Gunners Back From The Brink At Spirited Preston
Jan 7th, 2017 by 'holic
The Thursday preview nailed ten of the starting eleven at Preston but missed the replacement of Hector Bellerin by Ainsley Maitland-Niles (conservative! © @yellowbootson). Olivier Giroud was a surprising choice to captain the side. At kick-off fog was swirling around Deepdale but the visibility was perfectly ok.
On our last FA Cup visit to Deepdale we went two down, and in the seventh minute we were behind again when Nacho Montreal was caught the wrong side of Hugill and Gabriel’s attempt at a clearance fell to Robinson to tap home. We had dominated the early possession but Preston’s front two had started brightly and were quick to close down the visitors back four.
Preston 1-0 Arsenal
The Gunners showed little urgency in seeking a response and Mustafi saved a second goal when he blocked Robinson’s far post header from a Hugill cross. Moments later Gabriel’s attempt to play another offside went horribly wrong and Robinson slid his cross just too far ahead of Hugill for what should have been another tap-in. A cross from the left evaded Monreal at the far post and Vermijl mercifully volleyed wide.
Finally we conjured up an attempt but Giroud’s header from Maitland-Niles’ cross, under pressure from his marker, drifted wide. Then Ramsey wriggled his way through on to a Giroud pass but couldn’t sort out his feet and the close-range chance was gone. When Giroud sent another effort drifting wide of the far post we at least looked as though we were getting back into the game.
At the other end though ten minutes before half-time some poor defending by Mustafi wasn’t punished by Gallacher thanks to Monreal’s clearance. Preston had the ball in the net after Ospina was cleaned out by a flying elbow from Huntington. Next to feel the force of an elbow, by Cunningham, was Lucas in the Preston box. The referee adjudged it to be accidental coming together. A third elbow by Hugill left Gabriel with blood streaming from a head wound. Mr Madley finally drew his yellow card out of his pocket. The Gunners were temporarily down to ten men as Gabriel was taken away to be stitched up.
Whatever Arsene said at half-time had the desired effect. Less than a minute in Iwobi wriggled clear when surrounded by defenders and set up Aaron Ramsey for a thumping drive from the edge of the box. That was more like it. The travelling Gooners, relieved as well as delighted, roared their approval.
Preston 1-1 Arsenal
Twice in the following minutes Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had long-range shots charged down. Could they maintain the pressure? Pearson avoided a yellow card despite twice clattering into the back of the goalscorer. The little bit of niggle that had crept into the game following the assault on Gabriel was bringing an appropriate response from Arsenal as if to silence the ‘they don’t like it up them’ clowns.
The key to our second-half improvement was getting bodies forward more quickly to support Giroud. This noticeable increase in effort made the lack of commitment in the first-half all the more strange. The experienced Gallacher was replaced by Browne just before the hour was up as Preston sought to turn the tide. Cunningham’s reckless challenge from behind on Lucas brought the second yellow.
The Arsenal were denied a penalty when Giroud was first held, then grabbed as he battled for a cross. Gabriel’s revenge on Hugill was somehow inevitable, as was the ensuing yellow for a clattering from behind. The biters clearly didn’t enjoy being bit! His partner, Mustafi, then drew a smart save from Maxwell when he was first to a near-post corner.
Pearson earned his tenth yellow of the season and a two match suspension for a Xhaka-esque trip on Xhaka. Granit remains the only player to have been sent-off for such a soft offence. The giant Makienok came on for Hugill who had a mixed evening.
Giroud sparked premature celebrations behind the goal when he put the ball in the net from Lucas’ chip but from an offside position. Preston’s final substitution saw Horgan replace Johnson, and shortly afterwards Danny Welbeck made a welcome return to action in place of Oxlade-Chamberlain. Iwobi again wriggled around the massed ranks of the Preston defence to create a shooting opportunity which Maxwell was equal to.
With ninety seconds of the ninety minutes remaining we made the pressure tell, quite brilliantly. Lucas chased what appeared to be a lost cause in the box but his back heel found Giroud who finished clinically under real pressure.
Preston 1-2 Arsenal
Arsene attempted to take time out with a double substitution of Rob Holding and Jeff Reine-Adelaide for Maitland-Niles and Lucas. There was still enough time left for Ospina to claim a cross at one end, and Welbeck force a tip over from Maxwell.
Yet another game of two halves then. Not for the first time of late the Arsenal just didn’t turn up in the first-half, but came back strongly to earn a result. I’m sure at Shenley in the week the squad will be made to appreciate we remain in the Cup mainly because of Preston’s profligacy in the first-half. This lack of fight early on has to be rectified.
None of which alters the fact a makeshift side responded well to a tough challenge from spirited opponents. We are showing a lot of character some of the time.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend, all.
169 Responses to “Gunners Back From The Brink At Spirited Preston”
Toby – the antithesis of Giroud. Strikes in the first minute.
That was the worst performance since… the last one.
ManYoo in the next round please.
You sum it up very well Holic. ‘ We are showing a lot of character some of the time’. We are a real conundrum and the after match interviews didn’t inspire confidence. Everybody in football would have expected that start from Preston. We were very lucky to only be one down.
Our second half performance was one to be proud of and the shakier players like Gabriel, Xhaka and AMN all did better . Heartening to see Welbeck back and Ramsey score but if Bellerin got an injury yesterday as Wenger indicated and we are looking to farm out Jenkinson and Debuchy it would seem sensible to get a versatile full- back in who can play either side.
