Hammers Blunted By Grafting Gunners
Dec 28th, 2014 by 'holic
Well, if someone had offered us a nail-biting 2-1 win at Upton Park while the top three all dropped points I think it is fairly safe to assume we would have collectively ripped their arm off.
Just five minutes in we had to survive a disallowed goal when Alex Song volleyed home from outside the box, and co-commentator Tony Gale reasoned that the goal should have stood because Wojciech Szczesny would not have saved it even if not unsighted by three offside West Ham players in front of him, one of whom hurdled the shot. We do get some idiots employed as so-called experts.
Shortly after came a penalty scare when Sakho went down after backing into Mathieu Debuchy. Replays of both incidents proved that in fact the locals were mistaken and in fact the officials did know what they were doing.
The Hammers were clearly up for the match, and so it has to be said were we. It was very pleasing to watch the visitors more than happy to mix and match a silky passing game with some cold steely determination.
The first warning for West Ham came when Alexis Sanchez headed wide, and only due to the intervention of Laurent Koscielny, equally keen to get involved. At the other end Carroll shoved Mathieu Debuchy out of the way to set up a shooting opportunity but his effort was blocked by Koscielny.
The tackles were flying in which if we are being honest made it even more compelling viewing. Adrian and Szczesny exchanged saves before Tomkins volleyed over when set up by Downing.
Arsenal seized control of the match in less than three amazing minutes towards the end of the first-half. Santi Cazorla forced his way into the box and was upended by Reid. Today there was no concession of the resulting penalty and the playmaker of the moment sent the otherwise impressive Adrian the wrong way. Then Cazorla and Debuchy combined to set Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain free in the right half of the box and from his cross Danny Welbeck applied the tap-in for 0-2.
Before the whistle had blown the amazing Alexis came close to grabbing a third. Arsenal had clearly capitalised on their purple patch.
Less than ten minutes after the restart the Irons were back in it. Tomkins cross was headed home by Kouyate, after Per Mertesacker had denied Carroll with a superb headed clearance under pressure, and an already gripping contest became a more tense watch.
The Ox released Cazorla and only Adrian will be able to tell you how he saved it. From the resulting corner Debuchy headed inches over. Danny Welbeck carried the ball from his own half and just missed with his attempt to seal the points. It was typical of Arsenal’s dangerous counter-attacking throughout the half.
Again Adrian denied Arsenal the clincher with astonishing stops from an Ox header and an Alexis toe-poke, although he was grateful to see Welbeck blaze over when clear on goal. He was the busier of the goalkeepers overall, but Szczesny was also far from redundant as the hosts cranked up the pressure in the closing stages.
Arsenal were well-served by the experience and youth of Mathieu Flamini and Francis Coquelin at the base of the midfield. Flamini hasn’t had the best of seasons but has improved of late and is somewhere close to the player we knew. His young partner, recalled prematurely from a loan spell at Charlton, relished the physical battle and emerged from the match with a late yellow card and no little credit.
Desperate to grab a point, West Ham pushed on in the five added minutes as Arsenal retreated into a defensive shell. Nolan was denied by Szczesny and Valencia headed over but Arsenal had done enough and held out for three deserved points from a tremendous game. Arsene summed up his team’s performance afterwards.
“From ‘keeper to up front, everybody had a fantastic game today… When you have the defenders back that makes a change.”
We end 2014, a very mixed year indeed, in fifth place in the table, and will climb another place if we can start 2015 with a win at Southampton, above us only on goal difference after holding Chelsea 1-1. Here’s to continued spirited performances in the new year.
104 Responses to “Hammers Blunted By Grafting Gunners”
1st ???
Now to read the post!
Must be Xmas. 1st ever top 4.
Close……and I read the entire review.
Brilliant review Holic, I’m sure the Holic pound was generous this time around?
We should have racked more goals to the tally and not just three! There were more opportunities to score another. Their keeper had a really good game. Flamster was back to his best and young Coq should probably get more game time but I don’t think Arsene is that keen on the lad.
An absolute massive three points with all the rivals loosing two so nothing to be complaining about. Perhaps league title is still there for the taking you never know?
As for these rumours about Grzegorz Krychowiak in my previous post in the last drinks I wouldn’t mind to have this guy around just because of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0fKEVjRrlg
I know it’s only YouTube but hey nearly 1.90m tall seems like a good option. He’s also young and Wenger will convert him to CB!
🙂
Salut, Holic.
I assume the satellite that broadcast that game crystal sharp from East London to Stortford must have been hovering just south of Harlow? Entertaining game. Great stuff, great company in our local.
The only problem with super-hiDef is that you can see unfortunate stuff like the boogers up Fat Sam’s nose. Otherwise, what’s not to like? And home to a steaming hot fish pie 5 minutes after the whistle. Result.
Very fair review Holic. I too was exasperated by Tony Gale who should not be allowed to commentate wearing his West Ham scarf. That was a stonewall offside even under the weird rulings that apply nowadays and it was a delight to see the elephantine one looking so be,used as Wenger has outdone him again( please note Fleet Street) . I have always liked West Ham more than most of our rivals from London ( these things are relative!) because they always played great pass and move football but that seems long ago. Now they lump it forward albeit with a bit more sophistication. I thought Santi was absolutely terrific as he has been so often recently.
