Top Four And St Totteringham’s Day Up For Grabs At Hull
May 3rd, 2015 by 'holic
A weekend of mixed news for followers of Arsenal saw Manchester United drop valuable home points, Chelsea secure the Premier League title with three matches to play, and Manchester City to keep up the pressure in the battle for the runners-up berth with a win at the neighbours. Everybody has played before us. So to Hull on a Monday night.
The team news, such as it was on Friday, Is that Mikel Arteta, Abou Diaby, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are ruled out, and Mathieu Debuchy is a doubt with a hamstring injury. The team that started the last three Premier League fixtures may well get the nod again.
The Gunners are a win tomorrow night away from all but mathematically clinching a top four berth with four matches to spare. A point would make Monday officially St Totteringham’s Day, the twentieth season in succession that this particular feast day has been celebrated.
The home team are fighting for Premier League survival. They are level on points with in-form Leicester, and just a point clear of Sunderland, currently occupying the third relegation spot. That should come as a surprise to those who saw them cruise into a 2-0 lead against us in last season’s FA Cup Final. They have not used that as a springboard for progress.
Having said that Hull have won their last two matches, beating Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park before a single goal triumph against Liverpool at home last Tuesday. They will have a game plan, doubtless a familiar one of defend in numbers and hope to spring a surprise on the break. This Arsenal side has become used to dealing with such a ploy and should hopefully produce the perfect fast-passing and intricate attacking game that tires so many sides.
The ‘holic pound is persuaded to go for a 1-3 Gunners triumph, a 13/1 shot with Paddy Power. I’ve looked at the weather forecast for Hull and the conditions should be perfect for the visitors to play to their strengths and wear down Steve Bruce’s battlers.
For those traveling to watch despite Sky Sports somewhat heartlessly moving the fixture to a Monday night, and our allocation has sold out, I hope you are rewarded with a proper spring evening performance from the boys. Once again this season the traveling support has been fantastic. This is yet one more example of that.
And with that, for once I will finish by saying ‘holics, I hope you had a good one. I know I did.
P.S. In the last set of drinks did I notice some of you going from bard to verse?
P.P.S If you haven’t yet listened to Friday’s ‘A Bergkamp Wonderland’ podcast featuring Jason Davies, Raj Patel, Geoff Arsenal, and yours truly, then you can find it here. Cheers.
107 Responses to “Top Four And St Totteringham’s Day Up For Grabs At Hull”
First?
Great preview Guvnor. Good to see you giving a nod to my and TTG’s attempt to raise the intellectual tone a little.
COYG
Nice one H.
3-1 Sounds great but frankly 3 points any which way are fine by me. We just have to keep focused on our game and keep putting points on the board. Second would be a good step.
I do not like Chelsea but they have deservedly won the league. Fair enough.
Good to see Manure’s form right around squeaky bum time. The penalty miss is a nice touch.
Weekends without football are rubbish…
Cheers Holic,
You can rest assured that Hull will have the grass at silage height and have put enough water down to fish for carp.
It will be a battle.
Henry V Act 3 Scene 1
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tigers,
Get into them lads and press them high up the pitch ,
And let brave Alexis run riot amongst their serried ranks
Blimey that Shakespeare was a prophet. Almost as gifted as Holic but not quite. I’m fancying an unflurried 2-0. And Arsene …..feel free to use this in the team talk;)
Raised intellectual tone?
I’m out.
I doubt Arsene is a big fan of Henry V.
Wot being French and all.
DC
But Arsene knew that Henry could set up a team away from home!
🙂
Barking, the lot of ya!
Welcome Double canister. Great to see you here.
Nice preview Guvna.
3-1 to the good guys will be lovely but as ever I will take any kind of win.
Bard to verse, brilliant. 😀
in what ever only three points needed
Pleasure Guv,
Please don’t tell the meerkat!
🙂
Cheers ‘H.
