Can Stoke Do It On A Cold Sunday Lunchtime In North London?
Jan 10th, 2015 by 'holic
The weekend, a welcome distraction in this of all weeks. Though hardly a lip smacking prospect we have the visit of Stoke City to look forward to. They have had a special dislike of us since we denied them successive FA Cup Final appearances in 1971 and 1972. It has been returned in full since 2010 and that tackle.
To be fair it is now proven that you can polish a turd. Under Mark Hughes they now have found a passing element to their game that Tony Pulis used to coach out of them. They retain a love of the physical and the option of route one rather than it’s exclusive use, and it is a combination we have found difficult to deal with in the Potteries where we were beaten just five weeks ago. Hughes himself proudly proclaims,
“We are competitive in this league, but we look to get the ball down and play. We have a Plan A and a Plan B, depending on the circumstances of the game. We can go more direct if it’s the right thing to do and we can see weaknesses in the other team.”
At home though we have seemingly dealt with them rather better, winning the last twelve encounters in North London. We also see some strength returning to the squad, with Mathieu Debuchy, Laurent Koscielny, and Olivier Giroud all back in the fold. In addition Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Osil, and Β Mathieu Flamini returned to training this week, so expect to see a much stronger bench than of late. Le Boss is in no doubt about the value of the returning players, as he told Arsenal Player.
“We could benefit from that because these are players who are not overloaded with games. Some of our players have played 26 or 27 games, whereas some have played four or five. These players coming back can give us some impact for the coming months.β
The most interesting decision for Arsene Wenger is who to play in goal. In public Arsene has stated that Wojciech has apologised but in the past he has frozen out players who have displeased him for long periods. David Ospina had a good World Cup and has done little wrong in his three appearances thus far, but Stoke will provide a real test of any goalkeeper in the air. Thankfully it isn’t my decision.
The return of Giroud should give us more shape and allow Alexis Sanchez to return to a supporting role in which he has been outstanding this season. Another hour or so against combative opponents would do Theo Walcott’s match-fitness and confidence no harm either.
The ‘holic pound
If we can maintain discipline and inject some pace into our attacking play then it should be lucky thirteen in a row. The last four home matches against Stoke have ended 1-0, 3-1, 1-0, and 3-1, so what odds on another 1-0? Paddy Power offer 6/1 and so that is where the ‘holic pound is invested this week.
I’m looking forward to seeing a few of you in the usual place pre-match. Whatever you are doing, and wherever you will be, have a good one, ‘holics.
245 Responses to “Can Stoke Do It On A Cold Sunday Lunchtime In North London?”
Get IN!
π
Have a great birthday ‘h
Cheers H.
See you pre-game!
Well in BB.
Thank you neighbour. You will be missed.
Giroud to score at ALL times, but one time in particular.
Happy Birthday, maestro, if your birthday it is. π
Good stuff GSD π
It is tomorrow, bt8bbgfg, thank you very much. π
Cheers ‘holic!
Really looking forward to this one.. Ozil-Giroud-Alexis-Theo…
Should make mince meat out of any team.. even the orcs!
Our defence too is slowly getting up to optimum strength. A good a time as any to resume our resurgence!
π
First time in the bar for a week, and I’m in single figures. Fine preview Guv’nor.
COYG
Nice one Holic – see you tomorrow.
A great title and Classic first line! Im not suse this particular turd has been polished but it has been made marginally less distasteful despite being undeniably and irrevocably turdlike in composition.
In this game last year we scored two goals from corners and if Zi remember rightly it was Mesut’s first home game for us.Ironic then that he should probably reappear for this one.
We have yet to see the full synergies of the Ozil- Sanchez partnership what with the Germans’ late start back and the Chelsea injury. It is a mouth- watering prospect and infinitely better than a turd sandwich! I fancy us bettering 1-0. I fancy 3-1 or even 3-0 if Ospina starts. It will do Ches no harm to kick his heels on the bench and also give Ospina a chance to show what he can do.
COYG
Holic,
An odd question for you. If I gave you a piece of (top quality) toast and a choice of lemon marmalade or pork rillettes to spread on it which would you choose?
If anyone else would like to answer I’m all ears!
Cheers Holic,
3-1 for me but no money on it.
See you tomorrow. π
Nice preview H. Here’s to the boys giving you a positively memorable birthday present.
Many happy returns.
Lemon marmalade every time. π
Thank you kind sirs. π
Many happy returns tomorrow Holic! Let’s hope the lads look after you with a very fine win. Sadly it looks like the mediocre Totts are on their way to another win
Come on Crystal Palace! π
All the best for your special day tomorrow Holic! Let’s hope the lads will make it even sweeter!
On the other hand the Totts look like a one man team of bottles!
Bottlers! The TTG spell
check strikes again( or doesn’t )
Couldn’t agree more TTG π
Spurs are so bang average
HAHAHHAHAHAH…..Spuds!
π
Dirty, filthy, sniveling Spurs put in their place. Makes my day. π
Cheers Holic! See you tomorrow if only briefly.
1-0? No fucking way. We are batter those cunts.
Good news on the blue front.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30663312
Interesting to hear that Afobe is having a medical with a championship side. Sanogo appears to have decided to go to Palace and Benfica are flying in to discuss Joel Campbell next week. With Podolski already at Inter Milan I think we might see a bigger role for Chuba Akpom. Dortmund are apparently hoping to sign him on a Bosman and were we to lose him we might start looking short upfront with Walcott being very fragile and Giroud and Welbeck bearing the main striking load.
