A High Five For Happy Gunners
Jul 29th, 2017 by 'holic
As expected the Gunners started a squad eleven against Benfica on day one of the Emirates Cup. On a damp North London afternoon we started the brighter, but a shock or two lay in store.
As early as the fourth minute Reiss Nelson and Theo Walcott combined to provide a headed opportunity for Olivier Giroud but Benfica’s veteran goalkeeper, Cesar, made a flying save.
Against the run of play we fell behind when a soft strike from Cervi deflected off both legs of Per Mertesacker to leave David Ospina helpless.
Arsenal 0-1 Benfica
The Arsenal countered with Walcott prominent. Having missed the target from an offside position he profited from a wonderful piece of play by new boy Sead Kolasinac. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international showed real determination to prevent Benfica from seeing a ball over the goal-line and chipped a cut-back to Walcott who volleyed home with his right foot.
Arsenal 1-1 Benfica
When Walcott burst clear in search of his second he was cynically tripped on the edge of the box by Eliseu. In a more competitve fixture I’m sure our old friend, Anthony Taylor, would have produced a red card, but the resulting yellow was probably sufficient punishment in a pre-season friendly.
Walcott did double his tally just past the half hour mark. Alex Iwobi, the excellent Kolasinac, and Francis Coquelin teed up the English international in front of a gaping target. It was the last we saw of Coquelin who hobbled off to be replaced by Mohamed Elneny.
Arsenal 2-1 Benfica
Within ten minutes that good work was undone when Ainsley Maitland-Niles, on the left of the back three, had a crossfield pass intercepted and Salvio’s shot took a deflection off Rob Holding which once again deceived Ospina.
Arsenal 2-2 Benfica
The half-time whistle brought the players at least some respite from the torrential downpour. Holding made way at the break for Calum Chambers and the opening minutes were end to end.
The advantage was regained when Walcott’s attempt to pick out an unmarked Giroud at the far post was turned into his own net by Benfica’s half-time substitute, Lopez.
Arsenal 3-2 Benfica
Three should have become four when a flowing move ended with Walcott smashing Giroud’s lay-off high into the North Bank under no challenge. That sparked a triple substitution but since former young gun Chris Willock wasn’t among them I’ll not waste time listing them.
The impressive Reiss Nelson crossed to the far post where a tightly-marked Giroud muscled his way into a position to clip a beatiful left foot volley into the other corner of the goal. It was a strike that sent a message to Alexandre Lacazette who the preferred choice for France is.
Arsenal 4-2 Benfica
The bearded striker was denied a double after a delightful one-two with Elneny by a wonderful Cesar save. Kolasinac and Giroud enabled Iwobi to smash home the Gunners fifth moments later. That’s entertainment, as a famous preserve once proclaimed.
Arsenal 5-2 Benfica
Yet more cheers rang around the ground when Lacazette was intoduced for his home debut replacing Walcott. Nacho Monreal, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also came on for cameo performances, presumably as they will be starting on day two.
The siege that followed yielded no further goals and a cheery crowd made their way out into the evening downpour in search of cover and sustainance. All in all an encouraging work out, but no more than that at this stage.
124 Responses to “A High Five For Happy Gunners”
Kolasinac!
😀
Once upon a time there was a Theo Walcott
And they all lived happily ever after
The End.
enjoyable game indeed
interesting telly before/during
watching bailiff show now next door channel
different saturday
not bad
odd
pointless information
there are no bailiffs in the north of Ireland
.
westons vintage cider is your friend
open yer liver an let it in
it transpires now though
that the big tattooed lard buckets
dressed like pound shop police
have Irish names
?
Top of the league. I prefer watching that to that crap they call the premier league. Good report, Holic. Saw the same game, as the old hands say.
Conte desperate to avoid a Mourinho season” but in the meantime his charges have lost two on the trot.
.
.
that said
wee Nelson’s got a bitta life about him
.
can’t wait
just need the midget with the sniffles
to sort his fuckin head out
Nice one Holic,
This match could have been a load of old, or young, Willocks, but featured no Willocks at all and turned out to be an enjoyable romp in the North London summer monsoon, more befitting of the South West corner of London at the other end of July. (Wimbledon for those unfamiliar).
And so we await Seville tomorrow afternoon. Maybe someone could get one of their famous barbers to do something with the greasy monstrosity that is inhabiting the top of Feo’s head – the rest of which, I presume, is empty …… ?
Thought Quest tv was rather excellent, by the way.
NO co-commentators while the main man did a decent job and something of a first in a french polishing lesson at half time.
