What Might Have Been, And Farewell Bacary
May 11th, 2014 by 'holic
Match 38. Not so long ago we had hoped that it would be a fixture of some significance. What 2013 promised has not come to fruition in 2014 however, and any celebrations will have to wait another week.
Barring a freak result we will be fourth and Norwich will be relegated, it is as simple as that. Of most interest will be the side that Arsene selects just six days before the FA Cup Final. Not surprisingly he kept his cards close to his chest in his presser.
“We go there to try to win the game. We want to finish on a high, we want to get 79 points and make it as tight as possible at the top. If you get to that level it shows you’re ready to fight for the title again.”
With Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, and Kieran Gibbs back in the squad the boss has plenty of permutations to consider. I suspect there will be some changes, with Gibbs, Thomas Vermaelen, and possibly Carl Jenkinson appearing in the back four.
Mikel Arteta would probably benefit from a week off, and I would be surprised if Mesut Ozil and Ramsey were to play a full ninety minutes. Perhaps Yaya Sanogo will get a start up top too?
Given the nature of last week’s training game against West Bromwich I hope those fighting for Cup Final places will show a little more desire and invention in a bid to get noticed. The traveling Gooners deserve at least that.
There will be yet more chants urging Bacary Sagna to stay, although he is quoted on Europe 1 Sport as saying he doesn’t think he will be staying at Arsenal at the end of the season. That is a shame. The French right-back has bounced back from two broken legs to play some of his best football this season. He will leave having given seven excellent years of service to the club. Good luck Bacary, wherever your future lies.
Norwich, with just one point in six matches, may look to depart the Premiership with a bang, but it would be a surprise if this were not to be another three points for the visitors. The ‘holic pound has been wagered on 0-2 to Arsenal at elevens. Let it be, as the Beatles once implored.
Together – The Book Launch
Those who enjoyed the first Arseblog book, So Paddy Got Up, should by now have heard of the launch of the second tome from that stable. If not where have you been? Anyway, should that be the case just click here to find the details of the event being held on Thursday at the Tollington. Together is the story of Arsenal’s unbeaten season in 2003/04 and the launch date is the tenth anniversary of the final league match of that season.
Those within range of London should get along there to discuss the Cup Final with like-minded Gooners and, of course, to get a copy of said book. You know it makes sense!
That’s it for now, and as usual, have a good one, ‘holics.
132 Responses to “What Might Have Been, And Farewell Bacary”
Bang !
I knew I’d get there some day
Damn you Trev
Top 4 and the cup? I’ll have that 😉
You’re welcome, Kadigah ! 😉
Cheers, Holic, for the final preview before the Final preview. 😉
Thanks, bath, from previous drinks.
Not walking too badly over short distances, thanks, but it still gets really sore afterwards.
Final preview 😉
So looking forward to seeing you in August, Trev 🙂
Cheers mate. 😉
Cheers guv’.
Last game of the season, man it’s flown by. I haven’t got a clue what to expect tomorrow, just hope Le Boss doesn’t take any unnecessary risks with team selection.
The game is not on any channel I have so I doubt if I’ll get to see anything more then the MOTD highlights.
1-1
Öskar
Cheers, Guv. Hope the boys will not be as distracted as I am by the FA Cup final in tomorrow’s game.
I’m with Oskar @ 9.
I’m betting on a clean sheet.
Szcz will want that Golden Gloves award.
Xcellent preview ‘holic of a deceptively (un)significant game. Bacary Sagna an Arsenal man through and through I don’t want to see him in another uniform of a Premier League club. Come on you Gunners.
Correction for the grammar police:
(in)significant
I personally think it’s obvious the team has more of a cutting edge with Theo, Ozil and Ramsey…..
And persoanlly I think it isn’t much worse defensively with them either……
And they are all very good or top quality Premier League players…..
So I find it hard to believe they don’t improve the team.
Quite a lot.
Anyway, my main point is although the team was embarassed horribly by all the good teams in the Prem away from home and although it played like David Moyes’ Everton against Chellsea and Man City at home and scraped draws, which is all a bit embarassing, the League was NOT lost against the big teams imo.
In fact it was lost against the not quite so good teams, with 11 points dropped against Everton, ManU and Southampton.
So arguably, you could say the team only really played well against Lpool at home and Spurs…..
Among other things it just shows to go that you can be the fourth best team in the league by quite some way and still win it (imo).
Hopefully our B team gets a run out since there’s no point in our star players risking injury in a nothing match
Season that had so much promise which petered out in excruciating circumstances was truly sad. Yet if we win the cup I’ll consider the season as a success. Sagna deserves a fantastic if indeed he’s leaving on a free at the end of season.
bt8b@14: Thanks – really appreciate that 🙂
Nice preview, guvna.
