Wee Geordie Armstrong Scored Both Goals, Now Back To The Future?
Sep 26th, 2014 by 'holic
It’s the eve of the match like no other. Our rivals these days may come from the west of London and the north-west of England, but there is something about facing the neighbours that still stirs the blood. I only have to hear the word “Tottenham’ and the memories come flooding back. 1971, 2004, Raddy, Ray, Liam, Alan, Rocky, Charlie, Tony, Thierry, Bobby, Tomas, Theo. Fabulous wins and the odd painful reverse. It’s a fixture that divides families. My late grandfather, a late uncle, and cousin are from the dark side. The rest of the family knew that North London is red.
There was a spell when I would confidently demolish the marsh-dwellers ahead of our meetings, but as the austerity years hit so they have enjoyed the odd isolated triumph, immediately burned onto disc. Their only league win at the Grove came in 2010 when we watched on, almost disbelieving, as a 2-0 half-time lead was tamely surrendered. The following season, on a pivotal day for Arsene Wenger, we were 0-2 down early on. Many felt that had the result gone against us that day we would now have a different man at the helm. Bacary Sagna sparked the fight back, and triggered a five goal salvo that will always be remembered by those who saw it.
A repeat 5-2 the following season gave the lie to the mythical ‘power-shift’ claimed for so long by those well and truly in our shadow. That claim resurfaced last summer. A figure in excess of £100 million was splashed (polite version) on a veritable chest of tat. Olivier Giroud’s 23rd minute strike did for them in the League, and then Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky humbled them in the FA Cup third round tie that was the springboard for us winning the competition.
This season they have yet another manager for Arsene to see off. Mauricio Pochettino looks to have a bit more about him than some of the clowns who Tottenham have appointed in recent years but is starting to realise the challenge that faces him. After beating West Ham and Queens Park Rangers in their opening Premier League fixtures the neighbours have taken just one point from the next three, at Sunderland, and suffered successive defeats to Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion.
Arsene was complimentary in his pre-match presser when quizzed about the visitors and their new manager.
“It’s early in the season to judge a team but they have certainly less introduction of new players. They will benefit from stability and he’s a quality manager. He has shown that at Southampton.”
The team news was much as expected. We remain without Mathieu Debuchy, Nacho Monreal, Theo Walcott, and Olivier Giroud. The temptation to go with the side that won so impressively at Aston Villa last weekend must be huge for Arsene. If there are to be changes one would assume the options revolve around whether to recall Abou Diaby and/or Jack Wishere for Mikel Arteta and/or Santi Cazorla. A little something is telling me Jack for Santi is the likeliest of those two, which would have important ramifications for Mesut Ozil.
The ‘holic pound harks back to a historic result for a historic fixture. In our first double season, 1970-71, we played Tottenham at home in September. Wee Geordie Armstrong scored both goals in a 2-0 win that day, and I fancy a repeat at the Grove. I’ve taken what I consider a generous 10/1 with one High Street bookie.
Unfortunately, for the first time I can remember in years, I will miss the annual ‘rip it out of the neighbours’ in the flesh. I will be at a wedding in a barn in the middle of nowhere, praying for a mobile signal, or better still a wifi link so I can get the match on the phone. As ever I am reminded of an old cricket tale when this game approaches. “If God is on our side we shall win. If he is on their side they will win. But if he keeps his beak out of it we’ll bloody well thrash them”, or words to that effect.
Have a good one ‘holics.
277 Responses to “Wee Geordie Armstrong Scored Both Goals, Now Back To The Future?”
Cheers!
‘Hols – you were too smart to buy one of those Tottnum-Arsenal kits, right?
Automatic qualification
TOP THREE
FAIL
#FuckSp**s
Divine quotation, barman. Just about sums it up.
COYG
Epic, H2H.
🙂
Or as Stewie Griffin once prayed, “Dear Lord…just stay out of our way”
COYRs
Much too smart, Lonestar. 🙂
I imagine the team will be: Szczesny; Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Arteta, Ramsey, Ozil; Cazorla, Sanchez, Welbeck.
Only likely deviation from that is if Wenger tries to fit Wilshere in, maybe dropping Cazorla to the bench and shifting Ozil to a nominal ‘wide’ berth. I’d personally prefer to see only 2 from Ramsey, Wilshere and Ozil playing (plenty of opportunity for subtle rotation this week with 2 other big games). Other possible change is if he keeps Ox in the side and decides to use Sanchez as an impact sub? I hope not b/c you spend 35 mil on a dynamo like Alexis to use him in these games!!
Cheers ‘holic.
No place for Alexis in your team?
Nice one guv’nor.
‘Immediately burned onto disc.’ heh.
Reckon we will see Alexis, Ozil and LJW shoehorned in, probably with Ozil drifting from wide left. Welbeck up top. Rambo trying to be everywhere (hopefully to great effect) and Arteta behind.
Mind you, as long as we win I don’t care who plays.
Holic
I remember that 2-0 victory which was one of the early signs that we had a team to be reckoned with and Geordie was a great favourite of mine although anybody who scores for us against Spurs is a favourite of mine.
I don’t quite tally on the team front. I think Alexis will not want go sit out his first derby and as the next three games are well spaced he will play in them all I suspect. I hope Wenger plays the same shape as last week with Ozil in the hole . I think Ox will give way to Alexis but the rest of the team will be the same as at Villa. Frankly he can’t change the defence can he?
I found the Diaby is the DM we have been looking for claim quite laughable as we all know that no plans can be made around Diaby and I really would rather not waste time on that codswallop. I wish him massive slugs of luck but don’t tell me any plans have been made around him. If we really desisted from buying a DM because of him I despair . But I think that was a message of encouragement to Diaby not the fan base and I can accept that. I saw the game on Tuesday and he was one of the better midfield players. Arteta and Ramsey will play there tomorrow.
All of us get butterflies before this one but we should win because we are a better team and a much better club and we beat them three times last season. The win in the Cup owed much to very slick forward movement and Welbeck and Alexis should ensure that tomorrow . Let’s hope we invoke the spirit of 1970!
Stick with a winning team, H2H. Alexis will be huge for us, but the balance was good at Villa. Let’s take that confident eleven forward for me. Understand that won’t be the popular view.
Still fear Jack back in the centre and Mesut to the left. 🙁
Cheers Holic.
Pity we’ll miss each other tomorrow. Who’s going to keep the riff-raff in order under that brolly?
Enjoy the wedding. 😎
Fine preview Guvna. You’ll be missed tomorrow. I share the concern that Arsene will try to squeeze Jack in pushing Mesut out wide. However I do think he will start Alexis rather than Santi. Love the old cricket tale.
Zico, I propose yourself as Official Drinks Monitor in the Boss’ absence.
I’ll text you tomorrow when lunch is over and I’m heading for the Tollie or the ground (according to time remaining).
Oh jeepers. Zico as Prefect?
What could possibly go wrong there then? 😉
Fine report Guv’nor. See you at the next one.
Fair enough guv’. He’d be one of the first names on my team sheet.
Personaly I’d leave Jack on the bench.
For what it’s worth I’d go with;
Woj
Gibbs BFG Kos Chambers.
Arteta Ramsey
Sanchez Ozil Santi/Ox
Welbeck
Thanks so much Holic.
For me this game is really set up for us if we play on the counter attack and they come forward.
I’m one of the few who thinks that Rambo and Jack playing in the same team creates an imbalance alongside Ozil. I would prefer to see both rotate in the box to box role and considering the injury records of both, it might well be more prudent option in the long term. It certainly makes a lot more sense to me than seeing people play out of position. I know Wenger made reference to Zidane playing wide at Real – but in fairness, Zizou could have played in a phone box.
