Arsenal To Win In Manchester Twice Running?
Mar 8th, 2015 by 'holic
The much criticised Monday night meeting of old foes is all but upon us. At the point at which Manchester United’s number was followed out of the drum by Arsenal’s I found myself having a strange reaction. I hissed a very audible “yes”. After all, on our last trip to Manchester had we not finally found the formula to beat a major rival, the champions no less, in their own back yard? It felt as though it was our fate to follow that up at Old Trafford with our first win there in eight and a half years.
Ten days later Monaco turned up at the Grove, one of the easier draws in the last sixteen of the Champions League, and all but humiliated a lacklustre Arsenal. The prospect of advancing to the semi-finals of the FA Cup looked a distant prospect in the days that followed. The ship has been steadied again though with victories against Everton and Queens Park Rangers, not in themselves as strong as Louis van Gaal’s charges, but important in terms of restoring confidence.
The team news is mixed. Gabriel will miss the next few matches with a hamstring injury, and there were late tests planned for Wojciech Szczesny, Nacho Monreal, and Mathieu Flamini. The fact that the former duo appear in photographs of Sunday’s training session suggests they, at least, will be back in the fold. Both would be in my preferred starting line-up, along with Hector Bellerin, Per Mertesacker, and Laurent Koscielny.
Far more interesting will be who Arsene goes with in midfield alongside and ahead of the masked Francis Coquelin. There is a case for restoring Aaron Ramsey, perhaps more used to the role that Santi Cazorla has performed in his absence, but that would then mean a decision between Santi and Mesut Ozil in the role of creator-in-chief. This selection will give a clear indication of our intent. Do we go for the ultra cautious style that was so successful in the blue half of the city? Or is it gung-ho Gunners and hope we deal with their counter-attacking style better than we have done in recent memory.
As he has not featured much of late I think we can rule Theo Walcott out of contention for a start. Alexis will surely patrol the right flank, but there is an interesting choice between Danny Welbeck and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the left, with Ozil in the equation should Ramsey start further back. Olivier Giroud must start, his personal Monaco nightmare put well and truly behind him in the last two matches.
United will be missing ‘Spit’ Evans at the back and Robin van Stapleton up front. On the evidence of current form it is probably fair to say they may be a little stronger as a result. Luke Shaw also faces a late fitness test to determine the extent of his involvement in the tie.
The ‘holic Pound
Determining the object of the ‘holic pound has been harder than usual, and made so by United’s obvious grinding out of results despite not playing well at all this season. Typical was their win at the Grove in November when they had one shot on target and yet won the match 1-2. Should their fortune continue then we face an uphill struggle, and yet there is something in the air. A belief, maybe born out of a misguided sense of hope, that we will do to them what they have done to us so many times.
The blueprint was established at the Etihad. Defend deep, close the man on ball voraciously, hunt on the counter with pace and accuracy of distribution. Invite United on to us as they have have done in reverse so many times. This is the match I am playing in my imagination, and which persuades me that the scoreline which will clinch a hat-trick of ‘holic pounds is 1-2 to the Arsenal, available at a tempting 10/1 with Paddy Power. In a strange win market both teams are odds against. United available at 6/4 while Arsenal are around 2/1. You wouldn’t have got positive odds on United to beat us at Old Trafford in many a year.
To those of you joining the 8600 traveling Gooners I wish you a night to remember. A very fine gentleman offered me a wonderful opportunity to be with you but a big few days at work require me not to fall asleep at my desk on Tuesday. Let’s hope the team can deliver that which is long overdue.
Art of Football Titi Tee Winner
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Chris wins a teeshirt featuring Thierry Henry’s classic strike against United in October 2000. For those unlucky in the competition we also have a 10% discount code on any design from them, just enter WENGER when prompted on the order screen.
So, congratulations to Chris. I have forwarded your details to Art of Football who will be in touch. Thanks to them for a great prize, and to all of you who entered.
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239 Responses to “Arsenal To Win In Manchester Twice Running?”
please
First? After reading the post?? Surely not.
…and a very fine post it was. Something tells me 0-1 is more likey than 1-2, but I’ll not quibble with either.
COYG
Nice post. I just never feel confident going to old trafford; the match i want to win most and hate losing most also. heres a link to my blog (arsenal), if anyone is interested http://arsenalwildinnocent.blogspot.ie/
8600 traveling Gooners cannot be wrong. Not to mention the third straight payout for the pound. Tonic for what ails ye, please barman.
It would really be quite nice to win tomorrow.
