The Morning After
Jan 25th, 2016 by 'holic
The morning after. I thought social media a place best avoided last night. The reaction to defeats such as this tends to be over the top, although to be fair that was another ‘Southampton’ performance from us.
There is some justification, perhaps. Playing Chelsea with eleven players (something we haven’t been able to achieve this season) has proved our most difficult task in recent seasons. Playing them with ten was always asking a lot, and particularly without the hold-up option that Olivier Giroud provides.
I see this morning that the sending off was a dubious one, and that there was no contact between Per Mertesacker and Costa. Why is that not a surprise? In fairness to Mark Clattenburg everyone around me seemed convinced the red card was justified in real time. Once more there is an argument to be made for greater use of technology in the game.
The removal of Giroud for Gabriel was a surprise, but the neighbour offered the explanation that he was carrying a knock. I wonder if he would have been the player to be substituted if we were already a goal down? Instead we survived intact for around five minutes before the loathsome Costa rubbed salt into the wounds with what would prove to be the only goal of the contest. Of the substitution Arsene offered this explanation.
“We knew we had to go deeper and then use pace. The fact is we needed to get strength on the counter attack and needed pace. That’s why I made that decision.”
Without a target man option we had to try and play our way through the massed ranks of blue when we had the ball. The visitors weren’t sitting back though and the threat of a second on the break was never far away. The Chelsea that turned up yesterday were a far cry from the outfit that has stumbled their way through the first half of the season.
We had chances. In the first-half the best of them fell to Mathieu Flamini. After the break we posed more of a threat with the introduction of Alexis and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but for all our huffing and puffing Chelsea coped comfortably with all we could offer.
Our second loss in thirteen matches need not be a trigger for a collapse in the title challenge. We have shown considerable powers of recovery after other defeats this season, but we have some testing away fixtures to come, and this result may just have sewn the seeds of doubt. After the FA Cup tie with Burnley we entertain Southampton in our next Premier League outing and we owe them a beating after they comprehensively outplayed us at St Mary’s.
On the plus side we have Alexis back, and how we need him at his best. It will be interesting to see who makes way for him, for the most likely candidate on current form is yesterday’s captain for the day, Theo Walcott. The competition may encourage the England man back to his best. Let’s hope so, for we need him as well if we are to maintain a serious challenge for English football’s greatest prize.
The pre-match and post-mortem was enjoyable as ever. The pub isn’t full of the negative influences to be found online. A few pints in fabulous company soon erodes the immediate feeling of disappointment. There are more important things in life than a defeat in a tight contest.
Have a good week, ‘holics.
67 Responses to “The Morning After”
Thanks H. Well balanced.
I’m going to be there for Southampton if anyone else is about on a Tuesday night.
Well said Guvnah.
For anyone interested, i managed to ppst a long drimk below the chevrons in the previous bar. I really can’t face transcribing it, but I must repeat my congratulations to Lurky and Mrs Lurky and my welcome to the Lurkette.
(Better spelled this time, too.)
It’s a very lame excuse to say that OG was subbed because he has a knock before the match. Had it been Per wasn’t red carded wouldn’t he be on for at least 70 min?
In every sense one of Walcott and Campbell should have been the one to be substituted since we have Alexis and Chamberlain on the bench. I don’t even know why both of them are starting ahead of Ox.
A very diplomatic post ‘holic.
Panglossdroid II @205 (from the previous drinks),
Can you please clarify your criticism of my comments towards Arsene’s tactical acumen, or lack there off yesterday once again, rather than just expect regurgitating of the usual “support the team at all costs” mantra? I support Arsenal Football Club and all of its players (whether good, bad or indifferent); I do not support just one man called Arsene Wenger the Manager and coach, especially when I have the full right to express an opinion that many have also stated since yesterday’s match that he made “yet another” tactical mistake. Discuss?
Up the Arse!
It’s not an excuse Naija. If true it is a valid reason.
http://www.footballinsider247.com/giroud-suffering-from-ankle-injury-after-chelsea-defeat/
Gutted.
I agree with Matt from the last bar that BFG cost us the game. Even if Costa scored, better 90 minutes with eleven than 70 with ten. Poor decision making on his part.
