We Don’t Have To Win, But Do It Anyway Arsenal
Jan 15th, 2016 by 'holic
31/3/34 Stoke City 1-1 Arsenal; 06/10/34 Stoke City 2-2 Arsenal
23/10/37 Stoke City 1-1 Arsenal; 07/2/48 Stoke City 0-0 Arsenal
29/11/52 Stoke City 1-1 Arsenal; 26/9/70 Stoke City 5-0 Arsenal
So you have heard various matches described down the years, and indeed this season, as ‘must win’ fixtures. After we could only draw at Anfield on Wednesday I saw this weekend’s trip to Stoke described as ‘must win’.
Leaving aside the fact that we are level on points at the top of the Premier League with Leicester going into the third weekend in January with 17 fixtures remaining, take a look at the scorelines above. I’m sure the older ones among you will have quickly worked out the link. I’ll give you another minute…
…That’s it. These are the results we have had at Stoke in the seasons when they were in the top flight of English football and we went on to win the League title. Played 6, won 0, drew 5, got well and truly rogered 1. Still think Sunday’s match is ‘must win’?
Now obviously I hope, and genuinely believe, that this season will prove to be the exception to the rule. However if that doesn’t prove to be then the worst case (even another rogering!) will be that we trail Leicester City by one, two, or three points with sixteen matches to play. Just take another moment or two to contemplate that and store it for a bit of perspective, should it be required, on Sunday evening.
Of course a win on Sunday would be preferable, and today’s (Friday) Arsene Wenger press conference provided a couple of boosts ahead of the trip to the Britannia. Most significant was the news that Alexis is a 60:40 chance to be back in the squad. I wouldn’t rush him back in freezing conditions against Ryan Shawcross, and I’m sure the management team wouldn’t unless they were absolutely as certain as they can be of his readiness.
Then of course there is the possibility of the midfield being boosted by the presence (on the bench?) of new boy Mohamed Elneny. I have never seen him play but a man whose judgement I trust (yes, I mean you @AFCfreddie8) has done and he rates him. That’s good enough for me. It will take him a while to settle so I hope we don’t over-burden him with expectation. Francis Coquelin is closing in on a full recovery so hopefully we are nearing a situation where we have genuine options in the middle of the park again.
We have no new injuries from Wednesday, so that is good news. Provided that all have recovered by Sunday morning there is no real reason to tinker with the starting eleven. One of the factors that has helped us maintain our challenge is the stability of recent weeks when we have been down to the bare bones and the players have worked their plums off for one another (Southampton aside – again an exception that proves the rule).
As for Stoke, well it would be a fool who didn’t acknowledge their advance under Hughes, loathesome thought though that may be. Not one of the mid-table clubs has used the promise of greater television riches better. They have an attacking force the envy of some of those who would expect to finish above them as if by right, but fortunately this weekend Xherdan Shaqiri is ruled out and Marko Arnautovic is a doubt.
The options, however include Afellay, Bojan Krkic, Mame Diouf and Joselu, not forgetting the evergreen Crouch, Walters, and Odemwingie. That battalion of attackers has them just four points off Tottenham, currently occupying the fourth Champions League berth. You can be sure they are daring to dream as much as we are and will give it everything on Sunday.
But the Arsenal they ain’t…
The ‘holic pound
They can play all the strikers they want, but Hughes will know it is how his defence and midfield cope with their Gunners counterparts that will determine this one. It is fair to say we never really know which Arsenal will turn up, but the spirit in the squad, and the tantalising proximity of English football’s greatest prize, will surely ensure we are well and truly at it on Sunday, whatever ‘it’ needs to be?
They are looking at Hector Bellerin, Aaron Ramsey, Joel Campbell, Mesut Ozil, and Olivier Giroud, and wondering how on earth they can stop us at the weekend, make no mistake about that. If form counts for anything there will be goals in this one so I am encouraged to chuck a real hail Mary this week.
How about 2-4 in favour of Arsenal? Is it really as outrageous prospect as the 90/1 being offered by one major bookie would suggest? I don’t think so, and I am most definitely on it.
