Unchanged against Liverpool?
Aug 23rd, 2015 by 'holic
“Your confidence is linked with your last result and at Crystal Palace we responded well. You could see that we were a bit edgy at times but we responded in a very strong way. From that we should have enough confidence to go into the game positively against Liverpool.”
Arsene reflecting on last week’s victory and the importance of it in relation to a tricky home game against Liverpool on Monday night in his pre-match press conference. It may not be decisive either way at this early stage, but a victory against a team who have themselves picked up a maximum of six points in the opening two weeks will be a barometer reading of our competitiveness in the coming weeks and months.
There is no team news as such, with no players expected to return, and no new injuries to report following the win at Selhurst Park. It would be something of a surprise therefore if Arsene were to change a winning side. Whilst most, quite understandably, are hoping for some transfer activity in the next week it is one hell of a squad that can boast a bench consisting of Ospina, Debuchy, Gabriel, Gibbs, Arteta, The Ox, and Theo.
For the visitors Henderson is a major doubt with a foot problem but Emre Can, sent off at the Grove in April, is fit and ready to step into midfield if required. On the opening day they pinched the points at Stoke with a late Coutinho strike, and a second 1-0 win was secured by Benteke’s controversial strike against Bournemouth last week.
The ‘holic pound
In the corresponding fixture last season we struck three goals in eight thrilling minutes before half-time and went on to win 4-1. A repeat performance is as low as 20/1 which doesn’t look like the sort of odds that should be offered against lightning striking in the same place twice. I am drawn instead to the 17/2 you can get if you shop around on a 2-0 home win. The pound is already on it.
Transport Update
The club have published a transport warning for those who are going to the match. The ongoing work at stations in the area is enough to keep me away from this one, so if someone could have a couple of pints of Guinness for me I would be grateful.
Have a good one, ‘holics.
131 Responses to “Unchanged against Liverpool?”
Drink!
Feck!
Errrrrrr
First!
First first of the season.
*Goes to read post*
Unchained?
*Returns*
*Goes to revise counting*
Wellin, Dublin
I’ll be on the Guinni post match for you, sir!
A fine post, Guv’nor, if a little, if you’ll pardon me for saying this, light in content. Still, they say no news is good news and this is certainly good news.
COYG
*Still pissed off about missing first*
Luck for me, rather than judgement, Pangloss.
(Happy to share 1st Drink – seeing as its Sunday, and early in the season!!)
Thanks Dubs 🙂 You are selfless, I know.
Fine preview Guvna and thanks for the transport warning.
Here’s to a 2-0 victory and a rich reward for your investment.
Thank you bath, have a wonderful Monday.
I concur Pangloss, but opted against the padding tonight. I prefer the term ‘succinct’. You’re right, of course.
Shackles off, SSY 🙂
Cheers Holic !
And, yes, thanks for the transport warning. I’ll have Erin with me but we are at least on the overground railway. Just the ysual short trains and cancellations for us – they are a regular feature of evening matches.
May your pound be multiplied, your Sky Sports be 1 HD, and your reception be uninterrupted.
Any word on who will be blowing the whistle tomorrow night ?
That bit of extra information might help to placate that ungrateful Pangloss geezer too. 😉
Arsenal v Liverpool 8.00pm
M Oliver S Bennett J Brooks 4th Official – N Swarbrick
😉
It’s Michael Oliver, one of the better referees in my view.
I don’t mind succinct- there’s far too much waffle around games nowadays . It’s a hard one to call. I think it might be 2-1 to us .
Your point about the bench needs to be heeded. We have a great squad but there is a danger that transfer hysteria convinces us we are always short.
I would ideally like a 30 goal a season striker but even if we got Benzema I don’t think he’d deliver that return.
Anyway let’s focus on tomorrow and a battering of the Mickeys☺️
Thanks, H.
Indeed, TTG,
we look at Bellerin, Wilshere, Walcott, Cazorla and Alexis, and convince ourselves we are short.
Just as we did even when we had Arshavin …….. oh. 😉
*Returns to bar*
Thanks, Dubs@7. Have a drink, sir.
“Succinct” is it, ‘Holic? What a splendid word, and how apt. Allow me to buy you a pint of the finest, Sir.
