If We Don’t Win On Sunday, I’m Going To…Erm
Feb 4th, 2010 by 'holic
Writers, both professional and strictly amateur like yours truly, have it really tough in these weeks where there is no game, and the transfer window has closed, and the last performance was about about as poor as we have witnessed ever, since man first started kicking a sheep’s bladder around a muddy field. Actually, forget that last bit. I’ve done my time and paid my debt, both to society and Farmer Penburthy.
Column inches still have to be filled though, so I plough through page after page of critiques of Manuel Almunia, Denilson, Gael Clichy, and rather amusingly, Andrey Arshavin. There is a reading public out there and there is no point trying to explain that players can be just plain out of form, or being asked to perform roles that they are not best suited to, or are not in peak condition, be it physically or mentally. That’s not entertaining in any way, shape, or form.
Anybody putting together two dodgy performances in a row must be dropped, fined, sold, or given the job of making the tea. There must be immediate recalls for the players who were last month’s objects of derision. Heavy home defeats to Chelsea and Manchester United have obliterated the seven wins and three draws that separated them. We are going backwards and will be lucky to finish fourth.
I understand full well the need to get thoughts into print and onto screens. I feel the pain of those defeats like you wouldn’t know. On occasion in the past I have been quick to condemn, both in the ground, or in front of my keyboard shortly after a poor result. A little reflection, a moment to think about what I write or say, is often a moment well spent.
Here’s what I mean by reflection. A number of sources when reviewing last season pointed out the astonishing statistic that Manchester United lifted the title having recorded just one win in six attempts against the other members of the so-called big four. Over the next few days we have an opportunity to go one or two better than that.
Yes, any bookmaker will tell you we will be rank outsiders to secure a win at the Bridge on Sunday. In fact you would probably have to go back to the pre-Wenger years to see us quoted at 4/1 against in any game? So it is the perfect opportunity for the pessimistic (you can’t help your nature so no criticism from me) or the downright mentally-lazy (you do rile me, intensely!) to spout forth about an impending defeat and what it will mean, and who should be sold, or sacked, or boiled down for glue, after the inevitable has happened.
Since the very beginning of the season I have considered that the title this season would end up in London. I have seen nothing to dissuade me from that view. A Chelsea win on Sunday would go a long way to securing what I suspected may happen. Any other result and we will enjoy an easier run-in than our rivals and be right back in the hunt.
So if the worst happens we know that once again there will be a wailing and gnashing of teeth. If we play as badly as we did last Sunday maybe even I will throw my very cheap toys out of a very unstable pram and you know what?
I’ll be back watching my Arsenal on Wednesday.
I’ll be back watching my Arsenal next month.
I’ll be back watching my Arsenal next season.
There is no power of veto here, people. They are ours, for life, regardless. Think about that, just for a moment or two.
Please?
165 Responses to “If We Don’t Win On Sunday, I’m Going To…Erm”
I guess this is why I religiously follow this blog. Never fails to cheer me up.
Thanks holic
well said ‘holic. they ARE OURS for life. regardless of what happens come the end of the season, i’m incredibly proud of what’s been accomplished so far. nobody, and you know this well enough from the press, expected us to be in the top 4, let alone sill posing a title challenge at this part of the year.
as for this weekend, something has to give. it’s either us or chelsea. i don’t know at this point which way it’s going to go. i hope it goes to the N5 team, but if not, i’ll still be happy that we gave it a bloody good run. and people seem to be forgetting how relatively easy our run in of matches is after the liverpool game. even if this coming match goes awry, all is NOT lost just yet.
keep the faith gooners, keep the faith.
COME ON YOU REDS!
Holic I think one goal is going to decide the game. The problem is which side will score???
Hello, ‘holic. I’ll have a pint of water please. and a read of your blog to calm my nerves 😉
Apparently Manure won the title last year taking just 5 points off the ‘big four’. Win on Sunday and we are back in the mix big time.
I may be off the mark here, but is denilson as bad as some blogs are making out?
Cheers Holic
Great blog again holic, nothing else needs saying.
Keep the faith, it’s Thursday a couple of desperado’s will do.
Great article ‘holic. That’s what supporting a team is all about. Win, lose or draw they are ours, whatever our reason for choosing them.
Good to hear someone being positive during these times! However, there is no denying that when we play badly, we just dont seem to click at all! Also we cant run from the fact that we often dont have a Plan B! What say? Gooners…gun down the fake empire of chelski…
How long should we keep faith up,more 6 years? well only thing i can do is getting behind gunners anyway
Actually Rawsy, he has been diabolical the last couple of games. There has to be a reason why he just doesn’t seem to be putting the effort into sprinting when required. My guess is he is still carrying an injury and we’ll see him operated on in the summer.
