Could Two London Buses Be Parked At The Same Time?
Apr 25th, 2015 by 'holic
“I don’t think that they have taken more points than us since January but from September to January they did. They have been consistent throughout and they relied on a strong defensive record that got them the championship.”
Arsene conceding that even if we beat Chelsea on Sunday the seven points gap that will remain between the top two will not evaporate over the final five matches. Those are words I didn’t expect to be writing at the midpoint of the season, but we have come on in leaps and bounds, clawing our way back into the race for a Champions League berth that was under severe threat, and then some.
Mathematically Chelsea need to win two more matches to rule out the Manchester clubs, and a third win in the last six will confirm their fifth title (or just one more if they win on Sunday). For now we have to suck on those lemons and hope to delay the inevitable with a ninth consecutive Premier League win, and a first triumph for Arsene over the tedious one.
In a season when we have banished the big match blues with wins at both Manchester grounds and a 4-1 thumping of Liverpool this really is our best chance of beating Chelsea for the first time since our 3-5 win at the bus stop in Fulham in October 2011. Our last home win against them was by 3-1 the December before that.
Per Mertesacker is the main injury concern ahead of the match and his chances of starting are rated at no more than 50/50. Gabriel looks an assured replacement. That would be the only change I would envisage from the team that started the wins over Burnley and Liverpool. How will that side be set up though?
The discipline we showed on those two trips to Manchester holds the key perhaps. We are well versed in Chelsea’s tactics, and although it would not delight the purists we need to emulate their approach and conjure up the moments of class on the break to win a war of attrition. Will Arsene do this at home? That is the great unknown at this point.
Much of the pre-match talk has been of the likely reception for Fabregas. Quite simply, as Arsene requested, he will get the reception he deserves. I think we all expected him to go back to Barca at some point, but not as soon as he did, and under such circumstances. His (and his agents) behaviour in forcing through a cut-price deal was a kick in the teeth for the man and the club that made him. I hope though that we put as much effort into supporting the wonderful talent we now have with a cannon on their chest as we do into acknowledging the depth of our feelings for Fabregas.
Chelsea have a dearth of fit strikers at the moment, and Diego Costa may well be risked despite a dodgy hamstring. Not that we should find too much comfort in that, for in Hazard they have a footballer of the year contender capable of exploiting any defensive indiscipline. Given any encouragement they will pour bodies forward at pace. If there are no gaps for them to exploit, and if we can get the first goal, then we will be in with a shout of making a big statement about where the club is heading.
Having a game plan and executing it are two different things, but for the first time against a Mourinho team we will be anticipating the fixture with at least as much confidence as the opponents. The form of Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez, and Olivier Giroud, plus the shield that Francis Coquelin is providing, are real plus points going into the derby.
The ‘holic pound is swayed by this hopefully not misplaced optimism. I thought all week that I would be punting on a good old one nil to the Arsenal. I do worry if we score early that the visitors will be encouraged to be far more adventurous, rendering further goals a real possibility at both ends. I will stick with that initial gut feel though. One nil it is, and Paddy Power go 13/2 against that.
To those going I wish you a very happy day and the sort of feeling that beating Chelsea would bring.
Have a good one, ‘holics.
102 Responses to “Could Two London Buses Be Parked At The Same Time?”
Bam
Good morning, neighbour. 🙂
Howdy pardner. 🙂
Hello all.
That’s the stuff to give the troops ‘H. I shall be there in spirit, giving Cesc the reception, and the respect, he richly deserves.
COYG
Fine preview Guvna.
I too hope that we take a somewhat cautious approach rather than throwing ourselves forward in too cavalier a fashion and I certainly expect the visitors to park the bus and aim to exploit any sloppy possession.
However I think Arsene really believes that one day his trademark brand of stylish, expansive football will eclipse the miserable conservatism of the reptilian one.
I was quite optimistic when they visited us last season at a time that we were table-toppers and going quite well and on that occasion the reptile packed his defence to ensure that his stranglers didn’t lose ground on us. They got what they came for on that occasion.
This time we have to take a step further, win the damn game, lay that ghostly record and set ourselves up psychologically for a real challenge next season to boot.
