Two Up Front An Option For Arsenal?
Apr 19th, 2014 by 'holic
Eight days ago we would have been playing at Hull today (Saturday). In the era of television ruling the roost, however, travel and hotel bookings made by the supporters count for nothing. Sky belatedly says move it to Easter Sunday, and so it is. Listen to Arseblogger, Tim Stillman, and I chat about this and more on this week’s Arsecast. It being Easter there should be references aplenty here to crucifixion, crosses, and resurrection, but I’ll leave that to you all in the drinks.
Having opened with a thoroughly justified grumble it is worth noting, however, that the squad have had an extra day to recover from two strength sapping encounters in less than seventy-two hours against Wigan and West Ham. The team news, such as it was a couple of days ago, is encouraging. Mathieu Flamini is back after suspension, Mesut Özil is tipped to return to the squad (that will be a massive boost if so), and Nacho Monreal may recover in time, although we looked more solid defensively with the skipper at left-back on Tuesday.
There are those who will call this a forerunner to the Cup Final, but it is likely both sides will line up differently in a month from now. Hull’s striking duo, Jelavic and Long, are both cup-tied. The hosts are six points clear of the drop zone so one more win is probably still needed to ensure Premiership survival. They will not be taking this game lightly.
We go into the match off the back of what turned into an encouraging week. The win at Wembley may have been by the narrowest of margins but reaching the Final was far more important in itself than the manner of the victory. A superb second-half performance against West Ham was made all the better by the defeat for Everton the following night. Fourth place is back in our own hands again, but the pressure of the final four games has to be handled. At least we have experience, a LOT of experience, of coping with that pressure.
It is anyones guess who will start in midfield for Arsenal, but the return of Flamini offers the prospect of a rest for Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard has looked as though he has been running on empty in the last month. I would imagine that even if he does pass his fitness test that Mesut Özil will probably only get a brief late appearance from the bench. Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky were impressive on Tuesday night, and Kim Kallstrom, a few misplaced passes aside, provided a measure of calm assuredness in the centre. Then of course we have Aaron Ramsey available again.
More interesting may be how Arsene lines up his striking options. It is hard to see him changing from a lone striker at this late stage, but Lukas Podolski looked to provide a real threat when coming in alongside Olivier Giroud against West Ham. At least the alternative is there if required in the latter stages.
Where to punt the ‘holic pound has me scratching my head. We should have been lifted by the last week so I am inclined to bullishness again. a 0-3 away win can be grabbed at 18/1, and I am having a few coppers on Aaron Ramsey to score anytime at a market best of 16/5.
It will be very interesting to see how many who bought tickets for the away end make it. The fixture sold out to those with fifteen plus away credits but the late change of day will have shafted many travel plans on a holiday weekend. Those that have been able to accommodate the change face a cool and overcast afternoon. Here’s hoping traveling support and team make it a worthwhile trip for each other.
A quick reminder for 12-16 year olds. If you want to win a pair of tickets to the final home match against West Brom then click here to enter a competition that provides just that as a prize.
Have a good one ‘holics.
366 Responses to “Two Up Front An Option For Arsenal?”
I’ll have the first drink.
I’ll gaffle the second.
Tree
Virtual Trophy 🙂
[…] Goonerholic: Two Up Front An Option For Arsenal? […]
Everybody needs The Neighbour!
Solid post, ‘Holic.
The extra day surely affords our squad more time to recover from their recent exertions and ailments. So let’s find some positivity in Sky’s cock up. (And for the records, I doubt their objectivity).
I agree with you that the skipper looked very solid in his last outing but if Nacho is fit, Arsene will surely play him.
And 0:3? I like your optimism but the winning margin will be narrower than that, methinks.
Arsenal needs to create a momentum to carry us to the finish line. I have the confidence that we can do it.
Good down to earth post Holic, shame for the away fans this fixture was moved it’s certainly not fair on them one bit.
Hope most will still make it.
Heh @ Esso 🙂
Afternoon all, and thanks. Time to catch the last of the weekend sun, if the forecast is to be believed.
Like frank I doubt we’ll win it by such a clear margin as 3-0, I am in fact not even sure we’ll win at all. We *should* win it, but Hull have improved a lot since Long and Jelavic came into the team in January so we’ll have to come up with a good performance to win it. I am inclined to repeat zico’s line from before the Wigan game:
Just fucking win, Arsenal.
Good post Holic.
Two up front? I like the sound of that 🙂
LWC’s lost the lead just now their lead lasted one minute maybe? 🙂
Nice post Holic.
I don’t think we’ll see two up front until we get our big strong dominant central midfielder (with pace, which excludes KK somewhat).
Otherwise, what Lars said.
JFW, A (AOEBZ)
Right I’m off to bless me eggs 😀 it’s a Polish tradition after all.
Nice one guv’.
I truly sympathise with those who have had their plans ruined by some pencil licking tv exec shagstick. Absolutly scandalous that a game can be moved on a holiday weekend at such short notice. I can’t imagine that I’ll get to see too much of it either (live), holiday weekends are pretty busy here in the bar with the passing tourist trade, plus there’s nice weather forecasted so the it may be difficult to tear myself away from the beergarden.. (in a working capacity) Ofcourse the inconvience to me pales in comparison to those who have made unrefundable travel arrengements.
Clearly, I’m well redundant here! 😉
Midfield options returning, but we still need pace. You never mentioned Ox, H, so is he on the 3 week sabbatical?
TV rules, ‘Holic. That’s the long and short of it.
For what it is worth, neither Shane Long nor Jelavic have been on the winning side when playing against us.
Great stat that Ned.
I read in places that people were annoyed that we weren’t in for either of those strikers in the last windwow, seemingly ignoring the fact that they’re both a bit pooh.
Is Ox available for the game?
