Oh When The Saints, As They Say.
Dec 3rd, 2014 by 'holic
Midweek Premier League fixtures in December? Bah humbug. I cannot say I am overly impressed at the way the fixture calendar makes room for pointless international friendlies. Still, it is the same for everybody in fairness, and yes, I forgot to change my Fantasy Football team too!
Poor old Arsene’s presser couldn’t have been timed worse in some respects. He had to announce that Nacho Monreal and Kieran Gibbs needed fitness tests later meaning potentially that we have two fit right-backs and two fit central defenders going into the match. Calum Chambers for left-back, anyone?
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was also subject to a fitness test so the midfield is also uncertain. With Lukas Podolski, Tomas Rosicky, and Joel Campbell chomping at the bit we could probably cover his absence a little more comfortably. Southampton too will be nervous of the outcome. Why are we fussing about the outcome of this encounter?
I’m not sure. Southampton, at home. They are becoming serious competitors it would appear. They will be without Morgan Schneiderlin, a reported target for the Gunners, who injured his thigh in Sunday’s defeat to Manchester City. They are looking to protect their third place in the Premiership. The Saints have already won at the Grove this season, knocking us out of the Capital One Cup, so tonight provides an opportunity for us to set the record straight.
Results last night mean we are out of the top six going into this evening’s encounter, but with just seven points separating us from second place Manchester City it is not the time for going overboard about that. More importantly we have the opportunity to cut the gap on the Saints, currently in third place, to just three points. With two-thirds of the season remaining let’s stay calm and support the boys.
The ‘holic pound
The pound has to be targeted at a positive outcome. I may have been premature in hoping for a high-scoring performance at the Hawthorns, and this could be another close, tense, encounter. 2-1 to the hosts is available at 15/2 with Paddy Power and that is what I am on. As you will see in the header above they are also offering new customers an astonishing 6/1 against an Arsenal win. Now that is value.
Have a lovely evening ‘holics, wherever you may be.
176 Responses to “Oh When The Saints, As They Say.”
Bosch
First? And I even read the post before drinking…
Ah, beaten to the punch it seems!
From the previous drinks: TTG’s dad knows.
COYR
Just keep winning ….
Fine preview Guvna. I’ll have any kind of win.
The layout of the blog and drinks is still centred for me. Is it normal for everyone else?
Not 2-1 ‘hols!
I’m undecided about how tonight will unfold – Sanchez is due a rest at some point but probably not against confident So’ton.
I’ll be screaming and shouting either way as loudly as this damn never ending cough will let me.
I know we’re not yet in January but I’ve been wondering about the squad and whether Akpom and/or Afobe could end up filling Podolski’s and Campbell’s shoes? Anyone have any thoughts?
I think we must hope that our “doubtfuls” get through their fitness tests, another makeshift back four does not bare thinking about.
Should be a good game to watch. Safety first please, lets have an encore of the Dortmund game 2-0.
On the stopping train tonight and will be popping into the Tollie with Gooner Kevin for a quick pint around 18.50. May catch some of you there?
COYRs
Time to sustain the mini run we have been having so yes even i will be happy with a one nil to the Arsenal with our Chilean scoring again.
Left back i have my doubts if Wenger will push Monreal to play if he is not fully fit, knowing we have a tedious task in front of us this month. So flamini at LB looks likely also knowing we need the proper full backs when we go to that shit hole called brittania this weekend.
Arsenal need to score first, saints will want to show that city was a one off and they are not a flash in the pan. Last season wanyama had a great game against us and that is where the game will be won or lost again.
Their wing backs tend to play at a fast pace and we need as much support to our lb whoever plays there and to Chambers as well, which means Sanchez and Cazorla have to put in a defensive shift tonight again.
1-0 to the Gunners with no injuries and i am a happy camper. Now once we get that result, can the spuds does all a favor by doing the improbable- beat/draw against chelshit.
Nice one, Holic.
Blog and drinks formation back yo normal here.
Don’t panic, bath, the West Country is always a-ways-behoind,
ooh ahhrr ! 😉
Lars, from previous,
I’m not doubting that Coquelin is not good enough but he has been at Arsenal since he was 17 years of age.
Six years to decide …… ?
Yo = to. 🙁
Fine preview Holic. Thanks for taking the time again.
I’m with bath, any kind of win will suffice.