Credit to both sides on keeping going so well after playing on Friday.
Be, used should be bemused of course!
thanks, ‘holic. pretty much what i saw. swarbrick had a good game overall, though that last ten minutes he seemed to have swallowed his whistle for us; some of the fouls called against us though, well, they were pretty weak. but we came through, and are on track for southampton on thursday.
hope you had a fine christmas week (seems like you did), and will have an even better new year. a toast, to you and to the holicdad (who i think of each turn of the year, or shortly after, for the past few).
Nice post guv’nor, almost as nice as the result this afternoon.
8ball in previous bar – I’m sorry you feel that my paranoia isn’t increasing with age. I fear I may have peaked too early; still, there’s a lovely view from this plateau.
Night all.
Fair Play to Big Ears. At the very end of MoTD, he happened to mention that Arse and Newcastle United were the only teams in the top half of the table to win today.
Wenger bought Podolski.
Wenger never use Podolski.
Podolski is a great player.
Wenger is a great manager.
Ergo – Wengerski is not a great player.
Good one maestro and a pleasure as ever. 🙂
It helps to read about a win and a great performance too.
Pangloss. As fast as these referees’ performances are deteriorating it is only safe to be paranoid from this point out. 🙂
That was a cracking game indeed. You covered the game just as I saw it, ‘holic. Tony Gale is an absolute idiot based on his inept commentary; I had a hard time listening to such foolishness as I watched the game.
Great performance, however, we need to be more clinical in front of goal. Bring on the Saints! COYG!
Ah.. what a game!
And the only team to have won it when all our main rivals drew.. icing on the cake indeed!
😀
Wonderful bar here too ..everyone ..tops!
You can comment on teams that you used to play for as long as you are objective in your appraisal. In this regard although I regarded him as Fergie’s lapdog, Gary Neville has made a superb transformation into a pundit who calls it as it is even though he is a Manc and understandably always will be. Keown is extremely good at presenting a balanced analysis. Carragher despite a voice like a frog caught in a blender also adds wise and insightful technical commentary about defending in particular.
The loathsome Gale lacks the intelligence of the previous three. He takes an attitude into a game full of preconceptions. – ‘ Arsenal don’t like it up em’ , ‘ Go on Hammers toss it in there and expose their soft French core’, ‘ Mertesacker ( 100 caps for the current world champions) is slow and lacks bottle( not like me who got zero caps for England that well known football power) .
As the game unfolded he constantly reiterated these. For instance he kept suggesting Debuchy was failing to jump. Debuchy who beat the entire Newcastle front line in the air a couple of weeks ago and outjumped Skrtel at Anfield didn’t jump because the West Ham players were jumping across him or in Carroll’s case sticking an elbow in his moosh as he attempted to challenge. He is a very brave and tough defender and gives us a degree of resolution that helped us win yesterday. But that’s not something that Cockney wide boy Gale saw at all.
I broke the habit of a lifetime and went on a West Ham board yesterday because I saw they had called us lucky. The substance of their argument was that the referee was ‘ bent’. Can you imagine the outcry from Fat Sam and co if that ‘ goal’ from Song had been scored against them? Danny Murphy helpfully reiterated the current rule on MOTD but it’s a nonsense. Three players in an offside position severely affected the goalkeeper’s view of the ball and were therefore interfering with play especially as one had to jump over it to stop it hitting him!
Back to the West Ham board. They called the penalty ‘a farce’, when in reality it was clearly legit and said that West Ham played all the football.
Forgive me if my dislike of Allardyce is turning me into Arsenal’s Tony Gale but I see a team who play long balls to Andy Carroll and stroke it around in midfield a bit better because Song passes with a bit more sophistication than they have been used to under him. They also bemoaned the loss of ‘ Jenks’! This was quite legitimate as both right backs they had were awful but who does Jenks play for? Tony Gale should not write blogs .
I saw us produce our best performance away this season yesterday. If this defence had played at Stoke we would have won there too.
Morning H. Morning everyone…
A great game to watch last night (but horrible following via Twatter and Whatsapp! – Thanks for the commentaries boys!).
As you said, really good to see a bit of steel beneath the undoubted silk.
Right… two days of work to get through. Crack addicts a plenty…
Well written ‘Holic and spot on ttg @16.
Well said maestro.
I was really buoyed by the work rate of both full backs and the players on the flanks to close down crosses. It was a very good performance defensively. Monreal’s versatility and tenacity is making that left wing position his own. And I thought the work rate of Oxlade, Alexis and Welbz was superb throughout. I think Wenger used the word “combative” in his post match comments and that about summed it up for me. Great to see us stand our ground and only for Adrian we would have won comfortably. And while I know Alexis deservedly gets all the plaudits I think there has to be big acknowledgement for the work that Welbz and Oxlade are doing this season. If Oxlade scored that header yesterday it would have been a super goal and the type of goal that we haven’t been scoring for some time.
Still buzzing from a great win,a mention for the coq taught he was excellent.
