Time For Goals At Vicarage Road?
Oct 16th, 2015 by 'holic
“The target now is to refocus on what we want to achieve. We play against Watford who have conceded only one goal at home and defend very well. They are a very difficult team to play against so we have to focus to get a positive result on Saturday.”
Arsene acknowledged at his pre-match press conference on Thursday that the players headed into the international break in good spirits following the drubbing of Manchester United, but now need to get the attitude right at Watford on Saturday evening.
That press conference took place ahead of Thursday’s AGM (No don’t worry, I’ve heard enough about it too!) and so the team news was sketchy at best, particularly as Alexis Sanchez was not due back until the afternoon. There has been much talk of rotation. It’s October. Some of our players have only just got match fit. We can rotate at Sheffield Wednesday in the COCup. Put the best team out at Watford and again on Tuesday.
Quite what that best eleven is would provoke a dozen different answers from a dozen different people. The main selection posers are perming two from Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, and Gabriel in the centre of the defence. For me the latter is a shoe-in, and he seems to have an understanding with both of the others, so whoever is picked alongside him, no problem.
Then there is the centre-forward. Theo had possibly his most effective game there against Manchester United in our last League outing. Olivier Giroud though has come back from international duty with renewed confidence after his two goals against Denmark. I still think we could start both with Theo returning to the right flank but given licence to cut infield in attacking situations. What I think doesn’t matter a monkeys cuss.
Arsene’s buzzword of the week is urgency. It is probably the best word to summarise how we started against Manchester United. We played and pressed at a high pace and simply blew a major rival away. It is not a level we had reached previously this season, and a repeat at Vicarage Road would reinforce our title aspirations.
Watford look very well organised defensively, at least at home where they have conceded just one goal so far this season, although in contrast they have scored just the one too. On the road they have found their shooting boots, scoring twice to earn a point at Everton and repeating the feat to grab all three points at Newcastle. They have settled in mid table and are just six points behind us.
The report could well be delayed until Sunday. A birthday party clashes with the match so I’ll be recording it to watch tomorrow night. I did wonder whether to combine the two tonight. However, as the ‘holic pound often shows, Mystic Meg I am not. I’ll wager someone starts a “Where’s your Elton gone” chant at the match, and that there will be a few hangovers on Sunday morning. Predictable? Of course I am!
The ‘holic pound
This could be an important three points for us. Of our likely title rivals only Manchester United are on the road so we have to assume a victory will be needed to tread water. The ‘holic pound has to be punted on the basis that we will repeat the high tempo performance that left United floundering. The bookies have 0-2 as the favourite correct score bet at between 6 and 8/1. That’s too skinny I think. 1-3 is my fancy, on offer at 10 to 13/1.
She said yes, Edmund
Arsenal supporter, Edmund Tsang, recently approached Arsenal to see if they could help him organise his dream proposal at the home of the Gunners.
Edmund and his girlfriend, Hebi Fung, are from Hong Kong and are members of the Arsenal Hong Kong Supporters Club. They had booked a trip to London and on their itinerary was an Emirates Stadium tour. With a little help from Arsenal, Edmund arranged for club mascot Gunnersaurus to interrupt their tour and lead Hebi pitchside so that he could ask her that very special question.
As soon as Hebi said ‘yes’, the big screens in the stadium came alive to reveal a video message of congratulations from Arsenal first-team player, Kieran Gibbs.
Congratulations Edmund and Hebi, and well done Arsenal for giving them a really special day.
That’s it for another preview. As ever, to those travelling Gooners fortunate enough to have those rare away tickets, have a wonderful Saturday evening and bring those points home.
Have a good one, ‘holics.
88 Responses to “Time For Goals At Vicarage Road?”
From previous drinks
Cynic @115. His one mistake was in not painting it red and white. ?
If he had done that, he’d have been followed everywhere he went by blokes looking for a haircut.
(think about it)
fuckin ‘ell cynic
did it revolve?
move over bearded lady midgets
we got ourselves a proper sideshow right here
yikes
Cheers H! 0-4. You knows it.
I hope so Esso. 🙂
talk to the pawnbroker
down the road
ye’ve the full freakshow
cock an balls
So had Gibbo done a second message in case Hebi had said no?
Best of Gooner luck to the pair of them. No better place to set off on that long road of life.
Watford has conceded only 1 goal at home ? Bah, don’t like hearing that Holic, no Sir! ☺ Being as we have subs, expect Theo and OG will both have their say, sooner or later. 😉
Congrats to Edmund and Hebi ♥ and good on The Arsenal for making this happen. xx
Let’s not put the cart before the horse, ‘Hols. Any old win would do for me. Come on you Reds.
Congratulations, Edmund. How much was the “donation” to pull that off?
BMBD
Howdy, Nurse!
Nice preview H.
