all. The points both yourself and TS made are very valid.
Drinks for all, Holic said it was an open bar 🙂
Afternoon all,
Tabs – thanks for that, and back at you for a quite superb @127.
Red Lion – thanks for a huge compliment @129.
TS – nicely put @131. There are one or two points in that article but, like those torn cruciates, it’s about the angle and the loading.
And, what Tabs and H2H said about Esso.
I have met, rather than know, Esso, and I have seen the man in action in The Tollie before one game against Tottenham. Brilliant.
A proper Gooner – get yourself back in here.
Hmm, if H2H has met Esso then probably so must I have – but embarrassingly enough I must admit to having been too drunk to remember if so 🙁
Well, in your defence Lars, we were both pretty steamed at that moment. He was in the Tollie with Big Yin after the Southampton game. He was at the table that we had occupied from the early hours from opening time.
Big respect to the Swedish Massive, they were one of the first in and were still going strong just before chucking out time when I exited to grab a bite with NorCal and young Wind. 🙂
We usually do stay in there for quite long, that’s true 🙂
A man from my heart Lars. 😉
Tabs@127. Epic piece, or at the very least epic length. No danger of coming up a little bit short there.
You may be right that AW has decided to call it a day. I doubt that he would tell the players before season’s end. The decision may have gone no further than his own mind. But the players may sense it. Now the league title has slipped from their grasp they seem to play without purpose, as if they know they will be elsewhere ere long. Their self-confidence is shot, and their style of play is so dependent on confidence. AW looks worn down. If I was him, I’d look at how a year off and a new club has revitalized Guadiola who had lost both the ability to motivate his Barca side and to be motivated by them.
There comes a point in every organization when new blood and ideas are needed to move it forward. In all this we should never forget what the AW era has brought to the club. The quality of the football played, a succession of young talents unearthed, unknown signings turned into household names, the constant diet of Champions League football, a long running seat at the top table of the Premiership and a new stadium. Yes, we have not got as many titles and trophies to crown these achievement. Yes, for too long, we have repeatedly been within grasping range of them only to fall short time and time again. But we have become so accustomed to having all this season in, season out that we get complacent and cease to appreciate the value of what we have had. It is only when it is no longer there that we will recognize the true worth what we had.
Many thanks for the kind ones, much appreciated.
Great link N7, a reminder of what it’s all about.
Bath, H2H – Hahas 😉
Just had another backdrink, this time in this bar.
Well said Oskar @105, and especially @106.
Great anti- Chelsea fervour from Trev and N7. The start of good things starts tonight with that utterly detestable shower getting bombed out of Europe. And not a single tear shall be shed throughout the civilised world.
Ned @157, I wouldn’t disagree with a word that you’ve said there. I only want AW to carry on if he wants to carry on, and I have my doubts that he does. I do agree with Bath that he has earned the right to go at the time of his own choosing, and I trust him to make the right decision (whatever that might be), in the best interests of both the Club and himself when the time comes.
Nor do I discount the very valid view of those who wish to usher him towards the door rather quicker than I do. In the light of recent results and the complete implosion of confidence, for which Arsene must be, at least to some extent, culpable, then it would be silly to do so.
The only thing that really vexes me is when his most vociferous critics seek to lay every failure at the door of AW and give the players a free ride, whilst doing exactly the opposite when results are better, all the while using boneheaded, lazy and pernicious adjectives like “prehistoric” to describe him. The sheer lack of respect for someone who has done so much for this Club never ceases to disgust me and I will always react to that kind of ill-educated tosh.
Sorry about the length 😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryL_ATcK2yo
Should make everyone laugh 🙂
Hey Ned, good stuff, I do however think that paralels between Pep and Arsene can’t be drawn because the former is a young man and could easily afford a year or so hiatus, AW on the other hand at his age, no disrespect meant, is in the twilight years of his career.
I am not going to pitch my tent (at this moment) on the he should stay nor the he should go side as I believe both arguements have their merits. I will however echo the thoughts of Steve T (I think) who said that a decision has to made either way, and (imho) it has to be done a bit sharpish.
In any business indecision is a killer, if those at the top are having doubts about their ability to lead that will spread and manifest in their charges. Our strength has always been our stability and Arsene is the rock we have been built on. If he beleives that for whatever reason he can not take the club to where we need to be then he needs to come out and say it.
It will be a sad day if he goes, but we will survive, because even though he has had a massive and absolutly briliant influence on our club, no one man is bigger then the Arsenal.
Never apologise for anything here TaBS. Always a good read.
Cheers ‘H 😉
’71 – Haha, always a winner 🙂
H2H – Agree with you completely that indecision is a killer. Arsene knows that. Might be completely wide of the mark but the lack of a decision thus far (at least publically) is why I think he’s going.
Tabs,
Agree with your disgust at calling Arsene Wenger prehistoric.
Insulting, stupid and not a little ironic given that he and Herbert Chapman are probably the two most forward looking managers in the history of the game, let alone of the Arsenal.
Aye Trev, aye.
Just had a scan back read. Some excellent stuff from Trev, Tabs and H2H amongst many. Big welcome to those here for the first time. Help yourself to a drink on the bar.
I agree totally that Arsene has the right to decide his own future. I just think that decision needs to be taken very soon.
The semi final = play your strongest team. I genuinely do not think that “resting” players is an option. Certainly not in the current climate.
I certainly have reservations about the mental fortitude of the team and as Tabs has said, Wenger absolutely has to take responsibility for this because its been an issue for some years now.
But ultimately, like Bath, I think he’s made of stern stuff and that’s why I think he’ll stay. And I say that even if we loose the Cup and the CL spot.
He won’t want to bow out in a negative way. Its been his life work. Would winning the FA Cup, or qualifying for the CL be the right moment for him to go? I don’t think so. He’s already done that many times before and it will still be seen in a negative light.
He made mistakes in the summer by not strengthening properly when he couldn’t get the world class targets he wanted. Now that he’s spent years getting the club to a position whereby we can compete I expect a very big summer ahead in the transfer market and the same mistakes won’t be repeated. Wenger wants to win the one trophy we don’t have – the European Cup. And I think he’ll put up with a lot of shit so long as he has a chance of doing that.
Cheers people – too many lovely things said to mention individuals, you know who you are!
Always had massive respect for this place (directly attributable to the bloke who founded it) and everyone from here I’ve ever met in person, which is quite a few of you good folk. Hope to have that chance again. And again.
One individual exception – Tabs, if I’d known that mush had form like that, it would n’t have bothered me. Still does ‘t bother me really, and certainly does n’t detract from the absolute magnificence of this place and 99.99% of the real people who populate it.
More power to your elbows ‘holics!
Solid tabs. Very solid.
Get in Esso!
Did somebody mention dancing girls? 😎
Yaaay Esso’s back! Hurrah! My pleasure mate.
Cheers Homer.
Joe – I, for one, hope my instincts are wrong on this one, and that you are right. AW with old big ears? What a sight that would be.
Cheers Steve for the drink.
So who’s your strongest team then for Saturday. I take it that Ox and Ramsey are a given for Flamini and … Poldi/Rosicky??
Personally I’d play Sanogo and Kallstrom for Giroud and Arteta, but I don’t think AW will.
You?
A perspective after the meltdown, the post seems to be more a reflection of our emotions.
In the previous post also i said the same, i repeat myself, there is something fundamentally wrong and Wenger alone cannot be the reason. I for one refuse to believe, he does not play to win, we can see that man suffer when we lose and i for one will never question his integrity.
The players though will never want Wenger to leave because he protects them and they can hide behind his back. I think Wenger’s biggest mistake is his over estimation of certain players ability and even though that player may come off in the short duration to justify the decision, longer run it has proven to be a dud and Wenger does not rectify that. Point in case- We never replaced Gilberto Silva, we had players playing in that position, having some good games and he believed he has found the solution, no it was never a permanent fix, it was a stop gap arrangement.
Arsenal need to play as if there lives depend on the game this saturday, its the second biggest game we have had to play after 2011, the first will hopefully be the final. Win this saturday and remember we do not play the finals till the season is over, this can be the huge pressure release we need to play with freedom.
Wenger, Bould whoever can drill into the players for i doubt if certain players realize how big this, have to drill it deep and install a sense of battlefield in their minds, its a war we cannot lose, no ways
IMHO:
Fabianski
Sagna
Per
TV5 (unless Kos is fit)
Monreal (unless Gibbs is fit)
Ox
Arteta
Ramsey
Kallstrom
Santi
Sanogo
Subs:
Szcz
Jenkinson
Rosicky
Giroud
Podolski
Decent shout Bath. Think I’d go with Rosicky for Arteta, and keep Ramsey as the box to box rather than in the hole which I assume is where he’d play in your team?
Who would hold for you? I worry about Artie cos his legs have gone so he needs help from Rambo and Kallstrom who alternate the box to box role.
The back 4 along with Fabianski pick themselves.
I’d be looking to put a team out with as much pace as possible.
So, unusually, I’d opt for:
Rambo
Arteta
Rosicky
Gnabry
Ox
Cazorla
I think Oxlade could well be an option at Centre Forward. He’s very dynamic and won’t be afraid to take players on. He was a real menace at times against Bayern, can shoot of either foot and has a habit of getting into good positions.
Evening all, and great to see Esso back.
Arteta and Santi, shoe-ins earlier in the season, but out of touch right now. I’d have Rambo, Rosicky, and Kallstrom interchanging between Ox on the right and Poldi on the left.
Chuck everything at them from the off.
It won’t happen though 🙂
Bath – Kallstrom holding in my team, Ramsey box to box, and Rosicky in the hole.
Joe – interesting shout. Is Gnabry fit again? Big call to try something new like that in a semi though.
Holic – Like the look of that. I have a tough time dropping Santi though.
Fuck it, just go at ’em. This is Wigan!! (Famous last words!) 🙂
Esso – good man !!
And cheers Steve. 😉
What ‘holic said. Blitzkreig them, hit them with everything we got and do it quickly. The longer the game goes on goalless the more they will grow in confidence, and for gawd’s sake don’t condeed early.
We have certainly reached a watershed. Player for player, at least on paper, we had the better team at Goodison, but Arsene`s body language was that of a man who had run out of ideas; and although his refusal to make any changes at half time, was partly symptomatic of his usual stubborness, it might not have been necessary if he had chosen to start with the pace we were sadly lacking in the first half. Why he didn`t start with the Ox is a mystery, and I would have had Gnabry on as well.
I`m also worried when Arsene talks about going `back to basics`. Forgive me, but arn`t this bunch supposed to be talented technical players; and once you have them putting their concentration into not misplacing passes won`t you lose that creative spontaneity you need? Doesn`t it come down more to our confidence being on the floor?
I fear for Saturday`s semi-final, against inferior opposition, but a team accustomed to beating higher placed opposition, and, crucially, winning at Wembley.
Hazard off for Chelski injury
Källström is much more of a holding player than an attacking one, so if there is anyone he could replace on Saturday it would be Arteta. However, as much as Arteta lacks pace, I would say Källström is not significantly quicker. What KK does a lot better though is long-range passing where he actually is quite excellent.
I like Joe’s idea about Ox up top, primarily because I have been thinking the same 🙂 He’s got a lot of attributes you need as a central attacker, he’s quite strong, can dribble, shoots with both feet and he’s quite fast. Having said that, maybe an FA Cup SF is not the best occasion to try him in a completely new role for the first time. Also, Wigan are likely to sit back which will reasonably suit Giroud a lot better than playing against the likes of Chelsea and Everton away.
Excellent stuff above and glad to see the disappointment of the weekend has shifted to the positive for this weekend and the rest of the season.
As with many, I believe Arsene has earned the right to make the decision about his future, and I for one would like to see him stay. There is a strong group of young players that will provide the basis for future success and some seasoned veterans to supply experience and mentoring. There are definitely some holes that need to be filled, and it seems that Arsene is well aware of the deficiencies having pursued strikers, DMs, and wingers the past two transfer windows (if you believe the rumors in some cases).
But in my mind this is where some changes need to be made. Arsene has had his fingers in most aspects of running Arsenal and has been particularly efficient when money was tight (mostly by making excellent profits from transfers and reinvesting in generally solid team players). But now that Arsenal apparently are in a much more stable financial situation, it seems that maybe his careful spending may not be the most prudent approach for pursuing the best players in the world.
Arsenal have a Board of Directors and CEO that are responsible running the business, and (I hope) a whole team of accountants, financial advisors, and actuaries to help the team make responsible financial decisions.
Let Arsene focus on managing the team. Let him decide where the team needs to be strengthened and a list of potential candidates for those positions, then turn it over to the upper management to decide the acceptable transfer fees and salaries and make the transfers happen.
Some tremendous posts from tabs( a polemic and a wonderful , spirited defence of a mate) Trevor, H2 H and N7 as well as several (new to me )posters. Lovely to see Esso back in the bar and a great piece to discuss from Holic. It is a notable piece because one of the most mature and balanced Arsenal fans there is, is voicing very real concerns about the future of our manager.
I have to confess I am too and it is the second time. The first was at the end of our last meltdown when we crashed pathetically to Stoke about three years ago. I relented after a long think but I say with a heavy heart that I think his time may be up.
But to heap the vitriol on him that so many have is unforgivable. This man has taken this club to remarkable heights and I will not countenance him leaving on a low note with abuse ringing in his ears. He has been a genius who has sacrificed his reputation for this club
rather than move to a mega- rich club where he could buy success. I want him to leave with a trophy in his hands and our gratitude warming his heart. At the moment too many Arsenal fans are hurting and unable to view his achievements with the perspective they deserve.
As I write Chavski are looking extremely ordinary and despite the impact on our coefficient I couldn’t care less. Managed by a scumbag as they are they deserve all they get .
PSG playing very cleverly so far at the bus stop. They are taking every chance they can to just slow the game down to make it harder for Chelsea to build momentum… and of course, as soon as I write that, they give away a silly goal.
Hugh Dennis with the goal for Chelsea and then he tries to con the ref into giving them a penalty but no dice.
Come on Dortmund 😉
Whoa, Dortmund 2-0 up so now just one goal away from making up the entire deficit from the first leg!
Stoke 1 up vs PSG
Lars,
You were obviously picking my Brains in London when forming your thoughts on Oxlade…. 🙂
*flicks over to Dortmund game*
Joe, I was using my secret telepathic powers!
We have history with PSG ‘support’ that goes back to the nineties. A collapse of the Shed would be a proper result tonight.
I have watched a half in which PSG look clearly the better side without testing Cech and Chelsea look awful but lead and are one goal from going through. I can never decide if Mourinho has signed a pact with the Devil or if his pragmatism does have a place in football. But then I see how he manages to make great players with supreme skill look bang average when playing for him and I just want him to lose.
If Klopp does engineer a recovery to down Real Madrid it might be a sign that he is a contender for our job
TTG, if he pulls that off he’ll be a contender for every job.
Agree on Maureen, he’s a succubus, drains the life and soul out of football.
Dinks the ball over the opposing midfield…
Floats it in……
Bang!
Must have put too much spin on it, that hung in the air for ages. 😉
Well in Lars.
Demba MEH
If we win the cup, I believe Arsene has won the right to decide his own future, with the strict proviso that if he stays, proper transfer targets are identified, and Gazidis is detailed to make the deals happen without reference back to the manager, including how much we pay, and preferably ASAP.
If Arsene goes, he should be given a seat on the board, but NOT consulted on who should be his successor. Some time ago, one or two coaches Arsene thought highly of, who were relativey unknown, and with little or no pedigree, were suggested as possible successors. This is not the way to go. Only proven winners like Klopp, who would find it hard to turn us down, and who might be able to attract the top talent, should be considered.
Fucking great. Now they are gonna win it. What a perfect season this became.
Yes I’ve decided. He signed a pact with the Devil. They always get the deflections which change games and they got an undeserved win there. Mr. Cavani doesn’t look like a £50 million striker to me but I bet he will in the World Cup against England. His miss cost them the tie
So, the Qatery Kermits surrendered tamely. Whoda thunk it.
Cavani is shit. Full stop.
