Gunner To Kick-Start New Year At St Mary’s?
Dec 31st, 2014 by 'holic
New Year’s Day football, a much-needed distraction these days. This time around there is the added hope of a climb into the top four if we can secure the points at Southampton, who currently occupy that (for them) lofty berth.
I don’t think we will be too sorry to see the back of 2014, although that should not take away from finally putting some silverware in the trophy cabinet at the new home of football. The FA Cup and Community Shield add a little shine to the stadium tours these days. Just as much though it will be remembered as the year when one title challenge (if not two) floundered on the rocks of successive injury crises either side of those Wembley triumphs.
In keeping with the passing year our midfield remains devastated, missing as it is Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Mesut Ozil, and yes, About Diaby (I know!). It seems likely that Mathieu Flamini and Francis Coquelin will anchor the midfield, at least from the start, with the option of bringing Tomas Rosicky on if we need to change focus later on in the match.
Up front Olivier Giroud remains suspended, and both Yaya Sanogo and Danny Welbeck are doubtful. The options to lead the line are Theo Walcott (if fit?), Lukas Podolski, or possibly Alexis Sanchez. None have mastered that position when asked previously, but all are capable of providing the finish that may secure the points for us.
The hosts have surprised most observers after their impressive young squad was decimated in the summer transfer window. What they have achieved this season so far is remarkable and recognised as such by Arsene Wenger.
“Southampton are a good team who have been in the top four since the start of the season – after 19 games that’s not a coincidence, so we have to consider that they are a good side.”
At home they have only been beaten by the two Manchester clubs, and on Sunday they held Chelsea 1-1 at St Mary’s in their last outing. Morgan Schneiderlin is suspended having been red carded against Chelsea. Possibly significantly Jay Rodriguez, linked with us recently, will also be absent through injury, and Nathaniel Cline will have a late test. Their squad depth will be tested, we can but hope.
The ‘holic pound might be put on a draw if that were my style, but it isn’t. A third consecutive 2-1 victory appeals too. Paddy Power offer 17/2 and I have reinvested some of the winnings from the West Ham result on Sunday.
Happy New Year ‘holics
It has been a strange and testing year in many ways, but throughout you have been a constant source of laughter, provoked thoughtful debate, and in some cases delighted with your madness 🙂
Can I thank you all, and wish you a very happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.
193 Responses to “Gunner To Kick-Start New Year At St Mary’s?”
HAPPY NEW YEAR to all ‘holics!
😀
May the New Year which is only an hour away here on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast bring joy to all ‘holics but perhaps especially the barkeep himself.
Heureuse nouvelle annee a vous tous!
By the way, “vous tous” in autocorrect becomes “boys toys”.
A happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to you Holic and all Holics worldwide.
Slainte
Happy new year to one all. Have a healthy, safe and a fantastic new year.
Saints will play good football, they play it the right way and we should expect a good game.
Fatigue will be crucial and it depends if we will rotate tomorrow or for the hull game. I expect the later to be the one where the likes of rozza/theo and co to feature fully.
An year of retrospect and a familiarity but also an year wherein we won as well.
Happy New year once again. By the way did i mention Mesut is back in full training today, yeahhhhhhhhhhhh.
Tidy preview ‘H. Can’t say I’m as confident for this one as I was prior to West Ham so I’ll bite your hand off for the 2-1 that has enticed the Holic pound.
Wishing a very happy New Year to you and to all ‘holics worldwide.
UTA!
Another positive preview Holic. I can see us winning 2-1 if we can field a representative side. Sunday’s defence of the Cup will be interesting too from a selection perspective.
May I wish all visitors to this bar a very happy and healthy 2015 with silverware to boot. It’s at least four months since we won any.
Nice one ‘holic.
A toughy this one. I’m sure we have the quality to beat them, but it all depends on which Arsenal turn up. I’m not talking about personel, I’m taking about attitude and application. On our day we are a match for anyone, but if we aren’t commited then……… well I don’t really want to think about that.
Best Wishes for 2015 to all.
Happy new year holic and holics everywhere and a great one for the Arse.
Happy New Year, Holic and ‘holics.