Arsene does like to unload before he buys! Gnabry sadly appears another very injury prone lad
Good man Esso. Looking forward to it. π
Thanks all.
A 1.30 start on a Sunday is totally useless for me. It means my ticket will be with a total stranger tomorrow via ticket exchange. I’m going for a 3-0 to the mighty Gunners. I really don’t care how many plans Hughes thinks he has. They won’t be enough.
I wouldn’t be all surprised to see Ospina play. I’m not sure I would drop Shezza but it would not surprise me at all.
Happy Birthday for tomorrow H. I hope it is a fab day from start to finish.
I disagree with your second paragraph. I still maintain that you can’t polish a turd. You can however roll it in glitter.
That said, Hughes is still one massive turd.
Heh @ 29.
Holic, Just want you to enjoy your day tomorrow. Heaven knows you deserve it. Courage comes in many forms…
Like you and the holics, really looking forward to seeing Ozil, Theo, Giroud, (does happy dance) π
Ryan should take a page from Mikel’s book, and start acting like a real captain. Arteta is such a gentleman. As is Per.
Shout out to Cynic, cba, 8ball and company from last night’s drinks.
Cheered me up, when I needed it.
Good night everyone. Will try to make the start of the game, as I’ll be just getting off work! βΊ
*Imagines a scenario whereby the opposition would be shaking in their boots this many hours prior to facing Arsenal.*
A bit like a decade ago you might say.
Abb, Have a good night at work and don’t rush getting back for the game. Unless you want to see our first two goals, that is. π
Martin – You can’t polish a turd, but you can give it a job on BT Sport.
Happy birthday, ‘Holic. Three points and a landed ‘holic pound would make fine presents.
Many Happy Returns H!
And off to TNHOF!
Come on You Arsenal!
HFB will be a welcome return to the side today.
Need 3 points. C’mon boys please turn up for this one.
COYR!!!
Arsenal striker Benik Afobe is in talks with Wolves over a permanent exit from the Emirates, sources have told ESPN FC.
—–
Noooooo! I like Afobe…. π
Happy Birthday Guvna….hope it will be double celebrations after the match. π
Early talk is that Woj will start this one
Nice one guv, many happy returns and have a great day. I have it on good authority that there will be some top holics in the chosen nuclear so that should be a grand ol’ session.
No idea what the team will be today, but I’d definetly start Woj, by far our best keeper, no matter what some may tell you. He’s had his kick up the jacksie and history tells us he mostly comes back stronger after a set back/put down.
Any win will do me, Stoke FC may not quite be the eye sore of yore, but their fans are still inbred, mouthbreathing, knuckle dragging, dribbling mongtards.
Up The Arse.
Arsenal XI: Ospina, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Cazorla, Alexis, Giroud. Subs: Szczesny, Bellerin, Flamini, Ramsey, Ozil, Campbell, Walcot
….Ospina.. wow.. maybe that smoking incident was more serious than we thought.
Glad Ospina is playing, surprised Walcott isn’t.
Hehe⦠our bench actually looks stronger than the first eleven!
HMmmmmmm.
Gotta be careful in midfield.
Come on Arsenal. Careful and Coqful in midfield, H2H. π
Rotate their arses.
Chambers is not even on the bench, is he injured?
COYGs
GO WIN ARSENAL
Ospina is tiny (for a keeper)
It shall be interesting to see Ospina manage those Orcs in his box, I hope he gets a good one though.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!
Wow, Ospina in goal !
Hi holics, lets teach Stoke some ‘manners’ π
Get in there Koscielny!
Kos,the boss, GOalllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
KOSSSSS
Get in. Kos the boss and the header vs Stoke, I’ll take it
8ball, saw our first goal xx
Very pleased La Coq is out there. He handles himself well π
why isn’t that a yellow?
FFFFF!
Debuchy π Bellerin on for him.
Fucking Orcs!
Looks like a dislocation…. π
Hope Debuchy is ok though!
I fucking hate Stoke.
Ubercuntz
Gosh, he just came back recently, feel terrible for him.
HAMMER THEM!
COME ON!
Looks like shoulder injury poor Debuchy! Get BETTER FELLA!
Rt shoulder. Surely better than a lower extremity injury, but still, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Per telling Alexis to calm down! Per is wise π
We have a BFG ………
Woj sulking on the bench. Plenty of drama!
Sanchez doing a NEYMAR out there!
Ref is well of the mark!
Ref is a disgrace.
GIVE IT SANCHEZ!
GIVE IT TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
What.a.player
ALEXIS MAGIC
Oh Alexis deserved that! What a stylish player!
red card
WHO GOT A RED THE OTHER DAY FOR THE SAME SORT OF ELBOWING?
Peter should be required to pad his elbows, for pete’s sake π
What a fucking cunt of a referee.
Refs a fucking joke!
GRRRR.. they’re taking out our defenders!
COME ON.. let’s run up the goals!!!
Henri and Bobby, OMG!
F you Ref!
Theo was right, Hector is fast!
Did the ref forget to bring his cards…
Ohhh…close by the OX!
I don’t think any player in this orc team is equipped to handle Alexis…
π
Dirty, filthy, sniveling Stoke in league with the referee who wants to see Arsenal blood. If not for Begovic and the referee we would be out of sight.