Pure guesswork though.
I dunno, Holic… if you follow this post up with a shaky effort, we might have to sell you to sp*rs…
An injury for Denilson? It’s a plausible explanation, and given the number of injuries to our midfield, it’s a shame we don’t have the personell to give the lad a rest and let him recover. But for me, for the last three matches it’s looked more like he couldn’t be arsed to chase after… I don’t want to say I hope you’re right (because we need more injuries like we need Pascal Cygan back), but for his sake I hope there’s a reason for his lacking performances. He’s been shocking.
1st time I’ve read a blog of yours Holic and you are right on all counts…OURS FOREVER…bit like the wife I suppose….only more important!
Cheers Rob. Know exactly what you mean 😉
And much like the wife, you just can’t contemplate life without them – I mean they’re almost like one of the family…..
Yes Rawsy, he has been downright terrible. And this is from someone who usually defends all our players (perhaps not in the heat of the moment, but always after that moment of afterthought that ‘Holic is the champion of). I surly won’t call for him to become the tea boy (even if he does kind of look like a towel boy?) just because he’s been horrible for a few games though. If Wenger decides enough is enough, you know, after actually seeing him in training every day, and actually knowing the ma.. erhm, boy then that’s it, but until then I’m hoping for improvement. I’m sure he can do it, he’s was a lot better just a few months ago, so he’ll get there again.
Back on topic – thanks ‘Holic for a good ‘un!
Am I the only one who actually thinks we might improve our chances of winning the league by not beating Chelsea? A loss and we’ll play without that damn “handbreak” for the rest of the season. This team, which I love to bits, mostly, apparently really does have a problem with pressure. Hate to sound like a Spurs-fan, but hopefully next season they have fully grown out of that inability to cope with the really big games and really get to utilize their footballing potential to the fullest, and it is huge.
Keep the faith!
Wow ‘holic! Great end there!
If I could get me hands on a season ticket I wouldn’t be hiring it out no matter who we were playing!
Arsenal for Life
ps. thanks for filling some inches!
‘Holic, good thoughts. Denilson is a mystery. He was the rock of last year’s unbeaten string; there is nothing of the shirker in him. I thiink he must be not at full fitness. And I wonder why he is often slagged because he failed to stop a goal in a spot that wasn’t his responsibility in the first place.
I’d like to see Eboue start Sunday, not replacing Sagna, but farther forward — he provides offensive diversity, penetration, and a defender’s understanding of what you have to do coming back. And other than for jet lag, thanks to his red card, he didn’t have a particularly taxing ACN.
excellent post, ‘holic… thanks for keeping it fresh
i hope you’re right about denilson, because if it wasnt an injury, then it was pretty shameful… i do feel for the guy… vilified, then hailed (for a bit) then vilified again and hes all of 21…
i hope diaby plays since we need the direct runs, but if he’s not 100% then i would absolutely love for ramsey to step up… he has definitely gotten tougher this season and im sure the slight lack of composure while running w the ball will also get sorted out soon enough
you know, after hurtful losses like last sunday’s people do lose a bit perspective and for that im glad that some other blogs posted clips from our performances in this past season just to remind us the tremendous amount of quality we do possess as a collective coherent unit as well as moments of individual brilliance
so it’s a bit early, but I raise a shot of tequila to some magic from our classy players come sunday.
Evening ‘holics.
I am of the belief that Sundays game isn’t as all important as it’s been made out to be in the race to the title, of course a win would be briliant and a great confidence booster, but did we at anytime really count on getting 3 points at the Bridge? I’m not saying that it’s an impossible feat, after all last season we managed a win there, but in the grand scheme of things our season hardly hinges on the result of this game, it’s the game against the teams lower than us that count the most, win them and we’re still very much in it.
I think the most important thing at stake on Sunday is pride, not only the pride that we the supporters could take from a victory from our London and “top 4” rivals, but after what was a pretty lack lustre performance from some of our players last time out, the chance for these players to redeem themselves by showing us that they still wear our beloved shirts with pride and that they are willing to “bust a gut” for our cause.
We all know (maybe not the window sloberers) that losing is part of the game and losing to good teams like Utd or Chelski is no shame, I can accept defeat, as long as our boys go out and give it their all then I’m content.
Chelsea though are not indestructable, Hull held them to a draw this week and maybe Terry’s head is not where it should be (insert joke here) and they do rely heavily on him, take Terry out of the side and Chelsea are not the same animal. So here’s to the gutter press slating him for the next few days and maybe, just maybe putting him off his game.
I fancy sinking something Russian tonight, double vodka on the rocks please barman.