Eriksen plays for the wrong North London team. Good player.
H2H, that’s far too positive…they are both utter shite.
I could use a 3 week sabbatical.
Win the next match.
BMBD
Fulham really aren’t very good this season, are they?
Very annoying too that Christian Eriksen is playing so well. I liked it a lot better when he was useless.
H2H, Shane Long is a decent Premiership striker and no more: 22 goals and eight assists in 92 Premiership games. (By comparison Giroud has 25 goals and 12 assists in 66 games.) Long’s reputation hangs on his 2010-11 season when he scored 21 times and had 18 assists in 44 Championship games for Reading.
Heh Bath.
Lars, Lurky.
I always thought that Eriksen was decent. Ajax’ and the Ere Divise’s best player by some distance over the last few years he was there. Shame he went to that mob.
H2H in last drinks about music. Point taken. Just felt sorely provoked by two posts of music I definitely do not like. In fact, I think I’d rather have someone with a pneumatic drill outside my front door.
Intolerant snob – moi?
heh ‘holics…anyone think Diaby is gonna get a look in this season? is he good? I haven’t been around long enough to know what he was like pre-injury (which happened last century, right?)
I kinda like KK…at least he’s big, and doesn’t seem to get bossed around too much 🙂
H2H: I do remember you saying that, I thought he looked a bit too lightweight in the games I saw him (which, admittely, weren’t that many and I think all of them were in the Champions League) but I have to admit I was wrong. Well, that or maybe he’s just grown stronger since then.
DK, cheers sir, and sorry if I came across a bit blunt. It’s just that I dedicated almost 25 years of my life working in that “not real” music scene, so I can get a bit bitchy about it.
Next round’s on me.
Outstanding, Holic. Best preview since West Ham ! 😉
I’ll go for 3-1 to the riproaring purely because I think both our defensive wings look a bit stretched at the moment whoever plays there.
Bath, agreed.
4-4-2 looks most unlikely until we have a beast in the middle again – but it would be fun once such is acquired.
In the meantime I think 4-5-2 would be our best guarantee of success.
Yeah, I know. 😉
Ned – fine figure work as usual.
Maybe we could get Eriksen in place of one of our ageing midfielders next season – or is he too contaminated now ?
Jelavic ? Nah! And we would never play Long. 😉
Peter,
Abou was ya ya before many had ever heard ya ya.
His career arch was tragically, needlessly cut short by a cynical hackish thug. You should go find some pre-assault Diaby on YouTube. It’s worth your trouble.
Sadly, I do not think he will ever again feature for us. It makes me want to drink every time I think of the promise that has gone unfulfilled.
BMBD
Peter,
Diaby has no defensive awareness at all BUT – I think if that horrendous leg break had not befallen him, he would be one of the top three players in the Premier League.
Had he stayed fit his potential was huge and Arsene Wenger thought he had secured the pick of his age group when he signed him.
Sadly, we have seen that potential starting to be realised in about 3 matches.
How he has kept himself motivated for around eight years of continuous injuries is a mystery to me.
Poor fella.
Nice one Lars. It was always going to take him, as it does with most imports, a while to get used to the PL.
No worries though, another mediocre year at the Swampies and he’ll be off. 😉
Arc, Damn this auto correct. I really must proof my posts.
Trev, if we could take Sol from that lot, surely Eriksen could be employed? I quite like him…then again, I thought Lamela would be a better player.
Off to do something I do know…walking the Gooner hound…Mason.
BMBD
Very sad story about Abou I really rated him he’s a like a forgotten record that never really made it to the top. I know Arsene has stuck by him and still does. I do think he’s been out for so long I can’t see him coming back.
Look up that goal he socred against the mugmushers at the Ems! Quality stuff!
Lonestar, I thought the same about Lamela. He was stellar for Roma last season, great potential. Where exactly went wrong for him one can only wonder. Oh wait… he signed for Spuds.
If Sherwood doesn’t like Sandro, like he said, I’ll be glad to have him at Arsenal.
Sandro, meh.
Why not? 🙂
Meh, I said Lurky… MEH!!!
🙂 😉
Excellent preview ‘holic as well as a highly justified rant against the late changing of the fixture. As one of the “far away” support who watch the games exclusively on TV, if that, I would like to join in solidarity with the away supporters who make a real difference at our away matches and who have been so unjustifiably shafted by the TV powers that be.
Well, the results so far today mean that Hull are all but safe from relegation, mathematically they are not but in reality there is no way at least four teams shall make it past them in the remaining matches now that Fulham lost and Cardiff only drew to Stoke. I think that is probably a bad thing for us as that means Hull can play with no pressure at all tomorrow.
Ramires just whacked Seb Larsson very deliberately in the face. No reaction from the ref.
Chelski will lose… they are crap!
HAhahhah.. shite is as shite does!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAJJJJJJJGHHHDFGZSDFHSDGHDFG
AAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
HAHAHAHAHAHAH
HAHAH
AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Brandon should lick Poyet’s arse till the end of his life.
..and Thus i have spoken 😀
Hahahahhaha!
#43, Lars, don’t see that logic of Hull being a bigger threat now they’re “relegation free” after just watching Sunderland beat Chelsea. Talk about Sunderland being under pressure and the point they got v Cit-eh midweek.
I also don’t want us facing Norwich the last game of the Season where they need points to stay up & we need points for Top 4.
Great to see the classless Chelsea bench expose their usual poise.
COYR’s
title challenge back on track! hahaha
Hahahahaha hahahahahha haahahahahaha hahahahahahaaaaaaaa!
I remember “under pressure” Arsenal played “relegation free” WBA in the last game couple of seasons ago. I also remember “under pressure” Arsenal played “relegation free” Newcastle in the last game last year.
We all know how that finished.