To be honest, I couldn’t believe so many people were writing the chavs off. PSG weren’t thatb great in the first leg and I thought the score flattered them.
Does make me sick to my stomach though.
Chelski lucky as always fuck em and that cunt of a manager!
They won’t win it trust me they won’t 😉
This cunts always made me wonder if there is justice and balance in the Universe.
And I have decided. There is not. It can’t be right that such great things can happen to such a horrible people like Terry, Luiz or Maureen. Year after year. It is just not right.
What H2H said @208.
*boilk*
Someone better deal with those vermin.
I agree with everyone about the cunts. On the other hand, if this happened again it would almost be worth it:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xiktmk_john-terry-penalty-miss-champions-league-final-2008_sport
There goes Chelsea again, lucky bunches what is happening with the world.Well now they have to chose between Real Madrid, most likely barca and hopefully bayern. Even though I don’t trust those Germans after what they did in the final a couple years ago. Oh well I guess we have to face the FA cup and pls guys stand up and be counted this is Arsenal we are talking about. How can I be this scared playing Wigan, men this season has been real bad. Hopefully we have one last hurray left COYG!!!!!!!
@186 – Good stuff ecg. I think that’s a very point you make.
@187 – Cheers Ttg. And very fine words you speak. I can’t say I’m where you’re at, but I completely understand why the last couple of weeks have proved a watershed for you and so many others. Things can change quickly in football though, for the better as well as for the worse. A continuing limp end to yhe season and I guess I won’t be far behind you. Win the Cup and finish fourth, and hey, I won’t be 😉
And @205 – definitely a deal with the devil. God I hate them so much. Much more than Tottenham these days.
H2H – ‘succubus’ – yep that’ll do for me. Top description.
ahem – typo ecg – I think that’s a very *valid* point you make.
Lurky
Fair question but this is not a fair world (never has been) and football switched to the dark side the moment the money moved in. It is what it is and part of that is still huge entertainment.
On the ‘fairer'(?) side, having watched the game tonight, you have to admit that Chel$ea never stopped running and, in then end, they got what they deserved (*suppresses sick in mouth*).
PSG suffered from an awful bout of The Girouds in the form of the Ugly Overpaid Bastard who should have scored on a number of occasions.
What is becoming clear to me though is that whichever side we would have played tonight we would have been embarrassed (again) by pace, power and application/pressing.
I looked at those two oil-fuelled sides tonight and realised the gulf between how we are playing now and how we were playing at the start of the season. The fact that we have been unable to stay the course is convincing me that we need some significant change to turn us into winners again.
UTA!
San An’
I wouldn’t rule out Athletico against Barca quite yet.
Tabs, yep, his teams park the bus and he sucks, it’s a perfect description. 😉
While we’re on the subject of that bottom burp, don’t the rules apply to him?
Surely, even during a goal celebration, it is forbidden for him to enter the field of play? Even more so if he’s passing on instrutions to his players.
If they celebrated in the technical area then ok, but this was down by the corner flag. That can’t be allowed, right? Or am I just being petty?
A fair assesment that TS.
Josie knew exactly what he was doing, got his tactics spot on and got what he needed out of that game. Look at their goals, no great passage of play, just a throw in and a hit and hope, just determination to get the ball over the line anyway how.
Fuck it.
Nope, you’re quite right. Clearly against the rules, for which if there was any justice in the world, he would have his head chopped off.
Both of them. 🙂
Haha 🙂
Good stuff, ecg, ttg, TS.
I think I’m somewhere between all three of you.
Having been such an ardent fan of Arsene Wenger, and considering what he has done for the club, I would like nothing more than to see him holding the Champions League trophy for the club he clearly loves and has devoted himself to.
I also wonder whether all that Mills & Boon love and devotion stuff might actually play quite a part in what he himself decides to do.
He has said before that he has turned down more than one offer to manage clubs which would have given him a better shot at European glory than we realistically could. He has been very handsomely rewarded for staying at Arsenal but you have to feel that emotion has also been a large part of that decision.
He does now though look hurt by this latest collapse and another failure to land one of the big prizes. He is not blameless but circumstances and a lack of application by some players have conspired to disappoint one more time.
Like unrequited love, there comes a point where you realise the hurt is no longer worth it. You have tried and tried but for the sake of self preservation it is better to just switch off.
I may be wrong. I think I hope I’m wrong, but Arsene, to me, looks and sounds like he has switched off.
My cousin just sent me a text how great Moureen is sick to the stomach
Tabs @ 215, I always knew you loved us really… Interesting to read peoples reactions on here immediately after the game at Everton and now a few days later. Apart from the odd looney, most people seem to be behind Mr Wenger, albeit with a few concerns. I’ve said it before but you won’t see his like again. Unless you get Timmy to replace him.
Dave – haha hello mate 🙂 I’ll pass on Timmy thanks 😉
We couldn’t deprive you of the Timster Dave.
With two full squads of international superstars i could manage CSKA London to a CL semifinal.
Christ on a bike – but life is a shit sandwhich.
True Storey@217
Fair enough and I agree. They never stop running and that is one of the things I really don’t understand. Where do they find this players. Look at Willian for example or David Luiz. They never stop running. They never stop fighting. Are they on drugs? Is it psychological? Is it motivation? Why we aren’t like that? Why we collapse?
How it is possible that they lose their best player, Hazard, though injury and find the strength to overcome it. When such things happen to us, we almost instantly capitulate and fail to fight.
Terry the Cunt just said:
‘We worked a lot all week on scenarios, 1-0, 2-0, 3-1. What do we do? Every scenario we had a game plan.’
All week? Different scenarios? It pains me to say. but I am not sure that Arsenal are that well prepared. Ever. I might be wrong of course, but I doesn’t look that Arsene is working that way.
We usually have a plan that is good most of the time and that when is good is good, but when is bad is really bad and we don’t have anything else to offer. The phrase already known as “we lack plan B”
Another thing. Chelsea finished the match with three strikers. The team that is ridiculed for having no strikers. And one of them scored the winner that put them into the semis.
Imagine us in the same position. Would Arsene throw in the game Sanogo and Bendtner while Giroud still on the pitch. I don’t think so. I don’t think that we would even have those two strikers on the bench.
Why am I saying this?
Not because Maureen is the great tactician and better than Arsene. He is not. Not because their squad is better that ours. They are not. No, they aren’t. And once again, they are not.
I am saying this, because it looks to me like they always believe, they are motivated, they are better prepared, they always know what they want. And I have the feeling that we lack that.
Arsene will say this days that we have experienced players in the squad and that it is a sign of quality. Well, I don’t agree. We have experienced players, yes. but how many of our experienced players experienced success? They have experienced failure. How many have won something? So, how many knows how to win things and not to collapse like flies every time under pressure.
Neither, except Ozil. And the fact that he is not even playing on Saturday is the most frighting one.
So, Arsene has full six days to prepare for Wigan. I want to see a plan in case we score, a plan in case we concede, a plan in case we are even. I want to see clearly that we have analyzed Wigan’s strengths and weaknesses, that we have identified their best players, their strategy, whatever. I don’t want to see us just imposing our own game. I want the opposition to be analyzed and pulled apart. I want us to be clever and not naive. I want us to see us running like mad and fighting for each other. I want to see us motivated. I want to see us believe.
Can we do that? Can Arsene do that?
Trev @ 223- If indeed AW has “switched off”, it would do all concerned much good if he left at the end of the season. His passion for the game and love for The Arsenal are two of his most redeeming qualities. An indifferent AW would be bad, real bad. He deserves more, the fans deserve more and the club can do with distancing itself from the ‘bottling’ mantle placed on it. Whatever AW decides to do at the end of the season is good by me- he has earned that right. I only hope he is happy.
Whoever stated that Mourinho has a pact with the devil is spot on. How he continually gets away with absolute murder is beyond me. One thing I do know however, is that there has never been a match of the uncouth and mindless as what they have at that bus stop in Fulham. Chelsea and Mourinho: Tinseltown couldn’t dream that up.
Reus please !
If you are a silver or red member it would appear that the club still has semi final tickets for sale. Worth checking out if you don’t have a ticket and want one.
Looks like a Rolls Reus to me. 😉
Re: Lurky @229. You are spot on. Our players are good enough but they need top rate preparation. Which they have not exhibited recently based on all evidence I have seen. Pains me to say it but I can’t deny it any longer. Excellent viewpoints above by holic, Trev, H2H and many others. Injection please.
Just watched the Dortmund highlights Trev. What a player Reus is.
Easy to get carried away, Tabs, especially at a time like this, but does the Rolls Reus remind you of anyone ?
More than a passing resemblance to some Dutch bloke – physically, and playing style – who wasn’t bad either.
And i don’t mean the skunkie one !
It was a great game Tabs.
One which Klopp once again showed what a good manager he is.
They treated RM with no respect.
Have to say Reus played very well and would be a serious addition.
Don’t think I’d compare him with DB10 though Trev.
It’s funny how things change. Reus was a name mentioned last year and dismissed as not worth the money by many in the bar?????
Sometimes I do wonder.
Not yet Joe – but he did some sublime stuff tonight.
Not by me, Steve, and I remember Tabs being a big fan.
I buy reus any day before Draxler. This guy is good and proven, don’t want another kid that is not ready yet for premier league. Not at the asking price anyway. We have played against reus and boy does he have what we really need. Does anyone know if he has a buyout Claus?
Steve,
I definitely said that and I stand by it.
Its huge money to spend – on a foreign player – with little or no guarantees. Maybe there’s a touch of the Wenger about me, but I feel that the money we’ve accumulated must be carefully spent. There’s many clubs who have frittered away millions with nothing to show, but thankfully, we’re not in that bracket because of Wenger.
While I was delighted we were bidding for top class players like Suarez, it was definitely a mistake Steve not have signed alternative players, even if there weren’t in the same class, rather than heap our hopes on Giroud. While I understood Wengers thinking at the time, hindsight is 20/20 vision and I am sure even he, would have signed alternatives had he his time over again.
Is Reus worth 35-40m? I still have doubts Steve, in much the same way as I have doubts about Draxler for that type of money, whereas, I had absolutely no doubts about spending 43m on Ozil or Rooney or Suarez.
Will buy, sorry about that, guess am still docked at the bus stop guys making the semis
Shocked
Sorry to intrude on all (well nearly all)you lovely lot (That 127 post by Tabs was Churchillian,and I’m not talking about that insurance doggy either! Carry on…
Another prediction of mine comes true, Dr F! Not that the chavs progressing gives me any pleasure, except possibly that they have extra CL games to play. God help us if Manure follow suit tomorrow. We could still need 3rd if this nonsense continues. 🙁
Öskar
Thanks for the kind words, tabs. In the unlikely event we found £200 to spend on transfers I would only keep five of the present first XI…
Szczesny
1??? 2??? Koscielny 3???
4??? Özil Rambo 5???
Walcott 6??
And this would be my wish list…
1. Seamus Coleman
2. Mats Hummel
3. Luke Shaw
4. Lucas Moura
5. Marcus Reus
6. Thomas Muller
I’d retain Santi, Per, Poldi, OG, Bacs and Gibbo for the bench.
Anyone can dream, aye. 😉
Öskar
Oooops, make that Marco Reus.
Öskar
dont know if youd get that lot for 200 quid, Oscar!
Oskar – Nice Christmas list! Just hope we don’t end up with a lump of coal.
I would add Paul Pogba to the list.
Slagging off Wenger doesn’t make you right, magic, it merely proves you’re ignorance. No-one could have done as good a job for Arsenal as he has in the time he’s been with us. The odds have always been stacked against him, particularly in the last several seasons, and yet he has brought more success than the club has ever seen in its history.
You clearly have no understanding of the environment in which he has achieved so much. Or of how much worse it could have been with anyone you care to name in charge during the same period … or in the immediate future.
Öskar
Marco Reus. Another one we were linked with, then went elsewhere for very, very reasonable money we could have afforded if we had been “on the case.” … Are Dortmund an oil money club to?
El Puno, Dortmund was his boyhood club.
Pace and power been bought up as a missing ingredient a lot on here lately. Can we add canny transfer business finding future stars relatively unknown?
Koscielny, maybe Sonogo depending on your view of him? Outside that just the youth system products. Ramsey and Ox to, but they came with big hype and took 2/3 years to mature, (Ox still in the process.)
Days of plucking Ljungberg, Lauren, Edu, Pires, even Henry and Vieira and slotting them straight into the team at a high level gone. Gervinho, Park, Santos etc been and gone in that sort of bracket – low-ish price, but promise of something decent. Mail going with Giroud, Poldi, Monreal all set to depart. They fit that bracket also 8-12mil, flamed out. (I like Monreal tbh, no idea why we wouldn’t keep him for another year.)
Maybe the game has changed and everyone in Germany knew about Gundogan, Kagawa, Sahin, Hummels etc. Maybe they were all youth products. (Think Hummels was at Bayern ffs.) Even Reus moved for barely more than Giroud money. Either way, Dortmund competing in Europe, can love their adventures even when the don’t win it. We haven’t done it in 5/6 years.
Wasn’t missing on stars last summer that really confused me, that can happen. It was AW not getting 2/3 players for about £10mil who he saw something in and could develop in a squad that clearly needed bodies at key positions. Now we still need a tackling midfielder, winger, and striker badly, but Arteta’s legs have gone, Sagna is off and possibly Verm also. By letting 2/3 windows pass you by – save Ozil – all of a sudden we are looking at a serious task numbers wise.
Ho-hum. Poached eggs on muffins for breakfast so I can’t complain. Roll on Saturday.
UTA.
254 – Yeah and we were Van Persie’s. If we had bid first and done the deal he wasn’t turning us down to wait for them. No way. Never. Just doesn’t happen.
Cheers Trev, H2H & right back atcha.
Lurky, a heartfelt response. As I see it our squad is (perhaps unsurprisingly) a long way behind the petro-teams.
Sure, starting first 11s when everyone’s fit and fresh we’re as good as anybody. The difference is in the 2nd tier. I believe we have insufficient depth apart from the midfield where we’ve been unlucky with injuries although some say that’s down to over-use and over-training of the players.
Our inability and/or unwillingness to invest in the squad when we have the resources is inexcusable from a fan’s perspective but justifiable from the board’s perspective with Arsene caught somewhere in the middle (I guess).
What do I mean? I recall last season having a post match chat with a well known Arsenal blogger about investment in the squad and what it would take for Arsenal to compete in the true sense of the word. We both figured that to leap from 4th to 1st in the PL would take a minimum of £100m (3/4 players in last season’s money) and even that wouldn’t guarantee anything esp. when you consider our competitors are going to do the same sorts of things. Therefore, if you’re on the BoD what do you do? Spend all spare cash available and go for it or hold some back for fiscal prudence to weather unforseen storms?
Re: tactics, that’s a very good and somewhat touchy subject. Like you, I can only give an opinion based on what I see on the surface. Your JT scenarios example is very telling. Maureen and JT, mahoosive cunnies that they are, are the very best at their day jobs (*swallows sick in mouth*). JT is probably every bit as good a leader at TA6 and arguably better technically (*swallows more sick*). Outside of the football field I wouldn’t want anything to do with him but on the football field I can’t think of anyone I would rather stand next to. Similar for Maureen. I wouldn’t piss on him if he was on fire but as a tactician on the football pitch, there can’t be many better. Both are winners at all costs and nasty bastards to boot. We could do with a bit of that at The Arse (without the over-bearing cuntishness).
Over a period of 3 or 4 seasons I have watched the great man that is Arsene Wenger really begin to struggle for all the reasons that have been discussed in here ad nauseam. Some are of his own making. Some are not. The management of all those situations is down to him. He has chosen a certain path, I’m sure with The Club’s best interests at heart, but aside from CL qualification it hasn’t worked in the way any of us would like it too. Arsene is super-bright. He knows all of this, possibly even predicted it, but doesn’t seem to have come up with the winning solution.
Bottom line, I’m no longer convinced that the current Arsene and Arsenal are the perfect match. Both, I think, could achieve even more away from each other. If there’s going to be change in the summer then I think it also needs to be at board level, in the dressing rooms and in the squad. Just changing Arsene, however, will not be enough and I fear that if that’s what happens we’ll wish it never did.
