One Of The Good Days
Jan 12th, 2015 by 'holic
Yes it was one of the good days. Early doors at the Pins followed by cake and ale in the Tollie. So many friendly faces too. When the team news arrived the selection of David Ospina made Wojciech Szczesny’s current plight clear.
From the off we clicked into gear with Tomas Rosicky, Santi Cazorla, and Alexis Sanchez to the fore. That trio impressed throughout throughout, but behind them it has to be said that Francis Coquelin again performed the holding role with some distinction.
It didn’t take us long to turn pressure into the lead. Laurent Koscielny was involved in the build-up and applied the finishing touch, a glorious header from seven yards out, to an Alexis cross. The vociferous crowd clearly enjoyed the opening phase but joy turned to understandable anger when Arnautovic pushed Mathieu Debuchy into the hoardings on the perimeter and escaped censure from referee Moss. Another spell on the treatment table follows for Mathieu with a dislocated shoulder as a result of the assault.
Despite Hector Bellerin’s hasty introduction the Gunners remained on the front foot and were rewarded further when Alexis refused to go down under a scything lunge from N’Zonzi, jinked into the box and nutmegged the odious Shawcross with a right footer inside the near post.
The officials eyesight again proved unsatisfactory when Crouch elbowed Nacho Monreal and left the Gunners left-back needing lengthy treatment on a cut by his eye. Quite how they missed it was a frustration for most in the crowd who jeered the officials off at the end of each half.
The feelgood factor returned within three minutes of the restart. Stoke had brought on Steve Sidwell at half-time and he felled Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the edge of the box. Alexis, who else, fired the resulting free-kick through the wall and Begovic could only help it over the line, via his own goalpost.
Around this point Mr Moss must have had a bang to the head which resolved his temporary blindness. Within twelve minutes there were yellow cards forย Wollscheid, Cameron, and the aforementioned Crouch, lucky to be on the pitch still. There was still time for Shawcross to draw a rebuke from Olivier Giroud, a growing physical presence for the Arsenal, and who sensibly kept his head under severe provocation. Our old friend presumably thought he would test the striker’s temperament, and looked foolish when his attempts failed.
There were huge roars to greet first Theo Walcott, and later Mesut Ozil, both of whom needed the minutes afforded them as they look to return to full match fitness. As last week Theo missed a great opportunity, but that artย will come back. The prospect of him and Alexis going at defences is an attractive one. Another week of training before they head for Manchester City, who will obviously provide a sterner test, will do them no harm.
All of which brings up the inevitable question. Was this match a case of us returning to form or was it more that Stoke were poor. A little bit of both perhaps, but how good it was to see numerous injections of pace into attacks in the style that we have attempted to perfectย in recent years. That and the imminent return of some quality players, plus the opportunity to further strengthen the squad this month, means the second half of the season offers much promise.
A point behind Manchester United, and within three of Southampton, currently in third place, there is still much for this Arsenal side to play for.
121 Responses to “One Of The Good Days”
Rude not to
Have to read later Guv’, but I
‘m sure it’s as good as ever
he shoots
the wall jumps
he scores
๐
Aww
no fair
๐
Bring on City!!!!!!
It’ll be tight but we’ll edge them!
๐
Nice one H but I think you will find that the Feelgood factor returned about 11:30 ish….. ๐
It seems Sissoko really wants to leave..
Surely we’re not in for him!
๐
Cheers H.
Agreed- yesterday was definitely a good day. Glad you enjoyed it.
I met a great array of top ‘holics- out in force on the guv’s birthday. As well as the man himself. All made me very welcome and I enjoyed myself loads. Thankyou everyone!
We thrashed one of the least likeable teams I have ever seen.
And despite my best efforts to miss my coach I did, in fact, make it home and everything.
Top result. Top day.
Can we play them every week?…
Finally someone who will call an assault an assault and unsatisfactory eyesight unsatisfactory eyesight. ๐
This fella definitely one of the good guys. Thank GSD, great to meet you yesterday.
Cheers guv’!
And right back at you…
Fine write up sir, especially after feeling so delicate.
A welcome 3 points in a game that was much easier than expected. The push on Debuchy sums up Stoke for me. Petulant, reckless and just so unnecessary. Pathetic cowardice at its finest. I just hope he is not out for too long.
Sanchez was again imperious. Apart from his goals, his work rate and enthusiasm is second to none. However, what really impressed me was when he was breaking towards the Orcs goal, three up snd the game already won. No one would have blamed him for going for his third but unselfishly he squared the ball to Theo. What an all round top player.
Very upset to miss the celebrations in the Tolly. Thanks to Sky for putting paid to that one.
Were stoke poor or we were very good. I rather say the later. We played an excellent first half, eased off in the second and even then should have won the game atleast 5-0.
Jamie Carragher on Sky already suggesting we will lose to city as we dont have anyone to stop Silva. Agreed Silva is an excellent player but not even a day gone after city dropped points and we played the best football of the weekend and yet we already hear such insane stuff.
If we cannot stop Silva, who will stop Sanchez???? No Yaya Toure as well, so jamie shut the f–k up.