What we have in our favour.. players coming back from injuries!
If we keep our concentration we might even grab third!
We need to beat Hull comprehensively.. will do our confidence wonders for the FA final too.
And..Jose blaming the Refs, never his fault as usual. Hope he gets a bigger ban this time. 😀
#54, know how they both finished. Positively thank God. However, it’s wishful thinking I guess to hope we wouldn’t have to face that “pressure” situation again on the last League game of the Season.
Chelsea Sunderland
“I have only four things to say. Congratulations to my players because they gave what they have and what they don’t have. Congratulations to Sunderland because they won. Congratulations to Mike Dean because he made a fantastic performance and congratulations to Mike Riley because what they did during the season was fantastic for the way the championship is. So Congratulations to all of them, I have nothing more to say.”
And that’s why Maureen is the queen of all cunts. He is even a bigger cunt than MNB. And that really does take some doing.
just watched the second half of Chelsea-Sunderland…what a trip! love it! why oh why did we just bend over for that odious man? something I will never understand 🙁
Excellent news about Chelsea, would have been even sweeter if it did us some kind of favour but you can’t have everything I guess.
Just have to take great pleasure in Moaninho blaming refs for his fuck ups. Really, Josie? Limitless financial resources and you stoop to bitching about refs? Let me just put those toys back in the pram for you.
So the great Jose’s unbeaten home league record is no more. Chavski face a very tough week.Two games against Atletico and the Mugsmashers in between. If they end up losing in both competitions his star will have dimmed significantly and I will be delighted. Chavski fans worship the odious one but I think he has done himself little good this season. Ancelotti is a much better manager .His teams play football but the odious one’s teams play a slightly more sophisticated version of kick and rush. Hopefully he will be shown up for what he is- a very unpleasant and arrogant man and this season a specialist in failure !
3-0 tomorrow is way over the top. We might scrape a 1-0 and if we do I will be delighted as I think Everton will draw
Re. Christian Eriksen. I was totally convinced he was too light-weight for the Prem. Seeing the two free-kicks Spurs scored from today, I have to say (a) they were well taken, and (b) you can understand why Fulham are in deep shit becuase their defending was piss poor at both of them. But I’m still not convinced – even though he’s clearly the best player at Tottenham. (Damn him with faint praise)
Re. Abou Diaby: First saw him watching a European U17 or U19 tournament years ago – held in Northern Ireland, I think – televised by Eurosport. He was far and away the outstanding player of the tournament which the French won, beating England in the final, if I remember rightly. I also remember praying that Arsene would get him for Arsenal, which he did. Didn’t know at that time that he had a history of injuries even then. Whilst I agree that the tackle which did him most damage was gross, he does seem remarkably injury prone, barely being able to last more than 20 minutes in his comeback games before succombing to another long-term layoff. I just think he’s a bit tragic – an incredible talent in a body which isn’t built to withstand the daily rigours of his chosen sport.
I have read of people who get a bad injury and then unconsciously unbalance their bodies to protect that area, thereby putting additional strain on other parts and contracting further injuries, in a sort of vicious circle. I don’t know if that’s the case with Abou. If he comes back and plays a part for us next season after what he’s been through, that will give me more pleasure than any new signing.
becuase = because
succombing = succumbing
FACT: The Chelsea manager throws stones and he lives in a glass house.
58 wasn’t intended for this forum. Apologies.
Tomorrow – I’ll settle for any win, but a big one would be great, both for the further boost to confidence and for the goal difference. Hat-trick for Poldi or Giroud? Or both?
You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.
Well written dkg.
Diaby’s case is one of the saddest stories in football, ever. Hoping for a happy end. He deserves it. Such an enormous talent and such a fighter. He doesn’t give up on football, neither should we give up on him.
DK
Spot on Diaby a real tragic story indeed I hope he makes it one way or another.
Mourinho is just a cunt of them all, that brawl made me chuckle more shit coming their way!
C’mon you reds
Just fucking win
And keep winning Now Ozil and Ramsey are back
Our Scottish friends have been hard at work again, apparently.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/loch-ness-monster-found-on-apple-maps-9271075.html
Chelsea vs. Sunderland at the bridge: what kind of odds could you have gotten on a Mackems victory?
Serves as a big warning to the Arsenal — you can never take anything for granted. Tomorrow, in the words of the late Al Davis (colonial football to the uninitiated): “Just win, baby!”
Am of two minds on how Mrs. Doubtfire will approach this. On the one hand, his side isn’t completely safe from relegation, and he can’t play his strikers in the cup final, as they’re cup tied. So he can take a different approach to this match than in the final, and go all out on the offensive from the opening whistle.
On the other hand, the FA Cup final has to be what really matters to Hull, as much if not more than what it means to Arsenal. So why press matters in this match? Why not take it a little easier in this one, build up some complacency in the opponent so that they think a win in the final will be a given? Don’t roll over, but if you lose, not that big a deal and make up the points you need for safety elsewhere.
I’ll echo what Trev said about Diaby … he coulda been a contender. What always struck me about him was the way he could look beaten all ends up and yet out would come one of his long legs with the kind of extension Nijinsky (the dancer, not the horse) would have thought impossible, and he would hook the ball away from yet another mystified player. Inspector Gadget couldn’t do better.
But I disagree that we’ll never see him again. He may never be what he might have been, but he can’t have been retained for so long without some hope of a few cameos at least.
Öskar
Hull take it easy to lull us into complacency for the Cup, Jean? I don’t think so. More likely come at us like Stoke to put the fear of God into us when it comes to the final.
Öskar
Being cup-tied both their strikers will be coming at us and that should leave plenty of space behind for us to pass our way through them. If we can get a few decent strikes on target we should win comfortably. Then again, maybe Bruce won’t play either of them and give his Cup side a rehearsal.
