The Boy Done Wel
Feb 15th, 2016 by 'holic
Scenes in the last minute
The morning after the night, or rather day, before. It was one of the days that emphasises why football has such a hold on our hearts and our minds. In the space of a couple of hours yesterday we experienced every known emotion as Arsenal came from behind to grab a dramatic victory in the ‘six-pointer’ against Leicester City.
The team news was digested along with a swift pre-match pint. Per Mertesacker and Francis Coquelin were back and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain retained his place. Surprise and delight accompanied the news that Danny Welbeck was among the substitutes.
The proposed protest against the late switch of the fixture failed to materialise. Indeed the visitors section appeared full long before kick-off. The crowd, bathed in sunshine despite the chill in the air, were fully involved from the off.
Arsenal haven’t started too many games on the front foot of late, but were quick to attack at every opportunity. Leicester, resolute and organised, were happy to sit back and look to counter when we coughed up possession.
Alexis was the recipient of a couple of early challenges which were only deemed worthy of a warning by Martin Atkinson. “Want to bet he’ll book Coquelin for a similar challenge?” Of course that is exactly what happened.
We had two reasonable shouts for penalties for handball turned down before the match took a dramatic turn as the end of the half loomed into view.
An Arsenal attack came to an abrupt end when Morgan clattered into the back of Mesut Ozil, but the clearance was allowed and Leicester broke at pace. Vardy, it appeared, ran into Nacho Monreal and took a spectacular tumble. That was a penalty in Atkinson’s eyes and Vardy beat Cech from the spot.
Arsenal 0-1 Leicester City
The half-time substitution of Calum Chambers for Laurent Koscielny caused some concern but we needn’t have been worried. The young utility man gave possibly his best performance in an Arsenal shirt, particularly when he became one of a back two in the closing stages.
This seems a good point to note that despite the dubious nature of their lead it was evident why Leicester are deservedly top of the league. They have a mix of pace and steel, but that steel was to be their downfall on the day.
Danny Simpson made two bookable challenges in quick succession and received the inevitable red card. It was a decision that ensured Mr Atkinson would be roundly jeered by both sets of supporters at the end. Claudio Ranieri thought the referee was “maybe a little severe on us”. He should have been a lot more severe on Schmeichel for timewasting, Mahrez for another outrageous dive, and Drinkwater for an evil challenge on Aaron Ramsey.
Arsene is often criticised for his substitutions, but came up with exactly the right ones yesterday. Theo Walcott came on for Coquelin who was walking the tightrope of his early yellow card. Against ten men the Gunners put Leicester under siege. The equaliser arrived when Giroud headed Hector Bellerin’s cross into the path of Walcott, who put a frustrating few weeks behind him with an assured finish.
Arsenal 1-1 Leicester City
With less than ten minutes remaining Danny Welbeck replaced the Ox for his first appearance of the season. Arsenal reverted to a 2-4-4 formation but Schmeichel, brilliant and frustrating in equal measure, was proving to be an effective barrier.
Until, that is, the last of the four added minutes when Ozil floated a free-kick into the box and Welbeck angled the deftest of glancing headers into the corner of the net. Cue an explosion of emotion rarely experienced at the Grove.
Arsenal 2-1 Leicester City
The team drew the rapturous applause they enjoyed as many more people than usual stayed behind. You could almost touch the heady mixture of joy and relief that poured out of an appreciative crowd.
The result puts us within two points of the summit and should give us added belief as we face a string of equally huge fixtures in the coming weeks. It also meant a pubful of happy Gooners celebrated well into the evening post match. It was lovely to see and be a part of. Let’s hope we will experience many more similar celebrations between now and May.
223 Responses to “The Boy Done Wel”
First
Well in….er Welbeck.
Still buzzing. Summed up very nicely Holic, cheers.
Sheer will & determination from the boys came through in the end and if we continue with the same mind set until the end of the season, the worlds our lobster ;-).
It was ironic that Lesta’s steely approach should gift us a totally un-necessary free kick right at the end resulting in the winner – what goes round comes round. The fact that Danny boy was the scorer added that extra bit off magic that brought all our emotions to a crescendo.
Excellent post holic,saw the same game…and that last goal,absolute beauty!! Bring on Hull
BFG
Anyway I thought we did excellent mostly. They stifled Mesut effectively until the last second of the game…and with one kick, he stuffed all that energy back into their foxy mouths.
Happy Valentines, you cheating foxes.
Nice piece, H.
May we indeed have many more reasons to celebrate between now and May.
COYG
I know this might not get published to your website, but having read your summary of yesterdays match and as a life long Leicester supporter, well it is the city of my birth, although my Grandfather was born in Hackney, I wanted to make some observations.
Firstly, you think Arsenal were hard done to by the ref, well personally I think he had an all round bad day. It was obvious that somebody had a talking to him at half time because he seem to think the best way to right bad the first half decisions was to make some even worse second half decisions.
The behavior of some Arsenal payers has to be called into question, why was Mahrez allowed to be pushed around so much when substituted, without even a comment from the ref. You can also argue that the second goal celebration was not really suitable. If taking your shirt off is punishable then running through the crowd surely isn’t acceptable.
But when it all comes down to it, you won, we had to go down to 10 men for you to do it, and even then in the 95th minute. But the pressure was on Arsenal, because you couldn’t loose face by being beaten by Leicester. However we are still top of the PL, and you have some difficult matches ahead.
Good luck, and the only time yesterday will really make me frustrated is if you only just beat us to the title. But for now Leicester supporters are just loving the moments, without the pressure.
Long time reader, one or two times poster. This is your best headline, yet maestro. Can someone post a link which headlines best that. COYG!!
Lurky, re last night… I chuckled hard. You sir, have a way with words.
Patrick – Good to see you. Two-eyrd opposition supporters are always welcome here. Dammit we even have a tame Totnum fan who turns up a couple of times a season.
I don’t think you’ve mentioned anything that hasn’t already come up in the previous bar.
I don’t believe you about not feew thw pressure.
Patrick – always good to hear from opposing fans in here, and particularly in such a civil tone.
I agree that Coquelin was a lucky boy to get away with handling Mahrez on his way off the pitch, but we part ways on all other points. Nowhere more so than on the issue of what constitutes a “suitable” response to scoring a 94th minute winner at home in a vital league game. If you lot had scored a winner you’d have reacted exactly the same way, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
As far as player behaviour, I’d take a look at your own Mr Drinkwater, who very deliberately stuck one right on Alexis in the opening ten minutes and could easily have broken Ramsey’s leg in the second half. I suspect a retroactive ban awaits, and rightly so.
Good luck (within reason) for the rest of the season and enjoy watching your lot do their thing. Very impressed with Kante yesterday, thought he looked the best player on the park across the 90.
Cheers
N7
Cheers H. Glad everyone had a good day!
Patrick, you will find that our guvnor welcomes anyone who is respectul and wants to discuss the footy here. As do we all!
The ref agreed with you on Welbeck’s celebration- he got booked for it. And Arsene clearly agreed with you about Coquelin’s push on Mahrez, subbing him off soon after. Although I understand Le Coq’s frustration at Mahrez who had not even started leaving the pitch.
While we are calling into question the behaviour of players what was your opinion of Vardy’s behaviour to win the penalty? And Mahrez’s later attempt to do the same? And Drinkwater’s ‘tackle’ on Ramsey?
I reckon we got a little bit of everything in that game. It’s all to play for now…
Why do some of the regular drinkers here insist on dishing out personal abuse simply because they don’t agree with an innocent opinion of a fellow supporter? A kiddie fiddler and a wanker? Really? It’s no wonder that new drinkers are hard to come by here on what is undoubtedly a fantastic blog.
This will be my last drink here, and I sign off by promising you that I love our club, our manager and our players, and I’m proud to be raising 3 little Junior Gunners for our club’s future. Here’s to many more successful years for us and for them to enjoy. COYR.
@ Charlie
I’m not the author of any of the comments you’re quoting above, but I think people get the hump when we win a really big game and someone pops up in the bar imagining circumstances in which the fans might all turn on the manager.