@ 17/18
Drink responsibly.
Or not. 😯
From the previous round of drinks:
I have that top too. All the guys I used to watch with in NYC bought it. It will be no surprise to anyone that I have Sagna’s name on it. Sure, there is the “white” thing, but damn – I love that thing.
I’ve never experienced, however, strange and exotic women coming up and “kissing the badge” … lonestar – you old dog you! 🙂
Now, to read….
With you there 100% on Rambo and Jack, Joe. Neither is playing so well atm to impose himself on that position. Rambo is probably less likely to get in Mesut’s way.
With you there 100% also Zico at 21. They’re all consuming adults, ain’t they?
Snowy, I suspect you are confusing the role of Monitor with that of Prefect and the verb ‘to monitor. The Drinks Monitor role in my Primary School Class was the fella who kept an ear out for the crates of 1/4 bottles of milk arriving and then lugged them in and distributed the straws to the class. No requirement to count drinks drunk – thank heavens!
Re the white kit. Arsenal had a white shirt in the early years of the 20th century allegedly. It looks nothing like a Spuds shirt. It’s actually quite smart. I have one because a friend gave me it as a gift. However I’ve never worn it to a home match – that requires a red shirt, preferably with white sleeves.
Bath @23 – being confused is my natural state 😉
Great piece Maestro very good read indeed! Hope you enjoy the wedding 🙂
Tiny Totts will raise their game against us they always do, well at least they will try. We have enough fire power to over come that, from the morning Arsecast I heard they may introduce Dortmund tactics with pressing high up the pitch to put us into trouble form the start. Even though we should definitely handle that as I don’t see Adebayor chasing the ball like that.
I pray to God Ozil will NOT be put back on the flank, perhaps start with Jack as he’s on form at the mo and introduce Ramsey later roaring to go. Glad I’m not the manager to make that decision. Diaby is still short of competitive games for my liking but then again you never know right?
BTW What happened to Steve T these days?
Three Fifers and one man of Elgin (an Elginian?) under one brolly tomorrow? Inflamatory.
Played in Willow Foundation’s Arsenal vs Tottenham Legends golf tournament today. Good event with the Gunners very well represented by Bob Wilson, David Seaman, Graham Rix, John Hollins, Frank McClintock, George Graham, Liam Brady, Alan Smith and
Most humorous moments:
1. Golf buggies were all taken when Bob Wilson appeared on his tee. He ended up driving the groundsman’s tractor around 18 holes with some Gooner riding alongside, blowing black smoke and roaring with laughter for 18 holes.
2. George Graham chips from 30 yards to within one foot. Ray Clemence – “You’ve always had a lovely touch, George”. Graham, without missing a beat “Well so the misses has always said, Ray”
Holic – this Friday, 365 days from now. Put it in your diary.
and Lee Dixon………..
hilarious, btm.
guv, couldn’t you find odds on another 5-2 victory in red? that’d have to be worth a punt…
let’s see the application of the villa game all the way through, and that four minutes of incisiveness for at least eight 🙂
Time for a strong counterhex because Lawrenson just put a hex on us by predicting an Arsenal victory. I’ll start mixing some herbal potions. 🙂
Looking through old posts I came across this. It has to be a contender for the finest ‘holic sentence.
“Not since Julia Roberts married Lyle Lovett has beauty been so expected to finish on top of the beast, and Arsenal didn’t disappoint.”
http://goonerholic.com/2010/01/beast-0-beauty-2/
Well, Lyle IS a handsome man…
3nil to the good guys tomorrow. Yes, I have had my worries eased by the sweet kiss of alkaline distillates.
This is a NLD, guys, Jack will be the first name on the team sheet.
Sir Ches
Cal Per Kos Gibbo
Mikel Rambo
Danny Jack Özilla
Alexis
I remember my first NLD (vaguely). Middle of winter 1959, freezing cold and in hostile territory down the road at WHL. Not that it was particularly hostile back then. I was with a spud friend and surrounded by spud supporters but no-one threatened my life, even after we totally thrashed them 4-1. Vic Groves, I think, scored two. But I probably lost the 6d a corner comp, I never recall winning that, ever.
Two abiding memories. 1)… Tommy Docherty, one of the hardest men ever to play the game, having a field day in defence. What we wouldn’t give for a reincarnation today. 2)… All standing in those days and probably 60,000+ packed into the Lane, all of them chain-smoking. Everyone smoked back then of course and I can still visualise all that smoke trapped in the tiny ground like something from Dante’s Inferno, very atmospheric.
Öskar
Julia Roberts on top of Lyle Lovett, 8ball? Such an image says more about ‘holic than either, I suggest!
Öskar
Re Tommy Docherty. I think it was the great Sir Tom Finney who once said “Give me a team with five Bill Shankleys, five Tommy Dochertys and a goalkeeper and I will win the World Cup”. To which Docherty replied, “With five Bills and five of me you wouldn’t need a keeper!”.
Quite probably true.
Öskar
I am in my cups and can say only this;
Top posting oskar.
Clearly – the best bar in town.
I say 3-1 ti the might red and white.
Just popping into the bar to scream
Up The Arsenal!
I’ll second that ‘best bar’, Homer and fill your cups with whatever was in it before you got in them.
3-1 will do just fine. Just hope the confidence exuding from this best of all blogs isn’t a little misplaced given some of our performances this year. YES we are the better team, no doubt about it, but … there’s always a but.
Öskar
Wagons roll…..or the airborne equivalent. 🙄
UTA.
Just back from hols, hope AW keeps last Saturday’s line up which really clicked. Had fun watching the Villa game with a gang of Swedes in a bar in Supetar, Brac, one of which was an AV supporter. A merry time was had by all!
Buses on both train routes out of Cambridge on a NLD day, putting an extra hour on our journey from King’s Lynn. We had better win!
COYRs
I would be get surprised if we are not far too good for this lot..
AW just needs to have the team totally pumped when they hit that field and not stop pumping this lot unntil they have been pumped well and truly.
I will also be very surprised to see jack in the middle rather than ozil. Why would you do that when it clearly doesn’t work, even if you are the most stubborn coach in world football.
There is no comparison between jack and ozil whatsoever. If AW plays jack there and not ozil, he deserves whatever inconsistent performance and results we will get.
C’mon arsene , you have done the work, now let’s get the boys going consistently against all comers
No more on and off days.
COYR
Morning all. Let’s just do this. Assert the natural order. Darwin and all that. Let’s pluck those damn chickens. 🙂
bt8b@32: a backdrink as fine as the sentence.
The monks like the look of a comfortable 2-0 or 3-1 today.
Pool just finding how hard it is with CL, long hangover they be having!
😀
Come on Hull, Villa and Fat Sam!
Shows ’em what you’re made of!
😀
Liverpool and Everton drop points. Thank you Jagielka for that heaven-sent goal. 🙂
Balotelli having less of an impact than Welbeck… good times indeed!
Right choice not taking him!
😀
Balotelli had a pretty good game I thought BB, and the timing of the substitution (Lambert for Balotelli) didn’t seem to help Liverpool’s cause in the end. I hope you are right about Welbeck in the long gun though.
In the long run too. :blush:
@bt8b,
To be honest did not watch most of the match after half-time, while Balotelli made some good shots and passes, he did not seem like the prolific scorer, at least none more than Welbeck, to me.