Agree with Lars on Coquelin Trev (in that he’s not good enough) but I also see your point in having to wait so long to decide. Its not as though we couldn’t do with some cover in that area. Wonder how you guys feel about young McCarthy at Everton? I note that we’ve been linked to him lately. I’ve been very impressed with what I’ve seen of him so far this season. Very young too.
We should win this one..
Schneiderlin who was very influential against City will not be a worry!
Kos is back and Giroud is getting fitter every match, perhaps Alexis should rest.. but then they never rested Messi too (till he got injured.. i know I KNOW!)
Pleasantly surprised by Welbeck, he’s positional sense and scoring touch seems to have improved tremendously, looks like we’ve got more understanding as a team now among the players.
Best yet is Santi.. he’s being brilliant over the last few matches, looks to be really fit and pinpoint passing has been unparallelled.
Hope Gibbs is back (although some prefer Monreal), am thinking we’ll need a bit of pace in this match.
Bring ’em on!
Up The Arse!
😀
Any win will do, but…..
1-0 nil to the Ar-se-nul please. 😎
Cheers Holic, just the stuff to keep the nerves on the back-burner.
I’m with the rest of the inmates, 1-0 would do nicely but any sort of three points is fine by me.
If we have to play Flamini at left-back that doesn’t worry me too much in itself but i’m not sure who takes his midfield role? Chambers? In which case it is a choice between one of them at LB and the other at CDM. Get well, Nachoman.
Can’t remember whether I forgot to change my fantasy team.
Wanyama is a good player but will he be as good without Schneiderlin?
Accoring to .con we’re going for a bold selection. Only ten players and all of them fucked.
Team News
Arsenal: Gibbs (ankle – fitness test), Monreal (knee – fitness test), Ospina (thigh), Debuchy (ankle), Szczesny (hip), Arteta (calf), Walcott (groin), Wilshere (ankle), Ozil (knee), Gnabry (knee)
Trev: then again, of those six years he hasn’t spent that much time with us. He has been on loan for two full seasons of those six, plus various loan spells here and there. I am quite certain he wouldn’t have been at the club at all this season if we would have been able to sell him.
Cheers for the preview ‘h.
I fear we are in for a tough game tonight, but which game hasn’t been tough lately? Southampton are flying high, the Koemans (There’s two of them you know) have done remarkably well with the recourses they inherited, plus added some good reinforcements. I remember watching Pelle when he played here for local club AZ, I saw him score a couple but he was only really ever used as a sub. He did better at Feyenoord, firingb them to their highest league finish (2nd) in a good few years, so I suppose it was only natural that the brothers brought him with them.
The loan of Alderweireld from Atl madrid was a pretty shrewd move too, he’s a defender with both WC and CL experience, here’s a bit of trivia for ya, he was Tommy V’s replacement at Ajax when the Verm joined us. The two wing backs Clyne and Bertrand are having great seasons two, add to that Wanyama doing a good DM covering job and the spine of their team is quite healthy.
With no European distractions they’ve had a lot more time then us on the training ground. They’ve also had the luxury of hardly having any injuries to deal with (can you imagine?????), so being unable to field the highly influential Schneiderlin tonigt due to a knock he picked up in their defeat to Citeh may just be the bit of “luck” we needed to swing the pendulum towards a home win. Still, nothing else then our best is needed.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS.
Lars, my apologies for taking the wind out of your sails in the number one spot!
😀
*returns stolen thunder to rightful owner*
Oh, and er, come on you reds!!!
Let’s ‘ave you!
I’m still baffled about this whole Coq business.
If he’s not good enough, then why on earth was he still at the club after the summer?
If he didn’t figure in our plans then why wasn’t he replaced?
If we wanted to put him in the shop window, as mentioned by Gregoire in previous drinks, then surely a bench place in a PL team looks better on a résumé then a starting berth/bench place in a lower division team.
My fine fellow ‘holic also added, that he’s in a position to be recalled in view of worst-case scenario injuries.
At this moment we are one Flamini injury/rush of blood away from having no one. The Gibbs/Monreal situation may mean that Flam will go to LB, who fills in for him? How much worse can it get. *throws pinch of salt over shoulder, knocks on wood. turns around and clicks fingers three times as not to tempt fate.*
Sorry, this whole situation makes no sense to me.
No worries, Porco 🙂
H2H @ 22, our whole transfer policy has baffled me for a number of years. We seem to be somewhat more opportunistic than strategic.
It’s been a bit like going out to buy the vacuum cleaner you need to replace the broken one but coming home with a new television because you passed a shop with a special offer in the window and saying, ‘we’ll just use the brush and pan a bit harder until the next window.