Any info on Debuchy injury, dislocated shoulder?
All credit to Bellerin… excellent performance!
Suspected dislocation for Debuchy it seems…!
Re: Abb @57. Did you see our second though? π
Happy Birthday Guv! Hope you are enjoying the performance.
Waves at the nurse in the bar! Hey Abb!
Ref is terrible and clearly overweight.
Must of traded his cards in for a family pack of chips and two Mars bars.
Similarities of Alexis and Messi… almost no backlift when they take their shots!
Come on Messi.. you know you want to come here!
π
Quicklike like Alexis now.
I hope the orcs come at us in the second half… want to run up the goal difference!
@ H2H
“Ref is terrible and clearly overweight.”
Hah ha hahahhahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Bobby and Henry : http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/512/mcs/media/images/80193000/jpg/_80193426_thierryhenryandrobertpires_getty.jpg
no disrespect to fat but for EPL he is a bit bearing too many pounds!
BB. Those two guys almost look better now than when they were playing. Almost. π
Cheers BB that is classic!
Maybe Shawcross and the ref can do some damage to each other in the second half.
@bt8b
Bet they could come on for 15mins and still weave some spells of olde!
π
8ball you are correct mate!
Arnautovic deserves more than a few more boos too. Meantime I’m with you BB let’s run up the goal difference. Bring on Walcott.
Come on Arsenal!
COME ON!
Sparky is making changes… good! Let’s get ’em!
I discovered Sanchez! π
Kill them fucking Orcs hahahga
WHO ELSE???!??!?!!?!?!?!
π
GET IN ALEXIS!
FINALLLY a yellow… Ref just bloody woke up!
I discovered Sanchez, Abb:)
Giroud needs to be careful, on the way of making something stupid today
Perfect time to bring on subs Arsene?
Bellerin brilliant challenge!
Hey Lurky, you sure know how to pickem! π
Theo Theo Theo……
Enjoy watching Bellerin and it is safe to say that Monreal is our best left back atm
Oh Impec1, just saw you in the crowd (giggles) π
You pick them quite good yourself abb
Thanks Lurky!!!
Another yellow… that’s right Ref… don’t be shy!
BB, the ref heard you!
Cock of a ref!
Get into it ref… next comes the RED!
π
It does appear so ABB!
π
Not only are we playing high octane football, but lots of tricky maneuvers by our lads, really impressive stuff!
Theo Theo Theo!
They TRIED to bring down Alexis, couldn’t get within a foot of him.. hahaahhha!
COME ON!
Theo on for AOC. Alex was superb!
..and so appears THEO!
COME ONNNNN! Bring on the goals!
Ozil on for Giroud. Bit teary eyed xx
YEAHHHHHHHH!
COME ON!!
Trains not working back to stoke.. hahahahahhahaha!
Theo come on
COME ON THEO… have another shot!
Get your confidence back!
Γzil, tackles? Is this the beginning of him adapting to the physical side of the english game?
Super game, look at the strength we have when everyone is fit. Alexis, God bless him. What a player. Everyone played well, rosicky, oxlade, cazorla, coq, monreal … Nice. The game seemed to slow after the pacy substitutions, maybe they are rusty, theo and ozil. Hope we continue to win in style, and great to see Henry and Pires. That said, I sometimes wish we could get the likes of WWF fighters or Mike Tyson equivalents for games like this to actually physically abuse the likes of Choke City clods even at the risk of red cards.
Wonder how many assists Alexis has now…. he’s got 12 goals methinks!
π
Job well done.
REally Really glad we got Sanchez and Not Suarez!!!
π
Easily the best performance this season. The players were just perfect, all of them.
Good decisions from Arsene too, including dropping Woj and persisting with Coquelin in the middle.
I have that strange feeling that this season have just started today.
Theo and Ozil need to play matches… get their confidence back and we’re on track again!
Quite true Lurky.. looks like we’re just beginning!
π
yeee haaaaaa !
UP THE ARSENAL
happy birthday ‘ holic
π
cba is in da house! π Happy Birthday, Goonerholic!
Lurky, You nailed it. Simply our best TEAM performance! Future looking very bright xx
Come on the good stuff!! π
Round up the usual suspects. I have a feeling this is gonna be a beautiful relationship. π
dennis10, you mean like Kolo and Yaya Toure (they could play for the NFL) π
and Yaya said he didn’t get his b’day cake (OMG)!
While Mesut Ozil made his return from injury there is some bad news for Arsenal as Arsene Wenger confirms Mathieu Debuchy has a dislocated shoulder.
“He has to see a specialist then we see where we go from there. A dislocated shoulder can take a while,” says the Arsenal boss.
———-
Ouch!!!! Those bloody orcs.. should have pummeled them for half a dozen!
Bellerin here’s your chance!
Cranking up the jukebox, puts on ‘Happy’ π
Dance holics, dance!
howdy abb
what a bloody great day to be a gooner
big smiles and beers and smiles and beers
gonna get messy in the tollie
no doubt
π
cba, As BB reported, Stoke fans have no way home (smiles).
They might be heading to the Tollie. How jolly! π
No away fans allowed in the Tollie abb.
Especially not club footed, hunchbacked one’s with Adam’s apples the size of golf balls.