I guess it’s old fashion but, much prefer someone less controversial and unpredictable. Awaiting in anticipation of the crucial must win game, which he’ll get himself sent off. 😀
For all the criticism of balotelli off the field he is class striker.
Strong and skilful on the ball, can play wih his back to the defence, good vision, holds the ball up well and solid striker of the ball.
Shame he is a nut job as the boy can play.
Man U are two goals up.. time for it to get interesting, will Fat Sam make another comeback?! 😀
Come on HULL!
😀
C’mon fat Sam and the hammers
C’mon hull
8ball@ 49.
Made sense to me. After all, a cannon is just a long gun, no?
I know we are better than them. But I am as nervous as a man whose brain won’t work well enough to think of an analogy right now.
Hull on level terms against Shity! Come on Hammers!
Straight Red for ROoney!
Oh ..and customary Fark the Chavs!
Come on Hammers!
Szczesny; Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Arteta, Ramsey Wilshere; Ozil, Ox, Welbeck.
Wenger packs the midfield. Alexis and Santi wildcards from the bench. I think it shows Tottenham a tad too much respect personally, but I imagine Wenger is looking at player rotation over the next 3 games (holding our 2 little Latin magicians back for Galatasaray in midweek) and wants to match Spurs power in midfield for the first 60 mins or so?…
Cazorla, Sanchez, Ospina. That’s a lot of Spanish speakers on the bench. Big cheering section for Arteta. 🙂
We have loads of midfielders who would love to be playing these games and are more than capable. I am pleased to see Ox starting again. That kid is excellent now and is nowhere near his peak.
Ramsey kicked on last season and people speak of this as being LJW’s year to do the same. Sure, why not? But Ox is another young guy with so much potential to fulfil.
I back him completely to do it. Our Ox is strong like bull.
COYRR
COME ON!
Come on lads let’s do em!
Where are you ABB?
Your calming tones are needed. Not to mention your expert opinions… (wink)
COYG
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
Hi folks! Just waking up 🙂
Up The Arse!!!
Jack needs to watch himself!
This ref is so overrated it hurts. Couldn’t find his arse with a map
Looks like another injury to Arteta! Fuck sake!
Fuck sake!
Injuries… 🙁
This is getting silly!
NO. Not Jacky too.
Please.
stonewall pen and that does not look good for Jack:(
Another ankle injury Thanks Rose
Thankyou
Amazing that he’s back!
I saw that ankle bend it didn’t look nice ans stone wall pen too!
COME ON ARSENAL!!!
A little lacking of ideas… bring on Alexis!
Good thing that the spuds are ..arguably the worst team we played so far!
Ramsey.. hamstring now?! 🙁
Is this a fucking joke?
Ramsey injured fuck sake this is a mare
NOOOOOO
and now thigh for Aaron..ffs what did we do to injury gods?
At least we have enough midfielders
Thats two injuries in one game our players are dropping like flies
ATG
Midfielders is not the problem
We won’t have enough substitutes to replace all the injured ones.
why no sanchez?
Hey come on Wenger is fairly stingy when it comes to subs anyway, only joking one more sub left not good
Not good when we are losing players at the rate of two per half.
Ox for Alexis I can’t see anything else….
Ox looks lively. Pressing. Direct.
He should stay on.
Is it me – or do we look flat?
the injuries are beyond ridiculous….yes it’s our perennial excuse and rightly so….we’re never close to full strength
Today for example (and I like Chambers btw) we desperately need what Debuchy brings down the right going forward.
We’ll still win this 2-0 – tiny totts look like they don’t know each or even care about it
Jack – on a yellow already. And not really doing much.
With 2 subs gone already – not good.
Ox isnt really tracking back much is he?
Maybe youre right ATG – alexis for ox is the move.
No idea how Ox and Jack got booked and none of their players did for the SAME offence. How many did Lamela get way with before his card?
And is kicking Danny Welbeck from behind as much fun as this shower seem to think?
Expect much better second half, mosty beсause we can’t be any less creative and so without ideas at home then this, can we?
With all due respect but, anyone who still believes that our injuries are a bad luck is just naive.
We started stronger, but the Spertz have let us off the hook a few times with bad passing when they really should of been clean through.
Good to see we’re finally willing to take a shot every now and then.
COME ON YOU REDS.
Jack not doing much? Who was?
He had a couple of good moments (and should’ve got a pen) and I certainly could not criticise his performance compared to our other midfielders. No worse than Ozil, Rambo or Ox from what I saw.
Not saying anyone was bad- just that that were all ok without being much more.
Wilshere should have started from the bench, like last week. Why change something that worked so well last week.
Or even Ramsey, now he is injured. Can’t believe this shit with injuries.
To be honest ref aint doing us any justice we should had a penalty and those two yellows were a joke!
‘Hate’ is a strong and massively overused word.
I hate this lot. So fiercely I get close to putting my fist through my TV.
We must win this.
COME ON ARSENAL!
Oezil seems to have had a good fisrt 20 mns. But then vansihed.
Bring on alexis!!!
Tim, Ade wants this badly, don’t underestimate him!
Alright Arsenal, let’s rip them a new one, pretty please!
Come on lads!
Keep it tight at the back!
COme On!!!!!!!
Come on Gibbo wtf?
Better start. Go on Santi
Unlucky come on Arsenal!
Much better, from us!
Heres a small request:
AW – can you please practice set pieces once in a while?
Thats much better!
Only a matter of time…
Yeah yeah – looking better.
Pressure building..
COYRs
Didn’t even touch him!
Keep this up.
Add a moment of quality.
Where the hell is alexis??
BB you are right a matter of time fuck sake
Flamini weak link
Flamini
Fuck.
Well.. too casual is all i can say!
for fucks sake
Typical
Damnit AW put in alexis!!!!!!!!
COME ON LADS
Really?
More fun beating them from a losing position anyway
Cruel, that 🙁
keeper. how?
Game has not changed. Still all us.
Goal decision system my arse…
I came to see Michael Oliver. Glad he is putting on a performance.
Jack’s ankle holding up. Arsene should sub Alexis for OX, now!
This is BS.
A weak spurs team. And were chasing. Again.
Absurd.
COME ON ALEXISSSSSSSS!!
YEah!
Alexis. Here we go
Alexis on for Jack. Precautionary?
C’mon Arsenal! We can still win this!
Looks like AW heard abb!!
Fucking ref!
COME ON ARSENAL
Come on lads keep digging!
Lennon fells Big Per. Not gonna see that often
ooooh
Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
IiIIIIIIIInnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn tttthhheeeeeeeeeerreeeeeee
OXOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
NOW WIN IT
Matter of time… now to win it boys!
COME ON!!!!!
OX, Bless you son! Goal 1-1
WE CAN DO THIS!
Nice dummy by Welbz. 😉
OX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get in
Keep going!!!
We should be half a dozen up by now…
COME ON!!!!!!!!!!
Be taleb.
Red card waiting to haopen.
Just keep going.
We can win. We can win. We can win.
*rocks gently back and forth*
Fuck sake
Ah…rose is down.. no better opportunity than now!
Lookit spurs high line.
Wheres out speedsters … Running behind?
$th yellow for Chmabers
4th that is
COME ON ARSENAL!
COME ON YOU REEEDS
5 mins ET
Come on push up!
So many corners come on it has to go in
Another corner.
Another 2 pts gone.
And at home.
Pretty poor.
We did not lose to THEM.
That was the most important thing.
And if Flamini had not had a schoolboy moment we would have won.
Still no idea how Lloris saved from Big Per either.
Right then ends at stale mate.
For me that two points dropped! End off!
