Three And Easy For The Gunners
Mar 15th, 2015 by 'holic
Another enjoyable day spent in pleasant company and the bonus of another decent performance from the Arsenal which went largely as expected. Arsene made five changes to the team that defeated Manchester United, resting among others the in-form Santi Cazorla.
We made a bright start and could have grabbed an early lead but Theo Walcott hesitated when clean through and allowed Collins to make a recovering challenge. Near misses would be a recurring theme of the half, with Alexis and Aaron Ramsey denied by Adrian in fine form.
Another clear shot presented itself to Walcott, but he fired straight at the West Ham goalkeeper. This was one of those frustrating days from Theo, his rustiness evident, he flitted in and out of the game before he was hooked with around twenty minutes remaining. The uncertainty around his future may not be helping, but he did his cause no favours today.
West Ham’s resilience finally cracked in time added on for their earlier timewasting, which was pointed out to the departing Sam Allardyce at the break. The goal was worth waiting for too. A stunning strike just inside the far post from Olivier Giroud, once again putting in a shift and linking attacks with no small amount of subtlety.
West Ham attempted to come out of their shell at the start of the second-half, finally getting some support up to the lone raider, Sakho. In truth though they lacked the imagination to create too many problems.
A rare sight came on the hour when referee Foy had to hand the whistle over to Anthony Taylor having ‘gone in the fetlock’. The resulting chant of “You’re not fit to referee” was roared out by both sets of supporters and raised chuckles all around the stadium.
In the preview I had written ‘It could be a frustrating opening hour at least, but with a strong looking bench Arsenal could overpowerΒ the visitors in the latter stages.’ and so it proved. The ‘holic pound came in for a fourth consecutive match with two goals in the closing ten minutes.
Aaron Ramsey notched the second on the day from Giroud’s set-up, and then Matthieu Flamini, presumably brought on to shut up shop, found himself free at the far post to knock in a third from fellow substitute Santi Cazorla’s cross.
Arsene summed it up perfectly,
“For 80 per cent of the game we were in control. Maybe for ten or fifteen minutes in the second half they put us under pressure but you expect that in a derby when a team is one nil down.”
The day was made all the better by Burnley’s unexpected defeat of Manchester City. Just a point separates us from the champions and second place now becomes something to target over the final nine matches. For now though thoughts turn to an even stiffer challenge in Monaco on Tuesday.
89 Responses to “Three And Easy For The Gunners”
First!
Really a first one for me π
Now read the report
Fine one Maestro!
Theo should have had a penalty and though he didn’t score he made some good runs. I really hope he finds form again and shows us what he’s worth
Nice one, mate, we saw the same game even though I missed the 1st 30minutes. To Monaco we go to qualify. #COYG
In the last drinks there was a debate over whether TV affairs you a better perspective than being in the ground watching live. As a regular I must confess I really miss my fix but at least the result was excellent and we are starting to build momentum . I’ve scarcely thought about Tuesday’s game. Monaco are too good to let a position like that slip but I hope we can exit with respectability and not lose the momentum we are building up.
Having said I don’t expect a miracle in Monaco, were Chelsea to suffer a monumental hangover today we might feel that six points behind with them to come to us we were just back in the title race. I don’t expect Chelsea to lose but we might peg back Citeh and if we can win the Cup as well we might feel real progress has been made this season. I think it has and the squad has options that didn’t exist before.
One thing I felt from the telly was that Chambers is very vulnerable defensively. Matt Jarvis is not the world’s best winger and he slipped by him much too easily.
Sorry ‘ affords’ in first line
Excellent piece Guvnor.
I feel there was a teeny tiny chance that the Chavs might stumble if Manchester Oilers had been able to keep up the pressure for another week or two, but that has clearly now gone. I reckon we are definitely in with a shout for second place – I’ve been saying as much for a few weeks now and I’m beginning to believe it myself. As I’ve also said before, it’s the hope that kills you.
Time to settle down for today’s matches. Is there a bad result possible at Old Toilet? Hanged if I can think what it is.
COYG
4 consecutive wins against Ladbrokes?
You aiming for early retirement? π
Cheers H!
Pleasant afternoon watching events in the Chelsea cunts battle and got chatting to a couple of fellow Gunners, who I’d only been on nodding terms with before. Hopefully might have us on again next week, as Chelsea are again on the Sunday.
Saw you large as life as the teams were walking out. You looked suitably relaxed and that was before kick off!
Are you there Easter Saturday mate against Scouse Cunts? Bringing Patrick up for a Easter holiday treat.