If this defence had played at Stoke we would have won there too.
Very much agree with this, ttg.
And speaking of Danny Murphy on MoTD yesterday, I have to say I am really starting to like both him and Jermaine Jenas as pundits. They both seem to have actually bothered to watch a bit of the games they comment on unlike, say, Alan Shearer who just keeps spouting clichés all the time. I don’t agree with what they say all the time of course but at least they present it as their opinion and they do seem to try their best to be balanced. For example, Jenas punched a rather sizeable hole in Fat Sam’s complaints about the goal by pointing out that Andy Carroll did very much obstruct Szczesny’s view of the ball when in an offside position.
What I also enjoyed last night was seeing the reporter question Moaninho on his ludicrous “campaign” hilarities. He just snapped, and this time I don’t for a second buy that it was his customary attempt at deflecting attention away from his players. He looked absolutely mad, like he actually believed what he said and I think he’s feeling the pressure a bit. They have spluttered and coughed a bit lately despite winning most games and despite having had a near-perfect season so far they are only three points clear of ManCity and at the time of the interview he probably assumed they’d only be one clear about two hours later. Chelsea will probably win something this season (not winning the COCup with the teams remaining would be a rather huge failure on their part, tbh) but I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see them run out of steam at some point due to having rotated far too little. They will probably progress past at least PSG in the CL and for all the quality they have in their first XI, they really don’t have that much in terms of depth. They certainly have no more cover in defence than we do and what if Matic breaks down or even starts to tire? Or DNA boy?
Don’t get me wrong, they have a bloody good team and as I said are likely to win at least one trophy this season but the more I see of them the more I wonder if they can keep up their incessant running and harrying of opponents all over the pitch towards the business end of the season. I saw clear signs of that bit failing in the 45 minutes I saw yesterday which may of course just have been them having an off day but I saw much of the same thing before Xmas when they played Stoke who, with better finishing, may very well have nicked points off them.
Anyway, enough about those twats.
Our win last night feels even better this morning. In many ways it was probably our best game of the season away from home and arguably even all season. We played a much more tactical game than we have in quite a while (in that respect, Sunderland away was also a very good performance, come to think of it) which really pleases me. Kos returning was so important for us but I don’t think it was all down to him. It certainly helped, but we were much more cautious in pushing up our fullbacks which also made it more difficult for West Ham to hit crosses.
Let’s hope we can follow this up with another win at Southampton!
Seasons Greetings, Holic.
Thanks for the prompt and accurate review – it strangely helps to read that someone else saw the same game, especially after listening to the idiotic commentary – as several others have mentioned. I felt we handled the game really well – we could lost point/s through bad luck or a refereeing error – but I saw us as clearly the superior side.
The best thing to come out of watching MOTD was seeing Schneiderlin getting two yellows and so missing the game against us. I think we have a very good chance, especially with Kos back.
Hi holics,
Just came on here to wish everyone happy holidays
Arsenal are building some form, let’s hope it continues into the new year
Cheers
Thanks Harsha … onwards and upwards!
Good win and I really enjoy the way we played in the last 2 games. We played with so much pace and the distribution from midfield is so much quicker. Probably because now we play closer to 4-2-1-3, I don’t know. But whatever it is, I think we need to keep playing like this and add a bit composure, we will score goals.
And apart from the usual guy Alexis, I think Santi having a top game in the last 2 games.
Merry X’mas ‘holics
Not one to usually comment, but a welcome 3 points and hopefully at least 1 more from Saints will be a happy christmas.
It’s been a so-so 1st half of the season. At the start of the seaon I hope to average 2pts per game – total of 76. by that reckoning we are 5pts behind schedule (33).
Any hopes of a title challenge would usually need to finish around 84-85pts. Sorry but barring a total meltdown from the Chavs or Citeh, 51/52 from 57 available just aint gonna happen.
That said, with this team hopefully recovering from its regular injury crisis, and our newbies starting to get used to playing as a team I think we can still reach mid 70s which will be another creditable top four finish.
As for the cups, I’m looking for a good win against Monaco, and maybe another kindish draw to somehow find a semi spot in the CL, while also putting up a decent defence of our FA cup. 3rd round draw could have been better, but get past Hull and maybe we’ll get Acrington Stanley or Watford or such like…
Finally, one for NBN – and related to my first point, what is the lowest points tally at the halfway stage for a team to have and go on and win the league? I doubt 33 will be anywhere close.
Happy festivities all.
Hard to argue with the opinions expressed above. The Walrus as usual good comedy value ( as was Maureen ) on a very good day for The Arsenal. Happy Hols to Harsha and all the regulars, fingers crossed for 3 out of 3 on Thursday.
Fine report H and congratulations to the Holic pound.
Excellent gritty performance and deserved win. A most exhilarating victory.
Onwards.
What chrisgooner said @ 27 and bath @28.
You remain an island of sanity, ‘Holic, in a sea of Fat Sam and the Special One’s delusions.
Exciting summary Holic and only matched by an exciting game..
For me this was the most enjoyable match of our pre her league campaign for one reason. Because we actually had some mongrel in us. Our tackles were solid where west ham knew we would stand our ground all night. And we worked hard from to back as a team as Arsene rightly pointed out.
