Two at The Bush Worth Three Points In The Hand
Mar 4th, 2015 by 'holic
Not for the first time of late we started slowly at Loftus Road but as the half progressed we came more and more into it, shading the possession and attempts stats, if not the all important goals scored one. The second-half appeared a different story as we made our class pay, but there was yet to be a sting in the tail.
The Gunners made two changes, with Per Mertesacker replacing Laurent Koscielny, and Tomas Rosicky getting the start his recent performances have warranted ahead of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The home side made their intentions clear early on, taking the match to the visitors by any means possible. Henry, Sandro, and Zamora provided the muscle. You have to expect that when playing a side fighting for their Premiership life and hope that the referee clamps down on it. Kevin Friend didn’t. It was up to us to dig in and adapt, and by midway through the half we had.
It was Austin’s effort, saved by David Ospina, that triggered a response. At the other end Green made the first of a number of saves to deny Olivier Giroud, although to be fair this was straightforward. Gabriel and Giroud went close again as we eased into second gear, but the Brazilian was injured in the Hoops next attack and was replaced by Koscielny. Let’s hope it isn’t a bad one because again he looked a quality player.
A hectic end to the half saw Austin drive one inches wide but at the other end Green was at his best to deny Santi Cazorla. The little Spaniard and the increasingly influential Mesut Ozil also had efforts blocked.
Whatever was said in the visitors dressing room at half-time most definitely had the desired effect. We simply overwhelmed Rangers with Hector Bellerin and Rosicky energetically attacking down the right, the wonderful pairing of Cazorla and Ozil centrally, and Keiran Gibbs and Alexis on the left flank.
Within ninety seconds of the restart Ozil had just failed to turn in a Rosicky cross and Alexis brought another save out of Green. The Chilean was then set up by Ozil but put his effort just wide. Rangers attempt to stem the tide was a strange one, sending on Kranjcar for his fellow ex-Spur Sandro. It solved little for them. Indeed it was the substitute who lost the ball in the attacking third when Arsenal broke with pace and purpose for the opener, Gibbs being denied at the near post but Giroud bagging his fifth goal in five games from the second phase.
Twice more Alexis was denied by Green as the floodgates threatened to open, but eventually the little dynamo got his reward with a breathtaking finish at the near post from an oblique angle. With fifteen minutes remaining Ozil looked set to add to our tally, but a combination of Green and the goalpost denied him the goal his performance deserved.
It was one-way traffic, but Arsenal being Arsenal we managed to make it a nail-biter. Phillips cross found Austin and the in-form striker buried the chance with eight minutes remaining. All of a sudden the match was on a knife-edge. Rangers poured forward, as they had at the start of the match, but found a resolute back four and the masked Francis Coquelin equal to anything they could conjure up.
It was more nervous than it should have been, but we had in the end ground out a very important three points with the results elsewhere not going our way.
Oh, and the ‘holic pound was secured for the second consecutive fixture. Happy days!
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188 Responses to “Two at The Bush Worth Three Points In The Hand”
First!
Well said Holic. We managed to make it hard for ourselves…again. Otherwise we played OK. Ozil was much better tonight. I hope Gabriel will not be long-term. Watched the match in the O’Leary’s pub in Oslo. Good atmosphere…lots of Gunners.
We saw the same match, ‘Holic. Three points was the priority and three secured–plus the ‘Holic pound. A satisfactory evening’s work, on any score.
Excellent match review. To add I would say that the shirt pulling on Ozil should have resulted in a penalty for us and a sending off for them.
Have recently been critical of Gibbs but a very good performance today, even if still a little predictable in possession. I thought both him and Kos were a bit at fault for the goal we conceded. Bellerin was splendid again. Him and Rosicky worked very well on the right.
Excellent game by Ozil. Especially in second half. Superb movement, orchestration and positional play.
Alexis needed this goal. Hopefully he will start on fire in our next match.
Finally, good to see Rambo back. Do we start with him in old toilet — especially given that they will let loose Fellaini for some thuggery — and move Santi to #10, pushing Ozil to right or do we keep our midfield formation?
So long as the ‘holic pound came in I’ll go home satisfied with the result. 🙂
Actually, I was watching at home at the start but the TV gods didn’t cooperate and I watched West Ham v. Chelsea until halftime when I saw the problem had been corrected so I was able to see all of the second half except for a 20 minute stretch when we scored our two goals, while I had to drop out to pick up my daughter. Got back just in time to see the QPR goal, of course. I guess I should chalk this one up to Comcastis Arsenalis Disruptus. An excellent three points though. 🙂
We looked good for much of the game tonight. I’ve been a little critical of Ozil of late – mainly because I was getting sick of people praising him to the skies when he didn’t play that well. Tonight I’m delighted to say he was outstanding – some of those turns were worthy of DB10.
I wish people would allow criticism where it’s due and praise where it’s due. It doesn’t have to be black and white!
A great and very important 3 points. I’m taking the lad to his first game at Old Trafford on Monday – here’s hoping for a win to send us back down the M6 happy!
8 ball @ 5: Yes Comcast streaming had messed this one up. For our game they were showing the Man City match so I started watching it online — you should be able to do that by simply login into NBC Sports Live Extra with your Comcast credentials — but later they had corrected the streaming, and watched the second half on TV.
This happened for couple of odd matches last season as well.
Dr F, I would lay a tad more of the blame foot their goal at Kos’s door than Gibbs’s because Kos was the marker Austin slipped but it was a very good strike.
Agree that Bellerin had another good game. He is going to be quite the player. And good to see Ozil on song. We play so much better overall when he is.
Apparently ManU won today from a late late goal after Toons were denied a blatant penalty.
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose …
The Gibbon certainly was better today, Dr F, but still decided to give Austin enough space to pull one back. I can’t imagine Nacho doing that. It could easily have cost us two points.
Öskar
NBN @ 8: You are right as Gibbo’s responsibility is the outside. I think Kos has been a bit tired lately as his game is not close to its regular sharpness. Hopefully Gabriel is back shortly so that we can rotate.
Per was back to his calm and composed self, though a few of the challenges later in the game were too far ahead of position I thought.
Ozil was magnificent in the second half, there is just so much ideas and inventions in his game … we really look so much better when he is this mobile and creative.
Bellerin looks better with every game. Another motm performance in my book. Kudos also to Özil for non-stop effort, Alexis for his second-half revival and goal, OG for scoring, again, and Per for staying back where he belongs. And how about the turn of foot old man TR7 showed on a couple of occasions, he’s got years left in him on that showing.
Still not especially impressive overall, but we hung in for the points which is something we all too often fail to do. Hopefully that is indicative of slightly more confidence than we’ve shown at times this year. And just as well with everyone else also winning.
By AW’s reckoning we need just 18 more points from the remaining 30 available to be sure of Top 4. Keep winning and we will soon be talking of Top 3 with more confidence, or even 2nd place.
We can but dream…
Öskar
Oskar — I am a huge TR7 fan (still my favorite player of the Emirates era), but I thought his first half performance was inconsistent with some poor passing. Second half in contrast was sparkling as you said.
Bellerin played excellently. His progress has been nothing short of remarkable. Coquelin did well as well. But my MoTm today was Ozil for that second half display.
Wenger, speaking about Gabriel’s injury, shows he’s learned his lesson about ‘three weeks’:
“It’s a hamstring. I don’t know, it’s bad enough to come off. It’s usually 21 days, not years!”
I’m going to disagree with you and Ned about their goal, Dr F. When the ball came across Kos and Gibbo were both on Austin, but Isla had slipped in between Zamora and Austin leaving Kos in a quandary. Austin’s body language appeared to be favouring a tap back to Isla which is why Kos had to turn away to cover that possibility. Instead, Austin swivelled and Gibbs, instead of closing him and preventing either a shot or a pass out to the wing elected to back off in favour of tackling the winger if he got the ball.
On reflection I guess both were caught out by a player with size, skill and a cracking shot who is beginning to look the real deal. Who wouldn’t look out of place in red and white, imo.
