A Hull Of A Time To Play On A Sunday
Jan 3rd, 2015 by 'holic
FA Cup third round Saturday passes without a televised fixture. This after Cardiff and Colchester played in a near-deserted stadium on Friday night. On Sunday our match kicks off at 5.30pm, which is really a kick in the teeth for the traveling Hull fans. Liverpool supporters have to journey to London on Monday night for their tie with Wimbledon and West Ham fans make the opposite journey on Tuesday, yes Tuesday, night to play Everton. The Cup retains little of its magic as the guardians of the game have whored it out to the highest bidders.
We face the team we beat at Wembley in May to lift the trophy for the eleventh time although it will be very interesting to see the eleven charged with starting our defence of the trophy. A degree of rotation is expected but we are down to the bare bones right now. Arsene said in his pre-match presser,
“I have to check who is available and who is not. The two keepers, Ospina and Martinez, will come in. After that, we will see. I cannot rotate too much either because we need stability. Who comes back? We have the 18 players, nobody else will play.”
So a worst case could see fit-again David Ospina behind a mix-and match back four of Hector Bellerin, Per Metesacker or Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal, and Kieran Gibbs. Might we finally see a start for Theo Walcott, or will Joel Campbell start on the right flank and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the left, or might we see a start for Ainsley Maitland-Niles?
If Mathieu Flamini is not fit to return alongside Francis Coquelin then Calum Chambers may get another opportunity to grow into a defensive midfield role. Tomas Rosicky or Santi Cazorla could occupy the role behind Alexis Sanchez, or maybe Chuba Akpom if the boss thinks the Chilean needs a rest. The fact that we have a clear week before the next match could be a factor in the selection.
Hull have half a dozen injuries themselves, but don’t try and tell me that missing Michael Dawson isn’t an advantage for them! If Steve Bruce opts not to rotate his team they could still field a decent looking side, although they haven’t really kicked on from their cup run last season and currently lie in fifteenth place in the Premier League. On the road this season they have beaten QPR and Sunderland, as well as holding Liverpool and ourselves to draws.
I’m sticking with an old favourite for the ‘holic pound. A 2-1 home win is offered by Paddy Power at 15/2. I can hear one of you groaning already!
For those going, have a great day. It looks like it is going to resemble a cooking oil tomorrow, crisp and dry. I will be peeking over the back of the sofa again. After all, we’re not doing things the easy way this season, are we?
169 Responses to “A Hull Of A Time To Play On A Sunday”
1st?
Great preview Holic! Looking forward to some decent football this time around!
UTA!
Get in
and read 222 and 226 in the last drinks.
Nice preview, maestro. Here’s hoping the Holic pound yields a reward.
We’ll miss you under the brollie.
Top four !
Cheers Holic,
I’m there with my daughter tomorrow – we’ll have a shout for you !
I did, bath. They’re good.
Like a trophy, Trev.
Thanks for the preview. I noticed Zelalem, Criwley and Maitland- Niles trained today with the first- team. We are ridiculously down to the bare bones upfront and loaning players out! 2-1 would suit me. Any win would.
Fine post in the last drinks Dexter. I think most of us have been very disillusioned after defeats or unfulfilling transfer windows. I was apoplectic after the first game at home to Villa the next season . Two things cause me to reflect. The inability of managers to perform consistently without spending huge amounts of money. For example Martinez did well last season but is fighting relegation this.
The other is the regularity with which this team fight back. Remember after beating Spurs 5-2 three seasons ago we went on a brilliant run. The following year we lost at the Swamp 2-1 and AVB talked of a spiral that was so negative we put together a great unbeaten run. Last season we fell away in the League but then when Everton loomed we raced away again. You don’t do that regularly without planning, motivation and a belief in the manager.
My plea is that we think very carefully before jettisoning someone as committed and reliable as Wenger. I don’t see a viable, assured replacement out there. Simeone, Guardiola and Klopp might do the job but don’t know the EPL. The one man who would be acceptable to me and is an Arsenal quality character is Ancelotti. He’s doing rather well elsewhere at present!
Wisely pled, ttg.
Groan. Well, you asked for it guv’nor. 🙂
2-1 would float my boat, actually, and would represent a definite improvement over our result at Wembley last May when we finished the 90 minutes 2-2 if memory serves. Who said optimism does not still spring eternal.
Thanks for the heads-up to @222 & @226 in the previous drinks, Bath, and a deep tip of the tifter to Impressive Failage and Dexter for writing them. Top posts, both.
I’d love us to score early doors against Hull, with another on the half-hour, one just after the break and a closer to make it a comfortable, never-in-doubt 4-0 victory. But that is not this Arsenal team…
bathgooner,dexter and Trev — thank you! (blushes).
A thumbs up from three of the best contributors in this fine establishment!
I might even re-post — just for the sake of debate.
And “holic — your decision to soldier on is appreciatted here in NZ more than you know – A quadruple Laphroig for youself,Guvnor!
Nice one guys! And TTG, I completely agree; Ancelotti is the ONLY real option out of those you list. He is a quality manager/coach/human being and was shabbily treated by the chavs. I am sure Real will get bored with him, as they do with all their managers. Hopefully it will be at an oppotune time for Arsenal!
Klopp is really spoiling his copy book for all those demanding he be the one to replace AW NOW!
As for Hull tomorrow, I reckon Bruce will rotate a lot, which doesnt necessarily make it an esier game for us, just harder to guess how they will play really!
I do hope Campbell, Belerin, Akpom get starts, with Coquelin and Chambers given another go in midfield. I imagine Koscielny will be rested which could make things a little hairy considering the form of Per this season.