*Retrieves coat, checks supply of asterisks, which is running a little low. Submits order to supplier*
A drink for Trev, please as I see he’s in, I’ve just checked his@12. “Ungrateful, moi?” Make that one a half.
A small barrel behind the bar for Mr Arsed when he’s next in.
In fact, bollocks to it, drinks all round.
COYG
I agree, again. Bottle of malt for me. 🙂
Anybody with season tickets not going to this one? I’d love to buy a couple tickets off you. Gooner who would love to see he’s first live match at the ems!!
Nice preview H.
Will be travelling up from Dorset with my little lady for this one. The travel updates are very helpful.
Not too sure what to expect re the team selection. I would personally like to see AOC start. I really do think this could be a massive season for him. That said, 3 points is the vital part of Monday nights game.
See you all there.
This could be a tricky game. AW’s record against Brendan Rodgers is P9 W5 D2 L2 GF18 GA14 so 2-0 would be less of a squeaky-bum result than the stats portend. Regardless of the score, three points are essential.
Morning, morning
Seemed like there was a bit of a mess in the bar yesterday, in parts!
A high volume of alcohol consumed maybe?
Only for Cba to keep playing through the caos? Too stuff Cba!
Anyway, the wait is over, there’s a game on tonight. After, the dark and light blues showed off their shiney new signings, we were forced to either watch or hear about two victories and man of the match performances, whilst trying to decide whether we will be contenders after losing to the Spammers!
I’ll tell you what, beat the scousers and it’s back on again. Ever get the impression 3 points mean a lot tonight?
We can’t afford to take our feet off of the gas later. Whilst I believe the scousers are not yet on our level, any mistakes at the back or fumbling in front of goal could be costly. It won’t necessarily be the end, but it will make our job harder if we do not deliver.
Let’s do what we know we can do and put those food stamp collectors in their place!
UTA!! 🙂
Morning holics.
I’m not sure what to think about tonight, there’s no pre-match impending doom gutwrench. Nor is there a I’m-confidently-okay-to-watch-this-without-nerves feeling.
@14,
I don’t have a great impression of Michael Oliver. In my fleeting memory, he has that lost in headlights look on his face which lead to shit decisions against us. I do hope I’m absolutely wrong and you are right though, TTG.
Up and at them.
On the whole striker no striker debate, once we develop a nice rhythm, my hope is that the Caz-zil-sey axis will provide another storming season of goals from the Welsh Jesus. I rate Ramsey tremendously and he is due a rich vein of form.
Wenger loves that boy and I’d really like for him to pay that faith back tenfold.
Or in this case, 20 goal-fold.
Who needs Benzema?
I don’t think there is ANY truth in the Benzema story and it illustrates the duplicity of the media who want to keep the story running. There is no deal to be done from what I can see. The media like this situation because when we don’t sign a striker they can accuse us of lack of ambition and build up that angle.
If Giroud has a good evening tonight( although I would start Theo) a lot of heat would be taken out of the story. Half of Goonerland actually won’t want this to happen
Walking both ways KX-Ems tonight notwithstanding the weather forecast which is for heavy rain and blustery wind, great!
Thought the lovely Hector and Rambo on the right made the difference last week so expect same line up tonight.Not over optimistic but an early goal would settle us down and a clean sheet is well over due.
Walcott might be preferred and would expect to see the Ox brought on to liven things up when tiredness sets in late on.
Prediction 2-1 and a nail biting finale.
COYRs
TTG.
Most Gooners I know rate Ollie G very highly. As do I. I don’t think that anyone wants a top class striker brought in to replace Ollie G. They want one brought in to support and compliment him. You can’t start the season with one recognised striker and expect that to be enough in my opinion.
@27
You on the drinks this early, mate?
I don’t envy you that walk tonight, Delia. Let’s hope the boys make it worthwhile.
The next Ashes series will be broadcast by BT. 🙁
In football related news, I sometimes wonder if, when we bought Olivier Giroud, we thought we were buying that OG bloke who was absolutely prolific for Man United.
😉
Steve T
As a reasonable, rational fan you mix with similar characters I guess as do I.I think if an upgrade on OG is available that would be wonderful but not sure Benzema is it even if the story is bullshit anyway. But a lot of fans are not as rational sadly.