Then again again, anything could happen after both chavs and $iteh were unable to beat the bottom club in the last three days.
Öskar
*boilk* and morning all. Happy Easter (apparently originally the festival of sex and fertility, so I’m all for that! 🙂 )
3 points, a smattering of chocolate
and minimal kiddy meltdown for me….
We MUST and WILL Win today!
Bring it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JFW, A. AZS.
Morning all, and a happy Easter.
Hard to know what we will be treated to today.
I feel it will be a curate’s egg of two halves – one empty, uninteresting, slightly stale and devoid of goodies, and one like a huge cream egg of gooey sumptiousness with our newly restored sweeties, Ramsey and Özil dripping goals and golden richness all over us.
When it comes to the Crunchie, we have to at least get that dreaded handbrake off. Let Giroud and Podolski rip and Twix those two Raiders together, fire in the goals we need. Come on Arsene, give us a break, give us a Kit K……….. 😉
Happy Easter Trev and all.
This Bar is getting a bit Milky and they’re all on you. Trev. 🙂
Hope the knee is progressing nicely.
Just listening to Alan Davies n TTC attempting to quote you and mispronouncing Goonerholic as Gunnerholic – clearly paid a lot of attention.
It was a fairly scrappy synopsis, bath.
The most interesting bit of what they said was that when someone mentioned the article on the phone-in they were cut off.
There are dark forces at work, as someone fairly famous once said – and we all know how that ended …………
Feeling very confident on this one for no other reason than the presence of our midfield magicians. I hope our players are switched on from the onset and for the rest of the 90 minutes.
No complacency please!
Just fucking win!
Morning peeps.
Weather here not as great as expected/forcasted.
I might be able to sneak the odd look at the game. 😉
Weather here every bit as bad as predicted.
sun splitting the sky
bonanza on
half eleven
about a deaf/mute boy
says here
prefer the shootin ones
then
traipse to the bar
for a roar and a shout
happy easter all
horse ’em into ye
.
WHAT ZICO SAYS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ah bugger away off
different one
hoss and little joe are raising rabbits
not a six fuckin shooter in sight
decision made
congratulations bar
you just made
3 more pints worth
.
cheerio all
’tis the early jug for me
.
Ten minutes in, Norwich dead and buried.
I think the last game of the season may be a dead rubber for them.
Happy Chocolate Egg Day all.
Today the resurrection will continue as we look to stay in the (egg) hunt for CL football. We need to beat them palms down and send them home with, er, egg on their faces. By the final whistle I want to see Bruce hopping mad as we put the nails in his survival challenge and leave them unable move the massive rock in our defence.
Eggsactly Porco.
The sun is shining brightly here in Abuja, Nigeria, the day has been good(would have been perfect if a stomach bug didn’t stop me from going to church) so far. Hopefully the boys can get the win and make the day better. Come On You Gunners!
The sun is shining brightly here in Abuja, Nigeria, the day has been good(would have been perfect if a stomach bug didn’t stop me from going to church) so far. Hopefully the boys get the win and make the day better. Come On You Gunners!
Slowly but surely the red tops are starting to twig how ginourmous a twat Josie is;
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/jose-mourinho-loses-head-rui-3434113
It’s about frigin’ time.
Porco, in the event that things don’t go as you’d like, would I be correct to assume that you’d be cross?
You put it in an eggshell, I mean a nutshell H2H
Certainly would PG. I’ll crucify them if we don’t win!
😀
I fsaid Norwich were dead forgetting how poo Mignolet is.
Easter assist….
Bang!
Played, frank
Well in frank.
Is an Easter assist a good cross?
From the beeb;
BREAKING TEAM NEWS – Hull v Arsenal (14:05 BST)
Mesut Ozil returns to the Arsenal starting line-up for the first time since the Champions League tie away to Bayern Munich on 11 March. Nacho Monreal comes in for Thomas Vermaelen in defence.
Cheers, PG. But H2H surely makes it too easy; takes away the pains.
King of assists!
A whiff of 4-4-2 about that line-up?
Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla, Ozil, Podolski, Giroud
Harper, Rosenior, Elmohamady, Davies, Chester, Huddlestone, Livermore, Meyler, Boyd, Jelavic, Long
Cheers, H2H.
Splendid piece of info indeed re Ozil.
My suspicion is that Arsene is now very cautious of bringing back injured players too soon otherwise we would have seen Mesut sooner than now. Ramsey’s attempted reintroduction in February may have been the turning point.
And, like I earlier noted, no way Arsene is playing TV ahead of Nacho in that left back.
Hoping for a buzzing display from the boys today.
COYRRRs!
Ah, 14.05 kickoff, not 4.05. Excuse me gentlemen, I have two hours’ worth of nerves to build up and fight down in 10 minutes.
COYG
good morning, a bit of a sad one now we are officially out of the race. looking forward to this game, though, 6 am start not as brutal as a 0430. and the most joyous of Easters to all who celebrate…
I think Liverpool just won the title. Confidence is 50% of the game in football and they are brimming with it after 11 wins on the trot.
Mixed feelings, but marginally better than Chavs and Citeh, especially after Maureen yesterday. Anyone taken a look at Abramovich’s Wikipedia entry? Surprised that’s survived – or maybe he just doesn’t care anymore who knows or what they think. Loads a’money.
long time reader, but first time poster….. cant stand liverpool celebrating …. somehow feel it should have been us in that position what with chelsea andmancity tripping at every hurdle possible …. anybody else feel the same
We’re still in the race for second scruz. #sunnyistside
Come on the Arsenal!!
Come on umlaut boy!!
Coyr
oh hell yeah h2h. and jwaazs!!
@arselove
I think we all do mate.
Nice to see Özil back. Bit worried about the distinct lack of pace.
