Bless All Who Know The Answer.
Sep 30th, 2014 by 'holic
I have to be honest. In August I didn’t expect six weeks into the new season that I would be previewing our first Champions League group phase home fixture wondering if we could put out a first team squad starting eleven. That sounds dramatic. We can, but only just, and that should be significant.
Galatasaray are back in town and given our opening day performance in Dortmund we need to secure three points, and hopefully avoid further injuries in the process. We cannot gloss over the problems that we face ahead of the match. We have to, for one night only, forget the fact that an important, if not decisive, fixture follows on Sunday. We are missing, wait for it, Debuchy, Monreal, Arteta, Ramsey, Diaby, Gnabry, Walcott, Sanogo, and Giroud.
Those that are available should still be capable, surely, of delivering what Le Boss regards as a crucial three home points?
“Basically the target is always the same in the Champions League. You need to win your home games and you need one good result away from home. We had a disappointing result in Dortmund and the potential is there for us, we don’t lose a lot but we want to find the winning edge together and we have that opportunity against Galatasaray.”
Well nobody can argue with that, agreed? Wojciech Szczesny will surely start behind our only four senior (yes, you are already Calum!) defenders, Calum Chambers, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, and Kieran Gibbs. Arsene has a decision to make about who plays behind and alongside Danny Welbeck. How fit is Jack Wilshere? The answer, if he needs additional rest before Chelsea, is Alexis Sanchez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Tomas Rosicky, Mathieu Flamini, Mesut Ozil, and Santi Cazorla or Lukas Podolski. The bench might be thin. Apologies kids, and Joel Campbell, I wish you well if you get your opportunity.
I would love to argue the reasons why we will beat Galatasaray. I would love to give you a deep and meaningful tactical appreciation of where they are right now. It would be utter bollocks. I haven’t watched them once this season. I am relying on the old stereotype of Turkish teams travelling badly, and Arsenal historically doing alright at home, to inform my bet on the match, so don’t follow it slavishly. The High Street bookies are all over a low scoring Arsenal win. They are not often wrong, but 1-0 (7/1 at best), 2-0 (15/2), and 2-1 (8/1) don’t represent value for me. I am having a ‘holic pound that I can afford on both 3-0 and 3-1 at 12/1.
On the day, as well as overseeing our Champions League adventure, Arsene will be celebrating eighteen years in charge of THE Arsenal. I seriously thanked him once for what he had done for us, after the Highhbury Farewell. What has followed has caused much debate, and falling out between top people I knew.
Having said that it is time to withdraw to the land of nod. Have a lovely Wednesday all. Let’s pray for a good result tomorrow. Big weekend ahead.
We Love you Arsenal, we do.
296 Responses to “Bless All Who Know The Answer.”
1st??
Top dog! Now backdrinking previous round…
Öskar
…..Oh Arsenal we love you!
A victory and no further injuries please. After that an entertaining win would be a bonus. With the disappointing form of some, maybe our fit starting XI may just be the best team to put out anyway.
COYRRR
as many out as there are remaining
plus a few uncertainties who are not out yet but awfully close
so we truly do only have 4 backs as AW does not even include bellerin in the mix (unless he is also injured since last check)
completely agree with N7 in previous drinks that le boss doesn’t seem to think much about coq as he rarely throws him in the mix until we are completely buggered.
I’m not going to predict who will play. That would only jinx the few fit players we have left. But IF he plays, I imagine TR7 has a point to prove after his last match and could be key to a satisfying win. I’d still play Alexi as the striker, much more reliable than Danny, imo. And watching the latter repeating his spuds game air-swings could risk me hurling something heavy (Oskar possibly) at the plasma, to the detriment of both.
Injuries aside, WHY are we playing so poorly when we have a top squad with some world class talent? I’ve asked the question before, but does anyone else wonder if there’s something wrong behind the scenes? Something doesn’t add up in my neck-top computer.
Öskar
Watched the chavs and $hiteh games this morning. The latter looked really out of sorts, I’m pleased to say! But the chavs cruised most of the game. I didn’t realise how big their players are on average. That could prove a nightmare for us in set pieces – including OUR corners when they could get counter-attacks going before we recover.
I reckon we have a great chance tomorrow, but not looking forward to Sunday one bit.
Öskar
I read somewhere that Koscielny is carrying a slight injury from the spuds game and might be rested to hopefully recover for the game against Chelski.
Saying that Gibbs has played his 3 games and is now due an injury again. If he plays tonight he will get injured and be out for a month.
nicely plumped, guv. sketchy selection material, but we’re strong and we’re the arsenal, and we’re at home. so we should prevail.
chez
chambers/per/kozz/gibbo
flams/ox/mesut
santi/danny/alexis
bellerin, hayden, jack, lukas, joel, david o, and le coq on the bench.
dan, love your optimism. really.
A tense night ahead, Holic.
If it wasn’t for searching for extra knee room, I doubt I’d be feeling the back of my seat tomorrow night.
The injury situation is ridiculous. Don’t know whether a win tomorrow or a clean bill of health for the defence is more important.
Holic as ever captures the prevalent mood amongst Gooners- can we field an appropriate team for a competition that 90% of Europe would give their eye teeth to be in? Still if we get a couple of injuries we only have Chavski on Sunday!
Very difficult to rationalise all this. We have £120 something million of financial reserves( if only we had as many playing reserves!) , the fixture list was published in July and we knew we had qualified for the Champions League Group stages before the end of the window. Our injury problems have if anything intensified this year where other teams ( leaving Man U aside) have not. We will have another inquiry into it but frankly we have moved to try to address the problem by appointing a new fitness coach and still we suffer. So I have great sympathy for the injury issues unless it should transpire ( and there is no reason to believe it) that Shad Forsythe’s methods are not being followed in training.
As for the manpower issue I am hugely frustrated by the simple inability to address basic staffing levels. Men paid £8 million a year should not leave us this short , especially six weeks into the season. My recommendation is that any old centre backs or full backs of reasonable pedigree going tomorrow might take their boots along. You may be needed.