The team impact is key and we have got a range of scoring options. As I said after the QPR game if Wenger is in gambling mood then Charlie Austin is a very good finisher. I know I may be on my own there. ?
Same team as palace, same result as well? could live with that. Score first and the game looks far more comfortable than it is. The thing is in such games either of the team’s usually get an early chance, the one who takes it invariably ends up winning. So Alexis hope those scoring boots or on.
Inevitable comparisons between coutinho and Ozil will be there and the brazilian would want to prove a point against the magician. Milner vs Santi another one to hog the headlines but watch out for Benteke. He does well against us and Per and Kos will be on the edge throughout.
Expect pool to be conservative and wait for the counter allowing us possession. The difference though will be the pace. Sanchez vs Clyne will be awesome but if we want to win, our passing needs to be of a much higher tempo than it was against the hammers.
I love Ramsey but is this the game to unleash the ox? Pace on both flanks will be the clincher and we can always have Aaron coming of the bench to replace Ox/Ozil towards the end of the game.
Side note- Real looked pedestrian without Benzema, i do not know how they will manage without him and are they so foolish to sell him, yet i hope they are, for past instances have proven they are stupid.
It ain’t half hosing down here in Herts.
Think dry, Delia. 😉
Cheers Holic
Based on what I saw of the Mickey’s against Bournemouth, I will be deeply disappointed if we don’t burgle three points from them tonight.
As for Michael Oliver, best of a very bad bunch and at last a ref who had the balls to send a Man Utd player off against us at Old Trafford.
As rare as rocking horse shit.
Vijay,
They aren’t selling him, it’s a garbage story
Arsenal has won only two of the last eleven games they have played in which Oliver was the referee.
I would echo Zico’s sentiments on Michael Oliver. For me, along with Clattenburg, one of the few that I rate in the PL.
I would like to see a team with width and pace being played tonight.
Sorry Vinay, I named you incorrectly.
But the Benzema story is like Toulouse Lautrec. It has no legs. Or very short ones.
Is that like Olegs Luzhny ?
The HORSE ! 😉
Best of the crop along with Clattenberg and the much improved Mike Dean.
Past two seasons Mr Oliver has referred our games on ten occasions, last year won three, drawn three. Wins againbst MCFC,Manyoo and Brighton, draws with Spuds, ‘Pool and Chelsea at the Ems.
The preceding season won 2, lost two. The losses were at Trafford Park and the 5-1 thrashing we collected at Anfield.
I would be hard pushed to assign Oliver much more than say ….. 1% of the blame for that horrific Saturday lunchtime on Merseyside.
But I am open to offers !!
Vinay@32: Benteke has three goals in six games vs us, but has only been on the winning side once.
He has a far better record against Liverpool: five goals in six games, and on the winning side twice.
Anicoll5
Interesting stats but when did we draw with the Pool at home in the last two seasons? We’ve won 2-0, 2-1 and 4-1,as far as I remember. Was it the Anfield game you refer to?
TTG
I just think we are short in various positions, up front bring one of those. I’m not looking for a replacement or an upgrade. I want a top quality addition that will strengthen the squad. I really dread to think what we do if OG sustained any long term injury.
Yep – TTG sorry – the 2-2 game was where Skrtel headed the equalizer in the final few seconds of time added on at Anfield
Ugly bastard that he is
Time to leave for TNHOF, allowing time for a nice pre-match plate of pasta.
Let’s smash those bin-dippers.
COYGs
Steve T
Yes I know what you mean. The season before last we really had no cover for him with Sanogo and Bendtner as back- up. My Charlie Austin idea is premised on just that thought that we need a range of options to cater for injuries. The idea also that an Arsenal midfield will go through a season all fit and in- form is completely laughable as well but I think we have got options in midfield although a top DM might be nice.
I see Benzema has confirmed he is staying at Real. Sadly this will be perceived by idiots as some error by Wenger.
Enjoy your meal Bath. Traffic has meant that sadly I made the right call.
