Has Tony Pulis Been Drinking?
Nov 20th, 2015 by 'holic
So, I have done four and five pint previews, but not any “I can’t remember” previews. I’ll start with an Arsene quote.
“It is difficult but it’s a good opportunity to focus on something else and to get it out of your mind a little bit. Sometimes the best way is to concentrate on something else. For the players it’s also a way to get rid of some of the emotions, to do what they can do and to give pleasure to people by focusing on something else.”
With the squad already down to the bare bones Arsene is hoping to lift those left shocked, saddened, and lethargic by the events in the international break.
Larent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud will be assessed prior to this weekend’s match at West Bromwich, as will Alexis Sanchez for different reasons.
The assembled panel on this week’s ABW Podcast touched on the fact that we would struggle to replace key players right now. I don’t really want to consider what the attack might look like if Alexis and Olivier were deemed in need of a rest but I’ll try.
At least there is the possibility of a return for Hector Bellerin. A back four of him, Per Mertesacker, Gabriel, and Nacho Monreal, would give us a sturdy base.
Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla should be able to anchor the midfield behind creator-in-chief Mesut Ozil. If Alexis is rested the likeliest stand-in would be Kieran Gibbs. Presumably Joel Campbell, after another two appearances for Costa Rica, will get the nod on the right.
Should Giroud not make the start Alex Iwobi could be in line for promotion and one can imagine him and Campbell rotating the right-sided and central roles.
That’s a worst case scenario, obviously, unless you allow for the entire team suffering a Tottenham-style attack of dysentery ahead of the match. (Cheerful soul tonight, ain’t I?)
Now having lifted any visting Baggies fans let’s deflate them again by pointing out even with our current injury crisis our recent away record is 31 points out of a possible 36 in our last 12 away league fixtures. The Baggies have won just 1 match at home this season, and have only won 1 of the last 19 meetings of the two clubs at the Hawthorns.
“Arsenal are an absolutely wonderful football club, it’s always been a very special club for me, as a lad who was born in the 1950s. They have a great opportunity this year of winning the title, they have a genuine chance.”
I had to rub my eyes when I saw that quote. Would you believe it was from Tony Pulis? Now in charge of West Brom we can assume he has had some media training since leaving Stoke where he viewed matches against Arsenal as an opportunity to stretch the spirit of the rules of the game.
Although they have struggled under the weight of expectation at home so far (Manchester City, Chelsea, Everton, and Leicester City all scored 3 goals at the Hawthorns) they have ground out some valuable points on the road, and in Salomon Rondon they have a striker who has caught the eye this season. They look set for a comfortable mid-table finish.
The ‘holic pound
With little notice of what the team will be I may post a late amendment, so keep your eyes peeled on the drinks in the hour before kick-off if you are daft enough to follow the pound!
The Baggies defended valiantly, though ultimately without reward, at Old Trafford in their last fixture. They will surely be as stubborn against us, so I like the look of a Pet Shop Boys singalong at the final whistle. One-nil to the Arsenal is at best 7/1 and the favourite with the bookies.
And with that I wish all of you a great weekend, and my mate a happy retirement. It’s been a heck of an evening, and I only did half of it! Apologies for the brevity.
Have a great one, ‘holics.
46 Responses to “Has Tony Pulis Been Drinking?”
A first for me? Really?
Now to read the preview 🙂
Alexis has tweeted that he is up for the game. I suspect he may start on the bench . With a load of sick notes healing slowly ( and likely to get injured again before long) we need a bigger squad. Forget this like a new signing business we have about seven players not able to play a full season or anything like it. Any more key players injured and we will find it hard to cope even with winnable figures on the horizon. That derails us every time.
So we need ballast at DM, Striker and wide midfield although Gibbs may reinvent himself usefully in this period. 2-0 to the good guys whoever plays for us
Brilliant as ever H.
Hope to see some of the injured return sooner rather than later.
Stuck at home tonight minding the kids. And while I was feeling sorry for myself, I saw Duran Duran on the Norton show and thought, “it could be worse Joe”..!! (Although some say that referring to yourself in the third person is not an idea that is consonant with cloudless mental health……..)
Europa league spot?
Three points is all I ask for.
Jenks is faster than Bellerin, according to this BBC report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34884849, and Bellerin doesn’t make the top 15 of fastest Premiership players measured by top speed during a match.
Only 0-1 to the Arsenal, maestro? How can a scoreline like that account for Kieran Gibbs’ hat trick? 😉
Come on the end of the Interlull and come on you Gunners.