It’s a bit like being in the middle of celebrating your birthday and someone leaning in and going “yeah, well you might get hit by a car tomorrow”.
Obviously, it doesn’t all have to be happy clappy in the bar at all times, but we do get a lot of people in here trying to harsh everyone’s mellow by constantly banging on about the manager’s position, fair weather or foul, which might account for the big reaction. I think a lot of the regulars are keen to spend less time talking about Arsene Wenger and a bit more talking about the Arsenal.
Not having a go, just making an observation. No idea if you’ll be back to read it.
Keep up the good work with the nippers.
COYG
Nice one Holic, worth the wait. The boy done wel is beck just in time. Welcome back Danny, hope you have a belter of what is left of the season.
We matched Leicester for drive, energy and lack of creativity with our first shot on target coming after they were reduced to ten men. Couldn’t put a finger on why we were so sterile but it must be worrying our manager who finds a fix, I hope.
Funny to see Pat Foster’s moaning about our players behavior when it was their players who were downright cuntish, diving all over looking for a penalty or being reckless in tackles. Ramsey is really lucky he did not have his leg broken. Reg the refree, I think Atkinson was told by someone at half time that he had to do everything to help the Spuds which meant a complete volte face by him after half time.
Coq was stupid to push Mahrez, he could easily have been sent off.
A tough run of fixtures coming up. Apart from winning the FA Cup tie, I hope we stuff the Manc and The Spuds and do well against Barcelona. COYG.
Having moved to North London from NZ a little under a year ago, I have witnessed some great live games this season (Man City @ home) and nearly every other game at the Tolly! Yesterday was a Tolly day, I took my lucky girlfriend who was thrilled to be in a pub on valentines.
I was standing at the bar about to buy a beer of resignation, when Danny gave us the winner! Well f#ck the beer, hugs and raucous cheers were in order.
The cherry on top, came from witnessing the whole pub bidding the away fans farewell.
Great day!
Uncle Charie. Don’t blame others if the only repetitive hand action you can think of is the one you mention above!
I won’t miss your disingenuous, agenda-driven drivel for one moment. You have had all the chance in the world to respond to footballing events but you never bother with this and instead turn to up whinge about the same thing regardless of the circumstances and then play it all innocent and hurt when you get called on it. This is no way to discuss football. Or anything else. Bye bye!
For the record, I am, personally, not okay with jibes about abusing children. I will second N7 in wishing you the best with yours.
NZ – N4.
Nice post. I have not seen you in here before- is this simply my missing you, or are you a new drinker?
If so, way to piss on Uncle Charlie’s strawberries! Have a bevvy on me sir.
The game I saw Guvna. Nothing to add. One of the finest days out with good triumphing over evil at the very end, just when it seemed that it wasn’t destined to happen.
I hope the wheels fell off the pikey caravan on the way back up the M1.
Nice one Guvnor!
What an enjoyable match that was to attend. The boys went all the way to the end and WELcome BECK DANNY boy!
Credit where credit’s due for Le Prof Arsene when the Foxes went down to ten men; he made two top tactical substitutions in Feo14 for width and inward cutting pace (resulting in our equalising goal) and Danny Boy to play upfront centrally with OG to bring in more central attacking threat and height with crosses and set pieces (resulting in our last gasp injury time winner). Well done Le Boss!
Welcome to the bar Patrick Foster!
Good to have you here! Your boys really are title contenders and deserve to be were they are. Incredible work ethic and attacking pace. You’re one of the best counter-attacking sides I’ve seen in many a years. If it’s any reassurance, if we don’t win it come this season’s end, I’ll be quite happy to be second to your Club!
Incidentally, I agree with your view of the ref; Martin Atkinson was inept and shit, as usual, for both sides. The high leg-breaker tackle by Drinkwater on young Aaron Ramsey was shocking and it was a straight red! Apparently, Atkinson said he saw it and it wasn’t deserved of any action?! What an incredibly high level of dangerously incompetent officiating! The book should be thrown at him for that.
Up the Arse! COYBG!
@7Patrick Foster
I think we can all agree that the Ref is a C…!
And if we don’t win the league then i would like it to be your side that does it.
However, and in agreement to N7 and GSD in their posts, I will have to disagree with much of what you said alluding to our players.
Leicester as well, were lucky to have Drinkwater finish the match.
He knew how bad it was and even apologised for it later. (credit to him)
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/10167815/danny-drinkwater-apologises-for-tackle-on-aaron-ramsey-in-leicesters-loss-to-arsenal
Not buying the ‘no pressure’ on Leicester tag. With less games to play and an easier run in.. I would like to think that the pressure is on to continue to (out)perform!
😀
No pressure on Leicester eh?
I beg to differ having watched Ranieri’s post match. Looked like it was getting to him there. Methinks he doth protest too much.
As good as his team are I thought we rattled them enough for some cracks to start showing.
Oh what’s he bringing Walcott on for there’s no space for him to use he’ll just….Theeeeooooo! Smart move Arsene (what do I know)
10 mins for someone who’s been out for nine months what could he possibly……
…and that’s why we’re all Monday morning Quarterbacks and Arsene’s on the big bucks.
If Barcelona took the piss out of us the way they did yesterday to Celta, I’d advocate two footed knee high assaults on whoever was flicking the ball over heads with their heels, or taking the piss in any other showboaty way.
Fucking tossers.
Cheers H!
‘innocent opinion’ vs ‘disingenuous, agenda-driven drivel’ ?
I’m with the man in the luminous green dinosaur outfit, who by the way actually has some real stones, big enough to jump out of an aeroplane to raise money for a very worthwhile charity. Instead of merely pontificating on the interweb.
Don’t rush back Uncle Charlie. Have a permanent break.
Did he wear the costume though? If not, his stones are absent without leave!
Cheers Esso.
Cynic. ‘Course I did!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CvxlmETaFVI
My personal favourite moment is my tail flicking up behind me as I get into the plane. That took a lot of practice, so it did.
Hahahaha!
Top, top man GSD. Not sure I’ve seen that before.
Love it GSD.
2.0@8: ‘Theo Is A Wide Boy’, October 2006. It was all downhill from there… 🙂
Fine report, Guv’nor. Amazing to think that at this time last season, i.e., after 26 games, we were third with 48 points (three less than this season), 12 points behind the Chavs at the top of the table, four ahead of the neighbours in seventh and 30 –count them, 30 — ahead of Leicester.
Just because you’re loveable, GSD, that doesn’t make you any less nuts for jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.
You utter mentalist, GSD.
Great work, stones well and truly intact and made of steel.
Any news of Kos’s injury? It seems to be the hip/thigh injury that he has been carrying since at least November. Looks like he’ll miss at least the Hull Cup game; and with all due respect to Mertesacker and Chambers, I wouldn’t be too thrilled if that was our central defensive pairing against Neymar, Messi, Suarez and company next week.
Ref- shite
Leicester – good side but not whiter than white which is what the media seem to be on.
Ranieri – seems a nice chat but the dark arts practiced by Leicester aren’t by accident.
Leicester pressure – the only pressure that counts is what’s in their heads and who really knows…at least our lads are used to the constant barracking they get from our own section of negative supporters (Piers Morgan et al.) and the Scouser and Manc supporters in the media – time will tell but their pressure has got to be equal to Arsenal’s.
Cynic, 100% with you on that Barca stunt. If they did that to Arsenal, AW should sub in Flamini with strict instructions to use one of his Kung Fu style shot attempts straight on Suarez’s jewels. As for Messi: can never forgive him for missing that PK against the Chavs at the Camp Nou that would have knocked them out in that CL semifinal.
One good thing about having the diving of Vardy and Mahrez at the Ems before Barca is that it helps get the lads ready to deal with a world-class 10 meter platform team of front-bottom brothers Suarez and Neymar.
Cheers, Holic,
excellent summary and very constrained in comparison with some descriptions I have read – and written – of yesterday’s opponents and excuse for a referee.
GoingGoingGooner – nutshell, sir, but kind to the referee.
Bayonne Jean – Flamini needs no instruction to Kung Fu opponents. ?
