Gunners Need Discipline And Focus – It’s That Away Game Again
May 12th, 2017 by 'holic
βWe have to show character again. We know we have to play to win the games, so letβs keep the focus on the way we want to play and on our team spirit.”
Arsene Wenger knows that the trip to Stoke represents, in theory, the toughest of our remaining three must-win matches in the Premier League. It has become a bogey ground for us, and there is always an undercurrent to be felt at a fixture where the two sets of supporters have a mutual dislike at best. It will be atmospheric, and tense, and a real test of character for the visitors.
Too often of late we have not shown enough of the manager’s oft-quoted mental strength at the Britannia. We have not won there since February 2010 when Arsenal, aggrieved at the assault committed by Shawcross on Aaron Ramsey, came from behind to win 1-3. Since that day we have secured three points in six visits and the bad blood that was ramped up that day remains.
All of which should count for nought when the latest incarnations of the two sides get out on the pitch on Saturday evening. We should be prepared for Stoke raising their game against us, as usual, and start with confidence, determination, and positivity. We should know that there will be an air of hostility and ignore it, or even use it to fire ourselves up in a disciplined fashion.
The team news is that Laurent Koscielny may be fit to return in which case we could see Nacho Montreal switched to left wing-back, assuming we are staying with the formation that has produced four wins in five matches. Although the news was better than expected for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain it would be a surprise if he were pressed into service again so soon, so Hector Bellerin could be in line for a recall.
Olivier Giroud may be preferred to Danny Welbeck for his aerial ability at both ends of the pitch in a match in which Stoke always provide a threat from set pieces. Having Welbeck and Theo Walcott to come off the bench and run at tiring defenders in the latter stages is an attractive proposition.
As for Stoke they are not exactly firing on all cylinders at the moment with just one win in their last nine matches. They are without the injured Afellay and Ireland but will otherwise be at full strength.
The ‘holic pound
The law of averages suggests they are due a league win, and similarly that we are due a win up there. That being the case the bookies have made a 1-1 draw the most likely outcome. Stoke are safe from the threat of relegation and look set to end up in mid-table. I have to believe our hunger for the points will tip things in our favour so I am going for us to win it 1-2, the second favourite at a best 0f 8/1.
Congratulations Are Due
I pray you don’t see this again, but congratulations to Chelsea for their success tonight. The best team over 38 games deserves the title. So only one team in North London or Middlesex could stop them from winning the double.
Have a great one, ‘holics.
71 Responses to “Gunners Need Discipline And Focus – It’s That Away Game Again”
Best team win the league. Let’s deny them the double. Tomorrow you have to hope and believe we can win. I fancy 2- 0.
Chavski Shmavski.
Che*sea boys in b*ue
C*elsea Chelse* *uck you!
Best te*m my ar*e.
4th spot it is ….. π
Great preview Landlord, thank God I don’t have to reset that clock!
Long live the clock!
Nice preview H. Another must win against a side who have fans that actively target a player, because he had the audacity to have his leg snapped in half, by one of their Neanderthals? It sure is an interesting day out. Let’s hope they are still too busy licking windows to pay too much attention.
My attentions will be directed elsewhere this weekend as I sit in the land of the Bath, the BTM and the exiled Zico. I will rely on the regulars for the normal updates.
Enjoy boys and girls.
Cheers H! Lets fucking ave it with them Stoke cunts. Hate them.
Thanks for the preview GH.
It’d been a while since we won at
Soton, same again for Stoke please.
Just win.
Telegraph article suggesting Gazidis vs Wenger power struggle coming to a head:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/05/12/ivan-gazidis-lined-mls-role-loses-arsenal-power-struggle-arsene/
Our away record at Stoke is dismal; only 11 wins in 49 visits.
Thanks, Holic !
Otherwise, what Esso said !
I think ? ??
Welcome to Stoke –
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/30/ee/ea/30eeeac666f8ea3d60ec1f5a549f20ba.jpg
indeed trev 12
the mighty esso !
and imagine 13 at half 5
gargled up
quite the welcoming committee
.
here’s hoping the travelling faithful
and steve mac T
get home unscathed
teeth limbs and possessions intact
.
UP THE ARSENAL !
Hmmm
http://onlinegooner.com/article.php?section=exclusive&id=3662#.WRb800vxzwI
Clichy helping us out giving Leicester
a penalty then the idiot Mahrez blows
it. Good spot by the ref.
Fernandinho with a dodgy elbow on
Albrighton that the ref missed. He’s
an iffy bastard Fernandinho.
Still 2-1 to Shitty with 10 min to go.
Cynic @15,
Team / player selections / positions are an ongoing mystery.
The one resting me currently is playing our best left back at centre back when we have fit centre backs, in order to play Gibbs at wing back.
Why does Perez never play.
Elneny has done ok but never had a chance to develop any consistency with anyone.
The alternating Alexis / Giroud thing is odd and changes our whole approach.