But the BoD have got all of this thought through, right?
UTA!
Steve T
Thanks for the ticket update 🙂 I shall have a look last time I checked I wasn’t eligible.
stone, there’s only one madman here. Fuck off.
stone, I haven’t said this for a long time, but you’ll find the medicine cabinet at the end of the bar. Help yourself.
No doubt the barman will sweep up this untidy mess.
Have a good day ‘Holics.
Stone jabbering pony imho.
Last night a real kick-in-the-teeth set of matches. Demba Ba scoring to put the chavettes in the semi a painful one. Stunning to think we were going to loan NB52 to Palace, third straight season sent to run his contract down away from the club. Then, knowing he was worth exactly that to us now, we waited until deadline day to try and do a deal with a mahoosive cunt who would never sell us anyone for a player we could have bought the previous Jan if we had been quick (je-je-je) for £6mil. Dodgy knees apparently turned us off. Lord knows what turned us around other than pure panic. End result we went away to the European champions and fielded 6 subs!
Again, we could not fill our bench away to the european champions.
The manager did not even realise Ryo (je-je-je again) was ineligible.
Lord knows I’m trying to be upbeat, but some of the lows over the past 12 months have gone from shambolic to… Whatever is lower than that. Can’t fill the bench cos we don’t know who is allowed to play? Please.
Anyway. Roll on Saturday 🙂
Thanks TS, but if we could turn a blind eye to the oxygen thief it would be better. Leave his psychiatrist to deal with the problem. Ta.
263. When you enter a competition, the aim is to win it. Should we win the FA Cup this year, it’s one of the ambitions achieved you started the season with….what’s not good about that? Simples!!!
stone get a life I know it’s half term and all that…. hey it’s sunny too go and play with your friends if you have any that is!
stone,
I don’t usually bother responding to your simplistic, abusive drivel but I will thank you for dropping by today.
Like today, every time you come here to abuse such very decent people as Arsene Wenger and the owner of this blog, it merely convinces any undecided folks that you are an imbecile and turns them right back into “AKBs”.
Good job, fella !
If its written in the stars again, I am leaving this planet !
Mourwineooooo must have made a deal with the devil.
The man is a cunt !
Sorry Holic.
Last time.
Arsene’s Checklist
1 Qualify for next season’s ECL
2 Win FA Cup
3 Sign top striker
4 Sign big strong defensive midfielder
5 Sign new RB if Bac leaves
6 Sign 2 back-up CBs
7 Sign experienced back-up CB
8 Sign new contract
9 Win Premiership and ECL in next two years
10 Wave 2 fingers to doubters.
Oskar that is a very impressive wish list.
A good list thou
7. -CB, + keeper
Sorry bath you missed one
11. Drop mourwhingeoooo into vat of acid
heh @ 273 – yep
274 – go play in the street, sonny.
There was an article in the Sydney Morning Herald today from a journo who had been flown to the UK courtesy of the Oil Sheiks. It was about Patrick Vieira and his transition into management, currently looking after the Citeh U21’s. The sub-head was “You can take the boy out of Arsenal..etc.”
He spoke very sensibly. He made it very clear that he retains great affection for Arsene (“transformed both the Arse and the English game”) and Arsenal and suggested that he would like to return one day, possibly as manager once he had fully learnt his management craft.
In terms of players returning as managers, in my time I can quickly think of Terry Neill (awful) and George Graham (mixed response). There may be others.
I wonder how Paddy would go as a manager, not now but in the future?
269. Where did I make such a comment?? Don’t let facts get in the way of your drivel.
Bath, have you forwarded that list to Arsene?
I recall our pursuit for Hugain started with a kid telling Arsene to sign him, which was then posted on youtube
😉
Noosa, out previous manager was also a returning player, Bruce Rioch, as was Don Howe.
====
That’s good stuff, TS, a very honest view. You’re right of course, as dispicable as those two are, they do do their jobs well.
I would absolutely love us to sign Reus, but I don’t see it happening.
Europe’s big clubs will be queuing up for him when he leaves, and I don’t see us going toe to toe with them. Not yet, anyway. He’s a superb player, the best of the bunch at Dortmund.
Draxler isn’t on Reus’ level right now, but he might get there in the end. We need to focus on catching these players on the bubble and then providing the right environment to bring them to the boil (so to speak).
Oh, and if the club were to suddenly find £200m I would hope that they would stick it in a high interest account and for god’s sake avoid spending it. There’s no value in the market.*
*Joke.
By the way, we’re being linked in some of the papers this morning with a double bid for Benzema and Di Maria.
I’m not sure I see it happening, but I would be very, very happy with those two.
Interesting article.
http://www.zonalmarking.net/2014/04/09/chelsea-2-0-psg-mourinho-takes-risks-late-on/
Our new strike force for next season is nailed on –
Rodriguez and Benteke
£1 million each – crocked, and out ’til February.
You heard it here first. 😉
SteveT @239 – Trev is quite right mate. I have always been a massive fan of Reus. I don’t watch much continental football, but whenever I have seen Reus, either for Dortmund or the German national side, going back to the Euros in 2012, he has always looked fantastic. In any discussion on the possibility of signing him you wouldn’t have found me dissenting. Have to agree with N7 though that when he does decide to move there will be suitors with deeper pockets than us.
Mel @246 – Haha, cheers mate 🙂
Sounds like Santi has other thoughts on his mind:
http://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/Arsenal-star-lack-winning-mentality/story-20934778-detail/story.html
Here we go again, ATG.
Arsenal players telling us what Arsenal players haven’t got or don’t do, and shat they need to get or start doing.
Well, you are the players, see, not us reading these tiresome excuses.
Have a set to in the dressing room – tell each other what you need – otherwise just shut up and get on with it.
This bleating to the press is all a part of the wrong mentality.
Actions lads – not words.
Doh! Shat = what
Shat was just as good, Trev. 😉
Think I preferred the first version Trev 😉
How’s the knee mate, any easier?
I just don’t really get them, before you start talking about your club and the players to the press perhaps you should take a long good look at yourself.
Was I good enough in the Stoke game?
Too right Trev he needs to shut up and get on with it and if it doesn’t work. Try fucking harder, must do better mentality.
He just signed his extension what on earth was he thinking? Perhaps this was taken out of context but he should know better he ain’t 18 anymore.
Have to agree with you Arthur and Trev.
Players need to keep their heads down, call each other cunts, kiss each other, whatever it takes, and get out there and start doing what they are handsomely rewarded for.
Bang. On. Arthur.
Shut up and grow up.
Them, not you, ATG. 😉
The knee is improving thanks Tabs.
Very slow progress and 75% of the time the whole lower leg and foot jangles due to all the nerve damage, but walking with the crutches is getting much better.
Funny thing is – tho’ not very haha – I can’t get any balance on the bad leg at all without the crutches. Four months without being able to put any weight on that leg at all, and it’s forgotten how to walk!
Bit of work to do there – but thanks for asking. 😉
By the way, if anyone wants any advice on antiques, I’m getting quite good.
Bargain Hunt, Cash in the Attic, Flog It!, Antiques Roadshow, Antiques Road Trip, you can spend the whole day immersed in junk and old relics.
Ok, make your own jokes up …… 😉
Glad to hear things are improving Trev, if only slowly. And heh @291 🙂
What tabs said.
Re 282 above. If Santi had anything to say, is it likely he’d say it to the Essex Chronicle?
I admit that I haven’t read the link, but assuming he was actually talking to a proper reporter, why has it been published there?
Just asking, like.
And good luck with the leg re-education, Trev.
Cheers fellas !
Bit worried that no one is even mentioning the opposition tbh.
My best mate – a Nottingham Forest fan – has gleefully been telling me that Wigan are ‘on fire’ at the moment and are the best footballing team in the Championshop this season after Leicester. This has also been seconded by a local Leeds fan that I speak too occasionally and saw his team turned over by them last weekend.
Done my homework – hoping Arsene has done his.
howdy hol an all
bit late to the party
interestin read ‘hol
likewise ‘holics
not whole way through
yet
will persevere though
summon my inner mammoth
.
+
for what its worth
.
dunno esso at all
but
from his drinks
always seemed
a proper take no shit gooner
funny as fuck
clearly knows
one end of a good tune
from another too
.
other guy
a twonk
anyhoo
tis for the rest
of
your collective
noodlings
am I
.
*girds loins*
*Pops up for assist number two…..
Falls over and accidently bundles over the line
Nice assist H2H and well in Trev. If you can score in your present condition, then we need to get the walking wounded out there on Saturday.
Howdy cba.
Nma – Relax. All will be well.
Sorry, going mad. Nma = ndr.
Think I’ll stick to ‘raisins’ in future 🙂
Pangloss
It was published on other sites as well I have only used their link at the time.
Trev no worries 🙂
Howdy tabs
and
well in trev
.
jeez
that was hard work
not least
cos
ye could fit this phone
up the arse of a mouse
.
anyhoo
was undecided
re arsene
now
feel like
john thompsons barman
in the fast show
..
not really
.
muleheaded
me
.
or
am I
.
feckers
Haha 🙂
Cheers and Tabs in the, well, Tabs position.
Things are all normal in the world again. 😉
Hey cba,
How the hell can you read all this on a phone ?
Maybe we should all start posting voice messages –
all in funny Oirish accents, to be sure. 😉
ATG – Fair enough.
Afternoon cba.
Pangloss, I saw it first on Arsblog.
NDR.
Without trying to sound condesending (not for a lack of trying. 😉 ) They are one of the best teams in the Championship.
We are one of the best teams, inspite of recent form, in the PL.
We are the Arsenal. They are a two bit, can’t fill their own stadium, only managing to bring two and and half coaches to Wembley, recently relagated, b club from the arse end of Greater Manchester.
Fuck ’em.
It had a certain familiarity Trev 😉
Yes trev
that would indeed
be funny
to be sure
.
ya gobshite ye
🙂
.
never let it be said
though
that i’m not
a fair man
.
i’ll give ye
a headstart
before
i loose the donkeys on ye
H2H ha ha ha brilliant 😛
I like it !
cba and his pack of attack donkeys !
Laugh my ass off ! Geddit ? 😉
Howdy h2h
i trust you’re doin well
hope ye have
a shower of leaky walleted manu types
filling yer coffers
post
right royal pasting
tonight
As low as we have sunk this season, in 17 years arsene has experienced one dip in quality IMO. I’d say this season and the two before it were his only real downturn, with us bottoming out over the past 2 months. We might find it was a massive mistake to turn our backs after 3 dodgy seasons. (May not of had pots before that, but we all know the reasons why. Quality was always top top notch though, basically until cesc left. Those we’re fine, fluent sides who were a joy to watch.)
Every day that passes since the 6-0 I feel more and more like whilst we have had some ludicrous errors in judgement this season, it is nuts to lose faith after over a decade of unimpeachable quality prior. The grey man can turn this around and deserves a shot at it. I refuse to believe he is not up for the fight anymore either.
UTA
Grey = great above. D’oh.
Trev
Dems crazy ass mofos
I used to have a Spanish donkey. I called him “Oatey”.
You must have heard of Donkey Oatey………. 😉
*groans* 😉
*tumbleweeds*
😉
.
donkeys have got mahoosive heads
and
ridiculously tiny feet
bizarre beasts
.
anyhoo
🙂
You always hear
about
bumblebees shouldn’t fly
an shite
no
ph.d’s bein done
into
why donkeys dont mince
Cheers cba.
This is pretty much a no mancs land though, not many scousers either. This is a working mans bar. 🙂
Dear Mr cba,
My donkey definitely minces. The beast has been trained in the fine art of donkey mincing since he was a baby mule. I simply won’t stand for a ride on a non-mincer.
Yours ass-ridingly,
Wolfgang Smallballs.
Yer very fortunate then h2h
think of all the air freshener
ye’d have needed
.
oh
and
forgot to say
crackin’ to hear
yer progress trev
can’t be easy
.
*distant mincey rumble*
.
eee awwwww
HEEEEE HAWWWWW
.
thanks for filling me in
wolfie
Wolfgang,
Does your donkey wear his mules to mince in. Sounds like one off Brighton beach. 😉
thanks for filling me in
wolfie
Ooooooooooooooooooooooo eeeeeeeeeeeeeer
My pleasure cba 🙂
Trev – It’s lineage is unknown. Got him when I ventured into a place called ‘Ass riders’. Thought it was a nightclub. Turned out to be a donkey sanctuary. Anyway, I was determined not to go home on my own that night. You take what you’re given.
oops forgot the winky thingy…
😉 😉 😉 😉
h2h
hello sailor
.
jeez
.
who the fuck started this?
.
‘HOLIC !
.
🙂
*throws bucket of cold water over Wolfie and cba.* 🙂
Not the first time a Bath has made me wet 😉
*throws another one over Santi Cazorla*
Don’t you join in
too
bath
with your
weird cold water based
peccadillos
😉
.
again
.
‘HOLIC !!!!
.
😉
Top stuff cba your a special one for us 😉
You callin me a cunt
arthur
.
fair point
well made
.
🙂
😆
*throws empty bucket at cba* 😀
🙂
Come on Atletico
Evening all, watching Bayern until they have wrapped it up, then turning over to BMBD 😉
I got the Spanish derby on.
Athletico one up already.
Maybe today is the day the less objectionable fellows win a game? It seems a long time since that happened. 🙁
ATG. You callin’ cab names? I’ll defend him to the hilt. 🙂
cba that was before the spell chucker commandeered my computer.
Should of been two, post saves Barca.
I have a funny feeling that Manure are going to disappoint us tonight. I do hope that I am wrong.
You and me both, sir 🙁
8 ball
Damn i didn’t realise that 😉
I must say that the quality of this bar is unrivalled in the blogosphere.
Just a statement of fact.
Enough of Munchen for me. Turned over to Atleti.
Evening Frank, thank you.
Cheers ‘Holic.
Thanks for assembling a genuinely stellar congregation here.
They are a top crew, that’s for sure. 😉
Barca went close how did that no go in?
*not
Man u in front Evra
Hey Holics, I thought I better pop in for a couple as I’ve not been in for a while. Omg Patrice Evra ?
One a piece in Munchen
Wouldn’t it just be peachy ifd manure flooked the Euro Cup
Mandukic 1 – 1
Evra was suppose mark Mandzukic ha ha apologies about my spelling
Anyone got a stream please ?
Just got home, this Atletico game looks tasty.
Such a shame to have another night dominated by oil money teams though. How are we ever going to compete with sides like Atletico?
El P.
Don’t worry about it, after next season there’ll be nothing left of them.
Bayern 2:1 up
I’ve only just read the blog and will back drink in a bit. As usual a balanced and measured arsenanalysis ( copyright ) from our landlord, which mirrors in the main my own take on the current happenings in the goonerverse. I would love Arsene to turn it aroundwith a bang rather than bow out just yet.
Muller 2-1
Its all kicking off now I’m watching a multi league program on my Polish sat tv both games at the same time. A bit manic.
Evra should of got qa red there I know we would.
I would be very worried if He just walked this summer , I don’t have any confidence that we can improve upon AW so quickly. There are very few human beings on the planet capable of fulfilling the current potential at Arsenal and not easy to appoint. As TH14 says at least we know what we’ve got right now…do we really want to get to know a different devil ?
364 – Yeah, when we nick Costa they a Finnish 🙂
Robben 3-1
Bayern 3:1 up and that excuse of a man Robben
Barca totally ragged. Lucky to still be in this, but reduced to humped crosses it looks distant.
Fuck me Simeone does look cool. Moments away from ploughing face first into a pile of bugle before screaming “say hello to my little friend!”
Wonder if Dr Fuentes is there watching?
Notwithstanding 366 and 368 the dressing room is desperately in need of fresh energy from somewhere……Witchcraft perhaps ?
Bayern was definitely up for the taking this year they don’t look as good as last season.
It seems my wisdom falls on stony ground !
Or stoned wisdom falls to ground
4TH Place is going to take us into the CL!