Patrick, thank you for your comments, and the tone used. Good luck to you for the rest of the season. Enjoy the ride.Second to Arsenal would be an achievement. 😉
A very good report of a very good day Holic. I still keep reliving that great moment where the ball arrowed into the corner and the ground exploded!
I find most of the player ratings you read extremely frustrating and often written by people not at the game who therefore only see the game the TV directors want you to see. Today’s Times took some beating . M
No Arsenal player got more than a 7 and that was Sanchez and most Leicester players got at least one. Despite Simpson getting a 3 they totalled more than ten more points than us. I really do wonder if these people understand the game.
The irony of the Drinkwater situation is that he won’t get retrospective punishment because the referee saw it! Yes the referee saw that flying, out of control two- footed lunge and deemed it legal. I can do without poor brave old Leicester. There was nothing wrong with the Simpson sending- off and they should have finished with nine men. I still don’t think that was a penalty ( nor were the other two shouts for Mahrez and the Kante handball) and they have earned ten penalties this season. Not surprising if they dive like yesterday in front of refs as bad as yesterday’s.
But they’re a fine team and frankly they should stroll the title with the fewer number of games they have to play, virtually no injuries and great time to rest between fixtures. If they finish top they will deserve it.
Gunnersaurus Stunt Double, much obliged for the ‘bevy’.
Long time reader of this great blog, first time poster, under this guise anyway.
Seems Uncle Charlie is out! One out One in policy? what better time to become a regular at this fine establishment.
Shadow of a Doubt?
Anyone watching MoTD2 last night would have “enjoyed” the punditry by Danny Murphy and “Tactic” Tim Sherwood. When analysing ( generous description on my part ) the Vardy penalty, TTS praised Vardy for buying the penalty, stated it was part of his job and if he was his manager, he would have given him the biggest bolloxing of his life at half time if he had avoided the opportunity (to cheat). The other scouse/spud went along with this.
No wonder GSD ( and many others) despise much of the modern game. Equally such a stirring fight back and last kick winner by a player overcoming nearly a year out with a debillitating injury shows why we still love this game – assisted of course by supporting “the greatest team the world has ever seen”. 🙂
Evening H
Not much to add to the myriad postings since the final whistle,except to say,i am still completely baffled whilst watching the final few minutes of the game,to see quite clearly in the background,loads of people heading off down the exits.!!
With the scores level and our title hopes on the line,and the players needing every voice in the crowd to keep them going,surely this would be the one time you would stay till the death. ??
Why shell out all that dosh for your season ticket,and yet not see the game out. ??
It just doesn’t make sense.
And please don’t give me any waffle about some people having to catch trains etc.
Fuck me,after a finish like that,i would sleep on the platform,and catch the first train on Sunday morning.!!
Leicester and Spurs still favs in my book,much easier run ins,although that depends on whether the Spuds take the Europa league cup tie against Fiorentina seriously,given how well positioned they are for a run at the Title..
We will need every bit of mental and physical intestinal fortitude,and the rub of the green,to get results at Utd/City,and Spuds/Hammers.
Not to mention keeping our best players injury free.
I think back to the 70/71 double winning season,which had so many ups and downs,and went to the final day, and broke a long run of outs in the league, and i have a feeling this one could well go the same way.
Uply – You fail to mention, that having said how “clever” Vardy had been to buy the pen, they were unanimous in condemning Alexis when, after being hacked down for the umpteenth time, following a “tackle” by Simpson, he sat down and made an “isn’t it about time you put a stop to all these fouls, ref?” gesture. Apparently, we don’t want that kind of thing in the game.
Pangloss, I would lose the will to live if I stated all the appalling garbage they spouted last night. Oh, and it was on the Beeb – glad to see standards are bring maintained.
Clive, perhaps those leaving early are mainly customers rather than supporters. I’ve never left a game early over the decades, and all those dick heads who did, missed one of the most glorious moments of the season.
Speaking of cheaters: http://arsenalist.com/f/2015-16/arsenal-vs-leicester/mahrez-dives-in-box.html
That was a clear yellow card.
It’s not the first game I’ve noticed Leicester players showing their dark side recently, I suppose the pressure is building up. Ranieri still a class act though.
I fell asleep and unintentionally missed MoTD, but felt oddly relieved when i awoke and realised what had happened.
The last thing an amazing afternoon with such a brilliant climax needed was the collective numbskullery that is a constant feature of a programme I used to enjoy.
Everything I have heard about the programme since makes me more pleased I missed it.
I thought “punditry” implied a degree of special knowledge but we instead find ourselves treated to the insight of such minds as Shearer, Lawrenson, Roberts and even Screaming Lord Savage, who has become such an ardent upholder of the laws of the game since he earned his living kicking people off the park.
We were not at our best yesterday and haven’t been for some time but after a surprisingly lacklustre first half which was ruined, for us at least, by another hopelessly incompetent referee – assuming nothing more sinister in his performance – the second half saw a gutsy, determined and exciting fight back, which built to a fantastic, stranger-hugging celebration of it’s final act.
That’s six points we’ve taken off the “champions elect” who are storming the league this season. But, hey, let’s not give the Arsenal any credit for that.
The Leicester “fairy tale” is still on – and thus far I have thought I’d like to see them win it if we can’t. After yesterday’s exhibition from them of time wasting, diving, rotational fouling, back shoving, and plain dangerous assault from the likes of Drinkwater and Warsilewski (?), it’s a big “no thanks” from me. ( That’s politely observing house rules on abuse given our visiting Leicester contributor ).
The other alternatives are too horrible to contemplate so I guess we will just have to win it ourselves.
Leicester showed yesterday that they are capable of some excellent high paced, passing football. They are also guilty of all the darker arts, for which Ranieri must disappointingly be responsible.
Nothing preys on the mind so much as the frustration of doing nothing. And that is what will outfox the Foxes … sitting around from one weekend to the next watching the other three title contenders fine-tuning their Prem skills in competitions Leicester weren’t good enough to be involved in.
And that frustration will double if they drop points. And they will, should VardyMahrez gets carded for diving or the pressure gets to defenders and further red cards reduce their minimal forces. I can hear the complaints already … “Everyone dives, why pick on us?”, “How come we’re not getting penalties any more?”, “Yes his studs were showing, but a straight red?”, “The ref cost us the game!”
Welcome to the sharp end of the season, Leicester. 😉
Oskar
much as i say
for
the good of my health
and
the ease of yours
(not yours baff)
(yours is in)
DUH DUH , DUH
(peril)
me drunken splurgin’
The Arsenal
and
the supporting thereof
is not a choice
when someone says
“right , that’s it”
*flouncey flounce flounce*
“no more Arsenal for me ”
it’s like a kid saying
“nope”
“my musical tastes have outgrown”
“the bay city rollers”
*bowie album under their arm*
but
they know
shang-a-lang is in their hearts
.
SHANG
A
LANG !!!!!!!
SHANG A LANG !!!!!!!!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ytii7-bUxuk
yup
gooners from around the world
these are scottish people
.
.
.
.
mind you
a paddy wrote it
not spitefully unfortunately
merely financially
and
judging by the tune
written quickly
on the back of a fag packetly
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HXNf8OqhIBk
proper !
dundee’s finest
.
gon yersel big man
and this i know
where ye fay
ye fay fife
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V2krmvOCBJI
so
the lesson we’ve learned today
is ………
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=w90XWsV1AD8
aaaahhhhhh fuck
blaaaaaaa
working me way through me records
haven’t seen any of them for 15 years
some i haven’t seen for 20 or more
30 maybe
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zyr8snd9mTA
lotta scottish stuff
but
don’t hold that against them
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7by_5vLKBE
woooo woooo
woooooo woooooooo
woooooooooo woooooooooo
Superb match report and lots of quality follow-ups.
I see that in the media that the game was being reported as a ‘barely won’ by Arsenal, but if Rambo or more so Alexis had their shooting boots on the scoreline would have looked closer to the away match. We are a much better team and we showed many of our qualities there, not the least tactical ones.