Big congrats to young coquelain. He was as hard and sharp as a good DM should be and worked his ring out… Well done young man and I sincerely hope Arsene plays you much more regularly as we truly need you..
Alexis, although not captain, does lead by example. He is first to track back and also first to break. A class act and the buy of the season IMHO.
Our back four were very solid, our attack was excellent and the midfield never stopped working .
That’s the arsenal I enjoy watching win, lose or draw because they showed some balls and stuck to the task..
Last but not least , I have been highly critical of our keeper this season, but credit where due, he had a fine game, looked more assured coming out to the high balls and made some important saves.. More of that please Woj.
A terrific football game wherein both teams went for the win having played just 2 days prior. An excellent ad for the premier league.
Arsenal deserved the win for we created far more and better chances and any other day, the scoreline could have been far more fancy.
When the teams lined up, coq and flamini in the midfield did indicate a far more conservative lineup and one which worried me considering flamini and his form and coq and penchant for the tackle.
Both played very well and more so coquelin. He was there with the tackle but more so positionally was aware of what was happening around him.His reading of the game was very good yesterday.
Kos just brings in the assurance needed in the defense. He is simply our best and it is so heartening to see him back. Per having a good game was no coincidence but Debuchy for me was excellent along with Monreal. Our full backs put in a great shift yday.
Upfront we usually dont have issues, Sanchez is Sanchez, brilliant, imagine this was his 74th game for the year. The man is insane and a delight.
Danny had a good game and that run which ended him finishing just wide in the second half just showed him in a nut shell. Brilliant in most things bar the ending, it will happen danny boy;patience.
Ox not fully fit but still had moments of magic, i do believe he is better than Theo overall and he continues to prove it in most games.
Mou and his rants never end. It was not a penalty and neither was it a yellow card to the dna so and so. Spurs taking points off united thanks to lloris and city blowing themselves up their face against burnley meant this was a real good week for us.
Onto St.Mary’s and a tough game against the saints. No Clyne and no Schneiderlin means we should be able to scrape this through 2-1 again.
Happy New Year guys, may it be a healthy and a happy one.
Excellent report to end another year on, Holic.
Very good win from an excellent game yesterday but listening on Player is slightly worse than being water boarded.
Ttg and Lars – really good posts above.
The defence looked much, much better yesterday. The only thing I would slightly disagree with Lars on is the crosses. There still seemed to be a fair few of them being made but we dealy with them so much better than of late.
Sachesney, as even Arsenal Player insists on calling him, finally came out and bossed his area like a 6’5″ goalkeeper should.
Coquelin deserves huge credit for the way he stepped in and that allowed Flamini, with some help, to put in a less frenetic and better positioned performance.
Kos ? The boss. Has he really not played for ages ?
No bad performances yesterday but for sheer energy you have to hand it to Cazorla and Alexis. And not a little skill either.
Le Coq filled the hole as was required.
Aussie,
One question.
How did that busted flush of a manager you were slaughtering a few days ago bring about this transformation ?
If you’re going to slate him for the bad games, you surely have to credit him with the good ?
Trev @34, as Hamlet said, “That is the question.”
Technically of course, that was two questions. Yet, all the same, both good points. 🙂
Trev,maybe Arsene is a silent reader of goonerholic and has finally started taking notice of some of the excellent and broad ranging feedback and advice available in this bar 24x 7 x 365 days a year.
🙂
Agreed Aussie,
That Arsene is very probably a silent reader of Goonerholic.
I doubt very much that he reads it out loud. 😉
Aussie,
One other thing,before NBN beats me to it.
By your calculation @37 above, there would appear to be 61,320 days in a year.
We can at least be grateful that you don’t work in the Arsenal Contracts department. 😉
Nah, everyone knows Arsene is obstinate, doesn’t take any advice, is stuck in his own anachronistic rut and doesn’t spend any money.
He couldn’t possibly read Goonerholic even following the words with his finger.
I was at the game unfortunately had to sit with the home natives(last ten mins had to have real self control it was agony) Thought every player gave everything welbz ran his socks off defence held firm should of scored more then once on the break ref giving everything to the home side A deserved and hard fought three points need more of the same against the saints
Trev, I also hope some of the arsenal physios are silent readers of goonerholic and have noted some of your thoughts on our injuries and our younger academy based players physical make up and extreme lean body fat…
It did seem that coquelain seemed more muscular and more physically imposing since returning from loan outside the arsenal camp…
You should know me better than that by now Trev.
I never like to let the facts or figures get in the way of a good story..
🙂
Trev@34: there certainly were crosses, but our opponents weren’t allowed the freedom of the entire wide areas to take half a day to aim quite as often as has been the case in many games this season. I think this helped the central defenders as they had more time to get into the right positions for heading away the crosses and because many of the crosses were more rushed and came from further out wide.
‘Holic, excellent summary of the best overall Arsenal performance of the season by far.