Sunday though will be a grand game. 2 teams who for me play the best football in the land and 2 managers who believe in their team’s ability to play right and win. One of the best games of the season has to be the 2-2 in the corresponding fixture.
CB as per Geoff on his twitter handle, well Tyron Mings has been ruled out, so it is Loic Perrin afterall?? Kos will be happy, he is from his former club.
In addition, if anyone is near the goggle box at 5 be sure to check out Sky Sports. CSKA Fulham have 4 representatives in the 2014 FIFA Fallon dโFloor ceremony in Zurich.
Just saying.
๐
To answer your question, ‘Holic, Stoke were poor because we didn’t give them the chance to be good.
We haven’t been outplayed by City in a while, though equally we haven’t won many games. It would be nice to secure the three points for once next weekend.
GSD, Heh
‘holic, it was a grand day, and looking forward to another grand Sunday.
Meeting City at just about an optimal time — no Yaya, no Bony, Aguero just getting back, Kompany still out, and the rest of the defense (apart from Zabaleta) and midfield are a bit dodgy. That they are relying on Fat Frank for results speaks volumes. Keep a leash on Silva and the points are there for the taking. And watching Na$ri get frustrated will bring joy as well.
heh at the photo, holic. who is doing the photobomb?
agree with your post. i think we put stoke in the crap position, they couldn’t hardly get in crosses to their tall, ugly cretin of a forward, and we pressed high enough in the midfield to force them to play through, rather than just launch it (never gave them enough time). i also think that’s the result of sparkless trying to polish their turd and telling them to keep it on the ground rather than launch.
looking forward to sunday. i think we’ll take them, 2-1. man-mark silva with coquelin, and aguero with kozzer, and unleash the beast that is alexis.
and bayonne, yes, watching that weak-chinned cunt cry would make my sunday, too.
Right, back home in Stockholm again…
It started a bit on the negative side with me arriving in London about an hour and a half later than scheduled, but that turned out to be just about the only thing this weekend that wasn’t quite excellent. A few pints with a couple of mates in the Golden Heart on Commercial Street were followed by a really nice chicken kebab at the kebab shop next to the Twelve Pins. They’ve done that place up and I noticed that all their shiny new kebab-making equipment had signs which said “Archway Steel Works” on them – nice to see them support those who stand in the way of Tottenham’s new ground ๐
Saturday afternoon I met up with takeabowson and a few others and we go in search of a pub showing footie and end up at the Phibbers on Holloway Road where they manage to get Everton-City on. Sadly we did not get to see Palace beat Spurs as the picture froze after about 17 minutes of that game and never got going again. Instead, me, Snowy and tabs play some pool and I show off my mad skillz. I shall try and describe them for you all: Imagine Alexis Sanchez’ performance v Stoke… but then take the exact opposite. And multiply by about a hundred. In short, I think I can safely say I possibly may not qualify to play at the Crucible towards the end of April.
Anyway, a thoroughly pleasant afternoon and evening was rounded off with a curry and then nodding off while watching MoTD as per usual.
Sunday morning and off to the Tollie I went by bus (really good of the TfL to have set up a bus route that goes past my hotel and stops right outside the Tollie) and drinking and greeting of friends old and new – full marks for the Gunnersaurus outfit, GSD! – immediately commenced. Soon enough it was time to head for the stadium to watch us annihilate Stoke, because annihilate was exactly what we did. They had no answer to our relentless pressing, and Alexis was just out of this world. In fact, as he went over to take a corner towards the end of the game I even saw a few Stoke fans applaud him which tells you all you need to know about how well he played.
Stoke would not be Stoke though without their violence. Arnautovic should have walked for his push on Debuchy but the incompetent fat fuck with the whistle didn’t even talk to him. “You’re not fit to referee” – not even fit to walk down the fucking shop for a pint of milk, more like.
In any case we just got on with it and Bellerin deserves paludits for his performance. Alexis was of course MoM by a country mile, but Monreal and Rosicky and of course Santi Cazorla were also very very good. We could have racked up a cricket score.
After the game followed, of course, a couple of hours of more merriment down the pub and everyone kept buzzing about Sanchez. He is such an amazing player and Arsene Wenger deserves credit for managing to persuade him to come to us. I would have absolutely hated seeing him do what he does for us for Liverpool.
I really hope we can kick on from here, and can we please keep the players reasonably fit from here on in? If so, third place is definitely acheivable. Anything higher than that though seems highly unlikely, that would require us winning pretty much every game we have left.
Anyway, I had a bloody great time as always in London. Massive thanks to all who contributed, and see you again as soon as possible!
Nice one holic, glad to hear you had a great day, in the end that’s what it’s all about, that you were able to witness one of our best performances of the season, especially in the first half, was an excellent Birthday Bonus.
Stoke were poor because we made them look poor. We started on the front foot looking to get forward quickly. We had more shots on target in the opening few minutes then the teams directly above us managed in ninety plus in yesterdays other game. Our early willingness paid off dividends as we grabbed a quick goal, Stoke were already beaten long before the second or third went in.
