Two Curses To Be Lifted At Old Trafford?
Nov 18th, 2016 by 'holic
The annual visit to Old Trafford is upon us. As in February, when in our preceding Premier League fixture we had completed the double over Leicester City, we go to Manchester in better shape than the hosts. However the 3-2 defeat we suffered that day to a weakened United had a far-reaching effect on our bid for the title. In our last nine visits there we have come away with a solitary point just twice, in 2013 and 2014.
The positive me takes heart from beating Chelsea, Southampton, and Swansea already this season. We are in hoodoo-busting mode. It is a double whammy jinx we face this time. Not only are we up against United in their own fortress, but now they are managed by the loathesome Mourinho, yet to experience a Premier League defeat by Arsene Wenger.
That should ensure that the edge returns to a fixture that used to crackle in the days when Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane would lock horns with the Premier League usually won by one or other of the combatants. Our last league win there was in 2006. In the decade that has followed, a notable FA Cup win for the visitors two seasons ago aside, we have failed to turn up in Salford.
Both sides will be sweating on fitness tests ahead of the match. United are definitely without the suspended Ibrahimovic and the long-term injured Bailly, Smalling, and Valencia, whilst ‘Elbows’ Fellaini is troubled by a calf injury. Returns are predicted for Rooney and Shaw, with Herrera too returning after suspension.
Our situation is well documented. Hector Bellerin, Santi Cazorla, Lucas Perez, Per Mertesacker, and our gift from United, Danny Welbeck, are all out. Carl Jenkinson should deputise for the former, while Arsenal will need to work out his midfield shield by deciding on two from Francis Coquelin, Aaron Ramsey, Mohamed Elneny, and Granit Xhaka.
Further forward there are two key decisions. Will Alex Iwobi get the nod over Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and will Alexis be recovered sufficiently to start ahead of Olivier Giroud? Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott are a given. This is a day when Arsene will have to earn his salary, and his decisions should prove decisive.
The ‘holic pound
Listener’s to this week’s A Bergkamp Wonderland podcast (see below) will already know I am somewhat optimistically going for a 1-3 away win. Recent history is stacked against that, but we were brutal in our defeat of them at home last season, and the squad must surely be in the mood to attempt a repeat of that scintillating display. I hope, rather than fervently believe, that my little dabble is successful at 28/1.
So that’s that. Have a great day all those who are at the game, and wherever you are watching it, as ever, have a great one ‘holics.
89 Responses to “Two Curses To Be Lifted At Old Trafford?”
First?
Top preview as always holic and it is indeed time to lift both of those curses – hopefully through some scintillating football from the lads.
This united team hasn’t hit any sort of rhythm and right now may not be the worst time to face them. Maureen had very well organised defenses in all his Chelsea teams that Arsene could not post a win against. This United side doesn’t have that. And also the cunt quotient of this united team is far less than Chelsea teams under Maureen.
And on a side note – it was amusing to hear Maureen say that he doesn’t get the respect that Wenger gets from the media. That comment perfectly sums up why he hates Arsene so much. He is incredibly jealous of him and the class he exudes. Just the fact that he has started demanding respect rather than commanding is a signal that he is afraid he has been found out by rival managers now and may never be nearly as successful as he has been in the past.
I expect them to pack the midfield, play deep and play on the counter. The onus will be on us to break them down. The front line of Iwobi, Alexis and Theo seems much more equipped to do so than past Wenger teams who failed to do the same against Maureen’s earlier teams.
Just win it Arsenal. There would be no greater joy than to see that thundercunt’s face after a defeat against us
I so hope we get the result tomorrow! I don’t care how, jusr win 🙂
2006.
Crikey.
I’m still not over last season and our inability to beat a rabble that included Carrick at centre back and 3 kids we’d never heard of……
So, as the Guvnor says, Just win it Arsenal.
I wish, when Mourinho was complaining about not getting any respect, someone had just said, “It’s because you’re a cunt!”
Cheers H!
When Mourinho is fired maybe he can get a job in the Trump Administration. Chief Whiner.
I dont have the words to describe how much I want this win, how much I want to see Arsene beat Mourinho everytime. oh, how I yearn to see Arsene pile on his misery, kick him where it hurts him most. I know our classy manager has tried to, and rightly so, focus on the game and the possiblities on the pitch so as to not add too much pressure to what the players already feel. still, I can’t help but have the special cunt firmly in my thoughts.