Alexis’ 2nd goal.. WOW! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-cl=83543002&feature=player_detailpage&x-yt-ts=1420750445&v=PqNUnhuxpu4#t=139
π
h2h
and that’s just the womenfolk
In a few months Bellerin has improved in leaps and bounds, especially defensively. Hopefully not too long out for Debuchy, a very unfortunate first season for him. How did that Stoke player not get yellow for that push?
Coquelin, despite not being among the first-tier of players in his position, brings so much to the balance and shape of this team that one wonders what could have been if we have had a world-class player in that position for the last season and this season.
Alexis magnificent, Santi and TR7 excellent. TR7 would probably lose his position once Mesut is back to full sharpness — signs were good, how about that volleyed flick? — but tremendous effort to complement the quality of passing and movements.
Monreal, every time he plays, looks much more assured positionally than Gibbs. Gibbo has the pace and athleticism, but in my opinion Monreal’s overall game gives us a better platform.
@Docfaust
Aye.. team selection spot on! Am warming up to Monreal(.. although i like a speedster!)
We’re one defensive midfielder short of an absolutely fantabulous team methinks!
Time to crush City next! We go into that game full of confidence.
π
Robbie Savage
BBC Radio 5 live at Old Trafford
Man Utd 0-0 Southampton
Posted at
“How great it is for two teams third and fourth in the Premier League table to see so many Academy products in both starting line-ups.”
Man U line up;
De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Jones, Shaw, Carrick, Di Maria, Blind, Mata, Rooney, van Persie.
How the fuck does this guy get paid to do this”
Heh cba. π
BB@160: And another CB — not that I don’t like Per, very good at what he does and looks so much at ease with Kos around — who can offer both pace and game-reading.
Ozil looks to have toughened up a bit physically which he would find useful in PL. The benefit of playing Santi and TR7 down the middle is their brilliant close-control and positional awareness. For all their attacking brilliance they also give tremendous defensive balance and form perfect platform for high-risk players like Alexis or Ox to flourish.
TR7 is 34, and quite unbelievable really the professionalism and commitment that he still brings. No tantrums or big interviews when on the bench, just stay professional and play to your best when you get a chance. A model.
How long would a shoulder dislocation keep Debuchy out? Hoping he is back before the schedule gets heavier with CL.
What a needless challenge! Shows utter disrespect to a fellow professional.
@H2H
Oh you mean this Robbie Savage : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYD67WvtWZ8
π
@DocFaust
Not sure how long Debuchy will be out, am thinking 2-4weeks at the very least!
Let’s see if there’s anyone available in this window, we have managed for so long, no doubt we’ll do so even if we don’t sign anyone.
Bellerin would relish his chance at Debuchy’s expense although if something happens to him then we’ll be a bit short! Not to mention Ospina too.. obviously a non smoker. π
Ha HA
BB — I think we will need one more body (preferably experienced) in the defense, especially given that Kos & Gibbs both have potential for flare-ups and then with FA Cup and CL (where we should have some ambition of progressing a bit further, at least) to crowd up the schedule to not have to shuffle too much. A CB would be best as if absolutely necessary Coq or Flamini can provide some cover for the fullbacks.
@DocFaust
Am in agreement with you on the need for personnel. However, I believe Arsene won’t splash for anyone unless it’s the ‘right’ person, if past years actions are any to go by. He may go for a loan though! One with ‘Kallstromesque’ qualities.
If that doesn’t happen then we’ll see Monreal shuffling around again at the back when injuries pile up.
Having said that, do hope we get some permanent quality and we go for at least a cup or two this season!
π
A good 3 points in what turned out to be a stroll in the park. The Orcs were generally poor and had no one who was able to live with our pace and sharpness.
Ospina looked assured but in truth, had little to do. Le Coq is not a player I massively rate. I think he really highlights hiw much we miss someone of real quality it that position. It will be interesting to see how both cope next week at Citeh. We might find out more about the pair of them by the end of next Sunday.
Great to see Γzil and Theo get a run out. Hopefully as the season goes on their lack of games will actually be off benefit come April.
All in all, a great 3 points. To those under the Tolly Brolly, I hope they have the heaters on.
I skipped back from THOF today having seen a superb Arsenal performance. Stoke were limited no doubt but largely because it was one of the best pressing performances I have seen by an Arsenal team, all over the pitch and with little players constantly dispossessing Orcs . I have a theory about why we are playing better because , though it is a combination of factors, the tempo set by Rosicky changes the whole pace of our work. Sanchez is of course out of this world, a quite wonderful player but we are playing to his strengths by the rapidity and incisiveness of our passing. Also huge praise for Santi who is enjoying a superb run of form and Coquelin who is a large upgrade on the Flamster. Mobility is key to this style of football and Coquelin has it.
Sad though it was to lose Debuchy again , adding Bellerin to the mix did us little harm as he is electric when attacking and recovering in defence and Koscielny helps to make BFG a much better player. Playing at this level we are as good as any team in the PL but we have been very inconsistent due mainly to the injuries.
If we can avoid a catastrophic injury build- up this squad only urgently needs another CB but I think Wenger has an interesting set of challenges like how to reintegrate Theo, Ozil and Ramsey – who would have said this a few weeks ago!
Wenger aht!
We’ll finish third or better in the league.. all this defeatist ‘fourth’ talk going around the interweb lacks inspiration!
Man U will fall apart due to their defensive frailties and the saints have yet to show that they can last a full season.
π
Incidentally although down the other end I saw no applause from the Orcs fans when Debuchy was wheeled off. It is standard practice among most human beings at football matches to applaud a stricken player. We would certainly have probably even have applauded Shawcross. They are a carbuncle on the surface of the Premier League.