So, if the match is really boring, get polishing at halftime lads. Just be careful what you’re staining …..
And on that note ……
barber ?
seville ?
trev ?
.
?????
That goal of Iwobi’s was a thing of beauty.
Loved the work of both wing backs. Young Nelson and the free transfer Kolasinic. Looks to be an upgrade on both Nacho and Gibbo going forward. Too early to tell defensively but I’ll say this – he’s a big strong unit!
As for the blue kit …….
c100
please don’t let the blue vulgarity
affect yer brilliant away day reports
Got my first one booked. Stoke away!
good man yerself
?
watched the game
on me arse
the kitchen
capping 60 litres of cider in bottles
to go to sleep for months
before optimum delicious achieved
gonna be 7.4% or thereabouts
dropped the ball i fear
on the stout
hopefully it can be resurrected
another 60 litres is that
not so much the money
just the ” i told me so”
i’ll have to listen to myself about
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaN8jxAFtDY
bullshit
just tested and measured the stout
just must have been a quick ferment
? moooooooooooooooooooooo
never believe a word i say
or
write a strongly worded letter
on my behoof
to Westons Cider for this fugue
*takes tin foil hat off*
*shakes luxuriant hair free and walks bare chested and bare footed through the cow muck*
*Puts poo catching door mat outside the bar door.*
this guy was in the chip shop , hol
full haddock supper an two battered sausages
says he knows ye
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAAKG-hKdhM
videoed him on me vhs “About-town-cam”
mind you
don’t trust a beard/white jacket combo
my arse only recently recovered
from a finger lickin dose of the shits
a well meaning relative landed me with
where do you think he was from ?
it’s like bath ordered it
.
.
.
of course i know bath wouldn’t do that
or would he ?
i’ve only got
The Godbather
or
The Bathfather
and
frankly i near boked just writin them
the weirdo
they’re a strange people
.
.
.
strange
*heads back the chip shop*
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofByti7A4uM
Wouldn’t I, cba? :0)
Nice report H.
Agree on the commentary Trev. Refreshing.
here’s one for the sassenachs
http://vocaroo.com/i/s0E15KmpBjk8
if bath starts throwing stuff
remember this tune and think of me
@ 22 – Singing in a chippy?
Cod Only Knows.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tbe1OpGHUEU
cynic
you are not taking this serious like
*despairs*
really does
(dunno if really does should be in *s)
*despairs*
That bloke in the chippy was the worst Kenny Rogers tribute act ever though.
*laying on the despair*
*adjourns to fainting couch*
compounded by the death of manzes
i may never arise
double double wi liquor
I ASSIMILATED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
That’s not a couch, it’s Dame Barbara Cartland!
sssshhhhh
Haddock and sausages? Heathen!
I have only recently discovered the true joy of smoked fillets of fish not covered in batter or breadcrumbs, with new potatoes and a green vegetable of choice. My diet has changed as a result.
If only I could find something healthier but better than alcohol. It isn’t happening. ?
*’re-candy flosses hair*
I went all middle class and bought sea bass recently, H, but it was a futile experiment. First, I was informed that sea bass is actually quite the chav fish because everyone eats it, then I discovered it’s on the unsustainable stocks list and when I tried pan frying it, it stuck to the pan 🙁
Gluten free* fish fingers in future. Oh yes.
*They are crispier than regular ones, especially if baked.
You’re a fine looking man, cba. Your feet are a little rich however. Did you not use the doormat?
ach ‘holic
ya child
a fish supper is bought for the house
the battered sausages are bought
for the time between the chip shop and the house
i am disappointed ‘holic
yer Scottish heritage is teetering
mate of mine used to order a pizza
and an empty pizza box
he would put the burgers
he ordered for his wait in the taxi queue
in there
to be dispensed with ease
and
cow dung is nature’s floor moisturiser
.
moooooooooooooooooooooo
Christ, Sky is showing a thing about the Derek Chisora vs Dillian White “fight”. It’s like being reminded of the most painful shit you’ve ever had.
Blimey,
Holic’s gone all Egon Ronay – better than Eggon Face – dahn the chippy – I still miss him too.
A green vegetable of choice. That will be a giant gherkin then – there is no other choice dahn the chippy.
Did I say I still miss him ?
Daughter and I are off in the morning on a boat fishing trip from Appledore. Bass there are, apparently, in the estuary, even though the skipper tells me they’ve lately been coming up at just under the required 42cms, should you wish to keep one for eating.