On a less facetious note young Isaac Hayden and Hector Bellerin look super prospects to me and young Coquelin is one I like the look of in several positions. But whether we should be relying on players with such little experience at this level is another matter.
I still think we have enough quality to win tomorrow but I fear more the likelihood we will pick up even more injuries in the process. It is a very perplexing situation and need not be this acute.
2-0 to the Gunners!
Re your final sentence, ‘holic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEoLFkT-SKQ
For years we all believed we had the best physios in the business with the Lewin cousins. But whatever black magic they were weaving isn’t going to be undone so easily and Shad Forsythe can’t be expected to work miracles, not in the short time he’s been with us anyway. Judgement has to be suspended for at least a season or two.
Although voodoo Lewin dolls and pins could be tried…
Öskar
‘holic, throw in a couple of CBs and a keeper and you’d have a pretty decent lineup when you add them to the hors de combat list. Even by contemporary Arsenal standards, that list’s length is insane.
ttg@10, You are not alone. I understand Lady Nina also likes the look of young Coquelin in several positions.
What she really wants is Coq and Debauchery together at the back, Ned.
Öskar
My kingdom, now, for a certain Spanish bloke who could possibly come off the bench and pull the strings in our depleted midfield…
lonestar, we gots a tcherman to pull those strings.
We still should have bought him.
*In Lord Vader’s best voice* “Search your feelings. You KNOW it to be true.”
I reckon even with loads of injuries we can still do Galatasaray.
The only thing I’m worried about are their despicable fans.
I hope those of you going to the match remain safe.
I’m going with 2-1 to Arsenal.
UTA
If Wenger can throw young Bellerin in the deep sea against Dortmund in gaddam Dortmund, don’t see any reason why he can’t do the same for the Coq against Gala at the Emirates. Don’t mind resting Jack for Chelsea over the weekend. Diaby need to be ready to give us at least 60mins pretty soon, damn what is going on? Shit. COYG!!! Just win please.
CoR!
How’s the newly-wedded life suiting you?
He wouldn’t be on the bench to start with in my team, Lonestar, he’d be in the run on side … and captain to boot. I fear what he does on Sunday won’t be pretty.
Öskar
I’m afraid I agree with you Oskar. Here’s hoping the boys concentrate and do us proud on both tests.
She might just have to put up with a BFG, Otd.
A foursome, Ned? Lady Nina really will be Gaga!
Öskar
Cheers H! All the best mate.
Sort of harking back to one of the themes on the last drinks.
I love The Arsenal and have done so since me Mum (God bless her and RIP) showed me her collection of 1930’s Arsenal Cigarette Cards when I was 9. I first saw them away at Leicester in 1975 (lost 4-1) sitting with a family of Leicester supporters and genuinely had a lump in me throat when I finally arrived at Highbury for the first time in 1978.
Since then I’ve attended 100’s (not 1000’s like some I know) of games; home, away and over land and sea. At times my entire social life pretty well revolved around following the club and at others exile or family circumstances dictated my absence, once for over two whole seasons without attending a single game. But that first love is steadfast and it will never change. And its for the club; not the players, not the manager and I have to say, not for all of the supporters without question. My oldest Arsenal mate texted me from Leicester this season saying ‘going away just aint the same as it was 10 or 20 years ago’.
For sure I want us to win every single competition we enter, each and every season, but I’m fucked if I’m going to waste large portions of my life pontificating about the reasons that we don’t.
But that’s me and I have to (and do) accept that others, certainly in the internet age of instant opinion ( as defined by Le Boss) will behave differently. I’m OK with that, I just take little notice of it.
This place truly is one of, if not the only, place left for real Arsenal people to dip in and out of as they please, without rancour, bad feeling or childish insults. Long may that continue.
Anyone gets out of line on here, they get told. And that’s how it should be.
Just finished reading AW injury update on arsenal.com
Finding it hard to believe that theo has been out for 9 months for his little injury.
That is possibly the longest 3 week arsenal injury ever.
A new record.
Good stuff Guv’nor.
Up the Arsenal.
End of.
Like the Guv’nor, I have very little knowledge of Galatasaray and their individual strengths and weaknesses. And I must also admit that I struggle to muster up too much enthusiasm about tonight, and I am increasingly feeling that the general interest for the Champions League as such isn’t quite what it was. I have said before that the tournament is in danger of eating itself, and that the increased predictability will mean interest will drop apart from where a select few teams are concerned. Just look at ourselves, none of us really think we are going to win this pot the season either unless pretty much every star aligns. For us it is all about getting past the group stage so we can get our hands on that money and keep our ranking points as high as we can so we can qualify next year in order to be able to get past the group stage to make some money and keep our ranking points as high as possible so we can qualify the following season and get past the group stage et cetera and so on and so forth ad infinitum. As things stand, we are basically in the group of teams making up the canon fodder for the richest clubs. Yes, I know you can say this about the Premier League too and you would be absolutely right to a certain extent, but at least the PL doesn’t have a poxy ranking system that guarantees that the biggest clubs won’t risk facing each other until the very last stages of the competition and the Premier League/First Division at least has a very long history and even for clubs who are nowhere near winning it there is still plenty of other factors to keep the interest up, like finishing above your local rivals for example. Also, while it is a small sample size, I can look at the development down the pub where I watch the games – it used to be packed to the rafters with people wanting to watch all sorts of teams whenever there were CL games on, but lately interest has dropped significantly. This may of course be a local deviation but I can’t help but feel that it is a general thing, people are simply bored with seeing the same few teams win it every year. When was the last time an underdog won it? Arguably Liverpool in 2005, but since then it’s only been big-money teams built on massive spending who have won it. And quite frankly, when there is little else to fight for other than ranking points and money (money we need to get back into the tournament again so we can make some more money…) then people are going to tire. When we played Besiktas in the qualifiers, I was nervous as hell but not because I was afraid of missing the CL as such, it was because it could have sent the club into a very downward spiral and killed off any chances of us winning the Premier League anytime soon.
Aussie, that must be a joke, right? It was always known that he’d be out for months and months. Anyone who saw the incident and have the slightest it of knowledge about knee ligament injuries could see that was it for the season.