Flamini won’t be playing LB anytime soon H2H. Fair enough he played it back in 2006 when he was in his early 20s, but Flamini is 30 now, and doesn’t really have the legs to play full-back. I’m sure Wenger’s back-up plan to Gibbs and Monreal both being out at the same time (note this hasn’t happened yet this season, and isn’t guaranteed to happen tonight), would be to play a RB – Debuchy, Chambers, Bellerin – at LB. Of course, they’re all nominally right-footed, but the requirements of the full-back position are essentially the same – good engine, bit of speed, tidy in possession etc etc. Many right-footed players have made a good fist of the LB spot over the years….
I just think the Coq situation is one of those anomalies/afterthoughts that affect all big squads of 25+ players. He’s contracted to us, previous loans haven’t led to anything, we can’t find a willing buyer, and perhaps Wenger felt in the summer there’d be no harm in just taking one final look at him over the next 6-12 months, to see if he’s improved/matured at all since his last major spell in the squad (over 2 years ago?) Evidently – as he hasn’t figured at all and he’s now been loaned out to Charlton – Wenger isn’t interested, but let’s be honest Le Coq is ‘small fry’, and his presence or lack of it in the squad has nothing to do with the more important narrative of purchasing better performers in CB/DM positions.
As for tonight…fingers crossed for the Arse! 3-1 to us I say…
Bath,
That precise point about the transfer policy was expanded on in the recent Bergkamp wonderland podcast with Alex Fynn (author of “AFC – The making a modern superclub”) on 24th November (see the link below and scroll down to 24th). Its a very interesting podcast if you can spare the time.
http://abergkampwonderland.co.uk
Just getting scarf and hat on. It’s very chilly!
Hoping for a solid, nerveless win tonight but will accept a win of any sort!
2-1 looks about right to me. It takes dedication to trudge up to North London on a night like this. I must be getting old!
COYG!
Thanks Joe, I shall check it out.
Coq is like Abou Diaby. Wenger really likes him so he sort of hangs around on the off chance he might get a chance.
Although Diaby is partly hanging around because his medical insurance lists the treatment room as his home address.
Nice analogy, Bath.
Let’s hope that we get a vac’ in the January sales, a Dyson and not some piece of crap off brand type found on the bargain shelf at the Lidl.
Gregoire.
You’re probably right about not moving the Flam to LB, but I think that is more because we don’t have any other choice for the DM role. We better hope that one of Gibbs or Monreal are available, as I can’t imagine Arsene wanting to start with two such young/inexperienced wing backs as Bellerin and Chambers, especially with one out of position. It’s that damn square peg syndrome coming back to haunt us.
As for Le Coq, again you’re probably right and the whole discussion indeed masks the bigger question of why we didn’t address the very real need of bringing in a quality player for a role that hasn’t been properly filled since Song, if you want to be generous, or Gilberto, if you want to be downright pissed, left us.
Ah well, onwards and so on.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!!!
Heh Cynic.
Cynic..Diaby is too ill to be moved 😉
Wrap up well tonight…a rip roaring performance will warm you all up.
I fancy a good win providing we stop aiming at the opposition keeper. Going for a 3-1. A Glenfiddich night at the Tollie perhaps.
Bath…we have a transfer policy?
Monral starts, Gibbs on the bench…….
Arsenal: Martinez, Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Ramsey, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexis, Welbeck
Subs: Macey, Gibbs, Bellerin, Rosicky, Podolski, Sanogo, Giroud
Southampton: Forster, Clyne, Fonte (c), Alderweireld, Bertrand, Wanyama, Cork, S. Davis, Tadić, Long, Pellè.
Subs: K. Davis (GK), Yoshida, Gardos, Mané, Mayuka, Reed, Targett.
from Arseblog
Joe @26 – extremely good link. Thanks for that. I will bookmark that site.
I am surprised Giroud doesn’t start. Gentle re-introduction or a reaction to Saturday’s exertion.
Or a bit of both.
Handy option for off the bench.
Alexis obviously doesn’t need any rest: play/shag/play/shag/play/shag, allegedly.
Holic, don’t know how you keep up like you do, but we’re grateful you are always here for us xx
Listening in on player, so be ‘chatty’ , holics 😉
C’mon you lovely gunners! ♥
We’ll beat them!
COME ON!
Come on Arsenal!
Where is our defenders come on lads pick it up!
Never a corner
Nuts!
Get it together lads!
whew, close call!
That’s better come on!