Where has the season gone?
All the best for continued progress over the summer Trev.
bt8b – it’s not a uniform that sportsmen wear this side of the pond, it’s a kit. :0)
Watched Toulouse’s dreadful display against Guingamp (as a refuge from Eurovision – could have been a mistake – I mean, any show that has a bearded transvestite with a name that translates into English as “Little Pussy Sausage” as a winner can’t be all bad).
Anyway, for what it’s worth, Serge Aurier, playing out of position on the left, looked tidy and strong in the tackle, and in the air despite his lack of height, but had a marked tendency to get stranded up the pitch. At one point near the end, Guingamp broke down his side of the pitch and when I looked for him, he appeared on the right touchline. He’ll need some discipline knocked into him.
If the rumours are true, not one to get too excited about. If they aren’t true, it will just be another case of “Arsenal Suffer Blow In Transfer Chase”. We’ll see that headline a lot this summer.
Cheers bath,
Not sure where the season went. Fastest ever 🙁
Bath @18 Thanks for proving the old adage, “if the grammar police don’t get you the lexicological police will.” Isn’t a kit a small furry animal? 🙂
Norwich team. Ruddy; Martin (c), R Bennett, Turner, Olsson; Tettey; Snodgrass, Howson, Johnson, Redmond; Elmander.
Couple of nasty buggers in there.
Arsenal Fabianski, Jenkinson, Sagna, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Rosicky, Ramsey, Ozil, Podolski, Giroud
No Szczes or BFG. Interesting.
I am boring all the Gooners I know by suggesting we play a very under strength team here with run- outs for Giibs, Wilshere , Sanogo, Eisfeld and Diaby and Kallstrom. Impossible game go predict. I think we will win 2-1 .
If anyone saw today’s Sunday a Times they reviewed each club’s season. Our fan of 40 years standing had Cazorla as player of the season and Arteta as the biggest disappointment. Can’t have been going much is all I can say. Santi has been very inconsistent and frustrating.
Arsenal subs: Szczesny, Monreal, Wilshere, Kallstrom, Flamini, Diaby, Sanogo
Abouuuuuuuuu!
Ridiculous team risking serious injury or suspension to key players in a game that couldn’t matter less.
I really see no sense in that selection.
Woj could of picked up the Goldon Gloves award why bench him?
Arteta, Ramsey, Ozil and Giroud, all key members of the team, surely could of sat this one out?
I don’t get it……
But what do I know!?
Where’s Vermaelen?
Interesting selection to say the least, and damn, no quality streams for last league match, guess some flash in browser will have to do today -_-
Wojc will miss Golden Gloves and (hopefully) Old Cup trophy.
That will keep our number one happy.
?????????
morning, all, and a happy Mother’s Day to all of your mothers or wives from America.
weird selection, indeed. maybe chez gets to play next week?
come on you gunners!
gooners in North America, the game is on msnbc (787 on comcast).
Oooooo Poldi
One thing I can see is why he would okay Fabianski to give him match practice for next week. Odd though with Ches’s record potentially there. It confirms to me Fab will play next week.
how are they allowed to manhandle OG like nothing happens?…ffs
Agreed. Bizarre selection.
ads in the middle of a half? what the hell?
TTF in fine form, as always.
Ttg – good point.
Norwich look up for it, so far.
our passing is off.
Newcastle one up, own goal.
poor from poldi.
great tackle by poldi, good graft.
Yep Arsenal passing seems off.
much better movement, ramsey with the nice pass. poldi could have scored.
Ooo OG should have scored
Ooooooooo Giroud, shoulda buried that.
Must say that the HFB is looking good.
yes he should have, eandy.
Nice little flick by MO.
Another good save.
Well H2H when is he not looking good?? The handsome bugger 😀
ruddy having a day. nice from og.
damp squib of a half. not as bad as last week. get özil, aaron, and HFB off early in the second, get abou, jack, and sanogo a run.
Just saw news blurb that sagna confirmeed that he is leaving.
If right That geniunely brings me down.
Sadly Homer I think he is off. Lovely player who has done a great job but at his age he isn’t going to get any better. I don’t think its a tragedy. We have had the best years if his career. I hope he goes abroad though.
bad use of language on the reporters part I think, Homer.
http://www.winnersports.co.uk/sagna-confirms-he-will-be-leaving-arsenal-fc-15784
“doesn’t think” is not “confirmed”.
A bit bewildering that Newcastle can be 0-1 up at Anfield when we were 4-0 down after about 20 minutes.
And good points, chris, above, about where so many unnecessary points were dropped.
Great “Match Choice” on the red button from Sky Sports. You can choose Man City v W Ham, or Liv v Newcastle and they’re both on Sky Sports 1 and 2 anyway, so no choice at all. 🙁
Scruz. Right you are!