Mr Holic’s 2-1 sounds about right to me, which is fine, as long as we are the ones with the two! 🙂
I too am an admirer of Carlo Ancelotti. The only currently credible contender for a vacancy at Arsenal in 2.5 years. Who knows what the situation will be then? He might feel that his own race has been run by then.
As for Podolski leaving, it is a shame because he is such a likeable character and is obviously well loved by his teammates. But that doesnt mean we should keep him. He was given loads of chances and to be honest, apart from a few spells where he scored a few good goals, his overall all round game didnt really cut it, nor his work ethic for me.
It seems always that whenever a player leaves, then he is lauded, while those that stay, get it in the neck and get called shite! I have done it with Per this season, although to be fair, he has even admitted his form aint been as good as last season’s.
Szczesny is a perfect case in point this year. He has been solid, yet had a bit of a mare vs the saints, so now he is clearly rubbish and needs to go! Like a few others, I feel he has suffered through being either over used, or knew he didnt have much competition (in Szcz’s case, with Ospina being crocked for ages).
Now for a spot of fantasy manager 2015;
Come the end of January, this is how our 1st 11 will look;
Szczesny
Debuchy Per Koscielny Gibbs
Ramsey Chambers
Theo Ozil Sanchez
Welbeck
🙂
Nice preview Holic,
COYR. Dig deep.
N7: top post (again) in previous drinks.
I actually heard you this time.
A Shout on the bar for your patience.
SAG- A pain shared should make it easier mate.
Bath- thanks. The bar will be kept neat and tidy for all.
Cheers, ‘H.
You know that myth about Poldi not getting enough chances? It’s exactly that – a myth.
Go check the stats on how many games he played when fit before january last year. I love the guy and I believe he is very good but he just doesn’t fit our style of play simple. He needs a team to be built around him to get the best out of him but unfortunately, for him, he is not good enough for us to build our team on his strengths.
Illuminating comments re Sergio Ramos in the last round, Trev, which go a long way to explaining how little we really know about what goes on behind the scenes – and, ergo, shouldn’t be forming judgements about.
After the summer 2014 transfer window I couldn’t wait to read AW’s biography account of what exactly went on in negotiations with Suarez and Higuain. Now I wonder what else that tome will reveal that will have some here blushing at the ill-informed drivel they have posted.
Öskar
I had to smile at AW’s comments about the upcoming Cup defence in the Beeb preview … “We have won it five times in my period in charge, so that means we know the importance that it has.” http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30614334
As I recall it took him several years of fielding less than full-strength sides before he cottoned on to the significance of the FA Cup in England. Otherwise he might have won it more often!
Öskar
I see Phil Taylor has cruised into his 20th world darts championship final. Well done that man. Good luck for the 17th win.
Öskar
Cheers Aussie – a drink for you, on my tab.
COYG
Ancelotti may be the obvious choice, but not necessarily the best. Anyone remember Arsene Who?
I would prefer one of the younger guys, say Dragan Stojkovic whom AW himself suggested a while back. Very much in the Wenger mould and learned his trade under him at Grampus, later managing Grampus to their first ever J-League title, something AW never achieved.
But like everything else (see #18) we have no idea who is being considered for the supremely challenging task of following the master. Let’s just pray it isn’t another Moyes.
Öskar
Indeed Oskar. I did think it most likely that I have no idea who will be in the frame when the master passes the baton.
However a major caveat on us plucking an unknown from the crowd is that we no longer have a Board member with the knowledge and network like DD. Even then DD apparently had to propose AW twice and had to work hard to convince his fellow Board members that they should run the risk of appointing the ‘unknown’ Frenchman. DD failed the first time when they appointed Bruce Rioch but they went along with his argument the second time.
I shudder to imagine who would be chosen by Stan or Ivan if they decide ‘to pull a rabbit out of the hat’. Hence I would prefer Carlo, at this moment in time, as a candidate when the master steps down.
Wrong Kev. Poldi had plenty of chances. He proved to have a hammer of a left foot if the ball fell to him in the box, a tendency to jog around a bit rather than break forward quickly or track back with purpose and when given his opportunity to lead the line was utterly useless. His performances in the FA Cup SF and Final were an embarrassment for a player with his reputation.
He scored some great goals but the team cannot carry a passenger who will not track back effectively and can’t keep up with a break once he has tracked back.
Seems a nice chap but couldn’t or wouldn’t fit into the team structure. If we played 4-4-2 with a leader of the line and a left sided second striker (but not a number 10 in the DB10 style) he would be fine. However that style of play pretty much disappeared when we stopped playing Smudger and Wrighty.
Had OG not broken his leg, Poldi would have been sold in the summer.
fyi, Podolski’s stats for Arsenal:
Played 4,574 minutes in 82 matches — an average of 55.7 mins a game;
Goals 31, or a goal every 147.5 minutes played or every 2 2/3rds games played — which is more consistent than his performances at either Cologne or Bayern Munich, btw;
Assists 17.
I believe letting Poldi on loan could cost us, as we are to bare bones already!
This season he has not really been given a proper/decent chances and he did he score a very important goal away at Anderlecht. A lot of players have bad games so calling him a passenger is rather harsh! I know a few other players who had worse performances and why not let go of Diaby instead as he a bit of a phantom player to me these days?
Hold on he will be like a new singing again 😀
Poldi’s left foot will certainly be missed and his attitude towards the fans!
Don’t blame him for going though, he wants to play and there is no way Arsene would have let him but it’s always nice to have a player with such a good left foot and a proven goal scorer to go when those injury omens will strike again.
Bath @ 23,
Never a truer word said, every syllable.
What turns my stomach is how he can tweet to all the fanbase about how much he loves them and contemporaneously holding aloft the Inter colours because he apparently loves them too.