If, for any reason arsenal fail to win tomorrow night can I expect the usual whinging about time wasting, poor refereeing etc? I notice one of your correspondents is already complaining about the length of the grass for gods sake.
Nice one, Holic.
Hey, I do the puns ! 😉
Is Diaby really ruled out ?!
Tigeral58,
Certainly. Is there anything else we can oblige with.
Hull Tigers 1-3 Arsenal sounds about right.
Fine literary pieces Pangloss, ttg in the previous bar.
Actually St Totteringham’s day was effectively 3rd May because even if Spurs win their remaining three games and we don’t get another point, their goal difference is so crap compared to ours that they will still finish below us.
Ant
0-3 if Theo starts. 1-3 if he doesn’t. Not that I think he has a chance of even being subbed on, not before the 75th minute anyway.
I was looking at Messi’s stats. Now you know what I think of stats … but 403 goals for Barca in ten years since 1 May 2005? And that includes just 42 in his first four seasons. And he’s still only 27 ffs. Great player.
Just as well (for his sake) AW didn’t sign him. He’d have spent most of his career injured…
Öskar
Three points for the Arsenal tonight, please. It won’t be easy, so any win will do for me. If we fail to match their work rate we will drop points or even lose, so no complacency allowed.
Pangloss and TTG from previous – nicely worked.
The Spuds forums have already conceded St.Totteringham’s day but still persist in their delusions of adequacy that a few tweaks will finally see them overtake us next year – they simply need a new defence and a new midfield!
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here.”
UTA.
Noosa
I think it’s time for a new Spuds manager. This one has been there for the best part of ten months. Without Harry Kane this season they would have been in serious trouble . And now they have to build a new stadium while maintaining their Premier League ‘ challenge’ ( 6th!) .
I think some Arsenal blogs have reacted stupidly to Wenger saying that the last few months have suggested we don’t need massive change next season. We certainly don’t. I think we have to trim the squad, promote one or two promising youngsters and get two or three top- class players. I like Wenger to fill gaps but there aren’t many in this squad.
We could potentially lose;
Szczesny, Jenkinson, Campbell, Sanogo, Podolski, Flamini, Rosicky( I hope not) and Diaby while offers for Walcott might be entertained, especially if contract negotiations get tricky. I think Wilshere will definitely stay.
I do not expect anyone to want to leave for (perceived)greener pastures, it is as green as it gets here and next season we will show it!
However a few players may be on their last year or may opt to retire playing at this level..
😀
Good luck to Jimmy Greaves for a speedy recovery. Yes I know he was a spud, but still the best striker I ever saw in an England shirt. Right there with Gary Lineker (oh dear, another some-time spud) in my all-time best England XI.
Öskar
Monday night football is an abomination, it’s the devil’s work and should have no place in the PL. The travelling fans are getting fucked over again. 8pm k.o. means that they won’t be out of the ground until at least 10pm, so unless they’ve moved Hull to a decent part of the country then that’s a good few hours trek back to civilisation.
Disgraceful, and yet futher proof of the loss of soul that football has sufered. But here’s the rub……..
I’ll still be watching, as will most of us, tuned into an overpriced sports subscription, to get our fix. They’ve got us by the short and curlies my friends.
Will be delighted for you if that pound on 1-3 lands, ‘Holic, but I suspect it will be a far more nervous-making 0-1.
Just as long as it is three points…
DC@4: …grass at silage height and have put enough water down to fish for carp. 🙂
ttg@23: …trim the squad, promote one or two promising youngsters and get two or three top-class players…
Guess it all depends on your definition of “massive change” — especially the two or three top-class players bit.
Re: Noosa Gooner @22.
That leaves four areas Spurs fans have neglected to realize immediate changes are necessary for them to mount a title challenge next season.
1) New strike force since Kane will most certainly drop off in his sophomore season.
2) New goalie since Lloris will be past it with his kitty-style reactions slowing to those of an increasingly fat cat.
3) New manager since Levy will see this as an imperative.
4) New owner. Enough said.
