Dick Turpin Would Have Been Proud Of That!
Oct 22nd, 2014 by 'holic
What looked like being a humiliating evening was turned on it’s head in the last two minutes in Brussels as Kieran Gibbs and Lukas Podolski turned a single goal deficit around in remarkable fashion. A sluggish (Alexis Sanchez aside) Arsenal found two moments of inspiration after a very pedestrian performance to that point.
In the early stages the first chance was created by Alexis with a glorious cut-back into the path of Santi Cazorla who was unfortunately high, wide, and handsome with his shinned effort. As early as the eighth minute Nacho Monreal was yellow-carded for a body check on Cryiac, which put the stand-in central defender on a tightrope for the rest of the match. On eleven minutes Santi was presented with another chance when Danny Welbeck was upended on the edge of the box, but the free-kick hit the wall.
On fifteen minutes Alexis again crossed from the right and a stretching Welbeck just failed to get enough on the header. That miss heralded a sloppy phase with players on both sides lucky not to join Nacho in the referee’s notebook. Emiliano Martinez made his first save fom Praet’s deflected effort. As the half drew to a close Per Mertesacker headed Santi’s corner over the top at the near post. In truth it was soporific stuff.
The opening minute of the second-half saw Welbeck come close to wriggling free along the goal-line but a ricocheted clearance found the Anderlecht ‘keeper. After Conte’s effort was deflected wide it was Arsenal who came close again. Alexis’ flicked ‘shoulder’ from nigh on point-blank range once again nestled in Proto’s arms. Ten minutes into the half and fit-again Aaron Ramsey scuffed an efort wide with that man Alexis once more the provider.
The 58th minute saw Martinez called on to produce another save and momentarily the home crowd were lifted. Four minutes later Praet blazed one high over the top and that was repeated by Alexis at the other end after Cazorla was denied by Proto. Welbeck’s night was summed up by a booking minutes later as he chased back in the centre circle. His work rate is second to none, but with the supply scarce he cut a frustrated figure.
So did 1100 visiting supporters on 71 minutes when Najar was left free to head home after Monreal and Mertesacker were dragged out of the centre to cover Kieran Gibbs flank to no avail. One could be forgiven for thinking Monreal’s poor attempt to cut out the cross owed a lot to his early booking. Cue a double substitution of Oxlade-Chamberlain for Flamini, and Campbell for Welbeck. I don’t mind I was scratching my head at the choice of the two players hooked. With Flamini missing we miraculously avoided having the deficit doubled on the break when Vanden Borre’s effort hit the woodwork and Najar fired into the side netting.
Into the final ten minutes Deschacht was the first home player into the book for a foul on Jack Wilshere, and the Alexis free-kick was desperately close, but not close enough. At the other end young Martinez kept Arsenal’s hopes alive as the defence in front of him crumbled. Then astonishingly the full-backs, struggling defensively, combined for a spectacular equaliser with just two minutes left on the clock. Kieran Gibbs finish was exquisite.
Unbelievably as the clock passed ninety minutes Lukas Podolski, brought on late for Jack Wilshere was the beneficiary of another Sanchez set-up and stole the three points for the visitors, and doubtless left sub-editors scrambling to change the crisis headlines and remove the broken cannons from the back pages. In truth though there was no doubt that this was pure smash and grab by the visitors. Struggling for form, ravaged by injuries, could the club now draw strength and confidence from that final telling two minutes?
Happy birthday Arsene. Here is hoping this is a turning point.
PS, Invincible out now
As I type you can now buy Amy Lawrence’s excellent book Invincible, packed with the recollections of those who engineered and achieved the unbeaten Premier League season in 2003/4. A fuller review will be the next post on Goonerholic. For now the easiest way for UK subscribers to buy is to click on the Amazon ad in the sidebar of this blog. Trust me, it will be money well spent.
113 Responses to “Dick Turpin Would Have Been Proud Of That!”
Maybe?
1st in!!!!
Lovin’ it Lovin’ it Lovin’ it!
Common GSD !!!
a total gift indeed, for the boss.
so close to ending up with that 16/1, holic. next time!
That was an impressively quick turnaround, ‘Holic, and I mean your post not the match.
Arsenal are back and Wilko is cancer free…..a very good night
That was a quick match report! And quite excellent.
Happy Birthday Arsene! At least the team gave him a result to savor.
We have a big enough squad, albeit injury ravaged and all, and it would be nice to see some rotation especially with players like TR7 and Campbell who can make a positive impact on the attacking side of the game.
Also, Coquelin must really be poor in trainings to not even be included in the squad. The way our DM position is in trouble now won’t mind seeing him in some matches if he can at least replicate the level he was at when he left us on loan.
Top post H.
You must have had that written up and ready to go. How did you know Prince Poldi would get the winner?
Classic from him by the way. “Ah, the ball’s coming at me.” Control. Smash. “Oh look. I’ve scored.”
Don’t worry about it SAG. You have to be up very early to get ahead of me- I’d been around for millions of years when you were still in diapers. Wink.
ALEXISSSS SANCHEZZZ!
😀
Never in doubt.
😉
Even Betty Turpin would have been impressed with that.
BB@10: He just looks a couple of level above the rest, right? Not just ability but the attitude and the appetite. Hope others find inspiration in him.