Some questions:
On the offside call: even AW said in his post match comments that he didn’t understand why the Song goal wasn’t given. Used to be that even if you were out by the far touch line and nowhere near the goal, if you were in offside position, you were offsides. Simples! But along came the boring score-free 1990 World Cup and the solons of football deemed it necessary to change things. May be time to simplify?
Many mentions above of the Coq’s contribution. Is it time for AW to use a Coq/Flam or Coq/Arteta configuration more in the second half of the season, and in what fixtures?
In light of the above, with Santi”s current form, and the way that Ox is playing as well as Alexis the Eveready Bunny (“he just keeps going and going…”), then that leaves Ramsey, Rosicky, Theo, Ozil, and eventually Wilshere on the outside looking in. Who will be odd man/men out? AW’s 8M£ headache.
There were at least 3 crosses from our left by Amalfatino (I suspect there’s a spelling error there, apologies) one from that side ended up in the net but the manager, previously accused of not reading the game like he should, brought on Gibbs to try double up on the left. I was screaming at Gibbs all the way from South Africa as I thought he was too narrow and not doubling up as I thought was the intention.
For me the result was never in doubt. I really hope 2nd tier teams like West Ham, Southampton, Stoke etc keep believing they can save their best players for us and beat us. That opens us games a little more and the quality of players we have, relative to those, will pull us through.
I would have been happy with 7 points from this Festive period but now that we have 6/6 I am going to be greedy and want another 3 especially given the opponents and the reward. They will also come out and play a little therefore I predict another 3 points.
Come on Arsenal…..
Oh saints here we come……Another 3 pointer in d making
Trev@39: 🙂
Schneiderlin and Clyne both out of Saints game, I believe.
Heh! NBN – even my maths ………. 😉
Tactics are over rated, if it comes off you are a genius, if it does not, you have lost your mind.
Arsene will need to fit an a returning theo, Ozil, ramsey and Arteta in a couple of weeks. Add to that is the fact that we have an in form Cazorla and Ox and we have some attack to choose from. Of course we cannot “rest”Sanchez, so the headache is on the boss. For the rest of us, 3 points and some brilliant football every game will do just fine.
Dare to dream again for say 2nd/3rd, na to early, rather have 3 points against the saints and then evaluate by march as to where we are at. Till then come on you gunners.
There were two, maybe three, West Ham players in an offside position for Song’s shot. Regardless of whether any or all of them were blocking Woj’s line of vision, IAFB rulings on interpretation of Law 11 (the offside law) states that one of the three tests of whether a player in an offside position is interfering in play and thus committing an ‘offside offense’ is whether the player is “making a gesture or movement, which in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent.” Dummying over the ball, or hurdling it, as ‘Holic put it, is clearly a deceiving or distracting movement.
And, to your point, Bayonne Jean, when FIFA has to put out a 38-slide Power Point presentation to explain it, Law 11 is far too complicated.
http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/refereeing/law_11_offside_en_47383.pdf
all i no is he most buy players that what i no augustine taylor from sierra leone west african
Cheers H! Great result and great performance. Should have buried the cunts.
Oh Esso, we might have buried them if Adrian hadn’t performed so brilliantly 😉
Holic, At some point, you really must consider comparing our current players, against The Invincibles. Wait until we have everyone back 🙂 Can’t wait!
Soweto @ 46: The reason for that is the extraordinarily poor passing success rate by the entire left side of the defense — Kos, Monreal — and Flamini.
7amkickoff does his assiduous statistical analysis thing here to go into great detail: http://news.arseblog.com/2014/12/wenger-goes-plan-b-to-take-three-points-from-wham-by-the-numbers/ .
The overall pattern of the game was a textbook example of efficient counter-attack football by a manager who apparently doesn’t do “tactics” or has no “plan B”. He got a threadbare injury-ravaged squad through two city derbies in the span of three days with maximum points doing exactly those things: tactics and plan B. The perennial critics of Arsene should recognize that.
And he has been doing this types of adjustments all his managerial career (last season alone had a few excellent examples) , doing it successfully but unpretentiously and without making it all about him (unlike most managers in the world today who, while talking about tactics, sound like grumpy people who have failed to learn chess later in their lives). It is after all the players — as Vinay succinctly puts it — who need to be able to execute it. His focus on the insouciant fluency of the playing style instead of tactics-fetish is informed both by a moral obligation to the spectators of what essentially is an entertainment but also the fact that having a playing philosophy yields much better continuity and consistency of success than tactical hair-splitting.
Thanks again for another top review, ‘holic sir.
I thought it took us a while to get into the game yesterday, the Spammers came out with real gusto. But Woj made his intentions clear from the start by controlling his area by claiming everything that was swung in. They definetly looked the more dangerous of the two sides.
TBH, I thought that we were fortunate that Song’s goal was disallowed, yes it probably was what the law states, but how many times do you see those kind of efforts being ruled out? Not often. I know I would have been pretty peeved if it had been put away by one of our players. I’m not complaining though, it’s high time we had a decision go our way.