Most impressive was our pressing, we gave them no time to settle. Arsenal may very well not like it up them (can’t imagine who does really) but the Potters couldnt deal with it either….. and we did it within the rules of the game. They, at every chance, dit not. But why wouldn’t they? Afteral, there was very little chance of sanction with an overweight and short sighted ref on duty. Honestly, the standard of officiating in the PL is going down hill at an alarming rate. Surely something has to give soon!? It is becoming the norm rather then the exception.
While I’m on the subject of bad, the Beeb is going to pot (and not the good stuff) too. I’ve noticed lately that the live text is full of spelling and grammatical mistakes, I know I also make them, but I’m not a paid journo working for what, used to be considered, one of the top broadcasting institutions in the world.
Their “experts” are a disgrace too. Joey Deakon Barton!? In what universe is he an expert in anything other then being a bit of a tit!? His biggest claim to football fame is for being sent off in the game that Citeh won their first PL title, seriously, that’s it.
Alan Shearer has the insight of a retarded turnip. That smug look on his boat when he’s just explained something a six year old could of explained better like he has just imparted some major knowledge makes me wanna put my head through the screen, expert analysis my arse.
Don’t even get me started on Lily Savage, holy shit, talk about stealing a living. Is his brain, if he ineed poccesses such an organ, and his gob actually in contact with each other? He spouts more shit then an industrial fertilzer. The worst thing is that he is paid by the Great British public from your tax pennies. There would be a full scale riot if that happened over here…… But I digress.
I love the Arsenal me.
What a great day out. The trains ran on time, the weather was perfect for the walk up to the Hemmingford, which now has my favourite Adnams Broadside on draft and we played Stoke off the park!
The Officials were worse than useless allowing assaults going unpunished, all 3 of them needed to go to “Specsavers”. The Debuchy shove was not only totally unnecessary but extremely dangerous. He now faces weeks on the sidelines but at least I get to see more of the lovely Bellerin !
Alexis is sheer box office, there shouldn’t be an empty seat in the stadium and with the rest of the team showing up as they did yesterday, third place is certainly achievable if he and they hold this form.
City will be a much sterner test but one we can pass if we hold our nerve and believe. Looking forward to making up for last season.
COYRs
Looks right a riotous afternoon at the Tollie and rightly so. Men of distinction should have their birthdays celebrated with vigour. I really enjoyed the match although I was with someone who has signed the pledge for January and therefore did not drink. I was there in spirit. GSD seems to have done himself proud!
I think we really could muller Citeh on Sunday. I’m having to unfortunately take Mrs TTG for a sojourn in Barbados but will enjoy seeing us swamp the tax fiddlers . I return for my birthday which is a slightly bigger number than Holic’s .
If we can keep this team fit I think we can finish the season in style. We will of course not keep them fit but we shouldn’t suffer like we did in the first half of of the season.
Fine report, maestro. Delighted that the boys gave you an excellent victory as a birthday present.
Sorry to miss what sounds like an epic gathering of Holics and GSD’s maiden outing. Love the picture.
Without question our best performance of the season. Those thugs couldn’t keep up with us.
As well as the marvellous Alexis (I think he may prove to be Arsene’s greatest ever signing), the speed of our movement (Santi, AOC and TR7 going through the gears like the old days), the physical resilience of HFB and the solidity and recycling of the back 4 and Le Coq made Stoke look, in the words of thE Telegraph, like bouncers who had wandered on stage at the ballet.
Onwards.
Lars, we have to play 8 ball, for money. ๐
Thanks for a brilliant birthday all. It was a real bonus. Not all have been so much fun.
Scruz, that’s Liam, one of the Arsebloggers who has a place in Brighton. Top man.
holic, liam’s a funny guy, too ๐ i was hoping it was z, or lars, tabs, snowy, esso, etc., etc.,… i think i’ve seen lars’ pint in one older picture, or was that tabs’ halfpint?
8 ball? Money? I hope you aren’t teaming up on me. ๐
TTG, You may have come up with the first sentence including all three words, “unfortunately,” “sojourn” and “Barbados.” Only if I had such fortune. ๐
Sounds painful, this dislocated shoulder business.
http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/dislocated-separated-shoulder?page=2
I can’t believe Debuchy’s bad luck with injuries this season. He is truly an Arsenal man in that respect.
Great post, as usual, Holic and happy birthday once again!
You know it’s as they say, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”
If I had to guess, providing a sensible blog for the gooner masses would be the why, right? ๐
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed that Stoke victory.
My only regret is that it wasn’t a 6-0 spanking.
Has there ever been a more hateful club in the Premier League?
Hope you’re on the money with your Sanchez being our best ever signing, bathgooner. The competition for that title is on the tough side – Henry, Bergkamp, Bastin, James, Vieira, Seaman, Jennings – to name a few of the contenders.
On the usually execrable Joey Barton … Yes he said some mildly negative things about St Alexis, but I don’t have an issue with the totality of what he said – according to this anyway: http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30768546 – in fact I think it’s very fair. Sanchez is definitely our best signing for years, way ahead of the disappointing รzil, but he still has some way to go before acquiring legend status.
