West Ham In Brief
Mar 13th, 2015 by 'holic
The confidence must be high as Arsenal prepare for another London derby. West Ham arrive at the Grove having enjoyed a good season until hitting the buffers in recent weeks. The visitors contested a top four berth in the first half of the season, but are without a win in seven league and cup matches.
Arsenal of course come into the game off the back of a fine win at Old Trafford in the FA Cup quarter-final, and will be looking to consolidate their third place in the Premier League. The Gunners are looking to stretch their winning run at home in the Premier League to eight matches.
The team news is mixed, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ruled out with a hamstring problem, but there is a return to the squad for Mathieu Flamini. Mathieu Debuchy, Gabriel, Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere, and Abou Diaby remain unavailable.
Arsene said that the impending second leg with Monaco would not affect his selection, but it would not be surprising to see a little rotation. Olivier Giroud may get a recall, and it would not be a surprise for Aaron Ramsey to get a start. David Ospina should return between the posts.
The visitors too are depleted, with Valencia and Tomkins joining an injury list comprising Reid, Cole, and Carroll. Carl Jenkinson is ineligible to play against his parent club, and Alex Song faces a fitness test to determine if he will feature.
We know Sam Allardyce of old. Chances are he will set up his remaining resources to frustrate. Expect energetic closing and some enthusiastic challenges from his team. It could be a frustrating opening hour at least, but with a strong looking bench Arsenal could overpower the visitors in the latter stages.
The ‘holic pound
It might take us a while to break them down but I’m hoping to stretch my winning run to four with a punt on 3-0 to the Arsenal, available at 9/1 with Paddy Power.
Right, let this weekend begin. I’m looking forward to seeing a number of you at the match, and watching the Calcutta Cup afterwards.
Have a good one ‘holics.
143 Responses to “West Ham In Brief”
Cheers H!
I thought there was a typo in the headline. The thought of Fat Sam in Speedos had me reeling.
Have to say (famous last words!) I fancy us to really slaughter the east end murdering scum tomorrow. The Esso pound is on another Villa. 5 zip to the good guys.
Have a great day out H and all other ‘holics going tomorrow! Could be a few sweedes around I’ve heard. If you see Lars tell him to say hello to my little ray of twitter sunshine if she’s about.
5 nil, Esso? Are we starting the weekend off with the hard stuff?
BMBD
i too hope you run it to 4, holic. or at least five or six, truthfully. and i’m not talking about pints, but that too.
i do feel bad for the corporal, about now. he’s going to watch hector excell in *his* position, and i do wonder if poor carl will ever be coming back to the first team.
Will do Esso. I have just had a backup pound on 5-0 🙂
Great preview, Guvnor.
A further disadvantage of Monday night football, that I’ve not seen mentioned elsewhere, is that drinkers who are cut off from t’Internet during the week can’t get to the bar until four f*****g days after the match. I have now completed a knird of epic proportions, and quite epic enjoyment. A couple of great contributions – you all know from whom.
Anyhoo; roll on tomorrow, I shall be there and hope to watch Allardyce getting his arse handed to him on a plate.
COYG
Oh, yes, I am given to understand that we won on Monday night. Jolly good show, say I.
Cheers H.
Must win game tomorrow (aren’t they all!?) because some of those around us will drop points. A nice three points will put some distance between us and at least one rival.
Get in, hit them quick, get it done and move on to the next game.
COYG’s.
4-0 surely must be covered as well? I wouldn’t want to be too disappointed when that fourth goal goes in and the fifth never quite makes it. Great news for the goal differential in any case but these may be scores for the dreamers. 2-0 for me.
Cheers, ‘H! I’m with Esso re the predicted scoreline.
What? Not 2-1??
See you for a pre-match snifter. Your round as I recall 🙂
Calcutta Cup, eh? Fisticuffs if Terrington’s there.
3 nil?
3 points, whichever which way.
UTA 😎
Three points a must at this point in the season. And for the other major contest, a nil-nil draw between ManUre and Spuds, accompanied by several red cards and injuries, would be welcome. If I had to root for a winner, it would have to be ManUre, as they have a murderous schedule in their next fixtures and will drop points there, whereas Spuds next fixtures aren’t very daunting, and we could use the cushion in heading to St. Totteringham’s Day.
Cheers H.
5-1.
Last time I saw us play this lot we scored 3 in 5 minutes in the most incisive passage of play I have ever witnessed. Same again please lads.
My flatmate is an Iron. Looking at their injuries and form he has pretty much written this game off already.
Cynic- I hope you have not just given me nightmares. Urggh. Scary stuff.