Having considered the alternative, I am confident that whichever sixteen turn out tomorrow, they will have the right attitude and we will reap our just desserts.
Up the Arsenal.
COYG
Happy New Year bar keep. And to all ‘holics.
Southampton gonna be a tough one. Would love to see Theo back. And Poldi to get a sniff.
Fine preview, Holic,
and all the very best to you and yours for the New Year.
I hear a rumour that we are chasing two new centre backs.
Their names are Bryant and May. I know nothing about them but apparently on their day they are, as H2H said, a match for anybody.
Have a good one, Holics ! 😉
Happy New Year to Holic & holics wherever you are.
Trev, Bryant & May are strikers non? They should link up well with Flame(ini).
Tough game tomorrow, a win will be a great start to the second half of the season.
Heh @ Trev.
Happy new year, holic, to you and the management. May you both be in fine fettle this coming year. Thank you for tending to the finest bar on the Internet.
And to all holics, happy new year and best wishes for a year that is full of Arsenal and personal success, with silverware and gongs in abundance.
Trev, I heard we were going for that DM Swan. That is, if he can still fit in his vesta after these holidays.
🙂
A late Christmas present to all in the bar – a link to the 1978 match against the Tinies at The Swamp. I was surprised to find it was on December 23 – I thought it was Boxing Day.
Maybe the only notable Arsenal game I’ve actually been to.
COYG
Bryant and May you reckon, Trev? Definitely hot tips, but more likely to be wearing Swan vest(a)s surely?
Öskar
Is Diaby not fit for this one????
Great preview H. I will take any win on offer.
Happy New Year one and all.
Pangloss@17
That was a wonderful Christmas…until we lost to West Brom at home on Boxing Day. I’m sorry that’s the only notable game you’ve actually been to. We are a lot luckier than the tinies as regards the number of notable matches we have had. Sometimes I think we have been rather spoilt
Nothing wrong with being spoiled, TTG; long may it continue.
Not bad, Oskar,
but, as we’ve done all the match jokes now, I’ll say you can’t hold a candle to me.
It will already be New Year over in NZ – did you have fireworks over there ?
Bet the old 60″ plasma comes into it’s own for a display like that ? 😉
I see The Mirror is shit stirring about Podolski… New Year same shit reporting.
Have a good 2015, folks.
Trev@22 – Sorry to see the match puns beginning to taper off.
Happy new year all holics.
H2H said it best @ 8.
COYR
Happy New Year “holic and Holic’s from a stunningly clear and hot Auckland NZ.
Thank you Holic for keeping this site up and running for yet another year.
Well done!
Dont stop.
Love your work.
Pangloss,
I’m just pleased to have ignited everyone’s imagination …..
Trev, at leas no one is giving you stick about being a redhead.
Happy new year to all gooners around the World.
Hmmmm. Not sure the need for match jokes has been entirely snuffed out yet, Trev, but plasma jokes have definitely passed their ubd … so 2014.
Lots of fireworks here, but pale compared to those of my previous home town Sydney … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg9nh-lC60U
Öskar
Happy new year y’all. 🙂
Happy New Year, ‘Holics! You all are tops.
BMBD
To you all, a mahoosive thank you. Happy, and HEALTHY new year to you all. 🙂
oi
‘holic
.
get de yer fuckin bed
.
we’ve twonks to twat tomorrow
.
.
anyhoodles
.
happy New year you
top man
.
happy New year all here
.
and
.
if that madness reference
dribbled my direction
there’s gonna be festive words
young fella me load
.
yeah
.
and no mistake
.
HAPPY STUFF
🙂
.
Night night
Happy New Year Holics!
I’m wasted!
Shocked, Arthur, truly, I am.
Sto lat, sto lat,
Niech żyje, żyje nam.
Sto lat, sto lat,
Niech żyje, żyje nam,
Jeszcze raz, jeszcze raz,
Niech żyje, żyje nam,
Niech żyje nam!
Happy new year ATG!
Happy New Year to ‘Holics worldwide. It’s also my birthday so wishing for 3 points against the Saints! COYG!