COYGs
We are long overdue a result against that dreary mob.
Lets do it and put down a marker for next season.
Up the Arse!
Would happily take 1-0, or any win. Definitely statement time.
I suspect Jose will have a couple of tricks up his sleeve. Having Gabriel’s pace in place of Per may not be such a bad thing for this game.
nice one ‘H but I think the chances of us winning this game 1-0 is pretty much non-existent. I think we will either win by 2 or 3 goal margin or play out a drab 0-0 draw.
I really, really, really want us to win this game.
Lars, your dream can come true:
http://www.clipartpanda.com/clipart_images/disney-tinkerbell-clip-art-5803604
Any win will do. A career-ending injury for John Terry would be a nice bonus.
A tedious, tactically sound 1-0 win would be an utter delight. A rampant Leicester then turn them over and Palace with Bolasie on fire snatch a deserved victory at the Bridge. A chastened Chelsea are then beaten in an ill- tempered clash at Anfield as Arsenal on a thirteen game winning run win the title .
Nurse, it’s time for my medicine !
2-2 Spuds; St. Tott’s Day is fast approaching. One of their goals was a Hand of Satan special by the Argentine Lamela.
John Moss was “in charge”. His namesake groundcover is quicker than he is; slow to the whistle and missed some obvious calls, which is easy when you’re miles away from the play. He does do a good job of covering the middle tenth of the pitch, though.
Only hope for the final is that the heavy turf at Wembley makes him succumb to exhaustion after 25 minutes, and he has to come off. Though the FA will line up another lower light referee as 4th official.
Did someone mention John Terry?
About 3 mins 50 for one of his finest moments in my humble opinion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOiWIpRARZk
wuip – I missed that match by almost its entirety because I fucked up times when it was played due to different timezon, turned the game on just at the moment Van Quisling scored his third and our fifth, really really enjoyed replays and that slip up was hilarious
Very few managers have as good a selling record as Arsene but I do wonder if we might have loaned Afobe and sold Sanogo. At the very least he’s worth much more than £2 million now. Hopefully we have a buyback clause- after all he has Arsenal DNA
ttg: I’ve been thinking the same, but maybe it was Afobe himself who wanted to leave.
And I’m fairly certain we have a sell-on clause in the deal with Wolves.
Afobe has had plenty of loans. I am guessing that both he and the club didn’t see a long-term future for him, especially as he was behind Akpom in the pecking order. It is tough for any young striker to break through when he has to push established internationals out of the team and see off any £50 million new signings of the sort that we all cry out for.
Nice one H.
Second v First (at the start of this round of games). Who woulda thought that a few short months ago? Only the most optimistic amongst us, I guess. But this game means much more then that, especially to us.
Yes, the three points would be nice, also extending our winning run very pleasing. But to get one over on that greasy, slimy, slippy, treacherous, evil, conniving, scummy, soul sucking destroyer of football would be absolute bliss. He is everything that is wrong in the modern game, an egomaniacal oik with no class who has moulded an entire club in his image, a nasty piece of work.
I don’t care how we win, just that we do.
COME ON ARSENAL!!!!!
Beating Chelsea would not be tedious. Even if we park the Boeing 777.
Moaninho is such an odious little man.
Alexis with a goal. OG with a goal. Ozil with a goal.
Le Coq to put in a reducer or mr barca dna that leaves him limping and crying like his manager.
3-0 to the good guys. Oh, and john terry dies of dysnterry.
I hope …
Well, I could remember it was 17 matches unbeaten against Chelsea including a win each in three matches and a draw within a season which includes two premiership matches, an FA cup win at the bridge followed by a draw in the champions league. Then it happened, we got kicked out of the champions league by our wives. Since then it has been eleven agonising years for the gunners anytime we play the bridge boys under the watch of the gory one but I trust we have to the end of it and and the chavs would get they deserve on Sunday. (the deserve beating).
Arsenal- Chelsea : 4-0
Our quality is now much higher than it used to be , the time of Chamakh , Bendtner .