Strangely found my old DVD of Fever pitch earlier had forgotten what a great film it was, Also bought back some of my most cherished memory’s of following the Arsenal so if that’s not a good sign I don’t know what is heading into tomorrow 🙂
Up The Arse,
Oh and Fancy Wellbeck for a brace for some unknown reason !
I don’t fancy us at all . We will lose very unluckily 1-0. Rooney will score with a deflection off his backside in the 80 th minute. They usually get a pen against us and often miss it .
Desperately hope aim wrong. I’ve voiced my prediction out loud in the hope it won’t happen. It would be wonderful if we can do them
Oh what I would give to trash them or even get a 0-1 win in this game. Looking at both teams performance and players this season we should win even if not comfortably but history suggests it’s more of a mental issue for us. I hope we re-write History tomorrow.
Cheers H! Gutted you cant make it mate, sure you would be a sure fire winning mascot. The win is well worth backing, I’ve a real feeling for 0-2, like 2003 again.
All we can do is be true to ourselves…whatever that means.
Cheers, all!
BMBD
That’s not a ‘Teabag’ winner of the T Shirt is it?
Pictures 15 and 16 of today’s training pictures on Arsenal.com seem to need some captions so at your service,
“Per and Alexis practice their technique of non-verbal influencing of referees.”
Cheers Guv’.
They’ve been riding their luck for far too long now and we have the players to bring that to an end. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to say this with real conviction, but, we are the better team. Let’s hope the lads remember that tomorrow, our mental approach will be as important as our physical one.
Fuck the mancs.
Please, please, please just win this game. Don’t care how: just win it.
Utd will look to keep possession and knacker us out chasing. It’s what they’ve been doing all season, hence the plethora of late winners. They’re vulnerable on the break and have mistakes in them, so I’m on board with the Holic strategy.
My only concern is that they may not actually come at us. From reading a few of their blogs this week, Bollock-face favours a lot of sideways passing possession without much real thrust, so they may be quite happy to ping it about on the halfway line, waiting for us.
Weighed against that, their away form is garbage, so the onus is very much on them to win this game: a draw would be a fantastic result for us, and I’d be very confident of putting them away at home.
Not going to make a prediction. All logic goes out the window in this game. The head says that we rarely win this tie. The heart says we’re due. Just win Arsenal, please.
COYG
with n7 on this. To quote the late, great Al Davis, “just win, baby”.
I hope, if they want to keep possession we let them, and then are incisive as hell when they make a mistake. come ON you gunners!
The very same, Esso. I smiled 🙂
Good on the lad! Good omen as well I reckon!
What N7 said!
Holic Pound on 1-2 again?? Holy smoke.
We know and they know that we should have hammered them at the Emirates and that they were lucky as fuck to get away with a win. First goal tomorrow, if any are scored at all, will be very, very important. They score first and the nerves and doubts will creep in for us, but we get the first and we will (or should, at least) be given a massive boost. I know all this “one win since 2002” or whatever it is, but teams like Newcastle, West Brom, Swansea and others have got their first wins since the 70’s or even first wins ever there in the last two years so who can’t we break our negative run?
Come on, Arsenal!
I hate when we go to that place, last year I was actually quite confident when we travelled there that we would get a result and yet again they got lucky goal from Skunks shoulder.
This year I am absolutely terrified by the prospect of going to OT for some reason, so hope we come out winners this time …I dont care how ..just win this one Arsenal and overcome one of the last psychological hurdles which is keeping this team back.
Whisper it BtM, but I have a little of 0-2 too. 🙂
I’m off the gambling after backing Steve Bunting to beat Peter Wright in the darts tonight.
He lost 10-0
FML
Hehe, Cynic.
One of the few who would remember this…
http://goonerholic.com/2008/02/brian-mcclair-my-part-in-his-downfall/
Long time ago, it seems…
Agree 100% with Ttg at #9, but I’m predicting 1-3 just for the hell of it. But only if Theo starts, which he won’t. 🙁
Öskar
Share your optimism on this one, ‘Holic. The old gut says we’ll come through victorious and slay the dragon of not being able to win at OT.
If I’d been asked which Manc team we’d be most likely to beat in Manc this year I wouldn’t have chosen $iteh.
Just trying to be positive here…
Öskar
Well, you’re pretty much sucking at it. 😉
Excellent, as usual Maestro. Here’s to the long drive back feeling like a quick jaunt.
Hello to Lars, BtM, Esso & H2H. If any of you are travelling to OT then let please me know via the back-channels.