Our thanks to you, ‘Holic, without whom the madness would be insane. A happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to you and to all holics from all at Castle Ned.
And a happy birthday, Impec1.
Pangloss@24: wick-ed.
Cheers H!
Happy New Year to all drinkers!
Come on you Arsenal!
Morning all. I was quite struck by Trev’s drink @27.
To Scruz!
Sto lat, sto lat,
Niech żyje, żyje nam.
Sto lat, sto lat,
Niech żyje, żyje nam,
Jeszcze raz, jeszcze raz,
Niech żyje, żyje nam,
Niech żyje nam panie Scruz!
Hangover time!
NOW!
Let’s go and give some Saints a good hiding!
Come on Arsenal!
Happy New Year to all Gooners wherever you are! Let’s stick together and support the boys. I think you will agree that we as supporters do have some room for improvement in times when things go badly. I can accept the anger and criticism but why does it have to come in combination with utter nonsense and childish rants (a la Wenger lost it or Wenger out) is beyond me.
On a more positive note, I have to say that I have got back this long forgotten feeling that our squad is ready to give us something special again. The squad of Scesz, Debuchy, Per, Kos, Gibbo, Arteta, Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud and Walcott can beat any team in the world. Maybe, just maybe, this is the year when we will lift the CL trophy. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? NO.
I have not been posting so much in the past. But I am around…week in week out. In fact, no match is complete without reading Holic’s previews and lucid post-match comments by the Veterans in the Bar.
COYG!
Happy New Year one and all.
Thanks to all of you for keeping me smiling, not to mention well informed on everything Arsenal.
Looking forward to an exciting second half of the season starting with 3 points at St Mary’s. Do hope we get to see Theo back, what is holding up his return to the side Arsene? A 15 minute spell up front at the end of the WH game would have given us an outlet and taken pressure off the defence and my nerves!
Should be a decent game to watch this afternoon, another 1-2 Holic?
COYRs
Here’s hoping Delia. That, or a Desmond, I fear. 😉
Happy new year to Captain ‘holic and all who sail in her (so to speak).
We’ll win it! and subsequently up a spot.. as i predicted a couple of postings ago!
Never been more confident! We are back!
😀
UP THE ARSE!
(Don’t make me eat my words…!)
Top man aj. Here’s to you in 2015, my friend.
Poldi’s response to Mirror’s shit stirring, orchestrated by uber cunt John Cross;
http://instagram.com/p/xT23dsuJ03/?modal=true
Cross has always been dreadful and I don’t know how he has a job writing about football. It must be dead easy to get into that job, the number of witless clits who are involved with it professionally.
Esso – thanks for the link.
Happy New Year to you and the lad.
Come on you Gunners,
Let’s rip Saints and that Pochettino a new one today ….
What ? Has he …… .? Where did he go ?
A happy new year to all of you wherever you are 🙂
Oh, and Stoke just scored in the 2nd min vs. Yanited
Happy New Year to all you ‘holics ! I see wiziwig’s streaming service has been shut down. Having relied on this service for my live games I’m now stuck for ideas, so if anyone can help with alternative free streams I would be very grateful…….
Cheers Trev! We’re both about next Sunday for Stoke. Hopefully say hello through the railings or summat.
Happy new year to ‘Holic and all the holics.
Looks like no Welbeck in the squad today and that Chambers is at DM along with the Coq. Interesting choice by the boss, let’s see how this turns out.
Chambers in the defensive midfield role??? Could be interesting.
Nice to see Tommy R starting.
Dodgy team selection, that.
Dodgy options available.
Perfect opportunity for Chambers to move up and prove himself 🙂
Or demonstrate that he can’t be considered for that position again. :0(
COME ON!!!!
Pessimistic this early in the year?! … 😀
Happy New Year everyone.
Come on you reds!
Ohhhh.. end to end stuff!
Happy New Year everyone..
COYGs
chambers was born to be our DM. now, Chezza already having a bit of a New Years nightmare.
happy new year to all!
