Snow Joke, Arsenal Could Drift Into Second Place
Jan 5th, 2010 by 'holic
“It can put you on alert, if you drop a little bit off, it can quickly go the other way.”
I just love Arsene confirming that he has been saying all the right things to his players. It should ensure the correct attitude when Bolton come calling at the Grove on a potentially foul Wednesday evening.
The weather forecast may not be too desirable, but the outlook is for the Gunners to leapfrog Manchester United to claim second place, just a point behind the bus stop in Fulham. That would be ice, wouldn’t it.
There is more to look forward to. Unless the snow reaches five feet five inches we should welcome the return of Andrey Arshavin. I’m delighted by that, freeze a jolly good fellow. Denilson too is fit to return at just the right time and Arsene was quick to build up his return in place of the departing Alex Song.
It is also safe to assume, I would imagine, that Almunia and Traore will return to the back five on the team sleet. Whilst we continue to miss some key players the improving form of the likes of Diaby and Ramsey should prove invaluable. Eduardo too has shown some signs of coming back to something approaching goalscoring menace of late, and could build on that on a difficult surface for defenders.
By the kick-off a footballing nice guy may have made a controversial move from Burnley to their hoofballing neighbours. Regardless of whether or not Owen Coyle makes the move there is always a likelihood that the visitors players will be looking to impress any new boss.
On a night for forwards William Gallas and Thomas Vermaelen know they will not get an easy night up against Ivan Klasnic and Kevin ‘Elbows’ Davies. The latter features large in the ‘holic pound, and off course there is snowball he won’t fight for.
Nearly all the value lies in the upset. How can Bolton be 18/1 against in a two horse race? Of course I don’t believe that will happen but the small beer on offer for an Arsenal win has me looking at a Paddy Power speciality bet. Andrey Arshavin to score and Kevin Davies to be booked looks an interesting double at 11/2. I’m on it the moment icy they are both playing.
I don’t have to tell those of you that are going to stick an extra layer or two of clothing on. As I type big flakes of snow are falling so it is probably a blessing that I didn’t get a ticket and be at the mercy of Great Western Trains after the match. This is probably the wrong type of snow that will paralyse the rail network!
Come on you Gunners, let’s sleigh ’em.
Take care ‘holics.
40 Responses to “Snow Joke, Arsenal Could Drift Into Second Place”
Arsenal News 24/7
[…] Goonerholic: Eat, Sleep, Breathe, Drink, Arsenal goonerholic.com/?p=2034 – view page – cached Goonerholic: Comment and review from a lifelong fan […]
Heh, ‘holic, you’re no flake when it comes to establishing weather the puns are up to scratch, or not. There seems to be no drift away from the usual high standard.
I’ll have a hot toddy please, it’s freezing out there.
Anyone listening to the forecasters today would not give this game a snowballs chance in hell of going ahead.
Maybe later in January we will have more players available, though of course we could have fewer!
Let’s hope Arsenal reign, dear, and its snow matter what the weather does otherwise.
I don’t rink we’ll skate through this one though. Denilson and Ramsey will need to be slippier than Torville and Dean throughout this routine. Otherwise the triple toe loops to the shin which are a bolt on feature of this fixture will result in nice chips to the bone. And don’t ask our players to “chill” if the temperature rises.
This is no easy downhill and we’ll need to be racer sharp. Even if we had Song’s slalom style and were playing at the Modeski, the slope would be no more slippery nor prone to shoulder induced barrier crashes.
I can’t sense sufficiently far in sight to know whether the ‘Holic pound is on a slippery wicket or whether it will be a snow shoe in.
Keep cool, ‘Holics and don’t get flaky. Denny’s back and there’s snow one slicker than him.
Great times for Irish whiskies…
I think you’re right, it will be a gritty hard-fought battle but we will prevail in the end, our motivation will see to it.
As we will leap in front of Man United, I was wondering when they are going to follow Liverpool’s descent to hell. In other words, how long will all the ignoramusses be able to claim that Arsene’s financial prowesses don’t matter?
It turns out not very long. United has to pay £70m a year in interests only which requires them to have exceptional seasons every year. Last year (champions, CL finalist and FA cup semi-finalist) they were left with less than £20m to but players. This year everyone can see that they will be far off last year’s performance. FA cup campaign is over (3-4 games less than usual), they don’t look like CL winners, hell even not last 4 and if Rooney gets injured, we all know that Berbatov and Owen won’t step up to slavage points from their poor performances in the league. I know we should never understimate United but it’s the first time in years they have looked so shaky. There’s a lot of talks about them refinancing this summer but if they end up to far off the top and with Ferguson’s retirement looming, it’s not a done deal.