TTG@171: Absolutely spot on about TR7. The tempo and positional fluidity he injects build the perfect platform for our type of football. Once he leaves I suspect Ox would pick up his mantle, though he will need to learn to improve close-control and passing and positional maturity, but we would always need a player of that type if we are to excel in our style of football.
@H2H wow! Was kinda hoping, ‘holic , Lars and Esso, would give them Potters, an earful. Pity. π
TTG @ 173: All you need to do is remember the boos Rambo had received in his return at Stoke to appreciate the psychology of the average Stoke “fan” . That was one of the ugliest player reception I have ever heard of.
Well.. the orcs will have to WALK back to Mordor…
π
BB — though ManU losing at home is never ever a result not to enjoy, maybe a 1-1 would suit us best. Saints are showing rather remarkable resilience but given the squad depth would expect them to tire out around February-March.
If ManU loses this match watch them go mental in the transfer window as the panic sets in again.
5minutes?!?! …Fergie time morphed into Van Gaal time!
Let them go ballistic! music to my ears! Maybe Van Gaal will even drop his shorts again…hahahaa!
@DocFaust
Am quietly confident that we’ll finish strong, as most of our key players will be coming back for the run in. Fingers crossed for that experienced DM!
Southampton beat Manure. (who were dreadful)
I don’t know… Manure are wonderful for the Nightcrawlers.. make excellent compost!
π π π
BB @ 181 — Me too. We always have a good run when we are chasing top four. I think one of the main reasons is no group of players want to be the first one under Arsene to lose out on CL and it gives that extra motivation. And as you said we have too much quality and if only there were no defensive injuries to unsettle the back four we should have been a couple of positions ahead at least at this time. Our home loss to a very pedestrian ManU side still rankles…
Top three is very much on the cards. But Saints throw an interesting challenge in the mix.
That was flippin brilliant…. the best way to spend a Sunday artnoon; watchin a great Arsenal performance, scoring three, conceding NONE and all against the Tar pit dwellers… and a Mark Highes managed team to boot… WoooHooo!
And then, when I get in, I find that ManU hav bin beat at home and are only one point ahead of us!!! Fucking ace!
We need the same level of performce next week and we can get a positve result vs the citeh slickers…
Here’s to Arsenal finishing the season strong, gettin in a couple of bodies…
Bellerin and Coquelin did great today, and the spniard will probaly have to keep his place for a few weeks thanks to yet another stoke clogger… obvious Sanchez was outstanding, but I think props are in order for the whole team… and manager π
But I do think you are all absolutely terrible for discussing football stuff on today of all days…
I dont want a drink.. think I have embibed a tad too much as is…
n whoever said we can get thrid at least is RIGHT! deffinielty…
All the stick AW has had all season and we are a point behind the great van Gaal.. and they aint even in europe… Pffffft…
Koeman 1 Van Balls 0 …. !
Going to be hard to better this week. We’ll try next week for sure when we face them oilers…. there seems to be a real sense of urgency around the team now. No doubt due to the players coming back in!
Up The Arse!
Ronald Koeman has just told the television cameras that Southampton dominated at Old Trafford. Now Dutch compatriot Louis van Gaal is claiming United dominated. The truth is United only really came to life in the closing stages yet they still failed to register a shot on target.
—————
A new rivalry begins! …no shot on target for the home team?!??! HAHAHHAHA! π
Dexter. Spot on about Bellerin and Coquelin. They stepped up big time and took the opportunity afforded them by the gaffer. Those are leadership qualities and who would have expected it of them?
a fake drunk
such whimsy
Oh dear…
160 drinks to back drink fook that it can wait
Happy bday holic glad the team turned it on for you today.
yes , darling ?
Totti scores a double to salvage a point in the Rome derby. He is almost as old as I am, nearing 40!
What a player he has been for his club (and country)! Just what a player he has been for this generation! Quality, class, professionalism and sense of occasion…
Had to go out and only just watched my recording.
We were superb today.
That’s all.
if you are referrin to me, petal, I never said i was drunk, i am flippij high on today’s events… but thanks for tryin ti suck the joy out of ere…
Pffft inddeed…
@DocFaust
Seems like there’s hope then for Rosicky to continue for some years yet! π
BB — YES! The way he plays I sincerely hope him and Arsene agree to keep him for a few more years at least and then he retires with us, with a testimonial and all. My favorite player of the Emirates era. Quality, class, and professionalism.
Here’s to many more years for Tomas!
Gem of a player to watch and the very definition of professionalism.
π
I’m reading everywhere how the Debuchy injury is an opportunity for Bellerin. It may be and I am a big fan of the boy but I think Chambers will step up at the Etihad. One of AW’s big decisions next season is what we do at right back. I would like to see the a Corporal return and Debuchy , Chambers and Bellerin are also fighting for the Jersey. I like young Chambers but suspect he may end up in midfield as he lacks the pace of Bellerin and Jenks.
Ps- I really though Amos, the referee was struggling to keep up with play today – as were the Stoke midfield! He must be the fattest professional ref I have ever seen
Loved the song at the end “3-0 and you can’t get home!”. Wouldn’t have laughed but it was the Orcs
@TTG
Am not sure if the ref was professional but he sure had his face in many a pie!
π
… and the rumour was that he did not blow his whistle quite often enough because he was out of breath!