And was it a surprise that we delivered a good cross and it was scored from? And we attacked the penalty box with number of players in the box and we scored? It is quite mind-boggling how often we simply refuse to do that to try to construct a finely-tuned goal.
We must need to get these pragmatic approaches back in our game plan. Not all teams would line up with such positional and tactical flaw as Gala did and when teams defend so deep in number with energetic players we are not going to always dribble-and-pass through them.
“Sub-editors scrambling to change the crisis headlines and remove the broken cannons from the back pages”
Lol, BRILLIANT Holic and so true. I bet the hacks were halfway to the pub with their copy filed and feeling smug at another day’s “work”.
Well finally some good news. Can we use it as a platform to build on and maybe put a run together perhaps? I really hope so because this season is pretty short on pleasure right now. Nighty night peeps.
absolute shocker from us.
Podolski proving once again that,despite all the critisism,he knows where the back of the net is.
Horrible game to watch aside from the last three minutes.
Totally unconvincing,but,at this juncture, the three points are really all that matters.
However, I dont think I have ever seen an AW side as disjointed as this one.
It’s gonna be a long season.
That was close, but we made it. What a player Alexis is, can’t find many like him out there, so happy that he plays for us.
This is such an important win, both for the confidence and morale.
I guess I will be in minority but I thought that Wilshere slowed down the attacks, and subbing him off was the turning point in this game. 84 minutes to late, but it happened eventually and we won.
The same scenario as against Hull, Everton and Palace. He gets subbed off- we overturn the result.
Maybe it is a coincidence, I don’t know, but he didn’t started the both games vs Villa and Galata that we won confidently, playing the best football this season.
He started all other 6 games this season. We didn’t won any.
IF @ 15: I think Arsene probably gambled on changing tactically from last season too much too early and then once the injuries started piling up we are caught between having to get the new tactics and formations working and getting the points on board.
Last season too we didn’t really play that well — the away Dortmund win was a smash-and-grab of some sorts — for large stretches of many matches but we were defensively solid and organized enough to have a few moments of quality count.
The real regression this season has been defensively where we just look totally without a clue.
Lurky @ 17: You may be in minority, but not a minority of one. I said the same thing in the last set of drinks.
He needs to sort out the pace and decision making of his game pronto. Pace in the sense of quickness of thought. Once you have beaten the first defender release the ball and don’t take on the world.
@DocFaust
For the last few games, Alexis was the key player to me, you hit the nail on the head, it’s his attitude and work rate and never give in air about him that makes him an outstanding player! Skills can only make one so good, he’s a class above.
Early on he was already making incisive runs through but just did not get the ball.(Must be frustrating for him!) I agree that we’re guilty of holding on to the ball too long, whether this is due to the fact that the team is struggling for fitness or are carrying niggling injuries, I hope we rectify this predicament quickly.
Campbell should be played more frequently as well as Poldi, do not see why Arsene has to persist with players who are not performing up to par, by all means take Wilshere and Flamini off earlier and give some fresh legs a chance!
In the meantime, fingers crossed that Alexis remains fit and motivated. He’s played in so many consecutive games already!
🙂
Agree @ 17 Lurky. I made a point in a previous drink, but when everyone’s fully fit, Jack doesn’t get in our first XI. He’s unfortunate in that he plays CM, but he falls between all stools – he’s not big or physical enough to dominate opposition midfields, he doesn’t release the ball as early or efficiently as an Ozil (hence why we’re slow in attack), and he’s got nowhere near enough end-product for an ‘attacking’ CM for a top 4 club. Certainly a good player in the squad, but his quick feet and dribbling might be better served as sub/impact player until he’s shown he can develop.
As for the game itself, I think it shows the merit in rotation now. I’m a big Welbeck fan, but the guy’s gone from bit-part an Man Utd to leading the line in big games for a much bigger CL club for the last 6 weeks now! He needs a break, as does Jack (for reasons mentioned earlier), and I think Bellerin would merit selection as RB for certain opponents ahead of Chambers. Campbell looks close to a start in my eyes, and although Podolski looks patently unfit to me (he looked like he was running through treacle in a move just before the goal) boy does he know how to finish!
Fly away, Peter
Soothsayer Cynic 🙂
Thanks for the heads up re Wilko. Hope all is well with you?
Excellent stuff, Maestro Holic, unlike Arsenal, you appear to be full of confidence, writing with the handbrake off and at the top of your game.
I thought Arsenal were woeful tonight. A very clear case of garbage in and three points out.
How often did all four in mid-field surrender the ball far too cheaply? No creativity, no technique and no confidence. Hurry back Mesut Ozil and About Diaby.
Having said all of that, tonight’s result means we’ll probably qualify (in second place I fear). Well I’ll be a monkey’s uncle.
Stroll on to the next game. Things can only improve.
BB @ 20: I don’t think motivation would ever be an issue for Alexis. He came to us so that he can be more central to the play and have more freedom and not be a supporting cast to Messi-Neymar. I am sure he came with the knowledge that trophies would be harder to come by but he used to play with this attitude and application in the mostly mediocre Udinese team as well.
Fitness is where we ought to be careful and not neglect any early signs. I hope he gets a break through the winter as well so that unlike Ozil he doesn’t burn out in Spring. That is the time when defenses tiring and injuries having an impact on all teams his pace and directness can be a decider.