Cheers.
kudos ‘holic.
the problem isnt that we lost against united………but the way in which we lost…..spiritless and some players looking uninterested…..leeds lost 3-1 yesterday…but did u see the way they played?(their hearts OUT)…..leeds fans were noisier at full time…..because it doesn’t matter if u lose….but the manner in which u lose…..holic’.
‘holic,
Nice post as always.
I do worrry about this assumption that because we have this easy run in we will gain maximum points (it seems to be a common mantra in the blogosphere).
I think if anything this season has proved that if Arsenal (or any of the other “bigger” teams) turn up thinking victory is assured they will invariably slip up.
If we can keep our focus in every game, start strongly and in a disciplined manner we can definately achieve maximum points.
Otherwise regardless of our results against Chelsea/Liverpool/Man C we may end the season rueing the missed opportunities against the lesser teams.
Man U over the last few seasons have shown how good results against the lesser teams have won them the title – something we can learn from to our own benefit and hopefully finish the season as champions!!
Take the point entirely, Usama.
Now understand mine.
What are you going to do about it? You’re just winding yourself up for no good reason. All teams have off-days. We, thankfully have fewer than most, which is why it is even more irritating when they do.
Last season United took one point off us. Where did they end up once their supporters in Kent, Cornwall, and all points south had finished writing angry missives on the internet?
Yes, I`m disappointed Wenger didn`t strengthen the squad last summer. No, I`m not surprised he didn`t buy in the January window ( no one to buy!). Having been an Arseanl supporter for 62 years and as a boy living near Seven Sisters Road I`m certainly not quitting now and anyway it`s not as if we`re in the relegation zone.
There are a few players, not many, who we could do without and next season I expect them to be gone and two maybe three new faces in the block. When I say `new faces`I mean ones we will recognize. Meanwhile we`re in a pretty good position and although we may not come number one we`ll still be in Europe next year and with good planning in the summer I`d say the best is yet to come.
Great article, ‘holic – that’s what it’s all about! Arsenal For Life.
@dharg
I agree, a good performance is the most important thing.
@ Jack Staniforth
Surely if new players come in, what matters is whether they are GOOD, not whether you recognise them or not?
This blog has to be the best written Arsenal fan blog going (I like Arseblog too, especially the podcasts, but that’s different).
BUT…what makes it such a pleasure to read is the quality of the comments.
Tell me ‘holic, do you edit out all the inane crap that appears (especially this week) on other Arsenal fan blogs? Or don’t the great unwashed even bother to comment because they can’t get past words like “critiques”?
Clockendrider – thanks for giving me the best laugh of what is a fairly miserable evening.
I’m going for draw at the weekend. The problem is, which side will fail to concede first???
I wouldn’t normally as its a Thursday, but a normal glass of Wolf Blasss Shiraz please barkeep.
I want a t-shirt that says on the front “Eboue” and on the back “Ours Forever”.
Arsenal to win this one late on, 1-2.
Dazza, you are welcome to discuss Arsenal here, but keep your personal shit out of it please.
Thanks.
DAF, although the last post suggests otherwise, no. I don’t get rid of posts for disagreeing. Only if they are abusive. Believe it or not that is very, very few. Thankfully.
Looking forward to the Chelsea match. Hoping for a big performance and big result. I’ve no love for Chelsea whatsoever, so it would be a joy to smash them by three or more. I’m a bit muddled as to which 11 could serve up that kind of result on current form, so it would be all the more pleasing if it happened.
Can’t wait to see who the boss goes with. I could see what he was trying to do against United, using Nasri, Rosicky, and Arsahvin. He was trying to get as much quality on the pitch as possible. He obviously missed a trick playing Denilson ahead of Ramsey, but I’m sure he was surprised that Denilson was so far off the pace (because of mental issues?).
If he goes with Bendtner, who would he drop – Nasri or Rosicky?
Rosicky’s had a couple goals in the not-too-distant past, so maybe they’d line up like this:
Arshavin Bendtner Rosicky
Ramsey or Diaby Song Cesc
Clichy Vermaelen Gallas Sagna
Almunia
He’s not going to drop Almunia, I wouldn’t think. It would be interesting if he did, though.
Clichy had a nightmare against United, but I think he’ll recover and be a bit better. Still a bit of a weak spot, but probably the best option. We know that when he’s in form he’s a good player.
Good stuff as ever, mate.
What Esso said.
What night cap shall I have?
Hmmmm….
One of them Single Malts you nicked last weekend, ‘holic.
Cheers.
What Esso said.
So this is the blog where all the inmates gather ? Sort of like the sanctuary for the insane? A place where delusions spin a magic web of perpetual belief reinforced through repitition of blind optimism and inculcated by the head cheerleader himself. I know of only two places like that: A spur’s website and an insane asylum
@34 “I know of only two places like that: A spur’s website and an insane asylum”
Which one did you escape from?