Hooray! I just want three sides in there good enough to beat Chelsea
Re the Santi correspondence earlier he gave an interview to a Spanish website which has been picked up by the Essex Chronicle.
I thought he just signed a new contract/ if he plays like he did against City it would be a huge pity. If he plays like he played on Sunday he wouldn’t be a great loss.
Finally isn’t it interesting that Howard Webb and the execrable Anthony Taylor are officiating in Madrid. cant we do better than that?
Two of the bad guys are out.
Athletico kill off Barca then !
8 years since Barca missed a semi final !
last missed
The good guys are gone Baff
@381/2
’bout bloody time too.
Don’t think
i did
say howdy
to
el puno
and
n7
(is there indeed 7 of you)
most of what
i ploughed through
was you
.
top stuff fella
in the main
ya verbose fecker
.
😉
Atletico will carry the red ‘n white flag for the good guys (ignoring their snarling kicking phase from 30 years ago, of course).
It’s a strange one ttg
Chelski vs Atletico would be an interesting tie
Bathing in essence of pure Manc suffering.
Very relaxing I must say.
Better than asses’ milk.
However we must ensure that (i) we do not share the absence from next season’s EPL, (ii) we buy better players than them this summer (we share the key objectives of holding MFer, top striker, experienced RB and CB cover) which will go a long way to ensuring (iii) we finish above them next season.
Should a senior player who has reportedly given an interview in which he has said that the team lack a winning mentality when he was on the pitch against Liverpool, ManU, Stoke, Chelsea, Swansea and Everton and individual errors by him resulted in opponents scoring in some of these games be sold this summer?
No, but Santi may well have had no intention of communicating what has been reported
385 – Howdy doodt CBA 🙂
Dear Dennis, just had a horrible vision where Arsene leaves us and ends up at Barca. That might be the end of me.
Can we organise some sort of wollopy march where we protest for Arsene to sign his new deal asap?
am sure
i’ve said before
tabs
my hatred
manu
knows no bounds
more than lwc
we’re talkin
40 + odd years
of george best shite
.
still
.
great player
but
ye couldnt move
for
manu or leeds
then
and
biggest fuck up
was
chelsea fans
jeez
there were loads
.
wha?
.
a bollocks
.
where i’m from – mad
didnt get it
not the biggest fans
of us
chantwise
were chelsea
in those days
.
still not
i’m guessin
.
anyhoo
sorry ‘hol
stuff falls out me face
Tabs
That’s All Folks poster from looney tunes with Moyes instead of Bugs Bunny said it all 😉
Very relaxing indeed 😉
Why all the fuss about Santi’s comments.
He’s obviously as frustrated at recent results as we are.
Unfortunately, sometimes the Truth hurts.
Sure he has played in all of the recent debacles,but so have 10 – 14 others.
He is only saying what we the Holics have been saying over the last couple of months.
He acknowledges the Great Stadium and great infrastructure,now he just wants what we all want,some top tier players to reinforce our playing strength.
All players want to compete and win things,Santi is no different.
He has just said out loud what i am sure a lot of our other senior players are thinking as well.
Whether he realised his comments would be picked up by the English press i don’t know.
Has he done any damge to team morale.??
I doubt we will ever find out.
I can accept the 6-3 defeat at City after losing Kos before half time.
But the Liverpool/Chelsea/Everton shambles really did upset me,and it takes a lot to do that after some of the miserable games i have seen the Arse play over the past 60 years.
So Santi has just endorsed my gut feeling that the squad is mentally fragile,especially up against the technically superior teams,even with some old hands/experienced players in the line up.
Why that is i have no idea.
Cheers
The Sweeper
ooo err
just to be on the safe side, petal
bugger off
Hatrick of assists……
It was
Come on now play nicely Holics 😉
Two more days and I’m hoping to see the Arsenal we all love to see!
UTA
Just had a back drink, the moment has probably passed, but Lurky mentioned how JT had said that chelski had worked on different scenarios during the week, like 1-0, 2-0, 3-1, and then further wondered if WE ever have that sort of tactical preparation.
Well, if we do, I wonder what it was when we was 0-4 up after 30 mins at Newcastle away?
I just want to ask anyone here when was the last time you remember us turning out a team that was really, I mean REALLY, up for the fight against a top team where the result was a 6 pointer?
Not many times anyway.
Sorry to be negative. Just sick of watching the missed opportunities to be better than we currently are.
@NB1
Placing a prefix of nationality ahead of an insult may be impolite (on a football blog – good heavens!) but it isn’t automatically racism.
Likewise, bundling nationality in with race is disingenuous, as the two are not interchangeable for these purposes. No one on this blog has, to my knowledge, prefixed an insult with a reference to race, which suggests to me that you are deliberately conflating the two to advance your own argument.
Racism is a heavy, heavy charge to bring, in my view at least. Why not save it for when it’s really merited, instead of flinging it around carelessly? You’re quite right that this bar is a multi ethnic community (one of its great strengths, in fact), and I think you can take it as read that any bona fide racism expressed on here would be met with short shrift, regardless of source.
Neither Esso nor tabs needs me to fight their corner, but my proposal to you is that – if you look back over the last few hundred comments, you’ve upset quite a few people by making an accusation that most seem to feel to be unfounded. You can choose to ignore that, you can choose to talk about the rules of polite conversation, or you can reflect on your own words and the effect they have had.
Decision entirely up to you.
301 I will relax and watch the game with more of the attitude of 309 🙂
or
he could 399
n7
Gs54- I guess santi has talked about that which is off limits on here for some.
This arsenal Side is mentally fragile and being lead by a weak manager who’s last great run was near on 10 years ago.
This site is fast becoming a backslapping club for those who have believed In arsenes BS for too long and it takes em about 3days after our latest failure and their media blackout until they gather their thoughts on why everyone else is wrong and arsenal are somehow still an awesome side.
You don’t see them from Sunday till tuesday than they get on here and convince each other how everything will change soon and talk down like flat track bullies to anyone who dare speak any balance about the club. Even if it is santi.
Unfortunately some of the thinking on here is as prehistoric as arsnenes hence why we are battling for 4th and going backwards.
Santi should do talking on the pitch and not on some sport tabloid. He should keep such comments to himself tbh.
He needs to wake up and smell the coffee that is all he’s old enough I’m sure to understand what’s right and what is wrong. He should as grow some cojones and admit he hasn’t been his best either.
Of course everyone wants to win fans as well but think before you speak The other thing what is Wojtek thinking of him now trying to get his mate into the club. Surely that’s not healthy for team spirit!
Anyways let’s not read too much into this. Hopefully he will do the talking on the pitch side come Saturday afternoon!
Aussie
The title blog by Holic belies the notion that nobody on here ever criticises Wenger but it is done in a respectful way because if the great debt if gratitude Arsenal fans owe him.
Back- drinking would reveal that I have come go the very reluctant conclusion that Wenger genuinely might not be able to take us further. But if he does walk away it is entirely possible that he will leave is in the Champions League, and as Cup winners, with £200 million in the bank, a marvellous stadium, state of the art training ground and a culture of high quality pass and move football and some of the greatest memories any English football fans have ever had. That’s a legacy and a half and it is why he is recorded such respect. The shrill calls to jettison him on other blogs not only fail to acknowledge this or suggest replacements that are impractical- Guardiola or simply not proven- possibly Martinez or Klopp or Henry or Vieira. We really do need to ensure that we get the right replacement in place before he leaves.
isn’t the calling out
of
people
a wee bit
corny
here
.
mind you
any more
paddywackery
and
ye’ll all
feel
the wrath of my corns
.
‘hol s got my email
.
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Yes, NB1, you really don’t like people being called names just for expressing an opinion, do you ?
That’s why you called me Tabs’ fluffer for agreeing with something that he wrote.
Shall we agree, to use your own phrase, that that was also “foolish in the extreme” ?
Hi Trev
can you confirm or deny that the drug regime you have been on has caused ‘Brewers Droop ‘ as i predicted,or have you confounded the experts and seen the ‘Rod ‘ rise at will.??
Cheers
Hopefully.??
ye mean yer not trev
is tabs
a self contained fluffing unit
a dyson porno enigma
🙂
Oh
and
nb1
long may you
have fuck all
to
worry about
.
calm yer trousers
ttg- the facts as they stand today are:
1) arsene is still here and may not leave and may not be asked to leave.
2) we believe we have $100 mil in the bank but no one is truly certain and no guidance from anyone or intent from the club to spend has been shown for a long time.
3) we are currently battling and on the wrong end of 4th place.
the club has built a nice new stadium, not arsene.
4) we apparently have state of the art everything, yet we have more internal squad issues and injuries than others with less.
5) the calls for a change are an accurate assessment of our current position, not an emotional and historical respect for a previously successful manager.
6) we are going backwards, not forwards and no matter how big and long some post on here, the facts are the facts.
we are not moving forward and that is the concern.
7) arsene has been given a lot of deserved respect on his past successes from both fans and club alike, but the reality of what this current team and club culture is like is undisputably poor and our performances show this in spades.
santi is 100% correct in making these statements public. we have to stop hiding this shit under the carpet.
but the past is not the current form or the future.
From today’s BBC Sport gossip column.
“Arsenal are monitoring 24-year-old Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez’s recovery from knee injury having joined the race to sign him before a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament ended his hopes of playing for England at the World Cup.
Full story: Daily Star”
Don’t know whether to laugh or cry! 🙂 🙁
Öskar
Santi can please himself as far as I’m concerned. He’s played about five minutes of class football this season while often the first to give away the ball in his own half. An excellent first season, but not even average this time round.
Öskar
I have no doubt that Arsenal owners are already planning for the inevitable day when AW goes, aussie, but who do recommend as an immediate replacement you believe would improve our position next season … and would actually be available?
Öskar
*who do YOU recommend…
Öskar
Hey Oskar,
Did you see my @280 today ? 😉
Atletico the little horse that is going to kick Mourinho in the oversized balls?
I did, Trev. And I thought we’d be better off signing you, at least you have one good knee. Although I wouldn’t want to hex it.
Öskar
I’d still like to know who those wanting AW out now would sign in his place. Not for some indeterminate time in the future, but in time for next season.
Suggestions on the back of micro-dot to the Arsenal board.
Öskar
oskar, the most appropriate answer to your question is simply – do you believe anyone could have the shape of the team, the morale of the team and fans with any less belief then it is now.
It would be the best football job in the world today as it is all upside from here.
If our club is as smart, modern and up to date as they advise they are with the right intent to win, then they would have a list of quality managers a mile long from all over the globe, both young and fresh or experienced and aged, to interview in the future.
Evening ‘holics from New York where I have been blissfully out of the whole media/fan/game meltdown, vitriol…been interesting to catch up with the drinks…
N7…your posts always a pleasure to read…when I’m back in N8 next week, would be a pleasure to meet up sometime and talk all things Arsenal…the rest of you ‘holics are also a top notch read…and all thanks to the owner of this establishment!
couple of random thoughts, as N7 pointed out to an earlier poster about something else – a month ago Arsenal 4 – Everton 1, this past weekend Arsenal 0 – Everton 3…and that means we are in meltdown??
so Barca are out of the CL – do they need to spend, SPend, SPEND, do they need a striker? a CB? a FB?
so PSG couldn’t be bothered to score yesterday – should they spend more?
Real couldn’t be bothered to score either…are they in meltdown?
Oskar – couldn’t agree more re: Santi, apart from the wonderful goal against Pool at home, he’s played some piss poor footie, maybe he should leave and make room for Arsenal to win titles! (anyway, the interview could be all made up/twisted…still, shouldn’t be giving any interviews anyway, imho)
I’m all for change if it is the right change, not a knee jerk change. I think Wenger knows if he is the right one to lead the club forward, and if he feels he is not, he will step down…calling for the guillotine is not going to make the transition any easier…
Peter @427 – what success or resemblance do we have compared to barca!
Why would we even compare ourselves with barca.
Zero / diddly squat / none
Why would one of the most successful teams in the history of football go into meltdown over one of the first serious failures.
We on the other hand have had 9 years of failure.
That is the big difference.
peter @427 – so now that santi has spoken out about the feeling inside the actual dressing room, not on a blog or simply what a fan think may be happening inside, but an actual player.
all of a sudden he is piss poor, but arsene is ok ?
are we seriously questioning santi cazorla ?
truly incredible and no wonder we are the laughing stock of the footballing world.
Guys, fans asking if Wenger is the right man to take us forward is not disrespectful in my humble opinion. Wenger has done as good a job anyone can do for us in the past 9 yrs and I really appreciate it. But there comes a time when an era has to come to an end, simple as that and I feel his time is up. People are so scared of changes, I am afraid it’s time to move on. Why do people keep asking about who we can reasonably get? This is Arsenal we are talking about here. We can get whoever we want to, but I don’t think this sorry ass board can do it. Let’s be real here chasing 4th position year in year out is unacceptable. How do we go from 1st place in Feb to chasing 4th place now. This team needs a new mentality and I don’t think the boss can do it again.
And pls peter@ 427 don’t compare us with barca, we are not even close to their success or level. They are still fighting for the championship in Spain , and us well you know what are fighting for. Tell me you really have believe that this team can beat Wigan on Saturday. I hope they do,but am not holding my breath neither.
It will be the best job in the footballing world given all that will be available to any new coach.
You know it is time when opposition fans hope arsene stay ?
“are we seriously questioning santi cazorla ?” … aussie #430
———————————————————————
Have been for months, aussie. He’s been rubbish most of the time and the #1 offender when it comes to giving the ball away cheaply. Are you still thinking of the 2012-2013 version who looked like a great buy? We’d all like to know where he went…
“Why do people keep asking about who we can reasonably get? This is Arsenal we are talking about here. We can get whoever we want to” … SAG #431
——————————————————————————–
We ask because we see no point in dumping the best manager Arsenal has ever had, and one of the all-time best in football history anywhere, for whoever ‘might be available’ in the summer. Any change needs to be carefully planned and undertaken at an appropriate time, not just because we had a poor season. Not that we have had a poor season, given the constraints of competing on an uneven playing field. If you forget the uber-rich playboy-owned mega money clubs we have beaten just about everyone else every season since AW joined us. That represents unparalleled real success in any thinking person’s book.
As for “We can get whoever we want to”, really? How about Mourinho? you think he’d move to us from the chavs in the summer? Or Pep from Bayern? Or Pellegrini from Man C? You think they’d jump at the offer?
Be very careful what you wish for.
Öskar
Okay, there’s been some editing! My previous now relates to aussie at #427 and SAG at #428. 🙂
Öskar
@ Aussie 406
What a childish comment.
I have heard precisely no one this week proclaim that this Arsenal side is “still awesome”. I don’t think there has been a single poster who has been unwilling to accept that we’ve been terrible these last few weeks. The reaction to Sunday’s performance has been uniformly negative.
You have erected a total straw man there, because what you’re really complaining about is that the tone in this place is insufficiently negative for your tastes. We may accept that the team are playing like shit, but we’re unwilling to accept that everything is completely fucked and always will be, which appears to be your central theme of choice.
If you want to wallow in misery, that’s your choice (as we’re so frequently reminded on here these days, we are all entitled to opinions, even the daft ones), but don’t attempt to project it on the rest of us. In a little over 48 hours time we will play at Wembley. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m not ready to abandon all hope and I intend to cheer the team on, rather than sit in the corner cutting myself and writing poetry about how terrible things are.
That’s not to say everyone needs to be “ra ra ra” about our prospects. I’ve read some excellent criticisms of the club/manager/team in the bar this week, comments that have been fully merited, well expressed and impossible to argue with. But there’s sensible critique and then there’s pissing in the punchbowl and sneering.
Why not wait a few weeks? If we finish fifth and bomb out of the cup, you can spend the entire summer parading up and down the bar telling us all how gloriously right you were and how we’d have seen it too if we weren’t all so busy backslapping/drinking the kool aid/whatever it is that you think we’re all doing on here. You can remind us all that you’re not a real fan unless you’re constantly irate and depressed. You can tell us all how balanced your view is and I’m sure no one will challenge you.
