Wembley – Part One Of Two?
Apr 11th, 2014 by 'holic
No matter how many you have seen there is still something special about FA Cup semi-finals. This one is no different. There is a nervous anticipation that has been amplified by the recent league performances. Winning twice at Wembley now has added significance for the manager and indeed the supporters.
It doesn’t help the nerves that I have seen bad as well as good befall us at this stage. Sixteen, that was how old I was when spending a couple of hours in the overfilled Leppings Lane end watching Sunderland, then of the second division, end our dream of three consecutive finals in 1973. I still can’t watch or think about losing to ‘them’ in 1991 when we lost only one league fixture all season. As for Manchester United, more than once, ugh.
The good ones will always live long in the grey matter. Stoke in successive years, ‘them’ twice, and most tiring of all the epic battles with Liverpool in 1980. I think the traveling faithful were as tired as the team by the time we edged the fourth game at Coventry, and the team were knackered, which would cost them in two Finals at the season’s end.
So another lower league team stands between us and another day out at Wembley with the prospect of ending that ‘nine years without a trophy’ narrative. Some of us have been through much worse. Of course Wigan are a lower league team with a difference, being the holders of the trophy. Following last year’s Final victory over Manchester City with a quarter-final win at the City of Manchester stadium this season is quite a double.
Then there are the injury doubts we may or may not have. Tomas Rosicky, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs are all in that camp, but all three were spotted at training today (Friday). Everything crossed here, because frankly we will be very much down to the bare bones without them.
Now I can wax lyrical about us playing free of the tension we have felt in the league in recent weeks, but that would be just nonsense. There is a different but very real pressure on the team to perform at Wembley but strangely the ‘almost expectation’ that a shock is in the air may just help a little psychologically. An early goal would free us a little but more importantly we must avoid conceding first. Wigan showed against City they can defend for their lives when protecting an advantage.
The ‘holic pound is placed in the belief that we will get that early goal and take charge. 11/1 isn’t great odds on a 3-0 win, but only to be expected against a Championship team, albeit a very good Championship team.
So that is it. To those fortunate enough to be going, have a great day. I know our Esso and a good mate are taking a couple of excited lads for their Wembley debut. What a great way to enjoy the event that is a Cup semi-final. Sing your hearts out for the lads and see what happens thereafter.
Come on you riproaring Gunners!
587 Responses to “Wembley – Part One Of Two?”
Drink!
From Wembley to Wembley!
3rd that will do
And that was without reading it mate! Cheers for that and I know the Big Yin and Wee Chappers would reciprocate the thanks as well.
Little secret – I’ve never seen us lose a semi! Missed Villa Park 83, and missed the Villa Park replay 1999. Furthermore the youngest has a 100% record so far; good omens or what!
Come on you Arsenal!
Esso the good luck charm?
I always love an optimistic preview, me. ๐
[…] Goonerholic: Wembley โ Part One Of Two? […]
Just fucking win, Arsenal.
I’m with Dr Z.
907 am kickoff here on the western frontier.
Entire NorCal crew will be watching on the edge of our seats.
Come On Arsenal. Get it done!
Holic,
Great piece under some pressure I have to admit! No nonsense in what you have just described!
Play our game and win that fucking game! COME ON ARSENAL!
DS
and me too!
Doctor Sleep. Those extra 7 minutes could give you (and Arsenal) just the right amount of rest. Be sure to take good advantage of them. One more beer to steady the nerves?
What zico said@7.
Bare bones, Harry Holic. ๐
Esso – have a great day – hope we don’t need lucky omens. ๐
Lars
Where was your credit card last night when we needed it? ๐
Wigan will be nervous as well they know we are hurting and there is no better time to set the beast leash free!
For everyone who is going most of enjoy yourself! Shout your lungs out I know I will annoy few neighbors tomorrow!
Heroes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3SjCzA71eM
Nice one guv’.
Time for the team to stand up and by counted. Time for them to give us something back. No room for complacency, no frigging handbreak, no weak arse excuses.
As zico so eloquently notes, just fucking win, Arsenal.
Zico – nail on the head mate. Enough fucking around and making contrite public statements lads, get the fuck out there and don’t go back in the changing room till you’ve won the fucker!
Right on, zico.
Enough fucking about, it’s brass tacks time. I’ll take a win on fucking pens if needs be, just get it done Arsenal.
Eat that fucking grass if you have too!
No more bullshit, no more excuses and no more spectating!
We are the Arsenal We are the best……
So fuck all the rest!
Is there any better time to “unleash the beasts” in them?. if they had any in them b4… I think we just coined a new catchphrase and its awesome. JUST FUCKING WIN!!!. Haha; I love it.
Holic
I was at the Leppings Lane end in 1973 for that pass back by the wretched Blockley.My first semi was at Villa Park the year before when Bob Wilson was carried off. I’ve seen two at Wembley both against them- one each – and I’ve seen us win at Old Trafford, The Bus Stop and Villa Park. My Wembley record in all Arsenal domestic games ( except Charity Shields) is P10, W6, D1, L3. I saw all our games there in the Champions League and they weren’t fun.
Good luck to all Gooners tomorrow. I hope the team don’t read this blog!
Enjoy your day all lucky enough to be attending, me, I’ll be here propping up the drinks, hopefully joined by some top ‘holics.
We can’t lose this weekend really: win and we are in the final, lose and Wenger will sure decide to walk. He dare not stuff this up otherwise…no more grossly over-paid, non-achieving, tightly secured job for life.
Different sort of pressure certainly.
This match will represent a true test of this team’s resilience.
Fingers crossed the boys will rediscover their early season incisiveness, as goal scoring chances will be difficult to come by if we play like we’ve mostly played lately.
It is likely to be a tight, cagey affair. I only hope our boys are really fired up for this one.
El Magnifico 22, I’ll echo the best part of your post and say –
JUST FUCKING WIN IT!
I’ve been looking at suggestions of our team around the web and Sanogo seems to be widely preferred to OG. Why on earth is this.? He hasn’t scored a goal in the first team yet and while Giroud is very tired he has had a full week off and this game is likely to be played with plenty of Arsenal players around him.
If we do opt for a surprise it might be Kallstrom. He has bags of experience, is fresh and takes a mean free kick. I hope Gibbs will be fit so would suggest:
Fab
Sagna/BFG/TV/Gibbs
Kallstrom/ Ramsey
Ox/ TR7/Poldi
OG
Subs
Woj/Jenks/Arteta/ Santi/ Nacho/Sanogo/ Eisfeld
@27 We don’t care how the fuck you fuck-up those fucktards called Wigan-fucking-Athletic. Thay’ve fucking got nothing on what we’ve had planned for them. Esso et al. should get some fucking lozenges. Scores of them and shout the whole fucking place down. We’ve got this cup locked down… Now having said that, I hope the lads read this blogpost and these comments. We’re still behind them. COYG! Just Fucking Win It!!!
Remember who you represent : The Arsenal. Play like
…you deserve that honour !
Remember who you represent : The Arsenal. Play like you deserve that honour , go out there and own those c u next tuesdays !!!
COYRRG
Good stuff H.
I really do believe our name is on the Cup.
Beating 3 of the top 6 to get this far,and the potential banana skin in City,removed because they were complacent against Wigan.
We won’t make the same mistake.
I know the Cup is a great leveller,i’ve seen plenty of evidence of that over the years,but if we put our best foot forward and play like we have in the previous rounds then i am suprememly confident we will be back at Wembley next month.
To all those going,have a great day out.
As a matter of interest H,are the Arse fans at the Liverpool ’71 end.??
Cheers
A very confident Sweeper
Not sure what language they’re speaking but here’s a good account of Arsenal 4 Wigan 1. We could do with a few botched offside traps, uneven back lines and the like, as well as a couple of Podolski goals and maybe a sweet Ramsey goal to finish it off. Arsenal supporters in good voice, I noticed too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUCpJyeFuKc
8Ball
That is Polish my friend!
Top stuff ‘H. Cheers mate.
So then, a little under 20 hours to go. Time to put away all the angst, all the misery, and all the internecine fighting of the last few weeks.
FA Cup Semi Final day. Not quite as important as it used to be when it was the second biggest day in the domestic footballing calender, but still pretty damn important nonetheless.
Time then to summon up the steely resolve of flint-eyed Peter Storey as he faced England’s best goalkeeper in a battle of wits, of a calm and circumspect John Radford as he wore goalkeeper’s green to repel the Stoke neanderthals, and of Malcolm Macdonald as he celebrated with solipsistic certainty a terrible mishit as if it was the greatest goal ever scored.
Time to think of Alan Sunderland scoring a brace with half a bird’s nest in his barnet, time to think of Brian Talbot running his socks off for fully seven and a half hours against Liverpool and finding the energy to score the winning goal. Time to salute Our Tony for putting two years of hurt to bed.
Time to think of forgotten heroes like Christopher Wreh, and of magicians like Bobby Pires (swoon), who have both come up with the goods when it mattered. Time to think of David Seaman’s wonder save to send Colin Wanker apoplectic.
It’s all there Arsenal. Just do it. We are Arsenal. Just fucking win!
8Ball, Polish, I think.
That was the game that got them relegated.
Polish it is, then. ๐
It was Santi Cazorla’s assist on all four Arsenal goals in that game. If only he could make a quick return to a semblance of that kind of form we would be in good shape.
Aaah Arthur beat me to it, and he should know. ๐
Top rallying call to arms, tabs.
8Ball that certainly brings memory, Martinez’s face said it all!
Cheers H2H ๐
You will be missed mate.
Fine preview H.
………..and great Agincourt Address, tabs,
let’s do as zico so cogently advises…..
just fucking win, Arsenal!
H2H
That commentator really made it sound great for us on the day! But Szczesny should have done better on that free kick!
Urghhh….enough about that
WE HAVE A SEMI TO WIN TOMORROW!
