Take It As Red
Nov 7th, 2015 by 'holic
“I have never lost against Tottenham, I’m so happy to say that. So great.”
Thierry Henry recalling a time I referenced on this week’s excellent Arsecast. On 23rd November 1996 ‘Arsene Who’ first managed Arsenal in the North London derby at Highbury. Tottenham were brushed aside 3-1, thereby setting the stage for a period of dominance for the red half of the divide.
Between then and the first leg of the League Cup semi-final in 2008 Tottenham won just one of 28 meetings in all competitions. In the 18 meetings that have followed they have won 6 to our 8. In the wake of the Invincibles era they have landed some blows but remain very much in Arsenal’s shadow.
It isn’t lost on those from Middlesex that Arsene has been manager for nineteen of ourΒ twenty consecutive celebrations of St Totteringham’s Day. “Arsene Wenger, we want you to stay” they gloated when two up at the Grove in Feb 2012. Then Bacary Sagna sparked a five goal response, and the 5-2 scoreline was repeated nine months later. They got their wish!
As with their ‘Mind the gap’ and ‘shift in the balance of power’ nonsense they have fought to deny the bleeding obvious for too long. It seems though that the lessons are starting to sink in. They have, to be fair, made an excellent start to this season. Unbeaten in ten Premier League matches since their opening day defeat to Manchester United, they entered the weekend in fifth place just five points adrift of the Gunners.
Yet they have been made nervous by our Mathieu Flamini inspired 1-2 win in their back garden in the League Cup. Without that free-scoring, swashbuckling, buccaneer this weekend Arsenal will have to rely on Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez to fire the Gunners to another success.
Our injury woes are well documented, but the spine of the side remains intact. With Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin, and Mesut Ozil in tandem we will have chances to extend Arsene’s record against our old enemies. The major concern would be the relative lack of depth and experience on the Arsenal bench.
Tottenham’s main hope will be Harry Kane, anonymous for much of this season but who has sparked back into life with five goals in their last three matches, including a hat-trick at Bournemouth. He, of course, scored both goals in their 2-1 win against us at the swamp in February.
“He’s one of our own” Tee-hee.
The one good thing about Sky moving this game to the 4pm Sunday slot is that the supporters of both sides will have an hours less booze in them than a late Saturday kick-off allows. There are those who dislike the atmosphere that surrounds this fixture. I have to say I don’t relish the ever-worsening butterflies in my stomach as the game draws closer. By kick-off though it will be full-on vocal backing for the team. That’s the part of derby day that lifts the soul.
The ‘holic pound
I dare say, as with most derby days, we’ll go through the full range of emotions in the course of ninety minutes. The visitors can be expected to target the likely pairing of Joel Campbell and Mathieu Debuchy on Arsenal’s right flank. I wouldn’t be surprised if they snuck a goal at some point, but I am backing the Gunners to maintain their title challenge 3-1. That looks a trifle skinny even at market best odds of 13/1. The bookies strongly fancy a home win. I am surprised at the 4/1 widely available against Tottenham. Let’s hope their faith in us is justified.
There will be a good smattering of ‘holics in the usual place tomorrow, so I look forward to meeting you there. I think we’ll be on the singing Guinness!
Have a great one, ‘holics.
139 Responses to “Take It As Red”
Distance Guinness.
Fine preview Guvna. I’ll ‘ave that 3-1 too, please.
It’s time to assert the natural order.
COYGs
Top preview for the NLD.
They will be facing their third game in six days which should take its toll. Those who watched Debuchy’s struggles in the League Cup win against Rose will worry that with Campbell ahead of him we look a bit fragile on the right. I might be one of them .
I am going for a 2-1 victory with goals by Giroud and Sanchez. It’s about time the maestro scored against the Scum. COYG?
Thanks gents. Interesting battle of the thugs at Orc Central this evening.
Special delivery.
Orcs : Meats back on the menu !!
π
We are the Arsenal and they are the *****.
All the wisdom you need in a well quoted phrase, right there.
Nice preview H. I’m all for a bit of spud bashing. The fact that we are worried about our Β£12 million Sagna replacement and one of many “next best things” down the right is worrying in itself. That said we should have more than enough to beat that shower.