In the mean time, please do pipe down, because I’m trying to apply my red and white face paint and doing my vocal exercises ahead of Saturday. My buzz is well and truly on for this game, and I only hope that the players and manager are more in my frame of mind than yours.
COYG
Oskar – any comments in relation to santi are about why some on here are now blaming him for the shit season, a single player who works hard for the team and has probably never been so fatigued or over used in his life instead of the team manager.
What about all the stupid and ridiculous comments arsene has made this season. The fans didn’t have a crack at him when he said we have only been beaten properly this season once ….. !
I appreciate and respect your comments, but it truly does seem like we want to blame anyone except wenger purely because of his long term tenure at the club and emotional ties rather than his actual perormances (in the last 9 years).
8 years is a fucking long time to improve wouldn’t you agree.
Shit that is some players total careers.
Who’s fault is it other than the club or arsene himself if other high profile and successful would not come here now.
The alternative the based on your reasoning is maybe we need to look at an up and coming young gun who is currently plying his trade in a smaller league of club as arsene was doing when we plucked him from obscurity.
For the hard of thinking: Arsene didn’t succeed as Arsenal manager because he was little known. He succeeded because he was Arsene Wenger.
If the board appointed an unknown and he lost his first two games you would be amongst the very first to point out their error.
It is no longer the mid 90s. Proper replacement, when he goes, please.
One interesting aspect of the what would can we do to improve argument is the ‘ bring back David Dein’ movement. As it happens I’ve met Dein a few times and he is hugely responsible for the rise in the club .i think he was a very positive influence on Wenger and the club lost a little when he left the Board. It was interesting to see him in the crowd at Everton on Sunday as a fan. I wonder how many of the Board were there?. My point here is that Dein is a true fan and hugely ambitious for the club and under his regime he wouldn’t countenance changing Wenger . In fact I think he would rejuvenate Wenger and encourage him to be adventurous in the transfer market.
This is an add-on to the argument which I think N7 put so beautifully. We are at the most important part of the season and after Sunday’s upset it is now our job to get behind the team and roar them on to the Final. I sometimes think some Arsenal ‘ fans’ on here are happier when the team lose so they can gripe about Wenger.
The debate about Cazorla has illustrated how much some on here have actually watched the team live. He has been very disappointing. I love him on top form but he doesn’t influence games nearly enough and on some days goes completely missing ( Chelsea, Everton) .If players are totally dependent on their manager to tell them what go do they are earning huge sums on false pretences
N7 – great stuff, and have a good day Saturday.
Aussie,
I could only really re-make N7’s points, and certainly no better or more fair than he has.
We are all entitled to express and disagree – it doesn’t have to become a competition to win converts.
N7 – sorry you don’t agree with my comments.
we are allowed to have differing views are we not on here.
if so, perhaps you should have some manners and allow others to share their views.
if you don’t agree, then state your point of view or some facts or where a comment is inaccurate without resorting to personal abuse.
after all this site is without equal in that regards, is it not.
@Aussie
Good to see your stock response when challenged getting another airing.
Possibly better to have saved it for an occasion where someone had actually offered personal abuse.
Freedom of speech includes freedom of response. Even the “prehistoric” among us understand that.
Trev – agree fully that N7 should stop trying to convert us all that don’t agree with his arsene knows best philosophy.
Goes both ways in afraid.
@Aussie
Are you familiar with the mimophant?
A mythical creature, invented by the novelist Arthur Koestler during a trip to Rejkjavik in 1972 to cover the famous Spassky/Fischer chess final, the mimophant is described as “a cross between a mimosa and an elephant. A member of this species is sensitive like a mimosa where his own feelings are concerned, and thick skinned like an elephant, trampling over the feelings of others”.
Does this ring any bells?
TEAM NEWS: “We have a lot of uncertainties. Gibbs, Rosicky and Oxlade-Chamberlain are all doubts”
Not good!
Fabianski will start in goal!
N7@435 ” for the hard of thinking”
Great opening line
That’s more respectful.
Much nicer way to ram your point of view home to a non believer.
I am converted.
We should all follow arsenal and arsene as you do.
Might be best to continue your media blackout as you have had to do for the past few months.
That’s the true way to support arsenal.
Hide yourself away from others points of view after a loss
Hilarious stuff
N7@441 – hilarious stuff mate.
No surprise to hear you enjoy reading mythical fantasy land literature.
Might I suggest arsenal.com or arsenes latest book of football strategy.
It explains how to go from 1st to 4th in successive seasons.
N7 and Aussie both have fair points,and both very good at arguing there corner but as the man says isn’t it time to point the guns out wards and get behind the lads for the rest of the campaign and have the inquisition at the end of the season?besides it’s been done to death at this stage.more interested to know about who’s fit who’s not at this stage thanks Arthur for the news as bad as it sounds.
Garsguns knows.
Arsene also says Ozil possibly back next Saturday and then Kos the following Tuesday. Some good news in with the bad (as ever).
Aussie – good comeback. Must have taken ages. Enjoy Saturday.
Fair call Garsguns.
Thanks
Cheers N7.
Would have been quicker but best comeback I could muster whilst in a meeting.
Truly hope Ozil is back.
We need his brilliance at the moment.
@ Aussie
Agreed. I suspect Ozil coming back would be the single best thing that could be done in the short term to give this team (and particularly the midfield) some sort of cohesion. We’ve missed him badly.
“Fabianski will start in goal”, ATG? Best position for him I reckon. 😉
Öskar
Oskar
As opposing to Szczesny that is 🙂
Aussie, watching your posts through games shows that you care for the team and the results. Your concerns about the team, tactics and manager have been noted, and have led to some spirited postings.
Seriously, I’d suggest you pull back and read particularly Trev @301 (last drinks), Tabs@127, Steve T, H2H, Sweeper, N7, ttg, USA gooners, and all the other articulate and eloquent posters on this blog. They bleed Arsenal and hurt with the piss-poor results, yet they have the capacity to put it into context, and try and be positive (what else can you do as a supporter?)
We’ve had a royally wretched few weeks ( acknowledged by all) and it’s come when we’ve had a shed-full of injuries, and at a critical time of the season. The boss, players, tactics, board, recruitment have all been scrutinised and some perceptive drinks have made more rational and intelligent assessments of what has occurred. I may not agree with all the posts and the arguments but I’ll give them the courtesy of reading and trying to see the point of view – and I have often been grateful for the alternative view.
However, some as Tabs noted are The Ugly, always the Ugly and like the trolls should be ignored. I’m sorry to say you’re starting to drift into that territory, but can I suggest that you don’t – you’re a gooner, and obviously competitive with a wish for Arsenal to do better. Sounds like most of us don’t you think? The exasperation of N7 at some of your posts comes through loud and clear. Anyone can be the sideline manager it’s a piece of piss. Read the manuals, watch the clips and sprout the cliches.
This is not a Wegner love-fest despite what you appear to state (so you know I think it should be so you can have a pot-shot at me but join the queue) . To answer you to my mind he’s a fucking genius, who has close to twenty years at the very top of football. He’s dealt with everything – corruption, biased referees, prima-donnas, snakes, agents, players and the media. And after all that he continues to work miracles against all the doping and corruption. He builds a side trying to compete in two different competitions – the physical Premiership and the technical Champions League, an incredible stadium and all the while trying to play with style and no cash.
Fuck CFC and their defensive scenario based game and sucubus manager,
if that’s what we have to aspire to be considered winners, competitive, innovators, role models well my view is simply to walk away from all of that crap or indeed pull my eyes out.
Every person and sports team fails it’s how you move on, learn, develop and mature. What you manage with your talent and abilities. The next step is what I’m looking for – what can the team achieve? Or as Steve T said “can they be the best they can be?”. So this is where we find out.
In the meantime as N7 has said let’s support and get wholly behind the team and the boss and at the end of the season then we can all have a go at each other.
Finally caught up from the last bar (post), good stuff from most, shame I can’t say all but that’s about as unrealistic as us competing toe to toe with the oil clubs over the course of a season with the deep lying issues our club has.
Many spectacular drinks have been posted since Monday, but one stood out the most for me and that was tabs’ defence of Esso, a man I have met on more than one occasion and a top, top gooner. If he’s a racist, then I haven’t got more melanin in my skin than most who frequent this bar 😛 It’s natural that if someone you’ve met in person is being slagged off by someone you haven’t, you’ll come to the former’s defence. Many of the regulars see each other week in and week out on matchdays at the Tollie or elsewhere, strengthening the bonds between them that all can witness online in this very reputable establishment.
Still waiting on my Wembley ticket to come, according to the info on the club site about the Semi Final, they all should arrive no later than today so today’s post when it arrives should give me good reason to cheer.
On that note, where are the regulars gonna be drinking on Saturday? I’d like to see a few of you if possible, it’s been a while and it’s going to be my first time at Wembley, have no idea how the area is.
@446
Bath knows 🙂
Garsguns @ 120, who knew that one of the drinkers in this bar was related to a footballer! Wembley two days in a row, sounds like something else…
Hoping that you get your dream final of Arsenal FC vs Sheffield United for the sake of your brother, although I’m in no doubt of which team you’ll be backing in the final 😉
Nice one LHTG @453
Wind @ 454, I have no idea yet. I don’t know the pubs around Wembley. Apparently Arsenal fans are being directed to ‘Arsenal designated pubs to the west of the ground. Holic will know the best watering hole.
LHTG@453- agreed we all simply wish arsenal to do better.
Thanks also for the advice to pull back. Respectfully noted.
The sustainable financial model has worn me down to my last breath of patience.
I love the FA cup as a competition and would love to see the team win this one especially.
LHTG@453. A whole bottle of whatever it is you’re drinking.
LHTG a whole bottle of Wisnoiwka is waiting ! Great mental strength! What a piece!
bath @ 457, Ahh fair, I’ll wait for the maestro to pop in later then, cheers for the reply.
Great stuff LTHG @ 453.
LHTG* Should’ve read before I posted in haste :p
Cheers wind I’d love that final means more chance of the cup for us. 😉
LHTG @453 – quite excellent.
(And thanks for the compliment)
Wind – good stuff @454.
Hope those tickets turn up today – worse than waiting for exam results. 😉
Afternoon all.
Interesting debate again in the bar, I think there will be little surprise to find I would sit firmly on N7’s side of the fence on that one. It got me thinking though, that sometimes during the debates we may forget that in the end we all want the same thing, and that’s the best for OUR club.
Aussie, believe it or not, I actually agree with a lot of your points, I may be on the other side of the “sunny” spectrum, but that doesn’t mean that there can’t be common ground. It’s all nothing but opinions and everyone, as has been said many times, is entitled to their own. It’s just the execution in the expressing of these opinions that can grate. I don’t think that there is a regular poster on here, that over the (many) years, that I haven’t had a disagreement with on one topic or more. Even in the flesh views differed, but that didn’t stop us raising a glass and having a big swig, just as much as it won’t stop us continueing to debate the finer points here in this virtual bar.
I’ve just seen LTHG’s drink @453 (excellent contribution) and I saw your reply @458, which has earned my respect too. Time has come to point the cannons outwards, there’s a Wembley game on the horizon, one that is of paramount importance, one that if we win may signal that move forward that we ALL yearn for.
Arsenal Bloody Arsenal.
Next round’s on me guv’.
Read a few postings from last 24 hours back. I think there’s an interesting contradiction at play. Non-regular posters and one or two regulars are basically accused of “wanting Arsenal to lose”. But some regulars don’t mind nearly as much when we do, that is the logical conclusion, I’m sorry to say. Before those chaps swear back loudly, I accept that, in a way, that makes them better, more loyal fans. But in no way can the other camp be accused of “wanting Arsenal to lose” MORE at this or any other time. That’s illogical. Quite probably, from where I’m standing, you can genuinely say they feel the pain more. They could be fans for 50 years , they could be trolls, they could be kids suffering some backlash in the playground but the evidence is, they feel at least if not more pain from the losses and way the club is run. They don’t want to or can’t bring themselves (after thinking about it) to blame injuries, oil dollars or the individual players. They therefore don’t have that comfort pillow to cuddle up to and better tolerate these habitual year after year disappointments. Just sayin’….
By the way…..
Has anyone heard (via other mediums) anything from Nurse ABB?
She had mentioned that she hadn’t been well and she’s been a big miss here, any info would be appreaciated, or if those of you on twitter would pass on my best wishes that would be great.
and
Where the hell is Ollie?
Good piece on Arseblog today about Cazorla’s comments.
I must admit to reacting angrily to them the other day. It wasn’t that I disagreed with anything that he said – I’m just tired of our players, after another poor performance, telling us that they know what’s wrong and that they must do certain things better, only to then go out at the very next opportunity and make all the same mistakes again. And again.
We can see what’s wrong. Unfortunately we are not good enough to get on the pitch and do something about it. That has to come from the players.
However, Bloggs made a very good point about just how much football Santi has played since joining us and how, in this case, fatigue could well be a very significant contributor to his loss of form.
Good point, well made, as usual Bloggs.
(If anyone can penetrate the ‘arses’ better than I and fancies copying this in, I would be very grateful.)
Sounds like a job for Wolfie Trev. 😉
Missed a pretty important comma in that last sentence.
Blimey, this place is good.
H2H @466 – superbly summed up.
I’ve defended Aussie myself in the past but I just don’t agree that Wenger deserves some of the extreme criticism.
sc @467 – also fair points.
H2H – been wondering about ‘abb’ myself.
Last I heard ( at The Tollie ) she was not good. Can’t imagine the continued absence is a good sign but if you’re there abb, you’re wished all the very best. 😉
H2H@466- thanks mate and well said.
Good article from bloggs it has to be said but I still believe he should do the talking on the pitch, like I have also mentioned in one of my comments earlier let’s not read too much into those comments and let’s see what will be done on the pitch come 17:07 GMT.
I also reacted in a negative way I suppose it pisses me off when players start to moan to the press Arsenal this Arsene this bla bla bla gibberish.
Hopefully it will motive them even more on the day!
H2H said hello to Ollie on Twitter hopefully he make an entry soon.
Looks like I may have missed something 😉 Ah well, intrigued as to what NB1 might have said. Still, he has my email address so all is not lost.
N7, LHTG – Magnificent stuff. A tip of the hat to you both. It really is very simple. Arsene in, Arsene out, it doesn’t define your support,but just accord him a bit of respect. And if that isn’t possible, don’t get all arsey if people address you in the same pejorative terms as you use when describing him. It really isn’t rocket science. It really isn’t too much to ask.
cba@394 – Aye, I know you must have enjoyed last night immensely. Hope you make ’em all pay on yer rounds today Sir. And hahaha at “Dyson Porno enigma”. On the floor 🙂
Arthur @395 Haha 🙂
Wind – Cheers mate. Good luck with the post, and hope to see you on Saturday. Garsguns as well? Brilliant!
Howdy ‘hol an all
.
trev
haven’t lain down
my pointless rags
in blogs territory
for a while
‘hol tells me
you have to sign in now
shame
mind you
probably keeps out
the technologically challenged
.
*took hint*
.
still read the dublin lump
every morning
sharp as a fuckin tack
mind you
dubs are a strange breed
strange breed indeed
🙂
Very well said H2H and heh at @470.
What Trev said re Abb.
Oh
Howdy tabs
have a goodun
and
a
wee crested ten
.
indeed
set em up for everyone ‘hol
great bar
with prices
i could scarcely imagine
.
cheers
love what
ye’ve done
with the place
🙂
Haha, howdy cba 🙂
Nurse abb has been seen on Twitter, she posted there just the other day.
480 lars
great to hear
Nice one Aussie.
Cheers Arthur.
Good to hear Lars, please pass on my regards, thanx.
Afternoon tabs and cba.
Afternoon H2H.
And mine, Lars. 😉
Good to hear that abb is active on Twitter.
Hope all is going well for you, abb, if you are scanning the drinks. Best wishes, ma’am.
I was told on the arses that Ollie is drowning in work. Haven’t seen him here or there for ages.
tabs, where are you drinking pre-match on Saturday? Assuming you might have a brief pre-match beverage in mind.