UTA!
Woke up this morning after a late drive north from Crufts and what should I see when I drew back the curtains…. The Old Toilet. Breakfast surrounded by Mancs but wearing my 90s away shirt to shield me from the Dark Side (in deep background). I share your optimism Guvna and am looking forward (in hope & expectation) to a famous Arsenal win. God, we do owe them a thrashing.
COYG
Thanks for that Holic.
While we certainly owe them a thrashing or two, I’ll be more than happy if we can just get a solid performance and the team turns up. If we turn up, we are more than capable of beating this bunch.
I think Nacho and Rambo will start, Cazorla will move to 10 and I feel Ozil will float on the left wing. If we can keep our shape and keep it tight for the first hour and as Lars said try not to concede the first goal then we should get something from this game.
Fine preview, Holic.
A fine flowing foray of fantastic football featuring the famous Arsenal would be fantasmagorical.
However, a scraggy 1-0 will do, more likely to be 2-1 though.
It would be nice not to have my nervous system wrecked on the floor in front of the TV at the end of it.
Stuff that tortoise fella back in his shell.
Come on you Reds !
Please score the first goal, please boys. In many ways the first goals makes or breaks big games specially against them. Whenever we play them we hardly score first if not any at all. So in order to set the game up, start with scoring first.
Arsenal need to play without fear, yes united will come with an arrogance knowing that they win these games in the mind than on the pitch. We need to overturn this and today. This game will have repercussions to the penultimate game in the league when we go there again.
Score first, defend higher and know that there main threat is shrek, he becomes superhuman against us and he has some sort of a hoodoo over us.
Score first or chase the game and then concede late, change the script please guys.
I want to beat this lot so much, it hurts.
If we can’t beat them in their current state, when will we?
Mind you, I thought the same last season, and earlier this. 🙁
Safe travels to Baff, tabs and Snowy.
Vinay, you said it. Really annoys me how potato head becomes exceptional practically every time he takes the field against us, defending, tackling in midfield, setting up counters, laying on assists and more. His hatred of Arsenal seems to be one of his main motivational forces.
Rooney is a cunt, end of, but painfully productive one against us. As much as I loathe technical players being kicked out of the game, I would not mind today if Coq shown him early on that if he is going to run at our defence, it will hurt.
Just as Sol said in Invincibles documentry, when he had Paddy playing in front of him, he knew that when the striker got to him, he has been already properly roughed up. I just want us to turn up and not succumb to their bullying which will definitely take place.
I would say that I hope refree is going to take stand and protect our players a bit from being purposely kicked out of the field but knowing the abysmal level of officiating not only this season and this game being played on Old Toilet, I suppose our lads will have to get on same level of toughness as them.
Just win Arsenal, I dont care how, just win.
“Rooney is a cunt, end of”
LOL!!
Howdy TS, nice ro see you here.
Zico has just posted the lust of attending ‘holics.
Safe trip all.
List even.
although lust of attending holics would be….eer…okay lets not go this way 😀
I believe a “lust” is the collective noun for a group of Holics.
COYG
Indeed, safe journey to snowy, bath, Tabs and, I have it on good authority, True Storey.
Loud and proud, fellas.
Oh, just saw TS was here – so much for my ‘good authority’ ! 🙁
Wayne Rooney
Goals scored, by opponent:
14 vs Aston Villa (in 26 games)
13 vs Arsenal (in 30 games)
12 vs Fulham, Newcastle, Portsmouth and West Ham (in 23, 22, 15 and 18 games, respectively)
11 vs Man City (in 26 games)
Being on the winning side:
20/26 vs Villa
17/30 vs Arsenal
17/23 vs Fulham
15/22 vs Newcastle
14/15 vs Wigan
Being on the losing side
12/31 vs Chelsea
10/26 vs Man City
8/23 vs Liverpool
7/30 vs Arsenal
5/17 vs Everton
A nightcap of ‘holics, perhaps?
Not going to say we are going to win now but if we do I’ll be back here afterwards to tell you we did. 🙂
Change the script without benefit of red card, Vinay. Unless it is their red card, I should add.
http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/512/mcs/media/images/81499000/jpg/_81499462_arsenal.jpg
Come Onnnnnn!
😀
Bricking it…its the hope that kills you
If this team plays to its potential and without fear, we will emerge clear winners.
The caveat when playing at old Trafford is poor refereeing and diving by the likes of Rooney and Ashley Young.