We always seem to look stronger and more organised at the back when Per plays. Who knows about the rest.
A game we should win but not a time for complacency. Just get the job done and head off home.
8-0
Nice preview Guvna. Enjoy the party. I am hoping your prediction is a bit conservative but nonetheless I also hope you’ll win a packet.
BMMBD
Nice one, Holic.
A Watford fan I was treating today reckoned his team could be in for a proper battering tonorrow.
I think Leicester’s defence had been fairly watertight until we had a go at it too, so I’m joining Esso in a 0-4.
Howdy Lonestar! 😉 Hope all is ok with you and yours.
trev
mate o mine
been told he may have
chest necrosis???
any info good
any other ‘holic medics
dont be shy
‘holic has me email
give it to the learned souls
as ye see fit ‘hol
a compact description
if any of ye Dr Types
could
cheers
fuckin hell
sounds exactly like le grove in here
It only revolved when he ran, cba.
If I proposed to my wife at the Grove she would not have been impressed. Probably because it was the corporation tip when I got engaged. Even I had more style than that. Usually
I like our chances tomorrow. I think 2-1 or 3-1 will fit the bill. I agree with Holic about rotation. Get some momentum and rotate at Hillsborough
Three points at Vicarage Road. Anyway. End of.
Watford has failed to score in five of its eight league games this season. It is joint first for fewest league goals scored (six). It is joint first (with us, Man City, Palace and the neighbours) in goal conceded (seven). Blistering start and we should be OK.
TTG – if you proposed to your wife at the Lane she would have been even less impressed 🙂
Good preview Holic. Providing they turn up with a good attitude, a hard working but comfortable win should ensue. Vicarage Rd should be somewhat familiar to young Hector following his loan spell there and with an extra incentive to impress, could see him on the scoresheet!
MAUCAMBD
I hope you meant 0-8, Cynic!
I’ll settle for the win however it happens, but expect Watford’s defence to be properly exposed for the first time this season. At least a 3-goal margin, imo.
Oskar
Cheers, ‘holic and to Edmund and Hebi. Lucky sods. 😀
Same number of points at stake as there were in the last game so, lets score more than them.
Even if it’s only one.
So which one of them is marrying Gunnersaurus?
cba,
Has your mate been suffering with acid reflux / hiatus hernia ?
That could be the cause of his chest necrosis. If so, it basically means that fatty tissue in the chest cavity has been damaged – or killed off – by the escaping acid.
It’s painful but usually self limiting – once all the fat has gone !! – and treatable with anti-inflammatories.
That might mean steroids as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories have potentially serious implications for the upper digestive tract too.
That would be the simplest case.
Bath or DanC might well have superior knowledge to which I bow herewith ! ( is that a preposition?) 😉
Bit off topic. Apologies to others.
Come on you Reddssss !
Cricket madness if anyone cares. England can win…
H-Pylori could be treated with antibiotics, if this it the culprit cba.
Good stuff Trev, as always.
Sharp eyes, Oskar. Pretty sure Cynic wants us to win, though. Smiles 🙂
Proper result. Will be able to watch live after all 🙂
Hello abb. Good to see your calming influence in here 😉
Hey Holic! 😉
Sensible way to go past a hornets’ nest is to go around , not through it. Hope Hector and Nacho are thinking the same thing.
Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Özil, Alexis; Walcott.
Subs: Macey, Gibbs, Chambers, Debuchy, Arteta, Ox, Giroud.
Ospina injured and Gabriel ill.
cba@16. I have never heard the term ‘chest necrosis’. It’s terribly imprecise. Was the doctor coining it either a quack, Oirish or more up-to-date than me? Or did your mate mishear it?
Necrosis means cell death and may be due to many things. As Trev suggests it may result from inflammation whether due to peptic acid or to infection. Alternatively it may be due to loss of blood supply or to extraneous toxins. It may occur in a small area, e.g. the pus in the centre of a zit is due to necrosis as result of infection, an entire organ e.g. the kidney after obstruction of the renal artery or a segment, e.g. part of the heart muscle in a myocardial infarction.
The ‘chest’ is a very large site for necrosis. Larger in some than others. 😮
Dolly Parton would both be a prime candidate as a result of some alleged previous surgical augmentation and an example of enormous proportions.
Although the correct medical term would still not be ‘chest necrosis’, it might be referred to as such by the tabloid media.
GO WIN, ARSENAL.
ohhhhh, we almost scored!
Epipericardial fat necrosis seems to be more precise, bath. Not to say more serious too.
As you say, very imprecise – that’s why I went for the least serious option.
Oops – not really my thing though.
Great save by Cech, whew. Both keepers on the ball.
Hi abb. ?
Hey Trev 😉
Super Kos to the rescue!
Super Kos – lettuce be grateful for him. ?
