Six Hitters Arsenal Continue Winning Run
Oct 19th, 2016 by 'holic
Arsene Wenger opted to ring the changes, bringing in David Ospina, Kieran Gibbs, Francis Coquelin, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Champions League matchday three. He explained it pre-match as keeping the spine of the side, and…
“I rotate a little bit without altering the balance of the team.”
Ludogorets started brightly and with only two minutes on the clock Coquelin was called upon to cut out a dangerous cross from Cafu. Mesut Ozil was the first to break clear for Arsenal but his cross was comfortably gathered by Stoyanov. From the opposite flank Hector Bellerin’s cross into a dangerous area was also thumped clear.
In the ninth minute Alexis set up Theo Walcott who collected the rebound when his first effort was blocked and looked to pass rather than shoot from close range. Again the defence cleared. We didn’t have long to wait for the opener. Having failed to convert one break Alexis took his second opportunity when he collected Oxlade-Chamberlain’s pass, cut inside the first defender, and played a sublime chip inside the far post.
Arsenal 1-0 Ludogorets
The visitors pacy trio up top were causing problems and Wanderson brought a sharp save out of Ospina when allowed to cut in unchallenged from Arsenal’s left flank.
As the midpoint of the half approached Alexis was upended by Palomino whose challenge looked remarkably similar to that by Granit Xhaka on Saturday. The Portuguese referee awarded the free-kick but took no further action, quite rightly.
A mistake by Moti gave Ozil a shooting opportunity on the edge of the box but the teenage defender made amends with a block. We had to be grateful again to Ospina when Misidjan was put in behind the Gunners defence and the Columbian ‘keeper sprinted out to win the one on one situation with a strong hand.
The Ox, having a reasonable return to the side, went close to setting up a tap in for Walcott but was out by a fraction. Minutes later Ospina repeated his face to face heroics against Misidjan when Arsenal were again easily opened up, and Wanderson’s effort grazed the far post when the ball was knocked straight back in.
At the other end Coquelin put in Walcott who shot straight at Stoyanov at a time when the home side looked in need of the cushion of a second goal. Bulgaria’s Eagles fashioned another chance and Anicet’s drive was deflected by Laurent Koscielny to enable a comfortable Ospina save.
Just under four minutes from the break the Ox fed Ozil on the left flank, the German cut back an amazing ball to Walcott on the edge of the box. Theo moved it to his right and curled a wonderful finish beyond the reach of Stoyanov. How Arsenal needed that goal.
Arsenal 2-0 Ludogorets
Stoyanov had better fortune when clawing out an Alexis effort which proved to be the last action of the half, one which was far more open than perhaps some had anticipated.
The restart by Arsenal was wonderful, and will have boosted a couple of players. Gibbs cross was only half cleared to Oxlade-Chamberlain and the England international placed a perfect finish for our third.
Arsenal 3-0 Ludogorets
In the 56th minute we were out of sight when Koscielny won out in a two against one situation, Santi Cazorla picked out Ozil in the Ludogorets half and the German genius contolled the ball on the volley and passed the ball into the net.
Arsenal 4-0 Ludogorets
That was Santi’s last contribution as he limped off to have an ice-pack applied to what looked like a sore ankle. Mohamed Elneny got a welcome appearance as substitute. Minutes later Walcott departed to a standing ovation to be replaced by new boy Lucas.
We perhaps should have had a penalty when Alexis was bundled over in the box before the Ox was denied a second goal by Stoyanov, having been offered a close range volley by the imperious combination of Ozil and Alexis. He turned provider himself a minute or so later but Lucas was denied a clean strike.
The crowd were on their feet again when Alexis made way for Alex Iwobi with seventeen of the ninety minutes remaining. Ozil grabbed a second on the night when Lucas found him unmarked at the far post. It was another breathtaking break.
Arsenal 5-0 Ludogorets
The same combination brought a volley from Ozil for his hat-trick in the 87th minute. “We’ve got Ozil, Mesut Ozil” rang around the stadium.
Arsenal 6-0 Ludogorets
There remained time for even Bellerin to try his luck from the edge of the box. At last Stoyanov was equal to the effort.
It is hard to understand how a team that had been so lively and threatening in the first-half had collapsed so completely in the second. Unrestrained, the Gunners did their goal difference no harm with a devastating exhibition.
That’s seven straight wins for Arsenal now, and eleven undefeated. The feelgood factor grows a little. It is only October, lest we get carried away.