Nice preview Guvna.
I hope we don’t have to resort to your worst case scenario. I agree it’s going to be a tight one today.
Go win, Arsenal.
Cheers Guv.
We indeed have a few wounded (same as it ever was), but we’ll also have others coming back after a bit of a rest, Coq, Per and the ever important Ozil, to name a few. If the latter is on form I think we’ll have too much for West Brum.
COYG.
Congrats to Aaron Ramsey on becoming a dad. https://twitter.com/aaronramsey/status/667808959831511040
Cum on you Jagermeisters!
Fly…Fly…FLYYYYY!
Congratulations to Aaron Ramsey and Family. Ramsey for a big second half of the season? He should be able to afford a nanny, which could be a big help! 🙂
In other news, the choice was between watching Watford v. Manchester United or watching something else. I chose this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_and_a_Half_Men
Not because it is a favorite show of mine, although it seems to have a few laughs in it. I never heard of the show until today, but watching Manchester United is like watching dry paint get drier.
On the other hand, Watford are just a goal down so if they can nick a goal or two in the second half and hold on it could help our cause …
Come on Arsenal. 😀
“Too aggressive to remain at her previous home”?
This bird should be able to take care of that Charlton fan then, as well she should.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-34880124
Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Kos, Mertesacker, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ozil, Gibbs, Alexis, Giroud.
Subs: Ospina, Gabriel, Debuchy, Arteta, Flamini, Campbell, Reine-Adelaide
It’s been a big week at the tennis for me, security was beefed up between Monday and Thursday. We must expect something similar on Tuesday night at the Ems.
Delighted to hear Hector is back but we could have done with a few attackers being off the sick list. I don’t expect any favors from Pulis and the hard men of WBA so hoping that we can raise our spirits and send the travelling fans home happy in a very tight contest.
A bit late I know but I would like to add my heartfelt sympathy to every one in France, especially those who have lost friends and relatives in that horrendous act of terrorism. Hope the PL crowds today do not let us down, the Country did good this week.
1-0 to the Arsenal would go down very nicely.
COYRs
The Coq’s crocked.
Le coq injured.
Fucking perfect.
I guess “imperfect” is more apt! ?
Ozil and OG!!!!!!!
Yes! Ollie G from an Ozil cross.
GET IN!
that Ozil chap is quite good at delivering the ball in dangerous areas eh?
Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Fucking clattenberg.
Never a foul.
Crap defending arsenal. Get it together.
Fuck’s sake.
clattenberg.
Two non fouls. Ine leads to a goal. Another a 50/50 = yellow to Arsenal.
Fuck him.
Quiet in the bar today.
Very difficult watch, we are being out muscled and with the loss of Le Coq look increasingly shaky at the back. Hector doesn’t look fully fit, he has been out paced by Morrison. The Ref was fooled by the Arteta free kick and his booking of the HFB was outrageous, he was first to the ball.
We need to regroup and show a bit of steel otherwise this game could get away from us.
Grrrrr…
COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!
Come arsenal!!!
???????
Pelanty!
Santi! For fuck’s sake
Were fucked.
We’re getting jack out of today. That’s for fucking sure.
we are not supposed to have points from this one it seems X_X
We are really unlucky today.
Booooooooooooooooooo! Fucking shite.
Arteta is useless.
Joel campbel is useless.
What a fucking shit show that was.
And clattenberg royally fucked us there.
We thew it away in the end, Campbell had the easiest chance he will have all season on his left foot and couldn’t hit the target and Santi’s pen miss was beyond belief.
Alexis worked himself to a stand still in spite of all his travelling. We need reinforcements for Tuesday but I can see Arteta and Le Coq sideline for a while. Injuries bloody injuries.
Watched the last 20 mins or so. In that time I don’t think we even looked like scoring. The penalty miss looked typical of what I watched. 72% possession and 4 shots on target. One if those was Kossers back pass in the 3rd min of injury time tells you enough I guess. The fact that they scored twice from only one shot on target probably tells you more.
Oh well. Never mind.
Title challengers? Hahahaha! Bullshit!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Bugger.
We conceded a poor equaliser which was our undoing (even though it should not have been a freekick). It was more like previous years than the generally solid defending of this term and it cost us dearly. No complaints for the second- good run from McClean, good ball between Cech and Arteta and we were unlucky it went in.
Santi is a legend. In Brum, so is the WBA groundsman…
We’ve all seen days like this before and will again: Fine margins. Plenty of effort. No disaster. No time for self-flagellation. Next match, please.