In my opinion subbing Giroud was a mistake. I understand the reason that Arsene has subsequently given about needing to sit deeper and utilising pace but I don’t agree with it. Anytime I’ve seen Chelsea this season they have sat fairly deep and looked to counter from deep. We were never going to get behind them and never did. Better to have utilised what Giroud offers, particularly from set pieces which become even more important when down to ten men.
Given Chelsea’s propensity to sit and counter from deep, I also question why we were attempting to play a high defensive line anyway, particularly with BFG.
I know that Arsene knows more than I ever will but all this seemed very strange at the time and even more so now.
Finally, what the hell has happened to Kozza? Ever since Paris he has been largely awful – his positioning has been all over the place ( he should have prevented today’s goal), he seems unable to pass to one of our own and his risky challenges in the box seem to have returned.
Unfortunately we can’t rest him so I hope that someone has a word and he can get back to the player we know he can be.
First is going to be a real battle. Let’s hope we’re up for it.
UTA.
Fine analysis, maestro.
Dreadfully disappointing outcome yesterday and some extremely poor performances and decisions both on and off the field.
Time to move on. We dropped three points to a team that is emerging from a dismal start to the season (and may turn around their season) rather than to a direct competitor for the Premiership.
We need to sort out our midfield. The Flamini-Ramsey combination has never looked secure or balanced and shows no sign of improvement. Coquelin cannot return soon enough. Elnenny will hopefully bring an improvement (if we ever see him).
The return of Alexis will hopefully knock a few under performers off their perches.
Onwards
DapperDanC – You have stated your opinion. I have stated mine. Both are opinions, both of us are entitled to hold them. If I made any suggestion that you weren’t entitled to express yours, I apologise and withdraw that suggestion.
Pangloss,
Good and thanks. We have agreed to disagree on this matter but thankfully it’s not fatal to our season. We’ll still win the title with Alexis et al returning in due course. What is important is that at least we all now know and see how important OG, or any other quality central target-man/striker, is to our contemporary method of attacking play.
Up the Arse!
Agreed we shouldn’t be too disheartened with the defeat. It will be very much forgotten by the time our next league game comes around in two weeks time.
However, it is greatly concerning looking at the table and realising that we are only 2 points above Spurs. One bad week and we could be BEHIND those tossers.
Are we really as good as we think we are?
@11
With everyone fit and fresh, we are a very, very good side. I don’t doubt that for a moment.
The big question, which will be answered in due course, is how quickly can we get the injured back into the team, and what has been the collective cost of legs and minds of effectively playing without rotation options for the last couple of months.
Getting Coquelin and Alexis back will give us a huge shot in the arm. The likes of Welbeck and Rosicky can also help give a break to some tired legs. I’m also looking forward to seeing what Elneny can add.
We have some big tests coming up: Leicester at home, Utd and Spurs away. Come through those within touching distance of the top and I will fancy our chances – our run in is relatively kind, and while every game is tough in this division we are pretty well versed at putting together a strong finish to the season, and should be in a position to do so given the returning players.
I have a funny feeling we will find ourselves going to City for the penultimate game in need of a result. Let’s see what happens from here.
Great report by the maestro, thanks to all those who help retain this place as an oasis of sanity in a howling gale of social media vacuity.
Roll on next weekend and the first game in the rest of our season.
COYG
My views are posted in the previous set of drinks do I won’t repeat these verbatim.
I must say I don’t buy the Giroud might be carrying a knock line one bit. I also think that taking Giroud off was bizarre in the extreme and potentially cost us points.
“We knew we had to go deeper and then use pace. The fact is we needed to get strength on the counter attack and needed pace. ”
I must say, if that was really the plan then surely you need someone big and strong up front to hold on to the ball and to bring the pace into the game? For me, taking OG off was one of the worst decisions Arsene has made.
Per must have thought he would get to the ball otherwise he would not have made the challenge. He got it wrong. The reaction of Costa though was an utter disgrace and one he should be taken to the cleaners for. It won’t happen but I genuinely hate it.
One shot on target tells you all we need to know. We were poor and did not really look like scoring. If only that chance that Flam missed in the first half had fallen to OG????
The return of Alexis is a massive bonus. Boy how we have missed him. There is a gulf in class between the likes of Akexis and Ozil and the rest of the squad at times.
Onwards and upwards. Who knows what Arsenal side will turn up against Burnley and Southampton. I hope it’s one that plays with a bit more cohesion than yesterday’s shambles.