If our big players have big games then we should dominate. They are far better than anything that the spuds have.
I’m going for a big Gooner victory and gallons of singing IPA. See some of you wonderful holics for refreshment in the usual watering hole.
Bring it on
Nice preview guv. Any mention of the imperious Henry in this fixture brings to mind his slalom run through that whole sorry bunch and neat finish into the bottom corner.
Title or no, just win it please Arsenal.
Very nice preview and I’d love 3-1. Currently in the sick bay. Early morning decision on fitness to attend π
Blimey. BTM having a late fitness test???? That really is taking blaming injuries to a whole new level.
Hope you are fit for tomorrow. The lengths you will go to not to buy a round???
π
Get well soon BtM. If it’s the usual winter lurgy, a large toddy and an early night is the best way of ensuring maximum fitness for the morn.
Behave Steve π
Sorry to hear that BtM. If you are not there do you want flowers or donations? π
What do we think of Tottenham?
They are shit. COYG!!!!!!
I’m watching Fever Pitch, hope it’s a good omen for tomorrow. It’s inconceivable that we will loose to that lot. Much will depend on the crowd getting us over the line, it could be a nail biting affair.
COYRs
Going to be interesting tomorrow.
Pox and his Tino’s,will have the Spuds defensively set up to play on the counter.
He has made them hard to beat,as their defensive record suggests.
I don’t buy into the fatigue factor on their side,the adrenaline of a NLD will nullify that.
We won’t be fatigued after our trip to Munich as we didn’t expend any energy over the 90 minutes.
Contrary to some,i am not in the least worried about Debuchy on the right side of defence.
All he has needed is game time to get used to the pace of playing again.
There is a vast difference between being physically fit,and match fit.
Now he has had few games under his belt he will be vastly improved.
An early goal to us would be useful,as it will open the game up,but the longer they can keep a clean sheet the more confident they will be.
With 2 top class keepers in action,I don’t see a lot of goals in this one,and as usual in big games,the first one is vital as it allows the scorer to dictate from the front.
Fingers crossed.
Enjoy Delia. I bought the film from the iTunes store. It’s a go to when I am less than my usual exuberant self! π
Evening Clive. I hear you about the defence. I’ve just got a feeling we will have a right go for the first hour knowing the lack of real quality on the bench.
What do I know, eh? π
Fascinating post at #72 by Matt in the last round. Does it mean there are actual rational football-wise supporters up the Seven Sisters Road? Say it isn’t true and wash that LWFilth outa my mouth!
As for the game I have no doubt that our best players are better than their best players, but less sure our injury replacements keep us ahead of their fully fit squad. Good luck AW getting the tactics right for this one with so much speed missing.
I hope we win of course, but a point wouldn’t be the worst result and could even see us go top if $iteh fall over.
On tenterhooks (whatever they are) already…
Oskar
Good stuff, Holic.
Hopefully we’ll rip into them tomorrow in the same way we did against Man Utd. 3-0 up after twenty minutes sounds good to me.
Get well, BtM, hope to see you along with the others tomorrow.
Have to say my favourite pre-Spuds, Tollie moment was an Esso led rendition of “The famous Tottenham Hotspur went to Rome to see the Pope, and this is what he said ……… “.
Strange that even with TEN injuries, I still have no doubts that we will beat that lot.
It would be good to make the most of tomorrow as, due to the vagaries of International football and the Premier League fixture computer, our next home league games are on December 5th vs Sunderland, and December 21st vs Man $ity.
The 21st is a Monday night game, so we have ONE home league game in the next SIX weekends. What the Donald Duck is that all about ?!
I hate the two week breaks every four weeks that make it impossible to get properly immersed in the league season. At least this time it might see some of our perma-crocks recover their fitness. They are certainly going to need to with the Christmas period looming.
Let’s hope they don’t get fit early enough to be picked for national duties and so get injured again.
Oskar
Oskar @19,
http://f1.bcbits.com/img/0002267942_10.jpg
not comfortable, mate.
Doubt it as the break starts tomorrow.