รskar
Holic@25: to save us some time I may as well just give you a tenner or two straight away ๐
Great comments from all the usual suspects above. Love the photo – well played GSD!
Can’t really add much to what’s already been said. We were great, they were shite, and I hope every single bloody one of their supporters endured a harrowing journey home that took until the small hours of the following morning.
Arnautovic shove entirely deliberate, for me. Ball long gone, no hope of winning it, just leaving a bit on Debuchy to let him know he was in a game. Crouch was similarly intent on getting in defenders’ faces, and I thought his elbow on Monreal was also worth a card.
The incidents got me thinking about our injury problems. It seems there is still an aspect of “you have to make Arsenal earn the right to play” out there. I’m fine with that – I’ve done similar on a football pitch myself – but it’s the ref’s job to recognise it’s happening and give basic protection to our players, because the line between “getting in faces” and actually risking hurting people is perilously slim. I thought the ref on Sunday did a piss poor job in this regard.
Likewise, the commentators, who seemed to find nothing wrong in any of it, and particularly match of the day, who introduced our highlights with a montage of Stoke and Arsenal players kicking each other, lots of chuckling about how the two clubs hate each other and the fixture is always a tasty, bad-tempered affair, and then proceeded to pronounce two challenges which drew blood to be accidents. I assume they feel that this is simply an extremely accident-prone fixture, hence the montage.
Barton, meanwhile, gave voice to the underlying theme of the coverage, by stating that “while I don’t advocate it”, the way to stop Arsenal is to kick Alexis Sanchez. So… Joey doesn’t advocate kicking Sanchez… unless you want to stop Arsenal. Let’s just hope no one wants to do that.
Later in the evening I listened to the podcast of Sunday Supplement (don’t ask me why – glutton for punishment), and the assembled hacks took a few minutes to note that poor Eden Hazard really is given the most atrocious kicking, and if it doesn’t stop soon then his club will be well within their rights to encourage him to start diving to protect himself (big chuckle at “start diving” there).
Taken all together, the above really did leave me with the impression that kicking Arsenal players is seen as a perfectly legitimate tactic, and that we’re expected to suck it up in a way that other sides quite simply are not. I don’t propose that this causes the entirety of our injury crisis, but it certainly does not help.
What’s to be done? Well, I’d like to see our players be a little more savvy out there about bringing this stuff to the attention of the ref. Go after him if needs be (it’s regrettable, but everyone else does it). If he still ignores it, then give some back to the opposition. It wasn’t necessary on Sunday because the gulf in class between the two sides was so vast that we looked pretty comfortable, but in other circumstances I’d have suggested booting Bojan right up in the air and seeing how that went down. You might take a card for your troubles, but at least you’ll have forced the ref to acknowledge that the game is heating up a bit and he needs to keep an eye out.
Despite all of the above, I thought our lads did an admirable job of toughing it out. Monreal, in particular, was a trooper and put in another fine performance. I was glad to see the third goal go in when it did, because it seemed to take the last remaining wind out of the orcs and I was able to watch the rest of the game without worrying that some neanderthal would chop Alexis in half (accidentally, of course).
On to City, and I fear this game has come just a tad early for us. Players still finding their fitness after injury (what a bench we had on Sunday – best for years), and the team on the bubble but not quite alight. Mind you, City have their own problems, so you never know – personally, I would have your hand off for a point (ever the Doomer).
Finally, a word for young Bellerin. The lad is a top class talent who will hopefully be marauding up our flank for years to come. Looks utterly unfazed, has all the pedigree and scares the life out of the opposition when in full flight. Well done son, keep up the good work. Alexis also had an OK game, but needs to work a bit harder.
COYG
Hi all
A quiet drinks so I thought I’d raise an issue and see what folks think. This is really only relevant for folk who go regularly to games and like to go to a few away games per season.
I’d hoped to be able to get to the Brighton game. It sold out at 5+ away credits. My son and I have three credits. I look for every away game, but the only one that has reached our level this season was Sunderland (which we bought). In the seats around me on the North Bank on Sunday there were a number of conversations which went along the lines of “Bert can’t go to the Brighton game but he’s buying tickets on his three memberships to keep his credits up. He’ll shift them down the pub easy”.
I understand why people want to keep the credits up – it’s the way to ensure you get cup final tickets. However everyone seems to be wise to this trick now – you can see that by the vast amount of “spares” around in the 48 hours before a game. It’s become a self perpetuating group and leads to tickets being bought but not used by some.
Just doesn’t seem right.
BTW I do appreciate how fortunate I am to live close enough and afford a season ticket and go to at least 50% of matches!
right ,
whoever ordered snow?
front and centre !
yer boot up the hole is ready for collection
.
.
grrrrrrr
brrrrrrr
Alexis also had an OK game, but needs to work a bit harder.
Heh!