I seriously would like to see Campbell more often. Composed and always focused and committed. Nothing fancy but does his job very well. I think with more game time and confidence from the squad we will see some of the technical qualities better expressed.
And if TR7 is fit, time he starts.
Long time since I heard that old phrase ” Lucky old Arsenal”. We were tonight but like the man said, “never mind the quality it’s the 3 points that count”.
We are still in the group, just. Chaotic defending, an inability to keep the ball in MF, passes going astray all over the pitch and too many players out of form and/or not fully fit almost put pay to our qualification chances.
Alexis( our one bright spark) and the late, late show from Gibbs and Poldi don’t disguise the fact that we were poor for 89 mins and should have been behind 3-0 before Gibbs gave us a life line.
Surely we can only get better.
COYRs
Worst performance for months. No idea what our shape was meant to be: square pegs in round holes all over the park.
Thought taking Flamini off was frankly suicidal, even as badly as he’d played on the night: it lead to 20 mins where the opposition simply walked through us.
No idea how we pulled the points out, but I hope we see more of Poldi off the bench now, because he only needs a sniff.
Too many problems with tonight’s showing to analyse in full, but I hope to god we sit down tomorrow and start thinking about how to sort out this team, because right now we have no balance at all.
Alexis obviously the exception: world class. Oh, and well done to the young keeper – did pretty well given what was in front of him.
Onwards and upwards.
COYG
All is as well as can be expected for a man of advancing years and retreating hair, thanks. I trust you are well too.
It’s hard to know how one should react to a game like that. As a fan the result takes priority and this was a very important result but I think this bar is a bit more discerning than that and that was a terrible performance devoid of skill, much in the way of spirit , organisation, coherence, skill…almost everything we hold dear. I can’t go to bed tonight and feel the sense of satisfaction you feel when your team has played well and won an important match.
I sensed a terror in the interviewer about asking Wenger anything too controversial , maybe it was a kindness on his birthday but I just feel that this is a pivotal time. Arsene seems to have lost his mojo and I think the team feel it. I watched the documentary on Pires afterwards and to see that brilliant team and this…less brilliant team was a massive contrast. We may never have a team as good as that again but we do, we must expect a better team and a better performance than we saw tonight. Anderlecht have an awful European record and looked like a team of kids but they still were unlucky to lose and should have won.
Only Sanchez could look himself in the eye tonight and be satisfied.
Still I felt much the same before we played Real in Madrid in 2006, but we had much better players then.
This might be a turning point but you need more than one of two players playing well to mount any sort of consistent run. Playing like this we could lose to almost anybody. I just hope that maybe somewhere the team take inspiration and kick on but I’m wishing not expecting
BTW, technically and tactically PL continues to fall behind. Just look at the results and performances around us.
Liverpool was shown up by Real. At the hallowed Anfield, the cite of ‘famous European nights’.
We struggled against a committed and young Belgian champions, and we had struggled against a ferocious and tactically astute Turkish side in Besiktas.
Man City is having tough time in their group, forget Bayern or even Roma, having problems against CSKA.
Chelsea struggled to impose themselves the time they came up against a decent opposition in Basel.
The chaos now at the center of our midfield is just absurd and fortunately we are not playing against a big team at this stage. I think despite all the evident weakness in aging Arteta’s game as a pivote he would at least bring some structure and organization back in. It was just painful to watch today how the midfield was losing shape and discipline.
… the ‘site’ of even … @29 . 🙂
@ 24 DocFaust
Hope you’re right about motivation and enthusiasm in Alexis. Ozil started much the same way as well if i remember correctly and then seem to taper off a little, of course this may be due to his niggling injuries but sometimes I wonder if it’s the formation we play or his expectations …
Maybe not too fair for comparisons, different player with different styles but I am understandably nervous, given our current form and seemingly endless conveyor belt of injuries.
More like Randy Turpin with that Poldi KO blow, ‘holic.
They say good teams always find a way, so do we apparently.
Anderlecht deserved a draw but fell foul of not playing out the whole 90+minutes – a typical trap for young players. And what young players they have. I hope AW was noting Praet and Mbemba in particular, definitely names for the future.
I see the knives out for Jack again from the regular snipers, regardless only he and Alexis showed any enthusiasm for most of the game. Santi, Rambo and Danny were all far worse than Jack and two of them were still on at the end!
Öskar
It’s a win.
Wilko news cheered me up more. 😎
BB – I am sure Alexis would be rested enough especially through the grueling winter schedule . At least I hope so.
I think we will see more of Bellerin and Campbell, both look like they are truly up for it and willing to work that extra hard. Neither lacks technical qualities.
Amazingly fast, fair & comprehensive match review ‘Holic. I’m glad you pointed out the good chances we created, as well as the poor stuff.
As several people have pointed out, Alexis is our best player at present – but, just to be controversial, perhaps he’s the reason we’ve lost our way. It seems to me that he plays in a way that nobody else in the team has in recent years, and maybe that means that the rest of the team is stuck between supporting his genius/hard work etc, and playing the way they’ve been used to. Maybe that’s why there are so many passes going astray, because their brains are all a bit fried!