COYG
We played at their shithole of a ground a couple of weeks before Guy Fawkes day back in 1971. We were standing to one side of the Shed (barn) and they started lighting fireworks and throwing them at us. I’d never liked them much before but then I decided that I really didn’t like them at all. Ray Kennedy scored twice in a 2-1 win.
From a club that has idolised Ron Harris, Dennis Wise and John Terry it seems only appropriate that they are managed by a schoolyard weasel.
2-1 to the good guys.
UTA.
One of those games that depends on how the ball bounces, imo. If it runs our way we could win with more than one goal advantage. If it doesn’t I can foresee us hanging on grimly to a one goal lead for the last 30 minutes.
Either way the points are there … if the team is.
Call me soft, but I hope we show more class than to make too much of the welcome (less than) Fab undoubtedly deserves.
Oaky … soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft, soft… 🙁
Öskar
A bit late to the party these days. Nice Wembley piece Holic. As I said after the semi, a trip to Wembley just does not have the same feeling as it used to. The fact that the kick off time for the cup final has been announced as 5.30 tells you all you need to know about the place. It is far more to do with the commercial side of the game than for those who turn up to support their side.
Nice match preview. I guess we all know what Maureen will do. They have effectively already won the title. They will be quite happy with a dour draw. Not great for all those paying vast amounts of cash for the privilege. Personally I would love to see us win 1-0. I would love to see us win with something really controversial. Something like the scorer being 3 yards offside, or someone punching it in from a corner? Something that would really make old Maureen explode with rage. How funny would that be?
My views on DNA boy are well documented. I have found it interesting so see more and more have now joined me and have similar views. Like many others, I sincerely hope that he gets the reception that he well and truly deserves.
For all of those going, wrap up. I think that autumn has arrived in the capital.
Up the Gunners.
Just building up to the match.
It’s time to end that record.
Guile, patience and incision.
COYGs.
Found a great spot to watch the game in Kho Samui, Thailand. It appears to be an Arsenal pub from my initial reconnoitering. Is this too much of paradise all at once, or should I be expecting we’ll plaster ’em? Check this out:
http://www.kosamui.com/bophut-maenam-nightlife/the-frog-and-gecko.htm
I hope everyone going will let DNA Boy have “the reception he deserves”, as Arsene so brilliantly put it.
Come on, you Gunners. Smash those fuckwits to pieces.
Blimey bt8 I’m only slightly jealous of your viewing spot. Mind you I’m off to Malta with the Mrs and little Rossette tomorrow so can hardly complain!
I love the vibe here, upbeat always and even before a game against THAT lot from the scummy end of a nice postcode. For me, a decade of being done over by them has wrung every last drop of optimism from my soul. This season’s giant strides made in the big games are clear cause for increased confidence but the tedious one’s strangulation tactics are more expert than the skills of a 60-year-old fetishist.
For the good of my mental state I can’t let myself hope for anything better than 1-1 or even 0-0.
Chelsea now is not as strong as the Chelsea with the Drogba , Anelka and Essien . It was their Invincible
Arsenal is much stronger than the Arsenal of Bentdner , Chamakl and Arshevin .
Ozil and Alexis are much better than Cesc .
That is the change , the sea of change .
Today win or lose is not a matter , the matter is we are on an ascendent slope .
wishing very bad things on that scrumy lot. red ants, pre match hammy tweak, swallowed tongue, fractures from trodden toes and the usual broken bone.
COYR!!!!
Porco. For your greater pleasure I can only hope the Maltese palm trees are half as well trimmed as the Thai ones. The first Singha of the day is nearly gone. 🙂
The tension is building.
Just win this Arsenal.
I have to say I do see Fabregas as a traitor – even in these days when the word “loyalty” does not appear in the Oxford Footballers Dictionary.
His behaviour in forcing his move was disgraceful towards a man and a club who, in his own words, had treated him like a son.
Were it not for the brilliance of his earlier years, I would probobly join in the jeering and booing.
If I arrive at the stadium in a generous mood, I might just manage to stand in silence. I really thought he still felt something for Arsenal following his move to Barca – which was inevitable at some stage – but the decision to join Chelsea, of all possible options, leaves me utterly cold.