Alexis being taken out again… 🙁
*whispers ‘Happy 2015 😉
what’s that stuff they have on the back bar, ABB? auntie beechams, or something? here’s one for you and your whispers… happy new year!
that was a killer move, Santi shoulda had a goal…
Thanks scruz xx
whispers back, you’re welcome.
Shithead in goal 🙁
What are you doing sczer?!?!?
🙁
bollocks, chez. this time you paid for it.
What in the world is the keeper doing? Brain fart again
Ridiculous
He self destructs then gives Mert the glare. What a tool.
that undid a lot of good work.
we will not win anything with chez in goal. fact.
Good save with his foot but the damage is done.
certainly not with saves like that, eh abc?
Doesn’t matter scruz, if he effectively chucks one in his own net first.
We’ll still win this!
Alexis and Rosicky to score in the 2nd half! and if we get a penalty of course…Santi!
It is very much in balance, as all recent matches with Saints were, the moment of madness from Woj, no other way to say it, we still have it in us to turn the game around.
sure it does, cynic. you’d rather it be two nil? he fucked up, and makes more mistakes than we’d like, but he’s ours, and he did well on that save. don’t slate if you won’t praise, too.
Thanks NBN! Happy New Year to you Sir!
Self destruct as usual. That was just so unnecessary from Woj.
Chambers offers nothing to this team at the moment. Maybe it would be to harsh but I would send him to the reserves for a couple of games and buy a defender.
Per has been the weakest link this season by far and it was evident that Woj will not get away with his poor decision making.
Combine that with the fact that Kos is showing a rare substandard performance and it is no coincidence that we are losing this game so far.
Walcott in, Chambers out for me at halftime wiith Ox partnering Coq in the centre.
btw, happy birthday impec1!
Don’t understand why we think Mertesacker is a top defender anymore. He is just too slow and just cannot play at top level. It’s same old same old
Thanks scruz. Just hoping the day is not fucked up with a loss. Let’s turn it around Gunners!
Freaking Forster in it again damn
scruz, which will you choose, woj or forster?
forster my choice. de gea even better.
What a dick
Sczc assist?! 🙁
scruz, if not for woj, we will be 3 down. great gk!
Give me Monreal over Gibbs every day of the week
welcome to your first choice defense. All fit, no excuses.
Get Gibbs out asap!
C’mon arsenal wake up,sounds like we’re getting ripped apart 2 down could be 5 according to sky.
why AW drop matinez?, he is doing fine,
Come on Arsenal!
Can’t believe arsenal fans (me included) thought sczces was better than De Gea when he arrived at United. Though one can say De Gea’s had a lot of intensive coaching at United even though he was talented already.
How is this not a red card?
F the ref… that was a red!
Looks like our first choice back four don’t yet know they are first choice back four, they are worse off than all the makeshift defense we’ve had so far. What’s happening? Quite a few anonymous players as well upfront. Hope we can salvage something. Happy new year all.
No subs yet?
Rather pissed off at the standard of refreeing… Grrr!
Oh, my shitty stream shows me we have made at least one sub.
Decent stream…horrible game
http://firstrowusa.eu/soccer/first-southampton-vs-arsenal-row574b40
Cynic, Chambers out Walcott in. Don’t think he’s had a touch yet.
Stop blaming the Ref we are shit
Think we should be thankful that Southampton been rather wasteful.
If we’re shit then so is the REF! Would rather he did not help the opposition!
Pathetic display did they forget you needd to effort into it?
BB should have been red but up to that point any positives?
Well.. Alexis had a good shot saved! Defence has been a shambles .. that we’re in agreement. But our attack has lacked a bit of luck, should have got a goal back at least.. would have changed the game.
If the bloody ref gave more yellows.. maybe they wouldn’t be taking liberties with Alexis and Santi as much!
So yes am pissed…. would have no complaints whatsoever had we been given a fair game by the refs.. no such thing cause we’re Arsenal…!
However we are still not showing any fight fair play to Saint’s they wanted it more!
That Giroud red card has bitten us in the arse, nothing up top for 90 minutes
luck? you make your own luck and no way have we been good enough. this is arsenal in modern day football there’s no point complaining until management changes. just take what you get.
A better team would have hit us for 5 or 6 today.