I’ll be there in spirit mate. ๐
I really think we will have the magic tomorrow…..whether that means multiple goals who knows. They are going to park the bus and play the counter….let’s not get too aggressive with the high line or we are asking for trouble. It will be frustrating at times while we figure out how to pick the lock but have faith. Arsene knows we need to win this, so do the players and the supporters.
Being a supporter since 06-07, I have not seen us win at Wembley (or Cardiff? before). Lost the CC final to Chavs and Birm and lost the FA Cup semi to Chavs…..time to do this and get the monkey off our back.
Can’t wait to hear the wall of noise coming through the television. COYR!!!!
Cheers Bath. Hopefully catch up with you tomorrow for a little nip! ๐
You certainly will H2H! I shall hive ’em a dutch-accented cheer especially for you! ๐
*give
Schuper. ๐
Good stuff, Tabs.
Will Wolfie be enjoying a semi somewhere tomorrow ? ๐
As Chevy chase famously said – “be the ball”
As Luke sky walker famously “use the force”
As holics above famously said “just fucking win”
Great Post Holic.
I think we’ll win and go on to win the cup. I feel more confident about that than I am about the CL spot.
Nice post also Tabs. Brought back some boyhood memories.
I’ll be watching from the airport. Going to Portugal for an Easter golfing break. (uBTM / Holic, that offer in Ireland is still on y’knowโฆ!)
Hehs @ Trev and Aussie.
tabs @46 – hope so. I’ll be the fella in red and white ๐
Nicely previewed Holic with lots of memories from the drinkers of this fine establishment. Like Clive, just believe our name is written on the cup this year. The fans want it, the manager wants it and so do the players, so just play the game our way and show all the doubters what The Arsenal is all about – nothing less will do!
H2H, I’ll raise a frothy lager or three tomorrow to bring a bit of Dutch classch to tomorrow’s proceedings.
Funny that Bath – me too! ๐
Cheers Trev, Wolfie loves a semi ๐
H2H ๐
Thanks Joe. Hope you get to see all of it. Wouldn’t want you to miss our fifth ๐
Wolfie,
Is there a possibility of extra time tomorrow ?
Can a semi last more than 90 minutes ?
๐
The biggest Arsenal game I’ve ever been to was the quarter final at Highbury v Aston Villa in 1983 – the Vladimir Petrovic one! Though the ensuing semi final was not a happy memory.
Over 30 years on I’m lucky enough to have a ticket to tomorrow’s game and I’m taking my 13 year old, COYG.
Cheers Bath.
Trev,
Don’t have to call your doctor unless that semi lasts longer than 4 hours.
I know a doctor is the last one is call if that ever arises. ๐
Dear Mr Trev,
90 minutes and extra time is no problem. It’s when it’s put to the twelve yard test at the end that problems arise ๐
Yours semi-excitedly,
Wolfgang Smallballs
๐
Just watched Hunger Games – Catching Fire what a bag of balls!
Bloody hell what the fuck was that all about…???
Lets keep it in the 90’s please fellow Holics no nail biting scenarios ๐
It’s a shame the confidence in the team is so fragile.
Living back in Sydney now so will miss the semi but have hopefully secured tickets to the final if we make it. Will fly over for a week if we win tonight. Will Wigan win and save me thousands of dollars??? Or do we step up and cost me thousands of dollars…about 17 hours until the future becomes clearer!! COYRRR!!!
‘Holic … edit out the question mark in your OP ffs, it’s lacking respect!
รskar
Nice seeing nobody feeling ITK today… Evrything hinges on hope now. How nervous am I allowed to feel?. I mean its just Wigan yeah?.
It’s 6am and I’m awake thinking about the game. Come on you Gunners!
Yep.
Just fucking win Arsenal.
@20 ATG
You need to simmer it in Oil for at least an hour to extract the THC. Make a cooking ghee with it and then some space cakes and you’re well away!
Morning all.
Nice preview H
Quite simple really. Work hard, play hard, guard against complacency and win the game.
Hoping to be in the pub by 1.30 so it could get messy.
Bring it on. Enjoy the day people.
It’s been said before and deserves saying again:
Just fucking win, Arsenal.
And so here we are again….it’s Rubicon time.
Do the selected Arsenal gladiators do justice to themselves, the club and the fans by taking this game by the scruff, imposing our game plan and run out deserved winners and cup final favourites?
Or do they play like a bunch of feckless pussies and plunge us into dark despair and le boss into another vortex of speculation and opprobium from all around?
Just fucking win, Arsenal.
I’ll join in with the chorus
Just fucking win, Arsenal
*I’m a nervous wreck*
So D-day is here.
The things dreams and memories are made of, for most the first time at the home of football, the reason they joined The Arsenal.
Now you have 2 options lads
1. Give all and you will be victorious !
2. Take it like the last few games and you will loose !
Come on lads stand up and be counted and give the most loyal fans in the country somthing to sceam the heavens down.
Come on you Gooners !
Cheers
Heh Esso #70 ๐
Morning all. Have a great one. Good to see Wolfie back ๐
Before everyone starts setting off just have a great day if you’re lucky enough to be going.
We WILL win.
Reluctant to predict a clean sheet for us without Kos, so 3-1 to the riproaring it is !
I shall be there, courtesy of my very irritating Sp*rs-supporting mate. Which is the ‘holics’ juicer of choice?
COYG
Just fucking win.
Make this a great day Arsenal!
Give it everything on and off the pitch.
COYG!
Ok then…
Just fucking win, Arsenal!
Esso
I take you’re in charge of the medicine cabinet then?
TommyD
Fingers crosses you will spend rhose dollars !
Have a great trip Holics if you’re going. Get behind the lads and scream!
Management leaving the house at 17:00 I told her I will shout loud!
Come on Arsenal!
Nice post ‘Holic ๐
Just woke up, I am very much in the mood today! ๐
Come on Arsenal for fucks sake!
For everyone going I am green with envy.
Have a great day and cheer the boys home.
cover yerselves in glory boys
fuckin win
win for arsene
win for you
win for us
fuckin win for me
and fuckin win it
for
trevs brand new fuckin knee
COME ON YOU RIP FUCKIN ROARIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!
AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great stuff cba ๐
We’re the famous Arsenal and we’re going to wembley…..
Fucking bring it on.
Afternoon all. Quick update. On 3-0 at 11/1, but couldn’t resist a supplementary punt on 4-0 at 22/1.
Come on you riproaring!
No chance of a clean sheet with Flappy in goal…..
Chill out, chill out. I’m only joking.
๐
Afternoon all.
I’m out and about to kill a few hours. Need a drinky in the sunshine to calm my nerves.
Steve T
Now you’re teasing he he, I know you’re joking I know you too well ๐
iH2H
Wish I could join you now but I have some chores to complete first of all. A trip to Reading town center to pick up management as well.
I will be joining everyone here later.
Till then
COME ON ARSENAL!
Fab is fine, you miserable bugger ๐
It is a cup semi. It is going to be a scrap. Team that wants it most will win. We have to stay strong and squeeze the will to win out of them.
Random stat of the day: Vermaelen has scored four goals in his last four starts against Wigan.
Another random stat: The last three times that Sheffield United made the FA Cup semis (’93, ’98, ’03), Arsenal went on to win the Cup. Same thing happened in ’36, too.
Reaches the touch line with a dazzling burst of speed, turns on a dime leaving two defenders on the ground, looks up and sees a teammate arriving unmarked near the top of the box so rolls a tantalizing ball in his (her?) direction …
Re: ‘holic @87. Just follow the money. ๐
Picks the ball and opts for quick one-two with 8ball…
The super assister strikes again….
strikes
boom!!
Well in frank.
That’s a tabs 8Ball.
Tottnum 2 goals down v. West Brom in the first four minutes. Did they create that club for our entertainment???
Cheers H2H.
That’s a first for me. Here’s hoping that young Yaya puts the icing on our cake by getting Hus own first today.
Keep basking, 8ball.
Well in Frank, great assist H2H.
One very nervous Lurky here!
Come on Sunderland
Everton just missed a sitter….
Come on Sunderland indeed!
Ned @95,
A remarkable piece of statting, sir!
Just as remarkable that Sheffield United reached the FA Cup semis every 5 years. Who’d have thunk that ?
Also realised that ‘United’ – i’ve been a bit slow on the uptake here – is an anagram of ‘Untied’.
I therefore give you, ladies and gents, “Manchester Untied”. Let’s hope we get used to it. ๐
cba,
Cheers old chap,
My new knee will be screaming at 5.07. No doubt. ๐
If you see my little Tim Sherwood
Please drive him home…
Cheers Lurky.
I am as jittery as a harmattan leaf myself.
Come on you Reds!
Just fucking win this!
WBA 3-1 LWCs.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha !!!! ๐
Ade rolls an unwarranted penalty straight at the WBA keeper. ๐
LWC’s goal was an og.
Barndoor missed a penalty. – oh my aching sides. ๐
Manchester Untied is also an anagram of Need Nut Shit Cream.
H2H – Brilliant!!!
Off to the pub for the first of many breakfast beers!!!
COYG!!!!
Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Monreal, Arteta, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Podolski, Sanogo
Subs: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Gibbs, Kallstrom, Akpom, Eisfeld, Giroud.
Sanogo it is then.
Giroud to score two second half goals to win it for us 2-1 then?
BBC are saying that jenks starts, but have him on the bench. #amatures
Arsenal make four changes to the side who lost to Everton last time out in the Premier League, with Aaron Ramsey making his first start since Boxing Day. Lukasz Fabianski returns in goal, while Carl Jenkinson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Yaya Sanogo also start.
Wigan make seven changes from the side who lost to Millwall last time out in the Championship. James Perch, Ivan Ramis, Stephen Crainey, James McArthur, Callum McManaman, Jordi Gomez and Marc-Antoine Fortune all start for the Latics.
Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Monreal, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Cazorla, Podolski, Sanogo. Subs: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Gibbs, Kallstrom, Akpom, Eisfeld, Giroud.