Manager swap: Pochettino for Van Gaal. Guaranteed to make both clubs happy. For about two and a half months. 😉
While I was trying to avoid reading about some boring team in the newspaper I came across this in the Guardians Said and Done section
24 Apr: Sepp congratulates Olympiakos on their fifth successive Greek title, praising the club’s leaders for promoting football as “a school of life for the young people of today”. • 28 Apr: Olympiakos president Evangelos Marinakis charged with match-fixing, extortion, bribery and arranging for an ex-referee’s bakery to be blown up. He denies wrongdoing.
and then this was followed by
Also last week: Sepp, on the final stop of his pre-Fifa election world tour, addressing Asia’s congress in Bahrain: “In elections we have the same principles as on the field: discipline, respect and fair play.” Sepp’s three election rivals were refused permission to speak; challenger Michael van Praag: “They said it wouldn’t be polite towards Mr Blatter, who was their guest.”
You just could`nt make this stuff up.
H2H knows.
washed up: like I’ve said before, FIFA aren’t even trying to hide the corruption anymore. They and Septic Bladder in particular clearly see themselves as above the law.
I hope no-one minds but I thought I might reproduce a little thing I wrote some while back.
It coincides quite nicely with ‘washed up’ and Lars’ comments above and snowy’s guest post in the previous bar.
And it makes a change from reading about how brilliantly entertaining the Fulham Titlebuyers are.
Loop holes.
————
The Scene: FIFA/UEFA Headquarters, Nyon, Switzerland.
The worried heads of Europe’s financially doped clubs are meeting to try to find ways of continuing to operate under the regulations of Financial Fair Play.
The meeting is chaired by Bendt Splatter, continuing in the family profession established by his uncle nearly 150 years ago, and newly elected to the UEFA Chair by a select committee of sheiks from a number of unnamed Middle East states.
Splatter fondles an enormous jewel encrusted Rolex watch as he stares at the documents in front of him marked “FFP – What It Means To You”.
“I know exactly what it means to me”, he said, leaning to check on the sparkling Rolls Royce parked beneath his office window, ” but how are you gentlemen going to be able to carry on if all of this is ever imp–”
“Not now girls !!!” Splatter interrupts himself as a group of micro-mini skirted girls in skyscraper heels totter, giggling into the room –
– as they are leaving, an older, rather unkempt, brown overalled man brushes past them and addresses himself to Splatter –
“We’ve, er, got a bit of bother, sir”.
“And who exactly are you ?”.
“Jan, Sir. Jan Itter – I look after the bogs, and they’re all blocked up, Sir. Well, I was told there was likely to be a lot of shit around this weekend and, well, we can hardly carry on if they’re all blocked up now, can we, sir ?”
Somewhat exasperated, Splatter mops his brow with a fine silk ‘kerchief embossed in one corner with a rather squiggly letter he doesn’t understand.
“Well what do you want ME to do about it ?” he shouts at Jan, “I’ve got enough trouble here already !” He slams a fist down onto the table and painfully pinches a bit of skin in a huge 24 carat gold, diamond ring sitting on his little finger.
“Loo Poles, Sir”, answers Jan, “Loo Poles. Clean ’em all out they will, sir, but I’m going to need a lot of ’em !”
“Aahh! Loo Poles”, considers Splatter, as he strokes his chin with a newly manicured hand,
“funny you should mention them ……….”
Hahahahaha, brilliant work there, Trev!
Expect a tough game like all of you are saying but i feel it is more so because this group was on a momentum and that chelsea game and now this long break may see it unstuck. Hope not.
All the talk about Wenger replying to Henry and as ever the media going on about it makes me laugh. Arsene said what was expected of him and does make valid points, the same goes to Henry. I do differ on Henry when it comes to Giroud for i feel he suits the attack we have and i know for all the aguero’s and suarez’s , they are not realistic targets and we should be happy that we do have someone who is very good, not great but not all can be that.
Fair shout ,Trev.