So Wenger is why Giroud got a red versus QPR and caused Welbeck to be injured today? At some point it’s the decisions of players surely…
Beyond all of that Southampton aren’t in the top four by magic.
Very bad defense .
This screw up Giroud unbalance everything . And this is not his first time
Wonder what happened to that fighting spirit at West Ham it was a completely different attitudes today and that is whu we lost it
That was a really unsettling half. No ideas, poor quality, bad substitutions, etc., against a well-drilled team. I think I will go be sick a bit now.
Let’s rebound at the weekend, then!
Scruz totally agree! Only one day till the weekend
Yes, lose a match .. change the management and sack the players… brilliant.. everybody gets to play chairman on new year’s day!
We thoroughly deserved to lose.. maybe people would be happier if we finished out of the top 4 too..!
One of those days it seems.
Great start to the new year! This is really helping my hangover!!
Still, some of the ridiculously over the top comments on here are giving me a laugh! Surely this place gets filled up with trolls when the team loses.
Soton are a good side; a draw would have been a good result.
And if you thought that the ref was bad, let me cite two worse officials at other sites (and they are the usual suspects):
Anthony Taylor: Rob Green’s entire body outside the box, makes a sliding stop with his arm. Dead red? No call….
Mike Jones: Scouser cross clearly hits Leicester defender in the face in the box; awards PK for Gerrard to convert.
Officiating is bad, but those two should never be allowed on a pitch.
ATG
The team completely different in terms of mindset and work ethic. Per has been a shadow of his form of last season too. Not pinning all the blame on him, but he seriously needs a rest, in my view. Hopefully we will sign at least a defender and get some players back from injury.
I also agree that Giroud getting sent off and banned has been really costly, which makes his stupid and selfish actions all the more frustrating.
Dexter
I agree with you. Spot on mate!
Bloody hangover 🙁
Think I will watch the LWCs and chavs before attempting to write that one up. The wait may reduce the ire.
Anyone would think there was a party in the Shenley infirmary last night. 🙁
First , I want to talk about this Giroud.
Every player should understand one thing : we are ravaged by injuries and everybody count .All players are paid generously and should understand clearly their responsibility towards the Club .
Giroud , he slept around before the very important game with Liverpool and this time , he get send off senselesly , understanding there is no back up behind .
I wish this is the last time he play for Arsenal , there are principles and AW should stand up for Arsenal
ATG, I was thinking the same thing. The second half on Sunday, the side was full of spirit and purpose until the final second.
Today, the whole of the back 5 were at sixes and sevens, none of them were on their game. The team as a whole looked flat as though they had run out of steam.Can only hope they can pick themselves up for the Cup.
Playing with a false No 9 did not suit our game, HFB has a lot to answer for. Sadly Theo didn’t make any impression on proceedings.
Perhaps it would be worth playing young Akpon up front at the weekend if Danny is not available?
Sad end to the holiday, I was hoping for so much more.
Bring back Monreal.
“Promote” Mertesacker to the bench and use him only as a sub. Easily the weakest link this season.
Sign a fucking central defender. It can’t be that hard to find one who is not worse then Per this season. For example Alderweireld impressed me today and Saints got him on loan from Atletico this season. Would have done wonders for us this season as he can cover at DM too.
Chambers form is shocking this past month or so. On his way to the reserves young man, pick your friend Woj with you.
Not going to blame Arsene for the selection and tactics, because he didn’t had much of a choice and was let down from the majority of the players wthqt were just not motivated and tired.
Missed the live. now watching the replay.
This arsenal side just isnt very good.
Scenzy … Wtf?
Lurky
Wojtek was awful today as well wtf was he thinking? Madness if you ask me!
Overall we were shit all over the pitch!
Bloody hangover indeed:)
The defence will rightly get a lot of stick for a collective off day as well as individual unforced errors. But the attack let the team down too, not converting early chances and at 1 nil too. If we had scored first or managed to level that would have changed matters, not least the saints tactics etc.
I think it was a game too far for a few today. The team needs refreshing definitely. And not just for cover, I think the boss should be looking at a CB to partner Kos and a midfielder. Who? No idea! 🙂
Saint’s wanted it more and hats off to them!