We’ll beat them turks and the chavs on the weekend too with Costa doing his hamstring and Mour throwing a fit on the sidelines..!
Looking forward to seeing Campbell, Coquelin and Bellerin getting a game.
Up The Arse!
🙂
Whisper it Lars, but a similar lack of enthusiasm for tonight here too. Only temporary, I’m sure. 😉
Cracking post Esso, thank you mate.
Holic, I hope it’s only temporary for me too. But if and when we get to the knock-out stages I am quite sure I’ll be much more up for it.
Yes Lars – tongue in cheek.
And yes I think 9 months is long term injury.
He has basically missed an entire season just a portion of it during the offseason
Sorry to write something that is so offensive to you by simply quoting a comment from arsenal.com
Esso….on the money.
Esso knows.
Cheers ‘Holic.
Esso is a gem.
Priorities tonight: 1. Win. 2. Don’t get injuries. 3. Play well.
I watched PSG play Barca last night. I am much more an Arsenal fan than a football fan in general and as such I rarely watch matches we are not playing in. If I do they are usually matches that directly impact us.
After the spuds match and reaction I really felt like watching a good-quality game where I didn’t give a fig who won. It was a good match and nice to watch a game with no pressure or importance riding on it. I enjoyed it.
It did, however, serve to remind me how much I love watching us play and as tonight against Gala is an opportunity to do that I am getting more and more excited. Any time we play we could, in theory, blast the opposition away 5-0. I think it unlikely tonight but as we all know it’s the hope that kills you.
I am not working today. That gives me too much time to think about tonight. I am stewing a bit, sure, but I for one am well up for this.
I also believe we will win tonight provided we score first. Gala have some very good players who are quick as well. Altintop, Burak, Sneijder etc will be a handful and they know our team is on the edge so to say.
The first goal could ease a lot of nerves and yes as everyone is saying a injury free 2-0 will be perfect.
Chelsea not a prayer at the moment of us winning the game but a draw will be good enough.
Yesterday’s games showed that city are still a long way to be one of the big players in europe, their midfield was non existent and that guy Pjanic was awesome for Roma.
Barca beaten again showed that anything is possible all though it was always know that beating psg in paris would be tough for anyone.
Chelsea cruised through and hazard had them in his spell for most parts of the game. I shudder to think what may happen sunday when Chambers lines up against him. Calum is good but it early days and a rampant Hazard will be among his biggest tests.
Ozil behind the striker today please and let us have santi and Alexis on the wings.
Arsenal U19s are playing Gala at 2pm UK time today. It is live on Arsenal player. As i’m going to be free at 2pm on a Wednesday for once I think I’ll have me a bit of that too.
For anyone not otherwise engaged, Arsenal Player is showing the U19 game v Galatasaray today at 2PM UK time.
Balls, should have updated before posting 🙂
Esso nice one. May be it’s my age but I lost my rose coloured specs at least 40 years ago and although I am now able to get to every home game I don’t lose any sleep over disappointing results.
The ups the downs are all part of following our wonderful club and have been since I first went to Highbury in the 1950’s. The fortunes of clubs in the past have revolved around the quality of players at the time, nearly all coming from Ireland and the UK. Were we any happier in those days before the PL, foreign players and mega rich foreign owners corrupted the league? It’s debateable, I for one loved the opportunity of just turning up at away games, no segregation but standing in the rain at crumbling old grounds was no fun. On the other hand watching Dennis was one of the highlights of my entire life.
The Ems has afforded me the opportunity to watch my Arsenal in comfort for which I’m grateful. The team is not clicking on a regular basis at present but the disruptions due to the injuries and the integration of the new players has added to AWs difficulties. He doesn’t know his best team but the whole first team squad has not been available, if only.
The interluls for once may help us next week but tonight’s encounter and our visit to the bus stop will stretch our resources to the limit. I am not going to worry about either. I will give the boys every support tonight and I expect them to take the 3 points. My main worry is to stear clear of the Gala fans! Sunday will be a sterner test but if we come through tonight unscathed and LJW is available we might surprise a few folks!
COYRs
@15 – Coq and Debauchery? Get her to the Tory Party conference, forthwith. Or fifthwith, if that’s quicker.
I suspect some on here‘s appetite for the game tonight would be different if we had a full squad to pick from and we were wiping the floor with all opposition in matches played to date.
Just a thought. 😛
Personally, can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing tonight than cheering on the Arsenal.
Esso – great stuff !
Delia – good stuff and, yes, those Galatasaray fans are a bit of a worry. I usually go to Drayton Park and over the South Bridge, where the opposition fans all gather, for night games. Might have to walk the long way round tonight though. Take care.
Afternoon, some on here ! 😉
Thanks Holic.
Top Posts from Esso, Dave, H2H, N7 and of course Lars as well.
I’d like to see the Ox get a run in midfield. And I for one, wouldn’t mind seeing how Chambers could fare in DCM at some stage – although Flamini looks like he’ll get the nod. I do note however that there is a lot of PR stuff coming from Pravda on Diaby playing at DCM which might be ominous too. I still think we should have enough to see us win this although I do think it will be a narrow victory and it’ll be tough work. The real challenge will be to try to turn things around for the weekend where I hope the team gives Wenger a more memorable game to mark his 18 years at the club than we did to mark his 1,000th game!
For me, the season so far has been a mix bag of unexpected injuries and the usual teething problems with new players and formations etc. I think its important we try to hang in there and somehow get to the other side of Xmas and still be in touch in all competitions because its just a matter of time before we begin to find some real form and things begin to gel. And y’know, while I can see how some will see our season so far as being another groundhog season in the making, I would kinda prefer to see us in this position at the moment because I would really like to see what this team is capable of if we gather momentum at the right time as opposed to yesteryears when we have fallen away when it mattered most.
I like to look at the big picture and to me it’s not looking good.
Before the season even started the main weak point of the squad was highlighted… depth in the defence. It was clear to everyone. Wenger even said that it was his main concern and he will address it in the transfer window. He bought Debuchy and Chambers but also let Sagna go, sold Vermalen, sent Jenkinson out on loan and sold Miguel. That to me is not addressing it. It was putting us further backwards.