Still onwards and upwards, we have got a decent programme coming up!
The twat Pearson should have been off well before he got his yellow card. Not a great day by Mr. Madley. How he missed the mugging of Giroud in the box on the free kick was puzzling; didn’t he give a late penalty against Soton at the Emirates early this season for a lot less?
A nice positive spin, Holic. In addition to the lack of effort, the lack of ability to complete passes and avoid giving the ball away were surprising and troubling. Still, a win is really all that matters on these cup days and the paying punters and watching TV masses were well entertained by a ‘nearly’ giant killing.
I was delighted to see Danny Wellbeck. I do hope that he’s served his time in the sick bay and that his fitness issues are behind him once and for all. He can make an impression on the rest of the season.
Saved by the HFB again but we can’t keep falling out of the dressing room at kick-off. We are at our best when we make quick starts and put the game out of reach before HT.
How can Rambo and Ollie possibly say they were taken by surprise by the fast start by the lower league team, playing in front of a packed home crowd, in the 3rd round tie of the FA Cup against a top PL side! To the rest of us that statement was nonsense.
At least we are in the hat for the next round. There are times when they make you weep!
Good to win that one, phew…
Xhaka and Ramsey doesn’t look good for our midfield, I know they rarely play together but it creates holes in our midfield, when we defend, no one can break up the attack and when we are in tight situation in midfield, Ramsey’s tendency to move upward leaving Xhaka with no outlet to pass. And since Xhaka is no cazorla who has the skills to break away from tight situation, it creates many forced turn around when we are attacking.
I hope the pairing will come better in the next game.
A lot of character some of the time. Not sure that’s a compliment, or should be one.
Wayhay!
We are in the draw.
Hook or crook fellas. ?????
Speedy holic does it again!
Exactly what I saw earlier, a game of two halves! We huffed and puffed and just managed to get over the line. I’m not sure what exactly it is with this team in the first halves but we need to rectify it quick.
A proper cup game it was and hopefully we can get a decent draw draw at home in the next round!
Good summation H
3rd round always has the surprise upset results,the transition from the very congested xmas/new year league fixtures,to the Cup,and a knock out confrontation, has brought many top tier sides undone down the years,as it has again this season.
I can understand the players mentality at the start,as i am sure they were probably expecting Preston to get plenty of bodies behind the ball,and try and hit us on the counter,when they did exactly the opposite.
So fair play to them,and it took us 45 mins to adjust.
As BTM has pointed out,the whole objective in this round is to make sure you don’t lose,however scruffy/underwhelming/disjointed you are playing,the result is all that matters.
With so many changes,it was a given that we wouldn’t be playing flowing freestyle football.
Preston probably deserved a replay on the balance of play,and can rightly feel gutted they didn’t get one.
But since when has football ever been fair.
I still grieve over the CL final we played so gloriously with 10 men, till the heartbreaking finale.
So sorry Preston,better luck next year.
I share the general misgivings about the Ramsey/ Xhaka combination. I can’t imagine , for example, playing the Chavs with their strong holding players and their runners like Hazard and Pedro and not suffering.
Neither had completely bad games and indeed Ramsey got us back in the game and had a very determined ninety minutes but as Ambydex suggests it looks an ill- matched painting and we have little in the way of other options.
Mustafi is also a hard one to assess. He makes some monumental looking gaffes but he hasn’t played in a losing Arsenal side and that can’t be coincidence. Let’s take satisfaction from having done the job first time and try to amass as many points as we can before we play the Chavs. Hopefully Elneny and Coquelin will be back by then .
Our Cup run has not been truncated, somewhat miraculously. Depending on miracles or even semi-miracles is a dangerous game, and there were other big clubs that played much better this round as if without motivational “challenges” such as we put on display.
You were quite wrong again, Cynic … far from waiting until the usual 70th minute to bring on his first sub AW held out until the 83rd minute.
As for the game, what I saw resembled a Sunday kickabout among strangers at Hackney Marshes. At least half a dozen players in yellow should have no future at the Arsenal, starting with Ox, Gab and Iwobes. And Xhaka, Lucas and Nacho need to show us something soon or they can join them.
Prior to the game on TV here they ran a programme highlighting great Arsenal players of recent memory. I think it’s safe to say that no one playing today deserves to be included in the list…
I like the cut of Sir Arthur Maitland-Niles’s jib. He doesn’t dive in and does a lot of simple things quickly.
Re Lucas, I mean something more than his one moment with the back-heel which was delightful.
Just back home from Preston. I’ll post some comments on our visit to Deepdale tomorrow. Just wanted to read the Landlord’s review (excellent of course) and comments to date (OK and maybe a nightcap as well after the driving).
Amazing how an 89th minute winner improves the drive home down the M6!
Oh and I put some pictures on Twitter if anyone is interested (@countryman100)
countryman100
Great effort on your part saw pics and they are excellent! About the drive home when your team win is priceless.
Still, where there is good news to be drawn …
We won despite falling behind.
Ramsey’s finally scored.
Giroud keeps scoring.
Our season seems to be stabilizing somewhat after Everton/Man City.
We should be able to win our next three league games.
Koscielny is not listed as an injury although 9 others are on the list.
Cheers H! Up the Arse!
Greetings everyone. Thanks to the Guv’nor for keeping us at speed with this awesome bar.