Hi Bath, I’m having lunch with Andrew Napier and some of his crowd (basically the lot that drink in the opposite garden to us in the tollie), and then moving onto the Pub afterwards. No idea what Pub that will be, as I’m basically in their hands, but I will endeavour to find out the plan and let you know as soon as I do.
And yes your presumption is absolutely spot on. Will need to be heavily dosed to calm the nerves 😉
I’m starting already. 😀
Howdy h2h
@467 sc – It’s much simpler than that. You can be accused of ‘wanting Arsenal to lose’ if you categorically state that you want Arsenal to lose, as you did. Crosses the line. If you no longer ‘support’ the club, ie want them to win, then how can you continue to call yourself a supporter?
And don’t give me any guff about ‘the long-term good’. Any prognosis for what might happen in the future, both in the event of either Arsene staying or going, remains at this stage, complete hypothesis and guesswork. None of us know the future.
Support is pretty simple really. Go and watch your side and hope your team scores more than the other lot. Lose sight of that and amidst all the arguement and counter-argument you’ve lost the whole point of what it means, on any reasonable definition of the word, to be a ‘supporter’.
If you’re going on Saturday, I hope you enjoy your day (genuinely), and join with everybody else in roaring the boys home.
Heh H2H. Well played! 🙂
h2h
race you
to
the face plant
.
meh
.
stood up once
.
didn’t like it
.
*gargles*
Glad to hear Abb and Ollie and alive and hopefully well. Here’s hoping for their swift return to Le bar.
Give Andrew my best wishes. Good egg.
Totally agree with 491 – you are either an Arsenal supporter – i.e. support the team against all comers in all circumstances, or are not a supporter. The rest is Sophistry. I leave that to your profession, mate. :s
H2H – heh, just so long as you don’t drown at work! :/
cba – can I have my bucket back?
*threads killer pass through between CB and FB into the box au DB10*
Will do Bath, and will let you know as soon as I know what’s happening. Bathlets in tow on Saturday?
Shoots
The half ton
is mine
.
like a coiled spring
i’m rumbling
.
COME ON YOU me!!!
Well in N7.
And heh at the sophistry jibe Bath. Missed it first time around 🙂
Well in shitebag
You properly tabsed thst one cba! Glorious! 🙂
Heh – sorry cba.
Sniffed the chance for glory and went for it.
497
no
Potential next season shirtpreview:
https://twitter.com/ArsenalEdits/status/453566081488396288/photo/1
Gundogan is apparently out of the world cup, having basically not played this season. His career is said to be in doubt.
One less target for the summer. Shame – looked a hell of a player.
and
yer cards marked
n7
.
think
before
you
steal
a
man’s
thunder
.
(possibly scarier without
the hyphen)
.
oooohh
– steal
+steel
.
run away!
not even
a hyphen
.
*has apostrostroke*
sheesh
We are the Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham of Goonerholic, cba.
Except that neither of us are cunts.
haha
Sheringham
now
theres a face
ye wouldn’t
tire of
throwin tins of beans at
.
sorry
now
theres a face
at which
you would not
tire
of firing
tins of beans
.
hang on
i’ll get it
next grammatical pass
.
Non-cunts with good grammar. What could be better?
OK. Maybe Non-cunts with good grammar who score 40 goals a season, but not too much else. 🙂
Howdy bt8
Various hehs above, well in N7 and a true tabs for cba.
N7 @308. I would say that makes him perfect for our current set up. That is probably the first part of his interview??
😀
491 & 495 ; So I’m not a supporter now ? How dare you. If you guys want to wallow in the unholy mess that is this Wenger-Kroenke axis, go right ahead. It is quite clear that it is YOU that like the team to lose, by definition, because you can then show your “bona fides”. You wallow in it…. is my observation. It’s a noble stand and if that’s what floats your boat, fine, but how dare you accuse me of not being a real supporter. You havent a fu*king clue about me or my two fanatical Gooner sons. You have no idea about the people outside your clique here and their relationship with the football club (mine is 43 years by the way since Charlie George lay down on the Wembley turf in the FA Cup final). You and your ilk come on and complain about this, that and the other but then claim your undying commitment to the club and the manager. But, then again, the world consists of followers/sheep and people who take control of their lives and try to influence the world they live in. I want Arsenal to win the last 5 League matches and if they also lose the FA Cup final after winning those 5 games, I think it is absolutely the best long-term outcome for the football club. It’s a crisis situation this….and the alternative “Double” could be a disaster. FA Cup wont matter a f*ck in 6 mths time. During both semi and final I will still cheer for the team….but my conviction will remain about what such an outcome means for my beloved club and I’ll be kinda queasy if we lift it. For God’s sake, even in today’s Presser AW implied its been all about injuries and that all the basics are in place. They’re not ! Not at all. Even he has said the team can’t do the basics ! George Bush Snr once said “Watch my lips” ! You still need to do that with this guy now I fear. I understand u don’t want to desert AW, but the tide has turned and the majority of fans have literally turned in the last two months only, or even weeks. We, too, stuck by the man for 17+ years. Even the acclaimed holic and arseblog scribes have changed tack to differing degrees, are they now worse supporters for this ? COYG (long term) and up the arse (your two arses, 491/5 …basically !).
Heh @ Steve
There are “come and get me” pleas, and then there’s what Gundogan’s been doing this season. Shameless.
Right. Line in the sand time. Some of the back drinking has been great. Some has been like a petty playground squabble. People taking sides, people having to have the last word. It’s been like listening to my hormonal 14 year old being prodded with a stick by my mischievous 10 year old.
It’s time to get serious folks. We have a tricky cup semi final to play with the regular crop of injuries, against a team we should take to the cleaners. What could possibly go wrong????? Exactly. Let’s all be honest, we have hardly become known for our mental strength and toughness have we?? So, time to man up. Time to put aside petty squabbles and time to unite for one cause. Because I will tell you something. There are millions and millions waiting of cuddly Dave Whelan and his Wigan boys supporters, just for one day. The football world will want nothing more than a return trip for a final for them.
So as Bath rightly said, point the guns outwards, aim, pull the trigger and don’t stop firing until victory is sealed.
And another thing….
Why Fabianski in goal??? Please don’t give me this loyalty or it was my word bollocks. He is the number 2 and leaving in 6 weeks? Unless AW has decided he is the better option than Shezza it’s a ridiculous decision. A total no win situation.
All in my humble opinion anyway.
🙂
Steve t
Your 10 yr old
has a . cattle prod
or
indeed a cattle catholic
.
sort that out
@519 – Wow, wasn’t intended to provoke such a strong reaction, as my last line showed, but hey ho, I stand by my original point. If you don’t want the team to win any more then you have ceased, at least temporarily, to be a supporter.
Congrats on your 43 years of support. Don’t really buy any of that ‘how big’s your rattle’ self-aggrandisement, but just for the record I’ve been going for 44 years. Ho hum.
True I don’t know anything about you (beyond what you wrote), just as you don’t know anything about me. You wrote that you didn’t want them to win. It really is as simple as that.
Have a good day.
Well they keep on saying we’re delusional and maybe they are right but at least I can recognize delusional when I see it in somebody else. Check out the latest from Moyes:
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26965986
@519 I don’t think we are wallowing in this unholy mess. Most regulars in here have expressed, at different points over the last several seasons, our growing concerns at various developments, non-developments, actions and inactions at the club we all profess to support. All I will say however is that to want the team to lose a game or fail to win a trophy in the forlorn hope of achieving some longterm ambition is perverse for any supporter. I understand that the FA Cup is not a “big trophy” any longer but so do the people who run the club and earlier in the season they made it clear that they had two greater priorities. For reasons that are clear to all, the remaining objectives this season are 4th place and the FA Cup. I want us to achieve both. I think it’s do-able. I then want us to progress by improving the squad next season. I have no illusions that Wenger has made mistakes, nor indeed has he any illusions about that. However I also have no illusions that there is some miracle worker out there who can hit the ground running and do a guaranteed better job next season. I think he has earned his choice of departure time. I think it is possible he may choose to go this summer. However I also suspect he feels that he has unfinished business and I hope the FA Cup is the first step back to lifting the big prizes.
Congratulations on your vintage. Mine too. I also have two rabid Gooner offspring. Neither want us to lose any games at all.
@499, they are indeed. Late offer of tickets means the whole clan will descend like Picts fae the Hielans bearing red favours but nae claymores.
Just a thought for anyone who has considered secretly hoping we don’t win the FA Cup this season: we have very little idea at this stage which outcome is most likely to cause Wenger to stay in post/leave come May.
Given that the board are clearly not going to sack him, all that really matters is the Prof’s own mood. It’s quite possible that an FA Cup win and top four finish might give him an opportunity to depart with his head held high, and that another failure to win silverware might harden his resolve to stay a little longer and try again in the hope of a happy ending.
I have no insight whatsoever into what he’s likely to do, but I just wanted to point out that neither does anyone else on here (or, it would seem, at the club).
On that basis we are all free to throw our weight four square behind the team on Saturday and (hopefully) in the final, regardless of our preferred long term managerial scenario.
Cannons out, voices up, all other bollocks to one side for 90 golden minutes, and please god not extra time.
COYG
Oh, and for the avoidance of doubt, I say all of the above not because of some secret campaign to rally support behind the manager.
I just think it would be a good thing if on FA Cup Semi Final day a support that has had a tough old month and is perhaps a little fractured could rally behind the team and alongside one another.
It would be truly shit to win a first trophy in nearly a decade and be unable to enjoy it all together, whatever else might be going on in the background.
COYG
Quite frankly, this selection just isn’t good enough.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20140408/arsenal-pubs-for-fa-cup-semi-final
Not that I would know of course, never having visited Wembley myself. 🙂
Of course if they announce free beer in any of those pubs my opinion could change.
Ok 524, 526. We’re all supporters, that’s why we’re punching the ol keyboard. Let’s leave it at that. Cheers
sry 528 too
Steve T
I suppose he earned it and kept us those games if I’m not mistaken, I know he makes you feel nervous but I believe he’s on par with Wojtek if not better in my opinion. One of the reasons why he’s leaving it’s because fans don’t have any respect for him, which is sad in a way being called flappy ain’t nice.
I’m certainly with you on the other subject we need unite and stick together, get behind the boys and support the club. That’s what being a fan is all about even when shit hits the fan.
Cheers.
Cheers sc.
Cannons outward, gentlemen (and Snowy).
For anyone interested
http://livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/226057_chelsea_u_18_arsenal_u_18/
Better quality stream
http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=256381&part=sports
Arthur. My point is, play your number one. Whoever that is, play your number one. In my opinion, that ain’t Flappy. For me it’s just a no brainer.
Abb. I don’t do twitter. If you are reading these drinks then I hope you are in good health and still smiling. Your good grace and humour is missed greatly.
Heading to JJ Moons in Kingsbury pre match. Used it before games at wembley. Then head back one stop for the match.
Chuba is on the different level. Great talent.
Some excellent debate back and forth chaps. I have just heard from my old Neighbour at Highbury and the Grove that although he has allowed me to rent his ticket for five seasons for my mate down the road he doesn’t want to have anything to do with the club anymore and I am trying to get the club to transfer ownership of the ticket to me. He has about fifty years of support behind him and used to travel away but he is sickened by Wenger and Kroenke. I’m really sad that someone feels this way who loved the club so much and it shows how hard some people are finding it to accept the current situation . I’m still puzzled that someone feels this anti. I wouldn’t want Arsenal to lose or suffer with a gun to my head but I guess the current situation has polarised fans.
I loved LHTG’s eloquent and earlier post and I do feel some of Aussie’s pain . I read Untold Arsenal and sometimes it makes me feel like real rebel. They really are on the right wing of the AKBs! But we should be able to be a broad church and I hope at 5pm on Saturday everything we are united in our support for our wonderful
Club.
Thanks for the stream Lurky. Arsenal’s keeper is looking good but we need to step it up or will likely concede if things continue as they are were in the first half. It’s hard to see where an Arsenal goal might come from with Chuba so isolated up front.
Ttg, excellent comments as usual. Just a word to the wise re your mate. A friend of mine had a similar situation 2 or 3 years ago. He wanted to give up his season ticket (for different reasons), and we tried to transfer it to another friend. We got no joy, and to an extent I underand the Club’s position, what with a waiting list an’all. Far better, if at all possible, to carry on with your present arrangement.
Completely agree with your view of Untold Arsenal by the way. What the extremists at both ends don’t seem to get is that the sheer extremity of their arguments is far more likely to send people scurrying off to the other corner rather than converting to their cause.
Chuba Chuba Chuba Chuba.
Left footed blast!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chuba is the man, 8ball. Looking forward to see him playing for the first team. He has the required ingredients.
And I think that we have a very talented keeper in young Vickers. Impressive 5-6 saves so far, reads the game so well.
Not impressed with the u-18 central defenders though.
Anyway, along with our game I am watching Sevilla – Porto on my TV.
That Bacca fella is one hell of a striker. Think we should try and go for him this summer.
Tabs,thanks for this. My mate has decided that he can’t stomach the present regime and wants to chuck it in on a matter of principle. I think he is going a bit far but he won’t carry on with the arrangement. The guy I go with will be broken hearted as he has gone for the last five seasons with me and loves it. I’m not sure if there is a waiting list now but if we did win the Cup and qualify for the CL there might be. I will prevail on my mate if they say no
I appreciate your advice mate
Fair play Steve T
I still don’t like him being called that but I probably will never change your view on Fabianski 😉
People in Polska rate him higher than Wojtek, strange that but true.
How are the young guns doing? Can’t get this stream on me pad.
Tabs I use to read Untold Arsenal great perspective and all but always one sided I suppose. Good writers though it has to be said.
No worries Ttg. Hope you manage to change your mate’s mind.
Fair enough Arthur. I haven’t read it for years so I perhaps shouldn’t have commented.
Bad news-Chelsea won 2-1(but its two legs)
good news-Welcome Finley Walcott !
Arthur, young guns lost 2-1 and to be fair the result flattered us. Bu there are some positives as Chuba is a first team material and I am sure we will enjoy seeing him next year.
As for Fabianski, I think that he is a more natural talent GK than Woj. Better positioning, better shot stopper, better reflexes, better reader of the game. His only problem are the high balls and he sometimes lacks self esteem, which is a very bad thing for a GK.
Just my opinion.
Tabs
They are not that bad well have not read them in a long while so perhaps even I shouldn’t commented either 😮
Said it before, say it again – got absolutely no problem with Fabianski starting on Saturday. Has n’t put a foot or hand wrong wrong in any game he’s played so far this season, for me (maybe one slight misjudgement on a cross against Scouse Cunts), and fully expect him to have another good game on Saturday. We will really miss him when he’s gone.
Lurky
Thanks for the update on the young guns it’s appreciated!
I believe he’s lacking pitch time to be honest. I do agree he’s bad at crosses and sometime makes a meal out of it but if you can’t play you can’t improve either.
He did save that penalty at Bayern which I shall never forget.
Happy Fabianski is playing. Looked really sharp when he has played and Woj hasn’t lately in truth. Flappy gets a hard time for his early dodginess, but if it weren’t for injuries he might be our first choice right now. Top talent.
Seething outrage that Courtois can’t play against the chavs. Been one of Europe’s best keepers for 2 years and now those frog-spawn dickheads get to play a Euro semi against a back-up. UEFA really needs to get a grip on these loans, seriously disrupting the integrity of the tournament, as they do in the PL as well.
Loving these “Iranian Messi” rumours as well. I could really go for a bit of 19 year old youtube scout totti.
Everyone seems to agree we need a striker, winger, set of balls in midfield. Doesn’t have to be Vieira, Pires, Henry all in one summer. I reckon Gilberto, Overmars, Anelka would do the trick.
UTA 🙂
Was going to paste a link to a Fabianski highlight reel but a quick Google search failed to find one. Just kidding, Arthur. 😉
Esso knows @553, as usual.