84 Responses to “Six Hitters Arsenal Continue Winning Run”
<3
wow, just as fast as the goals flew in!
I coulda been a contender but I read te tail of the last bar. Off to read this one.
Stroll in the Park H
On a more somber note,just heard another player from our youth has passed away.
Garry Sprake aged 71
Played over 500 games for Leeds,some of which older members in the bar will remember,as he was one of a plethora of very good keepers back in those days
whisper that first sentence in the last paragraph. but oh, it does feel good.
where’s dr. F when you need him? last i saw him he was having a catch with shaft using the keys to the happy train’s medicine cabinet…
and clearly, lars’ wallet is still in the bar, so if you don’t mind, i’ll have a willett rye and a pint of uncle dave’s rye ipa…
Strength in depth and team has come into form.
😀 😀 😀
Actually, if Lars’ wallet is around, I wouldn’t mind 8 centiliters of The Botanist and some Fentimans Tonic.
hey, toby, you heard about the spray dr. fentiman invented? it acts on a person’s dna so once they take it, they have even more gene potential for expression in future generations.
and yep, it’s called fentiman’s high-gene spray…
OK OK, I’ll take all the credit. If anyone wants to send me on another holiday……
Clive – sorry to hear of Garry Sprake’s passing. I regret that my first thought on reading the name was that he was a comedy keeper. No doubt the only reason I remember him making a dramatic error is that he was by-and-large a good keeper. (Didn’t he manage to underarm the ball into the net behind him once when trying to bowl it out?) RIP another name from my youth.
On to tonight’s events…
I made the mistake of listening to the 5Live commentary on the opening minutes of the Barça v ¢itti match. It was notable for the number of times the commentators should have asked for a handkerchief with which to clean themselves up. They spoke of how English teams recently had gone to the Camp Nou with no real expectation of getting a result. As I listened I began to experience the feeling that this is to be the year that we will beat the Catalans and to look forward to Manchester Oilers’ return home with a new one. Honestly, I nearly said so at the time in the drinks. Honest. So, that’s half of my wishes granted.
After seeing the half-time score, I thought I’d risk a look at the Guardian’s minnute-by-minute coverage. It had everything – a little dig at Theo’s rate for converting chances; a suggestion, at 1-0, that Arsenal might come to regret not converting more chances, some unfortunately timed criticism of the Ox. I guess it’s difficult when your contemporaneous comments are available to all when the dust has settled. (Your correspondent suffered a similar embarrassment after over-celebrating the first goal when we played Aston Villa on opening day a season or two back.) But hell, these people are paid to do more than simply recycle rent-a-criticism quotes week after week. Marvellous post-hoc summary of the Grauniad’s MBM coverage: “Ozil scores hat-trick”.
A fair piece Gov’nor; I can’t praise it more highly than that as it would detract from my mission to take the p*** out of the press.
Bring on ‘Boro.
COYG
(Speaking of the ‘Boro game, I had to decline my sister-in-law’s invitation to see the match due to a prior engagement. Bless her, she responded by offering to take me to the Tinies’ game on November 6. Truly, worse things happen at sea.)
Ahh, Auntie Beeb. The national broadcaster that just keeps on giving. From their match report: The Frenchman’s side were so dominant and so full of confidence they perhaps should even have won by a greater margin., and a couple of paragraphs later, a little dig about Walcott not scoring every time he touches the ball.
Thanks to Bath for his link in previous bar regarding commentators’ ability to <irony$gt;understand</irony>. Patrick Jennings of the BBC, I’m looking at you.
COYG
Bugger. Out-smart arsed myself. Again.
Night all.
Saw Gary Sprake play on a few occasions. Part of Revie’s detested team but redeemed himself in later year’s by whistleblowing on Revie’s alleged attempts to match fix.
Pangloss, the famous own goal when he threw the ball in his own net was in front of the Kop at Anfield. Foul conditions that day it must be said and the ball slipped as he was trying to throw it out, but where better to make a howler like that than in front of the Kop?
Ozil’s goals tonight were all top draw especially the last last one. Ninety nine out of 100 players would have put that in Row Z. Who needs to buy a £100m striker?
A great many positives and a second highly entertaining game in a row – I hope it’s habit forming. Good to see Ox start. Good to see Ox score. Start him again on Saturday please, Arsene. Pleased to see Prez get a run too.