Countryman100: I am obviously not a regular away match goer, but you are totally right about the credits system being totally fecked and the effect has become that a small group of people are in control of a very large portion of the tickets. Don’t know how to solve this though without introducing stuff like having to show ID when entering the stadium to prove you are the one with the membership which would of course be totally unworkable for a number of reasons.
N7,
Completely agree about Sanchez. Must try a lot harder.
The trouble is he already makes a number of our players look lazy by comparison. I think it is a typical Wenger plot to find an excuse to get rid of even more of our squad olayers and save Stan yet more money !
WAGNER AHHTTT !!!!
Hi everyone ,
I’m under the influence of Pepto Bismol (sighs) …
Holic, So happy it all came together so beautifully for you and the holics (thank you Trev, for the full list! ๐ )
GSD, FANtastic photo (in more ways than one)!
City v Arsenal, RESPECT! Always a pacey, riveting affair. Not a bus in sight, either! ๐
Abb,
Pepto bismol
Must be dismal
For upset tums
And squeaky bums
It’s two spoons
In a glass.
If you still can’t walk
Just take a cork
And stick it
Up The Arse !
๐
From previous
243 abc11633
The fact is : we have not won a single trophy with Chez on goal!
10th August 2014. Wembley Stadium, London
Arsenal 3 Man City 0
Who was in goal?
Facts, eh!?
We signed anyone yet? ๐
Some news :-
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150113/cazorla-why-i-thrive-in-the-middle
Looks like with Ozil and Ramsey and Theo back we’ll have a selection problem…
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150113/ox-alexis-is-the-complete-package
Oxlade-Chamberlain says he constantly analyses Alexisโ performances as he seeks to add more goals to his own game.
Alexis inspires as well! We got a good one here… hands off Chelski and City! You’re never going to get this boy!
๐
Bt8b
Interesting when you are going off to sunnier climes that lissom young ladies ask if they can come in your suitcase ( oo-er that doesn’t sound right) Bet they wouldn’t want to accompany me if I really asked them.
The’ unfortunately ‘ was ironic as we had to cancel three holidays last year due to death in the family and Mrs TTG deciding to fracture her arm the day before we left . So I won’t believe we will actually depart until the wheels leave the Tarmac!
Ttg. Quite an image “lissom” conjures up. ๐
Enjoy your well deserved and anticipated sojourn, and be careful carrying too many of those lissom young ladies in your suitcase. ๐
And all the best to the Ttg management too. ๐
Answer revealed to “Who ate all the pies?”:
http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Jonathan+Moss+Manchester+United+v+Crystal+t4FdyQ_9vCOl.jpg
scruz.
I can assure that tabs and a half pint have never been seen in the vicinity of each other.
Oscar
Bath said “Arsene’s best signing” which rules out everyone on your list bar Henry and Viera.
I’ll agree that Barton didn’t say too much really disgusting, but his very presence is nausia enducing. You’re pretty much under the scrapped stuff in the barrel if he’s on your “experts” list.
Speaks for itself really but I’m not one to disagree.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/manchester-city-boss-manuel-pellegrini-alexis-sanchez-best-player-premier-league-1483241?
With all due respect Pellegrini, thank you very much BUT stay the F away from our boy!
He’ll get 30 goals for all competitions this season AND help out at the back too! ๐
n7 above, re stoke’s fouling and not being called to task (ie, on debuchy, on monreal), iirc coquelin slid straight through crouch about 2/3 of the way through the game, after monreal got his patch, and put crouch on his ass. i don’t recall him having much to say or do after that, excepting that one header he hit short of ospina’s near post.
so, even though he’s risky with the two footed slides, le coq might be a good, subtle enforcer against teams such as the trogs…
BB@40: That is a good problem to have. For years many in this bar (including those at Castle Ned, it should be said) have lamented our lack of squad depth. Nice to be able to luxuriate in it now we have some — or rotate as it is also known.
scg@48: I didn’t think that against Stoke Le Coq was sliding in, on the whole, with gay abandon (if that does sound to have a touch of the ttgs to it), unlike in the Hull game, when he was lucky to stay on the field towards the end of the game. He can be forgiven for dumping Couch to the ground. Doesn’t sound reckless, more purposeful.
Pepto Bismol sounds like a Latino dance instructor.
Good example for the Arsenal stewards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAtV9ZAcMyY
can’t handle snow
broken limb tally
zero though
.
.
but
sadly
news
more freedom of speech
dangerous bluster
.
.
.
me
decades gone
day to day basis
decisions made
do i “answer” “questions”
ABOUT my name
my age
my going to’s
my coming froms
bare minimum
we had to provide
or
do i answer additional “questions”
beyond my “legal requirements”
judgement calls made
at each of the half dozen gun pointing
daily harassments
when
going for a pint o milk and a paper
was subversive
.
.
i said it before
head above the parapet
a noble and brave action
things wouldnt have changed here
without it
.
but
.
when those outside
are shooting from a different hymn sheet
in a different universe
with
a whole new old “right” on their side
.
tread carefully
sorry ‘holic and ‘holics
the pain behind my eye
i blurted under
One of the good days
title
yeah
sorry big man
either you are a saint
or
yer bouncers are shite
.
feel free to zap
canny shut up sometimes me
๐
NBN
‘ gay abandon ‘. I’ve definitely abandoned being gay.