So there, four days of my mini dry January complete (how well have those of you doing the full month done, well played) it is time to unwind with a mug of Rosie and whatever Scooby snacks I can find hidden around the place. As usual I wish those of you heading to Mordor on Sunday a wonderful afternoon and a victory to silence the locals. As for the rest of you…
Have a great one, ‘holics.
135 Responses to “We Don’t Have To Win, But Do It Anyway Arsenal”
Bang
Fine piece, ‘H.
I hope the oft-repeated pleas for perspective that it includes will prove to be unnecessary. In the interests, however, of full disclosure may I point out that every time we have done the double when Stoke City were in the top division, we got a good rogering up there?
COYG
Indeed so, Pangloss 😉
Get out while you still can Holic! 🙂
Off to read the pearls….
Well, that is a Hail Mary all right, H. You need to add more whisky to your water. 😀 Nice preview, H.
I have no idea what to expect on Sunday except some unnecessary violence.
Expect Mesut to get rotational clattering until the ref shows a yellow. Pray God it’s someone decent. Although Sparky has given them a bit of silk, he was not averse to dishing out some physical violence himself and his teams have never been shrinking violets. There’s an old Spanish proverb that fits this Stoke team perfectly:
“An ape in silk is still an ape.”
I hope the boys are ready for a scrap and Elnenny’s extra muscle will almost certainly prove useful. The presser today suggests we have been watching him for a year and he has been training with our fitness coaches for two weeks while waiting for his work permit. I think we will see him in the gold and blue.
COYGs
A fine response bath. We’re up for a scrap though, of that I have no doubt.
Only one of the Arsenal goals scored in the draws referenced above wasn’t scored by someone called Cliff.
In case you wondering. Which you probably weren’t…
Up The Arse!
😀
Wake up and smell the coffee………..Stoke 3 Arse’nall 0
An uplifting epistle, Holic. I was decorating my Christmas tree during our visit to Mordor last season and time passed me by. After the final bauble had been placed I realised that some football had been played and that Chelsea had dropped points. Celebrations began! Then I got onto the stream for our game and it was 3-0 to Stoke. Nightmare!
We came back really well in the 2nd half and had Alexis netted rather than hitting the post after sprinting the length of the pitch I’m quite sure we’d have gone on to win rather than lose 3-2.
2-4 does not seem at all unlikely. Good luck to the Arsenal, to Aaron Ramsey and to the Holic Pound 🙂
And should we, perchance, lose, will the Arseholes who berated the boss at Mordor station kindly refrain this time around. Please.
Do Orcs drink coffee?
One of life’s great mysteries that, BtM. 🙂
How lovely to see the webbed fingers and toes wonder back…
Holic,
I myself am attempting a dry January and it’s ok if you can spend eighteen hours a day in bed. I watched Wednesday’s match with my usual companion who sits next to me at THOF and his two sons who were on a dry January too.
Imagine my surprise then when I saw several bottles of Budweiser and an empty bottle of red wine as I entered his lounge . They had all dropped off the wagon but not me( he says smugly). Tomorrow I’m watching a rugby match a friend is sponsoring but I’m driving and despite the availability of alcohol there I shall resist.
Still the weight is falling off me not to mention the high octane sex life I am enjoying…..I won’t mention it because it’s a figment of my imagination caused by alcohol deprivation?
Oh yes football. I’m interested that we are being damned with the faintest of praise as we are leading the league but only because it is the weakest in memory. I’m interested that the team who were pilloried because of our tactical naivety are now being castigated for taking off Walcott, Ozil and Campbell and shoring things up at Anfield. I think Wenger did the right thing with two exhausted players and one who wasn’t in the game.
I reckon you’re half right on Sunday. We will win 2-1 instead of 4-2 but it’s three points all the same
Always hated that Johnny Giles, the snide and dirty little git.
Read this for a bloke who isn’t in touch with what’s happening this season
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/john-giles-arsene-wenger-needs-a-hero-but-its-not-mesut-ozil-34368409.html
Thanks for the link TTG, but I declined to read Mein Kampf and I decline to read Johnny Giles. Never liked the fella. I don’t see why I should pay him any heed.
Excellent preview Boss. I’m not going to see this one until after the event and I doubt I’ll find out the score before I see the recording so it would be lovely to come home to your 4-2.
