Posted in match review on Sep 30th, 2008 26 Drinks »
What was broadcast prior to the Champions League clash was perhaps as telling as the ninety minutes that followed. Arsene Wenger vigorously defended his policy of promoting from within and not signing the players that would hinder such development. He got sterling support from Stuart Pearce. The England U-21 boss was an uncomplicated, no-nonsense defender, […]
Posted in match preview on Sep 29th, 2008 21 Drinks »
The month started on ‘holic with an advertisement for the Samaritans. There has been some action on their hotline tonight. Those of you who, like me, are watching our exceptional reserve side letting in three first-half goals against their Villa counterparts will not have had your faith restored after Saturday’s shock defeat by Hull. The […]
Posted in match review on Sep 28th, 2008 51 Drinks »
‘You’re not going to write it up at midnight, surely?’ Mrs ‘holic thinks I should wait. She knows me too well. If I wait until the morning the result will be an apologetic piece and we will have done no wrong. That would not tell the true story of this painful defeat. I would really […]
Posted in match preview on Sep 26th, 2008 32 Drinks »
I was looking forward to the game tomorrow. Hull City have started their first Premiership season in impressive fashion, losing just one of their first five outings. Now we know what to expect from most visitors to the Grove these days. Pack the midfield and defence with five back, or five in midfield. Try to […]
Posted in match review on Sep 24th, 2008 27 Drinks »
What a strange night that was. Chasing streams that didn’t actually exist meant half-time had arrived before I had a clue what was happening, and I know I wasn’t alone. Everywhere you looked on the web the same question appeared, ‘anybody got an Arsenal link?’. So I followed the second half on the Beeb live […]
Posted in match preview on Sep 22nd, 2008 27 Drinks »
For the second year running the Young Guns Carling Cup adventure includes a test against Sheffield United. The Yorkshiremen were hit by a three goal salvo at Bramall Lane last season, but the Gunners second string were bolstered that night by Eduardo and Theo Walcott. This time around it looks very much as though Arsene […]
Posted in match review on Sep 20th, 2008 33 Drinks »
A month ago there were those who were calling for heads to roll after the defeat at Fulham. Deadline day came and went without the arrival of the reinforcements that we all agreed were needed. The four horsemen of the Apocalypse were apparently knocking on the doors of the Grove. The last twenty-four hours must […]
Posted in match preview on Sep 19th, 2008 18 Drinks »
I was thinking this would be a good Friday. I had the afternoon off and no meetings scheduled for the evening. I was thinking a couple of lunchtime pints, a look at the Friday press conferences, write the preview and have maybe a pint or two more. Real life doesn’t work like that does it. […]
Posted in match review on Sep 17th, 2008 22 Drinks »
A curious contest exploded into life in the final half hour as Arsenal recovered from an extremely harsh penalty to secure a late equaliser. A safety first approach saw Alex Song promoted to a starting berth in front of the back four, and a strange mix-and-match role for Robin van Persie as Arsenal switched from […]
Posted in match preview on Sep 16th, 2008 13 Drinks »
‘So what are you writing now then?’ The management is genuinely interested, which makes it all the more frustrated that I have to confess that I really don’t know. ‘All that football you watch, and you don’t know what to write about Kiev?’ Now I could explain to her that ‘all the football I watch’ […]
Arsenal News 24/7