Wenger also said he would review the situation regarding injuries. 6 games into the season Debuchy and Monreal are injured and Koscielny has a niggling Achilles problem.
Referencing back to my earlier post. Going on previous seasons if Gibbs plays tonight he will get injured. Over the last 2 seasons he usually got injured every 3rd consecutive game he plays. Last season he managed a run of 4 games before getting injured. I hope I am wrong but going on his injuries this season it is looking likely he will be injured very soon.
Also Not forgetting Chambers is one yellow card away from a suspension.
This brings me to Mertesacker and Arteta. as much as I love the BFG he is not the fastest of players. Playing a high back line as Wenger likes to he will always be beaten on pace when the opposition counter on the break. He is best when he is defending in a deep role. Same goes for Arteta’s pace when he is tracking back. I forgot Ateta is also injured.
That leads to Flamini and Diaby. Flamini lacks pace as well, loses his discipline and is prone to mistakes.
I feel sorry for Diaby. He shows so much promise and determination but is unlucky with his long term injuries.
We needed another Viera type to be bought in the transfer window to protect the midfield.
Wenger’s excuse for not strengthening the defence in the transfer window was there was no one of the right quality available.
Wenger doesn’t like change. He sticks with the same players. Playing some of them out of position and doesn’t change tactics according to the opposition. He’s a stubborn one trick pony. Mourinho said after last seasons game he knew who Wenger would play and the tactics he would employ and set up his Chelsea squad to counter. We all know what happened then.
I, you, every other supporter and the team would love us to win the treble season after season but just can’t see we are even close to it.
It’s not the players fault, It’s not the fans fault. For me the finger of blame is pointing at the board and the manager
So all said I wish I could share the optimism but for the reasons above I just can’t.
zico, my luke warm attitude towards the CL does not mean I won’t enjoy going to the pub as any Arsenal game is always infinitely better than no Arsenal game. But the CL for me is feeling increasingly pointless from a footballing perspective. It’s becoming more and more of a neccessary evil, so to speak.
Nice preview H and great posts from Esso and Delia.
Any sort of win and no more injuries will do me.
COYGs.
No, I’m not tired with the Champions Lge at all – never will be while Arsenal continue to qualify for it. It’s the premium competition in club football, it’s a ‘connoisseur’s delight’ in terms of the football on display (PSG-Barcelona last night as evidence), and it provides a midweek lustre and contrast to the weekly run of domestic duties…
And though I’d say we’re probably in the second tier of teams who have an outside chance of winning it (Dortmund, Porto, PSG, Atletico), it is a knock-out competition, and with a bit of luck with the draw, hit form at the right time, get the run of the ball in important moments of matches, it’s not impossible for us to go far. We were 12 minutes away from winning it in 2006, Porto won it on 2004 despite better teams being around (ahem, the Invincibles!), and unheralded teams over the last 12 years who made it to the final include Leverkusen, Monaco, Dortmund, Liverpool. That’s not to say I think it’s likely, but let’s enjoy the competition, it’s another trophy to aim for, and a chance for more great games/nights/memories…
Also, CL has no more ‘sold its soul’ than the Premier League, the FA Cup, the League Cup (in whatever incarnation it is these days – Milk, Rumbelows, a credit card company – there’s a lesson in that trajectory somewhere!)
It’s become fashionable to bemoan the “magic of the cup” has gone in recent times, but you can’t tell me it wasn’t great to win the FA Cup last year, and I’d argue that although the European Cup has morphed into this cash cow they call the ‘Champions League’, it’s still got a real sense of history and importance – and is more just a reflection of the global age we live in.
Lars,
I will presume to think for you and say that, maybe, the continuing injury situation is making almost every game feel like a necessary evil.
The fear of losing yet more players and seeing another season’s challenge fall apart is depressing a lot of people. Arsene included, it seems.
The Champions League should be the pinnacle of excitement, according to the lengths clubs will go to in order to try to qualify for it. I think, with our extra available cash, we were hoping for a better tilt at it this season, but injuries are already putting the attempt in jeopardy. Injuries and, it has to be said, a squad lacking depth and balance.
AW has also said today that the Champions League has become harder to win as the best players are being concentrated in fewer and fewer clubs. Another reason for FFP to be properly enforced before true competition is killed off.
It’s ridiculous but I’m almost more bothered about more injuries than winning the game.
Sorry, Esso, for getting into ‘analysis territory’, but one good early attack/goal and all the other nonsense will go straight out the window again. 😉
Trev, that is actually a very good point there in your first paragraph. That certainly applied for the COCup game last week, I was actually slightly annoyed that Arsene played so many first team players and while I always dislike losing I was at the same time quite happy that it means we will have a week of rest and proper training later on when the next round will be played.
FROM THE PREVIOUS DRINKS: THANKS ALL FOR REDIRECTING ME TO TREV’S GUEST POST FROM LAST SEASON RE INJURIES, WHICH I SHOULD HAVE NOTED (I EVEN COMMENTED ON IT BACK THEN!)
RAN ACROSS THIS BLURB YESTERDAY, WITH MY COMMENTS IN [UPPERCASE]. HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE THE SOURCE REPORT IN PHYSIOROOM.COM:
******
Arsenal players have sustained 889 injuries [HOW DOES THIS COMPARE TO OTHER TEAMS?] since August 2002, according to a report by PhysioRoom.com. [WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE INJURY RATE PRE- AND POST-2006.]
Arsene Wenger’s side is currently suffering from its latest injury crisis after Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta joined long-term absentees Olivier Giroud and Mathieu Debuchy on the sidelines. Ramsey is set for a month out after a hamstring injury in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham while Arteta suffered a calf problem.