Exciting evening. We’ve definitely agreed deals for Bielik, Gundogan and Carvalho according to informed sources. That must mean we will sign Scneiderlin
cba @53 top drawer stuff and no need for 54 whatsoever. ๐
anyhoo
new telly programme – suspects on ch5
just now
starring paul weller
oops
fay ripley
.
.
.
always get them mixed up
anyhoo
new telly – suspects ch5
just now
starring paul weller
oops
fay ripley
.
.
.
always get them mixed up
Bleep+ bleep reduce
weller/ripley
aaahhhh
Touchรฉ re Arsene’s best signing, H2H (#45), my bad. But Alexis still has some ground to make up before overhauling TH14, or even PV4. He has to stay with us for a few years first and not succumb to NasvanPFabitis.
As for Barton I don’t even rate him as human, never mind expert in anything but arsolism. I just bristle at selected quotes which ignore the tenor of the whole.
รskar
howdy oskar
tenors
holes
bristles
fabuloso ๐
BT Sport’s experts ๐ are pathetic. Watched the penalty shoot out and they misread it at every turn. The Corporal was very nervous but he got the job done
Fully agree, Oskar. Alexis still has much to do to match TH14 but if he stays at Arsenal for as many years and carries on the way that he has started Alexis not only may prove to be but he will prove to be Arsene’s best ever signing.
cba,
you know why sorry is not needed from you, or indeed any of my friends.
We will all offend, without meaning to, those who matter.
Everybody else can do one, frankly.
Hope the wellies don’t leak in the snow. ๐
thunder T
ye aren’t in the air
?
tarmac trouble?
thougjt so
me auntie patrick
coulda sorted ye
and
the gutters on the plane
woulda been immaculate
zoooooooooooooom
zoooooom
and
before I forget
i am not anti you
cos of yer
judge – lite status
just the words you used
๐
.
go on
have a chuckle
ahhh ‘holic
ye never fail to be a top man
.
.
and
i’m very picky
๐
.
top man
top bar
fuckin freezin here
a hand depths o snow here
.
breeze pickin up
.
doors all the cattle sheds
need to be opened
so
the shed dont fly the fuck off
.
disdain on the cattles faces obvious though
.
“Shut the fuckin door,”
“Were ye born in a fuckin field”
“Moooo”
“Bastard”
Awaiting the white stuff that was promised at six.
Brought work laptop home so travel not important in the morning.
Peered out, not a fleck of white anywhere.
Good job I am used to looking a twat ๐
ned@50, i thought the same thing for the stoke game, le coq was much more controlled. that’s why i liked how he took down crouch, got the ball, got the player, and set him down hard, legally and cleanly. get lee dixon, martin keown, nigel winterburn, and bouldie to teach the team how to tackle hard and cleanly, and more importantly when to time the tackle so it sends the best message.
this is actually a video of coq and kozzer (that famed vaudevillian duo), but check out le coq’s hit on le crouch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tAkHbNTSUXE#t=35
he also drew the yellow for crouch. so, yeah, i think he’s doing ok, finally.
Koscoq. It sounds a bit like a well known American discount department store chain. If you leave off the final q that is. ๐
Howdy back at ya, cba. Fabuloso back at ya too. Language of poets mate. A man’s drink on the bar for ya. And a chaser.
Again I say I hope you’re right, bathgooner. Better than TH14 would be a wonder to look forward to indeed.
รskar
Have we signed anyone yet? ๐
@49 North Bank Ned
I hear you and second that! Now if only we had an abundance of choice for the backline too…..!
๐
We have three current or ex international goalkeepers at the club, Emi being lowest down the pecking order (surely the best no.3 in the league by a way) and no injuries to any of them.
I fully expect us to sign a goalie then…
Did not know backline equated to ONLY the goalie… but yes, you can never have too many anywhere..the more the merrier!
If I had my way would sign ’em all up!
๐
I like Pellegrini, i mean the man gets his teams to play football in the right way, not just at city but elsewhere as well wherever he has managed. So when he says Alexis has been the best, i trust that he meant it and is not mind games before the game.
Santi wants to play central, Ozil has to play there so thats a dilemma. 2 of our best players and one position to play, so what does the boss do? Realistically it is not an immediate issue for i do not see Ozil starting sunday and expect the same team that played against Stoke bar poor Debuchy who i hope is replaced by Bellerin only.
In the near future though that playing in the number 10 role will come up and the question is how to accommodate the 2 magical players.
I just have a thought and maybe thats what it just maybe.
Ospina
Bellerin/Chambers- Kos-Per- Monreal.
Santi-Ramsey/Coq
Ozil
Ox-Welbeck- Sanchez.
I just feel this is what may happen for i cannot see how else can we fit in both. I know Santi maybe out muscled or out run in that position but i believe Ramsey next to him will have the industry to cover him.
Now if this needs to work, we are losing on Aaron’s scoring goals and runs but basically we will have more creativity for our forward line up and may help Ozil as well.