And. Btw – losing to a direct top 4 rival is inexcusable.
So the question remains: what the fuck does steve bould do?,
Because it sure isnt drilling defense.
Agree. Chambers needs to sit. He looks dreadful. As does per.
Arsenal look physi slly jaded. The OG fuck up, 10 men for a half and then a tough one against wet spam did them in.
And no depth for the hull fa cup game.
Great.
Extremely poor show today. In fact, it was truly shambolic at times.
That Shenley party clearly didn’t finish until after 3am. Slow thinking, poor decisions and lethargic movement are symptomatic of a night of excess.
It’s now time to add quality to our central defence and defensive midfield.
Go get ’em Arsene. Write the cheque to make it happen, Ivan.
Be warned that no excuses will be accepted.
Well, that was a load of old cobblers.
We looked totally drained mentally. No focus and we were not on our toes. We desperately need a few players to return from the treatment table. I’m sure many will want to point to individual players now but after some consideration I have come to the conclusion that that is not for me today. The team as such was way below par, plain and simple. I really do think this is a performance that can’t really be analysed in any meaningful detail, we simply had a really off day. If anything needs to be analysed it’s how we prepared and if anything could have been done differently there.
Ah, fuck it. Is there anything good on the telly tonight?
My god scezny is a fuck up.
It makes me fucking sick.
Arsenal has and makes a ton of money.
Great facilities.
The holy grail – new stadium.
Spent a lot on new players lately (oezil, sanhez, welz, debuchy…)
New training ground.
Yet get embarassed by soton – with a fraction of the resources, a bunch of young players.
And it never changes.
I think what Lars said… A massively off day after a hectic schedule with jaded players too many injured missing players and a humongous New Years doo all contrived to produce the horror show we .
Teams lose football matches, shit happens, best to move on. It’s only football after all.
It looks to me like Arsenal were physically and mentally out to lunch.
Especially defensively. Again – what the fuck is the point of bould?
And soton should have been to 10 men. What a joke referee. Clear red on gardos.
And someone said it above: a better team woulda put 5 or 6 past arsenal today. God this is frustrating.
All the money spent. Yet we are still shit.
Unbelievable.
Had a family afternoon and, almost uniquely, saw and heard nothing of the game at all.
Reading the comments above, I can only say I’m glad that I didn’t subject myself to the torture of another audio only commentary.
I’ll have to suffer the extended “highlights” on Sky before saying anything, but reading the words of Bath, Lars and Holic – just because they are personal friends – I’m worried.
The inconsistency of this team is alarming.
The never ending injury situation is even worse.
3-1 spurs
Well said dexter.
Just looked on dot com and found the following quote from Per Mertesacker –
“We have to remind ourselves every day that we need to have a big performance.”
What, they still don’t know that ?
Honestly, embarrassing. 🙁
I am not sure I have said it here in the bar, but I have said it elsewhere – I think the lack of rotation for the core players at Chelsea is starting to come back to haunt them. I didn’t see their game v West Ham on Boxing Day, but I saw them play Stoke, the first 45 v Soton and now the main part of the 45 played so far today and they look increasingly knackered. Their pressing and harrying is almost entirely gone and Matic has started to lose his position a lot more. They are now 3-1 down at Shite Fart Lane and deservedly so and as it stands now, Man City have taken over the top spot in the league on goal difference (both have +25, but City have scored more).
Maybe it was a tad premature to hand Chelsea the title after about six games of the season like some did?
Trev, I wish they would just say nothing instead of just trotting out those tired old clichés.
Remember that Pers not a native english speaker.
What he meant to say was: “im shit this season”
Montreal @ 139: The kind of red card Giroud saw happens to every player. Look back at Arsenal’s history and many of our past stalwarts were sent off for retaliation. Giroud reacted to what could have been an injury causing challenge . He was wrong but for a player who gets kicked around a lot he shows remarkable composure as well as honesty.
Last season he was one of the players who played non-stop and gave his all. He had a little blip around the winter and I for one wouldn’t buy into some simplistic explanation based on rumors about personal life.