This could be really an extraordinary season and not only because the prettiest football wins trophies. If both Liverpool’s and United’s declines became realities, Arsene with his frugal spending policy would be vindicated for good and the EPL will never be the same.
Top 4 nest season?
Arsenal, Chelski, Villa, Citeh
An excellent article today on United’s perilous financial situation:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/robertpeston/2010/01/can_man_utd_spend.html
Three pints (that’s points in some dialects) please barman.
As and when we play Bolton home AND away, I hope the refs involved will closely watch Davies (he of the queer shaped head). In recent years his yellow and red cards have been mainly “earned “against Arsenal.
is the match gonna be played?whats it like in london?
So, no game then?
All depends how much white stuff falls on the seats and aisles I guess. They will have loads of empty seats to move people into, but they have to plan for the number sold I suppose.
I’ve no doubt they will work like mad to keep the approaches to the stadium clear because they definitely want to play, and the pitch will be no problem, apart from being as fast as you like 😉
ARSENAL ARE WORST WITH DENILSON IN THE TEAM.HE’S JUST NOT TOUGH ENOUGH.HE DOESNT TACKLE ENOUGH,DOESNT TRACK BACK.THE BALL LL BE IN OUR PENALTY BOX FOR AGES AND WHOS JUST WALKING BACK,DENILSON.
Shayne,
Check out here old son… http://tinyurl.com/yk6o7n9
It’s not snowing in Hackney yet. What is Owen Coyle thinking? Bolton are well on the way to 100m in debt they are pretty much bust and if they go down they won’t be back for a generation. I’m hoping for an avalanche of goals against their flakey defence.
Ah, ‘holic. Proud I would be to sit in a pub and listen to your ‘dad jokes’ through the night.
Cheeky bastard, I’m contemporary, me 😉
Now ‘holic, just look what you started – what seemed like a playful twist on the Queen’s English has well and truly deteriated on these blogs into a pitifull excuse for wit – it’s snow joke …aww!
On a serious note, this has got banana skin written all over it especially if Coyle takes over. We may end up trying too hard. And the Bolton lads always seem to raise their game against us.
However, in Arsene we trust. By the way anyone put out that Fran Merida has decided his future is to be in warmer climes?
Understand AFC, but I didn’t have much to work with tonight. Give me a break, eh?
I really don’t see us letting it slip because of Coyle arriving. I think they will work their plums off, and we will overcome them because Le Boss has got the attitude spot on.
Could be closer than the bookies think though. I don’t see us wiping the floor with them.
Looking forward to the game tomorrow, heading up with the dad-in law. Should be a giggle. First time he’s been to an Arsenal game so hopefully it’s all going ahead.
I’d like us to continue the trend of stuffing teams by 3 goals at home.
@’Holic, know any good pubs that serve decent food nearby? Like a spoons except not shite? Anything with a buy one get one freeze would be great.
Yeah it’ll be close. Quite interested to see the Verminator against Davies – could get real tasty and we like tasty. He’s kinda bullied our defence of late, but he’s in for a surprise, image being the meat in a Gallas and Verminator sandwich!
Pub food on match days, mmm. Not the best time to do that Tommo. Best to hit Holloway Road and one of the many eateries there. The pubs are mainly concerned with getting zillions of pints in pots for the assembled throng and haven’t got time to worry about culinary excellence, if you get my drift. Turn right when you come out of the station and you will happen upon a couple of ‘cafes’ for a fry up, or turn left and find, among others, Indian and Italian nosh.
Other end at Finsbury Park will get you a fine pint in the Pins, and a snack on the hoof at the Happening Bagel Bakery or a kebab shop. Let me know how you get on.
…or take him into the West End first. The ‘spoons in Leicester Square actually used to do a decent two for one.
Chucking down with snow now. Looking out of the window now I will be really surprised if this game goes ahead. I have fears for the Everton game as well considering the latest forecast. Whilst it would be great to put points on the board a few games break may actually play right into our hands. We have the chance of getting Cesc, Bendtner and Clichy fit. It also give the chance for Gallas and Vermaelen to have a break. If we do actually play then I redict a resounding victory.
Shayne, do you actually go to games? You might want to try a few. You will then see what a quality player Denilson is and how much we miss him when he is not playing.
Keep the faith………..
Tommo,
There is a Spoons at Highbury Corner, about 100 yrads from Highbury and Islington Station. I have eaten in there the odd time and that has always been okay for the price. Did a cracking pint of London Pride if I remember rightly.
Shayne has posted his anti-Denilson drivel on all the Arsenal blogs he could find (and always in caps). Either he is:
1) Insane
2) The agent of some worthless player that Arsene refuses to even look at
3) Usmanov as he has bangers-like fingers so he always types in caps. He’s desperate cos we don’t need his money to buy players so he’s left with slating our young players.