I expect our quality to triumph tonight and put an end to our poor run against this horrible lot…
zico@35 summed up my feelings.
Tense now.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Alexis, Welbeck
Subs: Martinez, Gibbs, Chambers, Ramsey, Giroud, Walcott, Akpom
Welbeck instead of OG, go and score a brace Danny please, super nervous now.
Looks like we’ll be sitting deep and try to catch them on the counter.
Dear Theo. Get your transfer request in now.
Only one victory in last fifteen games against manx.
Well, enough is enough. Fed up.
“We learn humility through accepting humiliations cheerfully.” – Mother Teresa.
Yeah, right.
Give ‘em ‘ell Arsenal!
COME.
ON.
A.
R.
S.
E.
N.
A.
L.
Also, no Rosicky…I wonder why :S
Im not surprised that Welbz is starting ahead of Giroud despite his recent good form. He provides better pace for the counter attack and will work hard from the front. I am surprised that Rambo has been dropped though. I guess in Oxlade he’s gone for pace again to counter attack.
Time to stand up and be counted. Let’s go boys!!!!!!!
We’re going to have to do show them we’re THE ARSEnal: http://i.imgur.com/m5u2u3y.gif
COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
😀
wheew ..here we go..come on!
COME ON YOU…….. Errrrrrr BLUES.
Get the mask out
of course fist thing fellaini does is to elbow coq to his nose ..fuck him really.
Young doing what he does best..flops around..
Nerves nerves nerves
That’s it Ox better run at em
No yellow?
Monreal!!!!!!!!!
NAAAACCHOOOOO
Monreal get’s it started!
Yesssssssssss
Like seasoned striker
NACHOOO!
Sweet baby jesus!!!
Monrealllll. Get in there.
Ffs already
who the fuck else than the balding fucker ffs
Free fucking header. WTF
Is Mesut Ozil Turkish for ‘total passenger’?
how are these diagonal balls continuing to carve us open?
Should have been up at half but at least we are even
All to play for in the 2nd half…
We should concentrate down the left.. they’re very vulnerable there!
Cynic – actually Mesut is having a good game, strong on the ball and focusing on his defensive duties too. Besides our goal started at him, so.
What pisses me off is the “cheapness” of their equaliser, also Woj needs to calm the fuck down, he looks nervous.
‘Holic Pound is still on…so is the Oskar Pound. This time around I prefer Oskar’s point-of-view.
BMBD
They are up for the taking. Need to get welbeck involved much more.
COYG
Pity Kos went to sleep, Ches nervy, we can still win this . I worry Fellaini might have a big say in this game.
Cheap foul sets up danger every time
Walcott on tear them a new one Theo
Faked out its Ramsey weird
Come on Theodoric!
Giroud to come on and get the winner!
COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!
COCK UP YES
How awesome is that for Danny xx
WELLLBZZZZ
get in DANNY!
Ok… Giroud to stay off.. and we still win!
WELLLLBECK!!!
Careful Hector cmon hold the fort
Calum on we need to cover him
Good call Arsene.
Cheating, diving scum!
Alexis.. what a player….
COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good shift Danny
wow ..De Gea…
Dive u punk
COME OOOOONNNNNNN get another lads, please!
Send the lot of them off…hahahahahh!
Bye arsehole
Di Maria off.
Di Maria off?! Nice.
@Abb
Too right!
…and cheats too!
COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LET”S GET THEM!
This match is perfectly set up for us to throw away!
Confident aren’t we Uncle Charlie… 🙂
COME ONNNNNNNNNN!
BB, That’s our biggest threat from this lot, out right cheats!
Let’s not be afraid to win this ffs
we’re playing like headless chickens… with a man advantage???
@ABB
When I saw Young on the list to play,… I thought that was their plan all along.. who know Di Maria wanted a transfer… 🙂
COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!
know=knew*
….COME ON !!!!!!!!!!!
Diving punk
Cheats
I like this ref… !
Never thought I’d say that… 🙂
Come on come on come on!
Bullshit five minutes my ass
5 minutes…jesus wept. Fergie time.
Bricking shits
How did we not score?
Holic pound x 3
YEEESSSSSSSSSSSSS
GET THE FUCK IN>
LOOOOOOVE IT
We did it, we’re through xx
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEES
Fergie time … hah!
We could have added if ‘The Hair” had not been on form.. !
YES!!!
😀
Fookin grate!
We wanted it more than them
The ‘Holic Pound!!!!
YES!
Yeèeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahhahaha
I bloody love you Arsenal
All the Manc fans coulda used a late train to London.
😀
Only saw the first half but somebody must be celebrating.
Nice to finally see the referee finally stand up to manx antics…
Come on Arsenal!
The ref didn’t ‘fall’ for their diving
DI Maria …DIVE!
Ashley Young .. DIve!
Janujasjjsjsjsjj… DIVE!
Bunch of divers.. hence ManU Dived!
😀
I kind of like us having some proper party nights up in and around Manchester. Even if i prefer if they aren’t on Mondays.
That was fuckin awesome… And Martin Tyler can stuff the Manchester United DNA up his arse…
long overdue, what a great game by lads.
Wemberley,wemberley
We are the famous Arsenal and we are going to Wemberley
YES
Ha Ha Ha!!!!!!!!!!!!
Over fuckin’joyed!!!!
We won.
There, I said it. 😉
Martin Tylers rabidly pro United commentary a disgrace.
As were most of the United team.
Ref was spot on for a change.
Bravo!!!!!
Next ROund :
Bardford/Reading vs Arsenal
🙂
Bradford Reading
Bradford/reading in the semi
Arsenal vs reading/Bradford yessss
Bradford or Reading in the next round
Wemberley,Wemberley
Didn’t beat us in penalties?
There’s no easy matches in these cup games…!
But with our form.. we should beat Pool in the final!
😀
Prior to the match I let the football gods know that I would sacrifice this match for 3 valuable points at OT in the league as we fight for the 2nd spot.
Now that we got our win there, I hope it will give us the confidence we need to take them on once again in the league.
Fantastic result, and we should have won it 1-3. (Are we saving this for Monaco?)
Congrats to the ‘holic pound!
Get the fuck in!!!
Fair shout to the travelling faithful
This is why you do it
BB, I Hope it is Reading. Did you see Bradford’s pitch a few days ago? They will probably drive a fleet of industrial-strength tractors over it to stop us from playing if they win their replay.
Fantastic.
Side note. Great to see Pat Rice in the stands looking so well. Those too were the days.
Alexis has been brilliant.. the way he presses.. rubbing off on everyone.
Welbeck if he manages a few more games and goals.. will be proper competition for Giroud!
😀
‘Holic pound on fire!
bt8 – arent semis played in Wembley already? So the pitch should not matter anymore.
One of the better days in me life.
Semis at Wembley bt8
Responding to -0 to the Arsenal @ 154 with that last comment, not BB. Getting a bit mixed up here with all the excitement.
Eandy, even the Wembley pitch is wobbly at times…. Well to be honest – compared to the carpet at the Emirates, fuckin every other pitch is wobbly…
@bt8b
Agreed.. hope we get to play on the best field. Doesn’t really matter who we play, more on where!
Would be surprised if Pool lost… but stranger things have happened.
Btw– Did Giggsy shout in LVG’s face after the final whistle.. didn’t notice.. 😉
I will also be raising a pint for Ozil’s composure in providing that pass in the dying minutes for Sanchez. Or make that two.
Oh…..
In that case we should be able to turn them over. 😉
Big Big win. That guy welbz.
COYG
Yeah, compared to Ems pretty much every pitch is wobbly, but give me Wembley over Bradford minefield any day.
Can we have Michael Oliver every game?
I would just love to be in Manchester this evening.
Fookin hoping for the same spirit in Monaco on the 17th
and I will be there
Also, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, De Gea is really really top keeper, pulled off two worldies today to keep the flattering scoreline for ManU, I dare to say that both Santis volley and Alexis effort in the dying seconds would have ended in the back of the net was it not for him.
How good is Mesut Ozil?
God bless the Holic pound.
Blatant dives all around .. LVG must be under a lot of pressure to get his team to perform.. dropping pants time?? 😀
Wouldn’t be surprised if Di Maria left.. whatever happened to Mata, he can’t get a game anywhere..
May this be the start of many a good game against ManU.
😀
Buzzing.
The best thing about the team today was each and every player’s commitment… They were ready to die on the pitch… Damn this team excites me… And what a lovely sight it was to see Koscielny completely own fellaini in the dying minutes by sticking to him like a glu…. Awesome stuff
Ozil superb.
Monreal superb.
Coquelin world class.
Alexis superb.
Welbeck superb second half – well done lad.
Everyone else fucking brilliant.
So happy.
WHAT DID SHE WEAR?
Buzzin` like some cunt who has not seen the dutch Skunk all evening H2H
When Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is asked if there are elements of the performance which are positives, he just laughs.