Now with this ideally we would need a strong DM playing next to Santi but i do sense Wenger will play Ramsey/Ox theremore often.
Now do not ask me where does Jack fit in all this.
Wasn’t disagreeing BB. But we need defenders. We don’t need keepers. I was suggesting that AW’s transfers are not always the same as those the rest of us would go for- Arshavin etc.
Sarcasm doesn’t always play well in black and white.
Maybe he’d play better in red and white. We could at least make a bid before settling for Alistair Hurrah.
Vinay. I think that team would be better if you left coq in (or a better dm) and used one of rambo/santi. I appreciate you are trying to get all the best players on the pitch together but I do not think rambo is a dm. He is wasted there. And not great in that role anyway. One of them needs to play box to box with cover behind. I can’t see it really working with rambo and santi.
If Aaron is interchanging with Santi and we lose possession (say against city next week) to a good midfield I think we would be walked through. If Santi is protecting the back four as Toure charges at him with the ball then we are in trouble…
@GSD
Cheers! Could not agree more with you.. defenders top priority.. or rather defensive midfielders in my humble opinion!
Am a little excited because for the first time in a very long while, i see a team that is really capable of mounting a challenge on multiple fronts. If only we could get that strength.. and we’re not far away!
๐
I rather liked Arshavin… memories of Pool and Barca!
*get that strength in depth…
meant to say! ๐
Manchester City complete the signing of striker Wilfried Bony from Swansea for ยฃ28m on a four-and-a-half-year deal.
———————
Do they really need another striker? and Bony at that price??? Ridiculous!
Let’s skin them at their own place.
๐
Henry went on to reserve praise for Alexis Sanchez.. :
“I am trying to think if there has been a better signing in the last five or six years,” he said. “Arsenal were looking for a player who could deliver on a daily basis and they have found one.
“He sees the game brilliantly as you saw on Sunday [Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Stoke]. He doesn’t need a lot of opportunities to put the ball in the net and that is very important.
“He is always going to score goals but it is his all-round game I am impressed with. That has no price. I, like any Arsenal fan, was waiting to have a player like him. Finally, we have one.”
—————————
๐
84 bb
๐
a great about a great
.
put a smile on my miserable chops , did that
cheers
GSD, just a reminder that Yaya won’t be running at Santi or anyone else at the Etihad this Sunday, as he’s in Africa. But the point is well taken nonetheless.
Funny how Arteta has now disappeared from “ideal” lineups in lieu of Le Coq. AW probably thinks differently though, and it wouldn’t surprise if he gets back into the side when fit, as the boss feels he provides the cohesion and link up he values most of all. In an ideal world, you would meld Arteta’s and Coquelin’s best attributes into one body and you’d have an excellent DM, but I don’t foresee that coming in this transfer window. But I do see some situations where AW might pair the two (in certain road matches or against tougher CL opposition) and sacrifice some attacking prowess for at least part of a game.
@ BJ
Good post. Agree with all of that.
Afobe leaves on a permanent deal to Wolves: http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150114/afobe-joins-wolverhampton-wanderers . Won’t be surprised to see him in PL in a couple of year’s time, if not next season.
That probably leaves Jack and Coquelin as the last surviving ones from that highly promising youth team that won the FA Cup in 2009, and Jack the only one from academy.
That shows how hard it really is to translate promise into top level performance. Both Afobe and Frimpong have also suffered from series of injuries at crucial times.
@ 86 ; B.J. for a Coq-eta ? Do we want a Coq-eta in the dressing room tho ?
@85 CBA
Think we’ll see him back in some capacity when he’s all done playing the pundit. While he’s at it though, do hope he does it in a take no prisoners, tell it as it is fashion!
Posted something similar but here it is again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYD67WvtWZ8
๐
bb
always does my heart good
when former gunners
great gunners
behave like gooners
and refer to the mighty Arse
as US or WE
.
.
mighty indeed ๐
.
.
UP THE ARSENAL
HEar! Hear!
๐
gsd
got just my cheapo phone
at the minute
‘holic’s pics don’t show up
for some reason
fuckin cheap shite
(phone . not ‘holic . he’s dr. spendalicious)
it’s a cracker
by all accounts though
๐
GSD, Great costume. I’m sure cba would agree when and if shown the evidence. ๐
Re: GSD @80. I don’t think Toure will be doing much charging at Santi this weekend because the Yaya man is, to the best of my knowledge, away at the Africa Cup of Nations. If we see a Rhinoceros charging at Santi on the other hand, it will be because Santi has just scored a scrumptiouliciouis goal. ๐
howdy bt8ball
i imagine i will
proper goonerpic
it sounds
from thems thats saurit
Vinay@78: Or Theo or Ollie G, come to that.
Sometimes I wonder if these mis-spellings are done on purpose. Or engraved on a porpoise.
hoofs it!
Refused to clean the toilets?
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30814289
i’d a nutted the ton in
but
hey ho
*slopes off to shout at snow*
..
SNOW!