The new narrative is of course Kante is better player than Coquelin based on one match where Francis is making his PL start after a lengthy lay-off, but it is easily overlooked how impotent Coquelin-Monreal combo had rendered their most creative player (and I think after Ozil the player with highest number of assists in PL) in Mahrez down their right. Kante had a fantastic game — the curled effort from outside the penalty box is of a player not lacking in quality or imagination — but he was not as impregnable (even when it was 11 v 11) as some in media would like to believe. He had failed to protect the defense against quite a few of Rambo’s typical late runs and on another day he would have scored one or two.
Ozil was stopped from controlling the game the way he likes, and he seemed a little fatigued, but even then he created a few great opportunities. The one Per missed was actually easier compared to the one Danny scored, that was a very good header. That is 17 assists in a PL season now, one less than Henry’s record 18.
As others noted, Chambo was eye-catchingly good. Theo’s finish was impressive, as was Giroud’s sublime knockdown. Giroud had a fantastic game where he harassed their defense all match and could have had one more assist (to Danny) and a goal (a la the second against Liverpool) if not for Scmeichel’s unbelievable save.
This was a very good performance, the goal-scoring ruthlessness of first half of the season is not fully back yet, but with Alexis slowly coming back to full form and Danny and Theo both scoring the signs are positive. If we could get Santi back to full fitness and form before the last ten odd games we will have a formidable combination of tactical maturity, midfield control and attacking variety.
aaaaaaaaa fuckin
fuck
microdisney
drunkest band I ever saw
cathal’s eye rolled back in his head
when he was lying on the stage
ATTABOY
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HaSi2Z74Ou8
and
no
i am not he
although
the comparison has been made
before
ooops
doc fau
forgot this is a football blog
hmmmm
met dave o leary bout 77/78
do i get a badge ?
(ungainly big drink o water he was)
Morning CBA
Any thoughts on the match itself. ??
Did you get to watch it,not sure if they have Sky television in rural backwaters of Ireland. ??
howdy Clive
i do not have satellite tv
so
i see the mighty Arsenal
very rarely
i have very recently got the internet
never had it before
stole it up to now
only difference i notice
is 20 fuckin quid
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lWnOgs4j884
cba @ 63:
Not for a moment I believe a single thing you say
And I mean that in the best possible way.
As a compliment, a grudging praise
For your supremely crafted cyber persona
Who does nothing but gaze.
Out of a nostalgic window
Into the wilderness of world
Where cows frolic in pigpen and ducks commiserate with your gripe,
As you dream of the Ramones while sucking on the
Ambers of your
Aromatic pipe.
🙂
is there a draught in here ?
terrible breezy got
doc fau
as you know
i hold you in great affection
well …
i say great
?
but
in all seriousness
i have the utmost respect for you
as indeed i have for most ‘holics
BZZZZZBZZ
bbzzzzzzz
.
.
“jeez ‘hol , fer fucks sake ”
“how long do i have to pretend to like these people”
“MY HAIR HURTS”
the living wage !
GANGMASTER
comments made above
are the sole property of me
and
not
the penny pinching management
the fucker
so
who’s for a french fancy ?
bunchadaisies
*slopes off into what’s left of the sunset*
A conundrum for you CBA,and any other intellectuals in the bar.
Number 1 Grandson 14 going on 25,has asked me the following without a hint of mischief in his cheeky face,!!
A Man and a Woman stand at the top of a cliff,both stark naked and of a similar weight.
If they jump off at the same time,would they,
1,Hit the bottom simultaneously.
2,Would the man hit the ground first.
3 Would the woman hit the ground first.
Sounds suspiciously like his previous conundrum last year about the Bike rider and the runner going up a hill together. !!
Any suggestions gratefully accepted.
Sorry – got a ‘U’ in O Level Physics.
I must confess that I am kind of proud of Leicester city for their achievements thus far. They have all the ingredients needed to win the title. They have a 20+ goals striker, 15 goals plus supporting striker, stingy defense, no pressure and are challenged by Arsenal.
If football is mathematics then we are about to witness leicester city become the champ at the end of the season. Arsenal are going to lose the title in spurs, take it or leave it. We have already shot ourselves on the leg.
They would hit the bottom simultaneously if they both weighed the same.
Although I’m guessing you knew this, and so does he.
Cynic
No i do not know the answer.
I am sure No 1 Grandson does though.
Clive,
By ‘similar’ I will assume you mean ‘the same’ weight.
Due to bone weight (around 10lbs difference between average man and woman) and muscle mass variations, I would guess that, to be the same weight, the woman would occupy a larger outline than the man.
The larger outline will create more resistance to the air through the fall and the more naturally wobbly portions of the woman’s anatomy might even begin to act like a little pair of wings, thereby slowing her descent.
Noting the difference between your use of the words ‘bottom’ and ‘ground’, I doubt either would have much opportunity to hit the other’s bottom – simultaneously or otherwise.
This seems to have covered all bases – if you catch my drift.
Unless there is a ‘clever’ little joke, Cynic is correct. I refer you to Galileo’s experiments in Pisa.
Esso – sorry, I can see no ‘U’ in O Level Physics.
I got an ‘A’ in Spelling. ?
Not only have we got a Coq in the first team we’ve got Nobbs in Arsenal Ladies! 😀
?
Happy for the result and for Danny .. but, having just watched it again (and again), he stole that goal from Chambers who was also excellent.
Large humble pie on the bar for the disbelievers.
UTA.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/35578148
Leicester got to be feeling the pressure…
Need Santi back and no one else out!
Santi is aiming to be available for the NLD! Yay!
http://www.footballinsider247.com/cazorla-targets-comeback-match/
Beware pop-ups.
Best news yet @Bath and Jack too… Would be ideal if they could get a game or two to help their fitness.
I hope we do not field an under strength squad against Hull…. and I am so looking forward to the Barca match.
😀
Indeed bath. A pound of feathers or a pound of bollocks both weigh a pound. Substance is immaterial.
Although can you actually have a substance that is immaterial?
Answers on an invisible postcard or the back of a stuck down carrier pigeon only please.
Dr Faustus @60, Henry’s record for assists is 20 (2002-03) and Ozil needs 4 more assists over 12 games to break Henry’s record.
Agree that Cazorla would have a huge positive impact on the potency of our attack and also help in retaining the ball in tight matches. He is quite close to making a come back and is targeting the Spurs game as per the following report:
http://www.footballinsider247.com/cazorla-targets-comeback-match/
Dean to officiate our FA Cup tie against Hull
http://www.arsenalstation.com/2016/02/16/arsenal-fans-rage-after-referee-confirmed-for-fa-cup-clash/
Cynic,
A pound of feathers does indeed weigh the same as a pound of bollocks.
The feathers will, however, have a much greater volume, which would create more resistance to the air if dropped from a height.
It’s not hard to imagine that a pound of feathers would float much more than a pound of bollocks. Thus they would take longer to hit the ground if dropped from the same height.
Therefore, I insist that substance is not immaterial, and I am not talking bollocks.
If you see what I mean.
The point of all that is that to attain the same weight as a man, a woman would have to be bigger in profile as she will naturally have a higher proportion of fat and lower muscle mass than a man. As muscle weighs more than fat, the man would tend to have a smaller profile, thus offering less resistance the air.
Clive,
Thanks for starting all this off.
Really.
Not.
?
I’m worried now. I’m not familiar with Galileo’s experiments with pizza but Bath invariably knows what he’s talking about.
And I didn’t even take Physics for O Level, Esso ?
ksn @93,
fick fack fock fecketty fack fack.
Are there no more ways ‘they’ can try to stuff The Arsenal.
Never mind. We will beat them with Dean, two Masons or three Atkinsons.
And a reserve side packed with yoofs. ?
@Trev
I believe he was the first to add pineapple.
That could make all the difference, N7.
Pineapple and feathers on a pizza ……. Interesting.
WiFi restored, crosses the ball from so far away he’s not even in the stadium but it still lands on the head of…
Clive’s conundrum sounds like one for Dr F, who probably has more than just an O-level or equivalent in Physics.
The monks’ two cents is that the force of the push off, and thus forward motion, would be more significant than air resistance given the speed a jump from cliff height would generate.
Trev…presumably if it was a Pizza Express it would get there quicker 😉
ME!