Abou Diaby, who has recently returned to fitness, has endured 40 separate injuries, according to the study, [BUT NOTE THAT ABOU’S MAJOR CAREER ALTERING INJURY OCCURRED PRE-EMIRATES, AND THAT’S AFFECTED HIS WHOLE TENURE] while Theo Walcott, who is currently recovering from a serious knee problem, features 42 times. Other regular names on the injury list are Tomas Rosicky with 36 [TR7’S ARSENAL CAREER IS ENTIRELY POST EMIRATES, AND HE WAS NEVER REALLY INJURY PLAGUED BEFORE THAT] and Kieran Gibbs with 27 fitness problems.
PhysioRoom.com claims 120 of the injuries were of the hamstring variety while six anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) have been suffered.
This week, Wenger admitted he does not understand why his club are suddenly in the midst of an injury crisis.
*****
ONLY EXPLANATION MAY BE THAT SOME DISGRUNTLED SPUDS-SUPPORTING CONSTRUCTION WORKER PLANTED A LEDLEY KING SHIRT IN A FOOTING AND CURSED THE PLACE.
Cheers for the preview guv.
Top contributions from Esso and Delia, many should take note.
A tough week ahead, it would of been hard enough with a full squad to pick from, but with the ridiculous injury list it all seems a lot tougher…..
However,
I’m really starting to lose my rag with all the defeatism that has been posted. The Chav game is not until Sunday, but already I’m reading that we don’t have a prayer, we’re chanceless, we’ll get stuffed, destroyed, fucked or words to that effect. Fuck the fuck off with that shit.
The Oilers may very well have a deeper/better squad then us, wtf do you expect after shelling out over a billlion of unearned cash(?) and yes they are on form, but so screwing what, this is football doomers, anything can happen. If our attitude is that we can’t beat them then we and every other cliub in the league might as well just fold and let Man Citeh and the Chavs fight it out for all the titles and trinkets, because if we’re “honest” then we really don’t “have a prayer”.
FUCK THAT.
We all chose, for varying reasons, to be Arsenal SUPPORTERS, the title should really say it all. This is not like getting married (nowadays), this really is in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, please remember that. If we do fall to defeat on Sunday, then be all means have your little rant if that is your wont, but please, please, please grow a pair and not throw in the towel before a team sheet has been seen or a ball has been kicked in anger.
A drink on the bar for the supporters club.
Well said, H2H!
Ars 5 Gala 1.
Result.
(U19s)
U19s won 5-1. They were excellent. Crowley, Zelalem, Willock, Maitland-Niles and Iwobe all particularly good.
Delia, Trev and Gregoire- Top work.
H2H- Golden. Thankyou.
Great stuff from H2H.
Come on you rip-roaring: get stuck into these mugs and then on to the Bridge to give the Chavs a well-deserved kicking.
For all those looking for omens, I had a dream last night that we beat Chelsea with a last minute Mertesacker header. For some reason we were wearing a blue kit, I was playing central midfield and our left winger was a unicorn, but otherwise it was all so very real.
COYG
Esso, Delia: fine words. I guess it was just different in the old days when football was still a sport rather than a business, and we were still spectators rather than customers. You never want to look backwards through the rose-tinteds for too long.
Here is at least one thing that has improved. Remember this monstrosity?
http://db3.stb.s-msn.com/i/E9/B92FD360A8153623E3D4785CEC1DC7_h498_w598_m2.jpg
New rule:
Let us not use the word “pace” when what we actually mean to use is the word “speed.”
Good result from the youngsters.
I, for one, do have a pair, support our boys to the hilt, and still have a fear about Sunday. I’m also hoping the boys put all concerns to bed today and Sunday. We’ll see.
Where are those keys to the medicine cabinet?
I am beginning to believe that the Emirates pitch is cursed. We should have invited some pastors, bishops, prophets, priests, pope and whoever we could find to bless the pitch before the 1st match. This is just plain horrible, even players that weren’t injury prone in their previous club gets injured immediately they sign for us, what the heck is going on? please Alexi stay injury free, at this rate we might need you to play either RB/LB.
H2H@ 58, I see where you are coming from. But let’s be real even when we have a strong squad, We either tie with a Mourinho led Chelsea at home and lose at the bridge, its the truth. Believe me, just like you and all Arsenal fans, I would love for us to beat them. But recent history says we are going to lose, so until we beat them, most folks will feel that way. Wenger will need to change his tactics drastically to either beat or get draw, anything is possible. Tonight we will hopefully get a good result and no more injuries, fingers crossed.
Give Shad some time to sort out injury issues, hopefully it leads to a change in trainings and preparation for games.. do feel that it is crucial that we do not over train and let those muscles rest lest fatigue sets in for the long run…!
Some article on our injuries : http://www.espnfc.com/club/arsenal/359/blog/post/2064613/arsenal-face-another-injury-crisis-in-champions-league-and-premier-league
😀
Lonestar, I for one with change my vernacular with the utmost of pace.
Er…make that speed. 🙂
Really don’t know what to expect for this one. I’d like to see some of the flowing attacking and stout defending from last season from Arsenal. Once the chemistry is right within the squad, I feel(hope) it will come. And it seems like the middle of the park there is confusion – players not sure or hesitant about what they should be doing and where they should be doing it. As this is straightened out, I feel (hope) things will start to click.
But … the hell with it. Let’s just get a win!
Come on Arsenal!!!
I do believe that the injuries, would in fact become an opportunity of sorts for us to unleash a few of our younger talents. Some may argue that it is not ideal (but then I can not remember a time when we ever were in an ‘ideal’ environment) given the importance of our current games, but then what better time to test their mettle (and hope they do not crumble?!).
The faster they get up to speed, the quicker we will have our competent and capable replacements. Bellerin for one looked really sharp and eager when he came on for us, lets hope the rest of them (should they play) make good their chance!
😀
I’m with Zico on the cheering part!
Nice result for the U21’s H2H indeed not hoping for repeat but a win which ever way it’s played out!
UTA
Heh, Homer (or should that be d’oh?)
COYGs
Just like the old days tonight !
Smoke bombs, fireworks, police sirens and 15 vans trying to control the Gala mob in Hornsey Road when I walked through it at 6.35.
So much for going the long way round to keep out of trouble !
Ambulances in Tillington Road – these people are barmy.
Not good Trev.