Hopefully, Steve T, the ball will smack him in the face and bounce in off that silly mask for our winner.
Hahh, EVE score inside the first 5 minutes 🙂
Hope we can do the same later this day !
Hi holic. Pete here. Steve-O’s mate from Singapore. Am here in London for the game. Hope to see you at the tollington if us there? Cheers!
Hello Pete,
Sorry, but not around today. Shame, I didn’t know you were coming. Any mate of Steve-o is a mate of mine.
Have a great day.
….and we are unchanged from Burnley and Liverpool. Clearly Arsene believes this his best eleven too. 🙂
Come on.
Ah.. ManU… faltering when it matters most!
😀
Interesting; no Gabriel?
And two double deckers from the Fulham bus stop.
Indeed, No Gabriel, Rosicky, or Chambers. Surprised at the first two.
Well, manu lost, resoundingly if thats the word I’m looking for. Let’s park everything in sight and win. I share ttg’s optimism above, hey stranger things have happened 🙂
‘Holic, massively surprised at Gabriel’s absence, given BFG’s ankle problem; I guess Debuchy is the backup CB.
We might as well park a bus or two and see what happens. I just want us to beat this lot so bad. COYG……
COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!
COME ON!
Book himm ref!!!
ARGH!
COME ON!!!!!!!!!
Falling down like the flies they are…
COME ON!!!
Ivanovic is a bloddy cheat. Dirty player.
Hand.. Fking ball!
Raised so high it would eclipse Everest!
FFFFF!
COME ON!
Cracker of a half
how on Earth pk for that handball was not given is beyond me, we might be lucky to escape pen for ospina/oscar clash, as I have seen them given, but still…stonewall pen any day of the week.
How ospina save that one?
Ohhhh SAnti….
COME ON!
Welbeck on COq off…
We’re going for it!!!!!!
COME ONNNNNNNN!
Theo coming on for Giroud…
Come ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
Welbeck pooooo
And again.
all the buses parked …fuck them.
Chelsea – you are fucking abysmal to watch.
That is all.
I think we will worry them next season.. definitely challange anyone.
Terry celebrating like he won the world cup.
To suffer Chelsea, Mourinho and Danny Mills through those 95 minutes was a tiring experience. The media will have collective orgasms again about Mourinho not losing to another top 4 side and what a fantastic record his teams have in such matches. The way cunt terry & co celebrated at the end just summed it up – they were shit scared of us… If only Ozil had converted that fantastic cut back from nacho at the end… Would have been something to win it so late on…
It’s quite clear that this is exactly the way they will play against us next season. We almost unlocked them this time – augurs well for next seaso.. Even better was the fact that we were hardly threatened in the second half and whenever there was a whiff of a counter – we made the cynical fouls. Signs of a mature team.
I loved the cynism in our defensive play too desi, Hazard did not have a sniff and when he had, he was promptly taken down early enough to not cause us any troubles.
Also…Ivanovic is dirty cunt (he always was but repeating this fact cannot hurt), followed through Alexis studs first on many occassions and the fact that he received only one yellow is appaling. Apart from that and that handball in their area, I think Oliver had solid game.
In many ways , Arsenal is better . controlling the ball , etc…We play magnificience football .
Arsenal is at the level of Barca , Real Madrid and Bayern Munich .
Chelsea is at a level below .
Next year , many Chelsea players , John Terry , Drogba will be on old age pension .
Not unexpected, given Chelsea’s MO.
Arsenal guilty of trying too hard in final third.
Chelsea guilty of trying to be trying…VERY trying.
Come on, hands up, who saw this result coming?
Seriously though, Chelski are vermin to English football and we simply MUST eliminate them next season.
Montreal Gooner you are spot on with that assessment but I think Chelsea will spend big this summer. The deficiencies in that team are quite apparent. Today we kept hazard on the leash and made them look very ordinary. They are winning the league on the basis of the points they won in the earlier part of the season. That terrible start we had to the season remains such a regret… But with this squad we should be challenging on all fronts next season. I also think Oxlade Chamberlain could be a vital difference in tight games such as these. He has the potential to be better than eden hazard in that wide role.
Uncle Charlie knows!