The first half of this game was like dejavu for me. But thank goodness the boys rallied to do needful.
Personally I think Arsene hasn’t really been good with getting the best out this crop of players. OG is highly underrated. A little tweaking of the formation could do some trick. Iwobi & Lucas were fantastic I think.
I’d been looking forward to our trip to Deepdale all week. I’m a footballing romantic and the thought of going to one of the only two league clubs who have never moved (Burnley is the other) really excited me. My trip to Nottingham Forest in the League Cup was memorable, a fine old ground, still a proper football club, the sort of place (like Highbury) where you come out of the ground and immediately see Victorian terraces all around you. This was the place where the North End Invincibles had played, the giants of the game in the 1880s when it was all Northern industrial towns like Preston .
But Deepdale wasn’t like the City ground. From afar, especially in the fog, it looked great as the floodlights shone over angular pylons, looking like Triffids looming over the Northern industrial wastes. As we drove in motorcycle outriders accompanied the coaches bringing Arsenal supporters from all points (we saw the Manchester Gooners bus – good on you lads!). Can’t remember that happening before – wonder why? However, parked up, and approaching the ground it was clear that things had moved on. Like Wigan, Deepdale is now on a retail park built around it. I tried to walk round the ground but it was difficult so I didn’t make it to pay my respects to Tom Finney. I passed, between the entrances, in the fabric of the stadium, an NHS clinic, a day nursery, a commercial gym and an adult learning centre. All very clever and necessary making use of space for a ground only used once a fortnight, but it didn’t sing to my romantic heart. I couldn’t visualise thousands dressed in flat caps and clogs rocking up to watch North End on a Saturday afternoon. Silly old sod.
Once in, it’s a tidy enough ground, but without any quirky touches. However the glory of the Cup is that we got one whole end, 5700 Gooners in fine voice gathered there. All standing, all singing. Lovely.
In the first half (or perhaps more accurately the first 30 minutes) we were pathetic and should have been three or four down. There was not a single shining light in this period, not one. Tackles missed, passes going astray, second balls lost, positionally awful, we made Preston look like Barca. Poor Maitland-Niles, right in front of us, had a complete Weston in this period. If Jenks is below him for right back (which I’m not convinced is AM-N’s best position) then he really has gone. I think we need a RB in this window to back up Hector (who it seems is now injured). But AM-N stuck with it and grew into the game, all credit to him. In fact we got better in the last 15 minutes of the half and created chances, albeit ones that we missed.
A thoughtful mass of Gooners at half time. I have heard reports on radio phone ins of punch ups between WOBs and WKBs at half time. All I can say is that I didn’t see any, although I did see the police getting involved about 20 rows higher up than me.
Second half we got our Arsenal back. Jump started by that sublime Ramsey goal we flooded people forward and players who had been dire first half became much better. I’ll call out Lucas, Ox, Iwobi, Xhaka, AM-N and Ramsey as really raising their game after the break.
A word on Lucas. He had a great second half. Always running, always making space for others and one of the most efficient at turning opportunity into end product. 12 games, six goals, five assists including the match winner yesterday. Can I be pointed and say that, on the limited evidence to date, he gives us far more per minute game time than Theodore Walcott?
The Gooners really cheered up after that equaliser. The game got a bit tasty and we stood up to it and gave back as good as we got. We loved that. “Same old Arsenal, always cheating” roared the North End crowd. Without missing a beat we swung into “Come to see The Arsenal! You’ve only come to see the Arsenal!”
The game ticked on. We were anxiously looking at diaries to see whether we could make the replay. Then, in the 90th minute Ramsey swung a hopeful ball into the box, Oli nodded it on, Lucas chased yet another lost cause and gave that perfect backheel from the (shades of Oli to Ramsey in the 2014 Cup Final) and the HFB bundled it in. Cue absolute pandemonium. I must have exchanged close and intimate bodily contact with at least 30 people over three rows. Glorious!
Back to the car. Phone in on the radio. Happy. Supper was a KFC at an M6 service station (oh the glamour). 400 mile round trip. Back at midnight.
Great day. Eventually. I love the FA Cup.
what a good read
cheers c100
Thanks Countryman – another enjoyable away report and it gelled with what I saw on tv.
So much possession but so much of it continually given away made for a frustrating breakfast muffin here in Oz.
First half displays like this seem to highlight again our lack of on field leadership at times – I kept wishing that Tony Adams could be subbed on to knock a few heads together and get some fist pumping going.
Despite all that, I always felt confident that we’d eventually get the job done. I’m not a Ramsey fan but fair do’s for a cracking goal and I also thought Xhaka was steady throughout. However, I don’t really like them as a partnership and we missed a ball winner. I wonder if Arsene will persist with it.
Fulham away so the boys can have a day out by the river.
UTA.
Good goal by Ramsey but when the ball dropped to him about 40 yards out and he had a shot on the volley that went miles over, instead of taking a touch or keeping possession, I wanted to kill the show pony fucker.
Great post Countryman.
@countryman100
What an excellent report! Glad you enjoyed the match.
😀
Superb read countryman100. Thanks for sharing that match day experience. I haven’t seen anything but the goals but it Sounds from your and the Guvna’s accounts like the classic game of two halves. A far better version of the beast than the Shitteh one. ????
On the other hand your observations sound a tad curmudgeonly Chris @14. You may need to smoke some nice leaves to recapture a bit of balance, old fruit ?