Re: Injuries perhaps we over train our players during practice sessions because this is just beyond belief and it happens every year!
Can’t fault anyone for trying thou Alexis didn’t do much either when he came on must do better!
Flamini is just weak Diaby please get back to full fitness and stay injury free please!
Well… could’ve been worse. Good thing we got that goal back!
Still feels like a lost though… 🙁
Can’t believe the chavs are six points ahead with 12 goal difference.. hope they implode soon!
Has anyone seen a full replay of the BFG header? After Lloris gets a hand on it….
Maybe we should have stuck with Bellerin and tried Chambers in the DM role. Team could’ve used some pace earlier on.. ah well.
Roll on to the next game..
Fuck.
Not in any way an alarming result. The start to the league is decent. For anyone that thinks otherwise, look at the table. But not winning against Spurs always feels kind of crappy. If “kind of crappy” is another way of saying “really fucking terrible”.
We will get at least one more chance to get a good win against them though. We’ll just have to wait a little longer.
My biggest concern is that our only two automatic midfield starters went out injured today. Let us hope it is short term.
Can’t bother with an analysis today. It’s a derby. It’s against Spurs. We didn’t win. We played better than them, they were kind of shit, we never really got going but had a good enough game for me not to rip into the team. That will have to do. Yes, I hoped for more, but ah, again, more chances will come, both to get three points and to steamroll Spurs.
Why do Wenger always try to play ozil, Wilshere and Ramsey together. Knowing fully well that they all don’t mesh well together. That’s just plain stubbornness from him. Should have started ozil, carzola and either one of them. Well thank a God we didn’t loose to those dirtbags.
i said many times before that chez distribution always create unnecessary pressure for us, we will be punished. like their first goal tonite. we will not win anything if he plays on like this. should try ospina.
Am hoping and praying Wenger get DM this January. Silly goal to give away too.
how very,very disappointing.
Zero cutting edge.
I thought Ox and Ozil were good though.
No title winning form yet.
Chelsea almost out of sight already.
We started with no points but at a level score which would have gained us one point.
We went a goal down which would have earned us no points.
We scored a goal to equalise and ended with a point.
At no point were we ahead or in line for three points.
I understand those who felt before the game that it was one we should win but NLDs are funny old things. No matter the scenario as long as we don’t lose I can’t be too unhappy.
The season is long. Only Chelsea have been getting the results they ‘should’ so far and we are six points behind them with a trip to their place next week.
We are still undefeated and in the end these points may be vital. Who knows?
I’m gonna keep my powder dry for now.
UTA
Two points lost in my book. And against the worst Tots side in the last 10 years. Fourth draw from six played and two injuries on top of that.
The good thing is that we are unbeaten in the league still, but this kind of performance, along with this formation and tempo and I genuinely fear for us at Stamford Bridge next week.
Kos was a beast out there, I’d trust him with my life.
Lloris, MOTM, for me. Sighs.
Ade kissed the field, before the game started. He is very conflicted! 😉
Sorry holics, we must all be emotionally spent …
abb
Completely agree about Kos. Well said.
Exactly Tim .
The goal line technology stopped on LLoris first touch.
And how did we get so many yellow cards and them not even one red.
the goal from us would always eventually come, this game felt very much like last years away game at their place, they did not really threaten.
It had 1-0 to us written all over it and if it was not for the moment of sloppiness from Flamster, I think it would end like that.
Lloris save from BFGs header was incredible but they did not show the ball after the initial save, it looked like to me that it was much closer to the goal line after he palmed it away.
Loss of Arteta really disrupted our rhytm and Aarons injury did not help either, although if I am bit overcritical, many things did not come off for him before he set up Ox for the shot with that neat piece of skill.
As for Chelski game, if you offered me 1-1 from their place now, I would bite your hand off, although I really hope we win there, just to restore natural order of universe.
GSD, yes mate, he was fearless. You could just see how badly he wanted us to prevail.
Chambers’s attempts on goal, were encouraging, too. That kid is someone to watch. Love how the corners of his eyes, slant downwards. He will age, well 🙂 Unlike me!
I hope we go to the bridge next week and park as many buses as possible.
Points dropped I feel. Even when we were one down I thought we had enough to defeat them, but it wasnt to be. Theyll probably bring out a watch or some other nic nac to commemerate that result.
A word on the ref…;
Pathetic.
Not in a sour grapes kind of way, because I’m sure the Totts will feel just as aggrieved as us. He had absolutly no control over the game, nor did he seem to have an understanding of what a derby game like this is all about, he was pulling cards like Paul Daniels on crack, not only for our players but for theirs too.
My biggest concern is that we are not learning anything. We are so open on counter attack. Give away silly balls. Our goalkeeper’s arrogance is beyond me…such a silly distribution that led to their goal…
and why on earth we didn’t throw kitchen sink in the last 10 minutes..
That is a real difference between average side and champions…Fergie would have destroyed his team had they not thrown kitchen sink…sometimes you need to be brave
Can’t find a proper replay of the Per header….annoying…it did creep along the line and I thought it was in.
We’ll win next week – we’ve yet to play a really good 90 mins this season – it’s well overdue.
Also Wenger’s arrogance would be thrown on his face…no DM , No Defense cover…No Target man….he feels we are playing in Spain…Its so sad to see our club in the hands of people who are not doing the best for this club
Tim, not sure too sure even the eternal optimist in me believes we can win at bridge…I just fear a spanking with the midfield we have got…who will tackle in the midfield ? Flamini ?…enough said..
Tim.
I’ve watched again now, (a few times in real time) the ball does not cross the line. Amazing save.
H2H.
That ref is the cream of the crop. He has risen to become the youngest ever premier league referee and is lauded like the new Howard Webb, who was also given credit for being amongst the best in the business. And I am talking worldwide here.
Collina would stare him down till he browned his pants. Silly little boy trying to control an NLD.
With all the money in the Premier League, all the attention it gets across the globe and all the people who want a fair and reasonable adjudication of the rules which is consistent from game to game, it truly beggars belief that this is the accepted standard…
I’ll say it again. Oliver is considered one of the best.
The UK media have their own agenda. If there were a way to get it to suit their agenda to campaign to significantly raise this standard I think there is a global army, not only of fans (who cares what they think?) but of paying customers (a far more valuable commodity) who would back that campaign to the hilt.
We are buying a Ferrari at considerable expense here. Why is no-one complaining about the bloke pissing in our petrol tank?
thanks H2H….must have been my will instead of my eyes
YAY
As per my earlier comments @61, I just felt that Wenger’s team-selected was a tad conservative – and he was too intent on matching up to Tottenham’s strength (physical weight of bodies and numbers in midfield) rather than trying to conquer that with a more positive attitude/’ideology’ if you like. I still think there’s no need to play all of Ramsey/Wilshere/Ozil in the same side, and at least one of Cazorla and Sanchez might have represented a bolder attempt at breaking Tottenham’s rigidity down.
Despite all that, I’m not too disheartened – and I hope the team isn’t either. It’s a test of faith at the moment – a tough run of games, a squad trying to re-integrate, and a lot of tricky/bitty games where we’re not quite getting the run of the ball and we’re playing teams at the wrong time (Leicester in their early season buoyancy, Spurs after a couple of bad defeats). Let’s beat Galatasaray on Wed, try and upset Chelsea, and then post-Interlull 2, we finally have a kind run of Premier League games where we can realistically win 3 or 4 of them (Hull H, Sunderland A, Burnley H, Swansea A), eat into that lead of Chelsea’s, and let the other teams suffer with harder fixtures. Let’s see how the league looks say in mid/late Nov, before panicking too much…
Other than two dropped points, nothing new learnt from the match.