70’desi’gner gooner .
” Chelsea will spend big this summer ” , this is always a big risk and you never know how it will turn out to be . Spurs and Liverpool situation tell us something
Thought it was mostly impressive performance by us, disappointing a little bit about the lack of calmness in the final third. All the stalwarts, Alexis and Ozil included, were guilty of trying a bit too hard. Alexis in a quite a few occasions tried the hardest of the multiple options. And maybe we should have attempted a few more crosses with Giroud as target and Rambo or Santi as the late runner. But to be fair Chelsea defended very very well, always anticipating the moves and channels. I hate them, but that was a very well-organized and fully drilled defensive performance.
Our defense and Coquelin in front were no slouch either. No space for Hazard, not once he could cut inside into our box, except for couple of long ball all of Cesc’s passing lanes were closed down & no space was allowed (Giroud, Ozil and Alexis were superb in closing down and intercepting). Ballerin was simply superb (made one mistake in keeping the offside line but atoned for it by the headed clearance), as were Per, Kos & Monreal. Alexis & Ozil should have used Monreal’s runs a bit more for the near-post cut-backs to Giroud.
And Bellerin my MOTM. Some impressively composed defending and gave Azpillicueta plenty to think about when going forward.
Montreal agreed that spending doesn’t always go right.
But the difference between Chelsea and Pool or Spuds is that Chelsea can buy the top top quality. The transfer targets of spuds and Pool are just a rung lower especially with neither of them being in the champions league (as seems in all probability right now) And the other difference is that if Chelsea buy someone and it doesn’t work, they can easily sell that player and buy someone even more expensive in January. The financial doping advantage they have had over the last decade continues till date…
Henry scathing in a complimentary way about Giroud, if such a thing is possible.
Also not exactly impressed by Ozil, which probably makes him, me and Oskar as the only people on the planet who just ain’t buying it.
@76: If anything I thought taking Giroud out was the wrong option. The final couple of chances that Ozil-Welbeck-Theo messed up Giroud in his current form would have scored. There should have been more of a basic wing-play in the match today, using him as the target man.
Good quality game from the two best teams in the PL.
Unlike in seasons past, Chelsea had a respect for us, they still played their niggly fouls, but we gave as good as we got. Chances were at a premium for both sides and the game played out the way the Chavs would probably have wanted (check their post match celebrations) although we were an Ozil miskick away from victory.
I really wanted us to win, but I’m happy with the result and the performance.
Level with Citeh on points in second, two clear of Yanited with a game in hand on both, again, I’m happy.
Arsene when asked about how Cesc was received answers: “I have seen worse.” 🙂
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150426/wenger-on-a-draw-chelsea-and-mourinho
H2H @ 79: Same here. We did much of the basics right but at the final third we need a bit more variation, nuance and composure when faced against quality defense like Chelsea’s sitting on two banks. I thought defensively we were very matured, street-wise.
Finishing as #2 — especially after the start of the season we had — would be a definite progress.
I thought we were very poor today – maybe its just me.
It was a MUST win game for us and I felt we made some serious errors before we even begun.
First of all, Rambo should never have played on the wing. We needed to put Chelsea on the back foot, so we needed pace and width out wide. Choosing Rambo to counter Hazard was conservative and it took from the balance of the team. A really conservative call I thought when we needed to be brave and “play with the handbrake off”.
And then we played Giroud up front against a back four that would only ever sit deep. Giroud is meat and potatoes to a player like John Terry. We needed to ask different questions by playing someone technically good with a lot of mobility to lead the line.
It doesn’t end there. Exactly how more poorly Sanchez had to play before we hauled him aside I will never know. While he tried a lot, his passing, choices and overall game today was deplorable.
Chelsea were superb in defence. But if we’re honest, we actually made them look much better than we needed to. But there are lessons to be learned from their defensive play – if we bother to pay attention. When we had players like Keown and Adams et al – we won many trophies. Until we get that right again, we will not win challenge for major honours. PSG beat this Chelsea side in the CL recently. And Barca absolutely obliterated PSG. Which gives you some idea how far we are away from really competing in Europe let alone in the PL.