After the amount of tackle I’ve lost this week on rocks, weeds and moorings, I will be delighted with one in the boat of any length at all.
and cynic
“PAN” fry
what the fuck else are ye gonna fry it in
a bowl ?
ponsy part of islington alert !
I will be at Widemouth Bay tomorrow Trev. Loving the forecast for this week. ?
It’s an age thing cba. As a young twenty something i befriended a fellow dart playing Gooner who on Friday nights would go to the Chinese and Indian for a sweet and sour and vindaloo with rice on the same plate. I joined him for a while. It was the unfinishable feast for anyone but the man with the iron digestive tract. ?
I told you I’d gone middle class, cba.
If I was working class I would fry it in a bucket
grampa
you have years on me
countable on one hand
but as you kindly pointed out
in the comments you made some moments ago
the honourable member for Donegal north
is indeed a handsome fella
and for that i commend you to the house
or whatever you foreigners say
WEIRDOS the lotto ye !
woo hoo
HALF TON
just to join trev and holic, tomorrow from 5 am i’ll be on a friend’s boat in monterey bay seeking halibut, cod, and sea bass… then back to watch the dvr against sevilla. happy fishing, gentlemen!
and nice write up, holic. has anyone mentioned what a big unit is our new sead? ;). could be a great capture, hecate had better be on his game.
FFS, Pulis and Megson in the same dugout?
cynic
the muck hasn’t been invented for how common i am
though
i reserve my right to sneer
at those still in it or the extricators
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s4slliAtQU
seafaring attire ?
which one is trev
which one is scruz
?
was gonna post another song
realised the beach boys would feature again
so i won’t
multi faceted me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6dJO8nAoYY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfCwRjKvjf4
Love this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-xBNV1XLPo
Widemouth Bay, Holic,
that’ll be getting on for Hayle, which I mention only because it gives me an excuse to tell you this –
On the breast of a barmaid from Hayle,
Was tattooed the price of pale ale,
And upon her behind
For those who were blind,
Was the same information in braille.
?
remember seeing sinitta getting photos tuck
regent st or thereabouts
she was a tiny wee person
but my god she was gorgeous
not overly clothed
80s some time or so
.
yup
tuck is a word
she coulda washed her arse in an egg cup
tv is a strange oul yoke
had my face on it a few times
and
the mighty ‘hol 41 sums it up
.
television just wasn’t ready for me
?????
behind the lens
was where to be
oh yes indeedy
moooooooooooooooooooooo
how d’ye get there ?
?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaUg201Y6bQ
Losing your tackle on rocks, Trev? (#46) Sounds painful! I bet you ‘will be delighted with one in the boat of any length at all‘. 😀
do pop stars get photos done
in bikinis in the street anymore ?
ed sheeran where are you ?
make a stand
hello chris
drink taken here
aaaahhhhhh
ooooooohaaaaaaahhhhh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byqeOot8pJ0
While on the subject of fish, Trev, here are some tunas you may appreciate … Salmon Chanted Evening, The First Cod Is The Deepest, That’s A Moray, A Summer Plaice, Never Mind The Pollocks, Smelt Like Teen Spirit, If I Haddock Hammer, Blenny And The Jets, Mackerel The Knife, Sole Man, American Pike, Where Have All The Flounders Gone, If You Knew Sushi (Like I Know Sushi), Over The Rainbow Trout, Maxwell’s Silver Hammerhead, I Don’t Like Barramundis, Devil Skate Drive, Bits And Pisces, Dead Guppies, Whalemeat Again, I Had A Bream, Prawn In The USA, Anchovy In The UK … haddock enough yet?
Hello cba me old mate. Now that’s a group that previously escaped my attention (#70). Reminds me of something called ‘youth’ which escaped me too long ago to remember clearly. 🙁
You Pollock.
chris ?
love that tune
i know i have pestered people with this tune
i’m sure
but i fuckin love it
https://vimeo.com/157221248
a morricone classic
more cynics thing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT26WPjZIwo
Wow, dear old Mina Mazzini, havent’t heard from her in yonks cba. Where do you find ’em? Reminds me a bit of Caterina Valente, a favourite of mine back in the day.