Grrreat post, countryman, that sounds like the day out I’ve always imagined for myself following the Arsenal away. All save the KFC that is. 😀
Ah the KFC. Used to be de rigeur with bath let number 1 when he was a lad. Now it’s a nice Italian with a £30 bottle of fine red with bath let number 2! ??
for 30 fuckin pound baff
i’d want the nice italian to be gina lollobrigida
fer that fuckin outlay
.
sheesh
kids nowadays don’t know they’re fuckin born !
.
telll them they’re not in yer will
that’ll trim their appetites
*horrified on baff’s behalf*
bt8, bathgooner. That’s why I prefer away days in the North East to the North West. Even with a 5.30 ko there’s time for quality fish and chips at the Wetherby Whaler in their restaurant on the way home down the A1. With no time to find an Italian or Indian the only options were Burger King, KFC or Subway! What M6 service stations need is a bistro or two like in France!
Never mind, be back to my nice Cypriot restaurant on the Seven Sisters (the Apollo) for the next midweek home game!
Heh cba. Gina would cost you a bit more than £30. Even now! ? But I know what you’re saying, mate and I share your instinct! ?
Though in recent years the nice Italian meal and a well chosen red has been the highlight of match day. And the wine is not much more than the average round in the Tollie these days and a good bit more palatable than most stuff on offer there. ?
Where do you go bathgooner?
am just a grumpy oul cheapskate
i resent spending money . full stop
and i hate the cunts that take it off me
the thievin’ bastards
.
although
thanks to yer post
my head is now filled with lollobrigida thoughts
of a most forthright and agricultural nature
.
WHAT A WOMAN !
lolling and lifting a leg
GINA!!!!!
Thanks Holic and Countryman for two great reports. Glad we do not have to replay the match unlike Liverpool which drew 0-0 at home against Plymouth of League 2. These third round of FA cup matches can be tricky.
Seeing Flintoff in the stands brought back memories of the exciting 2005 and 2009 Ashes series. His son looks a carbon copy of his dad.
Welbeck played well in the 10 mins he was on the pitch in his comeback match and even had a good shot on goal. We have a strong front line in Sanchez, Welbeck, Giroud, Perez and Theo now.
Looking forward to the Swansea match on Saturday.
KFC sounds universal these day, my only question is are the “herbs” really “herbs”? ‘Beerbeerstic’ ? report from countryman by the way. What a feeling.
Countryman
Thanks so much for a vivid and enjoyable report. I share that romantic notion that the ghosts of old fans rise up on FA Cup days to create a special atmosphere.
You and the travelling Gooner’s deserve huge credit for your loyalty and support especially when we play like frat. I never have been a prolific away attender but it’s a great feeling driving back if you’ve won. My dream is finding myself in an exotic European location after we’ve won the Chanpions League. As Clive said yesterday it nearly happened in Paris.
I also appreciate your comments on Perez. You have no idea sitting at home about who is putting in a shift and making runs off the ball and I’m afraid I take Chris’s continual criticism of him with a pinch of salt. He is a very useful member if the squad and proving it.
I also agree with Ned about AMN. He showed a grotty approach and picked his game up well in the second half. But Im still amazed that the Arsenal players were do rocked by an ordinary side giving the sort of effort that is commonplace in the third round of the FA Cup. This side can look awful at times defensively and I fear we are looking threadbare in numbers in some places
Sorry I meant a gritty not grotty approach although his first twenty minutes were pretty grotty!
spaghetti western day chez me
but
nowt gives a chuckle and rosey glow
like here
.
UP THE ARSENAL
cheers brother ‘holic
todays lazy meat
a pork shoulder
fuckin sali-fuckin-vatin’
.
like an eastern mystic
am striding round the house
with knowing gestures to the assembled
that
with patience comes great rewards
First Half ; Absolutely Appalling / Second Half ; Very Encouraging
Mates who support Championship teams (Rotherham and Forest since you ask) warned me that this would be a very difficult game – shame they couldn’t also get word to Arsene and the players beforehand.
NDR
I had similar conversations with Championship watchers- Brentford and QPR! Pity Arsene’s Network doesn’t extend that far?
To sum up we are great at digging ourselves out of holes which good sides should never be in, in the first place!
kinda like yer last sentence , m’lud
Countryman100 @37. Sorry wandered off for a shower and dinner. We’ve been going to Pappagone on Stroud Green Road for our pre or post match meal for 25 years now. Great Italian family restaurant. Welcomed like family members now. We should have an end of season Holocene bash there. The Guvna introduced me to the delights of their special wine menu and I’ve never looked back. ???
Looks great. Must give it a go. I’m going to guess that your taste in wine runs to Barolo …..
“Lucas … 12 games, six goals, five assists … he gives us far more per minute game time than Theodore Walcott” – countryman100 #23
Where do you get his stats? I make it…
Lucas: 10 games, 4 goals, 3 assists.
Theo: 20 games, 11 goals, 2 assists.
And in the Prem…
Lucas: 207 minutes, 1 goal, no assists … goal/assist every 207 minutes.
Theo: 1347 minutes, 8 goals, 2 assists … goal/asist every 134 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl5EqjtRuGU
looks like the ball is in Arsene/Arsenal’s court https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jan/08/mesut-ozil-arsenal-contract-arsene-wenger?CMP=share_btn_tw
Countryman100@23: excellent read. No ground, as I am sure you know, has been in longer continuous use for football than Deepdale. Proper history.
