Stoke Sent Packing Again By Rampant Gunners
Dec 11th, 2016 by 'holic
To send the Orcs back north empty-handed is always a pleasure. To do so on a day when a lot of old friends met up again made for a lot of fun. Not surprisingly we reverted to the eleven that started at West Ham last week, and that again paid dividends.
The three goals I had tipped beforehand duly arrived, but not until Stoke had been gifted the lead. From the halfway line I’ll be honest and say with Wenger-like vision I didn’t see it. Indeed I still haven’t, but a halftime query with the good folk of the press box drew the opinion that it was a very soft penalty award. That Lee Mason didn’t adjudge the ‘challenge’ worthy of a yellow card suggested he saw nothing malicious in it.
Not for the first time the official frustrated the home crowd with a string of debatable decisions. The penalty was despatched by Charlie Adam, and that would not be his only contribution. By this time Arsenal had been forced to reorganise following the departure of Skhodran Mustafi with a hamstring problem. It seems we will not see the excellent defender again this year. Gabriel switched to the centre and Hector Bellerin slotted in at right-back.
The shock of conceding persuaded Arsenal to ramp it up a notch. Mesut Ozil was denied by Biram Diouf but before long the equaliser arrived. Alexis sent Bellerin racing down the right flank and his cross was met perfectly by Theo Walcott at the near post. At 1-1 the half-time drinks would have tasted sweeter.
Just four minutes after the restart we were ahead for the first time when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain picked out Ozil, unmarked in the box, and a rare headed goal from the German put us in the driving seat. We were very much looking like an in-form team but Stoke could have levelled when a Crouch header brought a fine save from Petr Cech.
Victory, and temporary leadership of the Premier League, was sealed in another controversial moment. Alexis was tripped on the edge of the box, and then stamped on by the vile Adam. Mr Mason clearly saw something because he waved play on as the ball ran on to Iwobi who sidefooted the ball inside the far post. That no action appeared to be taken against Adam was suggesting that the referee had not seen the incident clearly. Perhaps we shall hear more of it in the coming days?
The end of a very fine week for the Arsenal prompted the downing of many celebratory beverages, as well as the pre-Christmas sausage and chips, for which our thanks are due to Martin and Lou. By the end of today we will probably be back in second place but that is a very encouraging place to be just four matches short of the midpoint of the season.
Another big week beckons, with trips to Everton and Manchester City our immediate future. I doubt that they will be as easily despatched as West Ham, Basel, and the Orcs.
63 Responses to “Stoke Sent Packing Again By Rampant Gunners”
I’ll have a Cinzano Bianco…
Great to see you yesterday sir, alongside various reprobates from the good times of old!!
Inded there were some wonderful folk in attendance, Dubs. A real treat to be there with you all.
Sausage and chips without Guinness? Surely not.
Trust me bt8 the black stuff flowed freely, and the delicious single malt too. 🙂
Top 6 not good enough.
Now to reading the report.
https://streamable.com/m3ab
Ban that dirty C..T!
Fine report Guvna.
Here’s hoping that fat thug gets called to account for that vile stamp on Alexis. It’s a longstanding personal trait and he clearly hasn’t learnt from the retrospective ban he got for the same offence against HFB a few seasons back. It’s GBH basically and the FA should throw the book at him. Although Sky picked up on it, MoTD chose to ignore it so what will the FA do?
Sorry to miss the reprobate reunion and the sausage and chips, not to mention the malt.
They may not be ‘easily’ despatched but neither the Toffees nor the 40 Thieves are riding high at the moment. I’m optimistic but disappointed that ‘Mustafi win when I’m playing’ won’t be available for either game. Time for Gabriel to show his mettle with Holding and BFG waiting in the wings.
Still haven’t seen the game but I enjoyed three great goals on some highlights page. Enjoyed your report of sausage on the plate and little fat Scots sausage on the field. ‘Lock him up’.
Good times, H
Once the Pirate juice appeared, though, things started to get hazy…..
Nice account Guvna, it was a reassuring win, as it always is when you go behind . I saw the penalty on TV and had a decent look at it live. It was more of a pen than the Wilson farce two weeks before but my heart didn’t go into my mouth as soon as it happened. I sit behind the goal on the left hand side as you look at it and have a good view and Xhaka was unnecessarily physical given where it was, although I rate him highly.
I gave my thoughts on Theo and Le Coq yesterday , I thought they were excellent and Bellerin’s did very well for his first game back.