“I have no idea what to expect on Sunday except some unnecessary violence.”
Baff, that had me chuckling. Then I thought about how true it was and the smiles faded. I hope Rambo scores a hat-trick and that Shawcross slips over at the crucial moment for all three.
I’m pleased we got Elneny. Welcome and good luck. He is not a player I remember even hearing of before but he seems the right profile and apparently, unlike our usual January signings, his body is not made from painted loo rolls tied together with fizzy laces, so that’s good too.
Evening H
Not a bad summation for someone going cold turkey.!
Remembering how slowly we started the game at the Potteries last season,and were the same at Anfield on wed night,i am sure Mark Hughes will be telling his players to go for the jugular from the off.
Like you,i have to say,Stoke have bought very well,and have some really good footballers,whilst still retaining that hard physical edge that they have always had.
Having said that,if little old Norwich can go there and keep them scoreless for 45 mins,then we should be capable of doing the same.
I would really love it to see us be positive from the start,and actually take the lead for once,instead of always falling behind and having to chase the game.
As for the team,if Alexis is only a 60/40 chance of playing,then i just would not risk him,even from the bench.
Far rather have him 80/20 come the Chelsea game and play him for an hour in that.
He could then have another fitness run against Burnley in the Cup to get up to full speed.
Not sure Elneny can play at Stoke,as he hasn’t played any football since early Dec.
Again for me,a full weeks training with the squad next week,and play him against Chelsea.
So for me it looks like the same 11 start at Stoke,with the possible exceptions of Arteta for Flamini and maybe Gabriel for Per.
How much fatigue will be in the legs and minds of our boys after the Anfield thriller,only they know.
But whoever we pick,would they please remember that the game starts from the first whistle,not after 45mins when we are 3 nil down. !
I was summoned. Here I am.
Use me wisely.
Cheers H – a nice preview as usual, same quality with or without the aid of liffy water.
The Orcs this season have looked very good at times but very ordinary at other. As Clive knowingly says, they will come at us like an express train right from the start a this has reaped rewards in previous seasons. We will need to be up for it straight from kick off or we will pay the price.
Do not think its a game for Arteta to start as he currently seems physically frail and a tad slow – the Orcs will look to blow him away. They have added some actual footballers to their entourage this season (Bojan etc) plus young Jack Buckland is looking like the best English keeper around at the moment ( I know there’s not a lot to beat ).
All in all to come away with 3 points would be a massive statement for the rest of our season and title prospects. Your 4-2 seems a tad optimistic Holic but should the punt come in at 90-1 perhaps your dry spell may also come to a premature close 😉
TTG, thanks for the John Giles link but he has been a total cunt all his life, and like Bath I will not take the trouble to open it.
COYRRR
How lovely to see the webbed fingers and toes wonder back…
You called?
Giles and Bremner,what a nasty,dirty little pair of bastards they were on the pitch.
I remember Bremner getting Eddie Kelly sent off in the double winning season at Highbury,midweek match if memory serves,early Sept. ?
It was middle game of 3 tough ones.
Chelsea away,Leeds home midweek,then Spuds home on the Saturday.
I remember my Dad complaining about the expense of 3 games in a week,train fares/programmes/food etc,and how he would have to work overtime to make up for it.!!
He would have a heart attack at the prices it cost today!!
For those who didn’t open the Giles link I can tell you he has doubts about the fish god’s ability to lead us to the title. In particular Giles believes he showed no inclination to roll up his sleeves and take control of the game as a truly great player would have done after Kos put us ahead.
All anathema to Özil worshippers of course, however many grains of truth there may be in it. And a bit unfair too, imo, insofar as none of Poo’s goals had anything to do with him. But still a trait I have seen, and noted here, too many times in the past.
Yes, I still expect a bit more from a player of Özil’s reputation and undoubted ability. Especially against teams with defences as weak as Poo had in this match.
Oskar
I spent an evening with the great Frank Mclintock once where he regaled me with his views of quite how cuntish Giles was as a player- by far the nastiest player he ever played against- I first typed Nasriest. Perhaps he was that as well.