Unfortunately there doesn`t seem to be many shit stirrers or loo poles in Nyon
Just as good the second time round, Trev (No 2s?) though to Washed-Up’s point, FIFA is getting to the point where it is beyond even parody.
We should be seething with anger today because Chelsea won the league and not us. Plenty of reasons to use our emotions to blow Hull Tigers out of the water.
Nice piece Trev.
Sadly as others have pointed out FIFA is beyond parody. It is institutionally corrupt and opaque but has set itself up to be beyond investigation as it is shored up by other organisations that are arguably more corrupt and opaque .
I anticipate very few changes tonight unless there are illnesses in the camp we don’t know about. A win would be very nice indeed.
Team unchanged.
Welbeck is injured so not on the bench. Possibly we may see Theo at some stage tonight.
Had a minor wager on …. Giroud to score twice, Giroud to score a header, Giroud to score first and Arsenal to win 4-1
0-0 it is then.
anybody have a good live feed?
strong team, hope to see rozza off the bench.
with michael dawson and tom hundredstone in the team, hull have plenty to worry about.
homer, i’m watching via nbcsportslivextra… actual streaming, albeit a minute behind the actual game happening. forces me to wait to refresh here and contribute during the actual game 🙁
COME ON!!
COME ON!!!!
all good.
found a totally dodgy stream. works tho!
Huddlestone really is a cunt
that is second yellow!
ALEXIIIISS!
Alexisssssssssssssssss!
Get In!
😀
very nice, alexis. that’s making them use their heads.
Aaaron!
ooooh, santi to aaron, beauty…2-0…
Ramseeeeeeeeeeeeeey!
Get In!
😀
oh my goodness. what a through ball by santi.
oh yes!
Bless us for St. Totteringham’s Day is upon us!
and by aaron! god DAMN that was a nice goal. 3-0
and now it’s RAMSEY— ALEXIS!!!
GET IN!!!
😀
too bad alexis couldn’t return the favor 🙂
aaron, santi, and alexis top marks for the half. really.
Alexis made amends, he should really convert that peach of a pass by Santi, glorious…well done lads, Giroud completely kicked out of the game, others stepped up. Now keep your focus and dont let any kind of complacency creep in.
Somebody kicked the button on Ramsey’s bionic leg and it is now set in “ON” position.
Magic moves, only the HFB seems out of sorts, eat your heart out Maureen.
Lookit that.
Step away for a meeting and butt-kicking commences!
Woo-HOO!!
Hail Father TTG, verily hath St Tott once more come amongst us.
COYG
Another goal or two and a clean sheet and we can move straight back into second place with a game still in hand on Man City.
Terrific going forward despite Giroud not getting a touch but the movement by Ozil, Ramsey, Cazorla and Sanchez has been magnificent. We look vulnerable at full back but we are the most exciting team in the country by a country mike at present.
Loving it, magic moves, does the HFB seem out of sorts. Eat your heart out Maureen.
Or a country mile!
ttg – More like mike’s continental brother, a country kim.
come on boys, composed 2nd half!
fuck you Mason, that was a foul.
that’s bullshit. a clear foul on kozzer.
holic pound is coming home, though.
come on boys, get back in the game.
Oddly Giroud has been hopeless. Maybe Theo playing centrally might create more
Just how good is Mesut today..unbelievable.
TTG – OG received few nasty kicks in 1st half and he has not been the same since. Might be a good idea to sub him around 70th minute mark indeed.
how was that NOT a penalty?
homer, ’cause mason is a cunt, that is why.
oooh, theo, nearly on the half volley.
alexis, please play theo in next time.
Credit to the all knowing and all seeing Holic pound. 🙂
well in, boys. a little nervy patch in the second half aside, very well in.
Eandy,
Mesut was clearly the best player on the pitch. Every time he touched the ball he created space and time for the other players to exploit and / or to recover. A masterclass performance.
Great result and very impressive cameo from Jack, he looks fresh and hungry.
St Tott’s Day, the ‘Holic pound and three points. What’s not to like?