I think Gary Sprake was a bit after my time, Clive. I left Blighty for Aus in the mid-60s and football coverage downunder was scant for the next decade. Having Googled I am now fully informed. 😉
Arsenal supporters of my generation and older will all recall Gary Sprake laying out Bobby Gould with a left hook at Highbury in 1969. We had our first crack at the title for years but lost 1-2 that day and effectively handed the title to ‘dirty Leeds’.
He will always be linked with the song “Careless hands” sung to him at Anfield the day he chucked it into his own net.
These were two games out of hundreds he played in an excellent career. RIP Gary.
Pleased to see they paid attention to GD after getting to 3-0. Some excellent goals, notably the first from Alexis. Özilla was inconspicuous until we were 3 nil ahead, and then went into one of his best ever flat track bully roles. If only he could score like that when we really need him to. But a hat trick is a hat trick so credit to him. Sign da ting dat man!
I was surprised Xhaka didn’t get an opportunity to atone rather than having a 4-match break, but then Coq turned in a motm performance (imo) with quite the most accomplished match I can remember from him.
chris, i don’t think that’s fair about ozil. sorry.
i do agree with you about le coq. he was quietly excellent.
Not long in from the game. As Clive said, a stroll in the park. Ludo played some tidy stuff in the first few minutes and strung some nice passes together. But when the fizz had gone there was only one side in it.
What impressed tonight was the quality of the finishing. The Alexis chip was just pure class. Theo’s strike was also out of the top drawer. The control demonstrated by Mesut for his first was just sublime. That in no way is to detract from the quality of the other finishes.
Ludo were poor. I would love the opportunity to play against their keeper every week. Same again in the return leg and it’s effectively job done.
The crowd was given as 59,000 tonight, however there was an awful lot of empty seats. My guess is that you could take 10,000 off of that. The 49,000 however departed very happy after a pleasant evening stroll in North London.
Ozil inconspicuous Chris???? You need to get over for a few games or get a far bigger tele. He was different class all night and makes the whole side tick. You really aren’t watching the same game if you thought he was inconspicuous tonight.
Chris,
Chelsea home this season (not forgetting Watford, Swansea, and tonight).
Manchester United and Bayern last season, not to mention West Ham and Norwich when we drew.
Liverpool in 2014/15.
Goalscoring isn’t his primary function, but he does it when it is important against other than small fry.
I won’t embellish the point with his goals for Germany.
He is no flat-track bully. The man is sublime.
Okay, I was a bit unfair. But he didn’t contribute much in the first half, and the game was won before he scored. I just don’t share the veneration in which he’s held by most. He’s too often missing when needed, imo. But a lot better than he used to be I admit.
A word too for Coquelin tonight. Winning balls and passing to the real players superbly.
It’s worth a mention.
Loving the form and confidence of most right now. It may or may not last, but let’s enjoy it while it is happening.
What’s more important, Chris, is whether we can keep him and Alexis. This is a huge season, and quite odd. The players want confirmation that we are in the hunt for trophies as they wind down their careers. Guess who is responsible for delivering those trophies?
They want lots more money to renew their contracts. That reduces the amount available for new signings who are required to strengthen our trophy hunt.
We don’t have the unlimited backing of Citeh and Chelseh.
How good would it be to win something huge in these circumstances?
Credit to the Bulgarians for not coming to the Ems and parking the bus. The first half was full of incident at both ends with Ludogorets causing plenty of problems.
The Feo goal just before half time was just what we needed and we started the second half as we finished the first. Everyone present had a great evening with a goal feast coupled with a clean sheet.
The Lucas/Ozil goals were the icing on a very tasty cake, yummy! Can’t wait for the next instalment on Saturday!
COYRs
Sadly unable to see the goals until tomorrow, I will content myself with a few memories of Gary Sprake. I remember the Leeds game Holic referred to. They were a bunch of very nasty pieces of work . Giles, Bremner, Collins, Reaney, Charlton, Hunter etc , they had to be seen to be believed ( and they could play too, sublimely at times). Pangloss is right in remembering Sprake as a keeper who made wonderful saves interspersed with catastrophic errors like the Houseman goal in the 1970 Cup Final. And the Anfield blooper Holic references. He never played in a big tournament but might have the edge on Wayne Hennessy, who played with distinction in the Euros. Another Welsh star born in the wrong era , like Neville Southall. Sad to see him die so early.