Thanks bath. π Now, how do I get off them?
Oskar
I bought the film from the iTunes store.
So much wrong with this sentence I don’t even know where to begin.
@cynic 26
He forgot to mention that he’s a big Drew Barrymore fan
Great review, I’m all for you becoming richer.
@Oskar: Indeed the right side is a bit of a worry but agreed there aren’t many players that would make it at Arsenal.
On a different topic I find it fascinating to watch Chelsea’s slow-motion wreckage. Mental is everything after all. It’s one thing to try to motivate players to give their all for the title (and fail at it), now with top 4 a distant dream what will happen. And as we’ve seen it with Liverpool and United, once a club is out of the CL elite the climb back is arduous. Good luck keeping hold of Hazard on the way.
Chelsea won’t be relegated but Mourinho is about to.
Oskar, seems like you need help to get off them.
http://www.phrases.org.uk/images/on-tenterhooks.jpg
I would suggest a large glass of HP18 with a wee drop of water.
Bath….clever of you to find a picture of Oskar in his youth. A large glass of HP18 will solve most of the world’s problems π
A large glass of HP18 …….
In that picture @29, it looks like he’s already three sheets ………
Trev…you’re quick to cotton on as usual π
Ah, my youth, bath, I remember it well. No such thing as HP18 then, not even HP sauce. No such thing as a bath either for that matter. Yes, like Trev I was a pun gent then too.
No, actually this is more the kinda tenterhooks I was thinking of … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IagpaecYriE … and it does move if you give it time.
Oskar
do you guys let other people comment here?
ah That one goes…lol
My Internet connection has gone nuts on me. would have been second to comment. oh well now I’m back on goonerholic. Never one for going sober me.
Who remembers that Fabregas goal where the commentator yells, “Dynamite!!! Dynamite!!! Absolute Dynamite!!!”. Aaaah *wipes tear* sweet nolstagia. I would have him back in a heartbeat because of that goal.
If you’ve not yet done so do yourself a favor and read the transcript of Arsene’s interview from l’equipe here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Gunners/comments/3rwday/i_translated_ars%C3%A8nes_interview_with_lequipe_about/
The translation is more complete on Arsenlog: http://news.arseblog.com/2015/11/arsene-wengers-full-interview-with-lequipe-sport-and-style/
Cheers H!
Big up all the ‘holics going today. Let those filthy cunts ‘ave it! Both barrels.
Trev- its the WANKY Tottenham Hotspur -remember?
Come on you Arsenal!
Sometimes I have to pinch myself to remember we are second in the table and having a proper tilt at the title. It doesn’t feel like that a lot of the time.
Why is that? After all we are tied for top position, only below Man City who have played a lot of weak teams at home.
It’s the fragility that causes it, I think. This feels like a fragile team. This season we’ve suffered some awful defeats. West Ham started the season off so badly, the two pathetic displays at the start of the CL. The Wednesday defeat and the capitulation in Munich. I don’t count the Mike Dean- inspired fiasco at the Bus Stop. But even so we have suffered five defeats in which we played really poorly. Just like the season before last when challenging for the title we lost those big games on Saturday mornings by a landslide.
Last season suggested we were over that but the combination of the lregular injury burden to the usual suspects and the occasional ability to implode isn’t something that feels like it should happen in a title- winning side.
I comfort myself if that’s the right word with thoughts that the First Double team lost 5-0 at Stoke and in 1991 we suffered that 6-2 home defeat by United in a season where we lost only once in the League. So crushing defeats do happen but the manner of our defeats worry me.
Don’t get me wrong, this team has the capacity to be brilliant. How good does that Leicester result look now? The United blitz, the unforgettable night against Munich? 3-0 wins in successive games away from home against tricky opponents. But it’s all a bit of a seesaw which we shouldn’t surely be seeing. Defeats if they happen should be narrow and gutsy not craven capitulation so why do they happen at regular intervals?
The injuries don’t help , playing the best team in the world doesn’t help either but on the morning of the NLD I hope we can gird our loins and produce and keep producing consistent quality.