Cant. Fucking. Wait.
Congratulations on the pound !
Oskar,
For everyone’s sake, argument over.
I cannot argue with someone who thinks you get a better view of the game from the TV than you do in the stadium.
And I do not sit at ground level with an obscured view – I sit in the upper tier, right behind the TV cameras.
Another piece of your nonsense blown out of the water, old chap.
I think maybe the more relevant argument than in the ground vs TV is the upper tier vs lower tier. I’ve done both over the years and both have different benefits. From the perch in the top tier behind the goal at Old Trafford I was reminded of the chess board view that you get, from there, how you can see so well the runs of the players, of the space created by those runs etc. In the lower tier you see the physicality of the game, the close up skills in the area etc. At the Emirates the lower tier has better atmosphere, which is why our seats are Block 7 lower tier North Bank. You pays yer money (more in upper tier) and takes yer choice.
Enjoyed yesterday, with none of the emotional highs of Monday night. Not quite at our best, three cracking goals, nice crisp, windless day.
Bring on the Miracle in Monaco!
Doesn’t matter where you watch from if you have your eyes closed.
First chance – Should have scored, didn’t. If you want to be kind, you could excuse the miss as rustiness. But only just, as it was so simple. Would probably not have hesitated if he hadn’t been on the bench for the past month, but no real excuse. Should have scored.
Second chance – Should have scored. No excuses at all.
Third chance – Wasn’t his, it was Ozil’s. If the roles had been reversed and Walcott had drilled a fairly straightforward chance straight at the keeper, and Ozil had missed the follow up, which came at him quickly, on the stretch, off balance and was almost behind him before he had a chance to react, I know who would be getting the blame this morning.
Had him to score first and Arsenal to win 3-0 so doubly gutted, but even as a fan and with financial losses I can only fairly blame him for two misses.
Anyway, glass half full time – Made more chances in one game than we had in the previous three or four, looked to be on it, hopefully will go to Monaco in the right frame of mind. Attack them, put them on the back foot, score early, give them something to think about.
Anyone who took offence at yesterday has my apologies. I’ve not back drunk and won’t. Not worth it.
C’mon Saints!
BMBD
Monaco also won 3-0 at home against Bastia this weekend.
Our biggest problem Tuesday would be that awful pitch and all the rain that made it worse. I remember how our players were shocked into a terrible performance at a custom made San Siro grazing strip. π
But I think this time we will be well-prepared. We might also want to mix the attacking modes with more generous usage of long-balls and knock-downs from Giroud to onrushing Santi/Alexis/Rambo. Both Monreal and Bellerin are capable of excellent crosses.
It is worth remembering we had quite a few chances against them at home, had just failed to take those. An early goal and the pressure will build.
Well dun Saints. I agree with Dr. F. An early goal from our boys may well unnerve them. Although a draw from spuds v. Mancs appears the consensus pick, i’d rather a Manure win today. Their next few fixtures should see them drop points. Rather have spuds have their top four homes dashed today.
BMBD
Lonestar, agree with you on a ManUre win. Spuds winning, and the look of Spuds’ upcoming fixture list, would raise concerns, but probably not a lot, given Spuds are Spuds, after all. ManUre’s next four fixtures after this should do them in.
But we do wish that this starts a downward spiral for their wonder striker. The most nauseating possible outcome for this season would be for Harry Kane to be named the journos’ footballer of the year. Wouldn’t put it past them.
Thanks for the report, ‘holic, and congratulations on the landing of the pound four times in a row. π
Fabregas not looking so shiny any more. Chelsea from invincible wannabes to run of the mill in a few short weeks. Long may it continue.
But he’s one of their own, Bayonne Jean. He’s one of their own.
BMBD
Spuds’ best side in years are being shat upon by ManUre’s biggest pile of dung in years.
Rooney celebrates by miming his KO from Phil Bardsley!
I also would like to see us scoring 3 within the first ten minutes, and have it done and dusted.
Considering the size of the task at hand however, I would be pleased with a 1-0 advantage by the 70th minute. Keep it tight and offer them no cheap chances by then.
Bring on some fresh attacking legs (Rosicky and Walcott come to mind) and absolutely go for it in the next 10 minutes, then throw the kitchen sink at them, if necessary, during the final 10.
It’s a shame that Gabriel and the Ox are sitting this one out – they would be perfect for this type of match.
I’m all for a late onslaught, against wary legs.
Final score prediction: I fancy a 1-3, and hope we see them off in extra time.
Of course, I’ll be keeping my money in the pocket until ‘holic-damus has spoken!