Sorry about that but i wanted to respond to Clive before I lose the chance…
It depends who they are. For example, if it were TTG and his fair lady wife, then he would certainly be squished first. I hear he always finishes first. Wink.
…..and well in Welbeck for the ton Ned.
Well in Ned. Glad to get a real assist AND to avoid sullying my good name with a self-assist.
Uply has even deprived me of TABSing it!
Bonkers. Thanks for the assist, GSD.
*celebrates by passing feathers and pineapple pizza to the crowd, and looks ultra-cautiously at the pizza with meatballs*
GSD …. Settle for the assist and be grateful for avoiding the ignominy of a straight red. I will claim the real glory of the TABs …its mine, mine I tells yer 🙂
Heh, Trev @96, agreed that we would stuff Hull but Spuds with one of Dean/Taylor/Atkinson/Mason officiating is another thing.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160216/wenger-barca-win-in-2011-can-help-us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv2mxzmVvdg
Arshaviiiiiiiiiiin……..Never gets old!
😀
GSD
If I finish at all nowadays?
ksn @ 107. That is one scary midfield lineup!
You need to stop listening to Aristotle, Trev. Galileo is the man, even if he did invent the crime of putting pineapple alongside cheese on a cooked bread base.
The only time pineapple and cheese together is acceptable is on a stick at a 1970s wedding reception, preferably with a miniature pickled onion to keep them apart.
Re: Matt @45. I hope you don’t mind if I post that one again of Mahrez the diving cheat.
http://arsenalist.com/f/2015-16/arsenal-vs-leicester/mahrez-dives-in-box.html
If we were to take a count of how many times each one of us have watched that goal again, it will be epic. I am certain we can still close our eyes and there it flashes, that whiff of the left leg,danny rises above all, the header, the ball goes, kasper dives in vain and then the celebration. Anyone notice the normal silent Mesut going bonkers as well, marca you can take those rumours of him wanting to move to barca and shove it up those 3 front men’s ass.
Spurs look the real deal. Compact and efficient, they seem to have the belief and it is a big credit to Pochitteno to get them to this level. Europa may hold the key to their run in to the league for i expect them to progress further than us in the UCL. Leicester will be in the mix till the last part, wont be surprised if they are in there till the last 3 games.
City look disinterested, it seems the move to announce pep was timed wrong and the players and the manager hardly care. Well i aint complaining, let them go to hell.
Hull over the weekend should see the bench warmers play, it is certain Wenger will play his best team against barca but i rather win the united game after that than have a heroic fight against the Catalan’s. ‘
Here is to danny welbeck, 2 goals that will make you be remembered always, one the goal at OT, second this. the first one led us to win the FA cup, the second hopefully leads us to the league title.
The lumpen dolt that is Danny Mills has written an article today that plumbs new depths in ignorance and prejudice. He claims that Barcelona’s trick penalty was wonderful but the Arsenal penalty that Henry and Pires cocked up was arrogance- the difference ? Barcelona’s worked.
It’s utterly illogical reasoning and furthermore he claims that Pires brought diving into the English game ( Mills brought fuck all of any value).
Methinks he might still be smarting from the most humiliating situation I’ve seen when Henry nutmegged the pathetic, utterly useless twat by the corner flag at Highbury. It’s a pity the BBC give airtime to this cretin every week. It’s almost as if they didn’t like Arsenal
And in other news Mike Dean is reffing our game on Saturday.
My cup runneth over
I remember the guinea and feather experiment to prove one, not sure which of Newton’s laws. They would both fall at the same velocity and arrive at the end point at exactly the same time. In a Vacuum. That is all.
IMHO Franny Lee brought diving to English football. Fat little cheat.
Esso has it @115.
Mills that paragon of virtue. Role model for millions. Poxy varmint.
ksn: would be willing to wager that it will be Michael Oliver doing the officiating vs. the neighbors. Please not Anthony Taylor!
Also that half of the London police force will be assigned to Shite Fart Lane on March 5.
bt8b@112: Monreal is a quick learner. Whipped his leg away and didn’t leave it out as he did for Vardy. Mahez threw himself at where he thought Monreal’s leg would be planted, but just ended up tripping over thin air.
Too right Bath. Lee was a cheating git. Vardy has got six penalties this season on his own #@tomdaley
This will calm all our fears though. TalkShite predict who will win the Premier League
http://talksport.com/football/premier-league-table-super-computer-predicts-final-table-201516-season-february-update?p=18
GSD @110,
It is a scary lineup alright but of finishers not midfielders. They finish teams off.
Bayonne Jean @118,
I would wager that it will one from the four I listed @107 and my fear is that Dean would be in charge of our game against our neighbours, his favorite team.
http://www.101greatgoals.com/top-stories/referee-mike-deans-top-5-premier-league-goal-celebrations-pictures/
http://arsenalist.com/f/2015-16/arsenal-vs-leicester/welbeck-goal-with-commentary-from-different-languages.html
Great moment for the commentators. What stands out for me though is the Italian guy who liked it alright but didn’t seem to know Welbeck’s name. “Welbecka Welbecka Welbecka! Incredible!”
Incredibile that would have been, if my spellchecker hadn’t swallowed an i.
Bath
I think you will find,the first written record of a ‘ Dive’ was in the
Israelite newspaper,sports section,which had a match report from the Cup Final between the Romans and the Israelites back in the day.
The score was locked at 2- 2 in the last minute of extra time,when
Julius Caesar the Roman’s right winger,made one last run into the opposition penalty area,in his anxiety,he pushed the ball a bit to far ahead and realizing he couldn’t reach it before the Israelite defender,threw himself to the ground as he brushed shoulders with him.
The referee blew instantly for a penalty amidst uproar and furious protests from the Israelite players and supporters.
To no avail,as Caesar himself stepped up to convert the penalty and win the game.
The newspaper report the following day,only had eyewitness comments from Supporters,as none of the Israelite players could be interviewed on account of them being taken to the Colosseum after the match,where they had to go head to head with the Lions.
No prizes for guessing the outcome. !!
One for our medical experts again but does it make sense for a centre back with a thigh / hamstring injury to fly back to Brazil ( ten hour flight?) to get treatment? That is where Gabriel is. You could not make it up.
He’ll come back with the Zika virus knowing our injury and illness record.
126 pretty cynical but ain’t it the truth.
TTG,
I can only assume it’s a fairly significant injury and he’s been sent / allowed home for treatment as it’s going to take some time.
The picture I saw of him sitting on a bed next to what looked like a giant TENS or interferential machine, scarcely smacked of the state of the art medical centre, with anti-gravity assisted running machines, we have at
Shenley. In all honesty, the bloke in the next bed to Gabriel appeared to be dead !
I long since gave up trying to fathom the incidence and severity of our injuries. You know my theories well enough.
As far as I can tell, before he joined Arsenal, Gabriel had only missed two days in his entire career because of injury.
Ned,
I read something like that too. He was an aggressive, no nonsense, practically injury proof defender.
Oh well …..
Trev, at least we got two out of the three…
In all honesty, the bloke in the next bed to Gabriel appeared to be dead !
I thought Diaby had left?
One word.
Carnival.
That boy will be happy when he rejoins the squad. 🙂
Esso mentions the key phrase “in a vacuum” regarding Clive’s conundrum. In air the object with least resistance would hit the ground first.
Of course, if the guy was a proper gentleman (an Arsenal supporter for example), he would grab the woman and ensure he was under her when they hit, this shielding her from the worst of the impact as this hero did … http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/heartfelt-thanks-for-final-heroic-act/2006/08/02/1154198171462.html …
If, otoh, he was a spud or chav supporter he’d probably grab the woman and try for a shag in the missionary position.