In particular, I wonder if Jack’s trying to copy Alexis (trying to dribble past too many people) but just isn’t good enough, I long for him to just gain that extra bit of maturity.
And I echo your last sentence ‘Holic. So far this season we’ve shown enough spirit & determination to rescue (too) many draws. Now we’ve finally forced a win from a losing position, perhaps we’ll just keep winning!
What concerns me most currently is the consistency of our mediocrity, especially in the effort department. It’s as if there was a problem behind the scenes influencing the on-field performances. Are there any rumours going around? Cos this does not look like a typical Arsenal or Arsene side to me.
Öskar
Roll on the 90th minute goals!
They are certainly nothing you can shake a stick at and what’s more, with a few more of them it might even put a few people into a reasonably good mood. 🙂
I wonder what Poldi’s goals-per-minutes-played looks like, and whether there’s a better one in the squad. Somehow I doubt it.
Öskar
Interesting post arsologist. Cheers.
Oscar, I was looking for another scathing criticism of Oezil … ! But in this case, I agree with you…something is rotten in Demark.
In truth, I missed this match. But this sounds like more of the same from the last 3-4 EPL and CL matches. What is going on…?
PS – I hope AW doesn’t end up breaking Alexis. Sure, seems he loves to compete and all, but give the man a breather.
Surely you jest about wilshire Oskar
He was woeful from start to finish and as lurky said we actually kept the ball and penetrated as soon as he left the field
He looks like he would be more at home in the front row of the Wigan rugby league side with his barging runs to nowhere.
How many times does he need to fail at that type of play to realise it won’t work at the top level
Seems like AW disagrees with you, Ringo, he keeps picking him. No, Jack didn’t have a great game or even a good one, but with two of the middle four entirely mia both Jack and Alexis were banging their heads against a brick wall. I assume the only reason Rambo lasted the distance was to work him into fitness after his absence. Why Santi stayed on to the end is a mystery to me. Jack looked very tired when subbed.
Öskar
Otd@38: Goal every 152 minutes played, all competitions.
For Arsenal, all comps
A goal every:
Poldi 152 mins
Sanchez 175 mins
Giroud 183 mins
Walcott 249 mins
Ramsey 404 mins
Cazorla 440 mins
Wilshere 903 mins
Sorta thing one could have guessed, Ned, aye.
Öskar
good report, Holic – lenient and kind in the extreme.
ttg,
I similarly watched the 30 minute documentary on Dennis Bergkamp last night, and with a moist eye I don’t mind admitting.
Our squad is hopelessly unbalanced and so is the team.
Can’t see what we are trying to do. Physically unable to withstand a challenge all over the park and, consequently, can’t keep the ball and get our game going at all.
Disorganised in defence – panicky and weak in attack.
Seriously worried we will lose a player of Sanchez’ ability and tremendous work rate if he is left abandoned in that dross.
Shocking.
No Oskar,
Jack wasn’t banging his head into a brick wall, he was running into one.
He has to learn that sometimes the early, simple ball is the right one and he doesn’t have to try to dribble through the entire opposition defence every single time.
If he had the physique to get away with it he might stand some slight chance. At the moment he is spending far too much time on the ground. Even when that is the result of a foul it slows us down way too much.
Rapid turnaround post indeed ‘holic!
As my mate BtM said, shocking performance but a vital 3 points nevertheless! If I’m Anderlecht I’d be sick as a feckin’ parrot who’d just brought my wife a diamond wedding anniversary gift but then to find out she’d run away with my gammy-legged, but rather witty, neighbour! Sorry Trev, no comparisons intended! 😀
Alexis Sanchez, finally another utterly world class player with the work ethic to boot! Worth the huge season ticket price alone! He’s becoming a genuine leader by example on the pitch and you can see how frustrated he is at times with the complacency and lack of dynamism in the other players! As the clogg-wearing back-stabbing cunt said last week; there is a culture at Arsenal of “we would like to win” rather than “we have to win” amongst many of the players. Alexis clearly doesn’t have that coming from Barcelona where “they have to win every match”! The Gibbs equaliser with many players not quickly restarting and having to be shouted to to return to their own half by both Alexis and the Ox tells you that there is a “it’s not a cup final every match” mentalitys amongst all the players. Many just go through the motions. The post-match Gibbs interview disappointed me somewhat as it didn’t seem to show the ruthless hunger I’d like to see from one of our first team players; they’re just too damn nice and gentle! That’s the problem with this squad and they seem to be allowed to be “nice” by their mentor! Maureen doesn’t allow that for all his faults as a humongous and vile cunt of a human being. A bit more targeted and fuelled nastiness please and not the petulant and naive nastiness as Jack regularly shows! Incidentally, I agree, Jack had another very poor game in the main creative position. Only when the Ox came on and Santi went Central did were we more cohesive. He needs to rested and he needs to honestly assess his game. He holds on to the ball too long and doesn’t see the simple pass after breaking the first line of defence. Always looking for the “Hollywood” pass when the “made for TV” pass would be perfect! Too many times he doesn’t see or play Alexis or Danny in with their runs. “That’s the job of a number 10 Jack”! Buck up man! Do what that legendary shirt number was meant for! Up the Arse! COYBG! Sunderland next and not another easy post-CL away day. The 8 – nil drubbing they took won’t make that any easier too!