π π π
TTG;
I think Bellerin will get the nod next week, because he is the man in possession and he has such pace he can exploit the city back line. I rate Chambers as a versatile player, who will only improve, but feel his best position lies elsewhere, either CB ior in midfield as you say.
As for next season, I hope jenks comes back and dukes it out with Debuchy while Bellerin gets a season long loan at a decent PL club. Given Debuchy’s luck with injuries, whoever it is who is the 2nd RB, will get a load of games.
praise the lord
cast aside that kebab
it’s alive
and can spell an shit
TTG.
I want Jenks back too. He has been impressive, from what I have seen, on loan at the Spammers.
@TTG
Am hoping instead that Bellerin plays next week, not because he is necessarily a better player than Chambers but because he is currently the player in form. He made some excellent tackles today and I hope he gets the opportunity again.
Always thought that Chambers was more suited in the DM position, versatile player that he is.
I thought refs had to have physicalls these days. Still, says itall when Dowd isnt the most outta shape ref in the league…
BB
Yes I think you have a sound argument. I was trying to read Wenger’s mind rather than state a preference! I think Bellerin is going to be a brilliant wing back in due course
Just got back. Epic day out.
Goonersaurus Stunt Double is a fucking legend!
Next week, when city rears its ugly head, this is what we’ll do instead : http://i.imgur.com/Taie2bn.gif
π π π
Good Win and Good performance that, Fuck me I hate Stoke, everything about them cunts screams cunts !
Was hoping the Coq was going to go straight through Shawcross – Would love to have seen them bully boys come up against the ilk of Storey, He’d have smashed them all the way back to Highbury Fields π
What Chippy said. Hate ’em. Agree also, if only we could have put Storey on for 20 minutes.
What a bunch of uttter cunts.
On the other hand, we are quite good. But are we quite good enough?
i see that slimeball Hughes is defending Arnautavich. He claims no malice was intended.
He plays for Stoke, FFS! Of course malice was intended.
Just like when Crouch jumps with his arms stretched towards a defenders face. Drawing blood is a bonus for him!
Utter, utter cunts.
I wish they would fall back down to the depths in which they belong.
Don’t think he’d have needed 20 Bath – He’d have scared them shitless in 5 π Bully Boys never like to be on the receiving end π
Yep Mid table dross don’t normally tend to bother me but them no mark fucks get right up my hooter and not in a good way π !!
No mate,alas we are not quite right yet – Still have a badly unbalanced team/squad which tends to lead to a right royal fuck up performance every so often, but there are good signs that with the right additions we are not far away – Is Wenger the right man to buy them I hope so more than anything but wouldn’t bet my life on it π Hope alls well with you !
Up the arse!
Make it so, Wenger.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/11338304/Arsenal-transfer-news-Moussa-Sissoko-admits-he-wants-to-leave-Newcastle-and-join-Gunners-a-bigger-club.html
Great gathering in The Tollie today to celebrate the Guvnor’s birthday.
I found him on Isledon Road, en route from Esso and son in the Twelve Pins, trying to answer dozens of text birthday greetings. I would say that, even at that early stage, typing and walking at the same time was proving too much – but I doubt that was anything to do with Guinness. It would also be very rude ! π
Tabs, zico, Lars, WST and Mrs WST, Boston Gooner, Darren, Esso and Patrick, BtM, Frank, plenty of other familiar faces and a debut for Gunnersaurus Stunt Double in full fancy dress – not the hardest spot ever – made up the crowd. That’s just for you ABB π
Brilliant performance -watch it – somewhere, somehow – and again.
Shit referee – goes without saying these days, comedy linesman – where do they get them ?
Ttg did a pretty good summary above from my quick glance through, and everyone played well today in the face of some pretty roughhouse tactics.
The Arsenal looked very impressive today. Much firmer at the back, and Coquelin deserves a lot of credit for protecting that back four. He has really raised his game and, while he might not be the classiest player around, he has fight, determination, strength, not at all bad use of the ball, and one other thing lacking in our defensive midfielders for a long time – he’s quick.
Tomas Rosicky, The Ox, Alexis Sanchez and both full backs really drove hard at Stoke today while Santi, continuing his great form, provided the switches in direction in the middle of it all. Great stuff !
BUT ….. this was Stoke.
I will reserve the right to modify this after the replays tonight, but there just had to be the needless push on Debuchy, while running flat out, that resulted in a crash into the pitch surrounds and another serious injury for the poor bloke.
Just as predictably, it resulted in cheers from the travelling halfwits in the away section, who also treated us to another rendition of “One Ryan Shawcross, there’s only one Ryan Shawcross …. etc ”
While we should be grateful for that small mercy, it really is very hard to utterly detest that vile mob without ever having made the acquaintance of a single one of them. And, of course, had Aaron Ramsey made it onto the pitch today, they would undoubtedly ave continued their habit of booing and sneering at him for having his leg broken in two pieces by their hateful skipper hero.
Have they changed under Mark Hughes ?
Why would they ?
Hughes himself was a dirty, sly individual as a player, and is a mealy mouthed, double dealing speaker as a manager. He claims his side have added more skill to their game but still have a Plan B when it’s needed.
They clearly thought it was needed today as their latest, vastly inferior (in throwing distance) incarnation of Rory Delap was taking long throws towards our six yard box from the fifth minute.