Or how about Sissel Kyrkjebø? My favourite Norwegian singer (not much competition there!) who almost manages not to make us think of Orbison with this … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gL0PJkJJU8
sorry
i am no great fan of cover versions anyway
but
if i was gonna pick someone not to cover
it would be The Big O
attempt to sing along
fuck i attempt it near every day
just don’t record it
in an attempt to
“make it your own”
nope
yer not Roy so shut the fuck up
.
anyhoo
that’s my two penn’th
You’re locked in a circle, cba, a Big O. You should broaden your horizons. 🙂
Not all singers write their own stuff, some just sing what’s there. Here she is again, with a Streisand cover! When she was just 16yo. Enjoy one of the best voices of our times … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH1aU7ZUdzw
y’all are nuts 🙂
Find fault with this, cba. 😀 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xp5gbgeFTg
oy vey
.
sorry ‘hol
for the undignified drunkery on display yesterday
i’ll have a word with those ruffians cynic and chris
see if they’ll tone it down a hair
?
Chris, ? Some list !
We’re off to catch a few – i hope, so maybe –
Come Fly fishing With Me – by Rod Stewart ?
Laters !
Trev and SCG go fishing
http://rocksmarinebaitandtackle.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/rmbt-logo.png
Trev @82, list to port or to starboard?
I’m guessing you would favour port, Bath,
cos you can’t drink starboard ?
Denmark have vanquished Germany in the Women’s Euro 2017 to reach the semifinals, and to knock the Germans out at this stage for the first time in history. I can lift a Carlsberg and a Tuborg to that. 😀
Enough of this floundering around. The big question is what will today’s half-time entertainment be- brass rubbing or topiary?
Choice of harpoon forging or fishnet weaving workshops?
Holic
You have mail!
Danny is a master of the unintentional scuff-dummy. Ox has been great second half and Elneny has looked good at the back. Tricky game with Sevilla clearly a good side.
Bellerin’s gone the Full Lezzer with his latest tonsorial atrocity.
All that cash and he can’t even afford a bowl and pair of scissors.
How could Ozil not score there? Just control the fucking thing.
Total nonsense that Sevilla didn’t win the mini competition but who cares anyway. Thought Ox terrific, Laca the goal poacher, Ramsey industrious. Bellerin definitely a half yard off the pace and Ox should start next weekend. I thought Elneny did all right in the middle of the three, lots of interceptions.
My starting XI for next Sunday/Friday
Cech
Ox
Holding
Kos (Sunday)/Mustafi (Friday)
Nacho
Kolasinic
Ramsey
Xhaka
Ozil
Lacazette
Wellbeck (or Walcott)
c100
Looks about right to me for next week.
Maybe Kos on the bench to give Mert or Calum more
game time.
Seville woz robbed 🙂
moooooooooooooooooooooo
?
?
Gotta love a comp where you can lose half your matches and still beat a team that wins all of theirs! I can’t imagine how Emirates Cup rules would work in the Prem, you’d never know where you were.
As for the match nothing much has changed in the way Ox and Danny flatter to deceive. Ox, all energy and enterprise only to give the ball back to the opposition when it matters, and Danny failing to get several shots on target, culminating with a wild swing which saw him credited with an assist for Laca’s goal. Bring back OG and Theo for proper games please.
And best no comment on Özil Gummidge’s woeful exhibition. Oops, I just commented…
Actually, applying Emirates rules to the Prem would make little difference, 2016-17 season would have finished in exactly the same order for top 5:
Chavs 178
Spuds 172
$iteh 158
Pool 154
Arse 151
with Toffees finishing 6th instead of Manure on goals scored.
Wenger claims that the contract situation of Sanchez, Ozil, Ox etc., is not an issue and is, fact, ‘ideal’ which is astounding. He probably means that with players resisting signing extensions, such a situation would become the new norm. He has mismanaged contract extension in a big way but is claiming that everything is fine. Wenger doesn’t have to worry as there is no one to question his actions, though I hope he sets his house in order so that this doesn’t repeat.
This is a bit late, H, but if you’re still fixing Photobucket links, if you just add “~original” (minus the quotation marks) to the end of your image link it should still allow hotlinking.
However, this may not last long so you may as well do as you’re doing 🙂
Yea ideal that Sanchez will work another 12 months on less cash than Ozil’s CURRENT deal let alone his new one (which he will happily sign since nobody is in for him) and not much more than the likes of Bellerin, Theo, etc. Hell, let’s get rid of contracts altogether, let them all run down to T – 1 or zero. Then we deffo won’t need a dreaded D of F. Wenger clearly thought his contract situation was irrelevant last year until he, er, admitted it had been a major problem. Folks, he is taking us for complete mugs again and he is about to make a complete botch of the Sanchez situation. Finally, I agree with Chris. What has Danny Welbeck ever done for us ? One hat trick and the odd energetic last 15 mins ? He’s basically an expensive, faster Sanogo and rapidly becoming one of those famous Wenger blind spots. COYG.