Some clubs should not be allowed travelling fans.
Take care all.
Arsenal XI: Szczesny, Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Flamini, Cazorla, Ozil, Sanchez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Welbeck.
Always was Barney when the Turks were in town.
Ah, so the Ox is in midfield.
And that would suggest Ozil is at 10 with Caz and Alexis on the wings.
This should be interesting – and from where I sit, it looks like balanced side.
I know we’re missing some top people through injury, but that’s a seriously good team all the same. We might be a little lighter than usual with a bench of Ospina, Coquelin, Bellerin, Rosicky, Wilshere, Campbell, Podolski.
I like the look of this side!
Roll-on Sunday. (oops getting ahead of myself)
The Turks just have come to have a bit of fun…lock up the women and children.
I don’t think throwing flares into a beer garden packed with Gooners is a bit of fun in anyone’s language Lonestar. Even in Texas.
Very good looking side (in the not gay sense).
@80 – Bath : You a drainpipes man?
I’m a lock ’em up and throw away the key man. There’s no place for that kind of mob behaviour.
Turks want to make a mark for them selves I say throw it back at them!
well, i came within a hayden of setting out what arsene’s chosen for this evening in #8 above. that and three bucks will get me a cup of coffee, eh?
looking forward to see the drive of ox with the mastery of mesut in the midfield. i can only hope that the ox has an eye to the defensive duty he’ll need to cover for the heavy-legged flamster.
i do hope he doesn’t put santi (nominally) in the midfield, with ox and alexis flanking danny. not nearly as balanced.
I like the starting lineup.
COYG!
COYRs
COYRRG!
come on you gunners! ARSENAL, ARSENAL, ARSENAL!!!
COME ON!
Come on Arsenal!
Come On !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
santi is nominally in front of flamster. hmm. ox down the right.
nicely done, callum. good running, clearance.
Speed burst by Danny! Come on!
run, danny, run!!! wow.
should have passed across, though. better decisions, danny.
oooh, loose feet in the box, we could have been in there.
Alexis that should have been first touch low cross!
Terrible corner!
Get in there Flamster!
More movement guys too static come on we are playing at home!
Borrusia one up against Aderlecht!
hmm.
Wenger not happy
welbeck!
Get in!
GGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
IIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNN
TTTTTTTTTTHHHHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRREEEEEEE
great run by sanchez.
Danny boy and alexissssss
WELLLBZZZZZZZZZZ
oooh, spicy. a nutmeg of the keeper, too. well in, danny, hell yes.
Finally we dont concede one first
That is a refreshing change
Slight relief it has to be said!
Now for the second and lets make the Holic pound count!
ox is a BEAST.
Galatasaray only having 3 at the back allows us plenty of space
daaaannnnnnyyyyyy!
Ooohhhhhhh yeeeeaaaaahhhhhhh
WELBZZZZZZ 2
great finish. really. lovely header to get clear, looked very henryesque. a brace for the young man, yes.
Get in! Danny! 😀
Get in! Danny Welbeck, future Arsenal legend.
Still can’t believe those mugs sold him to us.
Welbeck has got more speed than Sanogo and strength as well, going to be tough for Sanogo to come back in.. 😀
I can have no crowd noise or crowd noise AND Tony Gale.
The man is a fool.
Thank God we are all over this lot.
Let’s have that game where it all clicks.
COYR
Well saved Woj!
Gala playing our kind of game… they don’t press and sit rather too deep.
Good news for us!
😀
Yeah, we have to suffer Gale and Alan Smith is in bloody Switzerland instead of doing our game.
That is a red card all day long
gsd, tony gale is a complete wank sandwich. not as bad as stuart “i’m always going to be bitter at arsenal and bag on them” robson, though.
nearly three for young danny.
the galas dancing through our defense, not good.
that should have been straight red on melo. in the air, two footed. bastard.
Straight red you motherfucker, fucking cunt
Fucking RED
Fuck sake that is a straight red
Double footed
Fckin red card!!!!!
!@##$@$@$@$
that is a straight red right there
Diabolical tackle.
Melo should be off.
Bunch of twats!!!!!!!!!
fuckers burning our pitch. train the hoses on the bastards.
Callum chambers looks way above his experience
God on sneider for helping chezz clear the flares
When are UEFA finally going to ban these cunts?
That’s it…ban the bollockin fans!!!!
Empty stadiums for them!!!!!!!
#$@$#@$
Its going to be interesting night this in London.
I am all for atmosphere on football grounds but they are acting like total wankhammers now
That’s not Schez, that’s their own keeper.
Really like Cazorla in this role.
Oooohhh yeeeeaaaahhhhhh
Yes. Get in!
alexxxxiiiiissss!
Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeettttttttttttttttttttt
in
ttttttttttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeerrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeee
Ozil to ALEXIIISSSSSSSS
Ozil is playing beautiful footbal and his passing is sublime
Bye bye you ground burning fuckwits
Damned work. I can’t even get away to stream the match.
Ban their players as well… they’re trying to kick Alexis out of it!
Score a few more ..come on!!!!!!!
bummer, lonestar. time for a late “business” lunch?
Nice to see us have real pace in the front three
Alexis danny and ox
It has given ozil some true options to feed
ok, now sanchez, ozil, and chambers off, please.
or if not chambers then per, put chambers in centrally, and bring in bellerin.
Enjoyed that.
Gala’ playing a suicide line up and we’re taking them to the cleaners.
Danny Welbeck can’t score goals!?
Well, those looked like two top class finishes to me. 16m… Cheers Manure.
Agree scruz
If ever there was a time to rest key players it must be now
H2h – well said manure madness
Totally got sidetracked and just saw the score.
HEELLLL YESSSS!!!!!!
I have spent as much time as possible shouting over Tony Gale so I can watch the match with my own analysis not his agenda (he spent the opening 20mins complaining about Ozil). It all seemed dark.
Then we started scoring- excellent.
Then scruz pointed out I could be listening to Stewart Robson. Suddenly it all seems so, so bright.
Let’s get a few more- we could do with a goal for Santi. And one from a bloody corner!