Oskar
By my reckoning, we were the better team all day despite giving up a decent chance, but I have to agree with Trevor above and Arseblog, both firmly in the f* Leicester camps after seeing the display on Sunday. The refereeing in the Premier League is truly atrocious, but I really had to search my memory for a dirtier 90 minutes to the game. I happen to disagree with most on here regarding Matt Flamini’s challenge the other day deserving a red card, but if that challenge deserved a red, Drinkwater’s challenge deserved three or four. That is a ten match ban if ever there was one. Shockingly, our friendly neighborhood Leicester fan seems to be attempting to roughly equate a gentle shove on Mahrez as he looked around for minutes like a blind fool when his number was flashed by the fourth official or a jump into the crowd at the winner to the career ending horror show that Drinkwater was guilty of. Oh, and neither Vardy, nor Mahrez were entitled to penalties, a player who arrives earlier to a space on the pitch is allowed to exist in that space, legs splayed or otherwise. If a player puts out his leg at one end of the field, while the opposition attack runs 90 yards only to fall over the leg, is that a foul? Of course not. This is obviously more difficult to perceive at speed and with tight proximity, but it’s no less true. And of course a player is not entitled to space into which he has launched himself, which is most often to say airspace, or space through which his momentum carries him dangerously and recklessly into his opponent. Neither of these were true in the case of the Monreal penalty. Mahrez deserved a yellow at least for throwing himself over an invisible leg. If it wasn’t a penalty, it was a dive; quite simple. For me, both the Huth handball and the Kante handball were worthy of penalties. This could not be illustrated more clearly than in the comparison to the Sterling handball that Spurs were so fortunate to see given in their match. Kante, with his arms stretched to both sides, pulls back his arm as the ball flies at him. His arm and hands moved to the ball and prevented a cross. Penalty; no question. Huth clearly and blatantly blocked a shot on goal with his arm. He was spinning around slightly, but his arms were flailing recklessly and “unnaturally”. Again, penalty, without question.
@135.
Having rewatched the game today I can only agree with you about the Drinkwater challenge being much worse than Flamini’s. Also we could have had three penalties for handball and that we did not get even one is like giving defenders carte blanche to commit a handball offence in the area so long as defender and attacker are close enough together for the referee to claim there was not enough time to get out of the way. Serious review of Atkinson and Dean’s career trajectories is required at the end of the season.
Whatever mistakes the refs make our major problem remains the inability to shoot straight. Theo’s goal was our first shot on target up to that 70th-minute point, with just 6 shots on out of 24 in total. We should have been out of sight at the end, even allowing for Vardy’s pardy piece.
It will be interesting to watch Barca’s front three against better than they usually meet in La Liga. Let’s hope they have an off day. Or better still two off days.
Oskar
I’ve got an O level in physics and I like pizza.
Is there a prize on offer????
?
Yeah.
Maccy Ds.
Trev
Thanks for your thoughts. It would seem an illogical decision unless it’s as serious as you surmise. Somewhere I’ve heard he’s out for two weeks but if he was surely he wouldn’t fly off to Brazil to be treated with a Pifco heat lamp?
Matt
I’m very much in sympathy with your views ( except the Kante handball which I would just ignore, although as they say, I’ve seen them given) That Leicester display was as cynical and unpleasant as I have witnessed for some time. They were a throwback to the 1970s . If anyone saw the 1980 Arsenal v Juventus semi- final at Highbury where Tardelli was sent off and Bettega almost maimed David O’ Leary , it wasn’t as bad as that but it had echoes of it.
Certainly the Drinkwater foul was appalling and Ramsey who Durham castigated for acting in his show on Monday was very lucky not to have another serious injury. Flamini’s offence was close to a red card but nowhere near as serious a threat to life and limb as the Drinkwater flying buttress. Leicester got away very lightly with their performance and the supreme irony was that Wasilewski , who could do some serious damage to you in a dark alley , effectively lost them the game by a ‘challenge ‘ on Nacho that could also have seen a red card. Danny’s goal was exquisitely suitable punishment.
As for the Vardy and Mahrez dives I agree totally . The ‘ professionals’ now tell us effectively you have licence to cheat by diving over an innocent outstretched foot. Mahrez may well have got a penalty if Atkinson had not given the Vardy one.
And do I feel sorry for Simpson. Not at all. Two bookable offences equal a red card
TTG,
It wasn’t only Adrian Durham castigating our players. As I walked up Hornsey Road towards the Leicester coaches, I found myself in the midst of their supporters.
Here is what one of them, a middle aged, sensible looking man, was saying:
“I’m getting tired of seeing it everywhere we go – I mean, all these players acting up – I mean, THEY were throwing themselves on the floor all game”.
No exaggeration !
Trev@141: Takes one to know one, I suppose.
Don’t know if you’ve caught this; it’s the Spanish language live call of the Welbeck goal on the U.S. Telemundo Deportes channel. Way over the top, even by Andres Cantor’s (“Goooooooool !”) standards:
http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2016/02/15/arsenal-leicester-city-danny-welbeck-goal-winner-telemundo-call
Wayne Rooney is facing the prospect of up to two months out after suffering a knee ligament injury.
———
Suddenly MU don’t look so weak anymore…
Heh!
Lovely news ahead of playing them ! You can always guarantee that cunt will win a penalty against us !!
Good stuff @124, Clive.
Heh BB @ 144, was thinking the same, myself.
The ‘pundits’ are going gaga over Leicester and Spuds as if these two teams have reinvented the wheel!! I am quite happy that they’re doing so… Let those two teams be favourites while we go slightly under the radar atleast for the time being. Leicester’s run in is the best out of the top four and they do not have any cup football to take care off…But once the expectation sets in – it can seriously inhibit football teams and Leicester could very well experience that. Michael Owen has made Leicester favourites for the title. That should seriously worry Leicester fans…
Finally a NLD to look forward to there will be joy there will be tears, whose is still is not known, but the team that wins the NLD will win the league and if its a tie then it will be one of the other 2, probably the foxes.
But whether its the Spurs or the Goons then this will be the season that will be talked about loved and hated for years as a Spurs fan I have waited since I was born for this time. It had to come and it now approaches.
FOD, this is what we argued about in those vital days
C
Queen.
BJ @143. A lesser noticed part of Andres Cantor’s commentary on the Welbeck winner:
“Bendito sea el futbol. Lo va a ganar el Arsenal.”
(Which translates more or less as “Blessed be football. Arsenal are going to win it.”)
Classic. 😀 😀 😀
I really thought Drinkwater was going down for that tackle but a combination of the ridiculous rule that if an incompetent ref sees it but fails to act nothing can be done to punish the offender added to the rosy glow suffusing Leicester at present suggest he will escape. That’s quite wrong and will heap up problems for the authorities. But there again punishing Drinkwater would mean effectively suggesting Atkinson was incompetent.
Frankly he WAS incompetent but no more incompetent than most of the others that regularly referee each week in the PL. I think the standards in the Champions League are higher and it seems to me that as we import top players from abroad so we should try to get the best referees. I remember Collina was almost recruited . That might have marked a sea change in standards.
SZCZ on the CL TV.
Doesn’t look anywhere near as comfortable playing and kicking long balls with both feet as compared to PC33.
Not in the same class, bt8 @154.
#149, you have been missed my friend. I agree it is you or us. But you are a Kane injury away from capitulation. 🙂 Enjoy the Europa League.
All, apologies for no post tonight. Things happened, as they do. Competition time tomorrow if you fancy a God tee or print. Say no more. 😉
Yes. I pop in from time to time, and I watched one of your video casts. I predicted the Goons position before the a ball was kicked even bet $20 that you would end up above the Chavs. Its the Peter Cech effect. He saved your bacon when the Foxes came to steal it.
I could never have predicted that our season would turned out this way, but I started to believe in top 4, 8 games into the season.
We are more then capable to fight in the Ropey, FA Cup and the League. This Spurs team is much bigger then Harry Kane. Its the real deal..
Have fun
🙂
Now It’s Dark.
SSY. On that issue I refer you to https://in-the-sky.org/twilightmap.php
But it is dark here too. 🙂
And quiet.
Quiet enough for hairy panic.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-35600546
Silly season, already?
West Ham are weighing up a sensational summer move for Chelsea captain John Terry, report the Brentwood Gazette
http://www.brentwoodgazette.co.uk/West-Ham-transfer-news-Hammers-chase-Chelsea/story-28750738-detail/story.html
What?
First Rooney out and now Fellaini sufferes a slight tear in his hamstring….
Is this the rumblings of a resurgence in MU before they face us.. What next? Guest appearance of Howard Webb??
Hope Central Jutland can do them one!