Our penalty was about as stonewall as I have seen in a while, what Reid was complaining about I’m not quite sure, he was on the ground and thrust his leg up, Santi even tried to hurdle him, but couldn’t. I’m glad the little Spainiard took charge, almost instantly grabbing the ball as if to say, sorry Sanch’, but I’m having this one. The penalty was dispatched with variable ease, great spot kick. Two minutes later we were two up. Good movement, inviting delivery and a nice tap in. Football can be so easy at times, eh?
As the HT whistle blew, I was thinking we had pulled off the quintessential rope a dope. We’d defended stoutly, rode the storm and hit them on the break, bammm!! More in the second half please and we’ll be cruising, an easy three points, a nice relaxing 45 mins……
Yeah right, this is Arsenal.
West Ham started the second like they did they first, but this time got quickly on the scoresheet. It was a shame, especially after Per had done so well to lump Carroll against a post in the move before. Nail biting session had began again. Watching live, I was dreading that they would punish us, I thought that we were lucky to hang on, but that must of been nerves on my part, because I watched the second half again earlier today and we were clearly the team that looked more likely to win and we really should have put that game to bed a lot earlier. The fact that we didn’t led to a very fidgety, sweary; throwing stuff at the TV-y 5 mins ET (Where the fuck did they get 5 mins from????).
My heart missed a beat when in the 91st min, the previously solid, Woj completly misjudged a cross, but we got away with it. Just as we did with the games last effort, although I definitly turtled when the top of the net rippled, breathing a sigh of relief when realising that it was due to the ball hitting the topside of it.
All in all, a great result and a solid performance. It was good to see the Coq hold his own in the midfield, he made the Flame look better. as did Kos with Per. Nacho put in a good shift, although most of our problems did come down the left flank. Santi was awesone. Sanchez never stops running, he’ll need a rest soon though. Welbeck indiustrious, but needs to work on his finishing.
My one real gripe is why on earth we waited until the 85th to utilise a sub. Ox was clearly struggling, which is normal when coming back from a lay off. Maybe a pair of fresher legs would have put away one of the many chances we created towards the end……. But maybe that’s just me being picky.
Anyways, onwards and upwards. We’ll be back in the top 4 heading for third, as previously predicted, real soon.
Arsenal Bloody Arsenal.
Wow Dr.F, you couldn’t have said it better. I thought the boss got it spot on yesterday, but as usual, his detractors never give credit where it’s due.
Wow Dr.F, you couldn’t have said it better. I thought the boss got it spot on yesterday, but as usual, his detractors never give credit where it’s due.
Hi Abb, I hope the holidays have been very merry for you.As it relates to having everybody fit at the same time, I doubt we’ll ever see that with our luck.
Thanks Impec1. In the hyperactive low-attention mass culture today unless you are a self-aggrandizing narcissist your achievements are rarely recognized for their true worth.
Paradoxically, we tend to over-compensate for that by being more generous towards the past than what the past might have deserved.
That is why I say that 15-20 years from now Arsene would be seen as an unique & rare visionary much more so than what we think of him now. 🙂
Nice to see a very positive mood in the bar and some Wenger critics paying respect to him. I’m not slow to criticise his transfer window activity on occasions but he has a little appreciated ability to continually remotivate this team and squeeze out highly concentrated performances in key games. The 4th place trophy is often maligned but given we are below three of the richest clubs in the world it is not to be sneezed at in a highly competitive league.
It is clear that he still enjoys great support from his players . My challenge to him is to make us even tougher to beat.The attitude was spot- on yesterday even if some of the personnel are limited. I struggle with Flamini, he is well below the standard we need in that position and I think Arseblog may be right about the BFG carrying an injury. He certainly isn’t winning balls in the air he should. So an early present of a quality DM and strong CB added to an otherwise very decent squad could give us a very interesting second half of the season.
Good positivity in here. Nice to see.
My challenge for Arsene is to fix the injuries. We have had an absolutely shite run with them for about 18 months, and yet in that time we’ve won an FA cup, escaped a difficult champs league group and are reasonably well placed in the league.
Fix the problem, add one or two more quality players in the right positions and the sky really will be the limit, because our squad, when all fit, looks very healthy indeed. Perhaps as good as it’s ever been, if you’ll excuse the hyperbole.
Fix the injuries, the rest will follow. On the subject of injuries, given their sheer scale you’d have to be extraordinarily one eyed not to concede that both bad luck and bad practice must have played a part. Hopefully we can address the latter with sensible changes, and maybe take a swing at the former by signing a leprechaun or similar.
I’m sure there will be further bumps along the way between here and May – this is a top four campaign, not a title pursuit – but hopefully we can build from here and give the league a proper go next term.
COYG
Caught in an interminable traffic jam en route to take my family to Paddington ( the movie not the station) today I listened to an Everton fan decrying Martinez. This followed Liverpool fans decrying Rodgers last week and apparently Dortmund fans decrying Klopp increasingly according to a German friend. It does make you realise that the miracle workers of one season ( remember Laudrup as well?) can be the next season’s Aunt Sallys. Flavours of the month can often be just that nowadays.
It also makes you realise the enormity of achieving consistency over seventeen seasons and how readily that is taken for granted
@ TTG 62.. Best Comment ever.. Sorry I don’t comment often in fact, Never.. I’m going to copy paste it and save it later for the boo-boo boys..