If this is true then I am completely and utterly appalled.
http://news.arseblog.com/2017/07/stan-kroenke-criticised-for-uk-launch-of-hunting-channel/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook
Anyone know any more ?
@103 –
“ethical, fair chase hunting” it says in that link.
So the lions and elephants get a rifle with a telescopic sight too, or do the hunters attack them with their bare hands ?
The more I hear about Kroenke the worse it gets.
Is Danny the new Feo?
Yeah he is only without any goals.
@ 104
“Ethical Fair Chase Hunting” is a phrase of Trump-esque stupidity.
Still at least you will all be able to spot me at games next season – I’ll be the bloke wearing the HSA hoodie handing out anti blood-sport leaflets.
Maybe I can share a pitch with “The Gooner” sellers…
Chickens coming home to roost.
Demagogues ingesting swamp water.
NDR@103: myOutdoorTV is an online part of the Outdoor Channel, the biggest huntin’, shootin’ and fishin’ network in the land of the free and the semi-automatic. It gets into 38.5 million homes via cable and many more via the Internet (Blasting living, breathing things with high-calibre weaponary that could take out military personal is more central to American sporting life than in the UK where a couple of shotgun barrels and a beagle or two is about it. The Outdoor Channel also comprises the Sportsman Channel, the World Fishing Network, Major League Fishing, Down Range TV and CasCity (The ‘cas’ stands for Cowboy and Western Action Shooting). Kroenke’s Sports Enterprise bought into its ownership in 2013. AMC is a co-owner. AMC co-owns BBC America with BBC World Wide, among other properties, so boycotting entities associated with myOutdoorTV is going to get complicated.
not surprising
given he clearly already stalks and shoots his hair
looks like it’s getting away though
did someone make messy tracks through it?
Evening all. Not sure when I can post about yesterday. Cornish wifi being what it is, I saw about twenty minutes on a buffering stream. What I saw live was a 1-0 win!
I’ll try and watch it on .com later.
We lost, yet still won.
Just like Jeremy Corbyn’s General Election result.
cynic @106
hahaha, harsh but I laughed.
Danny, OG, Alexis, Laca, Iwobi and Feo are competing for 3 spots now. I’m happy enough with that competition personally, whoever
scores is my friend.
On the hair front Theo’s new do has transformed his look and the goals are going to him like a magnet. 😉
This is long but magnificent and well worth 11 minutes of your life
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05b5j5t
monster magnet
formerly known as triple bad acid
come on Theo!
Can we get Ever Banega by any chance? We need a CM, he looked great yesterday. We hardly have had an Argentinians here.
The first team needs a CM and how. Xhaka and Ramsey as a pivot will not work as Aaron is too adventurous to do the defensive duties which leaves Granit horribly exposed. What we need is Matuidi/Rabiot/Gortezka type of a player who can stay with the defense yet spread the play quickly to allow the attack to flourish. If Alexis does want to hand in a transfer request once he is back from his ” sickness” , let us sell him to PSG and ask for Lucas Moura/Matuidi and Di maria maybe.
Sevilla were the better team yesterday and even though a friendly showed us that we still have a lot of things to sort. Danny needs to wear those scoring boots, Laca needs to get used to the pace, Theo should get his first touch better( never mind, he cannot) and Hector needs a hair cut. These are glaring and so is the fact that Elneny cannot play CB.
Sunday cant come sooner to see some real football though i do not foresee us beating the chavs. Well i did feel the same for the cup finals but we turned up and how. Hoping for the same and some Mesut magic please.
Never Banega
Interesting storm brewing between Barca and PSG over Neymar with the Catalans threatening to bring in UEFA if PSG meet his buy out vlause if nearly €200 m. They surmise they would be breaking FFP rules. This could get fascinating with pots calling kettles black all over Europe. PSG were fined for a breach of FFP rules in 2014 so theoretically they could be in trouble but l’argent talks and I’m sceptical much will happen. If it does it may cause reevaluation of the strategies in the transfer window. I’m wondering if Wenger knows what he is doing in letting players run their contracts down. We could lose Sanchez, Ozil and the Ox for nothing next summer. That’s a lot to write off
TTG, thank you, that will be posted on Wednesday evening. 🙂
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
109
Cheers for that information.
Won’t be boycotting the football but will – like many others I have spoken too already – be making our feelings on this issue known to the club. It made the London news on ITV tonight so this could prove to be a huge PR own goal by Kroenke.