Wenger talks about consistency being the mark of a great team and I look at a team in second with great pride. But please lads keep it going, no heads down defeats to lesser sides and if you play a great side show your quality too. That’s my wish for today and the rest of the season.
TTG@39, a great summary of why this schizophrenic team doesn’t yet inspire huge confidence, aggravated of course by another bundle of injuries focused on a key position.
However Esso@38 captures the mood for today,
WE ARE THE ARSENAL, AND WE ARE THE BEST.
Go pluck a cockerel, Arsenal.
Cheers H, have a great day out with all the fellow holics.
I don’t care how we do it, just win.
FOYS, FIOS, COYG.
COYS
Move over the mighty Spurs are coming through, even Wenger knows the new stadiym is a game changer.
*falls about laughing*
Old Spanish saying, “An ape in silk is still an ape.”
Esso – i remember !
Had my daughter reading over my shoulder though ! ?
Good day that was. ?
Ofcourse it’s a game changer.
You’ll be broke for the best part of a decade, with little chance of squad upgrades. Your “good” players may very well get their heads turned by bigger clubs and move on.
But hey, you’ll have a nice shiny new toilet for the looters to ransack.
Sadly, I’m ruled out from being present in the stadium. Having to do a Mourinho π
You cant make a silk stadiym out of a sow’s ear.
Good preview, βHolic. Proposed scoreline sounds very acceptable. And some quiet wisdom on Debuchy from Clive@17. Get well soon, BTM β flowers will become compost and donations will be become toasts, so there is no real choice. Meanwhile, we here at Castle Ned will be taking our lead from bt8b and doing out bit on the distance Guinness. Plus, what Esso says @38.
Sorry to hear that BtM. Get well soon, mate. We shall toast (once or twice) your speedy recovery.
You’ll be missed BtM. Bath will buy you a dram and I will drink it! π
Shame, BtM. Get well soon.
Steve Ts pocket will be pleased π
Double distance Guinness. Inconceivably, I will be on an airplane so will have to miss the game. Triple distance Guinness and an extra one for Ned and all under the brolly.
Or not under the brolly as the case may be. COYG.
Must be Tom Turkey?
What TTG said @39.
Cheers, bt8b. Safe landings.
Just catching up. Good old Tom. Stadiym isn’t even a typo. The poor thick fucker actually thinks that is the correct spelling???
Got to the station to see my train pulling out. 25 minutes until the next one. Let’s hope that is the only thing that doesn’t go to plan today.
Up the Arse.
Let’s hope the next train turned up in time so that you get to see the beginning of a new era, the era of Spurs dominating North London and winning trophies. Bet your hoping for Thursday night football in New Year as it’s that or nothing once you crash out of CL
In the pub Tom.
Always enjoy watching the spuds on a Spursday night.
Illiterate and deluded.
The Middlesex double whammy.
Team news?
Aston Vila could get something against City with a few more minutes of graaft.
City grafted, shafted and outlasted.
On to the main course and a chance to go top of the league. Who could ask for anything more?
Not sure who, but I know what: a top of the league kind of performance.
Come on!
Grrrrrr…..
Come Onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!
Crap half.
Whats up with Santi, really not himself so far.
Arsenal looks flat. Tired.
Passing really off. Now after spotting them a goal its about time to start actually trying.
Spot on, Eandy…..too many games recently I think, Alexis looks a bit jaded too.
Ha. Deluded sours fan.
A few draws, route 1 football and suddenly they are he dangermen.
Hilarious.
Will be interested to see if spurs can keep it up.
And if Arsenal can step it up.
Let’s go, beat this shite hart lot.
I think Santi has a hammy
Stop hitting the bar!!!
Get it in Giroudddd!
Grrrrr… COME ON!
one of those days ffs
We should float it in.. they have trouble dealing with crosses…!
COME ON!!
Don’t think we will win this one
Strolling about in a NLD. Fuck off.
Too slow not enough umph if you ask me
Two defensive subs when down a goal.
Hmmm.
Most jaded we’ve been this season…!
We are struggling end off
Be lucky if we get a draw …
Gibbs!!!
It had to be a “defender” who scored because the attackers were never going to.