Joe @ 82: I agree that we played a little conservatively knowing that a draw would be better towards #2 and top 4 (which is not certain) as the PL is rather unlikely. I don’t think it was a very conscious tactics but the players focused on not conceding a goal and when you are trying to break down two banks of four with the threat of being counter-attacked always on your mind the attacking play would always appear a bit pedestrian.
I know you don’t see it that way, but Giroud is actually technically very good. What he doesn’t have is pace and is not a dribbler. He moved around pretty well today but didn’t receive much of a service.
Rambo has been playing on the right for last few matches, I agree it is not his best position but I guess that is the only way Arsene can now fit both Santi & Rambo in the same line-up as Santi has been very solid — except in shooting, which used be his forte — in the CM role.
About defense, is our first defense man-to-man that inferior to Chelsea’s? Coquelin as a DM actually has a better record — check out 7amkickoff’s analysis in arseblog — that Matic’s.
Chelsea played for a 0-0 draw and when you have quality players (watch Cesc’s average position for most of the game) playing like that in two banks of four with drilled in positional discipline it is much harder to break than it looks.
I got no complain today. I wish we had won but I rather draw this game than lose to that clown Mourinho. Still didn’t think we played that bad either, it’s not like winning would have handed us the title, but losing might have done damage to our confidence going forward. Wenger just need to bring Theo earlier, I don’t understand the whole idea of bringing him that late in games. He made a good run as soon as he came on, I think we could have used runs like that much more earlier.
Seeing all this commentary how chelski were amazing today and arsenal were poor. I’m sorry, but that’s crap.
Could’ve been better in/around the chelski box, but by in large looked a tight game. Agree with those above about trying too hard. But a stray pass or two less and that’s 2 arsenal goals; calling it poor is just off base in my view. Le Coq again was massive. Bellerin – what a player he’s turned into.
I hate the fact that the whole discussion will be about the penalties not given. (and for my money; Fabregas – total dive. Ospina on Oscar probably should’ve been given. and that was a handball on Cahill. Basically, a wash.)
Just home from the game.
We should have won it with one of those late chances.
Top display from all concerned. Just short of the highest quality when required.
I think only top, top quality will improve this team but we do need to add a reliable finisher to the mix.
In three of the last four seasons this fixture has ended 0-0. We never draw nil nil against anyone ( OK Besiktas) but when Chelsea come I think we are as frightened of losing as they are. To win this game we would have to have been prepared to lose it. Fleet Street uses the result to sum up the match. If we win we were brave, if we lose we were naive and if we draw Chelsea gave us a tactical masterclass . If you like this sort of cautious, safety first performance Mourinho us your man but this week’s QFs in the Champions Zleague showed that great teams find ways to win games. Simeone and Mourinho are peas in a pod. Wenger is a romantic but realised the hard way after last season that we needed tobe pragmatic. We finished the weekend a point better off vis a vis United who at last indicated how ordinary they are, in the same situation with with Liverpooland although Citeh made up ground they had a much easier game and only scraped it. A correct offside flag and they would have lost. So it wasn’t a bad result but did leave us realising that in striking terms we need a little bit more quality to win very big games.
Bath
I saw the same game as you. Who that top quality is will be the question. Martinez, Cavani or Dybala might be it, Welbeck and Giroud aren’t quite of the very highest class.
I was about to post the mirror of your 88, TTG.
I don’t know who will fit best. I think Cavani is too old for the price he would cost us.
Martinez is apparently keen to come.
Just rewatching the first half. I didn’t think it when I saw it live and I don’t think it now. Ospina leapt for the ball and he and Oscar collided. No pen for me.
Credit to Hector for his clearance.
I think only top, top quality will improve this team but we do need to add a reliable finisher to the mix.
You and Henry both. He reckons we need four top top players next year (keeper, centre back, holding player and striker) and that we won’t win the league with Giroud up top, although he can do a job.
Harsh on Giroud, but he’s probably right that we need a really top finisher.
The sort of player who wouldn’t have had the game Giroud had against Monaco.
Faustus,
Of course Chelsea played for a point.
Which is why Mourinho was delighted in his post match interview.