My MOTM Cazorla, some sublime passes and close control both in defense and attack. Rambo close second, great run for the goal and a super assist to Alexis. Was not happy to be taken off.
Some of Ozil’s touches and visions were one of the best in PL this season, the curve on the back heel flick to set Alexis up should be alone worth watching this game for any neutral.
Lovely cameo by Jack. Should have gotten that penalty decision, blatant handball. And a fully ready Theo would have put away that chance towards the end.
Giroud was kicked around a lot, but I think he is also carrying something minor — as he did in the second half last season and played through it — but even then he used the attention cleverly, his defense dragging runs were key to our goals number 2 and 3 and latter he did well to drop deep.
Jack also seemed not to be arguing with the referee on every call. Has being out so long taught him something? Lee Mason seemed to like the difference.
Happy St. Totteringham’s to everyone … what is it now, 20 years running? 🙂
The spuds probably have nightmares about Arsene …
8 ball @ 91: Noticed that too. Less angry, probably just enjoying the feeling to be able to do what he loves most.
Counts pound notes 🙂
If Giroud was a top top top top striker I’d be counting mine 😉
Happy St. Totteringham Day gents.
Impressive performance tonight from the boys, it was a joy to watch them.
The last time the Spuds finished above us in the league, I was in my first year of secondary school. Here’s to another twenty years of it hopefully.
Oskar. I suggest enjoying Mesut while we have him because all our rivals would like to sign him.
Coquelin I think is running out of fuel a little bit. We do need another player of his type next season if we are to compete in PL and CL. With Arteta benevolently passing on some positional and tactical wisdom in the training ground.
Would like to see Santi, Giroud, Coquelin and Rambo all rotated a bit before the PL ends to be fully fresh and hungry for the cup final. Alexis is evidently superhuman so needs no such consideration.
8 ball @ 98: Mesut is going nowhere. 🙂
If they’d all like to sign him, they would have done when he left Madrid. Sorry Oskar, we’re stuck with him.
🙂
Our midfield interplay was superb. Ramsey although carrying a knock, Cazorla a two- footed magician, Ozil who is a delight with his touch and vision and Sanchez who works like a navvy and produces so much end product were magnificent and Jack got into the game and looked terrific right from the off. Coquelin does the basic stuff behind them but all of those gifted players worked their nuts off. Giroud had a couple of knocks early on but also had a night where he wasnt at his best. Against Reading he transformed our attack but I think the early bang took away his sharpness. But if a world- class striker is a possibility I would add him.
Our full- backs were vulnerable when they had wing- backs attacking them but in fairness the Hull wing- backs are decent.
It was a great effort tonight. People talk about being able to turn it on against physically committed teams but our record against lower teams who try to bully us is excellent.
And one final point. How many times do you see Sanchez smiling or putting a thumbs- up to a ball that didn’t quite reach him? And when he is kicked- and he is a lot, how often does he retaliate? He is a great clubman not a prima donna. His signing has really lifted us
Cynic@101, and how many teams in the EPL do you think can afford Ozil. You guys keep complaining about Ozil what else do you want him to do. He has been one of our best players since he came back from injury. Maybe we should ask Wenger why he never substitutes Ozil.
Quick visit, will backdrink later.
Well played lads and well in ‘holic for the pound.
That has to be the worst referee performance I’ve seen this season, Mason was wretched, no way should he be allowed to officiate in the PL.
Congratulations Holic !
Slightly disappointing to lose the second half but we didn’t need any more and can’t begrudge you, Guvnor.
Some lovely stuff at times tonight.
Two decades of consecutive St Totteringham’s Day with four games still to go 😆
H2H,
don’t know how you judge referees anymore.
It’s a very difficult job made by most of them to look impossible.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For the record that was NOT me at #87. You might like to delete it ‘holic.
Not that Özil was much better than last week, consistently slowing down the attack. The difference when Jack came on must have been obvious to Mr Magoo.
Öskar