Thought Martinez had a good game. Looks much bigger and more dominant than the diminutive Ospina! The outing should do him a world of good! Better than conceding 5 at the Mad Stad!
Oh and Happy 65th Arsene! Any retirement plans yet boss?
Also was impressed again with Campbell. Looks hungry every time he comes on and plays. Even iPod looks hungry when he comes on. More forward and direct attacking intent instead of the ticky-tacky, backy-sidey, keep-ball without purpose, garbage in our third and the middle third! “Gamble” it never is Arsene when you’re chasing a game that you really must win to get back on the saddle and in the race!
I just want to know how bad Coquelin is, that he can’t get into this MF. And how come Wenger don’t rotate players. And we keep complaining about injuries,but he keeps playing the same players until they get injured. Happy about the pts, but this team is missing something major, don’t know what that is.
Smash and grab is to the best way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Let’s hope it is indeed a turning point.
Onwards and upwards!
And please,can we rest Sanchez for our next game. Damn the guys playing non stop for how long now? Please give our only bright spark a break.
The defence and defensive strategy just isn’t good enough to shut-out teams! We need to become more attack-free-flowing again and attractive to watch scoring more goals than our opponents. Maintain that until reinforcements return. Up the Arse!
re: Wilshere
he simply doesn’t consistently do what he did when he first broke into the team which was accurately deliver the ball while drawing attention and creating space for others, he was so rarely caught in possession or tackled because of the ability to make those very late releases. Not saying he can’t do it again (at times he still does) but at present he’s usually 10 yards further up the park and not providing what he once did and slowing our play down to a huge extent.
Or other reinforcements are procured in January!
some very vey good posts above by Dapper Dan, SAG and Trev summed it up best of all with a no holds spared, honest summary.
It does make you wonder how long Sanchez will put up with shouting constantly to move up and press hard and then get back and work
P.S – can also only echo all above positive comments on Joel Campbell who is pure class and was each and every time he played in the world cup against far superior quality.
Even the small minutes he has run on with us, he oozes patience, skill and quality with the ball and he rarely turns the ball over, just as with Ozil and other class players.
He will also suit the Sanchez style perfectly as well as a partner as he is a very hard working player who defends, is skilful and very quick.
Top young player in the making, who in my mind only needs more game time to be fully made a star for arsenal.
Kudos to Arsene for finding him and sticking with him..
Yes Trev, Jack had a poor game, I never said otherwise. But so did they all, even Alexis was uncharacteristically careless in possession and with his passing for much of the game. I just find it amusing that those with Jack-has-stolen-Mesut’s-role-and-he-must-be-rubbished unmercifully-till-he-gives-it-back complexes seem totally oblivious of the even lesser contributions today from Santi, Rambo and Danny amongst others. Those three were awful. Jack had a poor one, but at least he showed some energy and willingness to try. Give me his attitude any day. That said Rambo didn’t look fully fit, so maybe he can be excused.
The fresh legs at the end certainly made a difference against a tiring defence made up of kids who lacked experience in how to hang on.
Öskar
…and of course Özil can do no wrong, regardless he hasn’t managed to get much right in most games for us this season and wasn’t on the pitch today!
Öskar
Sorry about your Belgies, Ollie.
When is Koscielny back? He helps our attack no end….. carrying the ball from defense.
Campbell ‘pure class’, Ringo? Based on what? One game in the WC? I agree he has shown some promise but nowhere near enough to be compared with Özil, who is indeed all class (when he shows it). A better attitude I grant you, but Campbell only makes the bench courtesy of our injury crisis.
Öskar
We got away with it! Here’s a summary : http://i.imgur.com/cXXhcbc.gifv
😀
Oskar,
I didn’t mention Ozil in my comment at all – amazing how you managed to in reply. You claimed Jack was tearing his hair out at the lack of anything from his team mates. I simply disagreed, said why, and noted the whole performance was shocking.
And I used to watch youth team games on TV just to get a glimpse of Jack playing at 18 years of age. He was that good.
In case you think I’ve got it in for him …….
Well, not exactly a vintage performance last night.
But the amount of late goals we’ve scored so far this season can’t just be luck. We kept going and were rewarded. They could and perhaps should have been 2-0 up by then, but like Holic says in his report we had chances to have been 2-0 up ourselves by the time they scored.
In any case, I still think we are agonisingly close to something really good. We have good players, but they need to start to gel. We have had a difficult start to the season with many players coming back late (I don’t think it’s a coincidence that both us and ManCity have struggled for consistency and both teams have been the worst off in terms of fragmented preparations for the season) and injuries haven’t exactly helped. I also feel that last night was a question of many players struggling for confidence, so let’s hope the late turnaround can help in that regard. Also, after Saturday we have a whole week of uninterrupted training ahead of us which can only be a good thing at this point and this is exactly why I was actually quite happy to go out of the COCup. I’m never happy to lose a game but I’d gladly have taken winning the game but still going out of the cup had it been possible. I just hope we can somehow find some more stability and get the points on Saturday, and I also hope no one thinks that’s going to be an easy one just becuase Sunderland lost 8-0 last weekend. On the contrary, they’ll be well up for it so we need to make sure we don’t give them any energy by letting them take the initiative.