Wigan: Carson, Perch, Boyce, Ramis, Crainey, McArthur, McEachran, McManaman, Beausejour, Gomez, Fortune. Subs: Al Habsi, Barnett, Caldwell, Maloney, Espinoza, Collison, Powell.
Agent Vito could be in a position to win us some valuable points today with Sunderland. Come on the Don!!
Massive call to start Sanogo and the presence of someone who played on Thursday evening on the bench shows how stretched we are. Heart rate pounding. Doesn’t feel good to me
Rosicky couldn’t shake off his ailment then.
I hope we wouldn’t have to rely on our bench to get us a result today.
tty.
I could be wrong but don’t recall Eisfeld playing on Thursday, if that is who you mean. He’s unlikely to feature in any case but I would feel better with Rosicky available, for sure.
Ah. tty you must have mean Akpom. Sorry.
He means apkom.
Shit own goal just typical….
Fuck
Yes guys sorry I meant Akpom. And lucky Everton have fluked a goal after being outplayed.
I just turned the stream on and bag own goal
bag=bang
Undeserved. Sunderland are the better team. Everton very very lucky.
Getting the jitters here I have to admit….
Zen as fuck.
For the first time in weeks, I’m confident we’re winning this one.
COYG
N7’s backing us to win?
That’s better then a chill pill, my confidence levels are on high. ๐
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!!!!!!!!
Fuck Everton they got lucky!
We have a semi final to WIN!
Come on you riproaring!
Everton win, so we’re down to fifth.
I always thought we were better at chasing then leading anyway.
Bricking it.
I’ll have a pint of whatever N7’s drinking with a chaser of Zen and a side of calming fries topped with valium sauce.
COYG. Give it everything and then give some more.
back in the bar after ten days in Hawaii, a week of catch up hell at work, and a long back drink. I am not wind, too much to mention, but excellent to see the process that brought us to guns outwards
koloa rum punch for those who want. and no fuckity fucks today, just lots of FUCK YEAHs. mildly nervous, terribly excited, and now off stream hunting.
COME ON YOU REDS !
ITV have jolly little Wigan songs …
Dave Whelan playing the harmonica ….
A very imoressive profile of Rosler …
A put down attempt of an interview with Arsene …
A look at the Prem League table if Everton win ….
Warnings of a final straw if we lose ….
JUST PISS OFF.
Come on Arsenal – just smash this !!!
Come on Arsenal
Come on Arsenal
Come on Arsenal !
Tots 3-3 after losing 3-0.
Come on Arsenal.
Just fucking win.
Here we Holics
Make your self comfortable…
Put your seat belts on we are away!
One pint down five to go!
Cooommmeee oooonnn AAAAAAARRRRRRSSSSSEEEEEENNNNAAAALLL!
COME ON YOU REDSSSS
OOoo unlucky Ox.
Just fucking win it!!!
Look how many empty seats there are at the Wigan end.
Stream hunting here too scruz but it’s not easy. Aloha.
Commentator just said we’re playing on the counter…can it be?
Oooooooooooooo
Sanogo
That was close come on Arsenal!
ooooh, almost sanogo!
Ooh doesn’t do it for description for us stream hunters but I think Sanogo should have scored with a header.
Sanogo’s had more impact in the first few minutes then The HFB has had in the last few games.
lol bt.
8 ball
He did everything right just shot straight at the keeper
typing on my phone generally leads to brevity. all are thankful.
did wigan not fill their allotment? crazy.
Typical cup game in my eyes!
Arteta is looking sharp.
And then he takes two sloppy actions.
All a bit tentative so far.
COYG’s
Come on we need to sort this out!
Come on Poldi, gotta do beter then that.
Ok. So we look dreadful so far.
sloppy.
We need to push up a little someone needs to drive that ball forward midfield aint doing jack at the moment!
Noone finds the passes forward, Ramseys making runs but we have no รzil with his uncanny ability to find space everywhere.
Wigan got nothing so far, so it’s all good still.
better. ox lively.
We play with a handbrake on. Slow as hell.
We need that one goal, for confidence.
Confidence has clearly taken a hit over the last few weeks. we look scared to push up, which I kinda understand.
oh let it run yaya.
Handbrake well and truly on. Missing TR7 to move the ball quicker. Sanogo doing well but it’s a huge ask
Oooooooo Sagna, close
Come on lads a little better need to push up
Come on you beauty!
Good reading by Fab!
Hit the target Bacary ffs
COME ONNN!!!
Come on guys pick it up!
What is that ref doing?
tv5 lucky there.
Jesus my heart is racing come on lads!
Far too long to get the ball moving forwards. Not pulling Wigan out of position at this pace at all.
Fuck you ref.
too fucking close.
Free kick.
Poldi piledriver please.
Close.
unlucky Poldi!
nice fk poldi, almost.
Come on refs sort it out!
Never offside.
Onside by TWO Wigan players !!!
Aaaaaaah sanogo.
Touch too heavy
fuuuucking good chance there.
Should have been a corner too!
Podolski fell ON his Perch. ๐
Heh
GOAL !!!
Sonogo is dreadful.
Last minute corner,…..
COME ON ARSENAL!
COME ON ARSENAL!
COME ON ARSENAL!
COME ON ARSENAL!
COME ON ARSENAL!
We Ned to seize this. We are the better side but aren’t proactive enough
Well definitely hand brake on! We need to find our rhythm we have to push forward!
Exactly ttg, got to get some drive into midfield.
ht. we can do better. marginally shaded them, we looked nervous as they countered.
Mediocre at best. Very low on confidence obviously.
Sanogo looks out of his depth.
COYR’S
I don’t like this one bit
and I don’t like that Sanogo fella.
End of first half. Too slow, no penetration, not enough movement.
It looked like we just wanted to get through the first 45 unscathed.
Ox looking lively and at the centre of the few times that we looked decent. Sanogo doing his best, but is clearly not ready for a game like this just yet.
TTG
There game is there for the taking “are we the best we can be?”
Definitely not! We are far much better than that but like any Arsenal side we seem to have that fucking fear inside!
time to shake it off Arsene you have to shake it off them!
COME ON!
Just fucking win Arsenal!
We really need to shore up the left hand side too.
Well, I actually like what I’ve seen from Sanogo. Still raw, and doesn’t have luck, but good movement, good engine, has interesting ideas and he knows football.
He will start scoring, I am confident he will.
Sanogo is the striker version of Diaby. Clumsy, poor touch, long way off Arsenal quality.
Fair enough Lurky. Your probably right.
But we need some goals. Today!
What to do in 2T?
Bring on OG? Who else is there?
Pace, aggression, stop the constant backwards and sideways one-twos and look forwards. Please.
Pretty shit looking dug out at Wembley.
Piers Morgan is an extreme tart.
BMBD
Wenger looks as nervous and worried as I’ve ever seen him
Make that twat. Fookin auto-correct.
Tart worked too, Lonestar.
tart could never work for that bastard, lonestar.
You should see me, ttg. ๐
They are playing 3-5-2 cutting out the midfield we need find a remedy for this bring the ball forward!
Arteta has become Denilson
Fuck sake
Arsenal Arsenal!
Fuck me, I was touching cloth there.
Come on! Come on!
Finally, a bit of noise.
COYR’s
Come on Arsenal.
Why penalty?
He got the ball right?
No he didnt!
No it’s a foul by Per. ๐
Fuck
Idiotic by per.
Fuck!
Just great
Come on Fabby
Cmon flappy.
Gibbs on
Sanogo is like our poorer version of welbeck.long way off from being top class but the tools are there. Pedestrian play from us so far. Shudder to think that this game might go to penalties if we don’t do something creative quick.
OK.
No excuses now, we have to play and go for it.
Idiot
Fuck
Almost Flappy !
If gibs was fit then why the fuck was monreal playing.
AW – what the fuck are you doing?????
Now have we got enough in the tank???
This is every bit ax agonising as we feared it would be. Giroud has to come on and we need go be quicker and more direct
better get to it, boys. fuck.
Well at least we have to start playing now. One way to make a decision.
This is no back to basics by all means!
Make or break time now. We have to go full throttle..come on you gunners!
Get Giroud on NOW
I guess the usual sub at around the 67th minute irregardless of score.
Why is Arteta still on the pitch. Come on, we are better than this.
We can do it.
So … Were being out played by Wigan.
Poldi off?
Poldi off is idiotic.
Time’s up, Arsene.
Thank you for your service.
We look absolutely dreadful. Even if we find a way to win this, I’ve seen enough.
bmbd
Come on Giroud.
Why is it idiotic? Poldis been horrible. Atleast Sanogo finds space even though he didn’t do anything with it.
Get kallstrom on for arteta. Or maybe someone who has pace cause we haven’t stretched their defense at all..
Put Apkom on and Arteta out. Ramsey can play DM.
This is really hard to watch.
No tactics it has to be said Podolski the best threat come off!
Poldi should have been playing center forward and I’m sure everyone agrees that he’d have buried the chance that fell to sanongo..
Hmmm. Lessee.
Arsenal need goals. Poldi is our best finisher.
Weve had a few chances but theyve been fluffed.
Ergo – Poldi off is idiotic.
Class dismissed.
Poldi was lame, but they all are at the moment.
COME ON ARSENAAAAL
Giroud ffs
I cant stand this
He’s no threat when he’s playing like dogshit. You only look what he can do, not how he plays. Sanogo has been our main threat, sadly he can’t finish like Podolski, but atleast he’s there and getting chances through work.
He feels he needs to go, doesn’t he. No matter if we go trough this, he knows that he has lost it. Shame.
Here’s a really off the wall idea – how about we create a bit of pressure by stop looking fucking backwards ?
Nah? Oh alright then
15 minutes to save a career that has spaned almost two decades.
EAT THAT FUCKING GRASS!
It all going against us sorry to say
This is painful and pathetic
Pathetic.
Cmon guys
Where’s the sense of desperation from our players?they aren’t going at full tilt even now!