Chris
I’ve watched Theo for 11 years, mostly live. You are selectively quoting from this years stats, his best ever, except when he is coming up for a new contract. He hides. He is occasionally brilliant but often non contributory (e.g Old Trafford last March when I finally gave up on him).
As for Lucas this year, he’s made 12 appearances. Whatever database you are relying on is out of date. I’m relying on my memory of games, checked (thanks to you) against match reports.
Goals against
FC Basel 3
Nottingham Forest 2
Bournemouth 1
Total six
Assists against
Ludogorets (2)
PSG
Preston North End
Southampton
Total five
Enough. We will agree to disagree. You are so damning of players on so little evidence I’m glad you were never my son’s coach.
As Countryman stated, Lucas has scored 6 goals for Arsenal and not 4. Chris, unless you and your source of information are discounting the 2 goals he scored in League Cup. Nevertheless, he has made 13 appearances for Arsenal, that is, 7 starts and 6 substitution apps. Countryman’s stats as it relates to Lucas are more accurate. He has scored 6 official goals and 5 assists. Those stats make him quite an efficient player for us in my opinion.
Spammers have had bids rejected for Snodgrass of Hull and Defoe of Sunderland. They’ll take any bargain basement northeasterner they can find it appears, but they are late for Sissoko of Newcastle who has already gone to Coc******s.
I agree with your last paragraph Countryman @54.
As to the curmudgeonly accusation (Bath #29) I plead guilty as charged. At my age I’m entitled!
But let me add that it’s hardly curmudgeonly to find nothing to enthuse about in a last gasp win against Championship non contenders, and anyone who disagrees needs to re-examine their footballing values (or blind allegiance). Our hold on the 4th place Prem title has rarely looked shakier, and other trophies less likely.
And as for Lollobrigida, well okay, but give me Claudia Cardinale any day. I had the privilege of escorting her round Australia when she was promoting some movie or other and the company I worked for was sponsoring her visit. No kidding, never seen a better looking woman in my life before or since (not even my two wives).
My apologies, countryman, I did indeed omit the EFL games. However I don’t believe Lucas had assists against Southampton or PSG. I recall he got a yellow card against the Saints but I don’t think he played a single minute against PSG in either match.
As for using Theo’s current season as a comparison, that surely is the only way to compare the two when considering which would be the better option NOW. Otherwise I would have quoted the last season before Theo’s major injuries…
Theo’s best season: 14 goals and 10 assists in 2286 minutes played = goal/assist every 95 minutes.
Lucas best season: 17 goals and 8 assists in 3141 minutes played = goal/assist every 126 minutes.
I wouldn’t call my criticisms damning, just more critical than most about players I don’t see making the grade I expect at the Arsenal. Agree to disagree by all means, but let’s not make it personal.
Better qualify the above before someone else does… 🙁
‘Best season’ in Prem (Theo) and La Liga (Lucas). The most appropriate comparison I believe.
cardinale ?
Cardinale ?
CARDINALE , IS IT ?
Jeez Us !
she’d a chin on er the like of which jimmy hill could only dream
.
*exhales*
CARDINALE ????
You think? http://68.media.tumblr.com/79c6b1834211e8817ba2aeb7c940f109/tumblr_nrbvawxCxf1urqyqco1_1280.jpg
..and think again. http://iv1.lisimg.com/image/4636683/500full-claudia-cardinale.jpg
#TTG @ 46
The lack of prerpartion before these Cup games with lower league opposition is absurd…especially from a manager who professes to do nothing but watch football in his spare time…
Wonder who will come out the hat ?
Gina has so many good pics it isn’t necessary to link to any one of them.
Countryman, I love a good Barolo but don’t think I have had it at Pappagone. They had a lovely Montepulciano D’Abruzzo until recently but the latest year is disappointing. Massimo te head waiter is a great source of advice and I think the last one was a Nobbile de Montalcino. ??? Mi piace!
I want Fulham away (the real one by the river, not the bus stop at Walham Green). Failing that Millwall away.
No prem teams away.
Fulham ; the only away ground where I have looked to my left and been able to watch rowing on the Thames as half time entertainment…
A Manchester derby, and any combination of Liverpool/Spurs/Chelsea would be a good fourth round draw to clear out some of the deadwood.
The draw for the 4th round has just been made.
Arsenal are away to Bayern Munich.
Just saying.
?
Call me repetitive but Ramsey continues to infuriate me. He was absolutely poor the whole game but for that goal and he leaves Xhaka and the defense no out-ball to play. He slows down the pace and leaves a lot to be desired.
I think perez and danny on the wings offer a lot more endurance and effort than theo and Ox. Talking of Ox, he had another stinker. Why is there no accountability of such poor performances? We do not know what happens behind closed doors but honestly if players cannot turn up week in week out and set demands, they rather leave.
lastly the contract saga and supposedly mesut has come out and said, Wenger stays, he stays. Agreed the boss has a major say on his coming here but honestly i feel that is not right of a player wanting to stay only because Arsene is here. Is it because of that fatherly figure who does not whip you but more so a stern warning and then a hug type? that is not right for me. You need to call out when things go well and more so when things do not go well.
For those dossing about at home, classic Match of the Day on BT Sport right bow – Arsenal vs Sheffield United. Kenneth Wolstenhome!
1965-66 season, Don Howe at right back, Arsenal playing in all red shirts.