4-0 if Theo starts. 3-1 ife he doesn’t.
AW claims he always rotates game by game, but never more than two or three players. Not sure that is entirely true, but if he rotates two it has to be OG first, Rambo probably second (for Alexis and Ox?). Third would be Theo for Özil?
We shall see, but I won’t be holding my breath!
Öskar
Thanks for a fine preview Guv’nor ( as ever) . It gets the juices flowing even if I won’t be there tomorrow because of a family wedding. I rather got the impression that Gabriel was back in the squad but it was salutary to note that Wilshere now has no return date and Ox will be out for four weeks. If Theo had actually played in the last few weeks he would now be out injured. Gnabry has disappeared off the radar again. If Gabriel is back he has recovered from a hamstring strain in ten days and the Ox will take four weeks. These Spanish players appear to have greater natural resilience given that Santi is kicked every bit as much as Ox, Theo and Ramsey and certainly runs as far .
I suspect Giroud will start and Monreal will keep out Gibbs and Ospina will return. Theo is unlikely to start for reasons cogently explained by Tim Stillman yesterday . I suspect we may see Ozil starting wide with Ramsey box to box and Santi playing in the hole.
West Ham’s injuries will likely dictate their tactics but anyone who remembers the first defeat at the Emirates will recall that they won on the basis of a great performance by their goalkeeper, huge dollops of luck and a breakaway goal. LVG was so impressed he modelled United’s tactics on that approach this season.
2-0 to the good guys is my prediction
Fine preview Guvna. I’ll take 3-0.
To tell you the truth I’ll take 1-0 to the good guys. I think you are spot on with the prediction of Far Sam’s tactics. When at Bolton, he was the first manager to declare that “Arsenal don’t like it up ’em,” and encouraged his drinking pal Demento to adopt the same tactics. His thugs kicked us off the park many a time to secure three points with a team of journeymen knocking the shit out of several of our teams of thoroughbreds.
I’d be delighted with Esso’s 5-0 and that would be a just reflection of the gap in talent but the Walrus is adept in bridging that gap with brawn.
As to the suggestion that it will be 4-0 if Feo starts and 3-1 if he doesn’t, I think he has a real chance of adding to our firepower tomorrow. However I fail to see how there is any evidence whatsoever that Feo starting has ever made our defence more secure and reduced our risk of losing goals. If anything there is considerable evidence to the contrary. In truth Feo’s failure to add a defensive component to his game is a major reason why his Arsenal career has stalled.
Theo doesn’t need a ‘defensive component’ bath, his role is to score goals. And the more he scores the more open the game becomes as they have to chase the game, and the more we score. If he’s not there we struggle to score, start chasing the game ourselves, and they score at least one on a break against our proven hopeless-on-the-break defence.
All relatively speaking of course, and subject to a host of factors we won’t know until we see them rolled out in the game. Predicting scores is a lottery with most scores being as likely as any other. Let’s just say we SHOULD win, okay?
Öskar
Agreed on the unpredictability of results, Oskar, let alone score-lines.
We should indeed win.
COYG
“Theo doesn’t need a ‘defensive component’ bath, his role is to score goals.”
Not any more Oscar. That day is over. Theo needs to do more than that now. The real beauty about this team is that it depends on no-one individual to score goals. The goals can come from anywhere: centre halves, full backs, wingers, midfielders………..Its a collective effort when we go forward and its a collective effort when we defend. And I love it. Long overdue.
Cheers, Holic.
Must admit 5-0 occurred to me earlier today, echoing our tally in that game mentioned by GSD above. That was the game in which Poldi shredded his hamstrings after some devastating attacking play.
Oskar,
If you saw Theo live in the stadium a bit more often, you would realise how little he actually contributes. I have cheered him on for too many seasons now, hoping he would achieve a level of sustained fitness that would see him add something to that basic speed.
He has the ability to score goals but it is being seen too rarely at present. That, like it or not, is because he is copping out of his duties – attacking and defensive.
Sorry to everyone else who is cheesed off with the repetition.
Seems we agree, Joe.
Different players different standards Öskar?
Feo doesn’t need to defend while Danny can run his socks off and still doesn’t do enough in your eyes.
Danny runs around like a headless chicken and Feo just doesn’t get the right passes att the right moment?
I’m tired and off to bed
Night all 🙂
The observant amongst you will recall from the last drinks (#145)that my first prediction was that Theo will leave in the Summer.
My reading of Mr Wenger’s comments in the Guardian regarding a possible new contract for Mr Walcott has confirmed that position.