Need 3 points.
Bring it on.
demographic watching in the USA: apparently we like burgers, drink rum, ride a motorcycle, and use a manly soap to keep clean.
nothing stereotypical, mind 😉
COME ON YOU REDZZZZZÛZZZ
h2h …. on the bright side ….maybe 2nd is on !!!
Yes arselove, I do.
Come on you riproaring – any win, but I’m sticking to my 3-1. 😉
COME ON ARSENAL!
A minute in and Ozil and Ramsey combine to show us what we have been missing.
A minute in and Ozil and Ramsey combine to show us what we have been missing
never seen that before, the hoardings!
Wind…was that you?
Penalty denied.
wow ..should be a penno
Penalty …bloody ref!
Arselove.
Agreed. I cannot stand liverpool. Jackleg supporters. Gerard is an ofious human being and a diving cheat.
Rogers chirping the other day that he was best of, or top in the world was an utter joke. Rogers is a fool as well.
Handbrake off please
Keep the midfield tight! Don’t lose it there!
I’m seriously worried for that final…
Told ya Long is poo 😉
Bloody ell…skin of our teeth!
wake up ffs
Come on lads!
Need to wake up come on……
Anyone got a stream please ?
This has not begun as we would wish. While we are breaking on them our final pass has been sloppy and their two lads in the centre are giving our CBs no end of trouble. We need a couple of goals as Liverpool got but frankly Im not sure where they will come from with the lack of pace we have upfront
Again possession being surrendered far too cheaply. (for what I can see)
WTF is our midfield doing… COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chris use the last link i posted here sone time ago
Rambo !!!!!!!
RAAAAMMMMSEEEEY
Ramble!!!!!
Get in there for fuck sake Easter Rambo come on!
fuck yeah aaron!
I forgot how good Ramsey was!
you beauty!
THATS MORE LIKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IF we have RAMSEY fit for the last quarter of next season we will win the league!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
what we have been missing…
Ramseeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyy
Rambo……..damn spell check
Might be an idea to try and stop one or two of these crosses coming in.
Elmohamady.
Yelling at the ref … Send his arse off!
Mohamadeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyy oFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!
Hull look pretty inspired.
If we switch off it could go bad quickly.
We’ve missed Ozil too, clever player
Should have been a yellow at least
Did the ref just give someone the finger?!… may like this ref after all!
Ozil runs tons in games… draws a lot of players and makes space even if he doesn’t have the ball.. TOP player!
Trev- you are right , particularly down Monreal’s flank
Ozil’s foot was high – oh yeah, how about the one that hit Arteta in the head ?
Not stopping them either side, ttg, just more often down our left
POOOOLLLDDIII
WOW…just WOW!
AweweFRFFRFASDDFSAsome!
Ram…poldi….everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
POOOLDI
what. a. goal.
LOVE PODOLSKI – LOVE HIM !!!!!
Poooooooolllldddddddiiiiiiii yyyyyyyyyeeeeeehhhaaaaa
Poldi!!!!!!
He scores.
Ozil sets that up.
Stunning goal- what a finish. Ozil changes the pace of our attack and Ramsey runs so unselfishly. We have missed them.
Hull want a foul – Arteta’s had his teeth knocked out and his head kicked in – joke !!!
and jelavic dove.
We need to get more goals… just in case goal difference comes into play!
just shows how much we missed both Aaron and Mesut..both goals were thing of beauty.
Anyone got Poldi’s stats to hand ?
trev, was that the “empty, uninteresting, slightly stale and devoid of goodies” half, or the “one like a huge cream egg of gooey sumptiousness with our newly restored sweeties, Ramsey and Özil dripping goals and golden richness all over us”?
We played some truly great football from 30 minutes onwards 😀
Poldi’s been clinical of late too.
If only we’d had young Aaron and Ozil fit all season…what might have been! Two worldies IMHO!
Poldiiiiiiiii!!!!!!
Anyone questioning how much ‘they’ were missed has their answers in the last 30 minutes of football.
Can’t wait til next season.
Beginning of the first half didn’t look too good it has to be said we looked lethargic and kept loosing possession way to easy. However a two moments of brilliance really shows the experience we have in this squad. Seems to me Hull were told to give it hard to us in the opening minutes and it back fired because we ain’t the Arsenal that gets pushed around like that.
If Ozil and Ramsey stayed fit we would still be top of the league no questions asked.
Negatives.
We didn’t played our best football in the first half, we didn’t played even average, lots of mistakes, non consistent first touch from majority of the players, lost of misplaced passes, lots of lost duels. We are better than that. Much better.
Positives.
We scored two great goals and I believe that we have a basic idea what we want to do today. Keep calm, change the tempo, look for a counter. I like that approach. Back to basics. However, lots of mistakes at the back makes this game to be far from over, stay focused and score one more goal at least. They are gonna come at us and they are quite aggressive. Keep the nerves calm, we will score more.
Seems a long time since TTG @ 140 said we needed 2 goals soon. I do wish that it would come true OOOOOHHHHHH.
let’s have some more please
I think we have conceded first in the previous six games
Sorry mate, the pound is fucked. We’re sticking a minimum of five past these wankers.
Nuh nuh nuh nana nuh nuh
Nuh nuh nuh nana nuh nuh
Nuh nuh nuh nana nuh nuh
AARON RAMSEY
Now Zi think we need another two Cognac!!
We have certainly missed Aaron’s running into the box.
Watch and learn, youngsters.
Half of ‘holic’s bet in.
Now for the other half.
Lurky.
Yep, true enough.
Hull are thugs the new Stoke in disguise?
Is it me or does the Hull pitch look huge?
Can the ref not spell Huddlestone????
Wow.
Elmahamady is a whiny little diver.
Come on Arsenal!