I posted it to show how lazy some pundits are. I didn’t expect anyone to agree with it?
And we won 3-1 away at Swansea in the Youth Cup?
If your bet comes through Guvnor and you have put enough on it that major bookie will no be so major any more. 🙂
Even nicer for the Arsenal feelgood factor tho.
Orcs away? Who knows what will happen. Yet again it will depend totally on what Arsenal side actually turns up. 2-4 is probably about as realistic as any score I would suggest.
I’m in total agreement with Clive. Stoke on a freezing Sunday afternoon is no place for a 60-40 Sanchez. Leave him at home nice and warm in front of the fire. I would sincerely hope that he had learned that lesson.
I will be at rugby all morning on Sunday so that should set me up nicely.
Here’s to 3 points and everyone returning home with all of their limbs intact. Then it will be time to raise a glass or two. Dry January???? Have you ever heard of anything so stupid in all your life???
?
Ciive, Ttg et al@various above. That Giles-Bremner Leeds team — never was so much talent and so much evil combined.
SteveT@27: ‘Holic goes on the wagon and we get the first January hurricane in the Atlantic since 1938. Disruption of the natural order? Need I say more…
Mark Randall, formerly of this parish and once touted as a great prospect (managed two Premiership appearances as a sub in 2008), has joined Barnet on a free. Another kid who bounced around loans with no great success before being released, and who has had difficulty in finding a club since. It ‘s a tough life.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35313457
Ned knows. As usual. Always the voice of reason.
Can’t believe the Clive is upset with Bremner and Giles. Surely they were both little more than puppy dogs compared to those turning out for the Ramblers?
Fine preview, Holic.
My oh my, that Orcish humour is irresistible – and about as funny as their fans horrible, classless chanting of “One Ryan Shawcross” every time Aaron Ramsey’s name is announced in the stadium.
We all know the story and while they have recruited some good footballers in the last couple of seasons, they still have the thug at the back and one or two others – Adam, Arnautovic – to satisfy the miserable ranks massed on their terraces.
Let’s hope we use our attacking threat to dominate, and win, this one and, should we get ahead, not sit back and invite them on as we did on Wednesday.
I have read the runes and they say it’s Stoke and we never win there.
Arsene says there a no strikers out there better than Welbeck, who he says will be ready in 2 weeks…..then another 2 weeks…..then another month. On that basis there are a few hundred strikers out there better than Welbeck!
are
Hear hear, Trev, let’s never sit back. Offence is more often a better defence than bringing on bench defenders who can take a while just getting into the game. I also think it tells the opposition that we’re worried about their ability to come back.
Oskar
Master of psychological tactics, Oskar. Always one move ahead of Wenger, etc., etc. That said, I can’t argue with what you say and think the pressure ee got was the pressure we invited.
@33
There is only one true rune-reader and I am here to tell you that the mighty Arse will beat the Orcs 2-0 and thus provide you with the deliverance that you need.
Keep the faith.
It was so refreshing to read the pre match post and sense the optimism here. Wish i could have the same but just do not seem to. As written by a few here, the game starts from minute 1 and not 45, additionally for all the skill they have added, stoke are a bunch of rogues and they will play their role to perfection.
Arsenal need to start off better. The way to beat them is by pace and again the role of theo will be in sharp focus. He needs to step up. it is a tough place to go to, the weather will be battering and cold, the stoke thugs will stand on the Arsenal players quite literally and we need to wriggle out of that.
This is a must win, the draw at pool was 2 points dropped so we need these 3 points badly.
In terms of the article on Mesut, i wont read it. I love him, yes he has good and not so good games but for me is brilliant. He is a leader in his own right and does so with elan than flap his hands and shout all day ala flamini( no disrespect).
Please do not risk Alexis, once he comes back he needs to play till the end of the season and lead us to the title. Flamini and Ramsey pivot is not working and i hope Aaron can please contain himself and offer the support to flamini, for without him doing so and knowing Flamini’s lack of positional awareness, this would a disaster waiting to happen.
These are the games wherein we need to win hook or crook, well we do not know how to to be crooks, lets win it our way, the Arsenal way.