Further discussion is of course permitted but is essentially redundant.
This will come to pass. Nostradamus has spoken.
Theo will find that his position is no longer his unless he is willing to fight for it. All the better in my opinion, we need competition for places. And for players to adapt to the style and play that the manager wants.. otherwise it will be like..Poldi.
I like both players immensely, would be a little sad if we lost both of them in this short period…however, the team will keep on growing and will be stronger now that there is genuine competition for places.
😀
If Theo is a winger, he should be able to perform the duties required of a winger – maintain width, track back and support your full back, beat your man and bring in decent crosses, and score the odd goal.
If he is a striker, he should be able to harry defenders, hold up the ball and bring midfielders into play, provide an outlet in times of intense pressure, beat his marker sometimes, combine with other attackers and midfielders, and score goals.
I can’t be sure how many of these qualities Theo possesses.
When he does not play for the team there is the likelihood that those around him will ignore him if he makes his runs.
Being more defensive, and making that more important to get a place in the side, would be fine if we could actually defend. We are winning games but conceding poor goals.
What a difference a week makes in football. A thumping win in Manc land. H2H @ 180 was spot on in the last set of drinks. Why anyone would moan after a victory there does seem a a tad strange. Some epic posts that made for a very enjoyable read. CBA, total legend sir.
Today is a massive game for me. We have all seen how results can affect confidence and any ensuing media scrum. A good win today following on from Monday nigh all of a sudden puts the Monaco tie very much back in winnable category. The implosion at the Bus Stop and Maureen’s blow up tell you how all of a sudden things can change.
I am very much on a convincing win today. I am going for 4-0 just to be different. I would not be surprised to see Theo start. Love him or hate him he can be a match winner. To have half a chance of getting back any sort of match sharpness he will need playing time. Today seems an ideal opportunity for me.
My ticket for today is elsewhere. Some time ago now I accepted the kind offer of a ticket to watch England put Scotland to the sword at Twickenham. That after a Friday night of musical culture with the Godlike Genius that is Mr Paul Weller. I will keep a watching brief on today’s events from the Prince Albert in Whitton with some London Pride. I had sometime ago that there was absolutely no chance of us ever playing at 3pm on a Saturday ever again so hoped to combine the two events. Just my luck that today’s game was not changed.
Have a great day boys and girls. For those going I hope the sun continues to shine and that the beer continues to flow Tollie style. Holic, please look after BtM, especially if he is on the sauce watching the Calcutta Cup with you after the match. We all know who is the only one to have been evicted from a major sporting event this year for disreputable behaviour??? I would hate to see it kick off in The Tollie because BtM has chucked his toys out of his pram again. 😉
Nice preview Holic and a good write up from Monday. I’m there very much in spirit today. Have a great weekend people.
I mean, it’s “interesting” that we hear stuff like Theo was partly responsible for the loss against Spurs, because he didn’t stop Bentaleb’s cross, but there’s no criticism at all of the midfield (that I’ve seen) for allowing the cross for QPR’s goal, and there were three players in the vicinity for the cross from which Rooney scored on Monday, but nobody even tried to close the space down for the crosser. Nobody has mentioned that.
We didn’t lose those two games, but the issue is the same regardless. Poor defending from players who are supposedly in the team because they offer defensive play.
Unless defending and being more defensive means running back and looking busy but not actually doing any defending at all.
I’d be interested to see what Ozil’s tackling and blocking stats are like in the defensive third. And Welbeck’s. And Ox’s. Theo’s may not be any better but I would guess they won’t be any worse.
End of Theo blog 😉
Do you have to bring your own soap boxes, or can you rent them at the bar?
===
Enjoy Steve, mate.
You can do whatever you like. If talking about how we play when we win is banned, I’ll fuck off.
Final point – Next time we lose, don’t piss and moan and wail about how we never seem to learn anything and keep making the same mistakes, because they are made win lose or draw. They are simply forgotten when we win. The team will never improve if no attention is paid to how well (or not) it plays when winning as well as losing. If you beat Man U or QPR and make basic errors, but gloss over them because you win, you get games like Monaco.
I wonder if the coaching staff have the same mindset? Don’t look at the detail look at the result. It would explain much.
Cheerio.
Yeah, you’re probably right.
A bunch of us no marks pissing and moaning on the internet is bound to change the mindset of our team.
I hope you’re taking notes Mr Wenger.
Nice one Steve T!
Enjoy a good round of Beat the Jock!
Good to see you Steve T. I hope you have a fine afternoon and there is enough beer on tap for you to drown your sorrows when Scotland win the silverware for the first time in ages. (No Bathgooner Pound on that outcome, btw.)