Öskar
Oskar @ 13: One positive in our run-in is that we have only four away games — Newcastle, Burnley, Hull & ManU — and six home games two of which are against Chelsea and Pool. We simply need to maintain our discipline and we will have enough quality to win enough matches for #3, even if some of those won’t be pretty.
Praise be I found my most comfortable seat yet at Loftus Road but sadly a pole obscured a lot of the action at the end we scored in. Speaking to an Arsenal fan on the tube home he was at that end but had no view of either of our goals.
It was a very different game in the second half. I rarely disagree with the Guv’nor who us as good a judge of the game as there is but frankly QPR didn’t deal with us any more heavily than one would expect a side at the bottom to do given it was a vital London Derby. In the second half our midfield overwhelmed theirs and we should have won more comfortably.
I thought that Bellerin and Coquelin were excellent. The mask did not inhibit Coquelin at all and I also thought Ozil and Cazorla showed class on the break. Gibbs was very solid.
We always seem able to concede and even while overwhelmingly superior( Alexis was clean through and muffed one) Charlie Austin took his goal brilliantly. We may have our sights set higher as far as strikers are concerned but I watched Austin closely tonight. He was largely isolated but only needs a sniff to be dangerous. Giroud had a bit of a mare although he worked hard but he popped up with a vital goal but I wouldn’t mind seeing Charlie at our place next season. He’s good believe me.
Good half time reorganisation obviously and looking at the other results we needed to win. Let’s hope they can beat Spurs on Saturday
OTD
I’ve now back drunk and agree with your views on Austin and Bellerin and you describe the goal well. Austin took it brilliantly
Cheers ‘holic.
Excellent blog title.
Oh yeah………. the win wasn’t too shaby either.
‘Holic, excellent write up and congrats on the pound. Thankfully, you had a friend in the referee, because had he seen the shirt pull back on Ozil in the box early in the second half, that’s a PK and a second yellow sending off. Could easily have been an 0-3 or 0-4 final.
And has anyone tallied how many points Manure has gained this season even when thoroughly outplayed on the road? At least 2 each vs. Arsenal and Soton, and today a complete gift close to time from Toon.
Neither Monreal nor Szczesny was on the bench. Sick/injured or rested? Hope the latter.
Oskar @ 15: I see your point, but there was also a run outside Austin’s right that Gibbo was supposed to cover. But you are right, instead of nit-picking our defenders’ faults let us give the scorer his due credit. Excellent shot. I see him playing somewhere else next season. Arsenal material? Not so sure.
TTG @ 17: Giroud had an ordinary first half but improved well in the second half. In addition to the work-rate, the pressing, the hold-up play, the lay-offs, the interchanges and defensive works he now also gets us a goal. I think he has been one of our most consistent and important player since his return from injury.
It spoke volumes about the tenacity and character of Alexis how he raised his game after what was an awful miss — the chance was created through a great example of pressing by him and Giroud in tandem — and that goal hopefully will help him to start up another unstoppable run of performances.
QPR’s goal is obviously fault of Gibbs. He is nearest to Austin, so the priority is to mark him even his default responsibility is on outside. If austin pass to the wing, Kos could run to cover him, Gibbs made a schoolboy mistake, no doubt.
Monreal has a back injury and Szczesny is ill, Dr. F.
Cheers H!
Ozil could have got a goal or penalty… he was pulled down in the penalty box which is why he failed to score the goal… Henry is lucky to be on the pitch after the foul… a definite penalty for me…
Morning J. Thank you.
Cheers for the report, Holic.
Quite surprised that no one has yet mentioned the clanger dropped by Ospina on their goal. Gibbs and Kos should have done better, but Ospina basically jumps up instead of to the side. He simply has to save that one, whatever Gibbs and Kos did or did not do before.
Still, that made the Holic pound pay out which is a positive 🙂
Anyway, a good three points and we played quite well for large parts of the game. Özil was very good throughout, and Santi worked his way into the game after starting very sluggishly. Giroud keeps scoring goals and being a handful for any defence. Apart from the first 20 or so we fully deserved the win and 2-1 certainly flattered QPR.
My MoTM was probably Bellerin. Fucking hell, the guy is still just a kid but has developed incredibly quickly since his debut. He’s quick, he’s got attacking abilities, he’s a good tackler and very good with the ball at his feet. If he keeps this up and improves his heading a bit then we may very well have ourselves one of the absolute top right backs in the league before we know it.
No team in the top seven played another top seven team this week and all seven teams won. But next weekend Southampton travel to Chelsea while Totnum travel to the Old Toilet, so it’s quite easy then to see that we have a great opportunity to put ourselves in a really good position by making sure we get the job done v West Ham on the 14th. We have clawed our way back up the table and given ourselves a good chance of finishing at least third. Let’s not waste this chance, boys!
I was sitting at the ‘school’ end only about four yards from both of our goal scorers. Very interesting experience. I shouted “Bottom left, Alexis” and woosh, 0-2! (Didn’t make me too popular with the locals though).
Heh, well played BtM 🙂
Dr F. @9, you’re right about these facts but they also had plenty of oportunities to score (I saw some of them and the commentator said it was deserved) and they could have scored more goals against the Magpies even we don’t know the end of the game if they have had that penalty.
hope they won’t be in-form on monday.
Really good second half performance and enjoyed watching Ozil bring out the silks. Thought Bellerin was outstanding again, and has the makings of a top class player. Coquelin also excellent – he makes such a difference in games like these.
Shame we couldn’t have buried it a little earlier and taken players off with a view to Monday night, but then it’s not our way to do things easy.
Regarding Charlie Austin, as I’ve mentioned a few times before a number of my family are long-term QPR season ticket holders (and were there last night, cheering on the bad guys). From talking to them, I have to say that I wouldn’t have Austin anywhere near an Arsenal XI. He’s a handful, no doubt, and having a brilliant season, but the lower leagues are littered with players who have had one great season in the top flight, and it’s impossible to say whether he’ll continue in this form.
What I will say is that he’s 26 in a couple of months time, and it would be extremely unusual in this day and age for a striker of real quality to have played for a club no bigger than QPR. The view amongst the Rs fans I’ve spoken to seems to be “sell him this summer while his value is high, and reinvest”.
Perhaps I’m overly mindful that two summers ago I was loudly advocating we sign Benteke, but I’d pass on this one.
Besides, he’d only block the development of young Master Sanogo.
Also, during yesterdays game, tune for the Alexis song played in my head, inspired by this Rotting Christ masterpiece.
Just plain simple chanting of
“Alexis, Alexis, Alexis Sanchez, come on, come on now”
instead of “nemesis” while the tune which kicks in in 0:34 is very hummable for sing along (know this first hand as I saw these guys live this Saturday and they played it live, the place went nuts during this song :D)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_bPGSMEb6A
I’m a big fan of Dave Brailsford and his maxim of the aggregation of marginal gains. This is how you make a good team better and a very good team excellent.
This is also the bit that Pangloss hates where we speculate on where the team isn’t good enough!
Ospina is a decent keeper but is not top class in the way that Courtois , Cech or Lloris are. Yesterday our midfield acquitted themselves well on the second half but in the first I was pining for the days of Vieira and Petit who would munch the opposition. Physically we struggled with their robust approach and energy in the first half but whether it was taking Sandro off or a Herculean effort by our lads or they just dropped off, but we dominated in the second half.
As I said last week, if we use the Brailsford approach we can upgrade Ospina, Coquelin, Giroud/ Welbeck and possibly our left backs although Gibbs played well and Nacho is much improved.
Players like the Ox, Walcott who seems right out of favour, Wilshere and Gnabry can change games from the bench whilst Chambers is an example of someone who can fill in very satisfactorily all over the pitch. So it’s a good squad with some standout performers but not enough to challenge Chelsea over the season. If the stories about a £50 million budget for the summer are true then we would struggle to purchase Cech and Austin and the dynamic midfielder we need( not sure if Schneiderlin is dynamic enough) but let’s say it’s him. But add those three to what we have and N7’s vision of the title is not far- fetched
N7
You make some great points about Austin( did you see how much Wenger praised him yesterday ?) I think the days of Derek Hales getting over promoted to the top of the top division are a salutary lesson but I think the reason players don’t get picked up is because in a strange way there is a reluctance to recruit British players because they lack glamour. A few years ago players like Jordan Rhodes and Austin would have been picked up earlier by mid- table sides and then picked up by a giant. Remember Ian Rush playing for Chester and going straight into the Liverpool side? Now promising players like Bamford and Nick Powell get farmed out on loan and their development is very uncertain. It doesn’t help to go to the top sides if you are a young talent because Arsenal aside you never play. Zaha may well have ruined his career by going to United when he did.