Here is to three points each to Sunderland, Palace and Villa today — and three to us tomorrow.
howdy all
nice write up ‘hol
and indeed
should the ‘holic pound come in
i shall be filling in all appropriate documentation
and worshipping you as the god’holic
UP THE ARSENAL
Agree with all here that Alexis shouldn’t be risked at Stoke if he’s only 60-40. The league won’t be won or lost tomorrow (although a win would be hugely welcome), and if he twangs his tender hamstring tissues again, it could lead to a much, much lengthier absence which would probably see him out till the Spring time. As Steve T says, let him put his feet up by the fire for one more week, and then let’s slowly integrate him back during the Chelsea and Burnley home games.
I’d imagine it’s too soon for Elnenny to start too. As Uply said, I can’t see Stoke away being the sort of game to start Arteta, so I’d imagine we muddle on one more time with the current XI (perhaps swap Mertesacker for Gabriel as Stoke’s front 3 – including our nemesis, Walters – is now quite mobile)?
After tomorrow, we can take stock a tad. Elnenny will have had a week’s training, Alexis should be fully fit, Rosicky will be close to contention, even Danny and Jack are back in full training, and apparently the Coq is making a quick recovery. All augurs to another 2nd half of the season surge?….
Oh yes, I’m here again. ?
Double strength blackcurrant and apple squash. This is living. 🙂
With 7 minutes of time added on, at 98:30 (!), Terry scores an equalizer from a clear offside position at the bus stop. Abramovich with a big transfer to Mike Jones’ bank account.
For years as a boy my father thought that stuff was flavourless if drunk neat.
He had completely misunderstood the phrase ‘dilute to taste’.
Lucky Chelski again!!!!
Nevermind… be happy if they draw the entire season away….
still 14th!
🙂
Plenty of flavour GSD, but I’m not sure I can manage a week of it without getting mouth ulcers.
Holic
At rugby today a fellow sufferer of dry January told me about a particularly fierce ginger beer that you can get in most supermarkets. Then as he finished he said’ How pathetic is it to have two grown men praising the virtues of ginger beer?’
That said it all to me.
But I’m sixteen days in. My problem is I have my sixty fifth birthday on Monday week and a dear friend’s seventieth on Saturday week. Those are going to be hard to stay dry throughout
A sign of how demanding the PL is,that in a week where all the teams that played away from home midweek,all had to back up with their 2nd away game on the trot today,couldn’t manage a win between them.
Even Leicester coming off that great win at our neighbors,couldn’t beat Villa.
Whether the extra days rest will prove to be the diff for us tomorrow,time will tell.
TTG, do not stay dry on birthdays. Hence why I didn’t start until Tuesday, and I will end it before next Sunday’s visit by the bus stop in Fulham. That will be twelve days more than I stopped last year. Be grateful kidneys. 😉
You simply cannot do that TTG. How many 65th birthday celebrations will you have? If you cannot give yourself a day’s exemption (to drink only the finest of fine wine and spirits) you could add an extra day on 1 Feb to make up for your celebration.
There is also no evidence that 31 consecutive days is better for your liver than Holic’s 12 days abstemption, followed by the balance made up over a subsequent period which could be the recommended 2 days per week for the next 10 weeks.
I have exemptions for my daughter’s birthday (9/1) and tax return completion day. 🙂
Many congratulations when your big day comes.
Countryman junior and I headed to Mordor for our first away trip of the season tomorrow. We’ll be surrounded by pals from the North Bank and it’s going to be freezing. I think colours diplomatically under the coat twixt car and stadium. Actually feeling very optimistic – Come on you Gunners!
Bath
You are very persuasive. I think I will quote you to myself!
Holic
One of the great virtues of this estimable place is the good advice you receive. My liver needs alcohol- it keeps telling me.
Interesting that Citeh in a very busy week are home twice to Palace and Everton whilst Leicester and ourselves are away twice . Tough games too. Somehow that seems a little unfair. Driving back this afternoon and listening on BBC and TalkShite I get the impression that there is huge affection for Coteh. Not sure why perhaps with the BBC its part of their campaign to position Manchester as centre of the universe.
Tonight’s interesting fact courtesy of Opta….
“Leicester have been top of the league for 33 days this season. Spurs have been top for 33 days since the Premier league started in 1992!!!”