Meanwhile I agree 100% that a win today is essential to this team showing that they are making progress and capable of mounting a serious challenge. We now need to build momentum and belief and as you say the Monaco challenge may actually be achievable.
I don’t care if Feo starts or not but if he starts he needs to ensure that he is heavily involved going forward and tracking back not just jogging around on the right.
I agree with Stillman’s analysis of the Feo issue and Nostradamus’ prognostication.
COYG
Calcutta Cup? I did n’t know you liked cricket
I don’t like cricket. I love it.
COYG
I misread the ‘holic’s third paragraph there. I thought the full stop after Flamini’s name was a comma and all our injury woes were over in on fell swoop and ‘holic had a scoop.
Theo is a great ambassador for the club, scores regularly in big games against big teams and has blistering pace. But work rate aside he is injured almost as much as Diaby having played more than twenty League games in only two seasons. If he goes off to play for England we can wave him goodbye for several weeks / months. If he sets his financial terms higher than last time Wenger may just decide he has enough other options to let him go. Maybe Liverpool or Citeh who have Walcott lite in Navas might be interested but with that injury record he might struggle to find a new home
Arsenal FC @Arsenal · 7m7 minutes ago
#Arsenal team to play West Ham: Ospina, Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Ramsey, Walcott, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud #AFCvWHU
Arsenal FC @Arsenal · 8m8 minutes ago
#Arsenal subs: Szczesny, Gibbs, Bellerin, Flamini, Cazorla, Welbeck, Akpom #AFCvWHU
Theo starts!
Any news on rosciky??
Not on the bench. Is it another arsenal 2 week layoff?
Interesting lineup. Although I fear for our right hand side with walcott and chambers.
Hope coq is a bit right sided today.
I’m hoping the people at the Emirates will give Alex Song a good welcome on his return.
Well Theo now has the stage to either reproduce his effort in the match against the Spuds where he got injured and figure in Arsenes plans or be a virtual spectater as per his matches this year .
Down to you Theo
Should you go or should you stay now?
Come on boys, I dont care how, just win this one.
COME ON!!!!
Oh Feo
Three points please
Giroud is on fire today with those backheels
Theo should have had a penalty!
Blimey
I’ve got Wales Ireland on one screen. Arsenal West Ham on another. I’ve got a pint of pride and a ticket for the Calcutta Cup.
Happy fucking days.
Come on the Arsenal
The Coq nice
Wake up Chambers
Oh Feo x2
Theo, shoot it ACROSS the keeper, please….
And Chambo needs to stick to his knitting….
Oh Feo x 3
Walcott is so frustrating.
Ramsey off. Santi on please.
Walcott! Wtf?!?!
Oh Giroud u beauty
What a goal Giroud!
That is just so good.
OG!
This is how you strike the ball Theo.
That’s how you finish it Theo!
Giroudddddddddddd!
what a move that was
Merci beaucoup, HFB! And over and above the goal, he’s been the best player this half.
And Theo so frustrating, but as history shows, he is usually having a very good second half after stinking the place in first, so I think he is going to score today.
We got one let’s get two
Good goal from Olivier.
Theo not yet up to his usual sharpness.
Come on boys! Let’s do them in the 2nd period.
Rambo and Theo both to score and then get subbed.
Just a feeling. No idea where it comes from. I hope it is right though.
C’mon boys job not done yet
Oh Christ! Anthony Taylor is on!
Is this a joke?
Anthony Taylor. He is certainly a joke.
Ozil has to stop spurning shot attempts; always looking to thread passes when his foot through is what’s called for.
Ozil shoot the damn ball.
Come on boys!
How long has it taken Taylor to lose control of this?
Another beauty
Another cracker.
We ARE BACCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCK!
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSs!
GET INNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
😀
Get in! Ramsey.
Giroud, best game in the shirt. MOTM performance.
RAMBOO!
Like i say. Keep Ramsey on
Flamster!!!!!
Fycking shut, Flamini scores:-)
Even Flamini getting in on it. Wow!
When Flamini gets at the end of it.. you know they’re in trouble!
GET IN!
😀
And the ‘Holic pound is on!
Holic pound x 4
Great game, apart from the WHU spell of pressure in second half, we pretty much controlled the game from start to finish. Giroud, take a bow son, MoTM performance, glad to see Rambo back among goals.
3 goals scored. No goals conceded.
Very happy with that.
Can we do the same on Wednesday?
We are on a ROLL fellas!