I can’t comment on Ozil tonight but he won me over a very long time ago. He is one of the finest players I’ve ever seen play for Arsenal and I’ve been watching them for nearly sixty years. We are privileged to watch him. He can make the game look deceptively easy, something great players do. I do hope we can do the deal with him and Alexis and wonder if we can get Ivan to chip in some of his £2.45 million salary into their salary pot. Lord knows that’s a hefty salary for a bloke who doesn’t seem to have advanced us commercially as much as some of our rivals have been. Stan has waived his £3million divi this year so maybe that could go into the pot too. Perhaps the future of Wenger might be linked to theirs? If we’d started the season on the first day rather than the day after the window we’d be well clear of everyone. And compared with last year we are in a much stronger position in Europe too.
Cheers H! Well happy with result and performance.
Remember Gary Sprake’s ‘Houseman’ goal vividly. ’twas the talk of the playground the Monday after that cup final, which went to a replay.
I was once told that the mark of a top player is not just what he does with the ball but also what he does without it. Anyone that has seen Ozil play in front of their eyes will realise what he can do on a regular basis. His vision and range of passing are second to none. Just check out his ball to Theo for our second. Perhaps if we were ever able to play the kind of attacking players that he used to aim for when he was at Madrid then you would really see just what he is capable of. If people still don’t get what he is about then you need to actually get to a game. Perhaps then they will get it.
Le Coq again did all the scruffy stuff and did it well. Theo also continued in the same form as he has shown all season. He is starting to form a great partnership down the right with Bellerin. There can’t be a quicker right flank in world football.
The telling moment for me with Theo last night was when he went for that 50/50 with their keeper. I’m not sure if the Theo from last season would have challenged for that.
Keeping hold of both Ozil and Sanchez will be telling. Both are approaching the panicle of their careers. I think we need to show that we can compete at the very top level to retain their services. We also may need to add one or two to convince them fully.
I would also suggest that we need to get Bellerin signed up on a long term deal before others start to swoop. If we don’t get our act together then we could face a situation where we could lose all three in the summer. That would be a disaster.
Just 3 letters today!
Wow!
Verry good win gays, as Andre Santos famously once said. Barely ever got out of second gear and yet we won quite convincingly which only makes it even better. Lots of praise has been handed out but I have yet to see anyone mention a man often criticised (and many times rightly so) but who has quietly gone about his business in a very good way: David Ospina.
In all three CL games this season he’s done very well, and has looked far from the hyper-stressed bundle of nerves that I have seen before. He made a string of excellent saves v PSG and in both home games he’s been focused and sharp when called upon. Last night he didn’t even touch the ball until something like 14 minutes had gone, but then had three situations which he read more or less perfectly and went in with great timing to put the attacker off the ball or make him go wide without there ever being any danger of giving a penalty away. Well played, David.
I can’t keep up with this Speedy Gonzholic. He’s churning out the Blogs faster than I can read them!
Last night was an excellent developmental step for this team, a rocky 20 min period of defensive permissiveness aside. Most enjoyable stuff.
Now to read the master’s pearls.
Too think I was nervous at 1-0…it’s been a long time since I have enjoyed a relaxed televised second half over Beer and Pizza without giving myself stress induced indigestion…
When the away leg arrives it will pay the team to remember how good Ludogrets were for the first 15/20 minutes.
Another wonderful relaxed night in North London. A cornucopia of wonderful goals. Some pretty tidy football from our visitors in the first half and we were flattered by the score. Second half we battered them.
On the Ozil question I am firmly in the Landlord’s camp and agree that he is one of those players that you need to see live to appreciate his off the ball work. However all three goals from him were quality, especially the first where he showed that pace which isn’t always appreciated.
Of all the wonderful footballers I have seen live in red and white over the years, three stand out, over different decades. In chronological order:
1. Liam Brady
2. Dennis Bergkamp
3. Mesut Ozil
A new contract soon for, inter alia, Mesut, Alexis and Hector would add to the sense of progression to this excellent squad.
A good outing and don’t forget that Ludogorets is a very decent side as shown in the first 45. I rank them at least on par with Copenhagen and they could easily have gotten a point at Leicester and will get at least one at home. So ALSO in that context the result was strong and while we still give away one too many chances, the over all rhythm and dynamics of the current side is just excellent.