Yea!!!!!!!!!!
Gibbssssssss!!!!!!
Kieran you beauty!
Best striker of the night… GIBBS!
Put some topspin on that one!
GET IN!!!!!!!!
Giroud should leave off trying to rouse the fans and try rousing himself.
Another weak header from six yards ffs.
Giroud…..ohhhhh
Should have been 4 by now.. but get one in at least!!!!!!!!
COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
It’s a NLD, you can go two points clear at the top with a win and you spend most of the game strolling about and not wanting it as much as them.
At least it wasn’t a defeat, but not good enough.
Getting a point when we look that knackered…..gotta take it
Phew…
We were really lucky there…!
Need fresh legs… soooo many injuries.. doing us in.
Good result when the going gets tough they dug in. They looked knackered at the end, the interlull is timely.
Should have won it. Enough good chances. Good to see two of the nine absentees back. Hope Santi isn’t serious.
With all the injuries. Thats not awful.
Good to see arsenal get back into the match late.
The league is really competitive this season, no game can be taken for granted as City just got reminded π
in like Gibbs?
Usual nerve wracking stuff , from my point of view I felt spurs played well and looked like getting all 3 points till Gibbs ghosted in. Thought arsenal would go on to win but they maybe resorted to lumping it in instead of playing their usual nippy stuff. Overall a good game, we ain’t a bad side this year….
The sign of a title challenge in the making is when you play like shit, Look heavy legged but still come away with something – We were fucked and didn’t lose that’s a big plus – Last few years we would defo have lost.
Need some players back sharpish,
Up The Arse,
Not too bad of a result considering
Spertz won the first half and Cech kept us in it early in the second. By the end of the game we looked the team most likely to win, Giroud really should of scored at least one.
Santi looked cream crackered in the first 45′ Alli had the better of him all half. Campbell gave it a go, but is lacking the quality to match the heart. Sanchez trying but he too looks like he was running on fumes. Ozil drifted in and out (great assist though) Per had an absolute ‘mare. Nacho, Coq and Cech our stand out performers (imho).
All in all a good point because they would of thought they had the win in the bag (after the first hour), and I must admit I was pretty impressed with the way they played. Us with a full team though (yeah, I know) would of gave them a hell of a lot more trouble.
Into the interlul we go, joint top of the league, so that can’t be bad. Hopefully when the PL returns so will some of our wounded.
UTA.
Was a good game, Dave (@101), as I said, your guys looked impressive. Pottychino doing a good job. (Damn him.)
Sharing the spoils disappointing but a fair reflection of the game. The marsh dwellers are no push over at the moment. A poor first half and much better second half – the boys dug in deep to get something out of the game. Hopefully some very tired limbs can rest over the coming weeks and some of walking wounded make a return. Still in a healthy league position so lots to look forward to.
Plenty of time for spurs to do a spurs but cheers!!
Can’t disagree, Dave – your lot look more than decent and should be favourites for that fourth place spot this time round.
Thought this game had banana skin written all over it, given how hard it is to beat the Spuds right now, the erosion of our squad and likely tired legs from a punishing schedule of late. Very, very happy with the point given our performance. As others have said, exactly the kind of result which makes you wonder if it just might be our year.
Also good to see city dropping soft points. I have said for a long time now that I think we’ll win it this season, and I saw nothing today to dissuade me of that. Obviously, the performance was ragged at best, but there was plenty of fight in that second half, and we had plenty of chances.
Have to say respect to the manager for his subs. Often accused of leaving it too late to change things, thought he was properly bold on this occasion. Not many managers sub a striker for a left back at 1-0 down at home in a derby. It worked, he should get the credit.
Lots to sort out over the international break, but we should be getting bellerin, ox and Ramsey back soon and that’ll make a massive difference.
COYG
Would be more confident of the title if we had managed to nick the victory, but a draw is by no means a bad result in the circumstances. We are still joint top. Man City must be kicking themselves harder for not beating Villa. Very happy for Gibbs who has done a lot of bench warming this season uncomplainingly (at least in public). I hope anyone who still thinks money was misspent on Ozil and Cech had their minds changed today.