Which is why Cesc played deep, their defence played deep and their forwards played deep. EVERYONE knew that this was going to happen. And what did we do to counteract it? We played right into their hands. No width, no depth, no pace, afraid to loose, afraid to take them on in case we got caught on the counter. There is no point in appearing in the press conference afterwards saying that we played with the handbrake on – when we set the entire team up to precisely do that!
Seriously – ask yourself what chances did we create today? How many shots had we on goal? Did we force any saves?
By my count, it wasn’t until the 92nd minute that we actually threatened their goal when Monreal pulled back a cross for Ozil to miss. Otherwise – it was a very comfortable day at the office for Messrs Cahill, Terry and Co.
Interestingly, I was listening to TH14 provide his analysis of the game. I’ll throw out a few nuggets that our greatest ever player had to say:
He would have put Ozil on the bench to buy Cesc if he had to. He actually said that. He said that Cesc has achieved and delivered more in one season against the bigger teams in terms of goals & assists (and major trophies now it would seem) at Chelsea than Ozil has in two at Arsenal. He spoke about top players “delivering” when it counts. He also said that as well as Giroud has done for Arsenal, that we needed a top class striker if we had any intentions on winning the league.
He’s right on all accounts I think. He also compared the summer we have to face now with the one Mourinho faced last summer. Last summer Jose bought Matic, Cesc, Costa and brought back Courtois and dropped Cech. We spent last summer pondering over whether we’d buy a DCM and a CH – players that the dogs on the street knew we needed and were it not for the emergence of Franny Coquelin, who knows where we would be this season such was the absolute need for a player like him.
As for Giroud being a technical player…..? He’s a great player in the PL with his back to the goal. But he’s by no means technical enough at the highest level in Europe. Thats just my tuppence worth but hey ho, thats football!
Never in a million years a penalty for Oscar. Both go for the ball and they collide. You could just as well argue it should have been a free kick for Ospina as Oscar went in studs-up into the challenge.
Straight red for Willian for kicking Kos in the face. No discussion, off you go.
Straight red for Ivanovic too. Didn’t even try to win the ball, just wanted to take Alexis out.
Penalty all day long for Cahill blocking Cazorla’s shot with his arm.
Bellerin my man of the match.
Aaron Ramsey refused to shake Piers Morgan’s hand after the match. Well done, Aaron.
Don’t get to see Henry the pundit, but by most accounts he’s not that highly rated, but that’s neither here nor there.
However, what exactly did we win with Cesc in our ranks?
And y’know – while I might be somewhat disappointed with the set up of the team – for all I know Wenger might have actually played for the draw. When you think about it, 3 points might have given us a moral victory of sorts – but it would only delay the inevitable with Chelsea anyhow. And as Ttg said – in order to win that game, you had to be prepared to loose it. Now that Manu lost, and with Citeh faltering – it was probably more important that we got something from that game, rather than get nothing. So maybe Wenger got it right after all?
Fair point on Cesc H2H – but in fairness, Cesc captained the team at 21 when they were just a bunch of kids competing against multi million pound top level teams. And he carried that flag very admirably imo.
As for Th14 – well I must admit to being enamoured by his opinion on such matters considering I am in the minority at the bar 🙂
We spent last summer pondering over whether we’d buy a DCM and a CH
And spent £38m on a rookie right back and a striker who doesn’t score goals.
This team in my honest opinion doesn’t need,but two players added to it. Four players? Not going to happen, we saw how disjointed we were at the beginning of the season with all the new players trying to blend in( bar injuries). Henry is a legend but I am not buying the whole idea of adding four players in order to win the league. This team is almost there, we don’t have to sell players like we use to in the past because we don’t have a choice. We are almost there guys. COYG…..
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I’ll tee it up anyway…
An extra time screamer……
Mourinho . this little mind , always try to humiliate Arsenal . And for today 0-0 , he cannot . That is the main point.
Beside that , this Arsenal team is very , very good .
Hi holic. It’s alright. Spent a lil more time with fellow Singapore gooners at the piebury, so I did not make my way to The Tollies. Hope to get to meet you next time sir, when I make a trip up for a game again. Cheers!