@Steve
For what it’s worth, there was a rumour five minutes before kick off that Giroud was crocked and wouldn’t start. Sky also interviewed him before the game and asked if he was carrying a knock, to which he replied “how do you know about that”?
I’ve no idea how bad the ankle thing is, or whether he could have played on, but it doesn’t appear to be a post hoc justification the club have cooked up. It was being spoken about before the sub.
Agree with all the rest, a real day to forget.
Belated congratulations to the expanded Lurky household.
Sober assessment, ‘Holic. An infuriating three points to have lost, but, come the end of the season, it will just be three points like any other.
As for the substitution, let me repeat what I said in the previous drinks, any choice was a gamble with the odds against, as is inevitable when you go down to 10 men. There was logic to the Giroud sub in that Theo’s pace on the counter against a slow defence was potentially more threatening than Giroud’s hold-up play which would have left us potentially underloaded in midfield. On the day, Theo didn’t deliver partly because Hiddink neutralised him by playing 2-4-3-2-1. But the truth of it is that AW was going to be damned whatever decision he made.
As for Costa, he has mastered the old Rooney trick of tripping yourself up at speed by dragging your toes of your trailing leg on the ground. The other giveaway that it was dive is that he held his thigh while writhing in alleged agony, a part of his body Mertesacker was nowhere near.
May Costa be forever hamstrung….
…and Chelski relegated too!
Cheers H!
It was well reported externally that Giroud has done his ankle in training; were big rumours he would not even start. However he should never have been sacrificed, and I think the boss was being a little bit disingenuous bringing up the knock, to excuse what was a poor decision. Theo should have been the one to depart. Lets face it we basically played the cunts with 9, not 10.
Still done and dusted now.
Ozil’s transfer details have been leaked
Nothing too startling, in fact no surprises at all. Apart from the sell on clause being a bit hefty.
The basic fee was 44m euros, with 1m euros to be paid every time we qualify for the Champions League for the first six years of his time here.
The sell on is that we have to pay Real Madrid 33% of any profit on a fee exceeding 50m euros.
We also have to give them first dibs if he goes back to Spain.
Cynic@18: ‘First dibs’ clauses seem to be becoming the norm. Spurs have one on Bale with RM should he come back to the Premiership.
@19
Ahhh. That well-trodden path from Real Madrid to Tottenham Hotspur. I bet the lad can’t wait!
As I anticipated in the previous drinks, the Costa factor was our downfall. I agree with virtually everything that has been said regarding the substitution. The look on my face, caught by the TV cameras, as I applauded Giroud as he left the pitch says it all!
At least the lovely Hector didn’t disappoint and the company on the train home provided some lively entertainment. I trust Roger will lighten the mood with some scintillating play in the Aussi Open qtrs and may be Semis.
On to Burnley, who are the TV match tonight. Seems they are in good form and will be no pushovers. We do need to put in one of our better performances with a convincing win before meeting Southampton next Tuesday. A lot will depend on how quickly Alexis finds his top form and what Arsene can do to sort out the failing mid-field duo. Seems the resolution of the situation rests on the early return of Le Coq, which can’t be soon enough.
COYRs
I’ve been trying to come to terms with the fact that TTG, Bon viveur, connoisseur or good wine and beautiful women is now an OAP.Today Ive been besieged with social media reminding me I am now decrepit.Mrs TTG could have told them that years ago.
That would be much easier to stomach if we’d done the Chavs yesterday. Never has a more odious club existed and I can say that I turned to my neighbour as Scumbag went gyrating in agony and said ‘ he dived’. In the moral vacuum that constitutes professional football Costa is commended for doing it well and that is one of the problems. Deceit is lauded as much as honesty if it’s carried through proficiently. Costa is beyond loathsome and one can only hope his career comes to a grisly end.
Having said that the best players on the pitch were in blue. Oskar saw a completely different game to me because I thought Ozil was far and away our most effective player and had Theo not been the craven weakling he so often is in big games we might have benefited from the German’s enormous industry and endeavour. Aside from that Cech, our full- backs and Sanchez and Ox were the only players who emerged with much credit. Surely Elneny even raw and unused to the EPL would have been more effective than Flamini who missed two good opportunities, got the run around in midfield and created more confusion in our area than Costa for the goal. Hopefully that’s his last start this season.
But it’s behind us, we don’t have to play them again and the cavalry is returning. N7 points out we are still in a great position as did Pangloss yesterday and they are right.