Honestly sanogo has not been a threat. He cant control the bloody ball.
Well agree to disagree.
Have a drink on me.
You could have taken anyone but Ox off
Hit the fucking post. ๐
Almost…believe
Now off the line…
COME ON YOU GUNNERS.
this is more like it
COMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE onnnnnn!
PEEEERRRRRR
YEEEESSSSSSSSSS
Fuck me that tasted nice!
Fucking get in
I don’t know what match you’re watching Homer. Keep the blindfold on though.
FUCK YEEEES!!!!!!
NOW WIN THE FUCKING GAME
YES!Yes!YES!
PER!!!!!!!
Football will kill me
When we get one we get two
Regroup play on the Arsenal Way!
Come on and finish this lads. Come on come on u can do this push for it
If we’d played like this the whole game we would of ben out of sight/
Begs the question, why pla so long with that frigging handbrake on?
TTG
Dont mention it
throat raw from yelling… COME ONNNNN!!
OOooooooo Giroud
Lovegood.
Im being polite to you. Its true that the net has many avatar warriors. There is no need here.
Ive made my case. Many here agree with me.
A Few agree with you.
Why not leave it there.
Were both Arsenal supporters in The end.
Like i said: have a drink on me.
Anyone for Sanogo for a winner?
Make them nervous thats it
COME ONNNNN
I don’t rate Sanogo at all…he doesn’t even have the tools a previous commenter mentioned. He’s just big, you might as well play a goalie up front.
Damn free header
Homer
Just get behibnd the team! Fuck sake!
Ill bite.
Sanogo for the winner!
Goodness me why didn’t we buy a striker
fuuuck GIVE THEM NOTHING.
ATG. I am behind the team thank you very much.
Nothing i e said here is any different or more critical than anyone else.
Lovegood had a go at me first.
Come on Arsenal. DO. IT.
Thirty extra minutes of torture.
Where’s the leaders. Come on boys
Homer
How van discuss your own team and some other persons view during a very important game?
van = can
Come on boys!
30 minutes lets do this
Thats all I’m saying yes I’m on the juice but come on leave it until later please!
Have not played well is has to said sorry holics!
Sanogo will score the winner cant wait
At least we should be fresh after only really playing for the last 10 minutes. ๐
COME ON YOU REDSSSSS!!!!!
And to just to show that im neither a malcontent nor a grudge holder ill take the bullet and agree with Lovegoods view that were better off in a xup game w/o our best finisher; and follow ATG’s advice and will get more behind the team.
Life is too short for Internet pissing matches, men.
My apologies.
Come on. Santi where are you old fella??? We need some of your magic!!!!
Top man Homer.
Come on Arsenal
OOooooooooooo Sanogo.
It’s not coming off for him, but boy is Sanogo trying.
We can win this if we keep the tempo up. They are out on their feet and fouling to stop us. Several on yellow cards.
Please don’t tell me we’re playing for penalies.
Need to up the tempo in the next 15.
Not good.
Homer just cheer the team! During a game that is!
Come on Arsenal!
WTF was Fabby doing?
Feeling so tired at the moment. Please no penalties for my sake
Up the tempo H2H ?
Where have we heard that before ?
COYGS !!!!
Wigan are done,
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
OOooooooooo Ox on the post
Unlucky OX!
Please Arsenal….
Another post……man
So unlucky – Chambo’s beeb great
8 minutes to go
Arsenal, if we ever hope to win anything don’t need “tryers” especially at this moment. The fact that Sanogo hasn’t taken his chances isn’t even the problem. The problem is he has no composure and no technical ability…he’d be better off playing in the Championship…
Fuck that was too close
Kim for Ramsey
Killer K is on – 6 minutes to win it
Stress
Come on!!!!!!!!!!
Fucking hell giroud move for the ball
Last chance… COME ON!!!!!
Fucking penalties.
Fucking penalties!
Oh Noes… Pelanties!
And breathe …….
Fuckin pens
Come on Fabby.
What to think what to think
Time to make some space behind the sofa!
COYG
Comw on Fabianski!
In front of the Arsenal fans
No, I’m wrong
COME ON FABBY
YEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Save
ARTETTTTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
FAAABBBBBYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
FAAAAAABBYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KIMMMAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
STEVE T – How much do you love Fabby ?
Why didn’t we just take these at 5.07 ? ๐
GIROOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUD
SSSAAAAAAAANNNNTIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
YEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Never in doubt
Just 4 heart attacks
Never in doubt. ๐
Weekend ON
I think we can dispense with the flappy nickname.
MOTM. Fabianski.
Fucking A!!!!!!!!!!!
If any of you will call Lukasz Flappy you have me to deal with me!
I can not fucking believe it. Did not see a second of the game but nearly had a heart attack following it on here and on Arseblog.
Veterans with steady nerves pulled us through in the penalties. Kallstrom was our good luck charm, it seems.
COME ON ARSENAL!!!!!!!!!
Evening ‘Holics. Been a while. I’d just like to say:
There.
Forgot Flappy Arthur. Good luck charm #1.
Fabianski definitely one for the FINAL!
COME ON ARSENAL!
๐
The best side ( by a distance ) won. Wigan did nothing all game
But we were very timid.
Great pens. Well done Lukasz he deserves to play in the final
I told hes a better keeper! No younger keeper will be better than the younger!
Over and out!
FUCKING FABIANSKI COYG!!!!!! what a relieve
Holy cow.
Fanianski.
Arsenal.
Arsenal have no backbone, he’s lost the dressing room, spirit has gone, Wenger out….. however Arsenal win.
I’ve seen numerous ‘supporters’ (mostly anywhere but here) hoping we’d lose today so Wenger would go….so stick that up your collective hole. COYG
Do it for the boss…and if he decides to go let it be with a trophy.
Love my Arsenal
Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes.
Never in doubt…
That could put our season back on track.
Chesney out!
Perhaps now Steve T will come appreciate him and he is going wtf?
Belated good evening everyone, piece of cake of semifinals huh?
Seriously ..was so absorbed by the game that I could not type…Mert going from villain to hero courtesy of his right nipple and my word Fabianski! This has to be a turning point for the rest of the season, COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
GIVE FABIANSKI FUCKING NEW CONTRACT.
He saved your life!
And I don’t want to hear any of the “Why is Fab on the goal, Woj is our Number 1 keeper” ANY FUCKING MORE!!!!
Oh man.
Fuckin’ exhausted.
Lurky
Steve T will argue!
Hola from sunny (and blisteringly hot) San Juan … managed to squeeze in the game in between times at the hotel’s beach and the evening trip to the charming old City. The 2 year old woke up just in time to see the penalty with me. ๐
Hopefully a turning point in the season, and maybe even in club’s fortunes in the foreseeable future.
Six more games to go. Six wins by any means would do.
Fabianski should have his song!!
Steve T
|Humble pie awaits!
No one believed me?
Steve T’s at Wembley, but just for the record. He never slated or bad mouthed Fabianski. He just couldn’t understand (nor could I) why you wouldn’t field your first choice XI for a game of this magnatude. It was more a slight against Wenger then the keeper.
I said I wasn’t worried when I saw Fabs in goal and obviously I stand by that!!!
Fuck me i’m so right it feels great!
H2H
Dont defend him please ๐
Flappy is already a cuss!
Told you lads. Easy.
By which I mean: “holy shit that was the longest two hours of my life”.
Will confess that my zen cracked at the death. Couldn’t see us winning the shoot out: where did the bottle suddenly come from?
We weren’t very good on the day, but the result was the main thing. If we’d lost that it would have been properly season over. I don’t think we’d have made top four, that’s for sure.
No idea where we go from here. I’ve had a strong feeling since Winter that we’d win the FA Cup, but my crystal ball is double cloudy for the league.
What I will say is that we were within inches of a catastrophe to make 2011 look like a picnic. I hope to god that the problems at the clubs are addressed this summer. But that’s a chat for another day.
Well done the lads for somehow making it through, on we go to Tuesday night and the 6 cup finals beyond.
Stay behind the team until the death. Zen, or otherwise.
COYG
I said before he wants to leave because like the wise Arsenal fans call him Flappy
Where do you stick it now?
Absolutely shocking! This team and club in general is riddled with fear and hamstrung by the weight of expectations. Only Fabianski should be celebrating after that shambolic display. The Ox and Sanogo were the only two attacking players who posed a threat. Penalties against a lower league side were required to win. Can the AKBs please just justify this farce we have all witnessed today.
Hope we recover for tuesdays match against the hammers!
That will be another tough one which we need to get a quick goal!
Ah… but am so looking forward to it!
He saved our PATHETIC GAME
No AKBers here David. Only Arsenal supporters.
David,
We’ve reached Wembley. Enjoy it!
Did Chelsea say how lucky they were to win the CL.
As N7 says inquests are fir another time.
Enjoy!
No disrespect to Steve T
Humble pie !
If anyone heard me today and told me other wise ?
Home knows and H2H!
I said fucking win it, not play for a draw.
Dozy bastards. ๐
I love you to bits Holic’s!
Well we never do it the easy way so that wasn’t really a surprise but then it was also heart attack inducing stuff… But well we did just ‘Fucking Win It’… And I am fucking elated! And Arsene who has had a rough time of it recently, deserves credit for sticking with Fabianski in the semis and Kim Kallstrom’s loan deal makes complete sense now… Just that penalty alone was worth it!! So well done Arsene and I still think he should sign a one year contract ala Guardiola and use those 100million cause if there is anyone who deserves to spend that money it’s him…
They made it hard for themselves but in the end the players did us proud.. Great day and looking forward to a positive response on Tuesday… COYG… Just Fucking Win
Homer
I apologist for my screams! I could not do anything better!
David,
Adrian Chiles tried the same argument after the final whistle and was put in his place by Lee Dixon. He knows more than you about the game I suspect, so give it a rest.
Getting to the final was the most important aspect of today.