..repetition
That’s right L, blind optimism. I’ve personally seen us land six titles, seven FA Cup’s, Two League Cup’s, a Fairs Cup, and a Cup-winners Cup. I know nothing about what it means to watch a good side week in and week out.
But I’ll tell you what. I have seen a couple of piss poor ones, and this side is a long way from that.
I really do not know how you can bear to plough through all the stuff and nonsense written following any form of set back. In these circumstances I limit my activity to “A Cultured Left Foot” and your good self this being the only way to keep my sanity. It must be an age thing!
Thanks for the therapy.
@ H2H
Not that it matters, but my comment about needing a good performance first and foremost was agreeing with you, not dharg.
I have just read your blog again and all the drinks. Is it me but there seems to be a bit of negativity creeping in here? It is almost as if some are preparing for the worst. Well why not prepare for victory? We know we are good enough. It is just about performing. We know we can perform so perhaps it is believing , and not thinking the worst??? Snap out of it. I do not want to read about what happens if we lose. I want to hear how we can come away from Sunday’s game with points in the bag and pride fully restored. So let’s all be positive.
I agree with many that the performance is very important. The reason most had the hump after the Manc game was the way in which we lost and the way we gifted 3 goals.
Come rain or shine we will all be back. It is what we do. We can not change it and nor would I want to. I have had to explain to my wife on several occasions that the longest relationship I have ever had is with Arsenal. But for fucks sake, let’s be positive.
3 -1 to those rip roaring Gunners. Let’s ave it……….
Keep the faith…..
Denilson has absolutely nothing to offer other than we got him cheap 3 seasons ago and he was born in Brazil! He has no real skill on the ball, no physical presence or power, no heading ability, very rarely can dribble pass an opponent, seems to make the obvious pass to a team mate ( usually sideways), cannot tackle, no stamina and certainly no defensive ability. I doubt whether he would get into any other premiership team and at 23 will not improve! Dialby and Song on the otherhand have improved immensely in the same period and have the physical stature to cope with the PL. Vermaelen and Gallas were bullied by Drogba when Chelsea played at our place – the only centre back who can match Drogba for physical power and staure is Campbell – who should replace Gallas on Sunday otherwise we will definitely lose!
@Loudermilt. You have tried to use lots of fancy words but have not really said anything of substance. Your attempts at insults are a tad pathetic when you have nothing to back them up. Grow a spine, locate your balls and actually dare to voice an opinion………
Gunner90, if I had more time I would argue Denilson’s case with you, but I do think you make a great point about the centre-backs on Sunday, and one I was saving for my preview. In fact I will save it, but good point nonetheless.
Cheered me right up ‘Holic. I thank you.
It’s the short-termist thinking I don’t get. Is everyone off somewhere at the end of the season?
Thank you god.
Finally a normal voice, thanks ‘holic.
I’ve said it before (god knows in what blog) that these 4 games are way overrated because of the fact that championships are won against the little teams, not the top four and it’s been well proved not just last year with Utd but in all kinds of countries.
‘Holic, even with a loss at Stamford Bridge and a 9 point gap we can still win the league. Don’t forget they still have Utd, Liverpool, Everton and Tottenham away and City at home where as we have only Spurs away and City at home as tricky fixtures.
I predict Chelsea will drop points in at least 3 of those 4 away fixtures (Loss at Utd, draw at Everton and Spurs and either a draw or a loss at Anfield would be really really realistic) and if all goes well we should finish with 12 straight wins after the Liverpool fixture (apart from maybe a draw against City).
Don’t be so doom and gloom has been the motif of every second comment this last week (the other half have been the doom and gloom comments 🙂 ) and they’re right to be so.
And Steve T, I know I slammed the team after the Sunday game but as said earlier, everything I said against the team’s effort on sunday was specifically refferring to that fixture against Utd, not in any way general, I still think we’re the best team in the EPL and we will win the league.
I’ll have a pint of Carling :).
Question is Goonerholic, when are you going to get off the fence? Some bloggers have the guts to do it, whereas I get the feeling that even if Wenger got Arsenal relegated you still wouldn’t have an opinion on it.
Snir, I agree totally. I slammed the performance as well. It was shocking. I just think that sometimes we do not get it right in the head and we can be half beaten before we kick a ball. The Manc game was very poor. But it is gone. Get over it, learn and move on. That would be my message to the team. I would want to say to them that this is the best possible fixture to prove to themselves and the rest of the league that we are good enough.
This is the reality. Beat the Chavs, beat the scousers mid week and we could be top again. How mental is that? Hear that Loudermilt??? Now what asylum do you want to stick that in????
Bring it on. Thats what I say.