Promising from the Ox and company 🙂
Cheap way to loose a ball on the attack come on!
Come on lads!
Why isn’t that a yellow?
Bloody refs!!!!!!!!!!
Dirty Wanyama
I would love to see Rosicky on the pitch tonight! For Ramsey!
Ramsey just hasn’t got his rhythm going…!
We seriously need to pick it up!
Poo Foster!
This isn’t very good football from arsenal so far.
This is very difficult to watch.
Southampton are showing that they are not that high in the table just by chance, very disciplined, good pressing and keep their shape. Things were not clicking for us so far and especially for Aaron, he has had half to forget, hopefully we are going to be different side during second half, more pressing and urgency.
Ox lively, Santi too and Alexis looks tired as hell.
Ramsey and Flamster do not agree in the midfield Ramsey keeps his guard and Flamster wonders up front! He was once on the right flank up front!
Time to regroup and I would love to see some early subs around 85th minute at least!
A late brace from Giroud….let’s keep the clean sheet until that time
COYGs
WANT IT
Rotation so critical this busy part of the season ! Sounds like a lot of tired legs and minds 🙁
Except the OX !
Horrible decision by Shane Long…thankfully
FUCK SAKE!!!!!!!!!!
Martinez very assured and decisive..
Great catch from Martinez!
Tomas warming up, yeah!
Please bring on Rosicky we need some direct attacking!
It’s about now that they started caving in to city…
COME ON! Take some shots!
Agree ATG and Aussie re Martinez (just don’t want to jinx him!) 😉
Ramsey needs a break! and maybe santi too!
COME ON!
BFG very nervous tonight!
More of that lads, urgently!
Giroud a lift off!
What is it going to take??
Can you fucking believe that…..
Great stuff by Og
How we miss Giroud…
COME ON!
Giroud did more than any other player for over an hour!
19 min +, time to win this!
Play it forward lads come on!
Why is Rosicky even on the bench? Just leave him at home already.
Alexis is tired….. rest him!
COME ON!
Come on Arsenal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSUUUUUUUUUUUUUUBBBBBBBSSSSSSSSSSSS
Wow Poldi is on ha ha
The hammer is on
Coome on Goldi Poldi, pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
South defensive line across 6 yard box is looking more familiar each match
Are you serious
Another team with keeper as best player
The hammer has got no nails to hammer Aussie!
fucking foster having a blinder
Alexis, GOAL!
AAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEXXXXXXXXXXXXXXIIISSSSS
Ahaaaaaaaaa
Yessssss
Ok.. leave ALEXIS ON!
😀
Thank God!!!!!
And they were playing Volleyball too!
COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great assist by ramsey
Quick thinking
Just bringing on the hammer, nails or not, is usually enough ATG 🙂
At last!
More of Poldi please!
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh Poldi..almosst!
To the end nail biting stuff that is why I love ARSENAL!
The result has gone our way tonight in a great match and a tough match.
Regardless if it had been a nil all draw, I simply like to see the whole team putting in a big shift as they have done for the last few matches.
Win lose or draw, it is so nice to see the team working their socks off for themselves, the manager, the fans and the club…
Great gutsy hard working and deserved win….
Southampton deserve some credit too for a big effort..
ohhhhhhhhhhhh, I can hear our fans singing 🙂 Sounds most like male voices ! ☺
May I refer my learned friends to drink #14.
YES. 😎
I’m going to get a beer now!
Roller-coaster ride indeed!
COME ON ARSENAL!!!!!!!!!!
More of Podolski please this guy makes defences shit their pants!
Kinda like our goalie.. maybe he should play for a spell!
ALEXIS WHAT A MAN! Found what was needed when it was needed!
😀
Heh @ 108 😉
credit to southampton for a game well-played. i like the cut of koeman’s jib.
that said.
FUUUUUUUUUUCK YEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
anyone comes in her afterwards slagging arsene for his ability to pick a player, i’m getting them in the face with the seltzer, full spray. alexis is just a god.
well-called, dr. f.
Ramsey (quite rightly) was thrilled with that assist, let that be his launching pad to better days.
We’re defending properly again and can always nick a goal…let’s have a brilliant December. Martinez has earned the shirt until further notice in my opinion, his kicking and calmness are both exceptional.
Great win. I just wish Arsene can put some more faith in Poldi and Rosicky. Rotate the squad to keep guys fresh, common Wenger.
third sucessive clean sheet for martinez!
he should be our no 1!