I think Ings and Austin will change clubs this summer and both will do better in a different environment . I think Wenger will be watching Charlie closely but what do I know?
By the way Sanogo is due back in a fortnight after a month out with a hamstring. I think he played three games! Young Chuba might be worth a look
@ ttg – I normally am in concert with your view but we must disagree on Austin – he is a modern day John Hartson, a lump of a bloke with a lump of a shot ( a la his goal yesterday) but poor mobility. I’ve watched him a bit this season – he rarely brings others into play ( probably not a bad thing in his current set-up) but mostly just lets fly wherever and whenever, with mixed results. He is nowhere near a Red & White shirt in my opinion.
As a protagonist for Monreal, I thought that Gibbs was partly culpable for QPR’s goal but much less so than Kos and that, overall, Gibbs had a solid game, as did Bellerin. The BFG also played well
@ Lars – your support for Ches is acknowledged but your criticism of Ospina for the goal is wide of the mark – a well hit lump from 18 yards into the corner is not the best example of a keeper’s mistake in my opinion. He didn’t ‘flap’ at anything, got a decent punch on a swirling cross and made a terrific one-hander from a free-kick, the equivalent of which we have seen as goals in many EPL games this season. This followed a solid game against Everton as previously mentioned. Credit where credit is due I reckon. I still think that Ches is a good keeper but I would struggle to find fault currently with Ospina.
I agree to the ones who are saying Gibbs was at fault for the goal. Personally i have found him to have a glaring mistake for a full back, his positional awareness. He seems to be clueless at times as to what he wants to do and this is said after watching him quite a bit and not based on a few one off.
Overall 3 points on a day when all the main teams won contrastingly. Chelshit thanks to a off side goal, united to a calamity from Krul, city leaving it late and spurs thankful to Lloris.
Not playing well and winning does augur well but i sincerely hope we do not have a burn out towards the end for this does look like a race till the bitter end.
Next up, OT and that crap place where we havent won in 9 years. I never am confident beating them for i have forgotten how it feels beating them.
Can Sanchez do something to prevent the familiar story or will it be shrek and co having the last laugh yet again.
@27 Lars, The QPR goal is not a clanger by OspinO, If it is, then you can imagine the this will be the headline news on anti-arsenal Journal. It is mainly the fault of Gibbs, but apart from this, Gibbs have a solid game.
Until OspinO make high profile mistake (like chez in ManU and Soton), until then he is more reliable than Sir Chez.
Chez is ill? is it a ploy to field OspinO at OT? Given Chez is under hugh pressure to play against Manu again, probably this will be of some merit.
Noosa: he didn’t flap at anything yesterday and I never said he did. I have also said he played well v Everton (as he did v Villa, btw). But he still should have saved Austin’s shot. Like I said: look at how he jumps, he moves upwards much more than sideways. That is a mistake however we look at it.
N7 @31, you’re right he is the new Michu but he has to confirm an other season.
Having now watched the Charlie Austin goal many times from many angles I think the debate over Koscielny or Gibbs being the more responsible for allowing the goal is a moot point. On initial viewing I thought the fault lay mostly with Koscielny, but now I think the primary offender is Bellerin who makes no attempt whatsoever to deny the cross. As to the debate about Koscielny v. Gibbs, I’m not entirely sure but one angle does show Koscielny apparently pointing to Gibbs to watch the right wing attacker, not Austin in other words, just as the cross is about to be delivered. As I say, the only thing I can be sure about is that Bellerin could have done a much better job of stopping that cross from coming in at all.
Agreed with you about the goal bt8. I saw the goal happening before it did, because no one made an attempt to block the cross. We just stood off them and allowed them to cross the ball. As soon as that happened, I knew they would score. It reminded me of Kane’s winner when we played the Spuds. However, I think Gibbs and/or Kos could have done better as well.
On a sidenote, has anyone noticed that if we draw on Monday night, the replay won’t be until 7th/8th April! Presumably because all the midweeks between now and then have CL/Europa League/Euro 2016 qualifiers. Leaving aside the fact that having a replay a month later is nuts anyway, it means the winning team will have about ten days to sell tickets for the semi-final.
Otd@12: if 18 points are reckoned sufficient to secure a top four place, nine of those will surely have to be taken off the Mancs, the Chavs and the Mugsmashers. I’d think we need to at least draw all three of those and win six of the other seven games, so 21 points to take us to 75, to be sure. Seventy nine points got us fourth last season, 73 the season before that, and 70 got us third the season before that.
N7G@31: enjoyed watching Ozil bring out the silks
It is one of FIFA’s lesser know rules that if you sub on a QC, you don’t have to take anyone off. Ozil is a law unto himself…
We shall not draw on monday!
Victoria Concordia Crescit!
😀
I’ve heard of sharing bodily fluids but this is ridiculous!!
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31750913
Since nobody took the bait I’ll stoop to commenting on that story. It would seem Evans is a better liar but a worse spitter. Bad aim, it seems.
Hi everyone.
Holic, Having only listened to the game, can’t comment much. But your opening line, touches on a real problem of late. Starting slowly. No idea why that is happening! Congrats on the Holic Pound. 🙂
8ball, Van Gall contradicts himself there. Very confusing from him, as he goes on to praise the FA, with his ‘wise’ reference. Being as Manu plays us Monday, it is a blatant ‘Fergie’ tactic!
unrelated, but probably best image ever taken http://news.arseblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/rosicky_giroud.jpg
Bit surprised no one has taken Ttg on at 33, with reference to his Giroud and Le Coq ‘upgrade’ comment!
And finally, before heading off to work…
props to Holic and WashedUpinFrance, watched the ‘Invincibles’. xx
What a real treat. Wished Dennis and Ashley had participated!
Full circle for those wonderful players (except Cole, because he moved on).They can call
The Arsenal their home.A place they are always welcome. As areAdams, Dixon, etc. This is what RVP will never have.
Ned … I was going on AW’s estimate of 72 points being all that will be needed this season. That’s 18 points from the 10 games left. A draw or win against (at the Ems) will help put them out of contention, and the second last match against Manure at OT could be massive. But lose both AND the Chavs game and we’re still favoured to make it with 6 wins out of seven against lesser lights, 4 at home, 3 away.
Subject to the Physio Room hex.
Öskar
* A draw or win against POO (at the Ems)
(still having composing problems here. Delete one thing and something else also disappears … weird)
Öskar
Eandy. In that image it looks like Giroud has picked up Super Tom. When in fact Olly has tried to grab him as he flew past…
Three points is three points. We have lost games playing better than that. I thought we should have been home and hosed long before the final whistle. Two well taken goals but typical Arsenal in that we always seem to make life tough. I have watched their goal again after the comments above. How we allowed Austin so much time to control the ball, turn and get his shot off is beyond me. I do not intend to play the blame game but I really don’t think you can blame Ospina.
Nice to see Ozil put in a performance of real quality. The development of Bellerin makes you wonder why we spent the best part of £30 million on right backs in the summer?
Some interesting points above, especially re personnel. When we signed David Seaman many fans were perplexed. George Graham said that he rated John Lukic as one of the top five keepers in the League but that he just thought that Seaman was the best. We all know how that ended up. It is for this reason that I again find myself in almost total agreement with TTG above. I used to have a phrase for it but it offends some so I will refrain. I’ve not had a chance to watch The Invincibles yet but having been fortunate enough to have been present for the majority of it I’m sure I wont be disappointed. For those wondering what TTG is actually trying to say then use the invicibles as your bench mark. Surely that is what we should be aiming for?