Let’s hope we can get at least four points in the next two matches.
If Payet wasn’t on the wrong side of 20… we should put a bid in for him… but alas.
TTG@11, in real time on TV, I thought it was soft but on replay, it was a pen imho.
Xhaka’s elbow was in truth too high and shortarse Allen’s momentum took him straight into it. There was no ‘elbowing’ movement from Xhaka so calls for a red card (Le Tissier, I’m looking at you here) are inappropriate though a yellow wouldn’t have surprised me. It was a deliberate attempt to hold the opponent off and it isn’t Xhaka’s fault that Allen didn’t get enough Growth Hormone as a nipper.
Another character building recovery from an early deficit. Now I’ve seen the whole game, I can echo your praise for Coquelin, Xhaka, Ox, Alexis and Bellerin as well as the scorers.
BB@12, wrong side of 30?
@bath
My mistake… thought he was much younger.
😀
Best free kick taker in the league at the moment…
According to Untold Arsenal, today is the anniversary of Arsenal’s first ever match.
Happy anniversary Arsenal.
Champagne on ice on the bar.
Trivia Time
Which 2 players who played regularly together for England, never lived to see their 29th birthdays.
Which Club played a Non League English football match fielding 3 Spectators in the run on team,including one who had been in the pub all afternoon,and still managed a 1 – 1 draw against the team at the top of the table.
Which Club played a European Cup match fielding a team with a one armed player,and a 40yr old midfielder who wore glasses,and conceded 29 goals over the 2 legs.
Top day and evening out yesterday so massive thanks to everyone involved. I have very hazy memories of walking back along Holloway Road from the Tollie and this morning was a bit of a struggle but all worth it!
RIP AA Gill.
2016 Annus Horribilis continues.
Apologies to bring a sombre note on a good weekend of football.
But people died this year who brought many years of pleasure and education to this very grateful pilgrim. Their loss is inestimable and irreplaceable.
Was the last one Spurs, Clive? Sounds very much like their style.
Bath
I agree with your assessment. Xhaka was unnecessarily physical in dealing with the short arse. It was almost exactly where Jamie Vardy was shot by Nacho in February
It’s worth looking at this goal
http://news.arseblog.com/2016/12/video-kelechi-nwakali-scores-for-maastricht/?
This boy is the Nigerian we signed in the summer and loaned out to Maastricht. A Dutch friend ( a good footballer in his time) says he is tearing it up in Holland and getting rave reviews .
He shows a lot of quality here
Bath@17: Your post led me to http://www.blog.woolwicharsenal.co.uk/archives/8573 for a bit of background to that first ever game.
…and weren’t there 3 England players involved in the Man U Munich crash … Duncan Edwards, Tommy Taylor and Roger Byrne? All under 29.
…actually 4 players … David Pegg also died in the crash, having played once for England.
Joe
just watched the Glen Campbell documentary
heartbreakin in advance
fuckin heartbreakin
.
people who brought us so much joy
yer so right
so much joy for the vinyl price of comparatively fuck all
Your link in #23 reminded me that we were once known as Royal Arsenal, Ned. Why did we drop the ‘royal’? If Madrid can be Real why should we not be Royal? Maybe even apply for a royal warrant – By Appointment to Her Majesty perhaps? Separate us nicely from the London riffraff and wannabes.
Clive@18: I am guessing two of Byrne, Edwards and Taylor for your first question. Is your third a trick question? 18-0 on aggregate is the biggest win in the European Cup. Jeunesse Hautcharage would fit the bill of having a one-armed player and another who wore glasses, but their heaviest European defeat was a Cup Winners Cup tie they lost 21-0 on aggregate to Chelsea. Is the answer to No 2 the Ramblers? But only one in the pub seems unlikely.
Chris@27: The team, as you will know, was originally formed by munitions workers at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich. Many of them worked in the factories Dial Square workshop. The team first took the name Dial Square and then Royal Arsenal after their workplace. The club turned professional in 1891 and changed its name to Woolwich Arsenal two years later when it became a limited liability company so it could raise the capital to buy the Manor Ground.
Evening Joe
AA Gill was a wonderful wordsmith on all things gastronomic,as well as many other topics in between.
Gone at 62,no age at all for such a brilliant mind.
Re Trivia questions,
I should have added fullbacks for the first question.
And Ned you are correct.
Re the 3rd question,It was Cup Winners Cup tie against Chelsea,i didn’t have my glasses on when i read the aggregate goals total. !!
thought he was an aggravating pompous ass
clive
but he knew how to throw a word about
He was all 3 of your first line cba, in spades.