Seriously, what is the lowest point of insincerity where players have to stoop to?
Goodbye Lucas. There’s a reason you didn’t make it at Bayern and its the same reason you didn’t make it at AFC. Maybe one day when you finish instigating moves and pointing fingers at others, you’ll realise that you failed to give your talent the dedication it deserved.
Joe
He was our only natural left footed winger perhaps if Wenger played a winger there instead of a midfielder all the time things would be different now. Just saying like.
Odd that a forward can win 121 caps and score 47 goals for the best national team in the world but struggle to get game time with a club desperately short of players who can get a shot on target. And the more so when you consider he is far and away our most prolific striker based on a goals per minute played.
Something of an enigma our Lukas, who was never given the chances he deserved, imo. Another thing I want to read about in AW’s future book.
Öskar
*was our most prolific striker…
Left-footed wingers often play on the right wing these days, ATG, Robben and van Persie for example, with the right-footed Ribery and Ronaldo preferring the left side. Overmars and Pires also played on their ‘wrong’ side for us. And there are many other examples.
Cutting in from the wrong wing opens up the goal for a shot with the stronger foot more readily.
Öskar
NBN and ATG on poldi:
Agree. Well said.
baff @22, a small point: dein *did* convince the board, and they pursued Arsène in the spring of ’95; he wouldn’t break his contract with grampus 8. he joined arsenal at the behest of dein and the board a year later at the end of his contract (if I am reading Amy Lawrence’s “Invincible” clearly).
but your point stands: we never would have gotten our man but for dein and his vision.
btw, I can’t find words to say how pleasing the bar has been since the defeat to the saints. I don’t write a lot because everyone else seems to say it better and faster than I, but *damn*. 🙂 thank you, especially n7, trev, ttg, and ImpFail. biggest thanks to holic himself for keeping this place open and setting the tone with such consistent, informative pieces.
The Podolski conundrum. I’ll leave it for better minds than me.
Which only leaves it up to all of you. 🙂
In case some of you holics haven’t had a chance to see our 10 best goals of 2014. Wow, we scored some crackers. Enjoy!
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20141223/video-arsenal-s-top-10-goals-of-2014
Am late to the table but previous posts by @Impressive Failage and the follow up by @Dexter sounds about right to me.
Can’t disagree much with @TTG too about ANCELOTTI! The only other manager that would fit the bill should the time come.
All my humble opinion of course.
*Raises glass to the various other posters and bartender too! It’s the diverse opinions that make the place so warm and welcoming despite the (temporary) setbacks we face.
Up The Arse!
😀
Cheers H! This time next week be setting off to TNHOF, deep joy.
I would echo that fine, fine drinker Bath’s comments about the current board. I would n’t bet on any succession planning. When it comes to football knowledge, the current board need sat nav to find their own nipples. Different story when it comes to sniffing out cash. Obviously.
ATG,
“He was our only natural left footed winger”
Well he was left footed, I grant you that. But to say he was a winger is argumentative to say the least considering the role of the modern winger in our formation requires a high level of movement.
I also think its somewhat unfair to blame Wenger for Poldi’s departure when Poldi has clearly instigated the move and been pointing fingers at others. If Poldi put as much effort into his movement on the field as he did in his social networking for example, he might have been somewhat true to the fabulous talent that he has.
I believe Tim Stillman got it perfectly right when he said that when Poldi played, Poldi was more likely to score but Arsenal were not.
As such, it was inevitable that we would eventually part ways.
As for your other point about being the only left sided winger we possess: Welbeck, Cazorla, Sanchez and Ozil can all play on the left wing.
Podolski will not be missed footballistically anyway! He might be German and a World Cup winner, but he was used as a sub when it mattered. But I don’t want to besmirch the mans reputation! He was a squad player for us, but will be a starter in Italy, which is all he should be bothered about.
He wasn’t good enough either as a striker or wide forward. We have Sanchez, AOC and Cazorla who can play wide left and Giroud, Welbeck, Akpom, Theo and (atm) Sanogo who can play centrally. So, not exactly desperation, despite the oh too predictable Twitter meltdown.
Oh and Cavani is due at London Colney any moment now! 🙂
What Joe said!
Just a quick one from me to say that:
(a) I have it on very good authority (someone close to the player, can’t name them) that Poldi spent the whole summer looking for a new club and has been mentally out the door for some time (challenging Trev for the ITK crown here). To the extent he wasn’t “given a chance” this season it’s because the manager is always loathe to give game time to players who are leaving – it deprives those who are staying of valuable experience and probably doesn’t help morale. Also query whether someone can really be said not have been given a chance when they’ve played 82 times for Arsenal over a two and a half year period while being paid £90k a week. Oh to be so hard done by.
(b) Who is the player who has had Poldi’s preferred spot this season? Ah yes – Alexis Sanchez. I think we’ll live.
I really like Poldi, and I agree with Oskar that you don’t accumulate all those caps for Germany without having something. But the idea that he wasn’t given a chance and somehow loves the club more than other players (apparently also the case at his previous and new clubs) is total nonsense. He’s a footballer we’ve paid big money to. He’s not good enough for our first team, he doesn’t work hard enough, he’s 29 years old and he wants to move on. He hasn’t been thrown out, by any means.
Sad to see him go, but we’ll live. The return of Theo and Gnabry means we should be covered and it’s not on the wings that we’ve been stretched this season.
COYG
That’s put that debate to bed nicely, N7!!
Here’s my team for today:
Ospina, Bellerin, Per, chambers, Nacho, Coquelin, Rosicky, Theo, Santi, AOC, Akpom.