—————–
HAHHHHHHAHAHHAHAAH 😀
I Love Le Coq !!!! COYG
Amazing what happens when you get some decisions in your favour – Them cheating cunts have got so many dodgy (Scrap that Cheated)decisions against us over the last few years that I’m still in shock a ref saw fit not to give them a penalty or send one of ours of ! Fever Pitch it is before every big game now !!
Up The Arse,
Ps not Welbecks biggest fan by any means but as well as the winner he worked his nuts off and so deserved that goal – Fair play.
It is a good day. A long time coming. Bloody thrilled now it’s here.
Eandy — spot on about De Gea, and he is the one propping up ManU all season with saves like those. With another GK it would have been 4-1.
Finally some referee had the chutzpah to do the right things: book ManU players for diving. And very smart decision by Arsene to take Bellerin off as Ashley Young was constantly trying to get him sent off with another yellow.
Great performances all around. Measured, composed and really incisive in counter-attack. Alexis or Ozil my MOTM, along with Santi. Monreal, Coquelin, Per, Kos all had good games except for the goal we conceded.
Unfortunate about Ox, that was a brilliant piece of skill to set Monreal up.
A big shout out to the away fans.
Loved them and their energy. Arsenal made it worth their while i think.
COYG
Beautiful, Beautiful stuff, and I haven’t even seen the game yet!!!
Right. Still haven’t calmed down.
But I would, without in any way giving Utd credit for playing well (they did not) or saying that any of their players except for Da Gea did a good job (they did not) but fucking hell if that wasn’t an exciting game.
Had it all.
We really showed some balls today.
Two of them in fact.
Both in the Utd goal.
wenger out!
Great to see those scumbags being found out for what they really are. Bunch or diving cheating retards.
Coquelin was fantastic throughout. Really laid the foundation and dealt with Fellaini’s aerial threat very well for the physical handicap that he was against.
And just looking at the current team next season is a very exciting prospect. What an amazing bench we have.
COYG
couldn’t watch the game (it’s on the dvr at home), but couldn’t stand it…YESSSSSSSS! i am floating now, can’t WAIT for a beer and to watch the game at home tonight. ARSENAL!!! so glad welbeck stuffed that second up van ballz’ nether iris, they both deserved it…
ARSENAL, until i die…
bloody marvellous
just bloody marvellous
And for all those nutters who keep saying wenger doesn’t do tactics, I hope they stuff their arses with tonnes of humble pie… What a move to play Welbeck upfront tonight… And since I am all excited I will just say it – “In Arsene We Trust… “
And how pathetic to see united’s supporters booing Welbeck, when it should be LVBalls who is liable for his transfer.
Anyways he did us a great favour, Welbz is an absolutely terrific player to have in the squad. Through and through team player. Brilliant commitment and great energy, the two qualities that got him his goals.
How apt will it be if it is his goal that dooms their season.
Cant stop grinning.
COYG
@Toby
We really showed some balls today.
Two of them in fact.
Both in the Utd goal.
——–
I do believe, judging by past results, LVG would also be doing this …but in their dressing room… Literally!
(http://www.4dfoot.com/2013/03/09/van-gaal-dropping-his-pants/)
😀 😀 😀
Heh @ -0 to the Arsenal.
http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/512/mcs/media/images/81531000/jpg/_81531694_van_gaal.jpg
😀 😀 😀
I concur desi.
This might be the match which leads to the evolution of this team and how romantic will it be for them to pay back Arsene with the success that he has built towards for the last 9 years.
I fucking love Arsene. I do.
COYG
Arsenal. Bloody Arsenal.
She wore a yellow ribbon…
BMBD
Well in Lonestar
well in lonestar…we’re going to WEMBERLEEEEYYYYYYYY!
Bang! Sic semper simulares
Cheers gents! That was an unexpected wunderstrike!
BMBD
Well In @Lonestar
Also Nacho Monreal, take a bow son, I have alway preferred Gibbs personally but this season, Nacho went through marvelous transformation. I dont know if it was his stint at CB position but he is undoubtedly first choice LB for me now. Not only he scored a goal but was defensively flawless.