We are back in a cup final and in a position to end the elusive trophy drought. Tonight you should be celebrating.
Bring on the Blades.
(speaking from inside the bottle)
How dare the players celebrate after winning against a Championship team on penalties?
Keane and any other twats thinking along those lines can go fuck themselves.
Dire match but the result was all important. Well done to the PK takers and especially Fab in goal.
Personally I have no fears with him in goal. Since he came back into the team for the late run in 2011/2012 season and likewise the Bayern game onwards last season, he hadn’t put a foot (or a hand) wrong. Likewise in the cup games this season he has made some outstanding saves. Unfortunately here he is no 2 and naturally wants the be no 1 somewhere and has refused our new contract offers. No doubt he will be snapped up by a decent club without a problem, particularly as he will be on a free.
I fully understand the thinking behind Steve T’s view about playing your best 11 in a cup semi final but the boss made an agreement and has honourably stuck with it, with no detriment to the results. An interesting choice for the final!
Let’s hope this win will push the team over the final few hurdles to an ECL place, it will be a battle of inspiration and perspiration to get there.
The whole argument re Fab v Woj was more about playing our best team.
Wenger did not think he needed to do that to win the game as evidenced by not starting Gibbs and surely you saw what a difference he made when he came on.
Fabianski probably does deserve to play in the final and I think he will. It’s more than a moot point though whether that would be our best team.
And while we are getting worked up about only beating Wigan on penalties, lets remember that we have also had to put away 4 other teams, including the league leaders, their neighbours who are currently flavour of the month, and the tramps from down the road.
Not exactly lucky is it?
Yep.
It was poor. We sucked.
But we won!
All that matters.
David am with you, but dude not today. Let us enjoy this, the team needs a lot of changes, from management,physios and of course a different mentality. But today let me have this pls, it’s been an horrible month. We are in the Final, common cheer up and have a drink on me.
Zico, people tend to forget this Championship-team blew out City on their own ground. They won it last year. They’re no ordinary team.
David
Turn it in mate.
We can all see that there are some big problems with the team, you’d have to be blind to miss it.
But we’ve just made the cup final. It’s not the moment for a group bitching session or AKBs vs WOBs.
Let’s just fucking celebrate like normal people, yeah? All of us together. We can have the massive inquest at the end of the season.
It’s been a stressful afternoon, I think we all deserve at least a bit of a smile.
That’s kind of my point Lovegood.
Before the game everyone told us it would not be easy, now its “only Wigan”.
Sanogo had 10 (ten) shots today….yes there was extra-time but when was the last time an Arsenal striker got off 10 shots in a match.
No need to mention that he didn’t score, but he had a good go eh?
Tech issues here.
Not need ATG. All good.
And you were surely right. Positivity. During a match. Keep the faith.
Now – im going drinking!
Cheers holics.
Fabianski has always been a better shot stopper than TPIG1. But it’s the entire package that matters, and Szczesny’s overall command of the box gives him the upper hand.
Don’t forget that little walkabout bit Fab did in extra time today; that’s the reason TPIG1 is in there most of the time. That little stroll led to the twelfth change of undergarments watching this one.
If anyone out there is unhappy about the way we reached the final and wants to give me their cup final ticket, I will happily suffer on their behalf next month.
I’m off for more beer! ๐
We play West Ham on Tuesday. If we play them off the park but lose 3-2 in the most unfortunate fashion , having played superb football we will all be desolated. Because we lost.
Today in an FA Cup semi- final we won.
History will not record this as a lucky victory just a victory just as when we creamed Everton it just got us through to the semis.
Too many Arsenal fans have forgotten how to enjoy themselves. Under George Graham this would have been a triumph of fortitude. Wenger has spoilt us. We can all see the light dimming- but it is still there. Let him enjoy one last triumph.
zico @ 422: Exactly! As if cup wins are built on always playing superbly and dominating teams. We have been able to take care of each opposition and actually had a rather tough run with three in the top six of PL.
There are always the odd game or two in a cup run where things tend not to go well but a win is managed.
And today we may have been visibly sub-par and really not near what has become the football standard of Arsenal’s quality under Arsene (notwithstanding the recent hiccups), but we were NOT LUCKY. The move for the penalty against us started from a foul against Monreal. We hit the post a couple of times.
And there was nothing LUCKY about four cooly taken penalties and two good saves. No one fluffed their lines when it mattered most.
Finally, I thought somewhat hesitant in goalmouth and awkward in patches he might be but Sanogo looked very promising. I think he would get a few more chances in the league run. And once he scores that first goal at this level the chances are that we would have an exciting talent. The another pleasing thing was he was physically fully committed even at the end of two hours.
Tim – good point.you can see Sanogo might be a good striker but it’s too early to play him in a game like this. But he never went missing .on the other hand Kallstrom has only played 20 minutes in an Arsenal shirt and already has a goal to his name!
Tim @ 428: Exactly! The turn and snap shot was rather good, and even though the outside of the boot curler ended up too far off liked the idea and the confidence.
I am convinced that there is more than a promise, there is actually a very good chance of having a young class striker in him.
Tim, yeah I thought Sanogo showed something today. His touch let him down a few times, and he lacked the deftness in front of goal that he needed. But Giroud has looked very much off it for several games now, and he was more effective coming off the bench. Sanogo gives us something in attack that Giroud lacks, a relentless energy and a bit of quickness. There’s some real promise there. I liked a couple of his turns, and the ability to run in behind is something we’ve sorely missed without Theo. Hard to fault Sanogo for missing chances Giroud would never have made.
I see several have beaten me to that punch.
I’m absolutely over the moon that we’ve reached the cup final, as any true Gooner should be, but the fact that we couldn’t beat a Championship team in 120 mins of football at Wembley stadium doesn’t suggest that we’ve turned a corner yet.
But like N7 said, maybe it’s a debate best left for another day (i.e. Tuesday night).
West Ham was always going to be a tough game, but will be even tougher now after today’s graft. I hope what we’ve lost in energy, we’ve made up for in much-needed confidence today.
@TTG 432
Bang on.
I’m sorry guys but you seem as this was a blessing??
Fair play ‘m on juice here tonight! However !
It seems like Arsenal won the game in 90th minute?
You seem to forget about the keeper lads! What a shame!
“zico @ 422: Exactly! As if cup wins are built on always playing superbly and dominating teams. We have been able to take care of each opposition and actually had a rather tough run with three in the top six of PL.
There are always the odd game or two in a cup run where things tend not to go well but a win is managed.
And today we may have been visibly sub-par and really not near what has become the football standard of Arsenalโs quality under Arsene (notwithstanding the recent hiccups), but we were NOT LUCKY. The move for the penalty against us started from a foul against Monreal. We hit the post a couple of times.
And there was nothing LUCKY about four cooly taken penalties and two good saves. No one fluffed their lines when it mattered most.
Finally, I thought somewhat hesitant in goalmouth and awkward in patches he might be but Sanogo looked very promising. I think he would get a few more chances in the league run. And once he scores that first goal at this level the chances are that we would have an exciting talent. The another pleasing thing was he was physically fully committed even at the end of two hours.”
Where is that you talking about keepers?
Sorry, my last line @436 should read, chances Giroud would never have had.
I cant believe that is so simple?
Seems like the outfield players won teh game for us as obvious stuff it hits back!
DF
Are that invincible?
Just back drinking. Lucky?! Fuck me!
There were times it felt we couldn’t buy a goal. And you have to go out and actually win a shoot out.
I thought we were poor for long periods. I was similarly unimpressed with Wigan. At NO point in the game did I find myself thinking that we were enjoying a load of good luck.
We weren’t great on the day, we still got there in the end. Sometimes, that’s cup football. I don’t remember it feeling better than this when we used to play great and still get beat.
You make your own luck.
I rest my case but some should wake up and smell the coffee in the morning!
Tough watch but we won. My 7 year old daughter is now asking if I can get us Cup Final tickets. I will try (and probably fail) but it’s a nice feeling to be asked that question for the first time ๐
Any other team that had knocked out Sp*rs, Liverpool, Everton and the current holders on the way to the final would be lauded.
Just saying like.
ATG @ 444: I am not sure what your problem with my comment was, I said there was nothing lucky about “four cooly taken penalties and two good saves.” It was an ordinary performance — not diabolical, but just very ordinary — saved by penalty saving excellence and holding on to nerves in scoring from them. What exactly am I missing here?
Or did the “two good saves” miss you?
And BTW, I am neither a fan nor a critique of Fabianski. I think he a very good GK and possibly one of the best, if not the best, no.2s in PL. IMHO Sczczesny is a better overall keeper but that is just a subjective opinion. I would love for Fabianski to stay at the club and continue to push Szczesny and if he performs better consistently can take on the mantle. But I don’t think he has Arsenal no1 in his make-up, his command of the box is still not that great. Again, subjective opinion.
And it is also my opinion that he should play in the final.
N7
tHE FUNNY THING IS NO GOONER IS PRASING IT AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED!
N7 and I are as one on this. Fabianski had two saves to make in the whole game ………..in the penalty shootout. We hit the post twice, Carson had a blinder and we had one kicked off the line. Blimey we don’t just have to win anymore we have to wipe the floor with the opposition. If Mourinho had engineered this the reaction would have been that he was a genius who always gets his team across the line. Like on Tuesday .
If we’d bottled the penalties the team would have had no character. Well we didn’t and we showed some.
It’s far from perfect. We’ve got a handbrake and two Krookloks on but we did the business at the end of the day.
Sorry capitals!
I have said enough on here!
DF
Fair play it seems you only managed to say taht when I got frank with peeps who had an issue!
You can call Wigan a “championship side,” sure. You can also remind yourself that they’re the defending champions of this competition, who shipped City out at their own ground on the previous round. It was a cup semi-final for goodness’ sake.
Let’s also remember that our players are coming off one of the most mentally devastating runs in recent memory. Key players out, confidence in the crapper. This was a hugely difficult game. And make no mistake, we were deserved winners. We had the better chances by a long way. Yes we left the door propped open for them to steal it away, but it was Arsenal, not Wigan, who had the quality and gumption to take the game in the end.