Arthur. For me, calling him flappy is more a term or endearment. I think he is a very good shot stopper but he scares the living daylights out of me with crosses. My point though is this. The keeper is an essential, pivotal position. Defenders get used to a keeper. The way he plays, calls, marshals the defence etc. What I really don’t get is why we don’t play our best keeper. I really do not see the sense in playing one keeper in a massive game at Everton. Playing a different keeper in a wembley FA cup semi final and then changing it back for a massive game on Tuesday night??? If AW states that Flappy is number one then so be it. I just don’t get why we play our second choice keeper in a cup semi final????
Personally, if AW is still in charge next season I would not be surprised if Shezza was not the number 1 anymore.
Evening all, apologies for the lack of a post since Monday. I did plan the first of a two part semi-final preview tonight, but events have overtaken that desire.
Thorough celebration of our victory to be tomorrow.
Honest 😉
By the way, some magnificent self-policing in the last 24 hours. I’m not needed anymore 🙂
Lucky, Esso, and El Puno
Totally agree with your assessments cheers fellas. I will miss him too but hey he wants to play so can’t really blame him.
8Ball you had to do that didn’t ya? Ha ha 😀 Don’t mind me carry on.
Sevilla are destroying Porto even with ten men.
OK Arthur, here’s one. 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIuE8M1tU74
I just want us to have a number 1 keeper and to play him.
Assuming both are fit, who plays on Tuesday night??!
Szczesny for me.
Ttg,
I have a mate who did manage to transfer a ticket. It was convoluted but I will try to find out quite how they did it.
If Akpom is that good – and he did play on the pre-season tour – why does he not get a chance in a first team that can hardly buy a goal at the moment.
If it were my choice, Duvet Gillet El Puno would play Fabianski the rest of the season. Woj still seems prone to going off the boil (getting Billy Big Balls syndrome?) when he feels too comfortable. Think Flappy would do us better on current form and the younger Pole could do with the reflection.
Can’t imagine we spend any serious money on it, but interesting choice for Le Boss to make in the summer. With Woj tied down long term, I’d be seriously tempted to get a keeper to genuinely challenge for a couple of seasons. Very curious to see what happens. Begovic for 6/7mil would be ideal I reckon.
(For anything around £10mil you’d have to seriously consider Casillas as well. Been through it all and one of the best in the world at his position. That must just be paper talk though.)
UTA
564 – I’m baffled Akpom hasn’t had a run out. Looks stunning to me. I have a serious man crush there.
Have to say that I have been less nervous with Fabianski in goal this season than Woj.
Granted Woj was greatly improved this season but there is always the chance he will do something bizarre with a clearance, and the last three or four weeks have not been great.
I am amazed but pleased Fabianski has managed such a turn round.
He will now be a loss I think.
Night folks. Some Sardar Azmoun for your wank banks:
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/arsenal-bid-2m-for-rubins-sardar-azmoun-the-iranian-lionel-messi-metro/
UTA
Great article H’, great & sappy drinks from some in the bar here. Everything adds up to something.
First and foremost, am happy Fab is manning the post. And I wish he sees of the remaining games.
Second, it’s good everyone is able to see the holes a few gooners saw earlier & spoke up, only for them to be tagged all sorts of evil. This should be a lesson for us all. When people err their views, don’t be in a hurry to condemn, look at it analytically.(an example is some people still speaking poorly of Fab, it’s annoying).
Third, whomever wants to leave the club is free, including Wenger. In as much as I love him so much & believes he is in the best position to lift the club & fans, he is not infallible. If he has decided to go, so be it.
Fourth, I personally want Sagna to go. He’s no longer at his best. I’d play Jenks for the balance of the games if I was the manager. No player is a greater than this club.
Fifth, Gibbs isn’t better than Monreal & Podolski remains our best LW & most natural finisher, Wenger should play him regularly.
Finally, we need no more than five signings in the summer- a quality striker, a DM, a winger who can play on any side, a CB who can play RB too and perhaps a goalie. We’d be done.
8 ball
That’s exactly what I’m talking about pure class ha ha 🙂 good find indeed!
Steve
I know where you are coming from, usually number one takes over in such important games, but we also know that Arsene likes to give other players chances in different competitions. Fabianski played in Munich and did really well considering, last season and this season too. He also improved a great deal and he earned his place in this semi. I remember you saying at The Tollie before the LWC’s game when the team sheet came out you weren’t impressed ha ha.
Yes he didn’t do himself any favours when he had the chance to shine but since Szczesny was made number one he tried his best to prove himself. I for one find him more mature and from experience the better keeper. Both of them are good don’t get me wrong both of them have their own qualities. Sometimes Szczesny can be hot headed with his dribbling and I hope it won’t come to him doing a Boruc one day.
Has anyone seen OG interview on Pravda.com?
Interesting that, even he talks about going back to the basics, questions commitment and desire. Early signs are good hope they really took it to their hearts.
Did anybody notice our number 12, the second half substitute in the U-18s, seemed to be emulating Giroud’s hair style? That and his number made me wonder if there is a bit of man worship going on.
I must say I have thoroughly enjoyed the debates, the commentary and the time on here more than usual in this post.
Cannons outwards – got it.
In that vein here are my thoughts for arsene.
1) he should go back too what made him successful in the first place.
2) no doubts, full commitment to his beliefs and go for it and if it doesn’t work, well then just say fuckity fuck, that didn’t work now did it… But at least you had a big go.
3) take the fucking handbrake off, in fact rip the fucking handbrake out of the vehicle for good. It doesn’t work when on anyway
4) stop doubting yourself arsene and pump the team up against the world.
5) this is your chance it’s Wigan FFS, get in there and mix it up, let’s use some of the pent up disappointment and anger as a recipe for success and build a true winning mentality
6) the firing squad is out for arsenal whilst we have a few head wounds, lets man up, pass that ball like no tomorrow and shoot their goals out
6) and arsene choose the most appropriate and attacking side you can.
Cannons outwards from aussie
Oh – and arsene, good luck….
Holic @559- I would have to agree that your regulars have done a fine job in respectfully keeping the focus on what’s important at this time.
Considering some of our views on all things arsenal seem so far apart and broad, they have done a sterling job in showing we all actually want the one single thing
“Arsenal to do do well”
You are the steve jobs of arsenal – your culture has truly filtered through the team.
Cannons outwards.
@Aussie
Bang on – agree with all of that.
Drink on the bar from me.
Cannons outwards! COYG!
….and they lived happily ever after 🙂
8 Ball
I couldn’t get a stream going so missed it. You should check his hair doo now though wtf?
Glad to see some understanding back on the bar a round for all please landlord 😉
Lucky a double for you for that comment ha ha
Lucky = Lurky
Bloody iPad spelling
A bit like Shrek and Fiona 😉
My email account has started sending out spam, sorry to any of this bar that are in my address book, barman mainly.
Please ignore.
Sorry.
Mark
Steve T and the Flappy debate.
I sincerely wasn’t impressed with Shez at Chelsk recently, thought he could have done a lot better. Fabby dabby dozy in the Cup works fine for me 😀
I wonder who might be Fiona, Arthur? 🙂
Garsguns @ 463, heh!
Trev @ 465, thank you haha 😛
tabs @ 475, thanks mate, and the same here 🙂 Is Mike coming along on this occasion?
And here we go again more Flappy calling ha ha
Lurky
I’m sure there is no need to disclose this information 🙂
We are the Arsenal and we are the best,
We are the Arsenal so fuck all the rest…
Believe…
Holic
Too right my friend!
How are you Arthur? Hope the family is well?
One of the most hilarious pics on twitter at the moment, I had to share.
Spurs fans doing Ade salute
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bk3WbTPIEAEFiO0.jpg:large
A good laughter before sleep. Night all.
Steve T @ 522, i’m happy to see Fabianski in goal on Saturday, it was partially his efforts in every round previous to this upcoming one that got us to where we are right now.
In my personal opinion, when Mancini specifically reneged on his public ‘promise’/declaration to play Pantilimon in the final as he had in all previous rounds of the competition last year, Man City got exactly what they deserved in getting turned over by Wigan with their number 1 Hart in goal.
If (and I very much hope we do) progress to the FA Cup Final, it may end up being Szczesny that starts the final & I’ll happily accept the boss’ decision as it would have been made considering factors me & you are not exactly privy to, but at least that decision would have been made in a manner respectful of the two goalkeepers and befitting of the great club that the majority of us who visit this fine establishment support 🙂
Such a thing simply would not be possible at Man City because they are a club lacking in any ethics or manner of decorum at all 😆
Since I’m being kept awake by my man flu I thought I’d open my cake hole after days of just reading practically every single comment made in the bar.
On the topic of the boss, there is nothing original in my head that can summarise my feelings. If he walks, I worry about where we finish next season. If that’s outside top 4, I wonder how many seasons to get back to the top table. If he stays, I worry about unsatisfactory transfer business. (Then I think, if I knew for sure who’s to blame for our desperate trolley dash transfer tactics, I’d be making a lot more than I currently do. So I give up speculating on it.)
All in all, I’m happy. Happy I don’t have to make these killer decisions myself.
Another reason to be cheerful is Saturday, provided the man flu doesn’t finish off my chances of an afternoon/evening out with the lads that’s been planned since before filofaxes were invented (did anyone ever have one of those? I did. A mini one with mini ring binder bits in it, and you could buy mini inserts like a skinny calculator that had holes down the side for clipping into the mini rings. It was deeply, deeply uncool).
I have to say Fabs in goal is not a decision that I have a problem with. He shook off the “Flappy Hands” mantle many moons ago. True, there were times when you saw his name in the line up and would have sold your missus into slavery, signed over all property you owned to Moaninho (and delivered the documents in person tied up in a red silk bow) and become a recluse living at the pinnacle of Everest – all this just to see someone else play in goal. But he’s looked the equal of Chezzer pretty much every time he’s pulled on the gloves in the past two seasons.
On top of that, our Goals Against column has recently read like something written by Bram Stoker and edited by Mary Shelley, with a foreword and introduction by Stephen King. I’m not for one minute suggesting Chezzer is the only one to blame for this, but would a new face and a decent pair of hands (not to mention a cracking bowl haircut) not freshen things up in the Not Shipping Goals Like They’re Going Out Of Fashion Department?
Whoever you are, let’s get into the spirit of this. It’s the FA Cup semi at Wembley. 11 lads and 1 club legend need and deserve our full support – and from this corner, either with a group of mates in a battle cruiser or a sofa in South London (surrounded by Lemsip and tissues), they’re going to get it every step of the way.
If everyone is now big Fab fans then why did he not play last Saturday? Why is he unlikely to play on Tuesday???
I’m not going to get into a debate about the qualities of either keeper. For the record I think both have improved. But in the eyes of the manager one must be better at this moment in time than the other????? I just don’t understand why we would ever contemplate not playing out best side in an FA. Cup semi final??? I really don’t get it.
Based on recent goal difference, maybe Wenger feels Fabs is actually the better choice at the moment? Perhaps the Everton game was the last straw and he said to himself, “I’ve had it with Scsz. First the selfie and now this?”
Holic
Thanks for asking everyone is well, hope same goes for you?
Steve
I don’t think it’s a debate on who is better they are only personal views, Wojtek is No. 1 and there is nothing wrong with that. All keepers make mistakes at some point. I know why Wenger went with Wojtek he’s young and already on top and a future of Arsenal. Fabianski is older, mature and yet again did well for himself for his send off perhaps so he keeps his place.
I just don’t see nothing wrong with Fab being in goal, after all he’s not the only one playing 😉
Just to add,
Szczesny is the main keeper in the Premier League and the rest so what do I know, all this comes down to is the fact that Fab earned his place in that semi, he kept in the completion few times if my memory is right.
This is just my own opinion 🙂
@588: Lurky, that was hilarious! They all look like bellends, especially the fella with the glasses taking his selfie in the toilet 😆
Slides a back pass toward Flappy, carefully angled so he can’t possibly knock it into his own net …
Shoots?
Well taken goal, ecg. Where the heck is everyone?
Öskar
I think I’ll post a back-up since a couple of the above will likely be deleted.
Make me a winner, ‘holic!
Öskar
Shoots again?
Same thing I was thinking Oskar. I’m a bit worried I may have scored an own goal on bt8b’s backpass to Flappy.
Boom
Worth a shot I suppose
Pretty confusing. Hope we confused the opposition more than we confused ourselves. 🙂
Arsene has advised that he chose fab for Saturday because they had agreed to on that decision way back and that Fab has done a good job to date and deserved the chance.
when asked about woj or fab for the final he said lets wait and see.
Just a reminder, as if one were needed, that tomorrow is the 25 year anniversary of Hillsborough.
Hopefully all of us will be able to find some time in the day to stop and think for a moment about those who lost their lives.
Putting all rivalries to one side, the events of that day were a tragedy and the cover up that followed was a national disgrace. Anyone who attended a football match in the 80s or before will know: it could have been any of us.
JFT96
So given the worst case injury scenario, here would be my team for tomorrow:
Flaps,
Sagna, BFG, Tommy V, Monreal
Ramsey, Arteta
Gnarby, Santi, Poldi
Akpom
(Giroud to bring on in his cup super-sub role, a-la Everton innit.)
Bench: Woj, Jenks, Giroud, the kids eek.
Well in ECG
EP
I heard somewhere that Kallstrom could play tomorrow. In addition to that, Sanogo provides the necessary movement to shift defences, so it may be worth giving him a start if he can show the form he produced against Liverpool and Bayern.
Wigan’s game plan will be simple. All men behind the ball, press us to stop us playing and counter. However, it may be worth noting that if they try to press high up the field and our passing is nice and quick they could become outnumbered and create pockets for us to push forward. They will not want to lose shape so will try to keep it compact and deep.
However, they could decide to make a game of it. After all, this is Wembley and a few teams have played us at our own game this season so far. Right?
Hmmm? 🙂
Sorry, that team should read sonogo not akpom. Got that kid on the brain it seems 🙂
I am getting excited now. Not long to go now. Hoping for a convincing win so we can all show out faith in AW and continue to build.
Well said GT. I’ve seen those tactics played against us so many times I’m not even sure how they’re supposed to be countered.
All I know is the following scenario is often how it plays out:
We attack. Lots. With lots of players.
They just sit while we pass left to right. Waiting.
1-2 forwards are left way up by the halfway.
After yet another failed cross/tippy-tappy-flicky-footy attack, they win it back.
And play it quickly up field. You know what happens next.
PS – How do the likes of Chelsea deal with those tactics? (Question to anyone who cares to educate me)
Nice touch @ 605 n7
Morning ‘all
PR
Let’s hope we will deploy different tactics for Saturday to be honest I rather the more direct approach. I think they need to eat grass for that matter!
Getting excited my self a little has to be said…good shout N7 and I agree with GT, they will have 10 men behind the ball if not 11.
Cannons outward and fully loaded ! Top Stuff Aussie.
El Puno- sadly Gnabry is on the injured list…and don’t forget Kallstrom- I have a dream that he and Diaby will score the winning goals in the Final. Remember you heard it here first.
Trev,
Thank you so much for looking into this. It is already taking a convoluted route but this is a good sign perhaps ?
Lots of positivity is the order of the day. We should be marching on Wembley with the scent of triumph in our nostrils
COYG!!!
No predictions. Nothing. I’m not saying a word.
Apart from these words, obviously.
Öskar
Wise words as always Oskar.
Canons pointed firmly outwards. Look at it this way. Tomorrow could be the first day of our bright new future??? Think positive people.
It’s about time we gave someone a good hiding although I don’t really expect us to shed the collywobbles quickly enough for us to do so. A decent win would be nice.
Nice to ask a question of thousands and know the answer already – says a lot about attitude.
Rob
Move along, you come here and abuse someone you don’t even know.
No one to teach you manners I suppose, but hey what can we expect from someone like you?
Now fuck off!
Hopefully 7 games left to play. Hopefully 7 wins. Top 4 and FA cup winners. Not a bad end to the season and a great platform to build on for the future.
Canons firmly pointing outwards. Bring it on people. Real Gooners of the world unite. It is time to put aside any differences and support our great club.
Keep the faith.
Well said Steve!
Here we fucking go!
My prediction is an all Premier League final and I don’t see any reason why we can’t beat both Wigan and Hull.
We have five winnable games left in the league. Players hopefully returning.