Crucial crucial win! All our direct rivals won, so this win was just to maintain our place… BUT what a win!
Now can we rest ALexis please.. if for just a half?! 🙂
AND PLAY POLDI AND CAMPBELL…. the team looks like they’re on their last legs! Give some players a well deserved break!
Up THE ARSE!
😀
3 massive pernts.
G RUDE made a massive difference.
Massive seems to sum it up.
Well that one kept me sweating for some time. Like those clean sheets we get lately. Keep it that way please.
COYG
Debuchy back next.. and when we get back Theo and Ozil..
What a team we’ll have!!
🙂
Tim@115- with you on Martinez…
He fully deserves to maintain the status quo…
Cool, calm, decisive and has a quality clearing kick under pressure..
Giroud just puts the fear into defenders….. hope he starts the next match!
Only problem will be the OX will probably be sacrificed since welbeck looks good on the wings and no way is Alexis missing any matches… decisions decisions! Glad am not the manager.
🙂
Well deserved 3 points. Forster excellent unfortunately.
Welbeck must have put in more work than Alexis tonight- just didn’t stop. Unlucky not to score- I dunno how Forster kept that top-corner bound effort out.
Apparently Monreal can even cover left-back, if needed. Cough.
More solidity. More discipline. More structure. Another clean sheet.
Martinez has indeed been very good.
We look much better with Giroud (who looks to be wearing Santi’s shooting boots as well as his own).
And Poldi looked well up for it- give the man a start!
The best scoreline in football…
British pundits talk bollocks. All this ‘disappointed with Arsenal tonight’ and at the same time proclaiming FF’s performance in goal for Southampton as excellent (it was) tells you all you need to know about how poor and anti-Arsenal punditry is at present.
But fuck it, that was grand. And what about our keeper tonight. He came out to the edge of our penalty area to claim a ball at one point in the second half. And won it. When was the last time that happened?
He’s been brilliant these last 3 games — he’s so self-assured and commanding and that clearly has a positive effect throughout the team. Is it a coincidence we’ve kept 3 clean-sheets since SCZ has been injured? Don’t know, but I’d much rather Martinez keeps his spot.
Great result — up the Arse!
Huge and fully deserved result.
Mariner is one of the worst referees in the league.
Tim and Aussie with you on Martinez. I always thought that Woj is one of the most overrated Arsenal players along with Wilshere. Emi didn’t make a single mistake in three games, saving couple of one on ones, he deserves to be our first GK.
Sanchez is the man!!
Hear hear GT!
😀
Ramsey was playing without any conviction, was making simple mistakes but he kept going which I think deserves a merit or two!
If anyone watched the game Alexis made simple mistakes as well which he should not of made, he scored a winner so if you’re an Arsenal payer and still moan get away from here you have not seen what I just witnessed!
We got lucky on few occasions I think this is a foundation to build our confidence back up…Per looked jittery again I don’t know why but he seems to have a confidence thing growing inside!
Koscienly is not the best he can be but what can you expect he was out for two months!
Flamini and Ramsey partnership is not going to work against better oppositions I hope this was a trial. I need to Rozza and Poldi at the same time!
Come on Arsene! Make it happen!
Brilliant three points nothing to add!
ONE NIL TO THE ARSENAL!
I am liking Welbeck in the left wing.
Giroud is just so much more imposing and crafty down the middle. The 25 odd minutes by him showed what we were missing, the link-up play with Welbeck was good too.
Poldi looked fresh and seemed to have regained that bit of pace and directness that he had lost last season after the injury. Won’t mind seeing a Poldi-Giroud-Ox starting line-up against Stoke, Alexis and Welbz on the bench. Alexis looked rather tired, and as a result was losing possession a bit too much. As did Santi and I think he can do with a break too.
A few stray passes asides a good game by Rambo. Disciplined, hard-working and enough decisiveness when it matters.
Martinez is looking surprisingly composed for a rookie. Szczesny and Ospina both would have some competition.
One Nil to the Arsenal!
Massive three points when nowhere near our best!
Up the Arse!
Woke my 7 year old daughter up going batshit when we scored.
Luckily the wife is out.
Whoops.
This is not a rant!
What really pissed me of during the game was the fact that we could not switch the game quickly enough, and when we tried to do that we simply made simple mistakes and as I have mentioned above Alexis was the culprit and Rambo for the others.
That does not matter a bit right now three points is all that matters!
Love IPod’s directness after coming on for the final quarter! It made all the difference, yet again!