Only scare he gave me was when Januzaj went past him, but luckily being infused by Mancs cuntishness, instead of continuing to drive forward and setting up a chance, he dove, quite hilariously 😛
Did I mention that I hate ManUre? (btw I really bricked it when I saw us lining up in the blue shirts, last time we played in blue there was that infamous 8-2 game if I am correct)
Brilliant scenes at OT. Suggest everyone to check this out. Especially loved Wenger smiling at the end of the video. He has taken a lot for the team over the years. So happy for the Boss.
http://arsenalist.com/f/2014-15/manchester-united-vs-arsenal/post-match-scenes-from-old-trafford.html
COYG
Eandy — Technically and positionally Nacho has always been a better player. He would never have Gibb’s athleticism or pace, but in the attack he gives us excellent options and complements players like Alexis who already has the speed well. I think the CB experience made him appreciate the need for tighter marking and learning to be more physical in challenges which made him a better defender. His challenge would make Gibbo a better player. We already saw that from Gibbo in the last match when he was excellent positionally and had two assists. Right now I would also choose Monreal in matches like these.
Great vid.
Arsene beaming.
How good is Mesut Ozil?
He looks a very good investment if he’d cost £4m, but he cost ten times that. I thought he was absolutely non existent in the game, but I guess I’m alone in that view.
Who do you all prefer in Semis? Bradford or Reading? Happy to have avoided Liverpool in the Semis.
Can this be the turning point? We beat Man City and now MU. Our confidence should be firmly back. I can’t wait for the Monaco game.
By the way, I hope Ox will not be long term…I think he was great tonight. Sad to see that Theo has gone down the pecking order but AW was right to play Welbeck and he was right again when he replaced Ox with Ramsey. However, I hope Theo will play a part on Saturday or against Monaco.
COYG
I am a snivelling coward. I just couldnt see this. When Rooney equalised I felt a huge fatalism.But no we toughed it out. We were much better than them tonight. They are awful and we manned up and defended really well apart from the goal where we let another cross come in with no pressure on the ball .
Props to Oliver who they will be hating. He’s the first ref I’ve ever seen go to Old Trafford and show real balls. They dive and cheat and normally get away with it. Tonight they were embarrassing . He set an example refs should have followed for years. Bellerin would gave gone with some refs.
Invidious to pick a MOTM tonight. I thought Coquelin, Cazorla , Ozil and the two centre backs were magnificent . Ox was great until the inevitable injury. Tactics were good and bold enough to take advantage of how crap they are. LVG is a con man
Reading will beat Bradford in the replay I think, Doc Faustus.
Not really bothered though.
Congrats Holic, you deserve your winnings tonight
Cynic @ 210: I thought Ozil has a ‘visibly’ good match, sometimes you don’t even realize how good he was by watching the game at TV until the numbers come in where you see him leading in passing and possession etc., but today he was involved in all all our best attacks and while defending the lead used the ball best among all our attacking players.
H2H@ 214: Agreed. I think we went closest to self-destruction last season in both the Semi and Final, but I think that type of clusterfuck is out of our system now.
Hopefully.
I dont think it really matters who we face.
If we keep this kind of intensity, with the quality we have, we will win.
I just hope united’s season crumbles from this point and they finish out of the top 4. This defeat has the potential to set them back by atleast an year or two if that were to happen.
Fucking ecstatic.
COYG
Didn’t we do well, happy, happy days. Thought Ozil, Santi and Le Coq played tonight as well as they have all season. Tigerish in MF and well supported by Alexis and Danny who ran their socks off.
Great support from the travelling fans who will have a great trip home.
Pity the Ox has another injury and I fear one or two others may not be available for Saturday. Perhaps tonight’s win will give us the momentum to go and turn over Monaco, it is possible!
COYRs
All I will say is this:
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
Fuck off you diving cheating bastards!
SlaSh @ 218 : They have a toughest run of fixtures now for the CL spot chasing group and they are the likeliest to slip, and share with you the hope that they would be out of CL position for a few more years. They have some serious team building exercises to do.
They deserve all the problems they cannot handle.
First time.
What an evening of football I had. This performance had been brewing in the Arsenal pot for a while and I’m overjoyed the team chose today to serve it.
Total team performance but I would have Le Coq as motm. The bully of Fellaini had a perfect match in him.
Wembley, here Arsenal come again.
I said it last night, Doc. They’ve been riding their luck for way too long now and they will get found out.
I really hope we gave the push that will see them plunge off the cliff into oblivion. Our victory could seriously damage their moral.
God I hope so. 😆
A little note to add to all of the above.
At the end of the match one of the familiar boorish Man U fans at the pub came up to me, shook my hand, and said “We know we’re shit!”
I think their luck has turned now and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them drop away.
‘Holic, we hope you’ve been doubling down on those 2-1 to the Arsenal wagers!