And a solid Pastis is deserved for Prof Wenger. How many of us whined about the “Alexis on Top” strategy initially, while now it is a “fait a complit” every time we play. This Bermuda Triangle of ours (Oz, Alexis and Theo) sinks any attempt of defence from the opposing side. But I just wonder what will happen when injuries kick in, but on that note I have a feeling that Lucas will some of those big boots. Seems an agile, intelligent forward that should fit in nicely. His two assists were the hidden gems of the night.
Francis coque lin and Alexis Sanchez were terrific yesterday. Mesut was mesut but then he has set the standards so high that even one miss pass, one bad touch and we all go, oh no. Never mind, hattrick is a nice way to show us how good he is as ever.
The defense was off color. A lot of 50-50 ricochets came in our favor whereas it could have easily gone the other way round. Kos and mustafi were found wanting on a couple of occasions and I think it was more down to fatigue. Gibbs was good but the worry was the ankle pain of santi. I doubt if we will see santi play this weekend. Ramsey is there to take his place but it is not like for like. Hopefully, boro does not offer serious resistance.
Overall a grand second half but the highlight had to be that alexis goal, oh that was bergkampesque.
City humbled by barca but barca’s defense is poor. If we have a compact team strong in the midfield and prevent their front 3 from having too much of the ball, they can be beaten. Think athletico and bayern have real good chance. Us??? well let us not draw them shall we please.
My Guvna, you’ve fair captured the essence.
Balance
Sublime
Sharp
Strong
Wonderful
Perfect
Genius
Breathtaking
“We’ve got Özil!”
Just like a fine malt.
Nice to repeat that experience too.
Sláinte.
I too fail to understand criticism of Özil. The world divides into camps on all sorts of issues. You will even find people who disparage motherhood and apple pie. I imagine the Özil phobes include those misanthropes, the blind and those watching the game upside down in the antipodes. When confronted with people who hold views that you cannot understand you need to seek their back story to try to understand how they reach that opinion.
For me, he is one of the small number of players whom it has been a privilege to see play regularly in the flesh. The others are IW8, PV4, DB10, RP7 and TH14. The greatest of these are MÖ11 and DB10. Magicians.
I wish I had seen Liam Brady in his prime. From TV observation, I am confident he would have made that a top 3 rather than a top 2.
Brady was something really special, with a wand of a left foot but a real drive in midfield (Jack’s the closest type I’ve seen since). Until Dennis came along I didn’t think I’d see anyone better.
Then, as now, I watched from the North Bank (then complete with crush barriers rather than well padded seats). Arsenal would warm up and we would serenade the players one by one with their songs. Brady had two. The first was the rather hackneyed
One Liam Brady!
there’s only one Liam Brady!
etc
He would disdainfully refuse to acknowledge this.
We would then break out (to the tune of the First Noel carol chorus)
Brady, Brady
Brady, Brady
Born is the King of Highbury!
Up would go the left arm as he graciously acknowledged the faithful.
That team (Rix, Sunderland, Rice Jennings etc) was pretty good, but not a patch on this one or, of course, the Invincibles.
Good week for Arsenal maestro must be the effect of your excellent blogging. More of the same please. ??
I had a proper Likely Lads night last night. Didn’t see the game live, recorded it, told people not to tell the score as I was watching it later, avoided being anywhere near the telly and this Brian Glover-like twat, who knew full well I didn’t want to know the score, bellowed at me with about ten minute to go, ARSENAL ARE WINNING 5-0!
Unlike the Likely Lads, I left where I was making “You wanker” gestures at this knob end, then came home and watched the game. It didn’t affect my enjoyment that much though.
He’s still a wanker, however.
My favourite three players of all time , in no order are
Joe Baker, Liam Brady and Bobby Pires. Very close up are Dennis, Thierry, George Eastham, Geordie Armstrong , Vieira and now Mesut.
I know the Guvna loved Joe Baker too, he was a terrific centre forward and Imhave often referred to him. Countryman describes Brady very well. His left foot was legendary but check out his cross for Stapleton in the 1979 final. Right footed on the run and put on a sixpence. Pires was one of the best wide players in the world at his peak, which fortunately coincided with his time with us.
Having had the privilege of watching the Arsenal since the late 50’s,i
as with TTG,i would also give a nod to George Eastham,another one with a wonderful left foot.
I suspect H loved little Joe Baker for more than just his football.
An unconscious Ron Yeats in front of the dugout at Highbury during an epic cup tie with Liverpool is still vivid in my minds eye,even all these decades later.