That Holic man is on fire! Please Guv, predict a 4-0 win for us on Tuesday!
Uncanny this streak of the G’holic pound.
Never happened before. 😉
To the best of my knowledge.
Nostradamus ain’t got nothin’ on Holic
Overcoming the toughest opponent at the Emirates (Anthony Taylor) is also noteworthy.
Giroud and Ramsey have quite an understanding with their passes to each other in front of the goal.
Great predictions ‘Holic! 🙂
When Giroud moved to us in 2012 some of us had said that he has all the potentials and attitude for a late career growth a al Drogba and we were laughed at. He started in Ligue 1 as late as when he was 24. Not just the goals and the assists — both were sumptuous today and if Costa or Aguero had done them it would have just reaffirmed people’s claims what great players they are — and not just the powerful hold-up play and the work-rate, but the positional understanding and the ability to move across the front line have been outstanding as well.
And great performance by Kos today. Unbeatable.
But my MoTM would be Rambo. Just like one of the performances from his best run in last season. Defending with Coquelin and driving into the box when we are attacking. That immaculate work-rate is now matched with the discipline and game reading.
BANG
Alexis looks tired and whereas he was effortlessly dribbling through a mass of players before the winter and the shots from different angles were made with lot more panache the tentativeness and indecisions have crept in. Still puts a great shift but won’t be too bad an idea to give him some rest, whether he wants it or not, and have him fresh for the final stretch.
Is TR7 injured? Not on the bench as well.
Chambers was pretty good going forward, but defensively found himself in odd positions too many times. Ballerina would be back for Monaco , I suppose.
TR7 is ill, Dr F.
Well in for the ton, GSD. Flick of the tail; back of the net.
Thanks NBN. I think you told me that before and I forgot. Sorry.
“Expect energetic closing and some enthusiastic
challenges from his team. It could be a frustrating
opening hour at least, but with a strong looking
bench Arsenal could overpower the visitors in the
latter stages.” The wizard of G’ holic!
Arsenal indeed overpowered the visitors in the latter stages, bench assisting.
Cheers NBN.
The keepers in this league just can’t get to grips with the possibilities my tail creates. Goals from all angles I tells ya.
Theo might feel after today that Wenger has more options than he had during our last contract negotiation with him. He’s a squad player at present not a starter in our best team and annoyed many fans today in the first half. It’s my second note about him today but while I like the kid he really hasn’t done enough in the nine years he has been at the club to try to drive too hard a bargain with Wenger.
As for Giroud he has shown steady improvement and a great goals per game ratio. If he hadn’t been injured in August might we be closer to Chelsea?
Controversially I would rest Sanchez on Tuesday and start Theo. the lad is very tired
And City now down 1-0 at Turfmoor @ 62 minutes.
wonderful result, som sumptuous play and a bit of gack. OG MOTM, what a nice feeling to ride the weekend.
congrats, holic, on the 4-peat. odds are 4/6 on you running it to 5 😉
Well I really enjoyed that!
Have to say I thought Theo stunk the place out and Ozil was quality all the way.
Hope Cynic enjoyed the result and the game.
Cynic’s a good lad, said it before and I’ll say it again now. Wear’s his heart on his sleeve sometimes, but still a good lad.
As are all the regular drinkers on here.
Cheers!
Here comes City in reverse; look out below!
Are we second yet? 🙂
Saints to skin chavs next!
😀
City just fell into one of the 4000 holes in Lancashire.
scruz – those holes are in Blackburn rather than Burnley though!
Common Saints!
These whining babies are punch drunk now.
Let’s get closer to them and see what lies at the tip of this season.
Lol, Charlie, you are right. Must have been the whole bus that fell in just past the city center on the detour around Rawenstall 🙂
(And yes, Google maps is my friend!)
I agree that Giroud was MOTM today, but Ramsey and Koscielny weren’t far behind. Ramsey had his best game of the season, and it would’ve been even if he hadn’t scored. His passing was sharp, he looked energetic, confident and dangerous all day. Got the goal he deserved.
And look, I know Flamini has his critics, and if you backed me into a corner I’d admit he’s probably not of the required quality for Arsenal, even as a squad player. He’s likely on his way in the summer, understandably. But I’ve always liked him. Always brings the attitude, the work rate and intensity, a good professional and teammate. Happy to see him score.
City are in a mess right now. No reason we can’t push on and finish second. Our form right now makes the “blip” vs. Monaco all the more of a shame. Had we won that night we’d really be flying.
Let’s throw everything at Monaco and see what happens. As Wenger said this week, if we don’t believe we can do it then we definitely can’t. COYG!