Somehow, they have persuaded Bojan to join them. He has added to their skill quotient but has also brought all his Barcelona learned diving expertise with him. I assume Mark Hughes is desperately trying to talk him out of using them.
Other than Bojan the usual array of human skyscrapers from Jurassic Park roamed the Emirates this afternoon, hauling our players around in any way they could. Funnily enough, I was reading an article on the way to the ground about what a very nice chap Peter Crouch is.
Not on today’s showing with his flailing elbows he isn’t.
Still, as they say, he’s got good feet for a complete tosser ! π
Aha ! bath, Chippy,
I seem to have cross posted to similar effect while typing that little lot.
Quite a big lot, actually.
You put it far more eloquently than me Trev π
Thanks for that Trev & Ttg.
A great day out it would appear.
Happy B-Day Holic. If ever there was another reason to keep on blogging, surely days like today are it? Testament to what a super bloke you are. Hope you had a great day.
Oh yes, Peter Storey.
I’m chuckling to myself at rhe thought of Shawcross’ face as he met a proper hard man – one who doesn’t play like a coward with wildly swinging boots and flailing elbows.
Just introduces himself and leaves with the ball ….. π
Cheers Joe.
And Chippy. π
Some good reading here today, gooners and goonerettes. Love you all. Fuck stoke.
@216 –
Just realised it should, of course, have said ” hard NOT to utterly detest “. Oops !
A nice birthday present for Holic and it seems he was intent on celebrating to the full, quite rightly!
A lady friend of mine is a season ticket holder at Anfield and said this was the laziest Arsenal team they had seen at Anfield when they played us before Christmas. Admittedly that was a less than compelling performance and since then we have added Coquelin and Rosicky . Her point was that we lacked desire but I think it was a combination of pace and energy. This was the fittest we have looked today and the highest I have seen us press for some time. We also had Chambers at right back at Anfield whereas today we had Debuchy and Bellerin and the latter particularly gives us pace out wide.
I also see signs of Wenger having re motivated this side. It was only one game today although I thought we did really well at West Ham but playing like this with the options we have on the bench we could be oa very dangerous team for anyone to meet in the Champions League or in domestic competition. I really fancy us against Citeh next week.
On a more gloomy note I understand there is concern about the injury to Gibbs and Theo based on the two games we have witnessed is some way short of real effectiveness ( understandable after a year out of course). My point is that Gibbs and Walcott are so regularly injured it is impossible to plan ahead on the basis they will be able to play regularly in the future . Theo has suffered 48 separate injuries since he has been with us( more than Diaby!) and taking a year to recover from his last one suggests he is not a swift healer. Gibbs is always likely to be regularly injured as his lamentable injury record suggests. Any resource planning needs to factor this in and if continual injuries erode Theo’s speed what will be have left ?
Trev’s counsel is always interesting here. Our chronic injury concerns are Walcott, Diaby, Wilshere, Ramsey , Gnabry and Gibbs. All joined Arsenal by the age of 19 , usually a lot earlier and between them this season have played less than fifty games. Have they been overplayed or do Arsenal fail to prepare young players properly?
Cazorla works prodigiously hard, is kicked regularly and plays every game. There must be a connection . So far ( God be praised ) Sanchez has played in virtually every match , runs all over the place and gets kicked but gets up and carries on. Our hardest working player accoording to the stats from the Telegraph this week was Giroud. He played all least season upfront on his own. If I was Arsene I’d be thinking very hard about this.Shad Forsythe reports to Tony Colbert can that really be right?
But today was a good day . It’s a fine man’s birthday that’s enough introspection.
Congrats on your birthday, ‘holic. Happy with the present?
That was more like it.
Interesting to speculate what having an out and out superstar like Lionel Messi in your club does to players like Sanchez. He must be over the moon free to do his thing at the Ems instead of just feeding the starman. I’ll ditto the earlier comment on Sanchez a much better option than Suarez. I wonder how Luis is feeling at Messilona…
Γskar
Good stuff, ttg,
Yep, the return from all those young players just doesn’t add up.
Glad you had what sounded like an excellent birthday, ‘Holic, with the Orcs being put to the sword the icing on the cake, so to speak. As ever, the reports above from N7 make the far-flungs envious.
Stoke made the mistake of trying to augment their habitual brutishness with the playing of some football, always a contest in which they were going to come out second best.
As others have noted a solid performance from Le Coq aided by not flying into reckless tackles as he did against Hull. I don’t think Stoke got one direct run at our two CBs all game so well were they shielded.
Mentions in dispatches for Bellerin and Nacho, too. The younger of the two Spaniards will be a player, no doubt; he looks to be a better defender than Cole was at this stage, though like the neophyte Cole still depends on his pace to recover. Monreal had an excellent game defensively, and doesn’t look as slow as he is said to be.
Santi, TR7 and Sanchez were outstanding. Santi is in a rich vein of form; TR7 played more defensively than usual for much of the time, but still managed to press their back four a lot and the tempo he injects into the game seems to generate the right speed of play for Santi and Sanchez to flourish.
Sanchez still managed to look a class above anyone else on the pitch, no mean feat given how Santi and TR7 were playing — and he probably covered more of the pitch than anyone else. His first goal was technically brilliant — and the more so for the way it wrong footed Shawcross and left Bergovic unsighted.