The other thing I’d say is that what that team was crying out for today (yet again) was Mesut Ozil.
Since his departure our midfield has been a shambles: he is the one who drives us forward, who creates chances every game and who can always be trusted in possession. He prompts other players with his passing, sets the tempo and makes those around him better.
He wasn’t on peak form when he got injured, but i think a blind man could see the difference since he’s been out.
Win on Tuesday (no small feat given what’s currently a thin old squad) and he may well be back for the weekend.
DF you seem like person!
I only think that some credit is due and there was none from you taht si all!
Sorry too many holsters tonight!
TTG.
We were never going to come out of that tie with any glory, no matter what.
If we had blown them away it would of been put down as the expected thing, even if we had scraped a win in normal time, the same would of been said. Wigan were always going to be winners no matter what, they had absolutly nothing to lose.
I don’t care what anyone says, this was a massive win for us, the pressure was huge.
BTW, my final words on this set of drinks before I step back out in the sunshine here in the architectural splendors of Old San Juan: I absolutely refuse to be pulled down by any so-called supporter screaming the end of the world because of Arsenal’s falterings in the last month or so.
I am neither blind nor I need to “wake up and smell the coffee.” But football is about enjoyment and if we cannot enjoy a successful SF victory and a FA cup final appearance in nine years then we might as well not follow football.
I get my dose of misery — real genuine sadness of the world — from my morning paper and I get my metaphysical-existential-ontological crisis from philosophy and literature. This is football, for fuck’s sake people. What next? Cannot enjoy drinks and sex because some people in the world are always dying from abuses of those?
We are in the FA Cup final. Period. Enjoy it.
Sorry Holics , I’m not going to take your time too much here!
We fucked it during the game we were SHIT! Unles some want to correct me?
new day raisins
Do not fail your 7 year old Gooner daughter. Please. ๐
ATG @460: Again , check out my post @396. Calm down and don’t be so worried about who says what. We all have our opinions and our ways of expressing them. Respect that.
Later.
There is playing and there is being shit!
DF
All good here but I believe some credit is due and its not that difficult!c ๐
I’m on what the Doctor’s prescribing. ๐
A word here too for the Ox. He was knackered and cramping by the end, but his attitude set the tone for Arsenal. He came out eager to do whatever it took to drag this team into the final. Unlucky not to a score an absolute screamer as well. I love him.
We just fucking won it.
I know that respect is all I have here I know you have your own opinion and I would never come to question it
So lets take it easy! Please?
“We are in the FA Cup final. Period. Enjoy it.” Thanks to who???????
Ok I will let it go now…..enough Fuck me that was a tough fucking game!
Heh @ 470
It’s true. We got EXACTLY what we all asked for.
DF
Fair points I dont want to argue but I would to see you sat that Fab did his job
well!
Holics enough we won the fuckign game I’m sure we dont need to argue about it!
COME ON ARSENAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Having Ramsey back today was a relief.
My favorite player over the last five years!
COYGS!!!!!!!!! ๐
Thank God that’s out of the way. That was hard going. The result is all that matters. One Step Closer. COYR’s
Let’s just all enjoy it lads (and lasses). No disagreements. No navel-gazing over whether it was the right sort of victory. We’re in the final and I couldn’t give a monkeys even if we got there by default because the opposition got the venue wrong and turned up at Hampden Park by mistake.
On to Tuesday
I hope we.can field
Ches
Bac/ BFG/ /Kos/ Gibbs
Kallstrom / Ramsey
Ox/ TR7/Cazorla
Giroud
If we had better options than Cazorla I would pick them. Sadly unless Gnabry is fit then we could only play Podolski.
I thought 4-4-2 worked well and it would be ironic to play that against Allardyce
I suspect Ox may be out, Rosicky may not be fit and I’d bench Arteta.
Totally agree with N7 about Ozil. He would make this team look so much better.
Sorry peeps but Fabianski did it all and perhaps it was wrong he saved today
Perhaps some thought it ws the end!
Heh, Per. I think that he is an Arsenal fan first and then Arsenal player. You got to love him.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BlC_FiQIQAAZgqc.jpg:large
Give him the armband
Ok, I didn’t spend a fortune to watch the game so maybe I’m more easily pleased but FFS We fuckin won . I for one am chuffed as fuck. The F.A Cup is on !!!!
Just in. Thank fuck for that but it was a dreadful experience. I have had better times in the dentist’s chair.
Don’t suppose anyone fancies writing that up for me? Missed extra time and the end of the second half. Only saw the penalties because I was buying drinks…
Please?
OK LAST ONE WE WONT THE GAME And we ARE IN FINAL!
Holic I will?????
Midday tomorrow!?
Arthur, it is Fabianski victory, no one is denying it.
Ox got the MOTM award, but Fabianski saved the day.
As I stated before the game, he is more natural talent and better shot stopper than Woj.
I think that many of our fans own him apology not only for never trusting him but for disrespecting him. I am sad that he will leave us.
In fact I feel the same about him like I felt about Gervinho, who was absolutely disrespected by majority of the fans. Not that it matters but, here’s a random stat for all Gervinho haters.
Gervinho: Has directly contributed to 7 goals for Roma in his last 7 games (scoring 3, assisting 4)
Brief back-drink shows even more angst in here.
Credit where due – we deserved to win. But for the pen, they did nothing.
We hit woodwork twice and had a shot cleared off the line.
But god are we suffering.
If we beat Wet Spam, it’ll be a miracle.
Wigan were hideous and should be grateful Arsenal were no better.
Lurku
All good here the last time I checked!
Why the armband for PerMer, Lurky?
I thought you said he’s shite without Kos.
Just kidding.
Drink, man, drink till you burst.
My name is Pleguezelo and you must obey me.
YOU MUST!
Dr F.
Man do i love old san juan. Gorgeous place. Great food in PR.
Im soooo totally jealous.
Cheers.
Come on Sheffield Utd tomorrow. It was about getting a result today. Hopefully we’ll have a few more fit players for the Final. Let’s get ready now for West Ham Tuesday.
SSY, I’ve never said such a thing. All I’ve said is that in my opinion Kos is better defender of them both and that all Mert weaknesses expand when Kos is not there to cover him. I still stand by that.
Anyway, Mert deserves to be captain for other obvious reasons, no just football ones.
Lets wory about the final!
Passes the ball to * ball!
BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SCORES
Arthur, thank you. It’s your gig. Top man.
Aaaaaah well in Arthur
Come on Arsenal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Presumably Hull will just stroll right by Sheff Utd tomorrow.
Assuming you’ve never watched a cup match at Wembley before.
Well in, Arthur.
H2H with the glory position.
Sorry guys perhaps I’m to deep!
Win is a Win!
We won that is all that matters!
By playing Sanogo, AW gave Giroud an extra 60 minutes rest before we play the Hammers on Tuesday and it kind of worked out. We are through and deservedly so and that is all that matters. Well done, the Arse.
Management is saying we are shit! Ha ha…………..let her believe that!
Winding down in the Tollie with some mates who were at Wembley, some pork scratchings, packets of crisps & a pint of Strongbow, West Stand Tone’s here as well!
What a day ๐
Enjoy, Wind.
Apologies Holics there was no harm meant only celebrating the WIN!
AW: “The result of the final will have no bearing on my future.
Looks like he made up his mind.
@Lurky
He’s going. The writing is on the wall.
Six more games. I hope he goes out in style.
Sorry not necessary Arthur. Just get that report into goonerholic(at)virginmedia.com in the morning ๐
Top man ๐
I see Vydra got the 4th fastest goal in Premier League history Eamdy, you must have been pleased Eandy ๐
Anyone remember “just fucking win it”?, well we did. Maybe I was watching a different mstch – I’m sure the signs said Wemblry – but I don’t remember Podolski doing much apart from slowing things down every time he got the ball in front of goal, and bending a free kick well wide of the post. I didn’t understand the boos when he was taken off and I still don’t. I didn’t see the penalty decision as it was down tbe far end and I was waiting for the ref to blow for the foul that saw Monreal taken off.
I wonder what, if anything, would satisfy the Wenger aahht brigade, in much the same way that I imagine they wonder what would make the pro-Wengr faction come around. It amazes me that appointing a manager then standing back and allowing him to manage has become such a controversial idea that AKB has become an insult. My commiserations go to those who have to tolerate the most successful Arsenal manager of all time for a few more weeks, me I hope he’s here for years.
COYG
N7
I think the same. One just feels that he can’t do it anymore, that he is tired and exhausted. And I don’t blame him for leaving.
He is a brave man. I am not sure that there is a manager in the world that would take in hand to work without money for near a decade, to be forced to sell his best players every year, to be constantly criticized from the media, from the fans.
He did it.
We are financially stable because of him. We play CL every year because of him. We have beautiful new stadium because of him. We played best football in the country for ages, because of him.
He deserves a rest. I hope that he gets his deserved place in the Arsenal hierarchy and will be still connected with the club that owes him so much.
Next season some new, fresh ideas are needed and would be welcomed. I am sure Arsene will help Arsenal for the last time and will find his successor.
But, before that happens, come on lets win that Cup. Not to shut anyone’s mouth, not for Arsenal, not even for us the fans.
Let’s win it for Arsene.
@518
The sub, in real time, seemed crackers to me. He took off a proven goal scorer and left on a kid with not a single Arsenal goal to his name. I wasn’t surprised it got the reaction it did, but I think that reflects Podolski’s status, rather than his performance on the day.
Looking back on it…. it seemed to kind of work. It wasn’t pretty, but we got more pressure on them almost immediately and Sanogo, while struggling to hit a barn door, did seem to unsettle them.
Ultimately, the manager (whoever he is) has to be free to make these decisions. He lives and dies by them, after all. I agree people should sometimes back off a little. How many times have we wished he’d make a decisive sub, or go to 442? He did both today, and he got a result.