I doubt AW will make that many changes, but I think the likes of Kos and Alexis need a break for differing reasons.
Not bothered at all about lukas p leaving,when iv watched him play I was surprised with his lack of touch for a player with so many caps technically wasn’t up to speed IMHO.good ref from bath about the two man front line were he’d be a lot more affective.worried for today’s game hull will be well up for this I hope we are.
Damn you all ! (Morning, by the way)
I really liked Podolski but it seems possibly for all the wrong reasons.
In a team that has a tendency towards over-elaboration, poldi could always be relied on to just blast his way through opponents and smash in a thunderous shot.
Not often enough, I’ll admit, but here was a fully grown, beast of a bloke who just quite simply wanted the ball in the back of the opposition net while eschewing the opportunity of an audition for the Royal Ballet first.
The swell of opinion amongst fellow fans and coaches past and present has, though, now sadly convinced me that he was not right for us. I’ll miss his constant beaming smile and the threat of that left cannon being unleashed on some poor unsuspecting glove butler.
Good luck, Poldi.
Poldi AHHTTT ! 🙂 🙁
😆
#gone#iwasnevergivingachance#iluvfans###whymanagersnolikeme#putthephonedown#ilovejuve#sorryimeaninter#ilovesocialmediorethanplaying#thankstrev#trevknowspoldi# 🙂
Sorry for some reason my#trevknows#poldilovetrev#
Didn’t come up.
Heh ! Garsguns.
After spending the day just drinking in the bar, I too admit I feel more at ease about poldi moving on compared to my initial thoughts when I first heard the news..considering our injury woes.
Damn you N7 and your balanced perspective on poldi being replaced by Sanchez.
🙂
Heh! Cheers, Aussie.
First disappointment of the day:
It turns out Dover Athletic are known as the “Whites” rather than “Cliffdwellers” or any of a series of more interesting names.
Why didn’t we think of this wallpaper? Wenger clearly has not been innovative enough. Although I do disagree with the BBC’s description of the design which will be interpreted by the City players as INCREASING green circles representing the size of their egos, wallets, etc. etc. etc.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2895628/Manchester-City-players-given-wallpaper-special-sleep-inducing-patterns-bedrooms-club-s-200m-training-base.html
I shall be setting off soon to THOF where my first task is to get Oliver 5 inscribed on my youngest grandson’s blue Arsenal kit. My next is to meet a very good friend who supports Hull for a drink and the third is to hopefully watch us progress through.
Enjoyed the ITK pieces by Trev and N7. Sergio Ramos would have been a great signing. I heard Poldi was trying to work his passage too although the first game I saw him in this season was the Capital One Cup tie against Saints and he certainly did very little work there. He scored some corking goals, he really has a gamer on him but his work rate was underwhelming. Like a lot of the footballing Twitterati there is a lot of PR nous in Podolski but I suspect less sincerity.
I would also commend Bath’s earlier point about David Dein’s network. I nearly bought Bruce Rioch’s old house a few years ago after he moved on so picked up some interesting info there . Wenger wouldn’t break his contract in 1995 but did recommend Bergkamp as a key signing. Regarding the next manager I think that Gazidis will be the Kingmaker. I suspect he will have the main input and I think the Board will be very aware of not granting quite the same level of autonomy to a future manager. in 1998 they were so besotted with Wenger that as he increased his power they were very comfortable particularly as he has always put the financial security of the club first ( unlike Arry!) and he made consistent profits on his transfer dealings when we were very short of cash. I think the type of football played will matter to Gazidis as a man very conscious of brand.
Sorry hammer not gamer!
Sergio Ramos would have been a great signing
He would have been, but would he have developed into the defender he is now at Arsenal, or would have he have become a Senderos (the centre back we signed around the same time) type instead?
Thanks for the preview Holic.
I’m delighted to read that you will continue to entertain and enlighten us on this wonderful forum. I also know that this is not the easiest time of the year for you, so my appreatiation and respect for you is great.
Gonna be a toughy today, we are physically, and after the NYD result, mentaly wounded. we really need to rotate, but the choices are extreamly limited. I don’t believe for a second that Steve Bruce will rest or rotate, any manager worth his salt will be smelling blood in the water and line up his troops accordingly.
For the perinial moaners;
Here’s a challenge.
Go check out the squads of our rivals and those of the clubs around us, hell do the CL teams too if you can be arsed.
Now take out from their squads the equivelent of;
Ozil
Ramsey
Arteta
Wilshere
Flamini
Giroud
Welbeck
Sanogo (for a laugh)
That’s a whole forward line and midfield.
Then put, in our case Theo, on the bench due to being a year out.
How good is that rival team looking now?
Then factor in that this team has hardly been able to utilise it’s strongest back four and a 19 year old newbie has been used in 3 different positions since the start of the season.
Still with me?
OK, now explain to me how this backward moving team with their no mark manager ae still only 4 points off 3rd and have qualified (again) for the knockout stages of Europes elite compition!?
Honestly, some of you don’t realise how good we have it. The constant bitching and moaning reminds me of the twaddle of the 90’s Mickeys and the Plastic Mancs of the new millenium, it makes me sick to my stomach and ashamed of certain sections of our fanbase and frankly makes us all look pathetic.
By “around the same time” I mean he made his first team debut around then, having arrived as a youth player and then *cough* getting injured…
OK, now explain to me how this backward moving team with their no mark manager ae still only 4 points off 3rd
Perhaps because the standard of the league is so poor that West Ham and Southampton have spent most of the first half of the season in the top four and a Manchester United side that is the worst they’ve had in 20 years (even worse than last year’s team) is still able to occupy third?