Get in. What a player. Poldiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Poldi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He scores when he wants
Come on Podolski 😀
Goldi Poldi!!!!!!’n
ARSENAL ARE BACK!!!
Just Clinical …Poldi!
OH YES!
My 3-1 is on !!!
Scruz, it was gooey sumptiousness after the first 15. 😉
4th is ours!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hold on lads we may need some of these at Wembley!
Just find a way of playing to Poldi
Insurance policy is goal differential….keep knocking them in
Drury just said that this might be the first time we come away with a win at the KC Stadium without a goal from Bendtner, because he scored in the only two times we won there previously!
Out with Ramsey and Özil now Wenger please! They’ve done what they always do, no need to risk more injuries.
Loving Santi’s workrate.
Agreed.
Pull ozil off. Ramsay doesnt need a long day either.
Should call Cazorla Santa, he gives so much away.
But, yes, a lovely ball for our first goal.
I dunno tho.
Are we looking that good or is Hull just that bad?
I’m looking at 3rd or 2nd.
Disagree, I think they both need a good run out.
Next game not until the 28th
I’m feeling mighty creamy myself, trev 😉
bmgedo @ 126, haha, just got back from Hull mate 😉
Elbow from that full back who’s been bleating all afternoon.
Fock…Send him off ref!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That’s the 3rd time!
Yeah. Elmamady is a real l piece of work.
OOooooooo Giroud.
Deserved a goal for the effort alone.
What the actual F?????
Harper’s bizarre. 😉
Unlucky Ollie!
oh OG unlucky!
should be a card on general principal for hundredstone.
H2H do you really want to risk it against these thugs?
santi that was beauty, deserved a goal from the move.
Creme de la creme eggs – even without Ozil this is just Turkish Delightful.
certainly not leaving me feeling dark and hollow, trev.
What was per doing there?
Sagna again. Sharpe as they come.
Lovegood.
Ozil’s been pullled already.
Ramsey needs the minutes, a player is just as likely to be injured due to lack of game time as they are to a stray tackle from a Hull player.
ox sighting!
Ox on!!
Ox for Giroud
Ox for OG
Giroud off to be eggsamined
Send mohamadey off!
OOoooo BFG
nearly per-fect.
Don’t Eegsagerate Trev.
Alex is strong as the proverbial ox
Beat me to it H2H 😉
That was a pen
that was a penalty, mr. moss.
Two stonewall penalties for us not given…
Any chance the Flamster could clean Hundredstone out ?
Id say so Trev.
Sanogo for Poldi
Koscielny is just superb.
Hull fans all leaving – is this the Doubtfire drill ? 😉
I think this is called “seeing it out”. 🙂
Air Kick Sanogo(al).
air flamini boarding now.
Sagna is everywhere. All at once.
a 0-3 away win can be grabbed at 18/1, and I am having a few coppers on Aaron Ramsey to score anytime at a market best of 16/5.
Well in ‘holic.
Thanks H2H, hope you all got on 🙂
Job Done!
Should Everton lose today, i hope Sanogo gets a run out in the next match! If we are not buying a striker, we better get the one we have match fit and sharp for next season!
We got no corners in that game. Weird….
Ah well, off to bed for me lads
that will buy a bit of glenfarclas for the stash, holic!
aaron with a goal and two assists. özil quality. we looked like a team the final 60 minutes.
Thee points and the ‘Holic pound landed. Now that is a good day.
Pretty damn fine – but need to stop those crosses. Great win.
Just want ManUre to beat Everton now – sorry, mouthwash please.
Spectacular pound ‘holic!
Here’s to many more to come.
Great three points and much, much better second half, even though we only scored one goal.
Much more composed and self-confident display, definitely a sign of what this team can do when near full strength and with “handbrake off”.
The pressure is on Everton.
The ‘holic pound went banging in! Fair play to you Guv’nor.
Well played, Holic. A fine double. 😉
Holic- called superbly. My salutations to you. I thought this would be a harder game. The first goal is so important and we grew from there. We have totally outclassed this lot twice . Why do I worry then about Wembley? Football makes superstitious numpties of us all.
Can’t believe I’m saying this but come on United!
Fit and firing Ramsay. Ozil. Theo. Wishire. Wow. What coulda been.
Injuries injuries injuries.
I keep thinking that a World cup summer sure as shyte not helping things next time.
job done
bring on the Mags
the drinks are all on Holic….congrats on the bet, mate
Just shows what we’ve missed with Ozil and Ramsey out. Today we were more fluid, moved the ball faster, countered with menace, got men in the box and behind their back four and Giroud looked twice the player for not being left isolated. (And props to Ollie G for showing respect for the ‘Holic pound by hitting the cross bar when he could have scored.)
and Rambo the forward running, goal scoring, ball winning midfield dynamo is well and truly back.
sign that quality striker and the midfield strongman and we are right in the race.
And as much as i love seeing Utd lose. Anywhere any time … This morning i’m saying Come on Utd!
Come on you scabby northern reds.
I was watching a stream from NBC and the commentator was waffling on about Arsenal’s CL place for next year being in danger if Chelsea won the damn thing this year.
Do these guys get paid?
Well done ‘holic. 🙂
Well done Arsenal. 🙂
Yeah dk.
I dont get that.
The word for today is:
Incisiveness
It’s what’s been absent for too long a stretch recently, but it was on display, finally! That’s what Ramsey and Ozil bring, and it filters through the entire squad.
Expect Mrs. Doubtfire to borrow Mourinho’s motorcoach keys for Wembley a month on.
And watching everton and liverpool.
This may not be a popular view but they flatter to deceive somewhat. Everton’s players are all running at high gear. All hugely athletic. Dame with liverpool. Very few injuries.
All due to no european football. Fewer games and fewer injuries. Barkley. Coleman. These guys run full out all the time.