Jack and Rambo playing together with Ozil takes away from Ozil’s creativity as he is often forced to give up space to those two turks. Jack, wonderfully creative though he is in the final third has little appreciation of the playing space in front of him when he is picking up the ball in deeper positions. Even after Rambo was forced to leave and he was supposed to play box-to-box he simply kept running with the ball straight at the defense. He needs to pick passes early and spray the ball and moved around to open up space for Ozil centrally.
Cazorla, on the other hand, brings out the best in Ozil because he keeps the ball in rotation, wins the one-on-ones in small spaces and feeds Ozil and drags defenders away from him. Jack and Rambo should learn a bit from the cleverness of his game.
Our defensive set-up doesn’t fully respect the limitations it has. Neither Arteta not Flamini are athletic and powerful enough and would not be able to wiggle out of tough situations when pressed high many times. Szczesny should realize that and more importantly Gibbs should too. For their goal Gibbs was already far ahead when Szczesny was yet to move the ball forward and he had to run back when Flamini was caught. We have looked defensively solid last season whenever Szczesny used a long clearance and either Giroud or Sagna had gone for the first header. Welbeck can very well play that role.
Finally, Ox is proving himself to be one of the most intelligent players in our set-up. A little tentative in first half, but flawless decision making about when to dribble, when to pass inside, when to pass outside to Chambers on overlap, when to attack the penalty box. Our joint MOTM with Kos.
Arteta and Rambo out for Gala and Chelsea.
So probably Coquelin for Gala and Flamini for Chelsea (can’t see Flamini playing three matches in one week)? Or other way around?
Against Chelsea we really cannot give the counter-attack opportunities with so many holes in our defense as we did today in the first half. A draw would be decent as that would keep the difference to six, still well manageable.
abb- near the death when Kos won it from Vertonghen in our half, passed it off and bombed straight into theirs it was like watching TV5 at his very best (and without the sense of dread). Obviously Kos differs from Tommy in that he picks his moments to do that sort of thing- and defends like a demon for the rest of the match. He works so hard and deserves his success and our praise.
Gregoire. Nice post.
Dr F- typically astute. And a particularly excellent point about the way Santi’s game compliments Fishgod’s.
GSD @ 204: Kos is a giant of a defender. Put a half-decent midfield base in front of him — no disrespect to Arteta who had dome commendably to change back his game to be the pivote, but time is not on his side — and you will see how many lightening fast counterattacks we create. He wins the ball, struts forward smoothly, passes to the DM and then the watches stop as our DMs meanders forward lethargically or pass it back to Per.
If he had YaYa in front oh him, he would look better than Company. Just my humble opinion.
And finally, about Jack. He is 23 now. No more excuses about the silliness and sloppiness if he wants to become one of the best. Don’t idolize Rooney or Gerard and make silly hot-headed fouls or give away possession carelessly in situation that is ripe for the opposition to counter. Play the situation, stay calm and choose your moments to run at the defense. Unless he wants to remain in the group of talented mediocrity that the previous few generations of English stars were.
Bring in Diaby and Coq for Chelsea. Who knows, I say just park a plane, bus and whatever you can find next week against Chelsea. Can’t afford to go 9pts behind them. All this draws we keep getting will eventually catch up with us. Even MU are just 2 pts behind us now.
“Worst Totts side in 10 years,” Lurky? That’s a pretty high bar to clear.
Have to agree that was two points lost. I thought that once the equalizer went in we’d go on to get the winner. Lloris and Kabul kept them in it. Having two world-class players on at the same time in Sanchez and Ozil makes for more than the sum of their parts. As Dr F noted, Santi fits well with them, too. Chambers, again, made me wonder why Shaw was bought ahead of him. He just looks like a quality player in both skill and temperament. Hard to believe that only AW saw that in him. Kos, as abb and others have noted, was outstanding today. His reading of the game is getting up to Bobby Moore levels, and he throws himself in harm’s way, too.
NBN @ 208: Fantastic temperament for a 19 year old. Ox when he first came looked that way 200-. Maybe something they teach — the discipline, the attitude, the humility — down there in Southampton?
@209: I meant looked like that ‘too’ … 🙂
Heads up people! We did n’t lose to those filthy lily white cunts. Disappointed not to beat what is actually quite a poor Sp*rz side, but there you go. Still love The Arsenal and I always will.
Stick this on and have a dance round yer kitchen (like I am now).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7eVeWCE6Jk
Ramsey has not been in good form, and should have been eased in thru substitution appearance, but leave it up to Wenger to play him down to injury. Why do we have Rosicky, carzola on the bench then. Carzola should have started this match. I thought we were well packed in the midfield positions, it’s not looking like that now. Just rotate this guys, I mean we have injury every freaking game, it’s unbelievable.
@El Punö Maravilla
Thought it was a given on here you don’t call Arsenal people, that’s players, support staff, fans etc., directly for what goes on. So I’d appreciate it if you shut the fuck up about Flamini. Yeah he made a mistake, a bad one at that; still think your comments about him are toilet. He wears the shirt and he fucking tries. ’nuff said.
Cheers Esso.
Just popped in before I’m off out for the night. I’m sure I’ll spend a few quid in real money but ring up whatever you want on my virtual tab tonight.
I know the rules about language have changed in here over the years but I believe there is still a limit. Not nice to see it pushed in the Guv’s absence.
At least Wenger’s team selection takes care of itself for the next 2 games. Flamini, Ox and Ozil in centre mid, with Cazorla and Sanchez flanking Welbeck up-front. I quite like the fluency of that side, and maybe even if Wilshere is fit for one or both of those, I’d like to see Ox get a go as the ‘box-to-boxer’ in CM….
You forgot Coquelin there , Gregoire. I would certainly give the young man a chance in the midfield. Maybe even Diaby, why not.
With you on Wilshere, Dr. Faustus. Unbalances the team with his constant dribblings into cul de sacs, being caught out of position. Makes you wonder will he ever learn to pick his runs intelligenty and stop creating those big gaps behind him wherever he plays.
As for all this Flamini hate, he doesn’t deserves it at all. He made a mistake, but he is always, absolutely always trying to give his best and dying for the cause. After all he doesn’t picks himself to play.
About the injuries, does anyone else thinks that the reason for them might be the training regime and methods?
We changed fitness coaches, tried different pitch surfaces, built modern training facilities, bought that expensive GPS tracking devices and injuries keep coming like never before.
I mean, it is understandable if a player is injured by a bad tackle or nasty challenge, but our players fell over like flies with no or little contact.
Like it or not, it is maybe our bigest problem and it is about a time to sort it out.
As we left the stadium a ‘ perfect ‘ evening was rounded off by the news that Arsenal tube station was closed and then the police led a whole ( what is the collective noun for Tottenham fans? Answers on a postcard) group of mouthy LWCs alongside Arsenal fans going in the same direction. It was back to the 1970s.
As for the game it was immensely disappointing as we should have hammered them but the omission of Sanchez, the injuries, a lack of tempo in the first half and over complication from Jack particularly meant we made no impact until they scored. I empathise with Esso about the Flamster, it was a poor piece of play but he was as committed as anyone. He should not be near a top PL team but while he is we must support him.
On the positive side Ozil worked his socks off and he and Gibbs were our best players. Any Ozil doubters should look at his heat map today and see how often and how innovatively he was involved. Ox was well held by Rose ( sometimes literally) but he burst into life when we needed him, Welbeck seemed to tire after a good first half and we wasted Sanchez when he came on by marooning him on the left wing especially when he is not left footed and every situation saw him cutting back onto his right foot.. He should have had a freer role.