I think he is a highly underrated player whose value in our formation and style is most appreciated when he is absent. He is an Arsenal player who has no little abilities, quite unique in his combination of strength and finesse , and works non-stop for the team. I absolutely disagree with you on your assessment of his value for us.
Akpom and Thei were invisible.
Great subs.
Needing a goal and fast and…no poldi.
Was he injured or not on the bench?
The Chavs throwing away their good start at the hands of the Marshdwellers makes our failure to find any consistency all the more frustrating.
Frankly that result is no consolation whatsoever and may in fact compromise our final position this season.
Spurs are sure picking the right day to beat Chelsea. What a shit day.
Whether you think it’s a good thing to happen or not, a fan having a go at Wenger in the dugout is not a healthy thing to happen. It can surely only be a matter of time before even our board sees this toxic situation has gone far enough.
Having said that, they’re more likely to give him a contact extension than sack him.
You know it’s the worst start of a new year when you’re hoping that Chelsea come from behind on Spuds……
montreal, Homer,
Giro’s reaction to the Onouha push was stupid, mostly because while striding over to him he had a chance to stop and think that this was not going to be a wise move.
However, that push could easily have led to him being seriously clattered – and injured in an uncontrolled crash with a fast advancing keeper – and having just returned from a long term injury, I imagine it was the potential for serious damage that pushed him over the edge.
I can understand why he did it but he is a professional footballer. He has to accept that injury is a possibility and that is one of the reasons he is fabulously paid.
Sack him ? No, not for me. A hefty fine will have to do.
Fair enough Trev.
Ive never advocated sacking OG. The manly-euro factor would be lessened immeasurably!
If i bad my way, after a day like today id fire the lot if em. Every player. AW. Bould. The while shooting match.
Which is why its a good thing im not in charge!
Yep, Homer, I think it was montreal who wanted to sack him.
Whoever plays in goal on Sunday, assuming it ain’t Woj, should keep his place.
If we win of course 😉
Wenger himself appeared unflustered by the incident (which you can watch here) but his number two Steve Bould seemed more agitated.
We’re not lipreaders here at Early Doors, but from what we could see Bould seemed to tell the fan something about a “far cough”, presumably a reference to one of the many bugs and viruses that go round at this time of year.
lol
https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/early-doors/furious-fan-confronts-arsenal-manager-arsene-wenger-on-touchline-180952090.html
Spuds 5-3 ffs !!
The chavs shipping five away from home against a mid table team puts our defeat into some kind of perspective. And Jose doesn’t have a shit load of injuries to use as an excuse either. Plus the blue Mancs gave up a 2 goal lead at home to one of the newly promoted sides, hardly brilliant either.
We’ve 6 points out of nine over the busy festive fixtures, which is better than most. Unfortunately what has gone before these games this season makes it difficult to take any splice orositivity from our good run of form.
It doesn’t make our disorganised schoolboy defending any more palatable.
We do suffer with an extraordinary amount of injuries. Out of the 9 listed as injured on physio.com none are goalkeepers or defenders. Every first team keeper and defender on our books was available. 3 of those listed as injured include Diaby, Gnabry and Sanogo. Hardly regulars. If you accept the back 5 as our strongest available it leaves 6 spaces. At the moment Alexis, AOC and Santi are certain starters. That leaves are 3 players short from the likes of Ramsey, LJW, Ozil, Arteta, Flamini and Wellbeck. Le Coq and Chambers would miss out for two of those above and OG would have been in contention had he not been an arse. But that is about it. So, despite a lengthy and prolonged injury list, we should have been more than capable of fielding a side strong enough to at least compete.
The simple fact is that the squad isn’t good enough. We have been short of key players in key areas for a number of seasons. I read all the argurments about lack of funds etc. Whether they are valid or not is immaterial. The simple fact is that this squad lacks quality in depth and in certain key positions. That means results and performances like this are always a possibility.
Injuries have of course hampered our progress, but don’t fall into the trap of thinking that this is the only reason. With everyone fit the squad still lacks quality, shape and balance.
And please, stop trying to blame referees for every poor performance. Surely we are above that????