Cynic,
To be clear, I have nothing against Walcott. I would love him to bang in a hat-trick every game and be a superstar.
What riles me and provokes my responses is Oskar’s constant tub thumping and going on like we’re idiots who don’t know what we can see with our own eyes – whoever he is talking about.
No more comments from me though – it’s done to death.
It gets better for us.. Coloccini gets a straight Red!
One less orc to deal with when we go there…
π
Fine report Gunna. That’s the game I saw. Top plaudits for Rambo, Kos HFB and Monreal. All were outstanding. As was Santi when he came on and Santi gave us a bit more drive and incision through the tiring Spammer defence.
Feo has to pull his socks up to get a regular starting berth in this team.
Onwards.
COYG
Making plans for St. Totteringham’s Day now. They didn’t turn up today on a day when United were so vulnerable
Heh Cynic! Good lad. Love ya.
The eyes closed comment applied to supporters of Theo as well as detractors, which is why I was (as I see it anyway) fair with the breakdown of the chances
}:-)
Holic has some good fortune at the moment. I think I may have accidently given him mine too…
After Man U and Everton today I am waiting on Liverpool tomorrow. If they win the only thing stopping my accumulator (at odds of 196) coming in is the fact that City lost to Burnley.
The one time I would not have minded an oily victory.
Come on Swansea! Don’t lose and make me weep…
Great game and an equally enthralling write up, H. Next season is looking better everyday from this perspective.
The team relationships is finally gelling on and off the pitch while Sir Arsene seems to have discovered his mojo.
Whatever happens on Tuesday outside a thumping from Monaco should not be detrimental. However, passage into the next round would only further strengthen belief and camaraderie amongst the team. It really would be great to get to the semifinals at least.
Chief shit stirrer, Mourinho is at it again. While trying to rev up the pressure by stating that Arsenal are still in with a shout for the title, he still manages to slip in a sly dig though beneath the bluster you can sense the trepidation which he feels.
Mourinho is threatened and that is the greatest compliment you can give Arsenal right now.
COYG.
*are gelling
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/15/jose-mourinho-arsenal-chelsea-title
Hope you don’t mind, H.
I don’t Solid. π
Point taken, Trev, from your vantage position you have a terrific view of all the action. However, having watched the game again, I can assure you that the positioning and movement of the player in question was also easy enough to follow on TV.
And having watched the player in question again, for the full time he was on the pitch, I fail to see what more, apart from scoring obviously, he could have done. He covered back as much as any other forward and while wisely not crash-tackling the opposition, on just about every occasion he obliged the player in possession to pass the ball backwards, which is fair enough for an attacking player in defence.
And while I may be persistent in this matter at least 17 other members of this commune added their opinions in the last round. Including one who said he ‘stunk the place out’, which was patent rubbish. It was that particular comment that I felt obliged to rebut so vociferously.
And here endeth the rant. For this round also.
Γskar
Nice piece, ‘Holic. To the nub, as ever. The pound stays on fire.
On behalf of all the far-flungs, being there or watching on TV? No debate. Those of you who have a choice don’t know how fortunate you are.
Monaco? No problem. Our name is on the CL cup this year.
You backed $iteh to win, GSD??? SHAME ON YOU!!!
Γskar
Here in Auckland, in the grip of Hurrcane Pam.
What’s it like you ask?
Well, by 11am I decided it was a damn fine drying day so I got a couple of loads on, and they’ve dried beautifully.
Popping down to the beach for a dip in the briney shortly.
Update over.
Nightmare
Impressive, IF. Very impressive.
BMBD
Thanks Lonestar.
I’m a survivor I guess.
Wouldnt want to go through it again though.
Commune! Heh! Opinions of others, for that is all they are, described as ‘patent rubbish’. Not very communal old chap.
But quite apposite, as its exactly how I would describe your big idea of ‘flicking Santi for someone of real quality’, expressed midway through last season.
I’ve taken very little of anything you’d said since. And don’t worry I shall be reverting to type, forthwith.
The choice of commune is interesting. As I understand it , a commune is a group of people who share a common life. This bar is delightfully made up of lots of people with very different lives but a common obsession– the Arsenal. That’s what makes it so interesting to back drink and laze at the bar.
I think it’s brilliant that people as far away as India, Australia, the USA and New Zealand ( where obviously there is a very unusual TV picture
I was cut off after my smiley face – I ended by saying ‘ and several who regularly visit THOF ( and even one who we suspect spends his week in an open nick without Internet ) can enjoy the shared experience of supporting the Gunners . Let’s hope it’s a blissful shared experience this week.