TTG. Your Charlie Austin suggestion is not the answer in my opinion, but it is not as daft as you may think.
nervous as hell X_X
also..streams http://www.livefootballol.com/streaming/english-premier-league/24-08-2015-arsenal-liverpool.html
http://livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/325125_arsenal_liverpool/
Both Kos and Per out. Not so unchanged.
Gabriel and Chambers start.
Cech, Bellerín, Gabriel, Chambers, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Sanchez, Giroud
So who is/are the backup CD(s) ?
Cheers for the preview ‘holic.
Nothing to add, but……
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!
WTF????
No Per or Kos on the squad.
Per ill; Kos has a back injury. Gabriel and Chambers play in their places.
Time for Gabriel and Chambers to prove themselves I guess.
I really don’t know why, but I feel confident. Giroud to score a brace.
Now I’m nervous.
Keep the faith, all.
*chews nails*
Come ON!!!!!!
Gabriel is a rock. No worries.
I’m worrying though ….
yeesh. that’s an interesting squad. monreal can cover cd if necessary during the game, i guess. i really hope callum and gabriel have had time this week to get the communication down. you *know* they’re going to target callum.
field is going to be slick, too, so daisycutters are going to be rabbeting in. cech will have to be awake to it.
i like lurky’s 57.
COME ON!
I have a bad feeling about this.
I’d have picked Walcott ahead of Giroud so he’ll go and score now
(it worked last time)
Holy shit
Should have been 1-1…
COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
close by alexis. that was too close off the bar by coutinho.
Bolllockkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkks!
WTF is this linesman doing!!
never offside.
never ever an offside
Lpoo getting decisions from the linesman again.
wtf was all that?
francis crawling off the field…
looks ok, though.
*off to clean my shorts*
le coq lucky there…
Coquelin brilliant!
COME ON!!!
Piss poor at the back, got nothing going forward.
Chambers having a mare.
I’ve changed my mind.
Sign Benzema.
Giroud runs like he’s trying to conceal a hard on 😀
What a fucking save.
what the hell…cech outstanding save.
and another by cech.
We are sucking.
Petr Cech rocks… What a glorious save…
what a save!
guys at the back should really cut out their shit with misplaced passes in those areas ..superdangerous
and Chambers really having a tough time
Cech keeping us in this. We’d be smashed by now if not for him.
fuck me. lucky again. that nearly curled in…
oh, cech tipped it. even better.
And Cech having a stormer ..another awesome save
if we draw this, cech gained us a point. if we win, 3 points.
cech shaking his head, saying “it was never like this in west london.”
I know he had a bit of a game on Saturday but I would have kept Jenks and sent Chambers out on loan. Said it at the time, tonight has done nothing to change my view.
Lucky to be level, despite the offside that never was. Early changes required
Okay..second part of first half was all Liverpool, does not change the fact that we should have been one up after wrongly dissallowed goal, fuck that linesman.
Coq and Cech keeping us in this.
Hook Chambers ffs. (hate to say it, but he is way out his depth)
Gibbs on for Chambers, Monreal to CB?
Cech superb!
It’s really worrying when your better players are the defensive ones…
We really need to get it together for the 2nd half!
Cech definitely getting what he bargained for… no boring games with us!
😀
Well in BB and yeah, Chambers is really struggling, Gibbs on and Monreal to CD would be sensible decision, knowing Arsene he will not do it tho.
That offside that never was really riles me, first goal is so important in those games and the half would look totally different should the goal stand.
We really need to cut the stray passes in the back out, we are playing in the back like Mugsmashers were last time they visited Grove, inviting pressure on us by own mistakes.
Chambers first half display reminds me of some of the Squilaci worst games in Arsenal shirt. Not that I expected him to do a Maldini, but come one Calum, at least do the basics right.
Bricking it at the Grove. Ox for Santi and Nacho in for Chambers and a double pivot in midfield . We will do incredibly well to get anything here
Chambers is having a mare… Both him and Bellerin are showing their inexperience tonight. They need to calm down in our defensive third and not try to play fancy passes in those dangerous areas. Coquelin has been brilliant too…
Sanchez looks slightly off his game and bringing on the Ox around the 60minute mark might be a better idea than the usual 68-70 minute mark…
I would change the back four and put someone wide right who ca give Bellerin an outlet. Whether that is Ox or Theo I don’t know, but we are fucked without changes.