Anyway, back to work. Cup of tea please, not allowed to drink alcohol on company time!
It’s pathetic at this stage. The players are in fact working wonders to salvage the odd result from the wreckage, fair play to them. But we’re being boshed all over the place, the lack of physicality is so bloody obvious. The 4 midfielders we’re using now average 67 kgs and 5 ft 8. It’s like going to the park and watching Under 8s against Under 12s. Monreal at CB, why ? With Callum available ? Against Hull Nacho gave away 3 inches to both their CBs. Sagna’s a huge loss covering two roles. Should have been tied in 12 if not 18 mths before he left. Why not try Ox in DM, he’s as strong as, well you know.. Flamini is a joke. I work with Italians, the Rossonerri supporters can’t understand why a club in decline like their’s was able to offload a guy who couldnt even make their XI. Now he’s left holding our season together, with the dynamism of Arteta and Diaby in there to keep him on his toes. It is LUDICROUS to think that 12 mill spent on, just as examples, Diame and Ashley Williams, would have easily eased us through this 100% inevitable crisis (a squad balance crisis by the way NOT an injury crisis). We all have pressure in our lives, we’re all accountable to somebody, but not our man. That FA Cup win was a disaster, he would have walked after another Birmingham, would have had no option. I won’t be paying up to come over from overseas with my two sons this year. They haven’t even asked this year anyway…. says it all. Sad, we have had a few great pilgramages each year for the last 10 or so, despite the lack of trophies but this is the worst time of all, all this potential stymied and wasted. What a mess. A lot of Prem clubs have improved this year and we are going to be mid-table, despite possibly the best attack force in the League. I know the tone here is not the spirit of this bar so won’t post again. COYG.
‘That FA Cup win was a disaster’
First time I’ve ever seen winning a trophy classified as a disaster for the winning side.
I have no argument with you, Trev, just an exchange of views I hope. I was highlighting what I believe to be unbalanced comments from the usual suspects who can’t wait to point the bone at Jack as if he was solely responsible for today’s mediocrity regardless several others were far worse today.
The Özil comment wasn’t directed at you, that’s why it was in a separate post. It was in response to at least half a dozen members (part of the broken record choir) who had to mention Özil in this round despite the fact he wasn’t in the game. So long as they keep chirping how wonderful he is and how much he is missed (when we are playing no better or worse without him) I feel some contra is called for.
Have a drink on me, sir. A stiff brandy to unstiff the knee perhaps?
Öskar
scgooner
As a man who actively hopes for Arsenal defeats, last night must have been painful for you: so close!
To think: we could have had Ashley Williams, and yet instead we went and won the FA Cup. So frustrating.
Oskar @ 69
People sniping at the same player over and over again?
Going on about Ozil even when he didn’t play?
Broken records?
I share your annoyance.
😀
That smiley was in response to your #70, N7.
Öskar
😉
I guess I have to accept that it’s just fine to keep repeating how unarguably wonderful a player is, but to disagree makes one a broken record. So long as I understand the rules…
Öskar
@ Oskar
There are no rules. People say what they think, you say what you think, people respond to your thoughts.
Where the frustration creeps in is where the same thing is said by the same person in virtually every round of drinks, whether on-topic or not.
I rate Ozil highly. Imagine if after every match, whether he played or not, I posted a couple of paragraphs on how good Ozil is. Imagine if after every single time anyone criticised him, I jumped in and posted a couple of paragraphs on how good he is.
After a while, people get the picture: you don’t like Ozil. Others do. Sometimes they’ll say so. You’re quite free to respond to each and every such statement so as to try to achieve some sort of “balance” on the issue (although query whether it’s balance if it’s just one person posting constantly). Others are then free to complain you’re over-egging it and maybe take the piss at little. Sunrise, sunset, that’s how the world goes round.
FWIW, I agree with you about Jack – I don’t think he was great last night, but it’s harsh to point the finger at him, as I think our issues were more systemic than individual, and he wasn’t the worst in red and white.
Thanks, N7. I also rate Özil highly but am constantly frustrated by his sub-par performances for Arsenal. For mine he’s not an Arsenal ‘type’.
As for being repetitive at least 6 members mentioned him in this round before I disagreed with them, including one who questioned why I hadn’t mentioned him to that point.
Why does criticising him make me a broken record when I am way outnumbered by posts constantly praising him? Isn’t the pro-Özil record just as broken?
Anyway, I wouldn’t want people to think I’d changed my mind. 😉 Although I’d really like Mesut himself to give me reason to.
Öskar
G’night N7 and anyone else still around.
Ö
@Oskar
I think we all have our player or players who frustrate us. It’s part of being a supporter.
I guess what I’m saying is that if multiple people occasionally praise Ozil, but only one criticises him constantly, then that isn’t really balance. It’s one person shouting ten times as loud to compensate for the fact that ten people disagree with him.
There cannot be a person in this bar who doesn’t know what you think about Ozil by now, or the reasons for it. You’re entirely within your rights to hold and express that view; who knows, you may even be proved right in the fullness of time.
I guess what we’re all asking for is just a bit of moderation now. You don’t need to respond to every bit of praise for the Fishgod, any more than I need to pop up and argue with you every time you slate him.