Holic, I would stop for a drink but it is clear that my glass is more than half full already.
CHELSEA 1 GOONER 3
Hey ‘Holic
Seems like it takes a few bad performances and every blogger with a mind-reading gift knows without doubt that the fore mentioned bad performance is down to not being arsed. Me, I think some of them are channelling their own inadequacy and it’s just possible that our players are (whisper it) human with human failings. Like um let’s say, getting injured. Your views are always readable and not just because I am old enough to remember the Fairs Cup triumph!
@JJ
Does the idea of supporting your team despite what is going on seem so alien? And why is venting the spleen when nothing can come of it before the end of the season such a positive thing?
JJ, what fence? I thought ‘holic was saying win, lose or draw, he has been, is and always will be a Gooner. What is that if not his opinion? A statement of fact? I suspect I would know what ‘holic’s opinion would be if the unthinkable happened too. He is a Gooner after all.
Steve, I’d like that kind of a pep talk for the team, but there has to be some conclusions about Sunday’s game.
The first and maybe only (depends on how you look at it) thing is know who you’re up against – you can’t have both Gallas and TV up front and have Clichy alone to defend a corner… One could see from Tuesday’s game that Chelsea are not putting pressure on Hull, they’re just waiting for the interception and fast break, within 6 seconds Anelka and Drogba had the ball in the box.
As opposed to Tuesday, on Sunday they won’t give us the time they gave Hull so you gotta be ready for those fast breaks (They are playing an Italian game after all, are they not ;)? ) with all four defenders and even Song.
Maybe it’d be much smarter to have the midfielders win this one for you and not rely on crosses from Sagna and Clichy, leave the flanks for a bit and have the defenders lay back for the counter attack.
“Corner for us, goal for them” is an outrage given the thought that they have prolific goalscorers and fast players, what else do you need on the counter?
I’m not saying play defensive or put 11 men on Almunia’s line, I’m just saying, play smarter both offensively and defensively, even if it means playing a little less creative or narrowing the options with no flanks play or crosses from Bacary or Gael.
Come on you gooners! Prove ’em wrong 🙂
Cheers holic. Might be because I’m 29 years young today, but I feel totally optimistic about our silverware chances of silverware today, more than ever. Or maybe I just sit and sycophantically enjoy yours and the Arseblogger’s chat in particular. Either way, mine’s a Double JD
It’s pointless blaming one player, but if that reflects something that is going on in the whole team then so be it.
On Denilson: I think the worse thing is that he seemed to not put it in for us. Not ‘out of form’. Not ‘getting back to fitness’ (these were first half discrepancies). This was a painful lack of care or attention – that hurts. His actions reminded me of Silvestre against Drogba in the FA Cup semi last year – Just. Give. Up. FK that! I lost sleep over the utd game – maybe I shouldn’t care so much.
Denilson – RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!
well said. after all said n done, THIS IS MY TEAM N I SUPPORT IT. PERIOD!
Another lovely post `Holic although I feel a bit contrarian today. I am not too amused by Arshavin’s attitude and results this season. I think we can all agree that his contribution is almost exclusively on the offensive side since apart for a handful of efforts he doesn’t concern himself with pressing and defending. And he scored 7 goals this season which is:
– as many as as RVP who played less than half as many games
– one more than than Vermaelen
– two more than Diaby who again played roughly half as many games.
The last 2 of course offering much more in all other areas of the game.
More worryingly he is on a very poor run of form, he did not perform in our recent games and the huffing and puffing on Sunday did not hide the fact his decision-making has been simply atrocious of late. One could argue that he would thrive if we had a big CF he could play with and that the lone striker role does not fit him but he did not score more when RVP was fit.
He was hugely influential last season and on that alone was well worth his price tag. But this season, considering he is the highest-paid player at the club, we have been shortchanged.
Arshavin is not an Arsenal player at heart. He is the perfect example of a mercenary, complained about the taxes on his 80K/week income even before his first game and come the summer he will pull a Hleb on us. I actually believe that his refusal to pass instead of trying (and failing) to score solo goals is due to him trying to raise the interest of potential buyers. Whatever we achieve this season will not make any difference to him if he can earn 50% more somewhere else.
Of course him like the others have been stung by Sunday’s defeat and it looks like the players are getting a week of haidryer treatment so let’s hope he and the others will get back to their best this Sunday and wel’ll see a more successful display of what his quick feet are capable of.
I wonder how what percentage of doomers reside outside of the UK…I’m guessing close to 90%. I live in California so I guess I’m a plastic but every fan I’ve met here is a doomer, it’s ridiculous.
I live in California too and I have yet to meet a doomer, although I don’t know that many Arsenal supporters here. Where in California do you leave?