Just saying.
?
33 days for the spuds, Steve-T? That many? I am surprised.
Oskar
An average of 1.375 days a year Oskar.
My guess is that the vast majority of those days would have been at the start of the season.
TTG, you know it makes sense.
Bath, I have to make up the nineteen. Well that isn’t even two a month, never mind two a week, damn it! 🙂
Holic,
Which is doing more damage – drinking or the stress of not drinking ? ?
Good luck, mate, whichever side you land on.
Oops ! Forgot to change the name back &60. ?
@61 a hazard of the trade, mate. 😉
Smilin’ 🙂
Actually Trev, it isn’t as hard as I thought. If I compared it to cigs this is a doddle.
Rumour has it that Ozil may not play ? Hoping for the best but dreading the worst, we need to stay strong from the start and try and silence the crowd, no easy task at Stoke.
My drinking being well within the new recommended limits, I am off to the village pub at lunch time with my friend Beryl to fortify myself for what is going to be a very difficult watch later on this afternoon.
COYRs
it’s the impenetrable dullness of being
on the water wagon
that’s the feckin killer for me
.
nowt reminds me of my boring bastard self more
than a week off the swally
.
and bath
a noble thing you did for thunder T
top shelf stuff indeed sir
and
early birthday greetings m’lud
now
where’s those stoke shitehawks ?
Watch out Delia- don’t get lead astray. I hear Beryll is a peril.
This morning I have seen a lady wearing a red snoopy jumper with the legend ‘be cool’ on it as well as a young girl in purple dungarees. An auspicious start, I feel.
I hope all Holics everywhere have a wonderful day!
And as a teetotaller I’m not buying for a second that you lot are all a bunch of boring sods without the fun juice. If you feel seriously glum then put one of these on and you are guaranteed to cheer right up!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dinosaur-Mascot-Adult-Costume-Size/dp/B00NP3KQ1M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1453028290&sr=8-3&keywords=dinosaur+costume+adult
Many thanks CBA it’s still a week off yet but coming to terms with being an OAP is not easy for a young stud ? like me!
A link that might interest some of our elderly patrons. 😉
A photo archive of old pubs was skipped, but rescued, and it’s all online…
http://www.historypin.org/en/national-brewery-heritage-trust-s-collection/geo/54.031646,-2.292043,7/bounds/52.323249,-4.533254,55.672624,-0.050832
Sadly no Ozil today at the home of the Orcs. He’s apparently been playing while injured. I wondered why he had been so poor this season?
Mesut out. A real test of your will power, ‘holic.
Great link, Cynic. Thank you :-).
No test Bayonne, Even more confident of 2-4 now! 🙂
Off to start this live typing nonsense shortly. May delay at final whistle though if a rethink is required.
sign ronnie
thunder T
may it be an indication
ye work too hard
ye always hither thither and yon
meetings , dinners , travelling
sit down
sit on yer hole
when’s the last time ye were at home
do ye have a home ?
have ye misplaced it in the hub bub ?
(sounds like a shoreditch beardy bar)
anyhoo
.
.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
CBA
Have you been talking to Mrs TTG?
She says much the same!
Don’t they say Home is where the heart is? That must be at the Grive then !
Back from the pub clutching not one but two raffle prizes, a decent bottle of red and a large box of fresh fruit which I shared with Beryl, must be my lucky day. Even without Ozil with this luck it’s an away win, isn’t it ?
COYRs
C’mon boys three points
come on you gunners!
I would take a point right now. With the team sheet we have , it would be a miracle to get anything more than a draw
1 minute 40 secs to the first rugby tackle. Will it be Theo Walcott or Theo Wallflower today, I wonder?
Pardon my language here but what a bunch if total fuckheads stoke and their fans act like.
How dare Aaron Ramsey have allowed himself to be maimed in front of the Stoke fans. They have every right to boo him.
Utter morons
what a pass by Campbell for og.
Come on theo. Time to step it up!!
Tighten up the passing ffs
Need a good stream… Eandy where are you?
http://www.mamahd.com
That’s usually pretty sweet
bolshy first half. our passing was woeful. iwobi on for ox at the half, please. 0-0 would be just fine on the measure of the first half.