This stuff is important, not just because of Wenger. It’ll be the same with the next man as well; it’s about the office, not the individual. Personally, I will always support Arsenal’s manager, whomever he may be, unless he either (a) gives me a really compelling reason not to do so; or (b) is Mourinho.
Great post @ 519. Well said, Lurky.
Talisker, Guinness, and cod tongues in St John’s Newfoundland Canada in an extended celebration. So ridiculous and scary and gorgeous a result at the Duke of Duckworth. How great a goal from Per after the earlier error. Looking into flights to London in May now, so as someone said above, if you are not behind these boys I’ll happily take your ticket and promise to be louder than you anyway!!!
Holic there is a draft but I have to finish it tomorrow morning!
Arthur, is that a draft as in a breeze coming through the window? There are many names for writer’s block in these parts. ๐
Good day for Lonestar and his legions:
Granada 1
Barcelona 0
Combined with the CL loss to Atletico earlier in the week, we have a new acronym:
BAOTVOBD
(or, Barcelona almost on the verge of being destroyed) ๐
Sorry Arthur, I didn’t mean to pile on the pressure. ๐
Feck yeah! Wemberley part two here we come. Up the Arse!
Several of us forced to watch it on ITV couldn’t but help the note of ecstasy in Tildesley and Townsend’s voices as Gomez’s penalty hit the net. How disappointing that cuddly old Dave Whelan can’t be wheeled out again.
How ironic too that a goalkeeper who the last time I saw him play at Wembley let in one of the worst goals I have ever seen a professional let in, was superb today. Not the slightest mistake by Carson although our penalties were too good for him!
Evening one and all. Not even attempted to back drink. Just left Liverpool Street having made that the after match venue.
Right, where do I start. First and foremost happy days. We now have an FA Cup Final to look forward to. Mid May will just be awash with glorious Gooners.
So, today. The result apart I thought we were very poor throughout. Wigan came with one aim, and that was to get to penalties. They created fuck all. It was only a silly challenge that gave them an opportunity to go one up. The fact that we needed a centre half to take us to extra time I would suggest tells you all you need to know. I thought we created very little. Certainly very little with any purpose. I was amazed to read the stats that said we had 27 shots, 9 of which were on target. I must have blinked an awful lot. The fact that Wigan had 2, one of which was the pen tells it’s own storey.
Extra time and pens should never have been required. The fact is that I have been robbed of about an hour of drinking time.
Pens it was and I was less than confident. More from trying to work out who was going to take them as much as anything else. The so far relatively untroubled Flappy stood tall and produced two good saves to give us the upper hand. Two saves that if the outfield players had done their job he would not have had to make.
I will be perfectly honest and say I was surprised we scored all four. I do think that when your keeper has saved two that it takes a lot of pressure off and gives you one big advantage. Flaps can be proud of his days work.
At the final whistle we looked fucked. Not just fucked but proper fucked. Tuesday night, unless we have some returning may well be a real test. As for today???? I intend to enjoy it to the max, but let’s not kid ourselves, it shouldn’t have been like that.
Big love and hugs to you all.
Steve T
Good man and proper Gooner. ๐
Individual performances. I thought AOC worked his socks off. I though Arteta also was tireless. Flappy came into his own on the shoot out. Not much else to really shout about.
I don’t get Sanogo. His first touch is a pass and at times he looks clueless. When I say about playing our strongest 11, at this stage, if he is genuinely on it then we really do have issues. Width again???? How many times do I have to mention it???
Nearly home. Sweet Mary Jones how I need my bed.
Crap newspaper speculation that Louis van Gaal is waiting to see if Wenger jumps before deciding what to do about his next job. God save us from that bloke.
Also terrible news that Bob Wilson is to undergo treatment for prostate cancer. Thoughts are with him. He’ll hammer it though.
Lurky, N7, great posts at 515, 519, and 520. These are hugely important months for Arsenal.
It’s possible to have the utmost respect for Wenger, to be hugely grateful for all he has done for this club, even to consider him one of the great managers of his day, and still believe that the time has come for him to move on. For myself I do think it’s time, depending somewhat on who we can find to replace him. (But that’s always going to be something of a risk; I think it’s probably time we took it.)
Time will tell. I love the man. We’ve been very, very fortunate to have him.
Relief. The poison around the Club if we’d lost today doesn’t bear thinking about. Pouring myself a 14 year old Longrow. Cheers everyone.
Wenger, Schmenger. He’s absolutely fantastic, faults and all. I’ve got reservations about his future too, both about him staying but also about him leaving. As always, I think you are a great lot of friends, acquaintances and debating partners, but I, myself, couldn’t care less about talking talking about his future today.
FA-cup final coming up.
PS. I’ll be here debating his future all summer. DS.
I really am a pathetic sack of shit.
prem you are a sad drivel, if all you can focus on is that. too bad for you, I’m celebrating getting to the cup final. celebratory doppelbock on the bar from me to all! woohoo!
I thought it would never end.
รskar
Trev … ffs don’t go anywhere Wembley on final day.
รskar
Let’s hope the Blades win tomorrow, I don’t fancy having to beat a premiership side. And then let’s hope we can take it to penalties. Pens are our best chance of winning, we’ve won 7 of our last 8 shootouts.
รskar
Homer @ 495: Thanks. Yes, the old city, small though it is, is architecturally magnificent and has a splendid cultural ambience. You can see influences of Spanish-Arab-Italian-French-modern tropical … the food also has that same eclectic mix. Recently some of the new places excel in the so-called Latin fusion — there is even a fusion of Puerto Rican and Chinese and Puerto Rican and South Indian — cuisine which really are delicious.
Don’t be jealous, visit again. ๐
Because we played nowhere close to our best level, and because this performance came after a dire month, and because Wigan defended so deep and organized our game looked much worse that it actually was. Check out 7amkickoff’s By The Numbers analysis http://news.arseblog.com/2014/04/wigan-1-1-arsenal-2-4-aet-arsenal-through-to-the-final-by-the-numbers/ . Not fluent but dominant display. We were stopped by the woodwork a couple of times and then there was a goal line save.
Last time we won the FA Cup (Penalties, horror!!) this was the statistics at the final, vis-a-vis our opponent:
Shots: 5 vs 20
Shots on Target: 1 vs 8
Corner Kicks: 1 vs 12
And that was with Pires, god and Cesc in the line-up …
I pride myself for not being the paranoid type, but the strange reactions to Arsenal’s run to the FA Cup final from many quarters — some supposedly the supporters — in the print and electronic media make me think that maybe there is a semblance of truth to the claims by those fans who think that there are vested interests in English football who insists on perpetually downplaying Arsenal’s and Arsene’s achievements in terms of the club’s financial policy.
The man ought to know, and besides, he ought to be in a movie. ๐
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mioXAfy718A
Holic – I would be happy to write this one up for you.
The team were asked to ” just fucking win” and they did.
The end.
Said it would be a scrap, and it was. Getting from a semi to the final is all that matters, not how you get there.
Ramsey showed how much we’ve missed him while he was out injured. Always there to be the extra man in defence, midfield or attack. Props to Fabianski, not just for the two penalty saves, but the overall performance, too. Earned the right to keep in the final in my book. Bac was the warrior of old today. Ox ran himself into the ground and just willed himself through cramp at the end. Sanogo will be a hell of a player if he ever learns to finish.
Fabulous win for the Gunners. Fabianski has finally rid himself of the tag of Flappy with a dominant display in the shootout. Sanogo though had a display full of promise and reminded me of Welbeck. With time I hope he gets the composure and technique to control and finish chances and I’m glad the chances of him doing so are quite high.
To Roy Keane moaning about our celebration , why can’t he go ask City,Everton and Palace exactly what happened in their matches against Wigan? Disgraceful attitude towards Wigan who I’ll be more than happy to see them get promoted.Very spirited defence from the reigning FA champs!
Holic you have mail
Roy Keane is a grade A tool.
When was the last time you saw a team, at any level of the game, win a penalty shoot out to reach a final and NOT celebrate?
Too much ex Utd on our TV screens.
Well played Fabianski. Not a pretty performance but job done. COYR’s
Hi guys, this is my first post here. I have been around for many years reading your comments but English is not my first language so I deliberately reduced myself to being a consumer of what DrF and others have to say. Today, I would like to risk writing a short post not because of our win last night (which I enjoyed in spite of all imperfections associated with our game) but because of the comments related to AW’s future. I sincerely hope he will stay. He deserves to lift a few more trophies with this club including the elusive CL. No, I don’t think he is perfect but with all his imperfections he is still the most complete manager in football. Ever! He did not win as many trophies as Ferguson or Mourinho but given the resources he had at his disposal he performed miracle, after miracle for us. SAF knows it. Even the Portuguese clown may have some idea about it. Arsene transformed Arsenal. He made his own huge imprint in the development of modern football. He affected people who worked with him. I am sure people like Fabregas, Willshere, Walcott and others are better, more mature, persons due to his mentoring. Now, that influence is hard to quantify but it means a lot to me. Don’t get me wrong, I hope we all will enjoy celebrating many more titles in the years ahead but I would like us to win them not to receive them as gift from some oligarch or wealthy sheikh.
If AW is indeed to go, I truly hope he will never manage any other club in the world. No, not because of many of us who wouldn’t be able to stand the scene of him sitting on another’s club bench but because of himself and his uniqueness both as a manager a human being.
Gooner forever!
8ball top man as always! This place wouldn’t be same without you!
The pressure is still on we have to win that final!
DF
I hope you don’t have a grudge against me now? ๐
TommyD
Sorry fella but you have to dish those dollars out now!
Enjoy it and Arsenal? Fucking win it!
BG
That is brilliant English if you ask me! ๐
Thanks ATG! You have no idea how long I have been writing that post.
Apologies WELCOME to the Holic bar do you care for a refreshment?