Arsenal are currently sixth in a rubbish league. I don’t believe things are as bad as many appear to, and I still think we will get a top four place but the rest of the teams around us are bloody poor. That’s an opinion, not a fact though…
It’s not about being a team going backwards for me though, it’s about a team standing still, making the same mistakes time after time and looking a shambles far too often.
Still, there’s nothing that can be done about it beyond having a grumble.
Great post H2H! 🙂
Holic, What H2H said so eloquently, in his opening paragraphs xx
Funny title, btw. Bit confused though by your “worst case scenario”, so I will attempt to decode that! 😉
Cynic
Why is it a poor league just because West Ham WERE in the top 4? That kind of thing happens almost every year; Ipswich, Villa, Sunderland and the good ol spuds and a fair few others have all had really good halves of a season then slipped away. Calling ManU really poor also kinda makes a mockery of the close to £150m they have spent! Di maria, Falcao, Rooney and the dutch twat are (were for the latter) world class attackers and would, or should cause problems for any side.
As for Southampton, they are where they are on merit. The chavs scraped a draw just before us, before they got stuffed by the spuds.
This season has been pretty pants for Arsenal, but taking into account what H2H says, puts things into context. Well, it ought to anyway.
Good afternoon all,
The pundits should at least refer to us as the champions today.
Methinks!!
Abb.
A worst case scenario would involve Podolski scoring 30 goals for Inter Milan. A wurst case scenario on the other hand would have Podolski becoming an Italian sausage maker and in case you are wondering the most famous Italian sausage is known as the Lucanica which the Italian newspapers can be expected to use when Lukas blasts his first one into the top corner.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sausage
Heh @ 8ball
Hey 8ball 🙂
Lukas should gone to my Juve!
I was just going to check to see how many goals he has scored for us in Champs League, think that is where we will miss him the most!
Only 3 goals (scratches head).
But they were pivotal ones, for sure. Haha!
Just read @51. City’s players sleep in their compound the night before a home game! Well, that is sure to cut down on last minute groin injuries…
Sorry, my bad 😉
I got a lot of time for you Cynic, and I agree we had stagnated over the years, although considering our finances etc, we have consistently punched around or just above our weight. My comment is aimed at those who are only here to push their own agenda, those how refuse to see grey. They live in their black and white world and that’s that.
The one’s that call me a Wenger sympathiser and think that I believe the sun shines out his jacksie. I didn’t want to single him out, but fuck it, the one’s like Aussie.
I’ve seen that he has said that he would reel it in on this bar, but sorry if I won’t hold my breath for that to happen as he has done it before and at the first sign of trouble returned to type. Ofcourse that’s his right, just as it mine to call him out on it. I really wouldn’t mind it so much if he actually answered when others put questions to him, eg the promised list of lost points due to Woj, yet he expects/demands answers to his qurestions and pulls you up when he fails to get what he thinks he deserves. spoilt child mentality.
From previous;
Arsene’s loyalty to chronically injured players is admirable, but does he not also have an even greater loyalty to the broader football club and fans who pay his enormous salary while we support the likes of the diaby’s in recoveries that just never really happen.
Diaby has a contract, a legally binding document, he has to be paid.
If we offer him a new contract, I’ll personally sharpen your pitchfork for you.
I could look up more crap like this, but can’t be fucked, everyone has read it already.
H2H: I am sorry that I was not handed the manual for how to be such a role model wenger supporter as you.
Pigeonholed.
I’m an Arsenal supporter. have been pre Wenger, will be post Wenger. I got my manual with my membership pass. You?
Just occasionally you should check in and see how the actual team are doing. Unkike wenger, they are doing shit.
What?
You mean like actualy go to games? Per-leeease.
I am also truly disapointed at what I see is happening to my club and our team.. and don’t enjoy seeing us not being anywhere near the best we can be as Steve T so rightly said way back in here…
I’d thank you not to misquote top Gooner and friend Steve T to fuel your agenda. It’s because of posters like you that he no longer comes here….
and that, so that you can finally learn the difference, is a FACT.
FACT …… There’s an acronym in there somewhere! 🙂
I do enjoy people who’s definition of “fact” is “my opinion”
Fact if I know anything….
Oskar @21
Remi Garde? Bilic?
I’m not proposing them, just throwing their names into the “young bloods” hat ….
No worries H2H, it’s all good for reading in the build up to a game, while we have to put up with Fletch and Sav and the other gibbons on BT.
🙂 dexter
*stands up and applauds H2H*
Up The Arse!
Just noticed The Ghost of Shay is playing for Villa.
Hull make 10 changes to line up from NYD.
I was way off.
Feo and Campbell rumoured to start for us.
Arsenal starting XI: Ospina, Bellerin, Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Coquelin, Rosicky, Cazorla, Walcott, Campbell, Sanchez.
——–
Ooh, not far off my team! 🙂 Although I’m a bit disapointed, when the fuck is Sanchez going to have a breather???
Fact, “fact” or FACT? Either way, Mourinho is a turd.
Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Coquelin, Rosicky, Cazorla, Walcott, Campbell, Alexis
Subs: Martinez, Debuchy, Koscielny, Zelalem, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Maitland-Niles, Akpom
Hull City: Harper, Figueroa, Davies, Huddlestone, Brady, Maguire, McShane, Sagbo, Ince, Aluko, Quinn.
Subs: McGregor, Bruce, Meyler, Hernandez, Livermore, Dawson, Elmohamday
via Arseblog
Can’t wait to see if Theo, Joel or Alexis are charged with playing up top today. Then again, maybe they will take it in turns.