Own goal by skrtl.
Id love to see a few more from him.
Own goals that is.
Citeh two up.
That’s that then.
aaaaaaron ramsey! wow!
Holy Shite! Ramseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
OOOH MY WORD!
What was THAT!?
Wow!!
Oh my fuck!!!! What a goal by Ramsey!!!!!
RAAAMBOOO
great assist, Giroud.
So €ity have won another title with another barrel of oil money, as expected, and a little bit more of proper competition dies.
UEFA had better get FFP properly implemented, ultimately for their own sake, as well as ours. “Ours” being football fans in general.
Has someone got s stream that actually works ??
sorry, trev, on the big screen today.
jenks!!!
Oh, cheers scruz. 🙁
Why would we want to see it in England anyway ? 🙁
Jenks!!
Jenkssssss!!!!!!!
JEEENNNNNKSIIIEEE
his first for his club, well done, son.
Cool Jenks! Yeah!!!!
The corporal!!!
Trev – try this one, works for me http://cdn.livetv.sx/webplayer2.php?t=megom&c=sdgdsf4asdsdv&lang=en&eid=231079&lid=210571&ci=1&si=1
jack on for aaron. claps aaron off.
Looks like the Spuds are booking their Thursday night spot again
holic pound is ON.
Thanks Eandy, I’ll give it a try
Come on you beauties
Trev
http://www.footyfree.tv/stream9.html
Carlito broke the cherry!
Sagna. Nice!!
Bac is a fucking beast, he is going to be sorely missed 🙁
word, eandy.
Sagna’s da man.
diaby and sanogo coming on.
Be a real shame if Sagna leaves… doesn’t he know we’re gonna win it the next season!??!! 😀
By the way, have to appreciate the quality Sagna is showing at centre back. Might be worth the extra quid to keep him around; would make a quintessential quality squad player over the last eighteen months or two years of a three year contract.
ABOOOU!
ads again? sort it out, nbc.
Vassiriki!
singing diaby, greatest away support.
Diaby. Come on man!
boom
Fabianski is on top form!
well done, fabs.
Sagna plays a helluva center back.
Foolish to let him go.
Still don’t know why we can’t offer bac a 2 yr contract and make him our third centre back. Give this guy a decent contract, and I bet he will take it. We most likely will loose Vermelean and will then need to get another centre back, common Wenger be smart about this decision.
sanogo saved by ruddy…almost!
Ooo Sanogo close
Thanks Eandy, H2H,
but the usual buffering, banners, registration and advert screens make it unwatchable. Don’t kbow how you guys get these streams working. 🙁
game over, but one more game in the season. come on you gunners!!
trev, try chrome, I’ve had much more luck than with Firefox.
Hope you were on the pound 🙂
Great for Jenks to get a goal – you could see how much it meant to him.
Fully agreed on Bacs – how can you let all that quality and experience go, Arsene? Unfathomable he is sometimes. Whatever Bacs wants, it’s a bargain. He was MoM today.
It may be because you are in the UK Trev.
The stream I put up, I clicked on, clicked one ad away and was good to go. On the other hand, a visit to the BBC website will put ads up for all kind of shit.
I got Chrome on this Aple too scruz, works a treat.
Also having some kind of ad block installed in your browser helps a lot Trev. I personally use third party progs like SopCast or AceStream. Much better quality and ads free.
“Apple (Macbook)
Nice call on the score, ‘holic.
Arsene doesn’t give long contracts to players over 30.
I don’t bet.
Congratulations to our ladies . In the Women’s FA Cup Final bearing Chelsea 5-3 after extra time.
So 7 points ahead of Everton and ten ahead of The Totts and fifteen ahead of United
Guys we have offered Sagna a two year contract, I have heard we have offered him a three year contract at £ 80k a week. There comes a point where you have to take a call on a thirty one year old who has two broken legs and plays in one of the most physically demanding positions. I wouldn’t blame Wenger I think he’s done what he can.
What TTG said.
If Sagna wants out, then goodbye and thanks for the memories.
Time to look to the future.
@118 I understand what you are saying. But this is a very fit 30 something yr old guy. He is just 31, not 34 or 35. We could sweeten the deal a little bit more. We need all the experience we can get in this team. Hopefully he leaves for another country I would hate to see him Join Manc. I just feel we can make him our third centre back, we will spend money getting a third centre back. No way Vermelean will want to stay on the bench next season.
Ttg, quite agree on Sagna.
If he thinks he can get what he wants then good luck to him.
Three years at £80,000 a week is just over £12,000,000 ffs. Hard to see how anyone can manage on that.
Both Sagna and Kos were offered new contracts and one of them deemed it beneath him to accept it.