Just a couple of points from a very limited back drink. I sit near the goal and sadly the ball did not carry over the line. The referee wasn’t consistent and this was the worst performance Zi have seen from him. There are so many yellow cards now they cease to have meaning. Chambers will pick up about fifteen this season and he is just a committed if inexperienced player ( but very promising)
All roads lead to the transfer window when we failed to strengthen the defence and buy a DM. We are just not strong enough in two key areas although we have some excellent youngsters it was negligent not to give ourselves a better chance. I hate being negative but that is inescapable.
Please save your hashtags for Twitter, where people care about such guff.
Disappointing result to say the least. Can’t understand the team selection but we played well enough, just lacked that bit of extra up front. That’s not a knock on Welbeck at all though, he played well I thought and had some delicious touches plus the dummy of all time for Ox’s goal 😉
Injuries are bad news but it simplifies the team selection anyway. Ozil has to play central = good thing.
This season feels like it hasn’t started yet, for us. Two or three wins strung together will give us the momentum we need.
For all the angst and disappointment, at least we are not THEM.
FFFFRRRRUUUUSSSSTTTTRRRRAAAATTTTIIIINNNNGGGG!!!!!!!! We had possession enough to win two games easily. Bugga.
We should have put the game away early on, but for the same old, same old …. LACK OF A STRIKER. How we miss OG. 🙁
I was surprised to see Jack and Alexis playing midweek, and what a mistake that has proved. We may not have a recognised striker available without OG and Theo, but Alexis is the best of the rest in the position by a country mile. Why he wasn’t given the central roll when he finally came on, and Danny moved to the win I just don’t get.
The latter, with two air swings and poor positioning, proved conclusively he is NOT the man for the 9 role. A useful player, but as a winger please AW.
On the other hand, I thought Özilla had his best game for us since this time last year and was my motm. For the first time in ages he looked industrious, working his socks off in midfield – or ‘coming in from the wing’ if you prefer, but I bet his heat map shows him mostly central.
Jack also worked hard and criticism of him seems only to come from one-eyed Özil lovers who think the German would grow an extra leg if played out of his WC-winning position. I’m happy to see him in what is a roving role, especially when he plays as well as he did today.
Perhaps the most surprising thing about today is that, despite wins for both Mancs and the chavs (and let’s not forget the Saints), we are still in 4th place. We should have had two more points but, as I said earlier … there’s always a ‘but’.
Öskar
In the first half, when the Spurs player kicks Wilshere’s ankle in the penalty area. Should be a clear penalty, no?
@ 225: By the letter of the rules, yes. It is a foul in the penalty box. I guess the referee interpreted that as an unintentional collision.
Oliver being lauded like Howard Webb is no great compliment, GSD (#198). Webb dropped heaps of clangers, especially in his later years and was very overrated in my book. Comparisons with Jack Taylor would be closer to the mark. Not in the same league as that peerless whistler yet, but a much better standard to aim for.
Öskar
Wilshere just need to simplify his game. You don’t have to always run and dribble into trouble all the damn time. That’s why he is always injured. As much as ozil holds the ball, he never gets clattered by the other teams players as much as Wilshere does. I won’t mind bringing in the Coq, he can’t be any slower than either Artete and Flamini. Might even bring in Diaby for the Chelsea game, if that’s the only game he plays and we draw or even win, he can take the rest of the season off.
Oskar @ 224: Ozil played out left in the world cup because Reus was injured. It is not his preferred position and some of his creativity does go away with him receiving the balls in wider left — wider right is relatively better because he can then drive inside on his left foot — but the Germans could take that chance because they had the movements of Muller up front and even then it took them a few games to really click. Ozil played well enough but not superlatively because he had much lesser chance to pick up the ball in the middle.
Jack worked hard but he makes too many poor decisions for a #10 or a central midfielder, which especially gets exposed in a team like ours where ball retention and rotation of positions are central to our play.
Ozil is a far more matured, tactically astute player than Jack is currently. In my humble opinion it is Jack who can benefit a lot from playing out wide and learning to appreciate space and work within small areas of the pitch and learn from Ozil. He plays with a lot of heart and passion and always works hard, but those alone cannot replace real know-how of how to influence a game in key moments.
I am sure Jack will get there, but if we are talking of here and now then in a formation where both Ozil and Jack are playing together I think we create more chances when Ozil is playing centrally.
There are two ways to split a defence open, SAG … the Özil way with a chip or clever through ball to find someone in space (or space for someone to run into), or the Jack way by making one or more defenders commit to a tackle, beating them and leaving them out of position. Each to his own method and both are equally effective.
I agree Jack’s way risks injury more often, but the kid’s got guts and I wouldn’t want to see him play any other way.
Öskar
#226. My guess is the referee didn’t see the foul. I didn’t either the first time the play was shown but the slow motion replay as seen from a different angle showed conclusively for me that there WAS a penalty on Wilshere.
Despite being my motm Özil created practically no chances today, Dr F. He could equally well learn something from Jack’s attitude, imo.
Öskar
The various angles I saw of the Wilshere incident were inconclusive. It looked a pen from one camera, accidental from another and minimal contact if any from a third. We’ve all seen pens given in such circumstances but I don’t believe a goal was likely had Jack not been touched, so fair enough.
Öskar
Oskar & Dr. F. I’ll agree the Wilshere penalty could have gone either way depending on the angle of the referee. The 1-1 scoreline was probably fair enough in that we never grabbed the game by the throat. Spurs were set up to frustrate and they did.
Esso
Spot on we didn’t loose the game which to me is priority top to win the bloody game. We also have to point out that their keeper and center back had a really good game.
Disagree with Wilshere he also worked his socks off and I hope his ankle is ok cos it was rather fucking nasty.
Flamster made a mistake but his team mates should have warned him of the lurking spud.
Injuries look bad we need some extra horse placenta to treat those wounded. Ramsey at least two weeks depending on how bad it is. Arteta same perhaps, we shall find out soon enough. It’s a real shame because if we would have invested in those areas needed investing then we wouldn’t be so bare now. Couple of tough games coming up Holics so stick together!
The thing I worry about when I see an incident like that with Wilshere is that because of his history of diving (which he has recently begun to curb significantly) he is less likely than most players to receive the benefit of the doubt from the referee.
Oh and Ramsey… please keep it simple. Great players don’t have to try so hard to look great, they just are. You, Mr Ramsey, are capable of great things when 99% of your game is simple. It just flows along and the remarkable is possible, and what’s more it looks natural when it happens. Because it is.
All the little tricks and flicks and forcing the ball through the eye of a needle cleverness looks forced.
Simplify and impress.
Thank you.
And what of the great and powerful Eboue? Just checked the Galatasaray website and he isn’t even listed in the squad. Thought I would just offer this “heads up” in case anybody goes to the game on Wednesday with the idea of “I only came to see Eboue.” 😉
Two yummy points…dropped.
Two more injured. Why does AW persist in grinding our players into dust?
Oh well, just finished some cider. No reason to dwell on the negative.
UTA.
” it was the worst totts side in last 10 years”
Well said whoever thougt of it above…..
So When did the worst totts side in 10 years become like bayern Munich where we need to claw our way back for an alleged point gained…..
We go behind (again and as usual), in the same manner via our lack of a Competent DM ( again and as ausual) after 50 mins of dominant and false possession ( again and as usual) where we dont do anything with the possession ( again and as usual).