We do lack quality in certain areas. How we deal with that when the time is right will map our future. I don’t think we need a Giroud upgrade but we do need a quality alternative to provide something different as well as some respite. I am also far from convinced that Coquelin is the answer in midfield. He has turned in some admirable performances but can easily be found out of position. More fussy officials in recent weeks may well have seen him heading for the showers before anyone else. For me the one thing that Coquelin has done is to highlight the need for real quality in that position. If we are going to play a system where the tow fullbacks are expected to bomb forward then we need midfield players with real discipline. I thought that Aw’s comments re Coquelin spoke volumes. I would love to see him become a top class player in an Arsenal shirt but for me the jury is still very much out.
30 points still to play for and the matter of a little cup tie up North on a Monday evening to look forward to. All that with Paulista now out for “The Arsenal three week.”
Bring it on.
Have another look at the goal 8ball, and note Isla in an ocean of space between Zamora and Austin, and ask yourself … 1) Why is Le Coq standing around marking no-one with QPR in possession and threatening a cross? … 2) Why is Alexis standing around, clearly seeing Isla unmarked in front of him, but making no effort to pick him up? … 3) What else could Kos do but ease off Austin to cover a possible tap back from Austin that would have given Isla a clear shot at goal?
As for Bellerin, he and Santi were sharing defensive duties in the QPR attack, but neither ended up close enough to prevent the cross. Had Bellerin made a last second rush to try and close the player down he would have laid himself open to being passed down the wing and a more dangerous cross resulting.
The players in the middle were clearly more responsible for the end result, Coq and Alexis could both have done better. But the credit really goes to Austin for a clever feint and a strike Poldi would have been proud of.
Öskar
Good stuff Steve T. I would like to see Coquellin as second choice after we buy someone better. He will still get plenty of game time and a chance to continue developing. I agree he loses his position too regularly- sometimes he is in parts of the pitch Makelele had only heard stories about.
I also think we need a different option to Giroud but not an upgrade. He is excellent and still improving. Although if we do buy one of the few strikers in the world who are genuinely at a higher level than Olly I won’t complain.
I don’t think Chambers will end up at right back. I do think he will be first team though. Don’t ask me how soon.
Debuchy/Bellerin is good for RB. How long before Barca come calling for our very own cockney catalan? He will have a choice of languages to use when he tells them where to stick it. He saw what they did to Cesc.
Bielik? Very young. How ready will he be next year?
Love Arteta but he is on the way out. Flamini has a great spirit but struggles at this level these days.
I will say again how much I would like to see us buy Kondogbia. He is just what we need.
Well, that and a fit Rambo. I think that kid is a world beater.
GSD and Steve T.
Very good posts. We are all singing from the Dave Brailsford hymn sheet. Kondogbia would be a great shout. Charlie Austin is a controversial one. I think he’d get five or ten goals a season more than Giroud but contribute less to build- up play . Steve is spot on re the Lukic / Seaman comparison. That’s exactly what I was talking about. But nowadays we would have kept Lukic too!
Abb, There is a lot in those three sentences of Van Gaal.
“I don’t think Jonny Evans is a spitter. Maybe spitting on the floor, but we were on the bench and you cannot see from there.”
“It is like I said after the match, he was not aware he was spitting.
The second sentence could be an homage to a classic Wengerism (I didn’t see it.) But you are spot on about the contradiction. He either spit or he didn’t, no matter whether he was aware of it. So I say throw the FA should use all of its considerable wisdom and impose the maximum penalty. 😉
Either impose the maximum penalty or throw the book at him, or both. 🙂
TTG/GSD: About Kondogbia, I am curious, how many times have you seen him play either for Sevilla or Monaco? Not that I am saying he won’t become a great player etc. but is he — based on his current experience and age and maturity level — really a shoe-in the Arsenal pivote position and able to rotate with Rambo in box-to-box if there is a need? Or would he need a couple of years of learning curve — he is 22 — in PL before he can be a consistent contributor for a PL or CL run? At some point of time in their respective careers Capoue and M’Villa looked like that type of must-have players as well. Where are they now?
If you forgive my pop psychology, I think we the supporters still haven’t gotten over the fact that Paddy and Henry are not on the field. We have tried to tell ourselves that they have moved on, time passed etc. etc. but we really haven’t arrived at a stable emotional relationship with those positions in their absence. And until an Arsenal team wins the league again that unconscious search will remain.
Have to say, no offence intended to anyone, signing Charlie Austin would make me very unhappy indeed. On a par with signing Joey Barton for me.
Quite right, Dr F. Then there’s Khedira, Bender, Schneiderlin, Carvalho and others who don’t come to mind immediately. And I can’t say I’ve seen any one of them in more than 2, maybe 3 games, and that’s not nearly enough to bee sure of their quality. Even Cygan and Stepanovs had the occasional better game.
I imagine we will see the last of Mikael, Flam and Diaby next summer, so there should be enough for another Alexis/Özil quality player. Maybe 2. I will leave the ‘who’ to Wenger and his scouts who watch the potentials regularly. How many of us would have been rooting for Paddy, Thierry and Sir Bob back in the day? Never heard of them.
Öskar
Mesut Ozil has run further than any Arsenal player since returning to the side – so why is he called lazy?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/11451314/Mesut-Ozil-has-ran-further-than-any-Arsenal-player-since-returning-to-the-side-so-why-is-he-called-lazy.html
Just another of those meaningless stats, Ned. Note that Alexis has run little more than half as far as Özil, so he must be rubbish or just plain lethargic?
Then again perhaps Özil has played many more minutes, what do the stats say?
Then again perhaps running around a lot indicates a player who is never where he should be and always running to catch up.
Meaningless, as I say.
Öskar
The day running is vital stat is the day you accept Howard Wilkinson was right all along. If Ozil is chasing back but doing nothing but run, there’s no point (for example). What are his tackle stats like in the defensive half?
It’s like that meaningless pass completion stat that gets dragged out. Irrelevant if it’s all tippy tap on half way.
@ Dr F
I am no expert on Kondogbia and have only seen him play a handful of times. I suppose I would like to sign the player I imagine him to be. Whether that player is him or someone else.
Stats don’t tell you everything, as correctly noted above, but it seems fair to say that if a player is being called lazy then the fact that they are running and sprinting more than their peers might be worth some consideration, I’d have thought.
Dismissing stats entirely is about as sensible as relying on them completely.
Dr F
I’d see Kondogbia on TV for Seville several times and less often playing for Monaco. His performance in the CL really impressed me and during the first half on Wednesday I was bemoaning a lack of physicality which he would give us
Agree with all the above re: Coquelin.
He’s been very good lately, and it’s made a big difference having a mobile DM, but I would still bring someone in ahead of him, or who can be paired with him when we are away and only looking for a point (maybe it’ll happen one day).
Schneiderlin, for me.
Oops. Hit post too early. I will continue…
I don’t want a player who can cover the box-to-box role. I want Makelele- someone so limited he never got sucked into doing anything other than what he was supreme at. It is the fact that Coquelin can actually play a bit that sucks him out of position when we need goals and leaves us vulnerable when we cannot afford to concede.
I am no fan of the idea that every team needs a DM. But this team does. I have been ever more convinced of this over the last 18 months. We need someone to sit and create a platform for our attacking riches to work off of. I think this type of player would have been the most important change to make to prevent the painful defeats of this season and the last.
Paddy was a different player to the one I describe- not sure that comparison really works. And I would be interested to know where Gilberto fits into your hypothesis- surely he would be a better comparison as well as a more recent Arsenal player?
You are an intelligent and educated man and perfectly entitled to judge the psychology of Arsenal fans on masse in relation to specific players and their positions. I will however leave that to you. I think even with your considerable acumen you may be over-reaching on that one.
N7.
I am no scout and will simply be happy if we buy a good DM. Tall and strong as well as with the Makelele skillset I metioned above. Schneiderlin fits the bill and has Prem experience. I’d be pleased with that signing if that’s who the boss wants.
The Ozil stats add to his mystery. He is the most remarkable player I think I have ever seen in that he catches the eye so seldom but can be relentlessly effective. But I want to see a mega game from him on Monday night
Schneiderlin for me too, i mean Le Coq has done his part and well but that is not the long term solution. He is good enough as of now and definitely better than Flamini but i would like to have a better option than him going in to big games for sure.