I want to see him cry as he throws his players under the bus at his presser after the game. I will take any win. a last minute own-goal off Rooney’s barnet? Yes, please. thank you.
Jose will set out not to get beaten.
All set up for an edagy 1-0 to the Arsenal.
Deflected own goal off Joses’s ego hopefully.
Fine preview Guvna. I do hope your punt brings you a handsome reward.
I agree with your prediction Desi @ 2:
“I expect them to pack the midfield, play deep and play on the counter. “
After a quick start to try to catch us cold, the OT crowd will be treated to the classic approach of the reptile: breaking up play, fouling and massed defence designed to take advantage of our mistakes in possession as we pour forward against his defensive wall.
Hopefully we will lay two ghosts tomorrow and a handsome win putting some coppers in the Guvna’s pocket would be an extra bonus.
Great preview Holic as always!
An early travel up north on a cold Saturday morning – Tick
Salford not want you want to see let alone be there – Tick
Spending hours on the motorway – Tick
Arsenal thumping United by 3:1 – Tick
Seeing the cunterry face on Maureen – Priceless!
Just win Arsenal I don’t care how just bloody win it please 😀
I never fancy this game and Mourinho sets up his sides to suffocate Arsenal. I think we will do well to take a point and this game will show if this squad is stronger than our recent ones. I think it is but I don’t think he will play Iwobi I think he will pack midfield with Cazorla and Xhaka and Ramsey will replace Iwobi . That will unbalance the team but increase the goal threat.
I’d bite your hand off for a 1-1. I’m still traumatised by that insipid performance there last year
Good one, ‘H. I hope the pound delivers. As with any game, I have no idea what will happen, and will happily take three points, however they come. Doubly so against Manchester Rowdies. Doubly so against the odious Portuguee.
Arsène will indeed earn his money tomorrow.
C O Y G
TTG
Cazrola is still injured 🙁
Man u 0-4 arsen
herself is full
lodger is fuckin doing my head in
as a junior senior gooner
‘holic
40 over years roaring
perchance c e
way over
watching
can ye tell
me
I KNOW WHERE IT WAS
I FUCKIN KNOW
I PUT THE FUCKIN THING DOWN
DOWN FER NO TIME
GUESSING BATHS GOT IT
definitely got it
mind you
less than quietly resentful
of baffntrevnstuff
change people’s lives
really change people’s lives
mind you
more people watched my telly than you saw
so fnurglesnrffffffgle
never going back
spanners of the highest order
brains of the lowest shelf Darren
I fuckin explixtictly told you
mind you
Kimberley’ll get mad
.
she hates flamboyance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jb5QmhtosM
mind you
what do i know
*slams down bourbon cream packet righteousnessly*
*two that ive accidentally forgotten internetly*
the pursuit of eating biscuits is broken
nitwits
come on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfK1IPLpcqs&app=desktop
and
by the way
whatessosaid
So Pep Guardiola reckons it’s impossible to play good football if you don’t have sex. This explains why I never got to play for Arsenal
I would be happy if we came away with a point and to achieve that we must pack the midfield, play defensively and on the counter, just as Desi said Manure will play. Playing at home the onus is on them to play an attacking game to get a win and we will get plenty of chances to score on the counter. But we know what AW will do, go all out and leave acres of space for them to exploit. Wenger has never beaten the Prick in the league, has not won against Manure for over a decade and I think he is a little unsure how to approach the games against Manure/Mourinho and that transmits to the team. One of the reasons why we lost to them last year.
Hope we beat them by any margin but a loss will be difficult to take. Definitely one to watch from behind the sofa.
It’s today.
COYGs
Make today the end of an era.
GO WIN, ARSENAL!
Nice preview H.
Off to Twickers today for a spot of egg chasing. I hope to catch the first half in the pub. That’s assuming the little man has brought his pocket money and gets his old man a pint? The second half will have to be viewed when we get back.
Hopefully we will make Maureen cry and spit his days many further than he has ever launched it before.
Enjoy everyone.
‘holic
if the technology is knocking about
please install a breathalyser
rambling drunken pish detection
yes sirree
sorreee
?
any road up
got me wee screen fired up an ready
stax box set blaring
now
please
for the fuckin love of god
lets batter them hoors
Off to the ENO for an early start to Lulu, will need to catch the final 20mins on the car radio on my way to the station.