Put another way: imagine if there was one person in this bar who coated Wilshere after every game. Imagine if every time you mentioned Wilshere (and even if you didn’t) he was slating the fella. After a while, it would start to get on your wick. It would be different if it was ten different people, but hearing it from the same source over and over would start to grate: mainly because there’s not much point in arguing with someone who has so clearly made up their mind on a subject.
Anyway, I mention all of the above solely to try to give another perspective on the whole Ozil thing, and to explain why you might sometimes get the reaction you do. Feel free to ignore if you don’t agree.
Trust me Oskar – Campbell is all class
Also guilty as charged your honour for mentioning Campbell and ozil in the same sentance and slating jack in the same post and starting Oskar on his ozilathon and his wilshirathon.
I love all the talk about ozil
Now something to put a smile on your face Holics!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jooUOIbd5Yg
Enjoy!
Sc goner@ 67, in the last drinks I said something to the effect that we can’t keep talking about not been able to compete with likes of Chelsea and Mancity. Accepted we don’t have the financial muscle to do what they can. But that has nothing to do with us not getting what was needed, if Flamini wasn’t free, I doubt Wenger would have brought him back. You said Diame, ( definitely would have improved our now imbalanced MF). I think we could have brought in Wanyama from Celtic, we didn’t. We can still compete with the oil guys in our own way. Come January it will still be the same old story, no one out there to make the team better. Really? this MF, I don’t see him buying anyone especially if for some odd reason Arteta stay fit. And why are you playing Monreal in CB, when you have Chambers, thought he was bought to replace our captain. Happy we won, (happy birthday Wenger). Don’t know when or if this team would ever gel. Something fundamental is wrong and don’t know if the boss can fix it, I sure do hope it can be fixed.
Fine review H. Just go win, I asked. We did. It was ugly but then we have needed to do that for a long time.
@ ATG
Many thanks for that …. Kanu! 🙂
One last one, given N7’s provocation @70. What I said (only) was 4th in CL and losing the FA Cup final was preferable to missing CL and winning FA Cup, as the latter meant birthday boy stayed. Very happy with that long-term analysis. Touching you remembered one of my very few posts about 5-6 mths ago. Over and out.
Been busy the last few days, so have just managed to catch up on the previous two posts and drinks.
My condolances to TTG and family.
______
Now to catch up on this one.
Something needs to lift our players, most of them played last season and we were top of the league until Xmas. We have added few new players didn’t get cover for those positions that were screaming at Wenger. Now we are paying a price with Monreal at CB etc.
Played very poorly last night a result was going the other way but give the lads credit they have managed to turn it around.
I don’t think you can blame one player for the whole outcome of the game well for the 89 minutes played. Ramsey and Cazorla have to take the blame as well, Ramsey to me was none existent. Jack tried but he run him self into the ground which he seems to be doing a great deal of lately. Cazorla and Ramsey didn’t really do much either. I have never seen so many misplaced passes by the Arsenal. In fact the whole team didn’t preform at all. Apart from Alexis and Martinez in goal!
If things don’t go our way why is Wenger so stubborn and doesn’t bring on subs? I just don’t get it? Why leave it so late? If something isn’t working for a long time then bring on some fresh blood to at least try to change it. At least you know you have tried we got very lucky last night but imagine if this would be tougher oppo? They wouldn’t be so wasteful.
So Arsene Wenger please, it’s time to lift your troops!
Nice & speedy report Holic.
Now I know Dick Turpin was only just before my time 😉 his famous catch-phrase was “stand & deliver”. Well the boys did deliver a result, regretfully though there is nothing else positive to say about the match.
Hopefully this result may be a stepping stone for improved performances over the next few weeks….well there is only one way to go in this respect.
Campbell brings us needed positive energy along with his skills. A definite bright spot.
Time to tone down the negativity. We have a lot of the right pieces. Something just needs to click into place. Even if we are not where we want to be right now we can only start here which my GPS seems to indicate is Sunderland. Two wounded animals would suggest a real fight.
Warning; Glass half-full piece with no smileys coming up=======
We have not really played well this season for 90 minutes in any game except Villa away. We might have vs Galatasaray if Ches had not been red carded but they are a very poor team.
Poor performances
Hull/ Leicester/Dortmund/ Anderlecht/ Southampton (weakened team)
Average performances
Palace/ Everton/ Tottenham/Chelsea/Besiktas (2)
Above average
City/ Galatasaray
Very good
Villa
I don’t think I would get massive disagreement with this classification from anybody.
We have conceded the first goal in seven of fourteen games and scored first in five. Of those five we have won two. We have scored in the last minute or so five times in four games. Those goals have earned us six points.
Of our players marked out of 10 I think only Debuchy, Gibbs, Koscielny , Sanchez and Welbeck would have averaged 7.
This is not the form of anything like a top side. At this stage last year we were on a fine run post the Villa game and were playing much better. we had many fewer injuries but most of the team were averaging 7 and Ozil, Ramsey and Koscielny and Mertesacker were some way above this.
We can’t play Flamini at all, Monreal is no centre back , Wilshere is wildly inconsistent and Ramsey has not had a good game this season. our best players are our new signings although Chambers has understandable dips in form.
I’m afraid we run the risk of having a really poor season if the rate of injuries stays the same and we don’t improve in midfield. It is our midfield which has been really poor.