The trouble for Theo is that his limited skill set means he’s most likely going to have to settle for a squad position, but he needs regular games to be at his instinctive best. His misses today were the direct result of not playing for awhile, but how is he going to get a run of games with Welbeck, Alexis, Giroud, the Ox, Santi all (justifiably, in my opinion) in front of him in the pecking order?
The saga of Theo continues. Very curious to see how it turns out.
If you haven’t seen it, the squawka comparison matrix between Ozil, Alexis, Santi, Cesc and Hazard created by 7amkickoff — you can add more categories to it — is very interesting: http://news.arseblog.com/2015/03/arsenal-win-8th-straight-league-home-match-by-the-numbers/ .
Ozil, as expected, is having an excellent season in an excellently understated manner. He just need to bring a little more directness in his game sometimes. The run through the middle and shot that Adrian saved was a great example, but in the second half he should have tried to score instead of trying to set up Theo for a header with a chip.
Rambo’s (my MoTM) numbers today were eye catching as well . If he only could have stayed fit and in this zone for majority of the season…
Great result and three very good goals but I thought the game a rather scrappy affair until late on when Danny’s contribution made quite a difference.
There were groans of frustration all around the stadium at Theo’s misses in the first half and relief when a lovely move resulted in HFB’s strike going in just before half time.
We all hoped that our momentum would pick up after the interval but WH started much better and put us under real pressure for the first time in the match. The subs were instrumental in us picking up our game with Danny making hay down the left hand side and crosses finding there way to Rambo and Flamini for goals within 5mins.
The crowd lightened up and we all left the ground happy. I thought Kos, Nacho, Rambo and the HFB were excellent. Chambers started nervously but improved as the game went on. Alexis needs a rest and Theo needs games to sharpen up his play, a sharp Theo would have put away his first 2 chances. He and Arsene must decide where his future lies.
Tuesday must be considered an away day in the sun, something extraordinary would need to occur if we are to get a result but this is the Arsenal and stranger things have happened. To those of you going, enjoy and have a safe journey.
COYRs
Dr F@119: Ozil’s part in Giroud’s goal was Ozil at his best. No more than a couple of touches, but sliced WHU’s defence in two.
Just back to deepest Oxfordshire after the match – stopped for food rather than drink, I’m almost ashamed to admit.
Not quite the plate-related arse-handing that I hoped for @7 above, but a comfortable enough victory by the end. Throughout the match, Arsenal played like a team with at least one more gear they could shift into if they needed to. Sure enough, West Ham might have scored at least a couple of times, but they never really put us under pressure for any sustained period of time. On the other hand, I don’t think Arsenal really put them under sustained pressure either, but I felt all through it was only a matter of time before Theo managed to get his act together or one of Mesut’s attempted exquisite passes would come off or that Sanchez would keep his feet or…
As you can tell, I don’t think the team really fired, but then again, they didn’t need to. I don’t think this team will hand many teams their arses on a plate, and that doesn’t really bother me all that much. They have something else, that I probably value more highly – the ability to play slightly better than their opponents; enough better that they beat them. Sadly they also have the ability to implode in fairly spectacular style from time to time – see AS Monaco, for example – but I’m far from convinced that the ability to put 5 or 6 past poor teams bears much relation to the ability to put one more past good teams than they put past you. Sure, it would be a more relaxing watch for the spectators, but if the team choose to prioritise winning many games by narrow margins over winning a few by large margins, I think I’m happy with that.
Trouble is, I’m beginning to think they might actually manage to bring home a result on Tuesday evening. It really is the hope that kills you.
COYG
PS Props to Burnley; I think ¢iteh are there for the taking, one more push boys. (Actually nine more pushes, but take them one at a time.)
Theo “stunk the place out and Ozil was quality all the way”, Esso? What game were you watching? But for unsurprising rustiness Theo could have had a hat trick in the first half. At least his positioning had him in the right place to stuff up the strikes, which is more than you can say of others preferred to him in recent weeks. When his confidence and touch return there will be a lot of humble pie to pass around this bar.
Neither was Özil quality all the way. He had a fair game, but not the kind of game we expect from our most expensive ever transfer. Rambo had a far better game. So did Santi in his brief cameo. And Kos had the best game of all, imo. My motm.
This would have been another ideal opportunity to rest Alexis who is looking a shadow of the player who could do no wrong a month or so back. I don’t care how much he ‘wants’ to play AW should know better than risk him.
One point out of 2nd place. Whoda thunk it a month ago!