Joe Baker up top for us as well… Just clonked himself scoring a goal.
Chris,
If we are looking for a remedy for our poor first half performances, I should say, we may want to post a picture or two of Gina in the tunnel for our boys to glance at as they go out to do battle. 😉
“Nothing to enthuse about in a last gasp win against Championship non contenders………”
I loved that late goal by Giroud. Great movement, beautiful back heel, heart of oak striker working right to the death thumps it home via a delightful deflection. Marvellous entertainment. He goes mad. Gooners go mad. Her Nellieness does a double-backward somersault. That’s what it’s all about isn’t it?
On any given day it’s eleven men versus eleven and their League status is completely irrelevant. All you need to do in the cup is win the game and move on.
Le Coq ranks as the best non-full-international defensive midfielder playing in the top five European leagues, according to the statos at the Football Observatory.
Among full internationals, Mustafi makes the top 10 for centre backs and Ozil is third equal for attacking midfielders.
But no Alexis in the top ten for forwards.
http://www.football-observatory.com/IMG/sites/b5wp/2016/171/en/
Clive, you may remember Laurie Topp from you Claremont Road days. Sad to report that he has died after a long illness aged 93. A true legend in amateur football.
Nice easy visit to the south coast to look forward to 🙂
Better hope the Canaries can win that replay Delia!
Be a hot ticket. We’ll get just over 3000. Probably sell out at 30 credits or higher.
Southampton or Norwich in the next round.
My font of all knowledge from the North Bank thinks that Norwich will sell out at 30 credits but Southampton will go low, possibly to zero.
I wonder what excuse they will use to show the dead tie that is Man Utd vs Wigan live on the box.
It’ll be Southampton won’t it? It’s about time we turned up there and did a job. If we play to our capacity we win especially as they’ve been shite lately and have five games to our two before that tie.
Cynic @85, that’s obvious it’s the ‘tie of the round’. No brainer.
Soton’ been a bogey team, especially down there. Hopefully Fontes and/or van Dijk will have been sold by then.
Bogey team Saints or Norwich…Have to hope it’s Norwich.
I have got a tasty side game to watch too :
Despite living in High Wycombe for nearly 20 years I have never given a stuff about the local football league team ; until now – Wanderers are away at Shite Hart Lane in the FAC…
Sure you will all join me in wishing my local team well !
Thinking it will be Southampton who have the home replay v. Norwich. Not the choice I would have made, another away tie at St. Mary’s. But we have to make a breakthrough against them eventually, don’t we? Don’t we???
Senior White House advisor.
http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/09/us/jared-kushner-senior-adviser-white-house-trump.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
Trying to figure out the proper phrasing. Nepotist-in-chief? Nepotist-in-waiting?
Really good eye opening feature article by Ian Ure on the Arse website.
Highly recommended to Golden Oldies,and the not so ld,who want to know a bit about our history.
NBN @ 78.
Saw that Ned,good loyal servant of the Club,not the most gifted footballer,but like many others,made up for it with guts/determination and pride in the shirt.
A good read, Clive@92. Thanks for pointing it out.
COYG
Milner and Rose ahead of Bellerin, Ned? No Alexis, but Cavani and Dzeko (Dzeko??) ahead of Suarez ?
But nice to see Forsberg justifying my opinion. And Hummels. But no Reus, presumably because he hasn’t played the minimum required due to injury.
Interesting analysis. We should sign young Cardinale immediately.
bt8b: That is not the half of it. Jared Kushner is doing a real estate deals with the Anbang Insurance Group, one of one of China’s most politically connected companies. At the same time his father-in-law is going on about China being a currency manipulator, stealing jobs from America and a host of other calumnies and packing his administration with China hawks. We live in strange times.
Meanwhile, in a parallel universe, we have never lost to Southampton in the FA Cup — and made the final every time we have played them. Won 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in the 1927 semi-final (the year we infamously lost to Cardiff in the final); 2-0 at Highbury in a quarter final replay in 1979 (the year we beat Man United 3-2 in the final) and, of course, 1-0 in the Final at the Millennium Stadium in 2003. So the omens are good that we get to the final this year.
Chris@94: Delving into the methodology, it seems to favour defensive over attacking performance in a full-back, which may well explain Hector’s absence from the top 10.
Fair enough, Ned. I sometimes wish our FBs were a bit more Dixon/Winterburn and a bit less wingers.
I found the Arseweb article kinda sad, Clive. Every one of them must look at today’s wages and think If only….
Slips the ball sideways for a tap-in by…
Boom!!!
Thanks for the assist, Chris. (Goes back into hiding(
That should be a )
Well in for the ton, ecg. Ghosted in from nowhere…
FA Cup record against Norwich is less auspicious than against Southampton: won two (1952, 5-0 and 1974, 1-0 both at Carrow Road and both in the third round) and lost one, 2-1 at Highbury in the fourth round in 1954. In 1952 we went on to the final, losing 1-0 to Newcastle but in 1974 we went out 2-0 in a fourth round replay at Aston Villa.
Congrats ecg. If the dubious goals comes sniffing around following some apparent delousing, feel free to call me as a defence witness.
COYG
Esso, what a shame City couldn’t turn over Southampton on Saturday, the likely hood of them winning away is virtually nil considering their present form.
It’s a long time since I saw us at Carrow Rd in the Cup, ? 1974 when I went with my Brother. We won but I can’t remember the score. Fingers crossed for a miracle at St Marys.