I’ve now depressed myself and everyone else but sadly I don’t think Arsene can spin this one to look better than it is.
A final note of optimism!!
We always have a very good second half of the season unless we are going for the league, in which case we collapse.
This year we are out of contention for the league already-anyone arguing? So I think we will rally and finish third or fourth as at our best we are better than anyone except City and Chelsea.
CL-last 16. We will finish second in our group and draw a giant. We will perform well but go out narrowly.
Groundhog season 2014/5 over and out
ttg – I have to disagree. We were very good for about 4 minutes for Villa away but actually pretty mediocre for the rest of that game. Bar those 4 minutes, I don’t think this team has clicked this season.
I can’t disagree with much else.
Ttg@ 93, Couldn’t have said it any better. That’s exactly how our season will be, has been for the past four to five years. And that’s with or without money to spend. Don’t know which one is better, no money to spend= 4th place. Money to spend but cant compete with the oilers= 4th place. Get 2nd in CL group, out in round of 16. Different years, different players, same result. One person to blame, we like it or not and its the Boss. Gets paid pretty good, but he/we can do better than this.
@ 87
Glad to be of service.
Wasn’t too hard to remember – not many people come in here professing to be Gooners and then express the hope that we’ll lose an upcoming FA Cup semi final.
Makes it a little difficult to take anything said thereafter all that seriously, regardless of whether they dress it up as “long term analysis”, rather than just “having a moan on the internet”.
Keep your fingers crossed for a defeat this weekend mate.
TTG
Sadly can’t really argue wit that!
It’s been a disappointing set of drinks. The chat has been strangely shapeless, previous star performers have underwhelmed, and there have been some moments of madness which do not reflect well on the collective at all.
It looks like we’ll all be going home with our tails between our legs this evening. The home fans are celebrating like it’s game over, but there’s a couple of minutes left….
Swings in a Chambers-esque cross….
Groundhog season? Why shoot a groundhog?
Gibbs with a beautiful finish there. And now the ball’s back in play, it’s dropping into the box and straight onto…. POOOOOOOOOOLDI!
Beautiful strike to seal the glory position.
Disaster averted, victory sealed. Handshakes and angry Sanchez expressions all round. How did the scousers get on?
Congratulates N7, hugs the whole team, and hopes ‘folic forgets my performance up to the last minute. 🙂
‘folic = ‘holic (prior to spellchecker involvement).
BBC have a Mario snakes n ladders game for your evening amusement:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29746547
ttg – Are you reading 1984 at the moment?
Just wondering.
COYG
Man United v Chelsea. Two repulsive egomaniacs in charge. Lots of money thrown at the wall especially at Old Toilet. It’s probably a better result if United win as someone has to beat the scum from the bus stop this season. The Invincible record must survive.
But wouldn’t it be wonderful if they both lost?
Pangloss
Spookily I discussed it with my PA who went to see a theatre production last night. Didn’t like it as a book. Too depressingly upbeat.
We all need a good laugh from time to time. I go to Untold Arsenal for mine. Complete nutters
Look at this piece today. Riddled with errors but they make a case that we should be leading the league!
http://untold-arsenal.com/archives/38584#comment-814644
Complete bollocks is an understatement!
Great review ‘holic.
After the match I initially described the feeling as sickening even though we’d won, but that was too strong an overreaction, you don’t slap a fellow Gooner’s hand a very bright shade of red at Podolski’s winner if that’s the case 😉
The win definitely had a bit of a sour aftertaste because of what was witnessed in the majority of the 90 minutes but a win is indeed a win, whether you dominate from beginning to end or whether you smash & grab it. I was at the Hull game the weekend just gone & the way Anderlecht scored their goal was a bit reminiscent of the way Hull scored their 2nd to take the lead, the final ball not particularly being challenged by an Arsenal player.
I’m happy that Arsène got a birthday win & that it’s still possible for us to top the group, as unlikely as it seems at the moment. But the majority of the fare we saw yesterday won’t cut it against a Sunderland side who were absolutely embrassed last weekend by the Saints, hopefully we won’t need a great Alexis performance digging us out of unwanted trouble on Saturday, our man’s been effervescent in the last few games he’s played 🙂
N7 knows.
Unlike (apparently) many I do not know how our season will finish. I’d find the whole thing rather boring and lacking in the excitement of uncertainty if I knew our league and champs league finishing positions in October.
I don’t know how you Cassandras face the days- visions of mediocrity not yet achieved seem like such a curse.
When watching us flatter to deceive or fall short by small (sometimes larger) margins it is undoubtedly the hope that kills you.
But I can’t imagine watching us without it.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Holic, sir, no matter that Arsenal snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, the inept performance was still humiliating, no matter the final scoreline. We played a side far worse than even Celtic have been over the years in the ECL and only a complete fluke of a turnaround prevented us from losing. Wengerball is failing beyond all recognition. The irony of the huge transfer outlay of the summer has merely resulted in the most disjointed Arsenal side in living memory should not be lost, one that is too overloaded with some majestic creative attacking personnel, but is totally devoid of sufficient defensive ranks. Take the talents of Sanchez and Welbeck out of this side and I dread to think what a perilous state Wenger’s empire might be in.