Scholes ranting about Ozil, saying he took the easy way out coming here. I am like can we have some more players like Ozil taking the easy way out and coming here please. Mesut Ozil is a genius and if we get more like him, i would be delirious.
If Ozil runs a lot but any of us thinks that, despite this, he contributes little then surely the charge to last at his door is that he is ineffective, rather than lazy?
Personally I like it when he sprints 80 yards back to cover Gibbs in the dying minutes of games and as the rest of out team jogs back from the opposition box. Which he has been doing lately. He rarely makes a tackle in these situations but the fact that he is there limits the passing options of the player with the ball and buys our other players time. There is also no stat for that one, wink.
Maybe Alexis goes hell-for-leather when the ball is near him but spends a lot of time jogging about when it isn’t. He must conserve some energy somewhere- even he can’t sprint about the place for 90 minutes twice a week.
correction- ‘IF any of us thinks that…’
Vinay- When Scholes talked with his feet the whole world of football paid attention.
I no longer know which end the drivel he spews is coming out of.
Why do they give people with pre-conceived views who are incapable of judging situations on their merits and adjusting their views in accordance with changing parameters a platform to air them?
I don’t know. But neither do I pay attention to a word. Probably why I get annoyed with Neville as his views are forced on me if I want to hear the crowd during a televised game- they have taken away my option not to listen to stuff that sends my blood pressure soaring. As if watching us does not send it high enough…
@ my own 76. correction- the charge to LAY at his door.
Spill chucker went for some minor tweaks rather than its usual overblown daftness and I seem to have missed them all. Sorry.
I think Matic has been immense this season. I want a player just like him but who has never met the translator.
And a fit Diaby. I kid, I kid.
When Scholes was playing he was renowned for never giving media interviews or offering a point of view on anything.
Now he’s stopped playing it seems like he runs off at the mouth at every opportunity.
By reputation he was a very good player who managed to convince numerous commentators that he simply wasn’t very good at tackling and that narrative persisted throughout his career.
In reality he was a very good player who was also a sneaky, dirty little shit who left his foot in far too often and should have been sent off even more than he was.
I didn’t miss his opinion then and I definitely can’t be arsed with it now. Tosser.
UTA.
Against ManU… play Welbeck!!!
😀
Against mancs play Welbeck, yes but then what happens to theo? Sanchez on the wings, Giroud in form and we want Danny to play, so theo again on the bench?
Also is it time to rest Santi or is this the game to even think of it? Should we rest Ozil instead and have Sanchez playing the number 10 role?
Ramsey back does give us options and i for one am not to keen on seeing santi in this deep plying role.
Time shall tell but i hope time stands still monday to final see an Arsenal win against those sick so and so’s.
Yes Theo is again on the bench it seems.
To play the system we play I think you need two top quality box to box central midfield players. We rely on our fullbacks for width. That’s all well and good but as I said earlier, that can leave us horribly exposed and especially vulnerable to the counter. I don’t think the problem Necessarily the defence, more the way we defend as a team.
I said for sometime now that I don’t like the balance of the side. We have far too many players who all want to play in the same position. Defensively, this is where we can struggle.
The goalkeeping debate is an interesting one. Ospina and Shezza are both good keepers. But, as alluded to above, neither is world class. The keeper is probably the most important position. A top quality keeper can make all the difference, not just for their shot stopping but for the confidence that a decent keeper helps to bring to the whole team. In today’s markets a top quality keeper is still relatively affordable. For me, we have never really replaced the Mad German.
I also think Welbeck should play on monday, seems Theo will start on the bench again. For me, he should have played against QPR but as Arsenal won, that means Wenger’s starting was the right one.
One thing is for sure, if we want to win we have to put our best eleven and theo is not already competing with our bests, cause of his defensive job.
The next game after that is 5 days later so there will be time to recovery. But there will be some competition in midfield for wenger between Ozil, cazorla, Rosicky and Ramsey. Is the last one fit enough to start the game ? should we rest one between ozil and Cazorla ? For me, Ramsey or Rosicky should start near of the Coq for the balance of team.
Sanchez and Giroud are probably starting, remain two places for three players Caz, Ozil and Welbeck. Ozil is loved by Wenger so I expect him to start.
Agree completely with Steve that if you’re going to play attacking full backs you need central midfielders who can cover the gaps.
That’s the number one thing that worries me about our team’s balance in the last couple of games. Given that Santi is filling in and isn’t defensively minded, I have no idea why we’ve decided now is the moment to play both attacking full backs at the same time.
Regarding Scholes, good to get a lecture on taking the easy option from a man who quit international football at 29 because he couldn’t get a game in his preferred position, and whose own club have Di Maria and Falcao picking up half a million quid a week between them for contributing nowt, and a manager who has in one summer exceeded Wenger’s net spend for his entire time at Arsenal but is only dimly expected to finish 4th.
Weighed against that, I suppose taking a job as a TV pundit when you have a face like a lanced boil and a “personality” that makes milk curdle and time stand still could be construed as selecting a tough path for yourself.
God, I hope we stuff this lot on Monday.
COYG.
Lars,
Considering you’ve been vocal on the Ospina v Shezza debate: would you make a case for signing Cech this summer?
TTG/GSD: Many thanks for taking the time to answer my questions about Kondogbia. I agree with both of you that this team needs a DM of the very highest quality and even though I don’t think Coquelin is that far away from becoming one, I again agree that he needs someone better to look up to and get competition from and they can rotate. Neither Arteta nor Flamini is going to be that player in next season.
I am not just sure that Kondogbia is that player at this juncture of his career. It is of course possible that he would join us and have a Pogba-at-Juventus (I am not saying Pogba is a DM, simply using his performance in Juve as an example) kind of flourishing. But equally likely he is going to need a season or two to get adjusted. Wouldn’t Bielik be ready by then as well?
However, and this is what Oskar and Steve T were alluding to earlier, I don’t think Arsene is fully convinced we need a purely sit-back DM — a la Matic, who really is a better example of the modern day template than Makélélé — than say a technical pivote like Pirlo or Busquets with Rambo and his type of energetic box-to-box players or for that matter even two energetic box-to-box players. I don’t think he is fully convinced that this soak-pressure-and-counter is the tactic he would like to use unless absolutely necessary against certain opposition. And if Jack and Rambo both are fit I think he would be very tempted to use them both as the base of the midfield with a #10 above, as some of our formations indicated in the early season.
I am with you that we would be better served by having a purely conservative DM at the base — but someone who can spring forward and has that long distance passing in his locker, which Coquelin has — but whether we agree with Arsene is a different matter. Next season will tell us.
GSD, I had obviously over-reached as my psychological generalization has evidently offended you a little. My apologies. I dislike generalizations enormously, and that is why I cannot help but indulge in them now and then. 🙂
Cech is clearly better than both, so yes.
*Realises he is not Swedish, and skint* 😛
Heh Z 🙂
Joe: I’m leaning towards no on that one. I don’t think Mourinho would ever sell him to us, but if we look beyond that and just speculate I’d say he is a very good keeper, but I’m not convinced he is significantly better than Szczesny. He would cost a lot of money (wages, sign-on fee and transfer fee) and I’m not sure that would be offset by the increase in quality. I am also of the seemingly slightly contrarian view that Szczesny is definitely good enough for us to win the league with. The money Cech would cost could probably be spent to greater net effect elsewhere.
Also, Cech will be 33 before this season is over. Woj is eight years younger (turns 25 next month) so Woj most likely still has room for improvement. Cech is not likely to get any better than he already is, even though there are of course exceptions historically like van der Sar who was bought from Fulham by ManU at 35 with the intention of being the backup and then all of a sudden developed into one of the best keepers in the world.
My one concern, however, about Woj is that maybe there is more to this smoking story than we have been told. If he has disciplinary issues or have suddenly had his head stuck up his own arse and started to think he is better than he is (has happened to far worse players than him) then that’s a definite problem. But at this point that’s just guesswork. I am going from what I see on the pitch.