Charlie George will always be my favourite player but Bergkamp is by far the best player we have had in my lifetime. He is levels higher than the likes of Henry, Pires and even Brady for me.
Bergkamp could do things no other player could do.
Things like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPmg9jTkyfc
It’s not just turning this way and that, it’s the final pass that blows my brain. And then there’s THAT goal against Newcastle..
We have been fortunate enough to be able to have watched some wonderful talents over the years. I was a young lad going on to my teenage years when the likes of Liam Brady graced the place. In later years I was wonderfully privileged to to watch the likes of Henry, Bergkamp, Bobby P, Paddy etc. Truly wonderful players and a great honour to watch.
But my all time favourite Arsenal player is, and will always be Tony Adams. No one else comes close to being honoured with the title Mr Arsenal. A true giant and legend of this club of ours.
Comparisons are always invidious. All the names mentioned (some like Eastham and Baker are a few years before my time and I love hearing of them) are of immense quality and all dedicated to our club. There are many others worthy to join them.
How fortunate we are to follow The Arsenal. Truly.
In the words of one who has not yet been mentioned but was another of my personal favourites, and whose words now grace the Emirates on a banner and whose name is one of 32 around the stadium:
“Never forget who you are, what you are and who you represent”.
To add to what Steve T said @28 about Ozil’s vision and range of passing being second to none, it is the quickness with which he sees and makes his passes, too. One reason that he often doesn’t seem to be ‘in’ games is the speed with which he moves the ball on. And his skill level is so high, it usually appears effortless. There are few other players who can rip an opposing team apart with just a couple of touches.
I recall being told once that he was known as Joe (Mr Electric) Baker. Can anyone confirm and explain this?
Thanks.
COYG
Lots of good stuff above,
unfortunately too busy today to join in.
About one minute before scoring from Perez’s first cross last night, Mesut Özil had chased back about 70 yards after a Ludogorets forward.
That still doesn’t satisfy some people that he is a team player who works hard for the side.
Even after a masterful hat trick, poor old Chris (@Clive) just can’t help himself from making a jibe at one of the three best players I have ever seen in an Arsenal shirt.
I’m going to ignore it and drop it right here this time though, as he’s only doing it for attention.
There’s no other sensible explanation.
Pangloss,
No.
You’re welcome. ?
As one of the older farts, I can go back to the 50s and in my book George Eastham would be up there with the best. He was similar to MO11 in having a magical left foot that could place the ball on a sixpence. However in those days the quality around him left a lot to be desired with just one or two exceptions.
As Clive says above, Joe Baker in his prime was a great goal scorer and also was hard as nails. Witnessing him laying out the giant Ron Yeats (Liverpool) with 1 punch was a testament to that. He was only 5’7″ – unusually small for a CF in those days. Pangloss, his “electric” tag would be due his lightning pace.
To carry on from that period up to present I think TTG’s drink @ 42 nails it for me.
?
*leaves trail of digestives back to mid-afternoon ch5 help ye up armchairs*
*sets two open bottles of treacle stout on the side table next to cba’s armchair, crunching digestives as i walk back to the bar*.
no spring chicken meself
. in comparison
a feckin
johnny come lately cherub
sláinte mighty ‘holics
tryin get me head round banks
just now
fuckin revelation on revelation
fuckin shower o wankers
no wonder the world was caught
with it’s business hanging out
not gordon
Call me nostalgic but I used to love watching the slippery Irishman Joe Haverty mesmerising defenders back in the day. But Arsenal were rubbish during those early years when I actually attended matches regularly, so not hard to stand out. Then I moved abroad and Arsenal fortunes improved, but I saw little of it. During visits back home I did get to see the magician Brady, and regular TV coverage since brought God and the rest to Aus/NZ. Standing pressed up against the barriers opposite the clock end at Highbury was wonderful fun and there’s nothing to match the energy generated by a live crowd at a combative match. But, regardless the cynics (not you Cynic), for analysing what actually happened you cannot beat a live recording with all its camera angles and the ability to slow/pause/replay/stop frame etc etc.