A perfect time to give Chambers some time in the deep midfield, and save Flamini from getting sent off, and give either Bellerin or le Coq some pitch time. Would also like to see some time for TR7 and either of Poldi or Campbell.
Does Flamster think he gets paid by the number of yellows he gets?
lol, gsd.
aussie, it’s time for rotation. and not at 60 minutes, more like at 45. please, sir wenger.
h2h, i’ll raise a glass to manure with you. and laugh and laugh…
I hope major flam keeps his senses about him as noted by bayonne
That was a very unecessary yellow for him way up the pithch
Keep simple, don’t insist on driblings, make lot of passes and Flamini please don’t make stupid fouls.
We defended a corner!!!
oooh, great break down the left, ox nearly in, should have pulled a vela chip…
our pace is smashing their 3 at the back tactic
Pandelli must be a more stubborn bastard
Lurky- I also thought Santi had a great half in that role. I hope he keeps it up.
At half time they switched to 4 at the back
COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ooohhh yeahhhh
daaaaannnnyyyy hat trick!
A legend!!!
GET THE FUCK IN THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Great finish
Wel Wel Wel !!!
what a finish!
Well done young man
Well done
Now a rest please arsene
trying to do the u19s one better… WOOOOHHOOOOOOOOOO!
Danny is home.
Make some changes Arsene
Bring on Chelski!
We’ve got our mojo/confidence/swagger back!!!!!!!
COme On!!!!
Welbeck should be taken off. So should Ozil.
Cmon AW get 3 of our most deserved off
I think its a good shout take them off bring on Joel Poldi and Rosicky!
GST, what a marvelous player Santi is! Makes all the things click.
What the fuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
stoooooopid, chez.
Oh chezz
Get the fucking ball son
ospina on, ozil off. please.
Schz. What the fucking fuck will you ever learn young fella?
Its not his fault where the fuck were those defenders????????????
Good thing we got Ospina…
oh my
I truly feel sorry for AW
He doesnt deserve that
Good luck david
ok, alexis.
Sanchez?
Well done alexis
Well done
he never should have dived in, arthur.
boy, wouldn’t a save here do it right.
They can have that so maybe now they wont burn our ground anymore
ach, no. but we get another goal and we’ve at least matched the u19s.
Scruz
Defenders didnt do any favours!
ATG, not the first time, sorry but his fault.
Just defend,defend and defend.
The fact is they should playing with ten!
no arthur, they didn’t, but chez made the wrong choice, there.
so it’s either a goal or a foul
arthur, that’s true. melo should have gotten straight red.
tR7 getting ready
Anyway lets enjoy the game Holics it was rather silly of him!
Woj off, but Melo stays on.
Change the fucking rules.
amen, arthur. wisniowka on the bar for ya.
Come on now.
There’s evidence or history of the CL referees utterly fooking over Arsenal, is there?
ox off. rozza on. great work today young man. boy, is he a player.
enjoying it we are arthur
6.15 am here in sydney
Ready to crack the top off a cold one
Its midday someone else in gooner world surely
Ice Pack on Alexis’ ankle… hope it’s just a slight bruise…!?!
danny being greedy, should have left that for rozza… 😀
Cheers Scruz no Wisniowka here but I still think it should be the other way round!
Santi and ozilla starting to really shine togeather
Their skills combined are magic to watch
ok, a cuppa tea, then, arthur 🙂
agreed, aus. i was wrong not to want them in the midfield together. that’s a magic combination.
BB – judging by that shit tackle on alexis, i am not surprised he has the ice oack out
It was a full blown double feet diuble studs up
Unbelievable how it was not a double red
and mesut for jack. let’s hope that same magic happens!
Ozil good job
Finally, Ozil off. Really good game.
Scruz perhaps you should be more objective 😉
Nice lads nice keep it up!
my veins run red with passion for arsenal, arthur. no objectivity there… and being nearly half of polish ancestry, no lack of passion about chezza, either…so no objectivity *there*. 😀
basel beating pool. dortmund will lead our group as things stand.
Scruz
Keep it up bracie!
OSPINA!
Wow what a save
Good save Dave
What a save from our future Number 1.
@Aussie
If it was any other player other than Alexis, we probably would have had a broken ankle or something of that sort! He’s probably one of the fittest players, judging by the amount of real estate he covers in a game!
Hope he’s ok, we desperately need him against the chavs!
Turks should be sent home ASAP!
bracie = brother!
Aaah the danny wellbeck flick looks just as good the second time
Wow. Danny boy. What a game.
dzięki, szalony gooner.
ospina again!
Come on lads keep it tight!
David super save once again.
Scruz nice choice of words!
Mądry Kanonier you are!
What a save from Ospina!
Super David.
i don’t now about Mądry, arthur 🙂
but thanks anyway.
Kos, you beauty.
crap. who’s our third string goalie? kozzer?
So who’s paying them to take out our keepers???!!
Scruz nie jestes glupi!
Ospina is OK thank god
Glupi is stupid?
I hope we wont loose any keepers now right?
Lurky yes
How many games do you miss in CL with a straight red?
Nie jestes means you are not
arthur, no (thanks), but i sure can use google translate 🙂 polish was never spoken in my home, just that of my grandparents, and only when i was really young…
Heh, in Macedonian too.
oooh, jack almost puts welbeck through for the fifth…
Pool is loosing ha ha
Nie ne sme glupi= we are not stupid, in Macedonian.
Santiiiiiiii
ooooooh, almost santi for the fifth. DAMN.
Great game by the team.
Oooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
WTF haha
and that’s it, what a great win. hope alexis isn’t injured badly, well done danny! gotta run, drinks on the bar for all (except arthur, who gets tea), ARRRSSSSEEEENNNAAALLLLLLLLLLL…
Too bad for Santi, who’s had a great game.
Unlucky, for this group is going to come down to GD…..
Ah.. and Basel beat Pool.. start of another hangover for them no doubt!
lol poo lost to Basel
Job done.
Bring on the Oiley wankers.
What a game great stuff!!!!!!!
Is it a one match ban for Our keeper?