Had to miss the match, as my mum is not well. Thanks to the lads for brightening things here.
Blaise @ 222: Coquelin was excellent indeed. As he has mostly been since his return. Some of his forward passes were top quality too.
Ox looked happy enough walking at the end of the match, hopefully a minor strain and not more than 2 weeks, would still miss him at Monaco.
I think Coquelin-Rambo combination works well, give us a better solidity and control over the midfield and in his current form Santi can cause more havoc near the opposition penalty box. That was a superlative save that denied him what would have been a great goal.
Interesting that H2H posted the same conclusion just before me. Expressed it better though – Thanks H2H.
H2H @ 223: Right. And we still have the chance of a final reminder of the gulf in quality when we meet them again in May at the old toilet. 🙂
Good to see a ref with balls at OT, Oliver definitely my motm.
Nacho confirming he is #1 LB. Cool finish for the goal.
How Danny gets to start ahead of Giroud, Walcott, Ramsey and TR7 is a mystery to me. Gifted a goal I could have scored but otherwise running round like a headless chicken, rarely in the right position.
Some nice work from Alexis and Özilla, but neither is currently the force the former was earlier in the season and the latter has been in German shirt.
Hector looking a little tired and could do with a rest. Debuchy must be fit soon surely? Le Coq worked hard. Santi a bit off the pace. Per and Kos okay. Sir Ches okay.
Would have been a lot easier but for De Gea. Let’s hope Real sign him.
Pity we didn’t get Poo in the semi, but we have the wood on them and whacking them at Wembley will be a great way to end the season.
Öskar
That Januzaj dive just showed how youngsters at that age are so impressionable and how bad influences like rooney and Ashley Young rub off on these youngsters. Thank God the youth players of arsenal have exceptional players to look up to. The other good thing about referee Michael Oliver tonight was his refusal to get bullied by the constant arguing from rooney and especially fellaini…. So is van gaal now going to cry about a referee bias against his side ala mourinho…And speaking of that cunt, now it’s his turn when Chelsea come to the Grove… Bring them on
Oskar @ 229: I think Chambers should be able to fill in as he did today. He is not the most natural RB but is good enough to play there occasionally , he was overplayed earlier in the season as we didn’t have much option but I think against WHU he can do a job very well and Bellerin can play then at Monaco.
I thought Ozil and Coquelin were excellent today.
The ref got two things wrong. Well three actually.
He should have booked Rojo in the first half, whch would have seen him off for the assault on Cazorla.
He should have sent Bellerin off (sorry but he should have)
He should have given Di Maria a straight red for the half shove, half shirt grab.
Apart from that he was very very good.
Oh come on Oscar, I know you are a theo fan but got to give credit where credit is due. Welbeck worked his socks off all game and it was his pace and sheer effort that enabled him to nick the ball from infront of de gea… If it was giroud in place of Welbeck, de gea would just about have reached the ball first. For me Welbeck is way infront of theo in the pecking order right now and I guess for Arsene too…
Manure’s next five Prem games: Spuds (h), Poo (a), Villa (h), $iteh (h), Chavs (a).
That should find them out.
Öskar
I thnk opinions of certain performances would be drastically different, had they put in the same degree of effort and we’d lost. Or even drawn.
But we all see things differently, which is cool.
Yeasssssssssss! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
You did it fine Arsologist. Cheers.
Oskar, you make me laugh.
We’ve just came away from Old Toilet with a win, the first time since Moses was in short pants, yet you’re still having a dig.
These are the moments that need to be savoured, just enjoy it.
If ‘worked his socks off’ means did a lot of running around looking for the ball, desi, then I agree with you. But for mine he rarely caught up with it or positioned himself to any advantage for others. Giroud would have been far more useful up front on most occasions. Perhaps he wouldn’t have got to the back pass, although Theo would have got there sooner of course.
Öskar
Tonight is turning out to be a really long one here and I’m soaking myself in the pleasures it offers my whole being.
Dr Faustus, I was actually before the game expecting Le Professeur Arsène Wenger, the Frenchman From a Little Village, to pair Ramsey and Le Coq in front of the back four so Santiago Carzola would move to his favourite position behind the Centre Forward. I see the pairing of those guys working better for us going forward for I believe that’s was what made the team have that dominant output in the second half.
If tonight’s shift could be repeated at the Monégasques, trust me, my employers could have an easy task querying me for absenteeism the next day because the night of that qualification for champions league semi would irrevocably be extremely long, albeit against medical advice.