We have really really missed Theo; a whole flippin year! Gawd knows what we coulda shoulda wudda with him fit? That game vs the spuds showed me he can cut it up top as the central striker. His movement, energy and all round play was exceptional. Here’s hoping he comes through unscathed and helps us win stuff…. Having Theo, Alexis, Welbeck and Ozil in the same line up with be quite something… can’t wait!
Lot of pace in this Arsenal start in line up. I like it.
What I don’t like is fielding Mertesacker at the left CB position. Again! How it turned up the last time he played there? I don’t remember we won a game this season with him playing there, maybe I am wrong though.
Also, when exactly is Alexis going to have a rest?
Ahh unlucky Wrexham… almost beat the Tar Pit dwellers. Would have been timely given the BBC showed them beating GG’s AFC this morning.
And Sheff utd so close to getting a replay vs the Blue Mancs… Damn you unromantic FA cup gods!
@Dexter: Imagine if Arsenal were in that game, people would say we can only scrap a late win against Sheffield…
Indeed Amby.
Good stuff earlier Dexter. Imp F, Bath N7, Trev and TTG too.
Ah shucks, this means Per on the left side of the defence, he looks so uncomfortable there, nervous here..
So true Amby!
also, since wiziwig is down for good, here are some streams for those in need http://www.livefootballol.com/streaming/english-fa-cup/04-01-2015-arsenal-hull-city.html
and http://livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/279438_arsenal_hull_city/
Jimmy Bullard on the BBC? You’re just an ASDA Robbie Savage, Bullard.
UP THE ARSE!
vrooommmmmmm
VROOOOOMMMMMMMM
.
turf on the fire
tiger in the tank
.
cmon
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
Poor effort from Campbell.
Would Poldi have scored that????? Who knows.
He’s gone, so irrelevant.
Per. Get in. Finally
Smiles at Per xx
BFG.
Hes back!
Per.
From a corner.
😀
We are playing quite good so far
Boom
Bugger.
First goal we’ve scored from a corner since 1967 apparently.
🙂
Its been a while since I scored here:-)
Thanks for the assist BB
Please..please be more ruthless and tear a new one for them….
Anytime Lurky!
🙂
That Ospina isn’t half bad…
And Alexis … what is he on? How can he keep on playing at this level for so long? No injuries too! 🙂
Don’t jinx it, BB…
Let’s finish this off boys.. getting a little nervous here!
I won’t Amby…(at least I hope I did not!).
COME ON!
I’m sure you won’t BB but alexis needs a rest, and to be honest this is the perfect game to rest him. Anyway, we need to speed up the play, we have all the pace in the pitch but somehow we play with handbrake on…
Decent half of football by us
Good to see some soeed return
alexis shocked how his final touch did not get in from a great team move all started by tomas’s trickery
Decent start but I thought the first half tailed off a bit. We should be three up and the game put to bed. I hope that does not come back to haunt us.
Tommy R looking superb in the middle. Alexis working hard. Such a shame that chip did not go in. Theo looks understandably off the pace but he will benefit from the game time.
Need to just sharpen up a bit second half and put the game to bed.
“Soeed” should read speed above
Martin. It’s even more a shame that Alexis didn’t hit it a bit farther to the right to keep it out of the reach of the defender when the goal was gaping. Agreed about Rosicky looking superb. He almost always does.
Come on theo — its goal time!!
COME ON ARSENAAAL
Missing poldi.
Why is that a card for ALEXIS???
REF OUT!
That’s irrelivent apparently Homer???
We miss Welbeck and OG.
Poldi’s gone.
GET THE FUCK IN.
ALEXISSS
Who ELSe? 😀
Great goal and some wonderful football from is today.
I wonder if Poldi would of high fived him after he scored that?
Maybe yes. Maybe no.
Theo – who i love dont misunderstand – apparently his touch and finish are a bit rusty. Surely poldi buries those chances. So no, not irrelevant if arsenal could be up 3-0.
Irrelevant yes – as hes now on loan at inter. And due to Alexis’ magic part 15.
Great assist by santi
Sucks in 3 hull players
Leaves Alexis one on one with the back of the net
Correction: alexis brilliance part 193 – but am not really counting.
Alexis is brillliant. Just amazing.
He would have done H2H. He’s that kind of chap.
How good is Alexis? Genuine world class. I dread to think where we would be without him?
Ill take that.
Hard to pick a highlight from the BBC TV commentary, but this one from Motson deserves a very honourable mention at the very least:
“It’s hard to see Hull coming back from this… but it was hard to see Arsenal coming back in May.”
Now, I may be missing something, but surely, the fact that Arsenal had 82 minutes to come back and Hull had 8 is of some relevance?
I’m sure commentary is more difficult than it appears and I appreciate that the commentators may wish to make the game “seem more interesting to the neutral viewers” but I felt that the ooohs and aaahs and constant references to how difficult Hull were making it for Arsenal were a little overdone. I didn’t think that Arsenal looked in much trouble. Equally, I thought all the “Arsenal don’t know whether to sit back and try to defend their one goal lead” comments were uncalled-for. Didn’t Arsenal fail to score only through ill-luck 2 or 3 times?
Finally, before Oskar comes in to tell us, I though Sanchez had a slightly off game; too many spectacular blasts against opponents for my liking. I’ll stop typing now so that Shearer can explain what a great game he had. Bloody good goal, though, when it came.
COYG
MOTM Alexis.. chases the ball down and urges the team to close down the opponents when they don’t have the ball.. and what a strikers goal… turn and BOOM!.. utter class!
😀
4th round here we come. Ospina was never really troubled but looked assured with what he had to do. Campbell disappointing again. I’m far from convinced he can make it at this level. Theo making good runs. The touch and finish will come.
Sanchez. Head and shoulders above anyone else on the pitch. What a wonderful player. Makes the comments from the likes of Phil Thompson seem even funnier now.