Watford playing to frustrate, and their succeeding.
C’mon you Gunners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@45 ☺
Come Onnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!
Damm, this is driving me nuts!
Bit of a nothing match. Even the booing is half hearted
Oh my Cech drama!
Aaron falling over keeper Gomez. Too early for Trick or Treat 😉
Ramsey needs to find his scoring boots!!!
COME ONNNNNNNNN!
Anyone seen the Ramsey who apparently plays for Wales ?
One scuffed left foot shot. One ManU type effort over the bar from two yards. Silly driven ball from impossible angle. Stupid blast over the top.
Needs to just calm down in front of goal.
My concerns over Ramsey have not disappeared. Like spare dick at a wedding
Come on the Ramsey goal. He and we could use it.
Ramsey get your head back on the game. Calm down and don’t over do shit… You are not Alexis. COYG !!! We need all three pts.
Defence could firm up too. Giroud to come on and change the mix?
Fair points by all.
bt8, yes and yes!
Not before 75 mins.
Crap referee.
TAKE some shots!!!!!!!!
COME ON!!!
Ramsey having one of his, “Not as good as he thinks he is” games. Too slow…
Fucking lights. You’re not watching a Scorpions gig ffs.
Jaysus.
We look terrible.
Has he booked Catpoo for diving?
What a series of events leading to our goal!
ALEEEEEEEEEEEEXXXXIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
GET IN!
😀
Giroud on for Theo.
90 minutes’ concentration Giroud Alexis bam bam
After his brace for France.. he’s back!!
GIROUUUUUDDDD!!!
😀
Now this is more like it 0-2 courtesy of Giroud.
Time to give Alexis and Mesut a break?
Ramsey will take that!
GET IN!!
😀
Ramsey tried not to score but Hector put it on a plate 🙂
Aaron Ramsey Goal ♥
Ah, he works so hard , very happy for him!
He hasn’t scored too many since getting married, quite coincidentally abb. I think. 😉
Good call @Bayonne Jean on the subs!!
😀
bt8, probably so 🙂
Wow – the anti-Ramsey brigade is fickle, but not altogether surprising! I think he’s being harshly judged by the levels of his 2013-14 season, and that was a worldy/once-in-a-career year where everything he struck flew in (didn’t he get nearly 20 goals even though he was out for 4 months too?) From where I’m looking, he’s not doing an awful lot different, except law of averages dictate that naturally less of those chances are going in for a variety of reasons. Give the guy a break – at least he’s getting in the position to have those chances, and he gives so much to the team in terms of his work-rate, endeavour and underrated technical skills, and he adds variety to our midfield.
Hells yeah!!
Ramsey. There ya go son. Now keep knocking em in!
Arsenal.
Nice!!!
Whoopee! Still on track. Have a good one Holic n holics !
Gregoire- I don’t think there is some anti- Ramsey brigade out there. He is trying his best but have not been converting some easy chances lately. Talking about it doesn’t make the fans fickle minded. One thing I love about him though is that he never shrinks from games and always gets into good positions to score goals. Great game today by everyone. COYG!!!!
that’s why i added all the ???? bath
seemed vague as fuck
like saying ye have an ‘ouchy in yer tummy’
and he seemed confused about what he was told
he had trouble with what could have been petrochemically type
contamination of his domestic water supply
a rather remote cottage which had oil drums
lying about the place
screwing with the well water that supplied his taps
he’d drunk it for months
despite it tasting “chemically”
i know – don’t ask
he’s damaged his liver i believe
and he mentioned his kidneys
dunno if this is connected
but when i heard necrosis
even my rudimentary language skills
knew that had the whiff of something dying about it
he may have translated what he was told
into his own speak
he’s been getting tests
at the hospital
and i just wondered what the hell
this scary sounding word necrosis entailed
cheers trev, nurse abb and bath
i appreciate its difficult to make an informed judgement
when yer so poorly informed by me
but thanks for taking the time
proper good sorts
serious top shelf knowledge
i shamelessly poached for free
and sorry ‘holic and ‘holics
for treating this place like an infirmary
but i was worried about the wee eejit
Just found out I may be in London April 16th for home finale against Crystal Palace. If I am able to attend I will be with my 12 year old daughter. What is my best approach to get tickeys?
Ramsey is such a likeable, admirable person you can’t stay irritated by him for long. He does have this habit of over-elaborating and slowing things down when we’re counter attacking.
Always works extremely hard but can tend to go for the worldy when the simple would suffice.
It’s ok to criticise, Gregoire, so long as house rules on abuse are not broken.
Abuse would NEVER be my intention anyway – I just find Aaron can frustrate through some games. Not really any need for the give the guy a break stuff.
Very good win on an apparently dry, tricky pitch – according to Aaron’s post match interview.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>