But he carried it off so well.
Unlike many imposters i could name.
people dying is always awful
always happens
but
still awful
mind you
good fuckin daily drinking companion of mine
according to the parish bulletin
DIED SUDDENLY
.
really ?
he’d the heart of an ox
the liver of an alcoholic
fuck all sudden about it
we both spent the time
tapping our watchless wrists
anyhoo
hows uply ?
anyone know
said before –
baseball bat in the boot
in case it got nasty at the bowls
is still my favourite
just brilliant
35
was punctuation bereft
.
strange day today
not proud of meself
full row
.
grief is a cunt
and so is a muff
.
D’YOU SPILL MY COFFIN ?
Great win this weekend. I really hate Stoke so that made me really happy!
big man did this justice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzthXdaFVuE
god rest chief and godspeed ya cunt
UP THE ARSENAL
39
+1
?
i’m not even Irish
.
stand down cynic
yup i see the odd joke
What a terrific performance. We pressed, harried and hassled the orcs into submission and that is saying something. What is refreshing has been the approach after going down. We have not left our shoulders drop and have approached the game as it should be, with belief. Yes, everton and city will offer sterner tests, but this team does seem to be ready for a fight.
Xhaka and Coquelin were excellent, Alexis was Alexis, Mesut and Ox had good games and even theo scored. Overall a very professional performance.
Champions league draw now and i think it will be bayern or real for us and honestly that is fine.
Everton at goodison is always tough but if we get the first goal, we should be the winner. Gabriel will have his hands full against lukaku though. 4 out of 6 in the next 2 games should set up for the then 3 upcoming games which are winnable.
Great links TTG@22 and NBN@23. ??
Let it be Real or Bayern….!
🙂
Yessssssssss!
Bring on Bayern!
😀
2nd leg at Home is a slight advantage to us.
Hopefully all our key players are back by then!
😀 😀 😀
Incidentally PSG got Barcelona.. 🙂
Glad we’ve got Bayern, we’ve never played them before….
Bring on Bayern then I hope Lewandowski will not be in form by then!
F…ing Bayern again. How boring, I’d have preferred Real Madrid . We will get all the hooha about ticket prices cos they subsidise theirs and hopefully we won’t go OTT on our ones.
We beat them well last year at home ( and they may be less powerful this season) but got mullered ( see how I did that?) in Munich. We have about a 30-40% chance in this one but we obviously need a great result over there . At least we have reversed the situation where they have their away leg first.
COYG!
What a surprise that was!
…and had we finished second we would have got Barca.
How utterly predictable.
It’s high time we knock these wurst-munchers out.
COYG
BMMBD
Did UEFA aid Russia in messing with the US election? And vice versa on the Champions League draw?
Great draw! We’ve had years and years of practice and practice makes perfect. Bayern may as well not bother turning up and save the airfares.
We’ve tended to press the self-destruct button in previous ties. Ozil’s penalty burst our ballooon when they were on the ropes. Then our keeper got sent off for jousting with the Dutch Diver and we played with ten men, just to make it that little bit more challenging.
And so I think Arsene’s two psychiatrists, Ceri Evans (of the forensic variety) and The Sweeper (methodist of the early days of the science) “Just kick the bastards hard, preferably when they’re not looking” will have key roles to play this time around.
Rev them up, Clive and avoid the self-inflicted shots to the feet at all costs. Do that and we can win it.
Would you prefer playing Bayern midweek or Ghent on a Thursday? No competition really.
BtM. While both they and the ref are not looking I would say abd since the ref will be looking at Xhaka and Coquelin that leaves the question of who we should appoint as KIC (Kicker in Chief). 😉
Cheers H! That was a truly fine session and a memorable (well most of it anyway) day out. Only drawback, not sure when the next one’s gonna be.
I like the cut of that jib BtM @54 and I do believe that this squad with greater quality, greater depth and stronger mentalities will knock them out this time.
BM delenda est. ??
Clive@31: Roger Byrne and Jeff Hall for your trivia question no 1.
Esso, ’twas excellent indeed. Thanks you, Silva, and Ian for a good old fashioned piss-up. 🙂
Agreed BtM and bath. Bayern are not getting through this time. 🙂
Ned at 59,spot on
Jeff Hall was diagnosed with Polio,and about a month later he passed away.
Roger Byrne sadly perished as we all know,in the Munich air crash.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>