3-0 to the good guys, a game easily won with no alarms. A perfect weekend to set it up for Monaco. Ramsey’s best game since his come back, Giroud continuing his good form, theo being theo, sanchez looking tired and Ozil not shooting.
Monaco is a tall order, let it be, if it happens great if not lets worry about newcastle.
I think we will win against monaco but wont progress. I dont mind that provided we win against the geordies.
Arsenal in the title race??? not really, i will be very happy if we finish 3rd and retain the FA cup. Next season no excuses though, the league has to come home.
I think Chelsea and Citeh think we are more in the title race than we do!
Which is a good thing.. we just need to concentrate on the next game everytime.. and nothing else!
π
I have decided on a new technique for crossing the road.
Rather than just looking left and right directly at the oncoming traffic, I have decided to try the “electronic close-up” facility to better determine exactly what the approaching vehicles are doing.
I shall use the “live camera” facility on my phone to achieve a better perspective of the road and traffic. Ignoring the informative shouts and groans of any near bystanders – who also will have appraised my situation – I shall step forth onto the tarmac, and hope for the best.
Should the technique need any fine tuning, I shall acquire progressively larger phones and tablets, with bigger and bigger screens, until I may eventually venture out with full iPad, or even laptop, technology.
This is all assuming the good lord affords me sufficient opportunities.
Carry on. π
TTG @ 40-41
Nicely said.
UTA.
Spot on TTG @ 40 & 41. I share your enjoyment of this cornucopia of global opinion.
Massive hehs @ Trev’s road-crossing technique.
Cent knows. π
Trev, take care buddy! π
Trev
Your technique would be improved if you used a GPS tracking system based in New Zealand which is much less fallible than the naked eye. Only cross when this commands you to do so!
It’s a great system but will occasionally abuse German passers by or those from Manchester
Had a fucking awesome weekend as always. Always a pleasure to meet up with all old friends and make a couple of new ones while we’re at it π
Brilliant goal by Giroud, including the buildup. West ham never knew what hit them before the ball was in the back of the net.
Theo? Did some good stuff, should have scored twice.
Ramsey back on track again, had a really good game.
Not nice to see ManUre win, but always nice to see Totnum make utter prats of themselves on nayional TV. My word, they were awful in that first half. ManU played quite well but far from as well as has been made out incertain sections of the media. All tree goals were unbelievably poor defending.
Now let’s do Monaco. We’ll get the goals we need.
Trev @45. Love it.
A co-worker now thinks I am (even more) bonkers as I sit and laugh at my phone, but hey-ho, definitely worth it.
Afternoon all, looks like there will be no Monaco preview. Apologies but I need to be elsewhere this evening. π
I am putting the ‘holic pound on a 1-3 win for the Gunners in 90 minutes. 20/1 if you shop around.
first
I would have written a preview for you, H, but it would have been 300 words long and 287 of them would have been either “Theo” or “Walcott”
Top three.
I won’t ruin the Holic pound streak by going with it.
I’ll say 4-0.
One in first half. Three in second.
And Robert’s your father’s brother…
that’d be a first, cynic π
Gabriel is back in training. I think he may start tomorrow, would give us a better protection against what would definitely be a pure counter-attacking tactics from Monaco and given that we will have the fullbacks committed forward more than usual.
Coquelin-Rambo-Ozil down the middle, Alexis-Giroud-Santi the front three? Or any surprises there?
TR7 and Theo candidates from the bench if it is 25 odd minutes and a goal or two are needed. Would have been a perfect match for Ox.
Adebayor was better for Spurs last season than Kane this season. How else to account for their lower league position? Oh, I forgot. Worse manager.
Then again, you could say that about them every season.
We can do this. No question.
We just need to show the right attitude, application and patience.
We must cut out the gung-ho defending and create the same number of chances as we made in the home leg and against Manure and against the Spammers but this time we must take most of them.
Spirit of Anfield ’89, brothers.
COYG
Or, even the chances we made against Monaco, bath.
I am bullish on tomorrow. One of these days it’ll have to come true. 1-4 to the Arsenal… a game for the ages.
Oh, and Trev… it’s just not right to be so full of wit (don’t let anyone tell you that you’re full of anything else)
BMBD
bath @ 61: Or the spirit of San Siro 2003…possibly our best away performance at Europe. π
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBvIzoGFr_U
Had it covered Trev, watch the lips. π
True, Faustus, very true.
I’m actually rather confident about tomorrow. And it is not a “don’t ask me why” situation, I think there are several factors speaking in our favour even though that may sound weird at first.