Pretty good point all-in-all. Spurs are in a purple patch at the moment, and were pretty much able to play their first XI, where as we’re suffering massively with fatigue and injuries, so to snatch a point after going 1-0 down under those circumstances is not to be sniffed at. As someone else said, looking at Spurs this season, they really ought to join us, City and United in the top 4. They look a far stronger side than Liverpool, Chelsea are too far back, and I don’t see Leicester and West Ham sustaining their stellar form for too much longer. Ironically, I think Southampton might be the best outside bet for a top 4 challenge – Koeman’s assembled a very good and balanced squad down there.
As for us, some conclusions I’d draw after today’s game:
– While our back 5 seem a bit patchy in current form, one player remains consistently excellent: Nacho Monreal. Surely the best LB in the league and dark horse for our player of the season to date?
– Debuchy was better today, but every time I see him, you realise how good Bellerin is. Debuchy is all struggle and perspiration, Bellerin is pure inspiration.
– Although I was defensive of Wenger in not buying for the sake of buying in the transfer window, I did eventually side with Steve T et al when Arsenal suspiciously ruled Welbeck out for 4 months after the window had closed. In a 4-2-3-1 formation, you need 3 decent striking alternatives (particularly when one is Theo the crock, and the other is Ollie who needs plenty of rotation to keep him sharp and effective). I think we’d have given Spurs much more problems in terms of opening up space if Theo or AN Other quick front-man had been playing.
– We miss Ramsey. I remember I riled many of you when I defended Rambo after he was getting slagged off for missing loads of chances v Watford. What I meant was that he shouldn’t be solely judged on his end-product (although clearly we’d like him nearer 2013-14 form in that regard). He gives us so much industry, physicality and work off the ball, and against Spurs we looked second best in terms of fitness and physical strength – at least until Wenger beefed up the centre of the park with Arteta and Flamini. I think Ramsey does that whether playing centrally or from the right, so remember next time you criticise him, that his main job is industry, pressing and protecting the back 5 – the end-product is more the icing on the cherry.
Anyway, the international break is coming at a great time, and unlike last season when our injuries stumped us and we were 6th or 7th by Nov, at least we’re level top now. If we can hit anything like the 2nd half of season form from last year, we’ll go very, very close to the title.
PS – Odds on a Spurs v Arsenal Europa Lge final? Stranger things have happened….
* Icing on the cake* mixing my metaphors! Too many guinni…
Just saw the game and didn’t think we played that bad with some of the comments. We didn’t lose the game and that’s good enough for me. Can’t imagine losing to those lots so I say we take the point and move on. Thankfully international break is upon us and level on pts on the top of the PL is not shabby at all considering where we were a couple of months ago. Playing against Bayern and playing against Anderlect is a whole different story. I just hope some of the injured would be back soon. Welbeck/Theo/Ox/Bellerin/Ramsey. Tell me those players wouldn’t have made a difference today? Just saying.
Just left The Tollie and now sat at Highnury and Islington.
For me we played for 10 mins of the first half and about 10 in the second. The rest was poor and we struggled to keep hold of the ball.
The introduction of Gibbs gave us the one thing we were massively lacking. Pace. Pace made a massive difference.
Cech my man of the match. First half stats of only 1 shot told its own storey.
Nice to catch up with some old faces before and after the game. Probably the highlight of an average performance.
There were rumours circulating of a stomach bug doing the rounds. That may explain some of the lacklustre performances. I await an update.
One last thing.
Home fans were awesome. Even in times of woe.
Well, well.
That was close.
The spuds celebrating a draw against as though it were a win. City draw and the Scousers lose.
Things remain as they were.
π
According to the Boss,
Santi was ill,operating at about 30%,that’s why the Neighbours were able to dominate midfield for the first half.
Once you lose the midfield ascendancy,you are always going to struggle.
Once we equalized,only 1 team was going to win.
Unfortunately Giroud showed yet again that the gulf in class at the top of the Striker tree to the rest,is vast.
Given the circumstances,a point is acceptable.
Our next 4 are West Brom/Norwich/Sunderland and Villa.