Sturidge. Coutinho. Same thing.
One off seasons for both teams.
And for total disclosure – i hate liverpool. Gerard. Rogers. The whole lot. Inside with those here who dread a lvrpool title win.
“I side with those here …”
Damn iphone.
Cheers all. Well done Arsenal.
Another question – I’m assuming the “Lucky Arsenal” chant that went up in the second half was the away fans having a bit of fun. Anyone know?
Excellent performance by Rambo, Poldi (whose off the ball movements were so much better), and Koscielny.
Hope Giroud’s injury is not too bad. He looks so much a better player with Rambo on, and would look even better with Theo on his right.
Good that Rambo is not going to go to the WC, will start the next season refreshed.
I said it before, Rambo is the key.
Penalty Everton
Scored, meh
As usual united letting everyone down again…!
Couldn’t agree with you more H2H in relation to Rambo.
Although, Ozil can do things with a football that very few can.
Great to have them both back.
Indeed Joe.
Ozil is the flair, the cherry on top, but Ramsey is the icing and the best bit of the cake.
and another one for Everton 🙁
I never could stomach supporting those scummy mancs.
Heads they win and Tails you’re going to lose in the everton match!
So let’s win all our matches instead! And get more goals while we’re at it 🙂
Very good three points. Ramsey and Özil just helped give us that clinical edge.
If we have caught a hlim
and they always let you down when you need them to step up….just like the Marshdwellers.
That’s the ticket BB @295
Switching over to the KNVB beker finale, the NL equivalent F.A Cup.
Ajax v Zwolle.
We will have to have a St. Manchesteringham’s Day. United are not going to get anything here.
We have two home games and if we get six points from them we might go very close to qualification before the last game
If we have caught a glimpse of the Hull tactics for 4 weeks time then the first half alone shows you that Shezza should start in goal. I can see them bullying the life out of The Flapster if they play like that.
Well done H. Don’t spend it all at once. If there’s any left perhaps you could buy us a striker???????
Is it jus me or are these mucks throwing the game to everton deliberately??? I’m so disgusted!! Guess we jus have to depend on our results…oh to be arsenal…
This is Moyes’ equivalent of Arsene’s 1000th game inasmuch as he will have expected the players to step up and win it for him. It’s going to end in a similar degree of disappointment on the performance so far.
Bunch of loanees this Everton side. I still believe that United may get something of this game, don’t know why. A quick goal, please.
Ajax just scored and their own fans have bombed the pitch with fireworks.
Game stopped, players off the field within three minutes.
Do the right subs you stupid cunt Moyes. Nani and Cleverly out, Fellaini and Welbeck in. Come on.
H2H
All happening there in that case!
Distin done his hamstring apparently.
They’ve got Van der Sar on now to try to keep the fans calm. WTF
Dutch football is so classy on the field and so classless off it. I remember a running battle in the 80s in den Haag station between Feyenoord and Ajax fans. The ‘English disease’ was a little too much of a simplification.
How can anyone question Podolski’s abilities is beyond me.
These days I’ve been reading here, and everywhere, about him, offensively this, defensively that….Jesus!
Old school footballer. Class act.
One of the best we got.
I remember that Bath.
It’s still pretty bad, letting Ajax play todays final in De Kuip (Rotterdam) was always going to lead to trouble.
Game starting again, but the Ajax fans have been warned, one more firework on the field and the game will be abandoned and the cup will be given to Zwolle.
SSY
With you regarding Podolski he score goals and he was everywhere today!
Typical start from a Bruce outfit, harrying, fouling, trying to put us off our game and they certainly did for the first 20mins. Fortunately we didn’t make mistakes, found our feet and Rambo and Ozil took over.
Really enjoyed our play for the remainder of the game, plenty of nice moves, quick passing and 3 good goals. Credit to the PIG who commanded his area and Kos and Sagna who had excellent games.
I was surprised the Flamster didn’t start in place of Arteta who had, had 2 hard games in the last week and looked really tired towards the end.
The return of Rambo was the catalyst, his movement and understanding with Ozil and Santi seemed to inject energy in Poldi and Giroud and we looked something like our pre Christmas force going forward. Long may this continue , three more positive displays and we are back in the CL. If only, if only!
Pity Moyes mob are so pathetic, they are being outclassed by Everton.
Zwolle equalise…..
This could get messy.
Holy shit Zwolle 2-1 up.
Zwolle 3=1 holy shit
Man U are fucking shit!!!!!!!
How shit from 1 to Moyes these mugs are? Ronney on 300k a week, give me a break. Awful.
United of Manchester are faaaaaar better then these idiots.
If Bacs is off then Seamus Coleman??? Yes please. He has looked very impressive all season.
Biggest travesty of this season has been to concede five of six points to Manure. They are just horrible.
At least get one goal, FFS…..
Expecting a favour from this bunch, what was I thinking anyway
Zwolle 4-1.
This is a super shock.
Steve T, I would pay whatever they ask for Coleman. He is worth it. Best LB in the league by far, followed by Ivanovich and Zabaleta. Sagna, although still a very good player, has past his prime and his legs are not as fast as they used to be, I am afraid.
He can play left back as well????? Blimey, he is good.
😀
Don’t think Everton are likely to sell anybody to us. I’d quite like Stones, Coleman, Barkley and Baines but can’t see them selling. Gareth Barry might be in but can’t see Chavski selling us Lukaku . He and Bony would be excellent buys
Ajax players afraid of fireworks?
We never do things the easy way.. we got to repeat our performance next week against newcastle and hope everton slips up away against southampton.
Hopefully the long break will see more players coming back for us!
So looking forward to it!