Any news on Hector’s injury?
Sorry Ned I missed your post.
NBN
I saw Lawrie Topp skipper Hendon to an Amateur Cup success against Kingstonian in about 1960. Two very late goals gave them the trophy. It was my first visit to Wembley and there was no roof but the stadium( even with a dog track) had more atmosphere than it has now IMO.
Delia
I share your disappointment about the Cup draw. Let’s hope the Canaries can produce a shock in the replay
Speaking of the dubious goals committee, I read someplace that the Premier League plans to take the bold action of renaming its dubious goals committee to something far more bureaucratic-sounding.
As I understand it, the Football League has its own dubious goals committee (which has its very own website with all this season’s decisions rendered are listed in a very public way: http://www.efl.com/global/dubiousgoalscommittee.aspx)
But that dubious goals committee is different from the Premier League’s dubious goals committee (the one that may be soon be renamed, and which may or may not have its very own website; when I Googled “dubious goals committee” the Football League committee is the first one that came up). It seems to be the case however that if the Premier League’s dubious goals committee does not have a website it is just a symptom of that dubious goals committee being by nature more secretive and therefore susceptible to criticism of not acting in an upstanding and even-handed way.
Both of these committees, however, are not the same as the Goonerholic dubious goals committee which does have its very own website.
Maybe they are renaming the Premier League committee so as to be less susceptible to criticism, the name being emblematic of the committee’s dubious work?
Personally, I think the dubious goals committee’s name is genius, providing a great short-hand way of referring to the committee. The dubious committee, I mean.
The members of the committee do of course have dubious goals.
In their committee meetings they not only make decisions, they set …
dubious goals.
Being English, however, they do set their dubious goals in a respectful and courteous way.
Evening all. It’s been a busy start to the year so I am having a bit of a break culminating in a cracking meal tomorrow night to celebrate becoming a fossil.
The next post will be on Thursday evening.
Behave yourselves while I’m away! 🙂
Enjoy the festivities, ‘holic. 🙂
Happy birthday too, if that’s the occasion. 🙂
They only lost three million or so, in addition to all the time, effort and lack of team chemistry. Profit, by their standards.
Schneiderlin to Man United fee, June 2015: in excess of 25 million.
http://www.espnfc.us/story/2520553/man-united-agree-transfer-morgan-schneiderlin-southampton
Schneiderlin to Everton fee, January 2017: 22 million.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38577591
Ttg@107: I was there, too; also my first visit to Wembley. A ticket cost the princely sum of 7/6. Charlie Murphy skippered the Hendon side. Laurie Topp equalised with three minutes left. Terry Howard nicked the winner at the death. Mental strength 1960-style.
bt8 @109 and everywhere thereafter,
Are you sure you haven’t been watching re runs of Yes Minister. ??
Delia @ 105
Hector is listed on http://www.premierinjuries.com website,as having an ankle injury which he picked up against Palace,and carried into the Bournemouth match,which does somewhat mitigate his below par efforts that night.
He is listed as a 75% chance of returning for the Swansea game,as is Mezut and Kieran.
Wally is listed as a 50% chance of being fit for the w/end,
Debuchy is also on the list as coming back for the 14th as well.
With the BFG out till end of the month,and Santi late March.
Theo was rated 75% not so long ago, now 50%. AW should at least try to sign Griezmann, though others will surely outbid us. What’s wrong with Özil? I thought he had a cold, is it pneumonia now?
Injuries absolutely typical … again. Note the Chavs have just 2 out, one being Terry for a red card … and the neighbours only 1!
the only good news is that Montero won’t be terrorising Hector at the weekend again (if he plays), he’s one of the Swans’ 2 injuries.
Chris
Mesut was in bed for a fortnight with a bad viral infection from before Christmas,which may well explain his below par efforts at Everton and City,as the virus was probably in his system then.
As with Hector,those very quick to criticize him after Bournemouth,were unaware he was carrying an injury.
Happy birthday for the 11th, ‘Holic. Like fine wine, you only get better with age.
Flu is what Mesut’s illness was reported as, Clive, and he himself tweeted ‘Returning to Arsenal training ground after my flu’ six days ago. Flu is of course a virus so he must have had a setback.
I was thinking back to the Swans game when Montero gave Hector a hard time, not Bournemouth. Of course Hec may well have learnt from that experience and would have welcomed round 2 … if he was over his injury.
I am having a bit of a break culminating in a cracking meal tomorrow night to celebrate becoming a fossil.
You’re replacing Dippy the Diplodocus?
I’ll miss you, ‘H…
Have you never had a wine long since passed its peak and more closely resembled vinegar, Ned? Not the case with our esteemed barman of course, but all good things come to an end, to use another old cliche!
I know my own vintage no longer has the brightness and vigour of youth, or even the wisdom of middle years when mental facilities are at their peak. Sadly, when the gradual decline sets in all that remains is a certain roundness of body.
54 @120. Well I haven’t seen Yes, Minister but if they have another dubious goals committee I would not be surprised. Not even if they called it the dodgy goals committee.
As they might have discussed setting up a dubious goals committee on Yes, Minister … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eikb2lX5xYE
‘holic
it’s a happy birthday from me
and a mooooooooo from them
.
all the very best , chief
Happy Birthday Holic.
The best people are born in January – and before 1958!
Gooner54 thanks for the info. Have you seen Hector at Men’s Fashion Week ? Hardly the way to treat an ankle injury.