Just my opinion of course and, I’d sooner be at the ground on balance.
didn’t know most
money made outta thin air
didn’t exist
only as debt
fuckin hell
what the fuck
.
pie maker
4pies -toastie type arrangement
fuckin mighty
not there yet
hands burnt de buggery
2 runny mince
2chicken ham gravy
so
all’s well
resume spending
Love your soh, Trev, but lauding Mesut as a defender is just classic. No wonder you dropped it immediately! 😀
agreed
trev does a good soh
not fussed on his lah , tee doh though
*lies in puddles of his own lies waiting on more treacle stout*
No treacle stout cba, sorry, but here’s another great kiwi band for ya … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMIddxUAAQw
If the straitjacket fits… 😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-lN8vWm3m0
another fuckin layer of tinfoil on me that
hat
notwithstanding
Buck me, that’s odd.
even so
it’s real
*makes mystical oooooooooohh noises*
Now you’re scaring me. I’m outta here…
did i say
oooooooooooooooooooohh
or
moooooooooooooooooooooo
.
?
moo decide !
oooooooooooooooooooohhhhh
.
or you
eithers grand
Crackin’ stuff!
Talking about great players past and present… Brady, Adams, Seaman, Wright, Bergkamp, Vieira, Henry, Pires and Ozil are all up there as players in their day who would likely be selected for a world XI to play a selection from another planet.
There is one man everyone seems to have overlooked though. Igors Stepanovs. You had to see him live to appreciate just how good he was. I was so gutted when we sold him that I needed to go on antidepressants for a couple of months.
It’s the way he does his hair…
It seems d work in progress of last season is beginning to blosoom; we are yet to see d real stuff dis a essemble is made of; d confidence is growing, d understading in d team is progressing well, d team spirit is becoming infectious, d team is maturing gradually; I pray d team collectively peaks at d auspicious moment of d season, barring distruptive injuries; 16/17 season is our season in Arsenal, d negative forecasts nd criticisms of detractors in d media, PGMOL et al notwithstanding, dis team will suprise even themselves. My advice to d boyz is to stay focused, determined ,nd give their all in every game as they are doing now, play for eachoda nd to instruction, Kos d captain must take d command of d coach infield nd direct affairs as Viera used to do; if only dis team will remain focused nd maintain d winning mentality dat is growing steadily,remain humble nd keep their feet on d ground as AW has said, I cee us loosing only d liverpool day one game all tru the season.Shallom!!!
Dat, up dere, is d pressin’.
Who’s got a blackboard and chalk……?
@ Chris
“… for analysing what actually happened you cannot beat a live recording with all its camera angles and the ability to slow/pause/replay/stop frame etc etc.”
And yet, every professional manager in football history has chosen to watch the game from the dug-out, rather than on a massive plasma screen. Will they never learn?
the mighty feelgood ?
They watch the game from the dugout to be close to their players to communicate, but I’ve heard loads of managers over the years say you can’t actually see much at all. Which begs the question, why do they need to communicate about something they can’t see?
I’m sure you all do read arseblog, but this weeks Arsenal Gent, always one of highlights of the week, is one of the funniest ever.
http://arseblog.com/2016/10/arsenal-gentlemans-weekly-review-117/
cba @76, strangely, Feelgood is under investigation as a result of scurrilous allegations that his legendary mightiness is due to performance enhancing drugs! 😮
It’s actually much more informative to watch a match at the ground as opposed to on TV. Hence as others here have said: coaches and scouts will generally try to go to games for the overall picture before maybe looking at a tape later for the minor details. Yes, TV can highlight technique through its close-ups and replays, but the camera naturally only focuses on where the ball is, it doesn’t show the whole pitch. Seeing the whole pitch you get an appreciation for the wider flow and nuances of the game – how moves develop, how tactics play out, which players see things quickest, which players appreciate space, which players make the most runs, which players are always well positioned and available etc.
There’s a clear link to me that we, in England, have been slow to appreciate a player like Ozil (and even some of our fans remain unconvinced judging by this forum) and yet we have a continued inability to produce a decent national team and sophisticated, intelligent footballers. We have a philistine footballing IQ – just look at the level of punditry and analysis as proof!
While I’m in plugging mode I enjoyed this from Tim Stillman, mainly for the plug for the Bank of Friendship, my local of the early 1980s. A very Irish pub in those days, if you get my drift.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uhSAU5T8go
@ 79
Nothing scurrilous about it – its all true. ?
My favourite players would differ slightly from the very best. I think Dennis was truly magnificent but the players I named I loved for their attitude and style as much as their ability. Glad that some of the comrades here who remember the fifties and sixties remembered Eastham. Billy Wright put him and Baker on the transfer list in 1966 . It took the board months to fire him. The man must have been seriously mad!
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