Don’t get me wrong, Cech is a really good keeper and would possibly improve us a little bit. But would he – assuming Mourinho would even consider letting us buy him – be worth the money he would likely cost us? I’m not sure he would. I would rather go for Fraser Forster ahead of Cech as he would likely be cheaper overall and has only just turned 26 and has also performed well in the PL.
Overall though I don’t see a particularly huge need for a new goalie with the aforementioned caveat about Woj not having lost his head. I don’t think Ospina is a poor keeper, I just think Woj is better. And don’t forget that we also have Dami Martinez who showed some real potential when he played a few games. We won’t have unlimited funds this summer, spend it on a top class DM first and then we can start to look elsewhere because without that player we won’t have enough to win the league anyway.
A quick word on Cech: not only will Chelsea not sell him to us, but I wonder if Cech is benefiting from the halo effect of being a goalkeeper who doesn’t play much at the moment.
He’s been very good when called upon this season, but he had started to drop the odd clanger in the last two seasons in which he was Chelsea’s first choice.
Arguably, he’s still better than either of our current keepers, but just thought I’d mention the above – I recall Carlo Cudicini being a world class keeper before he moved to Spurs and actually started playing games again.
…so in other words I agree with Steve and N7. Central midfield is where we really need to beef up at the moment.
cech was good, is old now and downhill.
Just to add: I can see an argument for signing a new keeper, but personally I would rather spend that money elsewhere.
I think we have two very good goalkeepers, and that if we manage the situation right we might yet end up with one top class keeper (the one who currently has all the necessary attributes but cannot seem to get his head right).
In terms of world class keepers, there are three right now: Neuer, De Gea and Courtois. We are in no danger of signing any of them.
Re: Scholes.
No need to add anything else after Noosa and N7’s eloquent drinks @81 and 87.
😀 😀 😀 😀
Re: Lars. If SZCZ’s smoking in the showers really were the full extent of the issue I woulda thought the water woulda put out the smoke by now. Just saying. 😉
Ozil through ball….
Cheers Doc. Good post.
It is easy to take offence these days- some people love doing it!
I wasn’t offended by your little bit of pop-psychology and knew you were suggesting it lightly, not as a dogmatic principle of faith.
I simply could not judge any individual’s “emotional relationship” to the position of defensive midfield in a football team. I am not sure I even have an emotional relationship to any position (rather than to players who occupy it)- so judging this relationship as it is felt by a group as diverse as Arsenal fans seemed (very unusually) a position for which I thought you had little basis. And if you start throwing around hard-to-justify opinions then what hope have any of us got?.. Wink.
OH YES.
Effortless stuff. N7 has made that so easy I didn’t even have to think about it!
Cech hmm..I would not be against it, but there are two reasons why I dont think Arsene is going to even consider buying him.
1) He has very deep belief in Woj becoming one of the worlds best (and he kinda has the ingredients but needs to mature) and is using Ospinas form and selection to get absolutely everything from young Pole.
2) Moaninho is never ever going to sell to us and if yes, only for exorbitant price -as he stated in his recent interview about Curtois/Cech situation.
or I can of course be very wrong and we will have tank driver in our goal next season:P
Cech has never been the same since he got injured. Excellent still. But no longer the best. That head thing he wears speaks to man who is afraid. No room for that if we are trying to replace the mad german.
I don’t think Schezza has kicked on much in the last couple of years and I’m disappointed because I really thought he would. I thought he would be our next Jens in the same way I thought Clichy and then Gibbs would be our next Cole (just in terms of playing quality- not his other attributes, obviously) but it has not happened. Promise never turned into something more tangible.
I am starting to wonder if Oskar isn’t right and we should just go with Martinez as number 1 and whichever of the other two doesn’t mind being number two can stay. Sell the other for as much money as possible.
If Schez left I would not be surprised to see him improve a lot elsewhere but sometimes the change of clubs can really drive improvements that would not happen if a player stays where he is.
I will await Woj’s performances when he gets back into the side and has a run in it. We will know more about the direction he is headed then. As will Arsene.
Thanks GSD.
Boss on Ozil:
[
“I knew he had a good physical potential, but I did not know how good he was physically. He has a huge physical potential,” the manager said.
“We are all in a job where in every single game we have to prove a point. I believe he has the quality, he puts a lot of effort in to help the team and he works much harder than his style shows.
“You can be cheated a little bit by his style of play, because he is fluent, easy, subtle and he does not look like he puts the effort in, but he does.”
]
And why is he saying that?
[Since the 5-0 victory against Aston Villa on February 1, the World Cup winner has run a total of 63.24km during matches – more than any other Arsenal player.]
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150306/-ozil-has-a-huge-physical-potential-
This should really stop the mumbling about Ozil not caring or being lazy or whatever …
And I agree with all who say that while neither Woj nor Ospina are world class at the moment they are both good.
For the money we spent on Ospina and his lack of PL experience I am very pleased with him and his performances. Good keeper. Good attitude. A good professional who seems like a nice man too.
Apparently Woj is having a test today and if he passes, he will be in goal on Monday, bold move from AW.
Eandy.
Wenger loves unexpectedly starting Woj at OT. Let’s hope it goes well this time…
In the QF I think a key contest would be Alexis against Valencia who now plays RB for ManU when they are playing 4 at the back, and is not a natural defender. To help Valencia out they might go back to the 3-5-2 with Valencia as a wing-back moved forward, or deploy Fellaini on the right side of a DM pair with Blind.
Our MF selection would be interesting as we would be methodically and relentlessly pressed and kicked around (tactics a la Sluralex) in the middle of the pitch with the fucking donkey leading the charge.
Let us just beat them, and inspire a late-season collapse, culminating spectacularly in another home defeat by us in May that keeps them out of CL one more time.
Nice report, Holic,
although it’s taken nearly two days to find time to read it. 🙁
So Le Coq is good, just not good enough. He reminds me of the Ox. Works hard, keeps his mouth shut, and never gives up.
He could’ve bowed out against QPR. Taken oxycodone and just chilled. Just saying. 😉
Before I go any further (drinking wine!). I have a silly grin on my face. Quoting Elton John, from ‘Your Song’. ” How wonderful life is, while you’re in the world.” My homage to all of you. 🙂
Now the discussion on our keepers, is more in line with my own views. Will not complain, if more holics have their say on this subject!
Aarrgg!
Just lost a piece that took about 20 mins on Bellerin. Bombed by abb’s simul-post I think. 😉
In summary, Bellerin has achieved an almost miraculous transition from reserves to first team after the most difficult of starts. After 5 months he is turning in Man of the Match performances.
Can anyone imagine how hard that is at 18/19 years of age – stepping up from reserve to Champions League and Premier League football, when you have just seen a 29 year old international signed in your position, when you can’t really be mentally prepared to be regularly called upon.
How anyone can blame him for Rangers’ goal is completely mystifying considering the time Koscielny and Gibbs had to close the shot down, instead of retreating backwards and sideways.
Bellerin is easily the find of the season. Hopefully he won’t have got as far as reading this.
Trev is spot on.
Bellerin is our best prospect since Jack, if not that bloke who’s currently barely showing up for Chelsea.
hey-de-lee-ho
Arsereenoes
🙂
.
some other cunts tinterweb is mighty
and free
but temper-or-ar-eeee
just wanna say howdy
and
steve T
bloody hell
.
top man
top posts
top return
.
.
Howdy ‘ hol
Howdy ‘ holics
.
.
.
THE ARSENAL
Trev. My criticism of Bellerin’s not stopping the cross that led to the Charlie Austin goal is a standard criticism of fullbacks when they fail to do one of their basic duties, is it not? I don’t fault him generally at all because he and Coquelin have done a lot to redeem our season.
Lars,
Lots of sense being spoken there.
I think the point you make about the increase in quality not being proportionate to the price is a very valid one as is the case made for a DCM by Steve T and N7.