Over here they say tomorrow we could have snow MELT for the first time in 2015. If so I’ll shout at that too. ๐
Hello gents.
It is a good photo cba (although you can’t see my tail!) Three daft gooners having a good day out. I made my own bed when I chose my moniker so thought I should lie in it. Thank God I was not required to perform any stunts!
And if you take supporting this Arsenal team too seriously you may find it tough going. Personally, although i no longer have a choice about my support, I try to remember it is supposed to be something I do for fun.
Sunday was great fun. And people seem to have had a laugh at the photo. Good. Plus I posed behind a young kid whose dad was taking a photo of him in front of the stadium. They were not from the UK and making a pilgrimage to the new HOF. Son had no idea I was there as dad took photos, beamed and thumbs-upped me. But that young man will forever have a photo of himself with Gunnersaurus Stunt Double. Great stuff.
City next… (no Toure though!)
grilled cheese on snow?
.
weirdos
gsd ๐
Dr F@88: Benik Afobe didn’t play for the 2008-09 FA Youth Cup winning team though he was in the U-18s that season and was “player of the season” in the Premier Academy league winning side the following year.
The Arsenal starting line ups over the two legs for the 2009 Youth Cup final were as follows. Your point about how a promising group has failed to break through to Premiership football holds true. (Clubs they now play for in brackets.)
Noticeable how far down the pyramid many of them have ended up. Don’t know if that means they weren’t as good as we thought, or whether it is just really difficult to make it to first team football anywhere, and especially at Arsenal.
James Shea (AFC Wimbledon)
Craig Eastmond (Colchester)
Thomas Cruise (Torquay)
Kyle Bartley (Swansea)
Emmanuel Frimpong (FK Ufa, Russia)/Sanchez Watt (Colchester)
Luke Ayling (Bristol City)
Henri Lansbury (Notts Forest)
Francis Coquelin
Gilles Sunu (FC Lorient)
Jack Wilshere
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (c) (Bristol City)
Subs:
Rhys Murphy (Dagenham & Redbridge)
Charlie Mann (now out of football?)
Sanchez Watt (Colchester)/Oฤuzhan รzyakup (Besiktas)
Conor Henderson (Crawley)
Cedric Evina (Doncaster)
cba@104: ๐
GSD has a tail in the costume?! .. Majestic!
http://i.imgur.com/YrfnljJ.jpg
๐
and
before i forget
to them that say
Ye can’t polish a turd
unfortunately ye can cover them with snow
.
feckin cattle
.
off to play
cow pat russian roullette
.
things i’ll do for a jar
.
oy
.
friesian roullette
.
fuck
write this shit down
comedy gold
cheerio
Brilliant cba. Good luck.
gsd, (as is said here) top man. that’s hilarious.
sorry to see benik go. i thought he had a future here.
bayonne jean@86, mick is still my preference (due to his quality on the ball and ability to cycle it from the back) for starting, though a coqart double pivot would be preferrable to a flamart. and if we need stiffness in our dm, i think coq will do better than the mick. ๐
Ned: added to that list can be Wojciech Szczesny who would have been in that team if he hadn’t been injured, if I am not mistaken this was when he had broken both (!) his arms. Aaron Ramsey was also at the club and eligible to play but as he was bought for the first team it would of course be a rather huge stretch to consider him an academy product.
GSD: heh, well done on the photo bombing outside the stadium! ๐
ha haaa, tottenscum down 1-2 to burnley after 25 minutes… the chicken is gonna fall off the basketball…
GSD. Not required to perform any stunts? What were they thinking of? ๐
Woj was indeed in the U-18s then, Lars, moving to a full pro contract the following season as did Nacer Barazite (now at FC Utrecht) and James Dunn (Portsmouth). 2008-09 was also the year Ignasi Miquel (Norwich) and Elton Monteiro (Sporting Braga) joined the U-18s. Miquel was a real nearly man. I wonder if he doesnโt wonder whether given our injury situation at CB he wouldnโt have been better off staying. He as had only two starts at Norwich, both losing cup games, and eight appearances as an unused sub.
“Santi wants to play central, Ozil has to play there so thats a dilemma. 2 of our best players and one position to play” – Vinay (#78)
รzil doesn’t have to play there, Vinay, in fact AW rarely plays him centrally. He plays him out wide same as he plays for Germany. The obvious player to be central is Alexis.
You also have Danny leading the line which isn’t going to happen so long as OG is fit. I imagine we may start with Danny on the wing, but I can’t see him making the run-on side once รzilla is fully fit.
And Theo will always start ahead of Ox, when fully fit. In fact, assuming all these are fit enough to start I would see something more like…
Ospina (although I still believe Emily will end up #1 eventually)
Chambers Per Kos Nacho
Ramsey Le Coq
Theo Alexis รzilla
Ollie
รskar
Above was, repeat assuming all were match fit. But I can’t see Sambo, Theo and รzilla all starting, especially against $iteh so expect some combo of Ox, TR7 and Santi in the mix.
I think I’ll leave the final decision to AW! ๐
รskar
Sambo???
A guest post from Sweden. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>