Bad performance.
Too many injuries, too many players running on fumes. Saints are a decent enough side to punish us.
Still, other results sweeten the pill, bar the LWCs, although even that one had its amusing side. If we take our Xmas overall, it’s been OK – closed the gap on Utd, more or less maintained our position and rode out a fuck ton of injuries in a very busy period.
We should start to get players back now. Hopefully this is as stretched as we’ll be and we can look to build a head of steam. I think it would do Per good to have a brief rest – he must have played nearly every game since he came back into the side.
Would be grand to add a DM this month but I still don’t think it’ll happen. We should have enough for top four in relative comfort and if waiting to summer gets us a better player then I can live with that if needs be.
Onwards and upwards.
COYG
Players out today: Arteta, Flamini, Ramsey, Welbeck, Giroud, Wilshere, Ozil, Podolski and theo still inching his way back.
Clearly, that list will make a difference when you’re on your third game in ten days and your second tough away assignment on the bounce.
Doesn’t make everything OK, but nor does it make much sense to dismiss or marginalise the injury list as a factor in today’s game. If you want to see how tired legs can lead to unusual results just have a look what went down at Shite Hart Lane this afternoon.
COYG
Podolski is out everyday.
Why?
Only AW knows.
#177: I haven’t read every single post, but I can’t recall anyone even mentioning the ref apart from you after this game.
There are several comments above about the ref.
That said, my comment was as much of a tounge in cheek, preemptive strike as it was anything else.
One of the things that is destroying my love of supporting Arsenal is this lurch from ecstasy to despair based on one result. We lose and Myles Palmer can be relied to spew his spiteful bile, Piers Morgan tweets his Wenger Out cobblers and Wenger gets confronted by spivs at away venues.
As my family will tell you I don’t do defeat well but we lost to a good side on their own ground having made two mistakes. Premier League football is becoming much more difficult to predict and small margins make a difference. Losing nine men irrespective of whether they would start every game is a huge issue because it means some players don’t get a break and show signs of wear and tear. Ches was stupid today but did excellently at West Ham on Sunday…get over it. It happens. Sunday didn’t make him the best goalkeeper in the world and today doesn’t make him the worst. Chelsea’s awful defensive performance underlined how at the end of a clutch of games a small underperformance can have big consequences. So now we face the usual Tottenham mind the gap cockiness which we know will disappear when the pressure mounts. The key for us is to get top players back fit and staying fit and plugging a couple of gaps in the team. If Wenger tries to shave off half a million over the January negotiating period and then loses his enthusiasm for a sensible deal we will suffer. I hoped he might have immediate deals lined up for a decent CB and DM. If he has only £20 million to spend, and if so I’ m interested in why that is, I hope he might do those deals quickly not leave us scrabbling around for a Kallstrom on Jan 31
But I’ve been pleased with our form generally especially at home. We just needed deeper defensive resources , luck with injuries and a bit more constancy from some of our fans( this bar generally excepted)
*Applauds TTG*
Spot on post.
*Applauds N7 applauding TTG*
*Applauds H2H applauding me applauding TTG*
N7. Injuries of course play their part and we have suffered more than most. But Southampton have 6 players missing through injury according to Physio.com. 3 less than us. They are missing arguably their most influential player through suspension. Their Christmas fixtures have included a trip to Palace, a home game against The Chavs and then today’s game. I’m not sure any of that gives Southampton much of an advantage over us today???
*Loudly boos Martin*
*Respects the opinions of others and wonders what happened to the post of H2H???*
🙂
Joins standing O for ttg.
One of the things i love most about the bar is that smarter folks than i regularly weigh in to kabosh the quick-judgment ass-hattery from meself and others and do so with class.
TTG;
Thanks for that post. I agree with you there. We are actually on a decent run, probably the best this season, which admittedly is saying much!
I hope that the manager and board have players already in mind and are working on deals. I cannot imagine the scenario where we fail to address the short comings in this squad for another window. Despite the significant outlay in the summer, the club failed to land defensive targets for whatever reasons and that needs to be resolved this month.
*Heh at Martin*
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