I will be on my own for the Burnley game and thought I might pop into the Tollie pre match. Will some of you be there under the brollie?
Happy birthday ‘holic. I’m four months behind you in reaching that significant landmark – let’s hope the weather is warmer in May!
@90
three letters come to mind. RFK.
Ach ye’re all young whippersnappers!
Bath,
Listen to the kids moaning about their ages. Mere boys.
ya cheeky oul goats !
*thinks about sneaking fart cushions under baff’n’m’lud’s seats*
.
*takes coal to newcastle instead*
You behave yourself CBA. One thing I don’t need nowadays is a fart cushion!
Don’t you love modern football. Cohen Bramall will wear the 85 shirt. Is that the highest number in football?
ahhhhh bless , m’lud
see 138
i say , SEE 138 !
UEFA rules are that a player can wear any number between 1 and 99 (provided it is unique in the squad). Willock (J) was the previous highest Arsenal number at 82.
Stoke’s Jacob Twyford has the highest Premier League squad number, 88. Our highest Premier League squad number is Chris Willock’s 68.
In Scotland, Hamilton Academical’s Giorgos Sarris wears 89.
An Arsenal legend retires:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38542111
Did Brammall decline the 69 shirt? Does Willock realise that 68 means she goes down on him and he owes her one?
Happy birthday to the young whipper snapper – agree entirely with TTG @ 132. No doubt you are looking forward to using your bus pass ‘holic and getting lots of guff from Saga holidays ?. Hope you are not sober enough to read this until the ‘morrow. A large malt awaits when I next pass the Tollie – cheers.
Best not to celebrate birthdays in my experience ‘holic. The older you get the faster they come. I swear I get at least two a year since I qualified for a bus pass. And it’s not like I’d be seen dead on a bus anyway. Just keep checking the obituaries to ensure you’re not among them is my advice. And get as much quality alcohol inside you as you can, while you still can……..
Not be seen dead on a bus or not been seen dead on a bus, Chris?
i love here
?
cheers ‘hol
sorry
I LOVE HERE !!!
(a more up ‘n’ chris ‘n’ baff ‘n’ ned ‘n’ m’lud friendly VOLUME )
.
all about the sensitivity me
I SAY
I’M ALL ABOU…………..!
Not be seen dead on a bus, bt8. Pretty sure I’ve never been seen dead on a bus. But that does raise metaphysical questions only my deepest subconscious is qualified to answer and I’m not sure I can access archives at that considerable depth while I still live. Nor afterwards for all I know. I’ll do my best to let you know when that time comes….
Spurs to finish ahead of Arsenal says this f…..g super computer.
http://www.thickaccent.com/2017/01/12/chelsea-top-spurs-above-arsenal-super-computer-predicts-the-positions-points-come-may-2017/
It’s a computer, ksn. Nothing about the spuds computes…
Chris@145: Chelsea, Everton, Man City and West Ham all have someone playing in the 69 shirt.
Happy Birthday for yesterday, ‘H. Amongst the delights of reaching the landmark, but not listed by Upply@146 above, is the stool sample kit. Enjoy!
COYG
Happy 60th H
Delights to look forward to,
Walking Stick,progress to Walking Frame,then Mobility Scooter.
Hearing Aid
False Teeth
Memory loss
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Penile Dysfunction
A reality check if you do use your free bus pass, if the bus is full,don’t expect any of your fellow Travellers to give up their seat for you. !!
Will you get a Seniors discount on your Arse season ticket. ??
Don’t hold your breath.
Happy 60th H
Delights to look forward to,
Walking Frame,progressing to Mobility Scooter
Hearing Aid
False Teeth
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Penile Dysfunction
Mental Disintegration,exacerbated by the Arse’s continued failure to win the Premiership/CL.
No hope of a Seniors discount on your Arse season ticket. !!
Enjoy.
Olivier Giroud, Laurent Koscielny and Francis Coquelin have signed new deals. Good news.
Payet wants out… we should get him ?!
Great news about Giroud, Kos and Coq signing contract extension. Hope Sanchez and Ozil follow.
A very happy birthday, Holic. Thanks for this great bar…
Fossils not getting around much any more. Straight-back chairs and firm mattresses. Exercise all joints not just elbows. Sarsparilla rounds alternating with wry whisky. You know the drill.
Great news about the trio signing contract extensions. Kos will go on to be considered one of Wenger’s best buys and Giroud were to have played anywhere else would have been touted as a top striker, never mind. Coq is limited but has the attitude that a few seem to lack, so all in all, a good deal.
Payet will go to marseille. This was what Suarez should have done then when we bid for him and we would have had him for 2 seasons before he would go to Barca. In those 2 seasons, he would have won us the league and we could have sold him for some 70 million. Sighhhhhhhhhhh.
Clive @156
You are so right about the penile dysfunction.
I’m now only managing it five times a day.
But don’t tell my wife????
TTG @ 162 – you are living in hard times ?
Must be hard on you, TTG.
Silly silly silly
Wipe that smile off your face young lady
“Right”
“Orderly queue now !”
“First off”
“I have a Bangers and Mash and a Tijuana Fandango”
“Repeat”
“A Bangers and Mash and a Tijuana Fandango”
“Anyone”
“Anyone?”
“Last call for a Bangers and Mash and a Tijuana Fandango”
Thanks all. Now I’m going to make you suffer. 🙂 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>