NDR
Have done few times so don’t you worry! I’m sure she’s fast gone in the dream wonderland right now! 😀
I see a lot of disappointments here with Rambo. He was nowhere close to his best of last season, but I thought he was steady. Surely topped the numbers for distance covered, total passes, clearances, recoveries and tackles. Little iffy with the forward passes, but a clever assist at the end.
Getting better, and cutting down the vanity attempts. All that we can ask for.
Massive three points and as these are a drinks a massive round for everyone in the bar including the Landlord!
On Lars credit card I’m afraid 😀
Giroud is a wonder to play with for any attacking player! So very intelligent a footballer and surprisingly quick with a beautiful touch for a big lump! 😉
I’m with the Martinez for first choice keeper camp. Very calm, very impressive, quite big and very agile. Commands his box.
DF
I did say he never gave up so it certainly deserves a merit! He works hard you can see it!
BTW, the way Giroud dropped a bit deeper to remove Wanyama out of the equation by winning challenges against him and free up others and then sprinted back to join the attacks was reminiscent of Drogba at his peak. All of our play improves so much more when we have that physical focal point, something Welbeck needs to work on to offer himself as a genuine down-the-middle alternative.
Bath
I do agree with in a way but we all know it aint gonna happen, I like him too but the defensive four when Wojtek was around didn’t defend as they should have so perhaps we shouldn’t jump into conclusions here.
I do agree he reads the game very well! So perhaps Wojtek needs to his arse in gear 🙂
ATG @ 141: And stayed disciplined, that is crucial.
DanC @ 139: He uses his physicality very intelligently too. The almost assist to Welbeck after dragging two defenders away with him was a very good example.
DF
I agree with you on that front Welbeck wasted a very good chance at the beginning of the game if that was Henry he would have shifted his body weight onto the left side and send a curler with his right foot to the side netting of the goal. A typical Henry goal indeed and I believe Welbeck has still a lot to learn on that front.
Martinez looked very composed indeed, but I think he also had the benefit of a more settled defense in front. Last season Szczesny was quite superb in most matches and earned us many a points in tight matches. He was the joint golden glove winner and lets not be too hasty based on a few indifferent performances. He is still very young, and having two competitors in Ospina and Martinez he will push forward his game.
Playing poorly but digging out results because we are being more cautious and mindful of getting caught on the break. And while the plaudits are deservedly there for Martinez, I think its no coincidence that Koscielny’s presence has resulted in clean sheets. He really is a top class defender. I was impressed with the general defending and pressing. Not often we’ve been able to say that. If we keep that conservative approach in defence and begin to find some form we’ll be a very dangerous side.
Just to put a dead weight on our WIN Fonte did touch the ball with his hand so if Alexis would have missed (which I doubt) we should have had a penalty!
http://cdn.phoenix.intergi.com/21772/videos/3132683/video-sd.mp4?hosting_id=19040
COME ON!!!!!!!!!!
For anyone of you?
Marvel of Shields episode is great to cover some thoughts!
COME ON ARSENAl!
ARSENAl! = ARSENAL!
14 games in and 13 points off top and 13 points off bottom. Time to put a winning run together gents.
An hour or more of honest mid-table standard endeavour transformed by a couple of subs. Thank Dennis AW sent his subs in early (by his lights) for a change, in time for them to get into the game. I was surprised OG didn’t start the game, but he sure did finish it well. And the briefest of cameos by Poldi again showed enough for the Poldi/TR7 exclusion to be seriously questioned.
Emily continues to impress, looks calm and self-assured, and the occasions he came for high balls were all beautifully judged. He may well challenge Sir Ches before season’s end if he keeps it up. In fact I would keep him in until he stuffs up, even if Sir Ches is fit.
Alexis saved us, but he wasn’t at his best again and ffs give him a break, AW. You may regret not doing so. Yes he’s our best hope of keeping on winning, but there’s still a lot of the season to go and the crunch comes later.
Öskar
For a large part of the game I was bemoaning the cold and disappointed by a fairly flat match. Our most frequent early leaver gave up the ghost with over thirteen minutes to go. He left for a beer at half time seven minutes before the interval. I seriously wonder why he bothers.
Good, battling performance. Southampton looked knackered and will drop like a stone, creating virtually nothing and with a lot of journeymen in midfield. Their rotational fouling was typical of Koeman who was an artful and sly player.