One of the best ways to help the worst totts side in 10 years look like bayern munich when you draw with them, is when you have not one, but two, slow, old, unathletic, ageing warriors in the second most important position in your team who lack strength and speed.
The famed and much discused DM role.
Some on here dont even think we need one. I wonder what they think today.
Can you believ we actually have in our current side a fast, strong, young, tough, tall, athletic and skillfull player in callum chambers who fits the DM role footprint in just about every way excepting experience.
So who do we put in this role, not one but two players who have the complete oppositie skill sets as required for the role.
No pace, no size, no strength, no athleticsm between them and no speed.
Just experience.
AW is not one for learning from his previous mistakes is he……
Injuries – again AW is not one for learning from his previous mistakes is he…..
Seen it all before and heard all the excuses before….
We Even now have a new excuse for a poor performance such as this was.
Get ready for it, as it is a classic.
We apparently now have been unlucky enough to play some of these sides at the wrong time in the season.
Some we have played when they are excited about being in premier league. Some we have played after a run of losses.
FFS – sound to me like the right time to play mosts sides is it not.
When do we want to play sides. After they have been a long run of wins…
Seriosly….Now, as an excuse, i like it.
It has everyting going for it except any basis of truth or relevance..
it is new and clever, but sadly it is nothing more than just the latest excuse for being out managed by a young clever manager who told his side to be patient and wait for our mistake, which rightly came their way and allowed the poorest totts side in 10 years a draw agaisnt a top four side.
3 Key players injured! Am counting Wilshere here or he won’t be 100% for the next game anyway.
( http://www.espnfc.com/barclays-premier-league/story/2058554/premier-league-arsenal-suffer-injuries-to-ramseyartetawilsher-in-draw-with-spurs )
And to top it off we did not win against the spuds! And focking Chavs won!
Arghhhh! Noooo! GRrr! Damnit!
What a bothersome run of absolutely utter shambolic horrendous…luck?!
Really hope the reserves step up and for some players to become available in the next transfer window.
We may not be looking too bad in terms of the table and we have yet to lose a game in the league, but anyone watching us over the last few games is bound to be a little worried as we do not seem to be cementing ourselves as a cohesive unit nor are our injury situation abating. At this rate Theo and Diaby would have to be thrown in the deep end the moment they’re available!
Still it could be worse, we could be Man U or Chav supporters i suppose.. 😀
Up The Arse!
Win next weekend and we will be the only unbeaten team in the Premiership. Something very hard to believe, the way we’re playing!
Öskar
Lose next week and utd win they will be ahead of us.
Lose next week and Liverpool win they will be even with us.
Allow Wilshire to keep trying to dribble the ball into the net we won’t win
continue to play Flamini and arteta DM we won’t win
Don’t play chambers as DM we won’t win
Chezz to continue to distribute the ball as he does we won’t win
play ozil wide and jack through the middle we won’t win.
Don’t play ozil in 10 role we won’t win
Kieran Gibbs up high and jog back we won’t win.
play jack ahead of sanchez we won’t win
play jack ahead of santi we won’t win
Just another perspective Oskar on where we truly are.
@Oskar
Win is the key word which would also be aptly used with ‘unlikely’ and ‘surprising’ i believe, based on current form. Still we may raise our game and that’s the best we can hope for (and for Costa to pull his hamstring in training too!). We have too many injuries to key players to put forth our best team!
Keeping Fingers crossed! (also for no more injuries in our CL match!)
Mourinho has suggested that costa hardly even trains.
Shit, imagine what he will be like when he trains.
Maybe that’s something AW should consider.
Not grinding the team into the ground.
Lets not forget Kieran Gibbs has played 1 game in a row, he must be due for his fortnightly jog down the tunnel, not to be seen for another 3 – 6 weeks.
@Aussie
It’s truly frustrating to see that we’re still struggling to gel at this stage with some consolation that most other teams are not doing that good as well!
Still it’s the @$#%%^%^%# Chelski’s results that have soured the mood the most! They can get an incredibly forgiving CL draw, still top of the league, have all their key players available and that despite being managed by a horrendous stooge of a misbegotten goat!
Come what may, even if we have to play with half a dozen kids, would really like to see us sticking in there and giving it a go next week!
😀
Understand BB but maybe some of our “not gelling” is caused our own doing
Here just a few thoughts AW may consider in the coming days.
Play the best no10 in the world at no 10.
Play your 42 mil Spanish fella occasionally. He goes ok
Encourage the team to shoot occasionally.
Tell the team to try and head the ball first on corners for us and against us
Tell the team to Try and head the ball first on free kicks for and against us
Teach jack how to pass occasionally to some of his team mates. He does have 10 of them.
Oskar@ 227
I agree that Howard Webb was massively overrated. My point in the first para was that Michael Oliver, like Howard Webb before him, is an average referee at best who is still given credit for being leagues better than he is. I did not spell it out as I assumed that no-one here would think Webb had been any good. It could certainly have been clearer but that was what I was trying to get at.
People have all kinds of misconceptions. Webb looked physically like an imposing man- so people assumed he was an imposing referee.
With Oliver he is very young to be so advanced in his profession- so people assume he must be better than other refs at that age and is therefore in the top bracket.
Neither assumption is true.
@ Aussie
No argument there, if the same formation fails day in and day out, maybe it’s time for a change.
In fact would go as far to say that there will be changes, just because of the (alarming!) amount of injuries we have!
Would love to see Bellerin get more of a run out, he’s inexperience but then that’s how you get experience! And he’s got pace, that for me makes up for some other qualities which may be lacking. Can’t wait for Theo to be back.
And for the record, do not think we’ll be seeing much of flamini/arteta next season (although on their days they are immense!). So, yes I see some experimentation and formation changes coming up sooner rather than later.
😀
It is another day and I feel even more shitier when I think of Arsenal then yesterday.
Interesting tips, Aussie, agree with many of them, but don’t understand who the 42m Spanish bloke is.
I am not the only one then, who noticed that when Wilshere picks the ball in midfield actually rarely passes to his teammates, instead always tries to dribble his way and he picks the crowdiest path to do it. It looks like when pressured he lacks coordination, vision and awareness of where the other Arsenal players are positioned, especially the ones behind or in the same like with him. His passes in the final third are better, but mainly because the players he passes to are in front of him.
I would also suggest to Arsene, or whoever trains our team, that it is OK to practice taking corners from time to time, they are a part of the football game too. Or, if you refuse to practice them, try to practice to not be hit on a counter from your own corner. If that includes Mert and Kos to stay in our half, then be it, we aren’t going to score from a corner anyway.
Also tell Woj, to start shooting the damn ball and stop being overly creative and smart, because he is a bloody GK not a creative midfielder.
Good morning holics,
Needed some inspiration! So where did I turn, but to Tottenham. The praise they have heaped towards our lads, is truly heart warming. They described their tie with us as ‘Valiant’. And not easy playing an ‘attacking’ team like Arsenal. Seems this NLD meant very much to them. Respect. Odd that our sworn enemy could provide both comfort and perspective, at such a time. After the game both sides shared handshakes and warm embraces.
I don’t feel any player, from either side, deliberately, shirked their duty. A few (as already mentioned here) might have tried too hard 🙁
Arsene can’t win, can he. When he rests a player, we moan. When he doesn’t, we fret. He’s devastated about our injuries, truly alarmed. He mentioned Aaron … he had rested him against the Saints, and yet there goes his hamstring.
@ abb
I think we’ve been desperately unlucky with all the injuries that we’ve suffered!
We’re in for very interesting times indeed!