Holic, you’ve outdone yourself this time.
Matt (24), he’s Chris (THA) The Hawking Arse who, amongst many other misdemeanors and rambles, prays daily that Denilson will be injured and so unavailable.
‘Holic, Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares is it now? Do you happen to know a good dentist in the area of the Grove? I’ve got a loose molar that needs a tickle up next time I’m visiting.
Fecking heck ‘holic,
snow joke when you are snowballing us with as much ice as possible.
But as Mike swimming boy in the pool Barrymore used to say, it will be alwhite on the night.
2-0 win. Owly and Diaby to get the brace.
At least 10 puns there. Would have thought some would have made me laugh… but no pun in ten did.
I kid, natch. Keep up the cool work, ‘holic. And just to rub it in, I’m sweating like Rafa here in sunny Sydney.
Since I’m quite a bit tipsy (clock is approaching 05.30 here in Sweden) and I haven’t read all the comments (which I should before posting since this is the only place on The Internets as we like to call it were there is bound to be somebody with as positive an attitude as me) I’ll keep it short.
I’m going for the EASY win. ’tis true ‘Holics! This win will not be hard fought. It will not be the 2-1 home win with the last (Arsenal) goal in the last ten. For the first time in a while we’ll just bulldozer our opposition.
I’m predicting the second game of the season when we score inside the first 15 and I’m going for three more after that, all for us. We can do it. We all know we can do it. And this is the game we do it. We do not need to reignite our season but a good firecracker would help keep the worst of the snow away.
Chim chiminey
Chim chiminey
Chim chim cher-ee!
A sweep is as lucky
As lucky can be
Let’s bleedin’ do this. Quick and painless. No disrespect to Bolton but it’s Arsenal time.
*puts ‘holic pound on game cancellation*
Hot toddy for me please.
Put the celebrations on ice for the moment, we will need to show a decent amount of grit to ensure a safe passge into second spot.
Oh, I see you are all doing puns.
Nearest ‘Spoons is The Coronet in Holloway Road. Gets busy on match days, but they still do nosh. And cheap ale.
‘holic,
As a long time reader I’ve added a link to the fine Goonerholic site on my own new Arsenal blog, CannonSense. Feel free to take a look at http://www.CannonSense.Viviti.com.
Feel even freer to make it a Goonerholink.
Cheers
You might just have angered Father Frost here with all the puns since the game is now postponed. Sure, we’ll have a chance to rest players and not force players that probably aren’t 100% fit like Denilson to play but it’s going to get really hectic to play this game in-between all the semi-finals we’ll be playing the coming months.
An excellent 3 points! Now we’re right in Cuntski’s tailpipe……
What?
Oh! 🙁
Oh DEARy me. After reading the article I thought “I can get a few jokes in the comment” but it seems that I have been beaten to it. I wouldn’t want to SLIP up. As the sub-topic of Mr Holic’s blog is drink I think it’s only right to tell you that my hand is currently blessed with a nice glass of Glenfiddich to warm the bones! It’s enough to thaw even the coldest of the cold. And while I’m here, a very happy new you to you and the family Dave. I think it only right that I purchase you another pint next time you’re at The Arsenal. I’ve not spoken to you in a long time!
@Cheers ‘Holic, shame it’s been called off but he got snowed in anyways so in some ways it’s a good thing for me. We’ll have a boot around Holloway and I’ll definitely let you know how it goes. Cheers for the advice all. 🙂
Btm: he can be dense at times but not hopeless like the groaner-in-chief who’s still after Song despite his entire board telling him to get over it.
Too bad for the game. At the same time if we can play it with Cesc, Song and Bendtner…
How can it be called off????? Salt it out……..
Keep the faith…
There`s worrying news about Bendtner. He`s targeting the Stoke cup tie for his return and is having a fitness test shortly. Apparently he`s doing sprints now, and Arsene is pinning his hopes on Bendtner`s return to save his having to buy a new striker this month. Already Arsene has gone from `we will be looking to buy` to saying it is now 50/50/. Now, Bendtners return cannot come soon enough for me, but players coming back after a long.lay-off, often pick up niggling injuries and strains; at least ours usually do. Think Eduardo and Walcott. My guess is that Arsene will save his money, Bendtner will return, only to pick up a nice little hamstring or thigh strain, puting him out for another month, with us not having brought in any cover. Much as I hate to say it, maybe it wouldn`t be a bad thing if Bendtner were to have a little setback, putting him back say, 3 weeks. Then Arsene might have to bring a new striker in.