Go back to the start of the season, tell a Spudie that their team would be six points in front of Manure on the 20th of April……
They would have bit your arm off and reserved an open top bus. 🙂
TTG. Everyone has a price. You saw today what the addition of 2 quality players makes to a performance. I don’t think we played that great today. We played well but we have played better. But we scored 3 goals with 3 bits of quality. Spend the right amount, buy genuine quality and you see the difference.
H2H. Who the fuck are Zwolle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6FBfAQ-NDE
Aaron Ramsey!
Hahaha, Zwolle.
Exactly, Steve, who the fuck are Zwolle?
well, they are now 5-1 up and it really should be more.
The Spuddies better watch out for them in next years Your Hopeless League. 🙂
If they qualify that is… :LOL:
Just so you can comprehend how unfasionable Pec Zwolle are,
Their kit suppliers are Patrick. 😆
Plus, the players don’t even have their names on their shirts.
I take it you are watching football H2H???? It’s not handball or something similar and I have not cottoned on??
No names??? Surely not needed if they are all called Patrick ???
Heh Steve.
It’s definetly football, but I’m not sure if Ajax realise that.
Dennis looks sick. 🙁
Heh @ Patrick.
If memory serves that brand was popular for about three minutes in the ’80’s amnd only in shitholes where Keegan had stardom.
Game done.
Pec Zwolle wins the cup.
A warning, if ever one was needed.
photo of teamates taking the piss out of Arteta http://www.arsenalstation.com/2014/04/20/photo-smile-podolski-shares-dressing-room-pic-with-team-mates/?
and this is why
http://news.arseblog.com/2014/04/hull-0-3-arsenal-player-ratings/
Propaganda?
That’s the name of my cat.
That’s brilliant! We’ll get 3rd or 4th then as we’ve got mostly very bottom sides left to play!
😀
What a difference two world class players returning made.
And Podolski!
Class player.
Please keep playing him Arsene.
Good value on the holic pound.
Nice one – drinks are on you 😉
Also, good game against a side that is not too shabby if you ask me. I’ll disregard some of the comments about Ramsey not showing up for the big games. For a box to box midfielder it’s not that bad to score a cracker against Scouse Cunts and a hugely important one against Dortmund.
It’s clear to anyone that we are a much improved team with Özil and Ramsey on the pitch. They are both the kind of players who have a positive effect on the entire team.
Podolski is a weird player but he sure knows how to score. Giroud did OK again and Arteta was back to his old (younger) self.
We should have bought a striker, should have played smarter against the big teams etc. but I seriously do think that if we weren’t always the most injury plagued team in top football we would’ve won the league this year.
Fourth, FA Cup glory and then just try to keep on building in the transfer window. We’re very, very close.
Good performance but the Everton win v Manure shows we still have work to do. Steady as she goes.
And congrats to Zwolle. Lekker!
I had 2 pairs of Patrick Super Keegan boots in my youth. They were great back then I must say. Just before I bought my first pair of adidas world cups.
*Yawns*
Much improved performance today. You agree Bath???
Complacency is forbidden but if you had to play two sides at home at the moment I think they might be Newcastle and West Brom. Don’t fancy having to go to Norwich to win on the last day of the season but hopefully Everton might drop points before then
Agree totally TTG. That said I really don’t see any excuse for not getting 9 points from our next 3 games.
Steve T and H2H: I just cottoned on after reading your posts…when I moved to NY in 1982 I had a pair of black Patricks…they were the bomb! Loved them, and always wondered what happened to the company…are they still around?
good win today, but the die has been cast…got to win ALL our remaining games just to make sure…after watching ManU just give it up to Everton, they are hot on our heels…hopefully they slip points against Man City, but even that one I’m not so sure about! still, if Palace can do them, let’s hope for the best, and no complacency going into our last matches, I don’t care how bottom of the table or relegation team they are, they will fight for their lives!
H2H: obviously Patrick the company are still around if they are providing team gear…doh on my part 🙂
Well in TTG – 4 hours ago 🙂
Steve T @ 351
Totally agree, much more dominant performance after the first 20 or so when we needed to dig in. Very glad that the Long shot hit the post. This will do our confidence good but we do have work still to do tho the box to box work of Rambo gives everyone a lift and Ozil brings the classy killer pass we have been missing.
Makes a big difference. The increase in class and quality was very apparent. It also allows others to be more prominent. Giroud looks much better when he all of a sudden has more than one option. Poldi looks to have more of an influence with both Rambo and Özil pulling the strings.
Considering the Hull aerial assault who plays in goal in the final??????
Steve T….I see your point. 🙂
(watch out, Wolfie’s about)
Heh.
🙂
Well, let’s see…0-3 and Ramsey scored. Well played ‘holic!
If anyone didn’t realise, a 30 minute profile of the Invincibles just starting on Sky Sports 1.
Glen, show some respect. You cur. You disrespect the name.
BMBD
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Haven’t see the game yet, but couldn’t resist checking the score. I shall now enjoy it without any of the usual angst.
Apparently they pressed us early as I thought they might, which would have left gaps that we exploited. What a difference Ramsey makes. If Özilla could also score as regularly we’d have the best midfield we’ve had for a decade.
All praise to Poldi the enigma. Why he’s been used so sparingly, especially when we need goals do badly, remains a mystery.
Slightly less worried about goal difference now. For it to matter we’d have to lose one while the toffees draw one. Otherwise unless we draw all three there’s little chance of us finishing on level points. Not that anything can’t still happen in this crazy season. Best to just win all three and pretend we always had it well covered.
Roll on St Totts Day.
Öskar
That doesn’t sound like a big deal, but on a $300,000
mortgage you’re looking at an additional annual cost of
as much as $4,500. So how do you best manage these areas and lift your score.
If you are not at the 700 range you might not even want
to waste your time, typically several months,
that it takes to go through the process of applying for a business loan.