😀
Apologies Lurky – should have said the Chilean fella
Goes ok.
Wenger is refusing to buy players because he claimed players of good quality befitting to our status are not available.
Diego Costa wasn’t available when Chelsea bought him, same with Mangala and Fernando in city. Those teams bought the players the want not the players that are available. Every player has a price. Pogba, Cavani and Chenilli have their price. We can get them if we are willing to pay. If not we’ll keep on buying players that are available….bench warmers, dipped in form, out of contracts, teenagers, injury proned etc
Sanchez was sold because he wasn’t wanted, so is Ozil…
Dear Holic,
Your blog appears to be infested by visitors from le Groan.
Give us a shout when Rentokil have finished.
Bit harsh that, Zico…
Kinda true (excepting ABB and a couple others), but harsh.
Dear Miriam,
I haven’t had a nervous breakdown due to the result yesterday.
Does this make me a sociopath?
If so, should I pursue a career in politics ?
Big hugs to TABS.
Naija gooner,
You really haven’t been paying attention for the last ten years, have you?
So let’s assume that your three nominated targets are indeed the best players in their positions in the world.
How much do you think Arsenal should bid for them ? Let’s assume that every player does indeed have a price, and we bid £90,000,000 for Pogba.
It may not have escaped even your attention that a club called Manchester City are owned by a super rich oil sheik. If Manchester City also want Pogba, they will bid £100,000,000.
Assuming ‘willingness’ on Arsenal’s part to buy the best players, how do you propose to overcome this little problem ?
Why am I even bothering to get involved with this nonsense ?
Please don’t try to answer either question or I may have to resort to irony, sarcasm, the comfy chairs or even a bit of actual verbal violence.
😉
@ Oskar the dog, I know you were just joking when u said win next week. Because you and I know that will not happen. Wenger has never beaten Mourinho, and it most likely won’t happen next week. Not with the shitty ways we keep giving goals away. I just hope we go there looking for a draw, and not get blown out in the first 20mins. All these draws is just terrible, if we have won two and lose two out of those four draws, we would have more points tally now. How does coming from behind against a shitty team like spurs means gaining a point.
I suggest that Sol Campbell got it right yesterday.
He suggested that our build up play was too lethargic and therefore lacked penetration. He was right. From back to front we took just way too many passes to make any sustained continuous progress. The number of sideways and backwards passes between our back four was, at times, hard to watch, even allowing sometimes for a lack of movement beyond them.
Somebody here criticised Ramsey for trying things out of the ordinary but at least he was trying to be positive and get us on the front foot.
I’ve been mostly disappointed by Cazorla so far this season but he is another that at least always looks to go forward and we looked a better team when he came on yesterday.
He also combines well with Ozil which makes us more dangerous too.
A little less Ches/Mert/Kos/Gibbs/Kos/Mert/Chambers/Mert/Kos/Ches etc. and a bit more va va voom please Arsene. We are capable after all.
UTA.
@249. Speaking of Mangala did you see him gift Hull City two goals in 10 minutes yesterday? Not sure I would mention him in a list of players we should have bought but his future may be brighter than his past. 🙂
Aussie @238, You said it better than I could. Arsene is a great coach, but men, is he one of the most stubborn coaches around. Sometimes you have to be pragmatic in your approach to games depending on who the opponents are, but he still believes we can keep playing our way and still win. If we can get a draw from next week against Chelsea, I reckon that would be our best result to date. Truth is, I don’t see that happening.
We may be without some of our key players, our squad may even be only half fit and riddled with injuries but when we play chelski, we need a little bit of luck : http://i.imgur.com/KyCiDMK.gif and we’ll get the results we want!
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thought our corners looked very dangerous to ourselves everytime, so am actually alright with a point…
for all the talk about DMs, does anyone still look at the funny side of this: with arteta, ramsey, santi,ozil and Sanchez, we actually have 5 ex and current number 10s supporting one striker!
We need this type of DM, free agent at the moment, too
https://vine.co/v/M1gIpzta1B5
Lurky, I like her. She looks stronger than what we have right now.
Lurky. There’s an equation to determine if she can be of value to us. If she stops more goals + injures more opposition players than she does accumulate red cards, sign her up. 😉
Queen of the Roller Derby, Lurky 😉
Speaking of cards, 5 is the cut off, Chambers has 4. He should be all right for Chelsea. If he’s carded on Wednesday, that shouldn’t count,
right? Right. 🙂
Chelsea 1st Team players all getting a new Audi! But all they know how to drive is a bus, lol.
One more tidbit, them I’m off to bed. When was the last time, an Arsenal player maliciously attacked a foe? Or uttered a racial slur?
Proud of our Club and our players.
Lurky, she may not take to the Prem. Too many shaved heads for her signature pony tail tug.
Not the comfy chairs, Trev
http://youtu.be/2RqhsGy1fh0
Evening all. Apologies, about to watch the game now. Back with my thoughts later.
Why Arsene likes players who can play in many roles: http://i.imgur.com/mfQg1gl.gif
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Holy Jeebus, Lurky. Old girl needs some prozac…or lithium.
Guys what do you think of a Coq and Chambers midfield behind Ozil? I don’t think it’s any worse than what we are dealing with right now.
Or one of them playing along side Arteta.
I like that idea SAG. I would suggest Diaby too. We must be as tall and strong as we can for that game, especially in the middle.
Watch how Maureen will have a man always marking Ozil if he play #10.
On other hand I can guarantee that he will play Fabregas in a deeper role, close to Matic and away from our DM’s for more freedom. Maureen knows Ozil will never man mark Fabregas, and he also knows that we will need a high pressing game to nullify him, because if we don’t he will kill us.
High pressing against Chelsea is suicide and they will kill us, so we will have to let Fabregas with the ball, but be sure that we close the potential outlets and leave him without variety of options, so his only options must be to choose the wings or long ball. The only problem is that if we leave them the wings they will also kill us, because Ivanovic and Azpilicueta have immense work rate and are have really dangerous crosses for Costa.
Did I mentioned that they will kill us?
The only way I see us getting a point is to have enormous luck, a penalty, they are down to 10 men or….
Play Coq, Diaby, Ox and Chambers in the middle, in a 4411 with Ozil and Welbeck upfront. Bellerin will take care of Hazard and Gibbs will have a great support from the Ox.
Alexis, Rosicky and Cazorla can come on after 60 minute, having played full 90 vs Galatasaray.
Lurky, am down with that MF of 4 banks. But you know Wenger is not a pragmatic guy so don’t expect that kind of line up. I still don’t see us beating Chelsea, like you said getting a draw there would be our best result so far.
In some games, you just have to go for a draw and get a game plan that helps you achieve that. The spuds came for a draw, and guess what they got it. I hope Wenger think twice and pull a Mourinho on them. If we win, good, but at least plan for a point.
SAG and Lurky, strange word combinations there: Coq and Chambers; being tall and strong in the middle.
I agree with your points though.
Or whens the last time an Arsenal player kicked a ball boy!!!
Oh Chelsea, your claim to fame!
BB, keep your links coming lad as they have found my funny bone 🙂
Lurky and SAG, perhaps we should wait till after Galatasaray, before forming our lineup. Sadly, think there might be more casualties after mixing it up with them. On the other hand, it makes for interesting reading, so carry on 😉
Holic, welcome back, Sir. Your message will set the tone, not to put any pressure on you, of course 🙂
Cheer up holics, we’re The Arsenal! Can Chelsea say the same …
Nitey, nite xx
Coq and Chambers ?
Thank God Alan Ball isn’t still playing. 😉
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