Thing about Cech is that he has kids at school in London – so I think he’ll want to stay in London ideally. And that makes us potentially a very live destination for him. He’s given a lot to Chelsea and while they’d hate to see him come to AFC and would do their best to prevent that (hence Mourinho threatening to want big money for him) ultimately I think they’d let him go if Cech wanted the move. And I can see Wenger buying him if the price is right because ultimately he’s more experienced and would strengthen the team overall defensively.
oh
.
now
i can thank trev in virtual person
what with my internet thievery
an all
for sortin out my banjaxed neck
.
fuckin champion
.
.
yer ok fer a dr
.
🙂
Late to the party. Dr. F. at sixty-two. You nailed it there sir. Emotionally moving on…I don’t know a single gooner who can honestly say they have.
N7/Trev: In agreement about Bellerin. Not just the talent but the drive and maturity to grow so rapidly in all facets of his game in such a short span is very impressive. His friend and another La Masia graduate Jon Toral is coming along nicely in the Championship, with a few goals including a hat-trick in recent matches. However I think Chuba might surprise us similarly next season and will address many of these concerns about Giroud’s alternative.
Thanks Homer.
There I was sitting in the stand at QPR with my mate watching us initially fail to subdue a physical team on a difficult pitch on a cold night. Searching for a solution to us playing better I reverted as I often do to Vieira and Petit. If we had them I said or Gilberto we’d beat this lot easily.
Not the greatest insight ever but I think it underlines what I think we miss. Dynamism ,players who could outmuscle the opposition if they needed to or outplay them if it was a football match. In fairness Le Coq did extremely well on Wednesday but our midfield don’t impose themselves like great midfields do in big matches.
So I think the need is for physicality and presence, in goal, in midfield and possibly upfront.
That’s it sorted Arsene. Get on with it please.
@123 TTG
Hear Hear!
Physical and Presence!
😀
So; I’m back in the land of the Internet, and have back drunk all since my last “contribution”. I have little to add to what was written by others, apart from…
Thanks for the name-check ttg@33. I think you know what I mean well enough that I won’t rise to it. I have a dreadful habit of remembering what people say and comparing it with what they say some time later. Consider it a compliment that I think you’re well-enough informed and express yourself well enough to take the trouble.
Cracking three points at the weekend; cracking three points in midweek – in fact, now I come to think about it, any set of three points is cracking. I agree with every work written above about it being well past time that we won at Old Toilet. I also think that on form, on quality, and on the relative merits of the managers we can do it, and we should do it. I just hope that we will do it.
COYG.
Bollocks. The above should, of course, have read “…I agree with every word written above…”. Can’t even blame a spillchucker, all my own incompetence.
COYG
Joe: having his kids in school in London could of course reduce the cost in wages. Then again, if staying in London is a priority for him, I do think Tottenham could also be an attractive destination for him if Lloris were to leave because then he would be pretty much guaranteed to be playing as well.
who’s at the oche
?
.
it’s a tense diddle
.
double topple
.
Go easy, GSD, I’m not sure Martinez is ready to be #1 just yet. I believe he has what it takes to become #1, eventually. But that is based on, what, three games for us so far? I think the competition between OspinO and Sir Ches is healthy and either will do me right now. But I would like to see more of Emily.
In my opinion Cech hasn’t been the same since his head bang, and keepers wearing protective head-gear never inspire me with confidence.
What are Özil’s tackle stats like in the defensive half, Cynic? Actually he made zero defensive tackles in the QPR game. He was also the most dispossessed player on either side.
Stats! 🙁
Öskar
Pangloss
There wasn’t much to rise to especially as I know you can’t read the stuff posted during the week. ( let’s be honest you’re on weekend release from open prison aren’t you) . It was merely a point that we had watched the QPR game and all started signing players for next season. It’s a disease.
I agree with you about likely events at Old Toilet . We certainly can win, have every chance of winning and would be a decent bet to win but why do I feel that we are jinxed not to win there. I have a premonition of outplaying them and losing 1-0. Now, I’ve said it, hopefully it won’t happen. Rooney is our Nemesis. It would be lovely if he could twist his knee in training tomorrow
Random stat: Mata and some Dutch bloke are the only two members of the Mancs’ squad to have FA Cup winners’ medals, though neither won for that club.
No feeling in the world equates to bagging 3 points…and then reading all the drinks afterwards. Such lovely group of lads you all are. Viva holic, viva arsenal!! We will rule again sooner than you think.
Oh…and f*ck scholes!! He should be nursing his gout rather than running his mouth
Quiet in here, innit?
Bt8 @117,
Fair enough. It does seem harsh to lay the blame at Bellerin’s door when the other two had plenty of chance to block the shot though. And Bellerin already stops way more crosses coming in than the vastly more experienced Gibbs anyway.
And, I do apologise for starting the last sentence with ‘and’. 😉
cba,
Glad you’re doing ok. 😉
Bradford pitch looks like a proper dog park. Oskar, you should be on it. 😉
Trev, I’m agreed that Koscielny and Gibbs share the blame for that goal. The frustrating thing for me is not knowing which one of them shares more of the blame. I just hope they do, and they are working on the problem.
There are a few things which annoy me and those around me every week. One is pressure on the ball to prevent crosses. This season I can remember goals against Hull, Spurs, Stoke and QPR and there would be more if I wasn’t senile, which arise when wide players had complete freedom to plant a cross as they wished. We’ve defended corners pretty well .
But speaking of corners why do we not leave someone upfield when we have them. They would ensure two opposition defenders don’t advance for corners giving us a spare man in defending the corner and an out ball when we clear it. I find it unlikely that Theo will be of great use defensively either . It does one’s head in rather
@136 Me, too. 🙂
Hey holics.
The long ball. Do we practice it much. Remember Ignasi Miquel, he was rather good at it. Might be instrumental, when we are struggling with our passes and keeping possession.
As for our goalies, think we have what we need. Been too harsh on Ospina. A save is a save just as a win is a win.
Spuds up 1-2 @ 80 minutes. QPR just had a decent shout for a hand ball in the box.
Okay.
cba, I’m glad you’re doing alright too. 🙂
Jean, QPR seem to be making a specialty of coming back from 0-2 deficits only to lose 1-2. Not quite good enough I’m afraid. 🙁
That Charlie Austin is useless. Who wants him? Some fans were clamouring for us to sign him earlier this week. I don’t know which idiot led that
How does Anthony Taylor keep getting big games to referee. Is he Mike Riley’s nephew?
Don’t think QPR could have done much to stop Kane’s 1st goal, emphatic header.
Bayoone Jean, Had to watch the replay from 3 different angles, think you’re correct.
Holics, how are we handling our nerves? 😉
Tim Sherwood 🙂 He helps me, haha! Very colorful in expressing his emotions.
Drink me, and you won’t be frazzled. Manu? Utter dosh. Arsenal to win Big Time! 😉
Thanks to Villa fans for brightening up a day of tedious football by invading the pitch over winning an FA Cup quarter-finals. Funniest thing I’ve seen all season.
Anthony Taylor exposed again as an incompetent idiot. Neither player warranted two yellow cards. He confirmed an opinion that I formed on the first day of last season that he doesn’t know what a proper tackle is. Which wouldn’t matter if he wasn’t one of our leading referees.Ye Gods!
Charlie
They’ve got a crap team…and they live in Birmingham.Humour them☺️
Best fan look ever?
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B_hJkFbWIAAri7x.jpg
Whiskey.
Spot on.
But someone on here told me Whisky is more proper. Watch out or they might call you a Merkan. 😉
After yet another look I’ve decided that if any Arsenal player was to blame for QPR’s goal it was Coq-au-vin for not picking up Isla who was alone in an ocean of space between Zamora and Austin, leaving Kos in three minds who he should cover and Gibbs in two. Not sure what Alexis was doing either at the critical moment, just ball-watching like Le Coq apparently.
But personally I blame Austin for being too smart for all of them by swivelling and shooting instead of simply tapping to Isla.
Öskar
Congrats on your Europey League Fantasy team, 8ball. A couple of weeks back I was only two points behind you, now it’s about 100. How did that happen??
10 weeks to go and I’m still gonna get you though. 😉
Öskar
Better to be called a Merkan than a merkin, 8ball! Just…
Öskar
now you’re just covering up, Oskar 😉
If Man City are genuinely prepping a £30m bid for Jack Wilshere, snatch their bloody hands off.