I suspect that lots of doomers take advantage of the anonymity on Internet to lash out but when they congregate with other fans in person they tone it down.
I’m a UCLA student, soccer cough football is quite popular here
I dont think any geniune arsenal fan will not…
be back watching Arsenal on Wednesday.
be back watching Arsenal next month.
be back watching Arsenal next season.
if we get battered by chelsea on sunday…
Its stupid to say so….sounds as if you, holic is the only arsenal fan in the whole-wide world…
however i dont think fans just kept their mouths shut over the past 110 or so years of Arsenal existence when the team produced a performance as they did against united…
what hurts is that…you want us to think about it for a moment or two…and what comes out of this moment or 2 or any more is that we were even more piss poor than what we intially thought while watching them play !
So LETS NOT EVEN THINK FOR A MOMENT OR 2…and
may be…
well just pray ????????????
anybody else got shivers after readin da end…??
seriously man…yew rule =)
GUNNERS FOREVA!!
Keep the faith!
@Harsh: very nice to know football is picking up. Here in the Bay Area locals are not too much into football but many foreigners are. It’s pretty surprising at first to see Chinese or Indians rooting strongly for english teams (mostly Man United I’m afraid but that’ll change soon given the financial debacle ahead of them 😉
But the most astonishing thing is that whichever team one supports around here, their second favourite is always Arsenal. If it was a popularity contest we’d win hands down in the second round of voting. Wengerball FTW!
Holic! arsenal lossing to united is a threat to chelsea as it drew with Hull. Sunday`s game arsenal must win.
‘holic – great post. Your last couple have been particularly sentimental… clearly a direct result of feeling so let down by a loved one. A friend asked me yesterday why I’ve been so ‘arsey’ this week (her word, not mine), and I shrugged and told her she wouldn’t understand. Whatever happens, we’ve got the best club, the best supporters and even the best blogs in the world. AFC forever.
@Matt and Harsh
gooner in NYC here 🙂
I support Arsenal but the blind parroting of the “Arsene knows” brigade sometimes tiring.
Wenger is human and what I personally find frustrating is that he repeats his mistakes.
How much more time can we give Wenger? Can he motivate his players and himself?
I hope so!
Its scary to say but with our weak forward line up and lack of goal threat in the big games we could do with a stormer from bendtner.Everythings crossed.
@ Snail 45. 21/12/2012
I agree1 We are trapped forever….
I have to support the Redz otherwise I would have to give up watching Footbal
Adding to bolic’s “Denilson – RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!”
…Arshavin – Passsssssit!!!!!!!!
and
Fab – loooooook out, he’s out to get ya!!!!!!!!
and
Almunia – no the right glove goes on the riiiiiiiiight hand!!!!!
and
Eboue – Eeeeeemaaaaanueeeeel Eeeeeebooooooooooue, Eeeeeemaaaaanueeeeel Eeeeeebooooooooooue
oh and
Theo, Theo, Theo!!
C’m on boys. It’s a new game. Let’s be positive. I know it’s a big game but not the last game we’ll ever play.
To Chelsea and the Jerry (the player formerly know as John.T):
Watch out, Arsene is polishing his best 11 guys for Sunday. We will be ready, are you?
Actually Sajit I feel exactly the opposite, I have no patience for the Boo & Bleat Brigade anymore. It’s been 2 years of constant dooming, sniping, backstabbing, insulting and demeaning attitude from people who behaved worse than our opponents. I’m willing to concede that if you don’t understand the transformation the club is going through (from an anonynmous mid-table english club to a top 5 european powerhouses) and the temporarily constraints that come with it, you may have been very disappointed last season. But this season we have been in the race from the beginning with ups and downs and the BBB has been showing their true colors, telling us from the very beginning we would be out of the race in October, actually wishing it. They are anti-Arsenal, no need to beat around the bush. Read the boards of Le Groan & Gunnerblog where the Anti-Arsenal Brigade congregates and you will read many comments openly wishing for us to lose. That’s the truth about the BBB. They want the club to fail so that they can be proven right.
See it’s one thing to disagree with Arsene. There is this lie that there is such thing as an AKB. Most Arsenal supporters belong to the AMKB, “Arsene Mostly Knowns” Brigade but hey he can really be irritating or blind or stubborn if not stupid at times. In all these years, even during the Invincibles run, you felt like man, how can this be, why on earth is he playing X instead of Y who’s so much better? Even the Invincibles dropped the ball in some games they should have won easily sometimes it happened a few games in a row and there you would be WTF, that would never happen to a Ferguson team ever. But hey you know what, here it’s full of United supporters and they all say the same things all the time. For 2 years I taunted them with Nani and Anderson they were grumbling constantly because Ferguson was still playing them. Well this week they were all praises for Nani for whom they could not find harsh enough words a few weeks ago. That’s what it is to be a supporters, ups, downs, agreements, disagreements. We’re all armchair managers. But as `Holic and a gunner and others are telling us in fine we love the club and we want it to win but we don’t need it to have an Invincible season to support it though thick and skin.