Up The Arse!
😀
And on it goes …..
Elneny now ruled out for Saturday with a hamstring injury.
Another one bites the dust without even playing. I honestly do not want to criticise the club for ” every little thing that happens” but what the hell is going on in training ?
Gabriel has gone back to Brazil with his injury which I assume was also picked up in training as it didn’t appear to happen during a match, and now Elneny. With such a vital period of the season upon us, and plenty of “match practice” every three days or so, is it not possible to protect the players from muscle injuries ?
Yes, this will be obvious to AW too but our record with soft tissue injuries defies belief.
The above was reported on SSNews who are now saying Elneny could play.
Think I’ll just go back to sleep.
Elneny missed 17 days injured during his time at Basel, and now he is out for what will no doubt be the proverbial three weeks. I thought that the club had the players wear GPS trackers in training to mitigate the risk of injury. What’s up here?
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160218/team-news-koscielny-gabriel-and-elneny
Elneny is fit unless something happened very recently..
Gabriel whilst out for Sat..is ‘running outside’?..
Arsene keeping cards close to chest.
Keeping fingers cross for Santi and Jack…come back soon!
I think I’ll have to join you, Trev — figuratively, not literally. I hasten to add.
AW quoted on club site saying, Elneny is fit. He is one of the players who could get a run [out] there. He’s mobile, he’s a very good player. He’s adapting at the moment and I think he’s there now. We’ll certainly see him against Hull. He has a chance to start.
Trev / Ned – It does really does make you wonder what’s going on. The club seems to have a very defensive approach when informing the masses in respect of injuries / fitness of players, nuances given only understood by them. You would think with the vast amount of funds available to invest in both first rate staff & equipment, they would have a better handle of each players condition / prospects. Perhaps they should approach our Trev for consultation as he appears more up to speed with these issues. Whether a fee of £1 million p.a. would be sufficient inducement though I’m not so sure. 😉
On a separate aside, it would appear Manure’s injury record has been appalling this year, particular with their fullbacks. Now Rooney & Fellaini are out for a period of time. Rooney will miss our match at Old Toilet on Sunday week. Shame 🙂
Uply,
I really don’t know what has happened in this instance (re Elneny). Maybe it was misreported by Sky who did seem to change their tune very quickly.
On the wider issue it was interesting to note the various responses to the guest piece I did on the injury situation which Holic published here some while ago now.
The responses from other Holics were, almost without exception, positive and very kind. There was one notable exception – someone who appeared to be very up to speed with what actually happens at the club, who I took to be an insider. He was very defensive in his responses and eventually stated that my theory, via Holic at an open day at the new medical centre, had all been answered and dealt with – which wasn’t actually true.
The Tuesday Club podcast also made reference to the piece and said that a caller to the Fans Forum had been immediately cut off when wanting to discuss it.
My piece was only opinion and I don’t make any claim at all to be any better than anyone else. The apparent hostility from inside was a surprise though.
In the meantime, several changes have been made, at least in the training personnel – I’m not exactly sure about medical personnel.
But how much change have those changes really generated ?
Hopefully we are now seeing players like Welbeck returning from very long term injury. Tomas has sadly come and gone again after a similar amount of time out.
Theo, The Ox and to a lesser extent Kieran Gibbs – because he hasn’t played much – have all had soft tissue injuries again this season, while Jack Wilshere seems to have completely disappeared with what was described as a very minor fracture in early August. Fortunately, Aaron Ramsey has so far escaped his annual three to four month absence.
Cazorla and Coquelin were just very unfortunate, as was Sanchez, although sheer fatigue almost certainly played a part in his hamstring tear. Koscielny, however, now seems to be struggling to stay 100% fit.
Certainly the first half of this season was horrendous for injuries and it has really been a miracle of management that we are still right there in contention for the title.
Gabriel is a worry though, as it was impossible to injure this guy before he moved to London.
One observation. Shad Forsythe must have excellent knowledge and certainly has a wealth of experience, in the international role that he performed for a lot of years, so we certainly have one of the top men around leading our preparation.
It often puzzles me, watching the warm up routines on a match day, that some players perform the various exercises with great quality and care, while some barely go through the motions. Things like hip rotations, dynamic hamstring stretches and lunges are barely attempted by some players. I’m also struggling to remember seeing any players, other than the goalkeepers, doing any sort of back or pelvic stretches – a big surprise given how integral to thigh and hamstring function ( and vice – versa ) those areas are.
Right. Back to sleep.
Cheers Trev….always appreciate your detailed understanding of these matters which you pass onto those of us completely in the dark. The club appearing to censor discussion of these issues which you allude to earlier is certainly an over the top reaction not befitting of them. Suggests they have something to hide.
Back to sleep….why has the marsh dwellers game started already 😉
Trev@171: Interesting read. It takes your expert eye to spot those tell-tale details like the match-day warm-ups. Have the players done extensive warm-ups inside and so are only going through the motions to stay loose immediately before the game, or just not bothered about warming up properly, or just too crocked to attempt anything more vigorous?
(In my day, the only pre-match stretch we did was to bend down to stub out our cigars.)
Ned,
I can’t answer that one but I’m surprised such variance is tolerated – unless, as you say, some of them are so crocked they don’t actually dare to try to stretch anything. ( just kidding ). ?
De Gea injured too now..in warmups no less.. cannot make this up!
Are MU players conspiring against Van Balls like the chavs did against Moaninho?
If De Gea is out against us.. then i’ll admit that one does not strengthen them..!
😀
Ned@173?
I was occasionally injured stretching to put my shinpads on
Trev
I always find your pieces on injuries and fitness/ conditioning very interesting and educational. It didn’t occur to me to study the
warm-ups . I’m usually pessimistically discussing the game with my neighbours in the seats or watching the early game, if there is one on the TVs outside.
Right from George Graham’s time I’ve wondered how Merson , who was the most unfit Arsenal player I’ve ever seen ( at times) and Adams managed to escape the tyrannical regime of a manager apparently known as Gadaffi when they were both living lives totally unsuited to those of a professional footballer. That was a different era of course and Wenger didn’t persist with Merson and saw Adams undergo a significant transformation when he bravely confronted his alcohol demons.
Nobody at the club is anywhere near that situation although the life Wilshere seems to lead outside the pitch sometimes seems to be at odds with his best interests if he hopes to have a long and successful career. That may be a fiction of the tabloids of course.
I do wonder though , and I’ve mentioned this before, about whether British players are more fragile than some of the players we have from other countries.
I go to watch my grandson play and even at his age ( 8) and younger, professional scouts are circulating hungrily ready to pounce on any lad who shows real promise. If you do , you can end up playing on about four days a week at a time when bones and muscles are developing. Does this happen in other countries leading to developmental problems or are the weaknesses exacerbated by the physicality and pace of the Premier League? It’s become an intense physical test to play at this level and one hopes we are preparing our players properly.
Certainly signing 34 year-old injury- prone Michael Carrick wouldn’t help matters but I suspect that story has been spread by his agent as he hopes to get another contract at Old Trafford
Go Central Jutland!
😀
Manure losing to Midteeland 1-2 (82 min) and LVG was talking of winning the Europa Cup. Hope they don’t change their manager before our tie with them.
Could be some truth to what you said @175 about Manure players conspiring to rid of LVG.
Good result for Jutland!
😀
Going to be an interesting 2nd leg…!
Van Balls giving the thousand yard stare…. it probably means he’ll have to play better players thus risking more fatigue for them.
😀 😀 😀
Tell you what.. Shrewsbury must really fancy their chances now!
😀
@Trev: Looking at Manchester United’s humiliation in part due to an injury epidemic worthy of Arsenal’s recent 12 seasons 😉 and contrasting that with Spurs and Leicester I seriously wonder which part of these injuries is influenced by the morale of the players.
@BB/175: If De Gea is injured for a while they may well miss on the Europa Cup…
Jutland. I’ll eat a Danish to that. 😉
Van Balls invoking ‘The Law Of Murphy..’
HAHAhhHAHAHAHAH…
@Matt seems De Gea haS a knee problem.. not sure how bad it is…
I want to see if this Murphy shows up with Shrewsbury….