For us we had little blend in midfield although we worked hard. Ramsey is so out of form it is remarkable, Flamini stands in front of the back four and points animatedly . Koscielny makes a huge difference to Mertesacker and is a great defender. Promising efforts from Chambers, Martinez and a great cameo from Giroud. Sanchez is knackered but a total competitor and a real gem.
Not sure what the commentators would have made of it. I guess they would bemoan poor old Southampton going down to ten men and probably make the excellent Forster Man of the Match but only one side tried to win that match and while we weren’t at our best we persevered and played with a lot of spirit.
Matt(2)@125 –
funny stuff re Martinez – “He came out to the edge of our penalty area to claim a ball at one point in the second half. And won it. When was the last time that happened? ”
so true…
it is refreshing to not calamities, catastrophes, clashes or plain outright ridiculous cock ups in the defence or with our keeper involved.
DRF, you may be right, maybe it is just a coincidence, but we do seem to be a better disciplined side without woj and I would also add jack to that list…as mentioned above by Lurky.
A decisive and assured keeper provides certainty and confidence in the central defenders and especially when needed at the most crucial times. When the keeper delivers that certainty and confidence a number of times, it very quickly becomes a 100% trust factor which you cant buy or fluke….as a keeper, you have to earn it by delivering under pressure.
It does seem that Martinez is earning that trust very quickly with the back four and has the results on the board.
The scoreboard doesn’t lie.
Long may it continue….
I couldn’t care less what the commentators say, Ttg, but I’d agree with them about Forster motm. 😉
Öskar
Sorry Matt, I hadn’t read your #125 when I praised Emily in my #154. Pretty much the same observations. Great minds thinking alike, aye. 😉
Öskar
Three clean sheets, three wins. Kos back. No coincidence, methinks.
Two 1-0 wins on the trot. Quite like old times, except we can play with more style even when we are off the boil.
Plenty good players still to return.
Keep those clean sheets going and with the quality we have up front, we will climb that table.
One reason that Martinez looks composed is that he doesn’t go for high balls he isn’t certain of making. So every catch he does make looks clean. No flappy 50-50s. Even the catch he made on the edge of the area was always his ball. Because he stays on his line much more than Woj the back four may have a clearer sense of the area they are responsible for defending so the entire defence looks more disciplined; plus Mertesacker is twice the player with Kos alongside him than he is when paired with any other of our CBs. Martinez is going to be a pretty good keeper. Don’t forget he has already been called up for the full Argentina national side and was a star with the Argentina U-21s.
North Bank Nex/ Ned or NBN @ 160;
Spot on about Martinez staying on his line more and providing clearer lines of responsibility for all.
Martinez’s catching was noticeably clean each and every time, no spills or fumbles and no clashes with opposition or our own.
very noticeable….
Woj does tend to end up in a no mans land due to indecision or over excitement (neither back completely or completely committed to coming out).
Lots of comments on Emi already, but I’ll add to them anyway. Decisive, but not rash; that’s what’s impressed most. I just get the feeling that AW the riverboat gambler is going to let it ride and keep the young fellow in there until….
And if you watched this match closely you realize how much Arteta is missed, simply from the fluidity he contributes to the proceedings. Sure he has his weaknesses, and he’s no physical stalwart like a Matic or a Wanyama, but what he does do well, in the context of how this side should operate, is really noticeable when absent
Three clean sheets, three wins. Kos back. No coincidence, methinks.
Also no lunatic in goal. I’m not going to go mad over Martinez but he just does his job, doesn’t feel the need to get involved where he shouldn’t and has impressed.
Arsene :-
“We were jaded physically but Alexis Sanchez can dig deep and has such desire and a will to win, he still finds that resource to get you something special.
“Olivier Giroud made a big difference. You could see the physical impact. He looked sharp.
——————-
When we have Wilshere, Theo, Ozil and Debuchy back, other teams will not be looking forward to playing us!
Giroud should start the next match and Alexis …he’ll walk into any team!!
Up The Arse!
😀
Good job against the Saints.
I hope they start falling down the table like the sinners they really are 😉
Cynic Knows @163; “no lunatic in goal”
🙂 – drink on the bar for that.
classic stuff.
Young Martinez doe have some novel concepts regarding keeping;
stand on your line until needed
catch the ball when needed with two hands
hold the ball after catching it
kick the ball long after catching and holding
dont run into your own players
dont trip over the opposition players when trying to catch the ball
dont punch the ball away if you can catch the ball
Over 25% of our season’s points have been garnered in the last four days. Does that make this a blip, an upswing, a trend or something else?