Yes, they have a two-goal lead and we have to score at least three no matter what. And yes, they haven’t conceded three at home for a number of years.
But…
Monaco have been walking around for three weeks having already won this tie in the eyes of many, and possibly (subconsciously) even their own eyes. That creates a certain amount of pressure on them.
It is also not always that easy to go into a game knowing you can concede two and not have to worry because no matter how hard you try it is very very easy to not be as sharp as you would have been with a tighter scoreline. Even if it’s just two players dropping a few percent that could very well be enough to destablise the whole team.
Would I say we’re favourites to go through? No, I wouldn’t go that far. But I think we’ll do it anyway.
That would be “the home leg” Trev. π
Cheers for the review H.
Well in on the pound, again.
Technical term H2H.
I guess I missed it.
Victor Valdes, Barcelona’s goalkeeper who won the Champions League three times and La Liga title six times, has been signed by Manchester United, apparently to be their backup goalkeeper.
How much money do they have?
Another Β£150m to spend in the summer apparently. Big turnover but probably mostly going on the debt mountain.
Royals one nil up.
Two nil now.
Does it matter what they have to spend it they give it to a prat like LVG?
Probably not, TTG. However like Bobby Charlton’s shots, he will hit target occasionally if he hits enough.
Bath, I stand corrected – courtesy of H2H. π
True Bath. If Bale or Ronaldo return it will, be hard to see them not improving.
Many said that when di Maria and Falcao arrived, TTG.
Mata too.
Personally I would get the team to sit and watch the tape of Anfield ’89 tomorrow before the game.
Don’t panic. Don’t concede. Remember Rocky’s words.
We are The Arsenal.
8 ball: on the other hand, there are those who seem certain that Valdes is signed because De Gea will be off in the summer. True or not I don’t know of course, but it does sound plausible at least.
I see a major flaw in that plan GSD.
A 0-2 win would see us eliminated.
π π
@59 Dr F, I’ve been puzzling the same qestion.
Santi has been so good in the No 10 role that he has to start. Coquelin is the first name on the sheet these days and Rambo makes three in the MF because he’s quite likely to score.
Up front Giroud is a must. That leaves two berths to be allocated between Walcott, Alexis, Ozil and Danny.
Despite the likelihood that defensive duties for Theo will be quite limited, it’s difficult to see him being a starter. It’s also difficult to see Mesut starting on the bench. Walcott and Danny on at approx 69 minutes, 59 sconds into the game?
Many Gooners here already. Remarkably upbeat! I think it’s the post-Manure effect.
H2H- fair cop guv!
I do wonder how much some of our players know about our club though. I think that game is the most dramatic season finale in any league ever. No-one who pulls on that away shirt can fail to be inspired and proud when they see what was done that day. They stand on the shoulders of giants.
The Ozils and Sanchezes of this world need to know that whilst we do not currently have the sway of the Spanish superclubs (and have no European cup trophies) we have a history to be reckoned with. We are one of the few clubs in the world who can claim to have had the best team on the planet (Chapman’s) at a given moment.
And whilst we never make it easy- we DO make it.
Hard to remember who you represent if you never knew. Drum it home. Bang it in hard. One message. On repeat. All day.
We are The Arsenal.
H2H
Agree
Nervous energy aplenty.. in anticipation of our win at Monaco.. will we and can we do it by a big enough margin?!…..!!
Up The Arse!
π
TTG.
If Bale or Ronaldo go back to Manure it won’t be hard to see them not improving… just watch them play. Wink.
Thank you Thundertinygooner π >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Very amusing, your #45 Trev. But since you made it after I had conceded that your viewing position was indeed a point of excellent vantage perhaps I should add that on the only occasion I was at the Ems, mine wasn’t quite as excellent.
Seated in the lowest tier and to one end of the ground I had an excellent view only of what happened in the nearest quarter of the field. Elsewhere I could see the action just fine but the perspective made it difficult to follow as closely as I can follow it on TV – especially with excited patrons jumping up and down all the time.
I guess the ‘at the ground’ or ‘on TV’ debate rather depends where on the ground and the definition quality of the TV.
But let’s not fall out. You are welcome at any time to visit NZ, sit with me through an Arsenal game (on TV, sharing a special bottle of NZ red from my reserve stock) and explain what exactly certain players should be doing differently. Because, having done that myself following Saturday’s game, I am thoroughly confused by the extent of derision from some quarters.
That’s if the knee is up to the travel of course. Progressing well I hope?
Γskar