😀
I see Mitjylland (sp.?) had not played competitively before today for over 70 days due to the winter break in the Danish league. Some might say this would have been a disadvantage for them …
Why would we buy Carrick 10 years after his peak?
The point with a lot of the recent spate of injuries around our rivals is that de Gea, Lloris, Terry, Darmian, to name a few, are occasional injuries which can, of course, affect any player from time to time.
At the Arsenal, it tends to be the same players perennially injured. This season we have had our own ‘occasional’ injuries to the likes of Sanchez, Cazorla and, last season, it was Giroud and Ozil who, considering the number of games they play and the fouling and battering they suffer, seem pretty robust.
The difference is that they joined us as already mature adult bodies – not the teenagers who suffered long term injuries with us while breaking into the first team.
Btw, shame to see the once great Manchester United suffering another loss ????????????????????????
185 Bath….agree but Carrick’s peak more like a slight incline and now on a downward trajectory 🙂
187 Trev…hopefully the drinkers here will be alert to your sensitive nature in regard to Manure injuries piling up 😉
I see the club that defeated the mighty United today was founded in 1999. And that is not 1899 in case you were wondering.
You can’t make this stuff up, to coin a phrase.
Re: bath @185. Maybe we have some cash luing around because Silvestre’s multi-year contract has now expired? 😉
Or lying around?
Wonder if LVG will be doing the cha-cha-cha any time soon
De Gea will be a real loss for the Mancs. He is worth even more points a season to them than Cech is to us.
Unless AW has discovered a time machine, signing Carrick would be beyond a joke — unless we are anxious to fill that job we keep for the injury-prone mid-30s somethings that Tomas Rosicky is about to vacate.
Huge apologies all. I lied again. Podcasting took a bit longer than expected. Back tomorrow, really, with a Hull preview and the competition.
On top of goodness knows how many Friday pints that will be an achievement! 🙂
@Trev: so if I’m following you the prognosis is grim for young Bellerin and Iwobi?
Excuses, excuses…
Feeling in Van Gaal mood tonight barkeep?
Stubbing out your cigars, Ned? (#173). What elitist league did you play in? Roll-your-owns were our choice of nicotine inoculation, although some of the better-heeled guys were known to smoke ‘Turf’ ready-mades occasionally. Cigars indeed!
Oskar
I hear the Chinese are offering Rooney £500,000 a week to join their bandwagon. A WEEK. What is the world coming too.
The way things are at Manure that must look very tempting, for Coleen anyway.
Oskar
Gabriel-like bullet header sent all the way from Brasil!!!!
Back of the net with an assist from Colleen of all people. Who woulda thunk? 🙂
Gabriel being in Brasil, not me, just to clarify. Haste makes waste and so on.
Quite a few wontons could be bought with that kind of moola, Oskar.
Mike Brown scolding the players on the pitch at halftime again, ‘holic?
Or has he moved on?
Chambers at centre half I would expect. What a great 2nd half he played in what seems to be his natural position.
PHIL Brown has been manager of Southend for years, bt8
Our cushion-faced chum, Steve ‘Ailsa’ Bruce is Hull’s manager now.
And the latest player rumored to be jumping to the Chinese league as a member of the £100K+ per week club is none other than TGSTEL. Sheer madness!
Southend? Sounds like a demotion to me. If there could possibly be such a thing after Hull … Phil you say, Cynic? Could well be … 😉
If Ailsa turns up on Saturday, I’d be delighted if Alf – ‘ Ya dole bludging mongrel!’, makes a show as well.
@199 Oskar
That would be a very tempting £500,000 chinese pounds for Rooney… but remember.. the penalty for avoiding taxes is… Death! And I am uncertain if it extends to immediate family and pets…
Whichever it is am certain, Neymar shall not be going there anytime soon!
😀
Otd@198: And a snifter from the flask at half-time. Different times…
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-19/arsenal-s-flamini-takes-biochemical-battle-against-oil-to-u-s
It seems Jack Wilshere may not now be seen in playing mode until mid- March. The papers will start worrying about his fitness for the Euris but my experience is players miraculously heal before big international competitions even if they play rarely for their clubs. The lad has real problems and his body is failing him. Let’s hope he can heal properly.
Tomorrow I expect this side
Ospina
Chambers Mert Kos Gibbs
Elneny Coquelin
Campbell Iwobi Ox
Theo
Subs: Cech, Monreal ( or Bellerin) , Flamini , Giroud, Sanchez , Welbeck , Ramsey
Personally I believe this game is more important to us than Barcelona because we have a good chance of a third successive FA Cup but little chance of a CL success or of progressing v Barca. Controversial I know but realistic
TTG @214, I don’t disagree about playing the percentages on these competitions.
However I would modify your team a little: playing Chambers for Kos keeping Bellerin at RB and choose Flamini for Coq, saving the returning holding MFer for a 30 min run out in the second half.
Matt,
The prognoses for Bellerin and Iwobi might currently be better as I don’t believe either has yet suffered a major soft or connective tissue injury.
Fascinating comments attributed to Wenger today. Shows how close we were to the end of his tenure at half time in the 2014 Cup Final. Well that’s my spin on it. Also shows that to him, that was enough, it represented success, he broke the 10 year hoodo and he thereby became entitled to continue on indefinitely. Immovable. Why is it significant ? Because now with Man U falling away and 4th all but guaranteed, we move officially into Wenger (and Kroenke’s) comfort zone till the end of the season. CL qualification in the bag, bit of a Cup run. The absolute panic, the lust and the must-have it (the title) attitude we fans have, is simply not matched at the top of the club. And we know what happens at other big clubs next year with new regimes…this is IT, we have to win, this year. Let’s just hope the players take it upon themselves, they certainly kept driving on v’s Leicester and, yes, the substitutions were good !
‘It was up in the air and we had to give everything to win that final and after to reflect,’ Wenger said.
‘If we had lost it I don’t know. Usually I respect my contracts and I fight for everything and to say after 17 years can depend just on one cup final means it is better you don’t go to the final then.
‘It would have been a problem if we had not won. But we won.
‘Today in the modern job you have to explain on what you do not achieve and why you did not win.’
Cue N7 biting my head off. COYG. Yes N7, this weekend too. Sure he’s not going anywhere…
TTG @214,
Not sure if Kos has recovered completely from his dead leg problem and would be a big risk to play him against Hull. Prefer to rest Coq too and keep him fresh for the Barcelona tie. Our focus should primarily be on PL followed by FA Cup and CL, in that order.
Ksn,
why do you want to keep our best players fresh for your 3rd priority and not play them in your 2nd priority games.
Seems to lack a bit of logic.
Trev, I think we need to maximise our chances in all competitions and to do that we need to nurture our wounded, rotate our exhausted and keep our squad match sharp.
I think the CB combo of Per and Chambo should be good enough to deal with whatever Hull can throw at us, especially if they can perform as they did in the SH last Sunday. However I want Kos to be alongside Per against the Barca attack as his experience will be invaluable and that pair’s experience of playing together should help against that attack.
The same applies to Coquelin. I think his screening is essential to our prospect of success v Barca. As he is only just working his way back from a long injury, I think he should be saved for the Barca game with perhaps a late cameo v Hull hopefully once the game has been won. Flamini plus Elneny should be good enough for this tie.
Bath
Perfect logic which I fully understand. I think Coquelin needs a full game before Barca. Throwing him in without playing too much against those merchants would be a problem and I really don’t think Flamini is any better than Hull’s midfield but I accept the point on Chambers who was excellent last week. I still think he is a CM but last week suggested otherwise. Thinking on I suspect Welbeck may start tomorrow with Giroud to replace him after 70 mins. Theo’s pace has scared Barca in the past.
Trev @219,
The reason is that I feel confident of beating Hull with the team suggested by TTG @214 (with few changes, Chambers for Kos and Bellerin in his natural position – I also wouldn’t mind playing Flamini instead of Coq) and am quite fearful of what Barca could do to us if we fielded a weak team (and the derision in the media that would follow). However, if we were playing a strong team like the Chavs or Citeh followed by Barca I would have preferred our strongest team for the FA Cup tie.
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