Interesting to hear the contrasting reactions from the crowd to Ospina being announced as starting in goal and Woj being named among the subs. Was it as pronounced in the stadium? Crowd seemed to agree with AW putting Woj on the naughty bench. And there seemed to be a huge cheer for Ozil’s return.
Ffs – MoTD2 latest pundit is ……… Joey Barton.
Can I start withholding my licence fee ?
“There are many ways to deal with a player like Sanchez”, he says.
The only two examples they are then able to show are Cahill and Ivanovic kicking him off the pitch at Chelsea.
What pea brain in their right mind comes up with Savage and Barton as two objective analysts of a football match on national television. Two of the most despised individuals in the game in modern times.
Happy birthday guvnor. π
Hope your train connections went smoothly on the way home. π
Trev@229:
MOTD2 analysis
Joey Barton: “Technically, Sanchez is not the greatest and does not always hurt the opposition with a great bit of skill.
BBC should be paying you to listen to drivel like that…
Shawcross’s face was a picture today when he couldn’t bully Giroud, let alone if he’d ever have had to face someone like Storey. Giroud was having none of his shit and he was most upset.
The push on Debuchy was definitely not necessary.
I’m really starting to like Monreal as our permanent left back, and I would not be upset if Bellerin stayed in the side, with Chambers used as a back up CB.
We are a far better side when playing with a bit of tempo.
Besides losing his head and getting sent off against QPR, I’m liking this new, tough guy Giroud, who is no longer allowing these defenders to kick him around and bully him without protection from the refs. He is standing up to these defenders and letting them know that “I’m no longer taking this shit.” I agree with you, Cynic, about how pathetic that Shawcross cunt looked when he realized Giroud wasn’t having his shit today.
Many people talk as if Theo will just regain his starting spot automatically, but from what I’ve observed, he has a job on his hands displacing The Ox. The Ox is scaring the hell out of defenders these days with his strength, speed, direct running and dribbling. However, he needs to improve his finishing as he has the ability to get many more goals. He has been one of our most consistent and ever present players this season. Good going Ox!
Let’s beat the Oil Mancs in their backyard next week. COYG!
happy birthday, holic, sounds like after it all there will be an epic boilk come morning, though I hope I am wrong. great game, top stories by all and sundry above, and I really like bellerin and coq in the side.
@151 arsabeatbarca, I mean real nasty dudes who can inflict serious damage and we can always say “xxx team doesn’t like it up’em either, eh?” π After a while no one will mess with us then. All in all, a fine, confident performance. More weekends like this please.
I read somewhere that the team doesn’t respect the manager, don’t know if they held an interview with each individual before spewing that bilge. Why would they not respect a manager who has won more than any previous managers, no disrespect to them, who has achieved more and lauded by wingers turned legends? I wonder.
@225 TTG
Yes that pretty much sums up the core issues with our injuries.
They seem to happen to players who come to us young and then stay with them! Have a suspicion that it has something to do with our training and recovery methods. Or because we played them till they broke due to the lack of able personnel in past seasons and we’re seeing their lasting effects.
Either of which needs to be rectified if we are to sustain any kind of challenge in the seasons to come.
Alexis?! That’s an exception to the rule that I would welcome!
He doesn’t break
He doesn’t bite
He plays like dynamite
Alexis Sanchez!!
(..ok ok at least i tried… π )
2 clean shheets for ospina. i love to see him as our no.1 gk,. better than chez.
http://arsenalist.com/f/2014-15/arsenal-vs-stoke/giroud-and-shawcross-going-at-it.html
@Esso
Remember seeing that…. produced the biggest smile on my face!
Time we stood up to them orcs.. and that orc in particular, especially in the presence of a myopic ref!
π
abc11633@238: Ospina was fine against Hull and Stoke without having had a great deal to do, and I would be fine with him being given a run of games now he is in possession of the jersey, but it is premature to declare him our No 1 keeper in my view. I do remain concerned by what the smoking incident says about Woj’s judgement; first, in being an athlete that smokes; and second, in doing so after a game given AW’s known views on the subject.
That was fun.
Liquid birthday cake.
(That last rum and coke airside not the best prep for today’s breakfast meeting though).
Many happy returns H in every sense.
UTA π
NBN
Chez is a decent but not a good enough keeper for Arsenal. If you think Ospina is not better than him, then we should find a new keeper with calibre of Seaman, Van ser Sar, or CEch.
The fact is : we have not won a single trophy with Chez on goal!
Belated Birthday wishes Holic sir, hope you enjoyed the day and may the lord give you many more years of health and happiness.
I seriously wish we had pummelled them, i hate that team, stoke what a sick thuggery filled team it is.
The first half but for Begovic( yes the only player i wish played for us), we would have gone atleast 5 goals to the good. He was excellent.
Santi and Rozza just seem to have a telepathic understanding and whenever they play in the game, it is a joy to behold.
Kos excellent game and so did Monreal. Debuchy is a bad loss, he has been our most studying influence this season and it is such a sad thing that this injury has come again to probably end the season for him.
Sanchez, i mean i cannot get enough words for this man. Amazing, brilliant and total joy. I just want him to be happy and healthy and rest he will take care.
Special mention to Ox. I know it gets lost in all the euphoria but that boy if he just develops that final pass and composure will be a world beater. He is a fantastic player in the making.
How can i end without the mention of him, yes him Mesut Ozil. He is back and boy that feels good. Now coq stay next to him, then see the magic unfold. It just needs a dm next to him please.
Thanks all. Hangover subsiding. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>