In their dreams, Cynic. Jack will be our #1 playmaker for years, if he finally gets fit. I don’t believe AW would sell him for twice that.
Öskar
Oskar, The Europey advantage came from an injection of high grade amphetamine at the instant you were clipping at my heels. The rapid acceleration left you in the dust, I’m afraid. 🙂
Esso at 63 is absolutely correct.
It’s very interesting the views on statistics in the bar. Everyone loves the subjective, very rarely the objective. I like statistics as they look past our emotions and provide a critical analysis of a person or situation. We tend not too like that as it clashes with our pre-conceived impressions and what we registered during the emotional roller-coaster of the game.
But, more interestingly what are the views regarding the bans for spitting handed out by the FA? As compared to leg breaking?
Blogs has consistent and long-held views about the bans in football LHTG. He summarised them a couple days ago. I think he says it well so won’t rehash it but I agree with him.
I have heard spitting recently described in many quarters as “the worst thing you can do on a football pitch.” Rubbish.
It is a horrible thing to do. However, the level of moral outrage people show at it is a conceited affectation, in my view. Certainly not justifiable when held up against leg-breaking tackles and the like.
I would much rather be spat at than have my leg broken. Anyone who says otherwise is either a liar or has a very different set of priorities to my own.
How many people who claim spitting is the worse offence, when done to someone else, would maintain this stance if offered to suffer being spat on or to have their own leg broken?
I know it is early (in the UK) but if anyone wants breakfast the FA have plenty of hot hypocrisy on the stove- come and get it…
Cheers GSD for the pointer to Blogs as I’d missed it It certainly sums up my views of the current system as it stands. And I agree with you above, so I’ll have two sugars and a double helping of eggs thank you.
Martin Keown interviews Arsene Wenger:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4bYpjL0XQY&feature=youtu.be
It’s about seven minutes, very well worth watching.
Great link Lars.
The only thing bad about that interview is that its only 7 minutes long.
Shows how much he really cares for the club and his humanity in how he treats his players. Would love to see him end his career on a high.
On the spitting issue.
Would Cissé have got off easier if he had just used a straight right and lamped the Manky geezer?I dońt think he would of got 6(7) game ban
And would have risen above infant school playground level.
On the blame for the Palace goal,I think you just have to give credit to Austen for shaping to pass out to the left and sendng Gibbs a dummy to make space for his well taken shot.
As for buying Austen perSonally I dońt think hé is worth the six million dollars they are asking for him .
Joe, it was definitely too short! I can not for the life of me understand how some can hate that man with such a passion. By all means, have opinions on his tactical choices or whatever or even feel he’s past it and should go but how can anyone ever doubt his commitment to the club???
Washed Up: yes, Cisse would have gotten away with only four matches if he’d lamped Evans. And of course we’ve heard the old “spitting is the worst thing you can do on a pitch” – funnily enough none of those who have said that have ever been subjected to a Shawcrossing or a Dansmithing.
As for the QPR goal blame game, several players could, independently of one another, have prevented that goal. The attack started with two players pressing high but the rest of the team sitting back which created the space for QPR to even start the attack in the first place. Basically, the whole team had 20 seconds of a drop in focus and that cost us a goal.
Shocking scenes at Villa Park last night. TV and the FA have a lot to answer for scheduling an FA Cup local derby at 17.30 on a Saturday. If any game should have taken the lunch time kick-off slot this should have been the one. I’m glad I was not there. Sadly yobbish behaviour fuelled by alcohol has been highlighted in Paris, at Wembley Park and St Pancras Stations and now at Villa Park in the last few days.
Please don’t let this invade the Ems, the Gala night was bad enough. I know I am of the older generation but many of you take your youngsters to games and would feel equally vulnerable if we let this behaviour return to the grounds. This is one of the reasons why I would oppose safe standing.
Very glad we weren’t drawn against Bradford, what ever would we have made of that pitch!
Feeling very positive about our chances at OT.
COYRs
Is spitting the worst thing you can do …. ?
Not according to an ex-girlfriend of mine ……. She was a wine taster. 😉
LHTG, Lars, washed up, good stuff.
Delia,
Bad scenes indeed. Sherwood making excuses didn’t really help.
Trev, if you drew a very accurate picture of a wine tasting, would that be a spitting image of the real thing?
🙂
Lars @173. It might not be exactly that. But it would be within spitting distance.
GSD and Trev, if we keep up these wine-related jokes people are going to tell us to put a cork in it.
The Keown Le Boss interview was first aired on R5L (audio only) on Friday evening. I’d had a few on way on home from work, and in the words of the boss of this site, felt myself ‘welling up’, listening to it.
Here’s what I tweeted at the time (half cut admittedly);
Jez Box @esso260589
Mar 6
Superb! Love Le Boss. Proper person. Real love for football. More to come.
Jez Box @esso260589
Mar 6
And how anyone, especially Arsenal ‘fans’ can denigrate and insult him is beyond me. Criticise for sure, but beyond that? Get to fuck.
Jez Box @esso260589
Mar 6
@bbc5live Great interview. Best thing you’ve produced in years. Many thanks to Martin Keown. #OneArseneWenger
And I stand by every word of it.
@esso, I agree totally. As a Chelsea fan(pre-oil, if that mitigates the stand), said once to me, people will realize what Wenger has done for the club only years later. That was the only time I agreed with him. And today, LVG has said that AW always says the right things and that fourth place is the highest priority. This man, what we his shortcomings are, is years ahead. I started following Arsenal because I liked him, and dennis and Thierry, there is something very dignified about him, the way he carried himself which sets him apart. Now to listen to the interview.
Esso,
Totally agree – and I haven’t even had time to listen to the interview yet.
As you say, criticise what he does if you have a reasonable argument but, personal attacks ? Ridiculous.
Esso- agreed.
I had my say on the man recently and have nothing to add to that post. Although, looking back, my list of things he stands against did not include homophobia which seems an odd thing to omit from that particular list and which I will add to it now.
dennis10 touches on a keyword when discussing Wenger. Dignity. Not much of that in modern football.
Just watched the interview.
I’m with the ‘well uppers’.
I’ve been involved in sports coaching myself for a lot of years and find it brilliant and touching when AW says one, that he doesn’t even know where his medals are and two, that he remembers the players more than the victories.
In sport, reward is categorised in two ways.
One is ‘extrinsic’ – the medals and trophies you win, and the other is ‘intrinsic’ – the joy is in the taking part.
Winning in professional sport is, naturally, important but the truly special players are always the ones who seek the intrinsic rewards.
Everything else is contained in what he says.
Listening to AW expressing himself in a foreign language, more eloquently than any other manager, foreign or native, could do, one thought occurs –
We have been very lucky.
Incidentally, Keown is a very intelligent guy it wouldn’t be half bad to have around the club.
Trev 182.
Please get Keown in and around our club. Just please.
If not now then in the future. But please make it happen.
For our blueprint we should look to Cruyff’s vision at Ajax. And see how and when we can lure Dennis back to London to link up with some of his old teammates.
Trev and Gunnersaurus Stunt Double ,
In my youth , I have read a book with title ” Lea carnets du Major Thompson “.
If there is a perfect English gentleman , then AW is one of them .
183@GSD
According to Keowns wiki page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Keown
“He is now a part-time scout and coach for Arsenal”
Although I couldn`t confirm this on the Arsenal . Com page
Except from a 2006 reference
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/why-martin-keown-is-back-at-arsenal
Which might not be relevant today.
As soon as I had watched the Invincibles documentary I looked him up as he just came over as such a calm, intelligent and self aware person .
You british based Holics probably get to see him quite often in his media duties with BBC etc.,but for me who had only seen him as a player,he was strikingly different from any ex player.
Preview time. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Keown and Henry to get a more active type of position in the club in the future is my hope.
And Arsene.. no words.. what a man.
Criticize his tactics and stubbornness at times but Never his character and passion for the club.
We are so fortunate!
😀
Pool given a full workout by Blackburn.. and they have to replay.
Sounds like good news for us!
Bring on ManU!
😀