Now we’re a win away to be in a very good position to win the title and the Anti-Arsenal Brigade is calling for Arsene’s head, stirring as much shit as they can? All this because we went through a painful defeat where some players dropped the ball and should not have? These people have no honour, they’re spineless, gutless cowards.
We all have doubts and worries but hey at this stage of the race, if you’re not rooting from all your heart to win this game, you’re not an Arsenal supporter. Simple as that.
@C1 Gooner, you are right. I should not have written this piece about Arshavin, the timing was wrong so let me apologize for this and I really hope he will make me eat my not-so-humble pie on Sunday!
It’s been said but I need to say it as well — brilliant. You give us (fans) the much-needed perspective.
I didn’t hear any fat lady singing last Sunday and hopefully we won’t hear one this Sunday either. There’s a long way to go before the season ends.
Don’t worry Matt. I too have (sometimes) been left unimpressed with Arshavin and his lack of knowledege of support around him in the final 3rd.
Oh the look on Fab’s face when Arshavin didn’t lay it on v United. Arshavin and passit! has been the call from me recently.
Hope it’s just his ‘foot injury’, tiredness and being asked to play out of position and that he’s not going all @debayor-ish on us.
And besides Holic, if we draw Sunday’s game, win Liverpool, then we will most likely be 6 points adrift. I think we can easily haul that back and win. Chelsea and Manure will drop points, and cionsidering our much more favorable run-in, we could easily win the league by a single point. All the team needs now is our backing, we will have plenty of time in the Summer to have a go at any one who will have fucked up our season.
Cheers, ‘holic.
Yo, Boz.
She’s confident, she’s daring.
She’s shy, she’s withdrawn.
She’s wounded, she’s dangerous.
She’s loyal, she’s trusting.
She’s caring, she’s comforting.
She’s reckless, she’s wanton.
We are smitten. She is our first love.
Morning `Holic!
Your sentiments have been echoing in other places too:
http://www.footballfancast.com/football-blogs/open-letter and even in the Mirror, there is hope after all! http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/john-cross/Why-Arsenal-boss-Arsene-Wenger-might-be-under-pressure-but-he-shouldn-t-be-walking-a-thin-Wire-John-Cross-column-article310689.html
As always, really inspiring blog there, the same ol’ cliche of ‘Gooner for Life’ can be excused for one more time please! 😀
I won’t support another football team, at least in this life! 😉
Do we know any more on Diaby? Is he any closer to a return this Sunday?
Top stuff as usual ‘holic
Arsenal til I die ! Denilson is still crap I have said so for 3 years and havent seen anything to change my mine.
Great post.
@Matt
I’m actually from the bay, I just go to school here. Yeah up there its all United or Liverpool, some Chelsea. Don’t know anyone that supports Arsenal at home.
Nice one ‘holic, well put.
See you again soon for Guinness, hopefully I’ll be in a more positive mood than Sunday!
Arsenal’s biggest critics will always be the fans themselves. Wenger is either oblivious to the flaws in the team, or just being plain stubborn. We need strengthening in most areas, not because we don’t have enough players – but simply because our squad gets injured too frequently.
I have a few questions I hope can be answered.
Goalkeeper – why didn’t Wenger buy S.Given when he was available? If Szczesny is supposedly good, why not give him a run-out?
If either Gallas or Vermaelan get injured, do you trust Sol or Silvestre to step in? Will Djourou be the next Ro-SICK-ky? Is he even good enough? We seem to be buying under-aged centre backs a lot these days – Nordveidt, Savic, Miquel, Angha
Denilson has become complacent; Diaby is consistently injured, Ramsey is still raw. Who else would you buy to complement the midfield trio – Cesc, Song and ?. Also, if Song gets crocked, who can replace him?
Walcott and Vela are either injured or non-effective when used. Arshavin has his moments. Rosicky is a walking miracle at the moment. Nasri doesn’t track back enough to help out the defence. Would you spend money on another attacking midfielder?
Van Persie, Eduardo, Bendtner – one position, 3 candidates. All crocked at the same time. Can you remember the last time all 3 were available? I don’t. If Liverpool doesn’t qualify for the CL, I hope Wenger shoves a shit-load of cash for Torres.
Great post as usual ‘Holic…
No matter what happens if we loose, damn even if we drop to league below we still need to be behind our team. I can’t imagine it happening but I’m Gunner for Life!