I agree H2H bring them on!
Scruz where do you live?
17 months since van Pigsty got a hat trick…cheers Mancs for paying for Welbeck
Good game.
Welbeck. Like him as a person, like him as a footballer. Good fit for the Arse. Interesting season.
Up the arse.
Wllbeck really strong up front there is not a lot say, I have mixed feelings about Wojtek I thing defenders should have helped!
Great win no complaints how can you if your team wins!
Get in there now for oily cunts on that bust stop up the road!
Welbeck has scored more goals now for us than Persie and Falcao combined so far this season.
😀
Arsenal striker and hat-trick hero Danny Welbeck: “I forgot the matchball! I’ll get it after.
“My last hat-trick was for Manchester United’s reserves and I’m trying to score goals. I am getting into positions and it is paying off
—————-
Start another hat-trick against the chavs!
If anyone is up for quick reminder of the goals!
http://www.meczyki.pl/skroty/39872/arsenal_londyn_galatasaray_sk_41.html
Well deserved hat trick for Danny!
It was tough for the first 15 minutes we didn’t seem to found our own fluency as soon as we scored we seem to play the ball better!
There were some times of hang on what is going on here, however there were worse of a team than Besiktas at least for me anyhow!
SAG @ 255: One game. However I have a feeling he may need to earn his CL place back from Ospina who had a great half an hour.
Shame the Holic pound dint get rich!
Funny (sort of) story:
My son was at the Ems. At halftime, he reaches down to retrieve his match program; seatmate gets up suddenly, and his seat clips my guy right around the eyebrow! Blood all over the place! Said he’ll tell everyone that he got into it with the Gala supporters.
Wrote back to tell him to have Arsenal medical staff look after him. He can be out of work for several months….
Besiktas will be playing the spuds! Another cheer 😀
DF
Ospina will be good at those games but Woj will still be there!
BJ heh?
ATG @ 286: Not sure what you meant, but yes Szczesny would still be there. He needs to cut out poor decision making from his game.
BTW, I am not into putting down our players, just constructive criticism.
Anyone still thinks we should got Cavani or God forbid Balotelli?
Welbeck MOTM. Great goals, perfect discipline, efficient and elegant in both attack and defense.
Cazorla close second. If I am Arsene I will start Cazorla in this position more often, he is like a glue, makes the whole team click. Much better option than Wilshere, IMO. Might be a little harsh, but It is not a coinsidence that the two games we won by three goals margin this season were without Jack in the starting line up.
Ozil, Chambers, Kos, Chambo, Gibbs all great.
Only negativity for me tonight is Woj. Mistakes happens but this is not the first time, it is about a time he learns. I still feel that we sold the better Pole this summer. Ospina shows that he is a good option for the GK position.
Tactically it was somewhat suicidal from Gala, but the pace and movements of our forward line was a joy to watch.
Alexis, Welbeck, Ox (a little inconsistent in the final product) had great games. Ozil very effective but in a few situations should have done better when pressed or one-on-one. Santi was excellent in giving balance though, dropping deep, helping out Flamini, using his good control in small spaces.
Flamini for all his honesty and passion is finding it hard to stay with the pace of our midfield and the quickness of the opposition’s transition into attack. Against Chelsea the base of the midfield may have a bit of surprise in store.
Great game, good job guys.
Lurky @ 289: Fully agreed about Santi. Has great game awareness and tactical intelligence to make sure that Ozil and Alexis are served the right balls and uses his control so well to protect against high press.
Szczesny’s problem is the lapse in concentration, this aspect gets better only with age.
My utter dislike (no, hatred) for Galatasaray and their thugs of fans just intensified tonight. I haven’t forgotten their behaviour in Copenhagen! Oh what fun it was to watch Arsenal utterly embarrass them sitting with my Fenerbahce supporting neighbour who was proudly wearing his Arsenal shirt.
I can’t wait for Besiktas tomorrow night – if they put in a similar performance to those against us I shall spend a wonderful evening laughing at Sperz!
atg, i live in the hills outside of santa cruz.
did you all hear that the bastards threw flares near the tolly? hopefully no one there was injured.
bayonne, hope your son is ok. i assume he won’t get to a game for at least three weeks?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I’ll leave the match review entirely to Holic and restrict myself to a description of the scene around The Emirates tonight.
Last summer I decided not to risk taking my daughter to the Emirates Cup when Galatasaray were invited. Tonight the decision was well and truly vindicated.
It was like travelling back in time to the seventies.
I had decided to dodge the South Bridge to the stadium as the away fans are always massing there when I arrive and there had been a fair bit of skirmishing going on even at the Fenerbache game.
On the walk from Finsbury Park cars parked in front gardens had been decorated with stickers announcing “Gala Ultras on Tour”.
Sirens wailed and police cars and ambulances raced past throughout the walk and, as I neared The Tollie, police vans and ambulances were preparing to take away culprits and, I presume, victims although I didn’t actually see them as doors were being closed.
And so to Hornsey Road where a column of police vans and more ambulances tried to restrict the Turkish mob to half the width of the street. Galatasaray flags waved, flares were thrown, smoke bombs went off, fireworks thudded in the tunnels, and the mob slowly approached the stadium.
A youmg couple walking just ahead of me stopped to weigh up their chances of getting through. I decided that the smaller left side tunnel looked relatively empty, kept my head down and went for it. The other couple apparently decided not to chance it, and had disappeared to find another way round.
Everyone will have seen the flares thrown during the game – forcing the match to be temporarily stopped. Galatasaray should be either thrown out of the competition or made to play their remaining games behind closed doors.
At the final whistle, riot police with dogs lined up in front of the away section to keep the yobs off the pitch.
As I walked back to Finsbury Park, police vans and ambulances continued to speed along the Seven Sisters Road in the direction of the stadium.
This might represent a “bit of fun”, as someone said, in the Wild West, but these fans continue to be an ugly, violent mob that has no place in football, or any other sport.
I hope all the other Holics – and other Arzenal fans – got home safely.
Brilliant performance by the team.
And many thanks to ManUre for Danny Boy. Absolute bargain !