Öskar
Loved your #36, Pangloss, even if no-one else noticed it. 😉
What’s a 3-goal margin if we really fire as we are capable of doing? AW surely can’t do anything but attack on Tuesday. Bring it on!
Öskar
On the march now. Stay in step.
A journey of a thousand li begins with one step.
Come on you rip roaring…
Well done the ‘Holic pound.
BMBD
Ok Oskar,
I’m really bored by this but, just for you, i’ll tell you exactly what Theo did, or didn’t do, today.
Being able to see all of the pitch all of the time from inside the stadium, as opposed to the relatively narrow given on TV – however many inches wide it is – I can tell you Rheo was absolutely dreadful.
I would love Walcott to be an amazing player – like any other in an Arsenal shirt – and win us a room full of trophies. Sadly, he is not. He may or may not have the ability. You are convinced he has – I’m fairly sure he hasn’t.
But let’s ignore all the missed chances today – chances, incidentally, that any top striker would have buried – and look at attitude. That is an attribute that anyone can demonstrate if they choose. Theo’s attitude, at present, is an insult to the approximately £100 it cost me to watch him today.
He practically walked around the place, barely made a run around their back four, actually checked backwards to avoid having to challenge Song at one point, trotted back to watch the defenders, making sure he never got invlolved, and embarrassingly drew ironic cheers from the whole crowd on the one occasion in the first half when he actually tried to win the ball.
He generated such anger in the crowd with his total lack of committment that he should have been hauled off before half time. He did improve slightly at the beginning of the second half but soon dropped out of the game again after a couple more hashed opportunities.
If he is not ready physically, or mentally, to play after his injury, then he should say so and return only to training u til he regains some confidence in himself. At the moment he is costing the team chances and himself confidence as the crowd are getting very restless with bis putrid contribution.
Am I pleased ?
Not in the slightest. But I am fed up with watching a player who either is not fit, or simply can’t be bothered.
Or maybe he is fit and because he’s available to actually play a few games, he’s distracted by the latest round of talks to improve his contract.
Something over £14,000 per day is deposited into Theo’s bank account. Time he started earning some of it.
Only my opinion, of course. You are entitled, and welcome, to yours.
A clear difference of opinion, Trev. Fact is he put himself into more scoring positions in just the first half of this game than others I could mention have found so far this year (with equally poor end product).
It was disappointing that he didn’t convert any of them, but we’ve all seen him do so before, so unless he’s developed the striker equivalent of a golfer’s yips we have to assume that his touch will return to him in time.
Given the lack of opportunities he’s been given since his return from a year out of the game I think it’s very unfair to write him off so peremptorily.
Öskar
Surprise – ‘an unexpected or astonishing event.’
1) Kos, Rambo, Ozil and Giroud – the spine of the team – all on their game today so 3-0 was no surprise.
2) The only real surprise was that a Big Fat Sam side didn’t get stuck into us more – nobody either carried off or sent off seems most out of character. Perhaps his recent assertion that he is a cultured, technical tactician is true?
3) Given that we played without a winger or much width for most of the match, was it a surprise when things seemed more fluent after Wellbeck was introduced?
4) If we triumph in Monaco, will anybody be surprised?
UTA.
‘Ave a look at Pelligrini’s post match conference. Is he:
(a) a Sith Lord,
(b) a vampire, or
(c) a recovering meth man.
BMBD
NBN @ 121: Exactly!
At the start of the season those Arsenal fans who praised Cesc and Costa (17 goals in 32 games, don’t know the assist stats) to high heavens at the expense of Ozil and Giroud (14 goals & 5 assists in 24 games) hopefully will be gracious to reconsider their positions.
Oskar: The timing and positioning of Theo’s runs were very good. Before his injuries he had built a good rapport with Giroud in one and half years and always had a good understanding with Rambo. It was not a surprise the Giroud and Rambo were the providers for most if his chances. And you are right that with a little bit more match sharpness he would take more of those chances. But there is only one man who can decide whether that alone would be enough for a starting position especially in the light of what Trev described as the overall lackadaisical approach (as appears to be), and Arsene rarely gets decisions like that wrong. Right now, he is a squad player and when fully fit the versatility, directness and dynamism offered by Ox would see him start ahead of Theo. It is good to have these options.
Noosa @ 129: “If we triumph in Monaco, will anybody be surprised?” It would be the best comeback in away leg in R16 of CL for a couple of decades I think, so yes as per the expectations of the footballing world it would be a surprise very much. 🙂
I know that is not what you meant, and agree with you that this achievement is well within us. We have been threatening to overturn a ridiculous deficit in the second leg of R16 for the last three seasons and I think this year provides the likeliest chance of achieving such an unlikely turnaround.