BTW – Thanks ‘Holic. Without this blog, the world would be such a grim place to live. And everyone. Happy New year.. Not yet.. 😉
At Anfield Liverpool 3 Swans 1 so far. The two sides of Fabianski on display: two brilliant saves from straight-on powerful shots; then he plonks a clearance off Lalana’s back into his own net for goal #2.
And from my previous drink, it’s Alexis the Energizer Bunny.
Well spotted with Per, Ttg. I noticed a limp on a couple of occasions and an expression on his face that said (German words to the effect) “Fuck it, I’m a BFG and I have to get on with it without letting anyone know”.
Coq-au-vin was a bit tasty, but I can’t see him (or Flam either) playing when Arteta, Ramsey, or Wilshere are fit. Or more likely a real DM comes in during the window. But a good sub to have on hand.
AW still has Theo wrapped in cotton wool. Should we be worried? If he doesn’t get a run on Thursday I will be. And surely Poldi has to play in the middle in place of Danny. Or is he on his way out finally? AW can’t be serious about Winston Reid, can he?
Questions questions.
Öskar
Fantastic result for Liverpool tonight. It really opens up the Premiership title race, there’s definitely four teams in it now.
Sorry, I’ve just had privileged access to the first editions and I thought I should share them with you.
COYG
Heh @66
Ach, Sterling. Slimy little prick. He receives absolutely nothing for slapping Swansea’s Fernandez three feet from the linesman. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeJYOylxffQ) It’s as egregious as Giroud’s incident yesterday (actually more so, probably, since Giroud had a real reason to be upset, and pushing your forehead against somebody is less violent than slapping them in the face).
The crucial difference is that Onuoha went down like he’d been blunderbussed while Fernandez (to his credit) got on with the game. If the reactions had been reversed it’s very likely that Giroud would have gotten away with maybe a yellow, and Sterling would have been sent off. If referees want hysterical over-reactions to stop they’ll have to stop rewarding them.
What that linesman was thinking I have no idea.
To be clear I do think Giroud deserved red. But the inconsistency is ridiculous.
goonsterham,
you’ve missed the point, I’m afraid.
When Giroud pushed his forehead against Onouha’s face, it was odeur de garlic et onions that knocked him right off his feet.
Well it certainly wasn’t a head butt, however stupid it was. 😉
I refuse to believe that Giroud’s breath could ever be un-fresh. Flamini, I could see.
More likely he just wilted in the face of such overwhelming goodlookingness. Understandable if so
OTD
If BFG is injured as we surmise it is vitally important to get cover in either on loan or a permanent signing. With Koscielny vulnerable with his injury it underlines the need to have adequate quality in reserve.
Yes indeed, Ttg, and I read today that Hummels can’t wait to leave Dortmund in January and either Manure or us would be okay by him. Only gossip of course, but a better bet than Winston Reid whom I wouldn’t have if WHU paid us to take him, and far better value than the top dollars quoted for Cavani who would be another luxury player, nice to have but not what we need.
Hummels, Khedira and no Cavani would suit me just fine.
Öskar
I’ve pretty much given up on Reus, note. 😉
Öskar
OTD: Don’t you think we have enough injury prone players? Khedira is a good player but with our injury problems, I don’t think it would be a good idea to sign him as he has been suffering with injuries for the past few years.
I think Schneiderlin from Southampton or Carvalho from Sporting Lisbon would be better choices.
so I am reading “invincibles”, and got to the leadership chapter. enter pv4, and she makes reference to his first game, v Sheffield Wednesday. thought I’d go in search of highlights, and Lo! the while game is on YouTube:
http://youtu.be/VVY8omYWJWg
which of you goons were at that game?
while=whole
Cheers mate, watching the whole game again now. Brilliant! Was n’t there meself, was working away in Halifax at the time and watched it in the Hotel Bar.
Scruz@76
I was there and remember it well. A Monday evening game that started late and the earliest tactical substitution I can remember. To say Vieira hit the ground running was inadequate. He hit it at 100 mph, a giant with huge finesse on the ball and great charisma . He took at least ten seconds to become indispensable . From the moment he entered the fray Wednesday were sunk
Continuing an earlier discussion and referencing GL@68.
Anyone ever seen ‘Supernanny?’ It’s a daft show where parents who have no control over their children (often, but not exclusively, due to their own lack of parenting knowledge/skill) get help from a childcare expert (enter Supernanny!) to reign in their young wards and re – establish boundaries and structure which make life easier for the parents and give the children a more stable environment to learn life’s lessons and grow up within. Okay? Bear with me…
The refs have completely lost control of the players. They have no idea how to fix this. The problem is so far down the line that refs don’t really consider it a problem anymore but think of it as a normal situation. They think they are the ones in charge. The issue is so clear from the outside but these guys are so close to it, as well as being cripplingly afraid to admit fault in case it makes them look weak (classic psychology of a group that knows they are losing control) that they cannot see the wood from the trees or do anything to make things better.
The first step is always to admit you have a problem.
Now, where is SuperRef?