Really concerned that MU will target the Corporal, distressed that there will be no Hector for 4 weeks? Hope we don’t get caught cold with an early goal which would really put us on the back foot.
Not too hopeful of a win but hope we get a point and move on without red cards, Le Coq and Granit need to keep their discipline. I am sure Alexis will start and Rambo in for Iwobi.
COYRs
Good luck to the boys today!
I’m hoping the selection of Ramsey isn’t a case of “square pegs in round holes” and an attempt to accommodate a senior player at the expense of the formation. Iwobi’s end-product hasn’t been great of late but his movement and running with the ball are key to the way we stretch teams. Also, if it means Walcott’s shunted out to the left wing this could restrict his effectiveness as we saw last season.
Don’t want to sound too negative though. Glad Alexis is playing, and happy to see Elneny get the nod over Xhaka. I think playing Le Coq and Xhaqa at Old Trafford could be a liability. Elneny’s industry and recycling of the ball will be key.
Here’s hoping we’re good for at least a draw today. Maybe even Oli to nick a late winner off the bench?…
Starting:
Cech; Carl Jenkinson, Shkodran Mustafi, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal; Francis Coquelin, Mohamed Elneny; Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Özil, Theo Walcott; Alexis Sánchez
Subs:Gibbs, Gabriel Paulista, Granit Xhaka, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alex Iwobi, Olivier Giroud
Ready …
Steady …
Come on.
Nice one, Holic !
Come on you Reds !
2-1 for me.
Or any win will be just great ??
Come Onnnnnnnnnnnnn!
Herrera is a cunt. Fouls often, plays dirty but rolls around when touched. Dirty player.
Ref has been very lenient to Darmian!
Missed a second yellow there..
Valencia sure goes down easy in the box…
Oh dear
Great save by Cech.
Thank you Petr Cech!
That free kick by Ozil why did Elneny got involved?
We are hanging in there
Another save by Cech. We are really living dangerously.
Not good enough in the first half we are walking no running Man U the better team so far!
Bollocking at half time required
Bring on Giroud for the second half.. should do the trick!
Half time and no shot on target yet. Walcott and Ozil anonymous so far – Ramsey simply a liability, no defensive contribution whatsoever and all over the place to no effect.
Expect 3-0 second half with Walcott, Ozil and Ramsey as scorers.
Cech’s kept us in it so far.
UTA.
Thiught Ozil was excellent.
Very disjointed, insipid play by us. We don’t look threatening at all. Totally off our game today. Maybe time to change something.
Mesut InvisibOzil
We’re not exactly a threat going forward are we
Come on Arsenal wake up!
Manure take the lead, game over.
Fully deserved we were shit
Mourinho learning why Mata is so good.
We are sitting back..what else could be expected?
Come ON!
Wenger please make subs and do it very quickly
FFS DO SOMETHING WITH THE BALL
Strange sub.
Bad tactics from Wenger end off
We are really ordinary and second best today and AW’s record takes another turn for the worse. Our problem is we just don’t know what to do in the final third and are poor against teams which mark players closely like Manure.
Bring on the remaining subs.
Remaining subs coming on…. 😀
Taking Coq off is a mental substitution.
Theo Walcott – the footballing skillset of a bricklayer’s labourer
Ramsey and Ozil totally not in the game. Mourinho bringing on his defensive reinforcements.
Walcott does not have any skills you would take for granted of a winger.
No urgency no desire flatless performance in raca this is not a performance at all
Raca = fact
why has ramsey played in this game? its a complete nonsense that he plays whenever he’s fit.
Giroud, get in!!!!!
Undeserved but who cares
Great work by Ox.
This will be the same Theo Walcott who just two weeks ago was being lauded as the best thing ever would it?
A winger who can actually control the ball, beat his man and put in a decent cross. Doesn’t take much. Good goal.
This Walcott is expecting a baby and is, therefore, missing.
Send Rooney off the fat cunt
Herrera is a real piece of shit, the diver.
Would have bitten off both arms and legs for this result @ 85 minutes.
Poor but a point is like three after that performance.
At least a draw, will take the point gratefully.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I’d take a point especially after abysmal performance we were outplayed and I’m not sure why he played Elneny from the start two points lost.
Any point taken off crybabies Moaninho and Shrek makes your day.
Have to give MotM to Cech. A point well saved.
FGR.
FuckingGoodResult.