With hopefully no further injuries over the break,and some returning from the sick bay,we have an opportunity to consolidate our position in the top 2.
Great pic this
http://c.files.bbci.co.uk/A422/production/_86581024_flamini.jpg
If I had been offered a draw at half time, I’d have taken it. But overall I am disappointed, we didn’t get going at all until very late in the game. That said, the fact that we did that and could even have won the game is reassuring. We knuckled down and forced a goal in the end and for those complaining about Giroud hitting the crossbar, just look at the defender almost ripping his shirt off. That’s a penalty (and arguably also a red card) all day long.
And yes, I am very well aware of Giroud arguably being guilty of a red card offense himself in the first half, but then again that should arguably also have been a penalty for us in the first situation.
Anyway, we seriously need some of our injured players back. According to physioroom.com, all three of Ramsey, Oxlade and Bellerin are expected back after the interlull. Let us hope that is true. I do think Debuchy played a lot better as the game wore on today (and he did a very good decoy run to open up space for Γzil to cross for the goal) and had a reasonably decent game but Bellerin is arguably the best right back in the league at the moment.
But you’ve got to laugh at the Spuds fans celebrating like they’d won the game at the final whistle. Don’t know if they all did it but some certainly did from what I could see on the telly. They’d just played a game against a massively injury-hit and fatigued Arsenal team, they were 1-0 up and dominating and then celebrate getting away with only one point?!? Unbelievable.
Just home from THOF via the Tollie.
Good to see some weel kent faces in the Tollie after the match but missed the Guvna and some others.
Hadn’t heard about the stomach bug until I read Steve’s post but it explains a largely lacklustre performance from most of our boys.
I thought Cech, Debuchy, Per, Kos, Nacho, Coq, Mesut, Campbell and Giroud all did themselves justice but as a whole we didn’t perform as we should have. As Steve T said, we played for 10 minutes at the beginning and 20 minutes at the end but let them have delusions of competence in between.
At the end of the day, and largely because of our indifferent first half, a draw is acceptable.
But oh dear, the neighbours really are vermin. Rose with his death antics on the line, rolling back on the pitch then sprinting back into play and his crass time wasting late on, Vertonghen’s manhandling of HFB in the box and the lighter thrown at Mesut in the corner. You are welcome to Harry the Mouthbreather as ‘one of your own’.
We should have played better and we should have won it but injuries have hurt us badly and despite them we stay on the pace.
Fuck off Tottingham, you are just cunts and always will be.
Just arrived home after a very pleasant curry with the mate I went to the game with. Haven’t back drunk deeply, but my views are unlikely to be radically different from other Holics.
Firstly Spurs played well, and are a decent team. With a bit more adventure they might have won today but Pochettino is quite conservative. But they are not a soft touch- apart from Lamela. Delle Ali and Dier bossed midfield .
As far as we were concerned we are down to the last ice lolly. Our options from the bench are limited but the Gibbs option was a good one and balanced the team better. Campbell has something but I don’t think whatever it is, he has it in enough quantity to be a success at Arsenal. If we’d signed my mate Charlie Austin we would have won today. Giroud missed some great chances and Alexis is exhausted and stale but still full of fight and quality. I thought our best players were Cech, Koscielny, Monreal and Coquelin. Ozil was excellent in the last twenty minutes but not so prominent before that. He played one deft pass to Arteta that was brilliantly disguised and his ball to Giroud from the late free kick was wonderful as was the ball to Gibbs.
We definitely need another striker given Theo’s frailty. Giroud is doing a fine job overall but isn’t an all round complete striker. 1-1 was a fair result from a strange game. Spurs are tough to beat but if they get behind they are vulnerable.
Just had a quick back drink and a stomach bug would certainly explain a thing or two. Santi was clearly unwell, we were actually talking about it down the pub during the first half and several of us said there must be something wrong with him and none of us had heard any talk of a bug at the time.
One more thing: why the ever-loving fuck was Dembele not cautioned after Atkinson very clearly told him that the next infringement would be a yellow card and Dembele then was guilty of at least two more offences after that???