*desperate anti-jinx double jinxing*
Theo on for Giroud? It would atlas give the Mickeys something to ponder when attacking…
BMBD
Bring on Theo… he should improve our movement up front!
COME ONNNNNNNN!
A blancmange would improve our movement up front.
cheating benteke.
man, og is trying so hard. nothing is coming off for him.
theo on for og.
3rd anyone?
well *that* is not what we needed.
ugh.
Bollocks…. we still haven’t got up to speed yet after 3 games… maybe we should play CL qualifiers..!
the offside goal robbery hurts even more now…pissed..night all.
Should have won doesn’t matter there always the next one
Quick summary.
Shit first half.
Better second half.
Defending is easier when the ball is up the other end.
Too often we had nobody on the right, as usual, and Coquelin had to come back left with ACRES of space on the right flank.
Giroud is half a yard short of being the world class striker this team needs.
Ozil had a much better second half than first.
Ramsey the most frustrating player we have.
Not going to moan about the offside because it was one that can go either way. It’s not like he was a yard onside.
Frustrating.
But at least we’re above the Pedro stealing chavs!
😀
A game of two very different halves. I couldn’t see them not scoring at half time and would have taken a draw . I was desperately frustrated in the end because we deserved to win. Wenger has a decision to make re a striker. Giroud was poor tonight .
Cech, Bellerin, Gabriel and Coquelin were excellent
Ozil was excellent too… just need someone to finish it!
What annoys me most about this team is the lack of will to shoot when they get a yard of space around the box. Now as good as Ozil was tonight, he’s the worst culprit of the lot for shirking his opportunities to let fly.
Fucking shoot. Fucking score.
No fucking shoot. No fucking score.
First page of the FA coaching manual 😉
Ozil really needs to take a leaf out of Coutinho’s book and start shooting from the edge of the box. There are so many times when he easily dodges the defender and then looks for a one-two with giroud or plays a square ball to Santi… He would be lethal if he has a single minded devotion to have a mighty shot at goal. Coutinho in the no 10 role does that really well…
The second half from us was much better. Giroud was unlucky not to have scored – skrtel had clearly tripped him when he got his eventual stingless shot away. But the bigger grouse remains the disallowed Ramsey goal. Ironically enough Wenger had mentioned just before the game that the first goal is crucial in games of this nature. Had that goal been allowed, there were signs we would have really turned it on. Cech had a very good game. The Coutinho shot that he tipped on to the post would never have been saved by ospina because of his shorter reach…
Injuries early on in the season are once again costing us very crucial points just like last season. Although based on tonight’s display – one has to say that Koscielny and Gabriel might be one hell of a central defensive partnership.
Cynic @122 your post about Ozil shooting came in while I was typing mine… But totally agree with you. Although I don’t believe he is shirking responsibility, it’s just not a part of his game to shoot like that… Maybe he just finds that sort of thing too savage and less aesthetic… Mesut is almost a polar opposite of Sanchez in a way. Sanchez is always looking to create that half a yard to somehow get a shot away even from ridiculous angles or through numerous obstacles… Mesut is doing the same but not to shoot but find a pass…
BOLLOX.
That’s all.
Two points lost for us and one won for them, has to be said. Need to take all three in games like these if a title bid is to be on. Chipping away at our margin of error far too early in the season. Long way to go, I know, but still.
Just on my way home now. I thought it was a game that lacked any real quality and played by two average sides. 66% possession and only 5 shots on target just isn’t good enough. At times it looked a disjointed shambles. Quite frankly, not even close to being good enough.
That Clyne lad was actually pretty good.
Idiot.
Does AW have the same game plan, despite who the team is playing? If Ramsey is going to be a starter & playing on the right wing, can he at least play on that side of the pitch instead of the middle. In my humble opinion that forces Bellerin to be both the right back & right winger. And that my friends is not going to work.
All you have with Ramsey on the right is acres of space that Bellerin has to cover all on his own. Ramsey can just stroll wherever he wants, with no responsibility at all.
Gary Neville was spot on with his analysis about too many players not helping the team.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>