Win all 7 and despite the wobbles I guess we would all be happy with that???? Well, all true fans at least.
That’s right lads, forward, march and conquer!
Fkcu Wigan those inferior cnuts! 🙂
PR @ 612
The answer simply put is to play with passion and desire! We know we can beat Wigan, but tactically it’s a case of pull them out of shape and force them to play.
Tommy V will have his work cut out with those counters. If we do start with Monreal, my guess is that he will be a target, so midfield will have to snuff out as many runs from midfield as possible.
Full concentration and focus is vital to beat a team like Wigan who come to win! This is the biggest game of their season so far!
Trust me!
MNB. “Doctor doctor. I’m in real bother. My knob has turned orange.”
Doc. “Blimey, that’s sounds serious. Tell me about yourself, tell me what you do.”
MNB. “I don’t do anything really. I just sit at home watching my Gareth Bale DVD’s and eating Wotsits.”
😀
@Steve
Win those last seven games and I think what we are left with is a successful season which nonetheless revealed a number of material glaring weaknesses which urgently need to be addressed.
Would be fantastic to celebrate some silverware.
N7. I think the cup and top 4 is a minimum requirement. Get that all secured. Then it’s time to look at what we have and add the quality we need. There are no excuses this time.
Steve T
I’d be very happy with that and so would almost every side in the League. Spurs ( fifty three years without a title challenge, twenty three years without an FA Cup) would kill for it
Steve @ 633 Ha ha ha haaaaaa
TTG 53 and counting 🙂
617 – TTG, yikes, back to the drawing board.
Can’t see we have much choice player wise but to go Ramsey, Kim, Arteta through the middle. Hand has been forced but I like the result: we will be solid through the middle and can match wigan when they break, rather than having people running straight at the centre-backs. Plus, we can push Poldi up high, free him from the side of the game he is weakest at and get him in the box ffs.
To borrow a line from the host, the El Puno pound is on a Kallstrom goal if he starts. Set piece terror awaits Wigan. (Being a weekend, second quid on Ramsey for a scoring return 🙂
Wow
I miss a day and lost count of how many back drinks there are, I will mainly wait until the guvnor puts out his pre game post.
Just a quick one on Santi regarding morale I would say if any of his team mates want him stoned on the training ground, I would only say he who is with out sin cast the first stone. Seeing as most of them were prescent for these less than great performances would have to walk back into the changing room with head held towards thier chest.
Cheers
2-1 Arsenal. Ramsey and Giroud.
COYG
I agree Ramsey to score and Arsenal to win a nervy cagey whatever game.
The question remains will an FA cup win cover up the cracks or it a successful season?.
Tomorrow is not the day for us to question, its the day to support the team and hopefully in the end, we celebrate. This team needs our full backing, so lets keep the cribbing, jibes, rants aside and say it loud- We are Arsenal Fc, by far the greatest team the world has ever seen.
Come on Arsenal, time to bring the cup home.
Aussie a full round of drinks on me (and to SSY). I too have struggled with some of the decisions made, the apparent mental fragility and the catastrophic collapses of this season. You post, you may stir, you agitate but you have the Arsenal at heart and the sensibility to accept when you’re close to the line and to acknowledge it, then continue to post so props to you.
To all you other fine ‘Holics – stirling work especially the recent postings from Porco, Oskar, N7, ATG, Ttg, Steve T and many others in keeping the faith. Thanks all, ah to hell with it the rounds on me. (Now where’s Lars credit card ?)
Could be important for that final push 😉
Arsène Wenger has given the following fitness updates ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final clash with Wigan at Wembley.
on late fitness tests…
I cannot give you concrete team news because we have so many uncertainties about Chamberlain (groin), Gibbs (ankle), Rosicky (thigh). There will be last-minute decisions on those three players. They are all 50:50.
on Ozil and Koscielny…
Ozil and Koscielny are still out. I think the earliest to come back for Koscielny could be Tuesday and for Ozil it could be next Saturday. That would be a boost because at the moment we have too many players out and it’s important we get them back. We know that at this period of the season, the number of players we had out is too many.
on Diaby…
Diaby is back to full training next week. He could be available soon, maybe in a couple of weeks.
on Ramsey…
He is ready to start and certainly I will decide to start him because Flamini is suspended.
on Fabianski…
Fabianski will play in goal. It’s not a difficult decision because it’s a decision that has been made for a long time.
on whether Fabianski would play in the final…
Let’s play on Saturday. You play football on your merit and your performance and he has turned up with top-level performances until now in every single game. He has done extremely well. He has been man of the match in the three games he has played.
on Wilshere…
It’s all going well but he has not started to run. I think that’s planned for next week. At the moment all is going well.
LHTG
Great stuff from everyone indeed! Looking forward to tomorrow now.
I’m also taking my little Gooner to an Arsenal Event next Thursday, definitely interesting to see how it all works. He’s certainly looking forward to it. It’s a free session down Hampshire way.
If anyone else in interested check http://www.playthearsenalway.com/
and look for Free Family Festival.
LTHG- it is me who should be shouting you. Cheers mate.
Cannons outwards boys.
I can smell a victory.
I can feel it in my arsenal bones.
This time the team regardless of injuries will be too strong.
They Wil be fired up and hopefully some of Santis words fire them up even more than usual.
Liking the drinks today 🙂
Well played everybody! Come on Arsenal!
Bloody bunch of happy clappers…….
What did I miss? 😛
Haha, not much Dr Z 😉
a dose of the clap, Dr Z?
Is the the magic of the FA Cup I can smell in the air? 🙂
Nope it’s the penicillin. 🙂
Does anyone get the feeling that Arsenal’s famously brittle confidence, and Wigan’s proven capacity for upsets, are combining to make Arsenal seem like the underdogs? The hype machine around the semi final is going into overdrive, and all I’m hearing about us is ‘Birmingham this, Bradford that, Blackburn the other’ and about Wigan it’s constantly ‘Man City twice in a row, organised, form team etc’.
Even before I wrote this I couldn’t shake the feeling that this tie doesn’t have a favourite. Our penchant for spectacularly bottling almost every single crunch fixture, coupled with the feeling that more than ever, Arsenal need to NOT CHOKE for once, have got my nerves jangling badly. I’m really excited and browning my pants at the same time.
Screw my man flu. Beecham’s mixes with vodka just fine, doesn’t it??
Only works if it’s a double. Porco. 😉
Rosicky, Gibbs and the Ox trained with the team today but Gnabry didn’t .hopefully that represents good news for tomorrow
Porco Rosso
Just extract paracetamol and you should be fine 🙂
I read some article yesterday somewhere that the pressure is on us and perhaps it is we have invited that pressure with our latest form.
The players that take to the field tomorrow under no circumstances can think or allow any thoughts of fear. Keep it tight, pass the ball, put pressure on run for your lives, dig deep and eat that grass if you have to!
@ ATG, I will eat every blade of grass in Wembley, with a topping of dog poo, if it means we can win.
Okay, okay.
Just over twenty four hours to go, and I must admit, I’m completly bricking it. I truly hope that AW is playing some kind of mind game and the 50/50 prognosis of our struggling for fitness players is a pessimistic one to lull Uwe’s team into a false sense of security and come kick off time all three will be fighting fit and raring to go.
There really is only one team with anyting to lose and that is not those stripy basterds from oop north. Every one outside our club wants us to fail, have no doubts about that, we are the scalp, they are are the David, it truly is us against the world and I can only pray that Arsene has used that fact to spurn a siege mentality within the squad.
I’d set up the team like this;
**********Fab*************
NM/Gibbs**TV5**BFG**Sagna
*********Kallstrom**********
****Ramsey******Chambo****
**Rosicky************Poldi**
***********Sanogo**********
Which would still leave;
OG, Santi, Arteta and Gnabry, among others on the bench to bring on if needs must.
Very relieved to see the match is on ITV tomorrow and not the dreaded BT Spoilt.
Have no fear Holics – Wembley minus Me = Victory Assured.
They always win there when I can’t go – never when i can.
Steve T,
A positive note on Fabianski playing in goal which I understand you don’t like.
However, knowing that they have a chance of the ‘glory’ games too, should keep the squad players motivated and thereby inprove competition for first team places. Nah?
Well, it would if any of them were ever fit.
Arsene saying today that we have too many injured players ……. but, Diaby could be back in around two weeks !! Not even three weeks. 😉
Champions League distraction coming up.
Courtois cleared to face Chelsea by UEFA despite “private loan terms” stipulating against it.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26972498
Also, both first legs of the semifinals are apparently scheduled to take place simultaneously in Madrid. It could be a good time to head over there to have some cervezas and patatas braves.
Now, to return to Wembley. 🙂
different days, bt8b.
Let’s go guys we can do this. Like Tupac said “me against the world” It’s Definitely Arsenal against the world. COYG!!!!!!!
My ticket’s not even here yet and even I’m getting more into the mood now… 🙂
You lot’s positive mood is infectious today, there’s not even a need to call for the nurse 😉 (Unless that nurse would be abb, back to join us for this momentous occasion)
I hope your first visit to Wembley ends better then mine Wind.
A tearful train journey home after losing to the mighty Ipswich. 🙁
Unlike Trev, I have seen us victorous at the (former) Twin Towers, but not to teams we were expected to beat, so maybe it’s better that I’m not there either. 😉
Ramsey picks up the ball in his own half after a stunning tackle !
He plays the ball wide too ……………….
Wind
Thats a little concerning that your ticket has not arrived yet what if you have to leave early on Saturday morning? Can they do you a reprint just in case at the stadium?
H2H
I had to be bribed out of the toilet by a pound *great money at that time*after that game, crying I would never support them again.
Many trophies later the memory of that dredfull day still remains 🙁
Thanks H2H
An hour till the inconvenience called work ends. A relaxing evening with my ladies. Early night. Morning trip to Bugaboo Land, a.k.a. Surbiton to help my brother with some digging. Feel virile in the process. Back in the car. Drop the ladies back home. Cup of tea. Head out to meet the lads. Settle down for the game.
Bring it on.
Damn! I was trying to stay calm but you people got me would up! I’ll be at the pub bright and early tomorrow (Seattle time) for breakfast beers and a 2-0 to the good guys!
COYG!!!!
wound, not would…
Thanks H2H 🙂
Just had to give the Arsenal Ticket Box Office a call, disappointingly my ticket didn’t arrive in yesterday or today’s post 🙁
Got a duplicate ticket waiting for collection tomorrow at one of the Wembley Ticket Offices, hopefully it shouldn’t affect tomorrow’s pre-match pub plans too much.
ATG @ 659, that’s exactly what’s gonna happen 🙂
I bet it comes on Saturday morning haha, knowing my luck these days 😛
Here’s my predicted team:
Fabianski
Sagna
Per
Verm
Gibbs
Arteta
Ramsey
Ox
Santi
Poldi
Giroud
I don’t see him dropping Arteta or Giroud.
Giroud has scored in every FA Cup game he’s played in this season and is a reliable goal-getter against weaker sides. I think this would be a hell of a game to hand Kallstrom his first start, regardless of what we might all feel about MA.
The only change I can imagine to the above is if Gibbs isn’t fit, or he decided to prefer Rosicky to Ox.
When you look at it, the above side isn’t actually all that bad – they just need to make sure they hit the ground running.
COYG
This gave me a giggle in the afternoon mailbox at F365:
Would be interested to know if myself and a few friends in work are very unusual or if anyone else does this. We basically re-work any football cliches into the workplace setting. Here’s what I mean:
Any trip to the HR office involves ‘showdown talks’. May or may not include issuing a ‘take it or leave it offer’.
Colleagues routinely do various tasks ‘almost too well’.
Any mistakes whatsoever are ‘schoolboy errors’ unless they are committed by a foreigner in which case they were being ‘naive’.
Unpopular edits/instructions from a manager and they have ‘lost the office’.
There are lots of ‘top’ employees but very few ‘top top’ ones.
Anyone fired have ‘been given their marching orders/sent for an early bath’.
Wondering what kind of bonus you’re going to get? ‘How much will be in the warchest’?
Getting a promotion = being ‘put straight into the first team’.
Literally anything written down: ‘He’s put pen to paper’.
Looking for alternative employment? Other companies have been put on ‘red-alert’.
Updating your CV is ‘putting yourself in the shop window’.
The office is ‘down to the bare bones’ if anyone at all is out sick.
Any disappointments, no matter how minor, will result in ‘dusting oneself down’ and subsequently getting ‘back to the drawing board’.
…And seeing as I give advice on essay writing…
Any student who builds a really good argument but just falls short of drawing a logical conclusion will be deemed to have ‘tried to be a bit too precise’.
If a student gets upset at not being able to answer a question I’ll wonder if they ‘lack a little bit the mental strength’.
Excellent interview on Arsecast with a blogger from Wigan, for anyone who wants an intelligent Wigan perspective.
Ramsey @658 has been left hanging, poor fella.
No one there for the pass 🙁
1971. Could be that 658 a bit early for the buildup to the century, but you are making a mighty effort. 😉
…. Oxlade Chamberlain receives Ramsey’s long, raking pass.
Looks up. Spots a runner on the opposite flank… floats a thirty yard ball over the right back….
Yes BTA agreed. I like the way it ended:
Come on Arsenal, for fuck’s sake. Just do it.
A’ 71.
Didn’t mean to bring you down, but it is important to remember the bad times, it makes the good ones all that sweeter, for example 12 months after that dissapointment we were lording at Wembley after beating the mancs, a completly different homeward journey followed.
N7.
You’re team probably closer to the mark.
Didn’t Giroud come off the bench to score in some of those games>
8 ball your right.
H2H, what a horrible day that was but we have all had fantastic days since. 🙂
Dont forget i got a £1, so not all bad. I could get the Beano,Marathon bar *not snickers*, packet of crisps and a can of coke for that. 🙂
A fantastic 45m pass by 8ball towards the box….Fab comes out slides and knocks the ball to N7…..
N7, still stunned to have been called late on Friday night by Arsene and asked to play, sprays the ball forward, then advances on goal. He’s after his hat trick but the Wigan defenders are keeping a close eye on him…
H2H
True. Might be Sanogo though. I jus think Arsene is likely to go with the greater goal threat.
I know that on current form the words “Giroud” and “greater goal threat” don’t belong in the same sentence, but there you go…
It’s a tough one, N7.
In other news, I see that the Hull game has been moved to Easter Sunday. Meh.
Stunned by the crowd reaction to his last effort, suddenly realizes he should be attacking the other net. Apologizes to his teammates.
Where are the Holics drinking tomorrow, Gooner Kevin and I don’t know The Wembley area? The last time I was there to see the Gunners was the 71 Cup final and I’ve only been back once since, for the Olympic quarter final match.
Can’t say I’m over optimistic but will give the boys 100% support, let’s hope the team are up for it!
Hope to see some of you tomorrow.
COYRs
Well Delia, at least you’ve got a 100% Arsenal record. hope that continues. 🙂
Wigan don’t have any player in the list of top goalscorers in the Championship.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/championship/top-scorers
It looks like another club planning to counterattack us. Are we ready?
Looking over the Wigan players it is remarkable for a recently relegated club how many of the players have been retained from last season in the Premier League. At least we will be familiar with them.
Wind,
It will be interesting to see who else is sitting in your seat when you get there tomorrow.
Well, your ticket must have gone somewhere, right ??? 😉
Don’t scare me Trev! 🙂
Trev
Don’t say that he’s already been calling the box office and all that 🙂
Looking at the team sheets, I really, really hope that Gibbs is fit.
I can see McManaman and Perch being used to target Monreal. Powell is also one for us to keep an eye on, I’m sure he’ll be looking to enhance his reputation.
N7
Me too I definitely prefer Gibbsy in there. Getting rather nervous here I have to say and excited ta the same time!
Perch to target Monreal?
Maybe Nacho should bring his fishing pole.
Sorry, Trev.
Perch Nachos? Is that similar to a fish taco?
Looks up, doesn’t see anyone around so knocks it off the defender for a throw in…
Looks like the ballboy has half inched the ball. 😉
As Etta James once sang, “At last” >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>