BG just call me Arthur (Arthur The Gooner) what a lame tag line ha ha
Will be my pleasure.
BG
Welcome to the bar – great opening post, and your English is far better than you give yourself credit for!
Enjoyed that. Little ‘un played a blinder as well.
Thanks N7! These encouragements mean a lot to me. Now I will turn into nuclear waste – it will be hard to get rid of me. Hhahahaha
Morning all. Just watched the highlights for the first times. I was amazed at how many of our chances fell to defenders. How and why did that happen?
Just watched the shoot out for the first time. The first two Wigan pens were poor, but fair play to the Flapster. He stood tall and read both well. As I said earlier, you save the first two and it takes massive pressure off those waiting to take them.
Morning Arthur. I take it you enjoyed the day???
Welcome BosnianGooner. Don’t ever be a stranger. You will be more than welcome in this bar and your English is better than many who are born and raised on these shores.
N7 and Esso how are heads?
Flapster wtf?
Ha ha…..
Steve T
Just teasing, of course I did with Flapster saving those two come on how I be in a bad mood? ๐
The most important thing was to win and we did just that over the odds it wasn’t yes we will kill them scenario by all means but we got there just about!
Fabianski will be missed if he goes but hey if he plays against us in the future you know what my motto will be!
Trophy is so close but another game away!
COME ON ARSENAL!
@ATG
Head is all over the place. Don’t think I’ve ever been so exhausted by watching a football match.
Feels like ages since the last time we played a game that was something other than monumentally stressful. God knows what Tuesday night will be like.
Looking forward to your write up.
COYG
Thank you Steve. I feel great…Thanks to all of you.
Cheers ATG. Head’s OK, be me back’s fucked. Went arse over tip over the next row of seats when we equalized.
I’m taking my boots on Tuesday night. I’m not sure we will have 11 fit and available. I reckon I could still do the last 20.
You have to think that the walrus must have been laughing his socks off the moment we went into extra time. No doubt the likes of Nolan, Carroll etc will be sent out with the brief to make it as physical as possible. As hard as it will be but 3 points is an essential Tuesday night.
Arthur. Ha ha ha.
๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐
Morning Esso. Just as well you weren’t sitting with us. We were upper tier first row. You would have had one hell of a tumble.
Do you think Gibbo will play on Tuesday? Monreal looked rather timid last night. Also, I would start Sanogo again, Cazorla left, TR7 in the middle and Ox on the right. Someone wrote here that Poldi always looks to be on the wrong foot when playing left…Can he play right, than? Or am I simplifying his issue?
I don’t know why Gibbs didn’t start yesterday. I’m far from convinced with Sanogo. Of course he is young and will need time to develop. But for me his first touch is dreadful. If we had the resources he is someone that I would be looking to send out on loan to a prem club for a period of time and see how he develops.
We need some fresh legs for Tuesday. AOC looked out on his feet at the end of that.
I am not convinced with Sanogo either…but in spite of his clumsiness he seems to make opposition somewhat confused. They don’t know what to do with him….and last night he made a great contribution to Per’s goal. However, he has to step us his development…no doubt about that.
I don’t know what to think about Sanogo.
His finishing frustrates the hell out of me, but he clearly unsettles defences and I love the fact he never hides. Worked his arse off yesterday and always wanted the ball.
He’s a player I’d be happy to see get more game time if we were in a comfortable position. As it is… I’d be inclined to start Giroud.
May I join those wishing Bob Wilson a speedy recovery. The man is pure class of a type that is rarely, if ever, seen anymore.
I liked the 4 4 2. Sanogo does look ” surprised by the ball ” but I think we need to give him a chance.
@ SteveT
That’s exactly what it feels like I did. I have bruised what I think is known as the coxis. And fucking sore and painful it is too. Never felt a thing yesterday. I wonder why.
I’m sure the pain will start to subside shortly Esso.
No such injuries here I’m pleased to report. That said, I do appear to have a somewhat fragrant bottom???? Much to the disgust of the rest of the family. I have just told them to take bigger sniffs, it goes quicker. That went down well I can tell you.
๐
Welcome to the bar BosnianGooner.
Dobrodosao i pozdrav iz Makedonije. Engleski ti bas dobro ide, ali bilo bi dobro da ima jos “nasih” na blogu pa da nas niko ne razume dok pricamo ๐
Za sad smo troje, koliko znam SSY je srbin. Pozdrav
As for Gibbs, I am sure that he will start vs West Ham, mainly because Monreal went off injured.
Sanogo is going to be good, gents, believe me. I really don’t understand what exactly people expect from him at this stage of his career. He is never going to be Suarez type of striker but he occupies defenders, never stops trying, has a powerful engine, has decent speed and is natural talent. Just wait until he starts scoring, it would be hard to stop him.
Arsenal in the FA Cup final, the world is a beautiful place this morning. Enjoy it ‘Holics.
Some nice and constructive back- drinking and a delight to welcome Bosnian Gooner to the bar. Your presence and excellent comments ( and English) is very much appreciated my friend.
Also huge good wishes to Bob Wilson who I have the privilege of knowing. Nobody will fight harder than him. And major good wishes to top Gooners Mo Farah and Dave Weir today. Hope yesterday helped their mental preparation.
After sleeping on things I find myself very much aligned with Lurky’s thinking. He put things beautifully . I think in this bar there is enormous respect and affection foe Arsene. We owe him some of the great memories of our lives. But I have the inescapable feeling that he is being overtaken by more innovative ( Martinez, Rogers) managers and more aggressive ( the loathsome Mourinho) . The great innovator who fundamentally changed English football is 65. I am 63 and still working and in some ways I think I am a wily old bugger. But I am also aware that I don’t have the energy and sharpness I used to have. I find it impossible to see a Wenger managed team ever winning the League or CL in the future. What a story it would be but if it was going to be written it would have been written before now. I see a team begin games like yesterday with the handbrake on, but I suggest this might be because the team feel a pressure which he is conveying to them, albeit unconsciously.
I sense huge hesitation and conservatism in the transfer market,
Typified by Steve T’s insightful comments from the match about Sanogo and the relative toothlessness of our forwards. Since we sold RVP, the only forward we have acquired is a free transfer from Auxerre who is yet to score for the club. That is not the mark of a manager who is going to cut a new swathe through Europe.
Perhaps the biggest concern is tactical. It is all very well when you have geniuses like Henry, Pires, Bergkamp and Vieira playing for you to send them out and just ask them to play with freedom but the tactical sophistication of the modern game requires more than that. It was instructive that a move to Route One made us look and be so much more effective yesterday.Funny that I felt slightly ashamed of it when that can be some teams’ default setting. It made the previous seventy minutes seem even more ill- planned than it had seemed as they were unfolding.
All this suggests to me a man who ought to call it a day, hopefully on a glorious note. My final thought is that I sense an internal agony, a stress that wasn’t there before in him and I don’t see it easing if he signs a new contract. If we pull off the Double of Cup and CL he will buy himself initial goodwill but it wouldn’t take long to change if we started slowly .If we are going to make ยฃ100 million available I’m not sure this won’t stress him out even more. I had an interesting chat with a club insider who told me that it was agonising to see him reverse his thinking several times last close season. Ozil’s purchase was the result of huge pressure from Sir Chips and Gazidis.
We need really clever investment in the team this year and I’m not sure if Arsene would not give us a summer of frustration like last year albeit ending in a stellar purchase. So very reluctantly I believe a sunny and triumphant day in May at Wembley would be the right time to draw a magnificent chapter to a close.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> x 2
Well
a day
that was
sweet mother of fuck
still full
cant be havin
more of that
.
.
UP THE ARSE
I’ve just completed my backdrink in 20 mins to 1/2 an hour, the slight ‘Ooh my head’ feeling has disperse, wanna guess the reason why I had that feeling in the first place? The living legend that is tabs, sighted into the Tollie with Andrew Napier around 11pm or so and last seen leaving around 1:30am ๐
Steve T, regardless of how bad the team was, surely Fabianski (you can hardly call him Flappy or the Flapster after the shift he put in yesterday, affectionately or not) warranted his start and arguably warrants a start in the final ahead of Szczesny at this moment in time? I don’t see how a one Mr Arsene Wenger could possibly begrudge it to him…
The rest of my thoughts & experiences on yesterday, I’ll hold off on commiting to virtual paper until ATG’s guest post comes out ๐
@Lurky
Thanks for the warm welcome. Tamo gdje vecno since sja, tamo je Makedonija, narod i zemlja koju volim ja….
I am glad we agree on Sanogo.
@Thundertinygooner
Thanks for nice words. Feel very encouraged…as you can from my (too) frequent postings now. This is how Sanogo will be the moment he scores his first….hahahhaa.
I fully understand your argument about Arsene being past his prime. I also feel like that from time to time but as the anger subsides (and boy was I angry after Liverpool, Chelsea and, especially, Everton) I start rationalising things and, each time, I arrive to the same conclusion: after divorce one can find a more beautiful woman but will she be a better wife.
Arsene has shown the loyalty to the Club which borderlines craziness. Ordinary manager would tolerate one or two seasons without serious strengthening and than he will go. The moment bigger club calls they all go. The same goes for players. Remember RvP. The moment he saw our potential to be below his expectations, he wrote us a letter. That is the way ordinary people behave in todays world. Wenger, my friends, is extraordinary. God knows how many offers he rejected from clubs with bigger wallets than ours. He knew full well that by staying with us he will miss the chance to rule the world. But he stayed nonetheless and told bayerns, reals and barcas to f… off.
Now, for some of you it may be enough to erect him a statue or to have him as one of directors. Not for me! I want him to be our manager for many years to come. Football evolves but it is not exactly IT…the pace of changes is well within Arsene’s reach. In fact, some of those changes were generated by him. He has hunger of a 30 yrs old and I am prepared to stick with him for many years to come.
Now, the only thing I would like to have a word with him about is our INJURY RECORD.
The word ‘see’ is missing in the fifth sentence. My apologies to all.