Alexis is brilliant and his performances demand of Arsenal that reinforcement be brought in to shore up our deficiencies so we can benefit fully from his brilliance.
Chambers had a good game today and seems to play his best in that “Mertesacker” position.
Pangloss. Please let us know when you think Alexis has a good game. 😉
I think you were watching BBC1 then you are missing something Pangloss. The commentator was Jonathan Pearce.
Martin
It is my opinion that AW not playing poldi and then sending him off was idiotic. Due to poldi’s quality finishing and natural nose for goal that has been missing since the dutch skunk effed off.
Note that i also complained about the sagna transfer for months after it was apparent it was happening. And indeed for months after it was done.
Not saying im always right. Or that there was an unhealthy man crush in the sagna situation … But Just in case, give a brother a break, eh?
Good point Martin. Rather takes the shine off my drink. Oops.
COYG
8ball@135, Sanchez had a good game with lots of mazey runs and lots of great passes, just a lot of blasting into the closest set of opponents shins to go with it. Maybe it was superb positioning by the Hull defenders but I’ve drunk in this establishment for long enough never to give the opponents any credit when it’s possible to criticise one of ours.
COYG
Poldi had already left in the summer. He just didn’t have another club.
I liked Poldi, but he was a square peg. A talented poacher and goal getter, no doubt, but just didn’t fit a Wenger system. Watch the Southampton CoCup game and you’ll lesrn all you need to know about why his chances were limited.
Personally I would have liked to see him used more from the bench as an impact sub, sadly that didn’t happen. Good luck to him as he takes his Instagramology degree in the University of Milan.
Seriously cannot believe people are bemoaning Podolski not playing this game and even criticising Theo into the bargain after a year out!!??!!?? Shocking behaviour.
Tsk tsk…
Pangloss it was the piss poor Jonathan Pearce on the BBC. Truly abysmal commentary.
Bellrein looks very good.
Coquelin also another good game. His passing looks. Little rusty but hes solid.
Theo – so close. Psyched hes back.
And give it up for santi and rosicky – who looked really good i thought.
Lovin me some TR7. Hes adds so much dynamism to the middle of the park.
And the BFG is back … Finally.
Very nice
Homer. Check out 93 and 94. Then you might realise the little joke. I would far prefer to have seen Poldi on the pitch than in Italy.
I too can see absolutely no sense in sending Poldi out on loan, unless we have someone coming in. I too think that he did not get enough game time and should have played more. His record, certainly for the World Champions would tend to support that. I would love to know why he has not featured more and why he has gone on loan.
I also agree re Sanga. For a club with frugal as part of its moto I coukd see little sense in not sorting out his contract and then paying for his French understudy. Not that I don’t think that Debuchy is a fine player.
Break given and a drink of your choice on the bar.
Dexter – if that comment is directed at me then Tsk stk.
Spoiling for a fight and only looking for a reason to disagree with someone.
Charmed, really.
A good day. And before more pointless bickering ruins it, im taking my leave.
Cheers to all the drinkers in the bar.
Martin.
I think Trev explained pretty much why Poldi left.
He would of been gone earlier but for OG’s leg break.
Shall we discuss Brady and Stapleton leaving the club next? Sheeeesh…
A bit quiet here………..
We must have won.
Homer; sorry didn’t realise I am not allowed to disagree with you and Martin complaining about a player leaving when we’ve just won without him.
Spoiling for a fight? Blimey you must be delicate if that was deemed at all aggressive mate. The tsk tsk was a bit of a clue to the inner rage I guess.
Apologies. H2H. I’ve not read Trev’s post.
My opinion is that he should still be here unless we have found a replacement. We are hardly blessed at the moment with an abundance of forwards.
Sagna is 32 next month and wanted 120k a week plus.
Wouldn’t have kept him on those terms myself. Debuchy is a good replacement and we have young Bellerin coming through. That’s one area of the squad where I’m pretty happy with how we’ve played our hand.
Good result today. Could have been a hiding if we’d been more clinical.
COYG
Martin: forwards is surely the one area where we are blessed?
Giroud, Welbeck, Sanchez, theo, Ox, campbell, Gnabry, Akpom.
Santi and Ozil can also both play out side. The front three has been the one area we’ve looked really well stocked all season. And that’s without theo and Gnabry being fit. The fact that young Campbell cannot get a run speaks volumes.
Martin @ 144: A minor correction: Debuchy is no longer Sangna’s understudy but he is the first choice RB in France national team as Sagna sits on the bench. We all love Sagna, and there was nothing wrong in having him around as an experience option, but his forward play was getting poorer (age and injuries), so with Debuchy I think we have a minor upgrade on the RB for the next couple of years. Sagna’s versatility as an excellent CB cover of course not compensated, but there too Debuchy showed promise in the couple of games he played as CB.
H2H. Did you mean Trev’s 153 in the last drinks? Just had a quick back drink.
Phil Thompson has recommended Liverpool sign top class strikers like Higuain or Charlie Austin…
Yep, he is wasted as a pundit.
I was going to post my take on old news Sagna, but didn’t want to upset anyone…
What the heck! 🙂
Sagna had two broken legs was the wrong side of 30 and would have been 2nd Comice RB and 4th choice CB. As N7 said, he wanted a shed load of cash to do that, so fucked off to a club who didn’t mind paying that amount. Like almost every modern multi millionaire footballer getting towards the latter stages of their careers, he felt he deserved a last big pay off.
He was a dependable player when fit and I wanted him to stay, primarily as our back up CB, but he chose to leave. That’s football. I think in Debuchy we have a quality replacement. And if I’m honest I really don’t understand why it’s even up for discussion?