Let’s not go overboard about young Emily just yet guys. So far so good, all very neat and tidy and no semblance of a howler. But he’s yet to show us any truly outstanding saves – like a couple Forster pulled off at the other end today. That is what distinguishes an able Seaman from an ordinary Seaman. I’m not saying he won’t, just that he hasn’t been called on to produce one yet.
Öskar
I think that’s what you call playing yourself into form, isn’t it? Another win, another clean sheet- we’re actually starting to move in the right direction. If this team had to learn to pay more conservatively and not like they were being controlled by a 12-year-old with a PlayStation, they are very slow learners!
But better late than never. Get the crocks back and let’s have a much better 2nd half of the season.
PS It’s now been said two or three times in here and I reiterate those views: Wilshere is overrated and has shown very rare sparks of quality. I really hope he does a Ramsey and blossoms suddenly because he could be awesome but still isn’t progressing.
@163 Spot on.
Martinez is calm and does not terrify the defense. His decision making is excellent. I hope he makes the most of his chances he gets to stake a permanent place in the team.
one of the highlights of the game IMO was his performance. left me with a warm nice feeling inside.
Giroud was excellent.
that back heel combination playe with welbeck was magnifiq.
anyone know if its tactical that he played only for last 10 mins
It can’t be tactical, DB10.
That would require a Plan B and we all ‘know’ (because we’ve heard it from the two old guys on the muppet show so many times) that “Arsene Wenger has NO plan B” Boom, Boom! 🙂
Last night Arsene brought Giroud on to change the game, left Ramsey on to lay on the assist (despite getting dog’s abuse from the usual suspects for hooking Ox instead) and moved Alexis to centre forward to score the winner.
I doubt a single person who booed the first substitution last night will have reflected this morning that the manager got it absolutely spot on. He’s done some weird things this season, no doubt, but he deserves credit for last night.
Beyond that, I thought the young keeper was again very assured but struggled with his distribution in the first half. Koscielny stuck Pelle in his pocket very efficiently, both full backs were excellent, and Welbeck worked incredibly hard at all times but probably doesn’t work as well as Giroud as the fulcrum of the attack. Ox had one of those nights young players sometimes have. Ramsey, meanwhile, put in a very encouraging performance: a fair few misplaced passes but he covered a huge amount of ground, stayed in position far more than in recent weeks, drove the side on to look for the winner and popped up with the vital assist. I don’t mind if he gets the odd thing wrong: it’s sheer work rate that is Aaron’s biggest selling point – it’s been absent at times this season but it was back last night and I expect him to run games for us over the festive period.
Great result, clean sheet very pleasing and I agree that the young man in sticks should keep his spot for now. About time we had some proper competition between the keepers, god knows Chesney sometimes needs it.
COYG
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Well before every game from now i will predict 1-0 to The Arsenal and may it long continue to come true. Saints were excellent yday and proved that it is no fluke they are right up there. Now for them to take some points of united on monday and they have done their job.
I have never been a fan of Woj and havent been convinced at all but then i am in the minority and that is fine. Martinez was good when needed but i believe among the 3 gk’s we have, Ospina is the best. Time shall tell.
Sanchez needs a rest, he is absolutely tired and he uses every ounce of energy he has to get through games. He has been our saviour but honestly if Theo were to be fit, Sanchez should be rested for a couple of games atleast, staring with the away trip to galatasary and more so the home against newcastle. Chances though are pretty slim because he wants to play every game and Wenger knows he is the match winner we have. My big concern is, Sanchez is used to winter breaks and this run in may exhaust him completely.
Spuds were spuds yday and they are wasting their time trying to prove they belong to this league, i mean they were clueless yday against those chavs and deserved the mockery.
Aguero has been the player of the season so far along with Sanchez, he can do no wrong and yday again vindicated that. City need to keep pushing chelsea and for the sake of all, chelshit should lose soon or else the league may become a mere formality.
Up next, the visit to Britannia. A place we never likes, never appreciated and havent won i think in the last 5-6 visits. Another scrappy 1-0 will do just fine please.
‘holic, good catch on AW’s remark on “lack of fluency”. Will repeat my comment from the previous drinks: you realize how much Arteta is missed, simply from the fluidity he contributes to the proceedings.
Clearly he’s not the prototypical HM/DM, but what he DOES do well, in the context of how this side operates at its best, is really noticeable when absent. Flamini had a very solid game, but he does not replicate Arteta’s contribution to the flow of the game, and if there’s something that AW probably always wants to see is fluency.