TTG calls it. With Feo a regular crock and Danny clearly also having issues (not to mention his iffy strike rate), without question we need another option at striker otherwise HFB will be back on his knees again from exhaustion.
Simple, Lars (note the comma). Atkinson is also a cunt and always will be.
Ah, forgot about that little detail, Baff.
Dave, frame this. You were the better side. Not seen that in a long time, but credit where it’s due. Take care fella.
Props to you Dave . Actually you were the better side at the Lane earlier this year too. But you scarcely won a game after that. Spuds need to kick on and not keep regarding it as enough to get results here and there. I think this manager might get you to that stage but you will, like us , need to strengthen the squad. We are allowed to fantasise about dream signings at Arsenal because they so rarely materialise.
I understand the toilets for the away supporters were wrecked today on a tit for tat basis after the vandalism by Arsenal supporters in the League Cup. The club’s need to get together and ban people who think this is acceptable behaviour
Second that too TTG@127.
I’ll be the lone voice here.
Not impressed by spurs. You lot benefitted from an injury wracked arsenal.
spurs attack looked a lot to me like route 1 ball. Lump thr ball upfield and hope kane grts it. The goal was a good ball, credit there.
But Kane missed a fair few good chances as well. Hes hot property b/c hes English. End of. Dont mean to be harsh here.
Yes were actually in the game in the midfield for a change but that was largely due to Arsenal’s injuries and santi being off. Once flamini came in the balance shifted.
Lloris is class. The rest can just fuck right off. Potchettino … Meh.
Oh. And spurs weere lucky Fei was absent!
Way to show fight Arsenal. Decent point.
Oh. apologies for the typis. New phone.
Gregoire, This is the fist I’ve thought of a possible Spurs v. Arsenal Europa League final. That would be something special. Bring it on.
fist = first
Didn’t see the game but a point is a good result on a weekend like this. Come on the speedy injury recoveries.
You guys need to start playing the theme tune to the great escape, you are 12 games with more sick notes then Darren Anderton ..
A lot of teams will watch the video of this games and come prepared to Boss you..
Just when I was thinking if only we had Theo on the bench, it’s Gibbs gets the call and, hey presto! Funny old game, aye.
Not a bad team this version of the spuds, yet it was us finished stronger. Perhaps we had a slight advantage with our Saturday, Wednesday games compared to their Monday, Thursday, but I’m happy with a point under the circumstances. Losing would have been total shite.
Seeing Gibbs at LW makes me wonder all the more how Belle would go at RW. A lot better than JC I suggest. Hurry back Theo/Rambo/Ox/Belle etc etc.
Oskar
Perhaps we should buy Messi in January – just as cover till Joel beds in.
It couldnt hurt,surely.
The great escape? So when Giroud missed a number of clear cut scoring opportunities, Arsenal are the ones that got away without being well beaten? Of course…
Just watched the highlights on arsenalist.com
Giroud must be banging his head against a wall tonight.
How did he miss???
The Bloke behind me hates Giroud with a vengeance. He blames him for everything! But he was frustrating today as he can be. He misses many more than he gets but he does get into the right portions and he’s a handful. I think he is a very decent player but not good enough – on his own- to win us the title and Theo and Danny cannot be relied on to be on the pitch often enough.
I don’t expect Wenger to address it in January as Welbeck will be like a new signing but we do need an extra striker as Walcott and Welbeck can play wide and we can therefore occasionally rest Sanchez, because we desperately need to.
We also need another DM. Coquelin has improved and developed but we need another one of him better than the Flamster. Arteta is a favourite of mine but in the very fragile category together with about eight others.
I also love the BFG but he is definitely the slowest CB I’ve seen since Terry Mancini. Defending deep he’s fine but I hope Chambers can fill in as our fourth CB. I’d be inclined to loan him out and try to get an experienced CB on loan. Christopher Samba where are you? I hear the Italian Rugani at Juventus is a real possibility.
With those additions and in this league, this season we really do have a chance. A lot depends on what happens in the CL but I do hope Wenger realises that this squad isn’t strong enough ( physically not in ability) to win the league. Twelve games in and look at that list of players unavailable to us in the second half
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