Also, I miss Paddy.
esso, ttg, thanks. ttg, how cool you were actually there.
pv4 certainly came on gangbusters that game. it so much set the tone for the next decade.
I was just about to marry my half-English wife two weeks later, but didn’t get to discover Arsenal for another four years. still have my old-logo cap, I bought it after I’d watched them the first time and fell in love with their play…I didn’t know anything atall about them but that they played some beautiful football, and they weren’t Man U!
Scruz
That game was about the last we played before Wenger joined but he was calling the shots from Japan. I remember being impressed that we made such a decisive substitution so early. Was that Rice or Wenger on the phone?
The bloke beside me was worried that Vieira was rather big for a midfield player when in reality he redefined the style of midfield okay in the EPL for years.
he paved the way for yaya, among others (essien, etc).
scruz,
I wasn’t there but I was listening on radio.
I had made a huge “mistake” a short while before Arsene Wenger joined, in giving up my old season ticket. That was only because – surprise, surprise – I was about to have another big knee operation which I knew was going to keep me away for quite some time.
As ttg said, Arsene Wenger was calling the shots from Japan and had, as soon as he was appointed, recruited Patrick Vieira, Remi Garde and Emmanuel Petit.
Vieira, at that time, was a 19 year old Milan reserve, and Petit had almost given up playing football, depressed at the loss of his brother (who i believe had also been a footballer). At any rate Petit was playing as a centre back, and it was Wenger who had seen a central midfielder somewhere in there.
Following the removal of Bruce Rioch – who we can actually thank for the signing of Dennis Bergkamp – there was huge interest in the arrival of Wenger, whose quiet revolution had already begun.
Most others, and possibly you too, scruz, will know all this, but as you said it was some while after until you discovered the greatest team the world has ever seen – it might be of interest.
trev, thanks. yes, it was before i signed on, but i’ve learned as much as i can have learned over the years (whattaya think of tottenham? 😉 ). i didn’t know about petit’s brother, or your knee operation…nor that arsene was calling the shots via pat rice.
it’s great such a pivotal moment as that is available to watch online. i watched the whole game last night, using appletv to show what was streaming on my iphone, on our bigscreen. great to compare our team of today against that team, watching for the little similarities (the left back passing the ball infield near the top corner of the box, then receiving a return inside pass to square for a header, for example) and the differences (martin keown, how we miss ye).
ahhh
bla bla
nyamm nyamm nyamm Trevor
.
Oooh look at me
whiff me knee
or
lack thereof
.
I have two
i
offered you one
BUT
oh no
my small town clunky
not
good enough fer you
an yer big city clanky
.
big mistake trevy baby
big mistake
.
grrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Giggles @ cba 🙂 Umm, what other body parts, are you offering up… and does this offer extend to our lads 😉
Impec1, Why thank you for asking! Got me 4 new tires which = piece of mind for me 🙂 Truly hope you and all the holics, are enjoying this very special time of the year!
abb, depending on the body part, and how cba feels about the lads, I’d wager the offer can get pretty extensive 😉
not to cast any doubts on his orientation, mind.
The Greatest Team the world has ever seen. Pauses for reflection 😉
UNTIL NOW! We haven’t see our current lot play, with EVERYONE fit. But I’m here to shout from the rooftop, they are contenders, yes indeed! Solve the perplexing injury crisis, and my word, Arsenal will once again, take center stage. xx
And with that happy scenario, I bid everyone good nite 🙂
Oh scruz, how are you buddy xx
cba is very generous, me thinks 🙂
nurse abb
tis a hey ho an a howdy
to you
and all about you 🙂
.
and
my other bits
remain resolutely
undistributed
thank you fuckin very much
.
jeez
LIB E R TY !!!!!!!!
God, I hate this time of year. It’s like a double interlull, the period after Christmas.
So, me old mate cba
Has just dropped into say
I should have had his knee,
Which he was good enough to proffer
But I turned down his offer
I thought I’d get a better one, you see.
He thinks that I’m ungrateful
But really I’m just wait-ful
Seeing if he’ll offer other bits,
‘Cos with all that beer he’s drinkin’
It’s really got me thinkin’,
I bet he’s got a lovely pair of tits !
😉
tits, trev !
tits ?
🙁
I worry about some people in this bar…
Öskar
Only some, Oskar?
I worry about a right good many…
BMBD
Oh, and happy New Years Eve…
BMBD
Long punt up the middle. It will have snow on it when it gets converted, it will be up there that long…
Bang!
Well in, Impec1.
Can’t completely agree with Cynic@98. For heaven’s sake, two weeks with two games per week ihardly compares with a two week interlull without any club football at all. But, Lord knows, I can see what he means.
COYG
Happy New Year one and all. For some it may aleady be and for others it could be the eve. Herein wishing everyone a healthy and a happy year.
2014 was a good year for The Arsenal to. A lot tend to forget that we won 2 trophies this season after 9 years.
Yes the premier league has been a distinct dream and this season seems to be following the same pattern. Here is wishing 2015 will be great for the Gunners and they surprise a lot and sundry, champions league winners anyone???
Stay safe, stay foolish or wise but come tomorrow it is The Arsenal again and that is what makes all of us here happy.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>