Yesterday was a very bad day but don’t let’s lose perspective. Wenger teams bounce back well and we will again. Keep the faith!
Now for my Wincarnis and a lie down
N7. If Giroud is fit then he plays. If he’s not then he doesn’t. If it’s a knock on the ankle it’s not to be mucked about with.
Very bizarre decision and a very wrong decision in my opinion.
I hope this new norm” of its just one game” doesn’t continue for too long. We have been saying the same thing for the past three games. Only 2 pts from three games is not good enough. Yeah, we are just 3pts behind first place, but I hope it doesn’t turn to 5,6,7 pts and then we go back to, well at least we are in the top four. I have this feeling that this is our year to win the PL finally. COYG!!!!!! Finally we have a horrible record against Chelshit (recently). Playing them with 11v11 or not, that’s just the facts.
Many happy returns TTG. Don’t let your number of years get you down, there are many who would like to have reached that number but fell short.
Cheers Holic…..your much needed perspective to the fore.
Very disappointing to lose yet again to that loathsome bunch. I would have been happy with any shit performance by us just for a win over them.
The OG substitution still remains a leetle bit the controversy. If OG was fit enough to start, then he should be fit enough to last at least until the 70 min subs. His ability to hold up the ball until others came into play would have been useful. However AW saw it otherwise – it turned out to be a poor decision, but it would have been a great move if it had worked out and praises would be sung. Some you win, some you lose.
Fortunately we are still in a good league position, perhaps even surprising considering our injury crises up to now. All still to play for but form and results need to move forward again pdq.
Our last men standing midfield is now looking very suspect and a revamp with Le Coq and Elneny as twin DMs, Rambo shunted back to wide right and Alexis back wide left, Mesut in the middle and one of OG / TW up top would freshen things up for the next few games. That’s a 4-2-3-1 combo. Maybe worth a try v Burnley?
Congratulations Lurky.
And to TTG.
May you both be blessed. And may you both remember that every day is a blessing.
And may you witness many more Arsenal victories and trophies won!
TTG Congratulations on the milestone. Remember it’s not how old you are but how old the woman you are feeling that’s important 😉
I know we might not buy anyone else in this transfer window, but if Isco becomes available I think that’s a player that will definitely improve our midfield a great deal.
On yesterdays performance, you or any other regular in this bar might improve our midfield a great deal. :0s
Many thanks for the good wishes
@TTG: Congrats for becoming a free man 😉
@Lurky: Congrats as well, although not that free anymore!
Welcome to the club TTG. You are now a fully accredited curmudgeon with the right to hold and express any opinion you like without need for justification or apology. As you may have observed from my own offerings here it isn’t even necessary to believe your own pot stirring, just sit back and enjoy how seriously some choose to rebut.
Although I still stand by my opinion (expressed here at least two years ago) that the whole injury-prone generation – Theo, Ox, Rambo, Jack, Gibbo etc – should be shipped out of the club in a gradual rebuilding programme. Yes that does include Theo who I would swap tomorrow for Riyad Mahrez or Luca Moura in a heartbeat.
Oskar
Mahoosive congrats to Lurky and TTG.
A good day. Bollocks to the match yesterday. That aside it has been two lovely days.
eff off the lotta ye
And you
GSD@20: 🙂
Ttg@22: it is only when you can’t look forward to being a curmudgeon that all hope is lost.
cba@35: the voice of reason.
and with that, thank you and to vigils…
cba, 🙂
Morning all
Morning P. Here’s to a good one.
Morning All. I’m always up for a good day!
I’ve left some freshly baked pastries on the bar. The apple danishes are particularly good…
Not a lot of blistering repartee in here this morning. We may havr to fall back on mindless abudr. Where’s José Mourinho when you need him? He can’t really be on his way to Old Toilet can he?
That should, of course, have read.”…mindless abuse”.
D’oh.
Il pleure dans mon coeur
Comme il pleut sur la ville.
Quelle est cette langueur
Qui pénêtre mon coeur ?
O bruit doux de la pluie
Par terre et sur les toits !
Pour un coeur qui s’ennuie,
O le chant de la pluie !
Il pleure sans raison
Dans ce coeur qui s’écoeure.
Quoi ! nulle trahison ?
Ce deuil est sans raison.