The way Walcott is playing, it’s like what we used to call players who just hang around near the goal and pick up the easy credit ( we didn’t play the offside rule then)—-“the durian picker”….
The way Walcott is playing, it’s like what we used to call players who just hang around near the goal and pick up the easy credit ( we didn’t play the offside rule then)—-“the durian picker”….
And I don’t understand Oskar’s position on Ozil and Walcott…surely if you judge the latter’s contribution purely on goals, Ozil’s worth has been proven by his assists and chances created?
Always good to have options, Dr F, and if there are better ones than Theo all the better. However I am not at all convinced that you get a better overall view of the game and the contributions of those in it by being present at a match. In no game that I’ve ever been to have I had anything like the same perspective from the low angles most people sit at as TV gives you from on high. Neither do you get the close-up views TV gives. That said I would always prefer to be at the game, but the commute is a tad too far from NZ sadly.
You certainly get better atmos, and Trev may be right about Theo getting ironic cheers and annoying everyone. Although, watching Theo with a close eye as I was bound to do, Trev’s account seems a little exaggerated to me. He was far more involved than suggested and certainly received a decent ovation when he was subbed, and that was before Santi was applauded on.
Öskar
There are a lot of ‘betters’ in my previous. I must try and express myself better in future…
Öskar
Not gonna get involved in this, but if you think Theo played well yesterday, you need a new pair of eyes, not a new TV.
He didn’t play well, Esso, he missed too many chances. But neither did he play as poorly as you claim. Perhaps you should watch the game again and check his excellent movement and positioning. Especially his interplay with OG. These two play intelligently together.
Öskar
But it’s pointless for me to keep on this track with so many in disagreement, so this will be my last Theo, in this round anyway. 😉
Öskar
@Oskar
I’m in the minority in the bar right now in that I think Theo is a valuable asset whom we should think long and hard before parting company with. So – in a sense, I agree with you.
However, I would urge you to take a look at the effect that your constantly praising Theo is having on the collective opinion herein. Far from convincing others that Theo is an important player, I get the sense that the fact that we end up discussing him at length after every game at the minute (whether he’s played or not), and that your lauding him so heartily, even when he’s clearly not in form right now and haggling another contract with the club, is swinging what is already a pretty critical consensus even further towards the “sling him out” end of the spectrum.
You’re entirely entitled to your opinion, of course, but just suggesting you might want to consider whether there’s value in repeatedly stating it, or whether doing so is simply polarising everyone’s views on the subject. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with saying that Theo has previously scored and made a lot of goals but is clearly not quite at it just now – he’s a way off his best form (and if he isn’t then what does that say). Equally, I don’t think he’s as bad a player as is being made out in some places. Just a player out of form.
As for what Trev says above – I don’t think you’ll find many people willing to accept that you get a better assessment of the game from watching it on TV than being at the ground. As someone who is used to watching at the stadium who is now largely restricted to streams and the witterings of Sky Sports half wit pundits I spend most weekends fervently wishing I was in the stadium, able to see the whole pitch and surrounded by the crowd – whose moans and groans/buzzing and cheers generally give you a great sense of how individuals and the team are performing. Certainly, after games I’m always keen to hear from those who went if I’ve not been able to – they’re about the most reliable source of information going, particularly as a lot of them have many years of attendance on which to draw comparisons.
All of the above meant with no malice, just my own tuppence and some food for thought.
Beyond bar politics, fucking excellent result yesterday, the City defeat made it even sweeter and our rivals will drop still more points today. This team is on title winning form now – we’ve gained nine points on City since Xmas and some of the attacking football we played yesterday was a joy to watch. We may yet have another cock up in us between now and May, but I get the distinct feeling that it’s all starting to click, and a major part of that clicking is the form of one Olivier Giroud, a player who cost us £12m and is currently having a better season than the much lauded Diego Costa. He scores goals, he brings others into play and he’s a stylish motherfucker. Love it.
Here’s to a draw between the Red Mancs and LWCs today, here’s to a second place (or better) finish. On we go.
COYG
Oof – posted the above before I saw your @139 Oskar.
Looks like you got there without the benefit of my tuppence anyway! 🙂
Bring on Monaco!!!!
Let’s show them what we’re made of!
They have arguable the best defence in their league, so it shall be an interesting one!
Can’t wait.. looking forward to this one with great optimism!
😀
p.s – Saints to win and Spuds to draw and Swans to triumph! 🙂
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