Etc etc
Someone must be smiling down on Man City. Suspiciously offside looking first goal allowed to stand and then Mahrez’s bizarre penalty slip-up.
Trev – There’s also the mystery of how, no matter what the match situation is, if Coquelin starts he’s usually the first player to get the hook.
Maybe Gibbs is being a victim of “If I play him he might sign his new deal”, and that’s also the only reason Ox was playing at right wing back instead of Bellerin IMO.
I also cannot understand picking Giroud up top against Stoke, when he really doesn’t fancy the physical battles. Oh well.
The team news is quite defensive i
think. Le Coq in for Rambo, Hector
and Nacho wing backs. OG in for
Welbz.
Come on Arsenal!
‘Wenger out’banner being flown from a plane. It could have waited till the game was over.
COYG.
Monreal hits the post. Unlucky.
Young Bellerin appears to have his head in Catalonia
Giroud, get in!!!!
Excellent pass by Bellerin.
Think I could have scored that one.
Excellent team selection, Arsene. Coq brilliant n Ollie G scores What more can we ask? Who are these aero c*nts?
Job half done !
Hector did well and OG in the
right place.
Good first half we need keep doing exactly what we did in the first!
Come on you Goonerholic’s!
Cynic
You better get your kit on! ?
Ozil and Sanchez create a beauty.
Splendid Mesut.
Cracking goal 2-0 !
Deliberate elbow to Giroud’s head by that cunt Shawcross. Surprise, surprise, Dean gives nothing.
Great escape as Diouf heads wide.
ksn
Should be a yellow end off if not red MD f… yourself!
Come ON!!
We need the goals…!
Ref is letting it all go free for all…
The Orcs. Ever desist from cheating. Crouch should be ashamed of himself
crouch gets one back 1-2. The rain of crosses into the box has started.
Holding doesn’t seem to have pace and has let in Arnautovic to cross .
Blatant foul on Bellerin
Dean is allowing kicks, elbows to go unpunished and the Orc cunts are loving it.
Mustafi got an elbow to the head in the box too…
Crouch’s goal was handball too..!
Sanchez is asking to be changed, the first from him. Need to get Sanchez off as they will kick lumps off him.
I’m really going to miss Alexis…
GET IN!!!!!!!!
Sanchez threads the needle. 3-1. Really well taken by Sanchez. He has something extra.
Yes!!!!!
YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!
Take that you lumbering Orcs…
and MD too !!
Doing PoznaΕ
Siolololololololloooooooooo
Arsenal Golllllllllllll
Brilliant Ollie G
The commentators are claiming that Holding’s foul is a red card. Get real. Stoke have committed worse fouls.
Giroud’s second. Great work by Ramsey.
First time in years that we are thrashing Stoke at their own stadium, keep it coming. Need more goals as goal difference can come into play in deciding top four places.
ksn
Sod the pundits they are full of shit mate!
Biased bunch of Hansen’s!
Couldn’t agree more, ATG, but the bile and hatred they have for Arsenal is difficult to understand.
Crouch’s challenge is a far worse challenge and deserves a red card but the commentators feel it was only ‘naughty’.
If that Crouch tackle was by Xkaka it’s a red.
Wonderful to thrash the Orcs in their Mordor pit. Cheats never prosper.
Great attitude from Arsenal tonight. Credit to the preparation for this match which was spot- on. We have schooled them tonight because we were prepared for the physical battle and didn’t flinch. If only we’d shown our recent attitude at West Brom and Palace.
Well played Arsene. 4-1 at Stoke is a fantastic result.
Take that Orcs!
F Off Mike Dean!
Up The Arse!
π
Very good that, but I take all credit for Giroud’s goals π
Keeps Liverpool nervous…
Superb team selection, Arsene. Coq excellent today and two great Gerd Muller style goals from Ollie G. But where, oh fracking where were the In Means In aeronauts? Not stooopid enough to waste the money I guess.
COYG and down with the Orcs. π
handsome ?
Holding brilliant… enjoyed seeing Arnautovic eat grass.
Great result, I thought the line up was
too defensive before the game, and
very happy to be wrong π
Well played to one and all.
Holding has made a big difference to this team. Mustafi looks much better with Kos and Holding beside him. Today was about the best I’ve ever seen Coquelin play. He was very effective in more attacking positions. I thought Ozil looked up for it today. We are staging the usual late season revival.
Maradona would be proud of Crouch’s handball..!
Mighty, mighty impressive!! Enjoyed that tremendously, and more than the win over that cunt Mourinho!
They’re called “World Class” for a reason folks!
Over to you now Liverpool! Don’t fuck it up! ?
UTAAD&AN!
AFCOF!
As Crouch was yellow carded separately hopefully he might be handed a retrospective ban by the FA . Clearly the referee didn’t see it. Who thinks the FA have the balls to do that?
Great win…COYG