C’est bien la pire peine
De ne savoir pourquoi,
Sans amour et sans haine,
Mon coeur a tant de peine.
You and me both, mush.
Have we bought anyone yet???
Jenkinson evidently suffered a serious knee injury vs. Citeh and could be sidelined for a lengthy period. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
That could change the plan to loan Debuchy, or (more likely) get AW to look for cover before the deadline.
Nah Steve.
But the return of Pangloss is Like A New Signing. Wink.
Pangloss out for 3 weeks???
Crystal Palace – Where old Arsenal strikers go to die.
Pangloss should never have bought my old spillchucker. It’s ruined his syntax. Or should that be Sin Tax?
Re Jenkinson he seems to have deteriorated rapidly this season and now they’ve injured him for the rest of the season, Thanks Hammers we can do that perfectly well on our own.
Bayonne
I understand Debuchy is going to Villa but may return if Arsene wants him back because of injuries . Which he almost certainly will.
Steve T
We are about to buy two Nigerian lads who are the dog’s testicles and will be ready to break though in the next five years. So quiet down lad.
TGSTEL is not going to Palace who have signed Adebayor. It would have been nice to see those two in harness again. They gelled so well together.
Since I’ve become an OAP I’ve become a tad sarcastic
Pardieu to take the piss when we play Palace with Adebayor and Chamakh up top, surely?
We could get Sanogo back just to make it fair. I’m guessing he is still masquerading as footballer somewhere????
Sanogo went to Palace last year too didn’t he? Surely they are ‘ aving a larf’ over at Selhurst???
I’d be bloody delighted to be back in only three weeks. I’m pleasantly surprised at the thought that SteveT, TTG and GSD would be too. Thank you, I’m touched. I suspect you may be too.
COYG
Next Palace game should be a guaranteed clean sheet for Petr then…
Oskar
@41
I reckon that you get out of life what you put into it. And that thinking positively goes a long way.
I have had a seriously good day.
My best wishes to you all. Nightcaps are on the bar.
Fine report H
Not much if anything to add.
The Cavalry is coming over the hill,so would rather reserve judgement on our Title chances,until they are back and firing.
With the injuries we have suffered to key personnel over the past few months,i think we have done remarkably well to still be within touching distance of the summit.
There is still a long way to go.
My one beef with some of the less technically blessed players in the squad,is our criminal lack of ball retention when in possession.
Since the shellacking at Southampton on Boxing day,we seem to have regressed even further in that department.
Giving it away with reckless abandon,like an ageing Lady of the Night desperate for a quid.
I accept that in the helter skelter, 100 mile an hour,frenetic pace of the EPL,that you get very little time to think,so players that can remain calm in the eye of the storm are essential.
Not sure if we have enough of them unfortunately.
In sad news this morning,another domino from my youth falls.
As Uply/TTG and other old time Holics will testify,
Ray Pointer was a classical centre forward for Burnley in the 50/60’s.
Tall and elegant,he scored plenty of goals for the Club,and was a member of the squad that won the title in 1960.
Died peacefully in hospital in Blackpool aged 79.
First things first –
congratulations to TTG and Lurky, for quite different reasons.
A new baby, helpless and dependant, to look after for one. And I’m sure the other won’t have failed to notice that we leave this life as we arrive in it – with no hair, no teeth and unable to walk, dress or feed ourselves, although I sincerely hope and expect that that is a good way off yet.
Pardon me, i seem to have forgotten the more than usually essential ???
As for the Chelsea game, i see no need to raise my stress levels for another day when we are already half way to the next game.
A deeply disappointing day. We desperately need our injured players back. We have one or two we really need to get rid of.
Nuff said.
RIP. Ray Pointer.
There are a flew glimpses of him playing for England in this:
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/england-v-portugal-aka-england-2-portugal-1
They are dropping like flies.
Peter Baker, full back of the Spuds’ Double side gone, too.
http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/peter-baker-tottenham-1961-double-winner-dies-aged-84-a3166411.html
Sad news re Ray Pointer a fine player for Burnley and England and Peter Baker. It seems people shuffle off the mortal coil even if Aaron Ramsey doesn’t score!
If is halfway to the next game at 10am in the eastern hemisphere, what does it make halfway to the next game over here? Jus’ wondering, Trev. 😀
Giving it away with reckless abandon,like an ageing Lady of the Night desperate for a quid.
So much for hyper-inflation, eh Clive?
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