Given Campbell’s displays of Ozilesque passing, maybe have him and Ox swap roles. Other than that, not a lot of attacking options on the bench.
Poor passing game. Considering the kind of marking we had to endure against Liverpool and still managed to do something with the ball,this is a poor performance. We haven’t got out of first gear..and by God,what’s wrong with Monreal??
Need to get it forward quicker. So many times we’ve had a player start to run in behind and not get the ball. Even Giroud has done it a couple of times and had to pull up because the pass is not there.
Not sure Iwobi would be any better than Ox, but he needs to get his head up and play it sooner.
We have to pass the ball better in the final third.Lets evoke the spirit of Ozil. Ox is particularly culpable but also has done some decent things. Solid idpf uninspired performance. They have some useful players and I think I’d take a point
We have stood our ground but the passing forward from the mid-field has been well off beam and needs to sharpen up in the second half. Still optimistic that we can come home with 3 points.
We don’t half miss the craft of Ozil and Santi !
Thanks a ton cynic… That stream is indeed pretty sweet
Has to be one of our lowest ‘pass completion’ halves of the season doesn’t it. The craft of Ozil and Santi, Delia. The steel of Coq. The grit of Wilshere and Wellbz on the bench to show Theo what a controlled powerful run looks like.
Off we go again…….maybe we’ll get a glimpse of Elneny this half?
Almost OG x 2
og dueling butland… very nearly a goal.
I dunno but dont look line monteal is doing anything wrong. Theo looks a passenger right now.
OG mugged in the box c’mon already
Walcott mugged
Ref – wtf???
thank god petr.
Cech wow
Hat was a shambles. Ref – why dont you just oack up and go home.
These nbcsn commentators are idiots.
How many fouls soes shawcross get until he sees yellow?
lol@the ox.
Dive
again, petr. nicely done.
Koscielny’s distribution has been very slapdash
downright poor, ttg.
Distribution … Kosser not great.
But The ox has been a disaster.
ok, put ox on the wing, then. come on, Alex!
Theo was rubbish but Ox has been our worst player by a long way.
suddenly the pacing of our passes in the final third is better.
COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
Can’t see how we are going to score
I’ve got the bookies running scared with my 2-4. They have suspended cashout 🙂
I had Giroud to score, both teams to score and more than 11 corners in a combo bet.
More chance of meeting Elvis.
Iwobi is world class; already!
I like Iwobi…!
COME ONNNNNNNNN!
Charlie adam.
Hes a fooking criminal.
fucking dangerous, there.
St Petyr.
Piss poor performance and game.
Next.
Ill take that point.
top of the table, but that was painful.
Sparky is lucky we have our first tier midfield missing….
Well one point is okay given our troubles at that dump. Get healthy and move on.
too right, bb. and we certainly looked it.
Eagerly anticipating the demise of Chelski..!
Up The Arse!
Another substitution error by Arsene cost us all three points; should have taken off Ox instead of Feo14 for Iwobi. Ox was cream-crackered and even my Gran saw that. Feo didn’t look happy. Iwobi can more than play the Ozil role when the “Fish God”, Santi, Jack, or Tomas are in the treatment room. Cech-mate MotM yet again! Top of the the league, bring on the Chavs! Up the Arse all day and all night!
I will take a point today. Let’s beat Chelsea now. We have to show champion mentality now
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Still sore about the pool draw.. well they got two more consecutive games to lose as per my prediction.. there’s that!
Hopefully Ozil and Alexis will be back against the chavs!
And keep Campbell in the team.. he’s full of running. Am really imopressed with Iwobi… calm under pressure.
Only way is up.. oh.. we’re already there.. 😀
I’m glad you thought Theo might win us the game Dapper Dan. I couldn’t see him troubling Stoke. He had seventy minutes to do something and though he made some intelligent runs he lacks the physicality to trouble a team like Stoke and with such poor passing he wasn’t going to be able to run in behind.
Frankly Mordor is always a hard place to go and without our two best attacking players it was always a big ask to win. OG had two chances and would have scored had Butland not done so well but we needed someone running off him and that’s what nobody did today