It takes two to tango.
If he wanted to be at Arsenal the deal would’ve been done ages ago. We made a fair offer. Don’t think he will be flogging the Big Issue anytime soon.
And I expect him to rock up at Eastlands, such are the values of modern footballers.
Congrats to Pellegrini… not a bad coach as well.
Now sanction the ‘ell out of CITY! They have at least two bloody squads! Dzeko is their 4th choice striker and he’s scored what? 16 goals???!!
If Sagna does go… it better not be to CITY!
We finished strong yet again… if we can keep the core together and add one or two players… we’ll win it next year!
Target has to be at least 2nd in the league… and a cup or two to build on this year!!
Absolute bollocks spoken on Sky by the sycophants’ great club’ , ‘ everybody wants to join them’. Of course they do because they distort the playing field. They were a joke club playing on a bomb site and then they struck oil. Good luck to them but it’s not the achievement Sky are making it. They are hyping the EPL but eventually regular wins by oil soaked clubs will destroy natural competition in the game and people will drift away.
When asked about how to succeed Paul Getty said ‘ Study, work hard, strike oil!’
Citeh have struggled , worked hard and then struck riches beyond imagining. They can but any player they want to so let’s stop suggesting it’s the managerial achievement of all time.
They lost six times and to some doozies too and the invincible so would have mashed them . Ask Gael Clichy! ‘
The bigger story would of been if Citeh didn’t win the league.
They achieved the minimum requirement for that massive investment.
@124 ttg – The biggest audio/video pile of rat vomit on Sky since, well, last week at least 🙂 I turned off shortly after the more banal eulogies began. Wouldn’t use Jamie Redknapp to clean the inside of my bog.
On a more positive note, of the missing five, only Walcott is no longer available and it did my heart good to see About Diaby feature today. His through ball to Sanogo was masterclass. The tensing tackle on Sanogo was Twickenham class – I’m sure Steve T and young Ben enjoyed it.
I was just going to say it takes two to tango, too!)
But in my view the clubs decision making on sagna is silly – assuming hes off, that is. Interestingly – He’s positionally better CB than Vermalen. And hes still got some pace in those 2 broken legs! (And what is happening with vermalen … ?)
I like the corporal but seems its still a question if hes ready to play week in/out. The foundation of the clubs run this time has been a solid reliable defense. (Minus a few odd results.) So Shipping off sagna to save a few bucks really atrikes me as odd. Its not as if cash flow is the problem that it was.
If he’s off them good luck Bac. But i think well miss him when hes gone.
Its not like Arsenal will have an injury crisis and need a few solid squad players. Especially not after a WC summer whem players are on short rest. What with the stellar track tecord of Arsenal physios. I mean really … What could go wrong?
Vote for LJW;
http://vote.tectonicinteractive.com/?22#/show/3145
I turned off the celebrations – they are meaningless to my mind and anything less would probably have seen the manager heading the wrong way through the revolving door.
Ttg,
I dare say everybody does want to join them – they pay their best players somewhere around £300,000 a week !
They’ve bought everything at prices noone else could afford, and even their fans have nicked another club’s goal celebration.
It has to be said that a lot of their fans stayed loyal and continued to turn up as they sank through the divisions. I wonder if today’s joy could compare to what they experienced when they achieved promotion back to the top flight.
They are merely achieving what is demanded in return for a hugely bloated investment.
What I can say, is that if our hovercraft ever fills with eels again, my nipples will truly explode with delight. 😉
*sorry, Gooners abroad may have to Google that one *
Good season lads. Let us hope we’ll be on our game in the final, and then we’ll just have to get 7-8 more points in the league next season.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
BB@123: “Now sanction the ‘ell out of CITY! They have at least two bloody squads! Dzeko is their 4th choice striker and he’s scored what? 16 goals?”
You’re in my head, BB. Better City than Chelsea I guess, but it’s a cynical day for me. Fuck ’em all. A part of me will die if Bac goes to City. There’s only so much of this nonsense I can take.
I’ll do a more in depth write up about this season later (as I suspect many of us will). Overall the positives have outweighed the negatives, though (even more than usual) so much depends on this summer. Will we be able to add to the significant improvements we’ve made? Or will it be 2 steps forward, 2 steps back?
For me the best part of the year, besides seeing a much-rejuvenated Arsenal top the table for so long, was seeing Ramsey come into his own. Not just for him, but for the team. It was a vindication of Arsene’s model of football. At another of the top clubs, Ramsey is never given the chance, or the confidence, to come good. We can complain about the frustrations of loving this team (and we’re often well-justified in doing so), but let’s appreciate the positives as well. Wenger’s loyalty to the club, and the faith he puts in his players, are becoming more and more of an anomaly in the modern game. I love him for it.
COYG