Comice??? Choice.
N7. I have always been a Sagna fan. Personally I would have done a bit more to keep him. Especially with Bellerin in the wings. I like Debuchy. I think he is a good addition. I was just slightly surprised that we paid that amount in the circumstances.
I also think we lack a quality striker. Welbeck is a great addition but is not prolific. OG brings many qualities to the table. I think that Alexis is far better playing wide or off the main striker. Theo is also more natural in that side position. I think AOC will be more suited to Central midfield in the long term. At this stage I don’t consider Akpom, Gnabry or Campbell first team quality. As you will see from my 152 in the last set of drinks, I also agree with Trev. I think Poldi brought something different to the squad and I hope we have someone coming in to replace him.
But, as mentioned above, today is about our progression in the cup. My mention of Poldi above was meant to be humerous and just a throw away comment. Apologies if it has touched a few nerves. That was never the intention.
About Poldi, Trev and N7 have said it all. It is also worth noting that he has lost his first team position in German set-up as well with the emergence of Reus and Gotze and Schuurle. This is not because Poldi is a bad player, he is one of the best penalty-box scorers in the game, but maybe because his own game didn’t evolve with time.
He came on the German scene as a young prodigy when Germany used to play the efficient, clinical, direct game. Him and Klose were a terrific partnership in the 4-4-2, but Poldi had never been able to move his game forward. He joined Bayern probably a little early, and failed to become the kind of player he was expected to be. He moved back to Cologne where he was a superstar in a rather ordinary team and in his last season with them despite scoring 20 odd goals in typical Poldi fashion they didn’t survive the relegation battle.
He was given a lot of chance in Arsenal colors to just take the next step and adjust his game a bit more to the team’s strength. Whatever be the reasons he didn’t take that chance. His back-to-the-goal game didn’t improve at all — think of RVP’s evolution from a goal-scoring winger to an all-round CF extraordinaire, and I think Arsene was hoping an improvement along those lines — and whenever he was given a chance centrally he didn’t do well consistently. He has played a lot on the left side (80+ appearances in two season is hardly being underused) and for majority of 12-13 he was in the starting eleven. But defensively often was found short, while gelling well with Giroud and Santi in the final third. Then Ozil arrived, Ox made a step forward and Poldi go seriously injured in the home match against Spurs, where he was playing very well. After his return from injury the team has settled into a rhythm with Giroud-Rambo-Ozil working very well off each other with Santi/Ox/Gnabry on the left. He got another chance around the winter time but was not convincing for a PL starting chance. He was played in Cup matches, he started the FA Cup but his contribution, especially when we needed to come back form 0-2, was left a bit to be desired.
A very effective player under certain conditions and against certain oppositions. But maybe his 100k odd wages can be spent on a defensive option or two.
No worries Martin.
Re: Bac – would you have paid him 120k a week for three years? Because that’s what it would have taken. There was no “bit more” option. It was either make him one of the squad’s top earners or watch him walk.
Re: Poldi – I gave my view way up near the top. It’s worth tracking down because for the first time in my life I am actually ITK on something!
Just to add that I really like both Sagna and Poldi.
I would also note that if there’s one area where Wenger remains amongst the best in the world, it’s knowing when an aging player is on the wane – very, very rarely gets it wrong.
Coquelin my MOTM today, closely followed by TR7 & Alexis. Alexis got the fabulous goal and caused trouble and pressed and chased tireless as is his style, but his fatigue has also started to show with a lot of giveaways and wrong decisions in the crucial positions. Thought Chambers did well on the right side of the CB pairing.
Campbell gave Monreal good defensive support, his short passing and close control was good but was too tentative and timid in the final third. A very good run at the beginning when his shot was saved by the goalie, but a poor attempt later on when he should have been more direct.
Theo’s first touch and finishing are understandably rusty, but good to see that the runs and the speed have survived the surgery. A fully on Theo would have had a couple of goals today.
N7. I’m at work at the moment so not reading every post. My apologies, just read it and not a lot there that does not make sense. I think it’s a shame he has gone and a shame he did not get more games. I still also think we need a top striker. Perhaps losing his 90k a week wages will allow for that.
Re Bacs. My understanding was that we offered 95k. Personally I eould have gone to 120k over two years. That may well have been enough and would have seen the likes of Bellerin, Chambers or Jenkinson ascend to the throne after that period. But as I pointed out earlier, I’m not unhappy at all with Debuchy.
Good stuff, Martin. It’s fine margins with these things – I hate seeing Bac go, but we’ve covered the loss well. Really excited at the prospect of where Bellerin might be in a year or two (hopefully not Barca).
Dr F at 159 and 162; great posts, thanks.
Not back-drinked yet, so apologies… I loved Campbell — I loved it when we bought him in the dark distant days around the 8-2 drubbing at OT and that old geezer, forget his name now, went to Costa Rica and trumped up £1M for an unknown teenager.
Any old road. Tonight, I thought he fought like Alexis, battled for everything, dinked this and that, had a shot here and there — some not so good. But. That was a kid playing like it was his last game.
Liked the boy. Liked the fight. I think he might have something in him.
Up the Arse. 2-0. Sweet-as-a-nut.
How is the season gonna end up? No idea…
I had Santi as MOTM. Alexis will get the plaudits but the ball into him makes the second goal – lovely read of the game.
Bellerin a huge plus. Coq sloppy with the odd pass but what a change to have a properly mobile DM.
Only real bum note for me was the game not being out of sight by half time and Alexis ending up playing 85 mins. Got to take our chances.
COYG
Evening all 🙂 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I would love for Wenger to keep playing the Coq. He is looking good and will only improve hopefully.