Yes there are good days, bad days and very bad days but we as the fans should encourge our team get behind them, cheer them on, unfortunately for some of us fans this task seems to be impossible, even when we win games and thats a fact.
I have not had the time to read all the comments yet, I had to travel to Manchester yesterday for work which wasn’t nice for me as it reminded me of the game on the weekend. To my suprise it wasn’t as bad, I’m over that result now and already looking forward to give them a spankin in a Chmapions League Semi.
Arsenal you are the love of my life….and always will be!
How are u sure u will win against the lesser clubs?
4/1??????
i’m not a gambling man but i’m having some of that!!!!!
great blog.
keep up the excellent work.
/Applauds
You know what they say Austino, asumption is the mother of all….
Great stuff ‘holic
On a random note – on my first visit to Camp Nou I saw Thierry score a header. Which was a surprise. Then I realised he was being “marked” by Cygan. Which wasn’t a surprise.
Which is my round about way of getting to say that my only complaint of AW is his obstinance in refusing to address certain issues that to most of us seem to be blindingly obvious. And his substitutions.
Other than that I love him and would not change him for the world. Enjoy the ride….
Lunch time pint please…
Well done on a very succinctly written article. Regardless of what happens, my toys will stay in my pram….. probably use them next year if we do the same thing all over again. I am a Gooner for life!
me too….i will watch them forever….not for trophies….but for sheer joy of watching them…
Better to be a Gooner and watch (mostly) fantastic football than support a lesser club and win the trophies.
Yes, I would love us to win everything. But you can’t always get what you want (heh Mick?).
Given the choice I’ll be a Gooner for life, no matter what.
Well said ‘holic!
Great blog as usual Holic and what a superb collection and variety of comments generated. Like all clubs we have supporters whose views range across the whole spectrum from black negativity to hopeless rose tinted optimism. At either end it’s clearly impossible to develop an exchange of opinions which can be accepted, thought about and responded to with anything other than the particular bullet headed view being adhered to. Between the two poles we will find a richness and variety of views,opinions and criticisms on every subject from the financial model adopted by the board to whether Nick Bendtner should wear lime green boots. As for the ability of individual players and whether they are or ever will be worthy of their place in an Arsenal team, well, that subject alone would keep the pubs around The Emirates full and roudy. Long may it continue this way.
I do believe, however, that there is more than one constant in all the hubbub of discussion and in groups I am in touch with. Among them are:-
1. A general agreement in principle with the youth policy BUT concern and bewilderment as why AW stubbornly refuses to reinforce the spine of the team. Young skilful players must have strong and experienced peers in the team to provide the foundation upon which and around which they can spin the wonderful warp and weft of their fantastic skills secure in the knowledge that if they make a mistake it will be dealt with efficiently and not turned into a soft goal by the opponents. It is vital that, in order to cover loss of form and injuries that we have at least two/three very good players in the squad for each of the spine positions. This means two keepers, three centre backs, three midfield holding players and two central strikers.
2. The extraordinary length of time in which AW will persevere with a favoured (?) player during which time he may continually cost the team the completion of goal threatening moves at best to goals conceded at worse. Past names such as Stepanovs, Cygan and Jeffers still give me the shivers and today Denilson, Vela, Almunia, and even Theo would not qualify for places in the squads of our top 4 competitors. Playing at the highest level it is fatal to carry players who are not good enough or having a bad run or have not recovered full match fitness.
3. The appalling schoolboy defensive errors which continually blight most of our games and particulary those against our main competitors. In particular the complete abandonment of discipline when we are chasing a game. Against Manure and Chelski all the goals fell into these categories. It is incomprehensible as to why AW does not lay more emphasis on basic defensive principles and, like George Graham, make the whole team practice practice practice until every player know his job the second the opponents have the ball.
4. Whether the “available” £30 million each transfer window actually exists. If so, why dangle it tantalisingly in front of every drooling Gooner who is aware of the players we need. If it does exist why tell any seller that “we have a big wad to spend so put your price up and see what you can squeeze out of us boys”
There are more of course but you get the flavour. So am I a supporter of AW? Are you mad? I have twice been through the 17 season barren spells. I was overjoyed when GG turned the club around and started the trophies rolling in again and then despaired when he lost the plot. I have been awed by the success and wondrous football brought to the club by AW. I thoroughly admire the man, the manager, the tactician, the politician, the finder and developer of fabulous talent. Of course I support him but he does frustrate the hell out of me over the issues laid out above and others not mentioned. Despite all that there is no way on God’s earth that I will not stay fully behind the club, the manager and the players. So, in the way in which I end my own blog (www.oleole.com/blogs/goonersall) for me as ever its
COME ON YOU GUNNERS)
Hi ‘holic
Sound words indeed
Just a thought for any input and forgive my failing memory..When I was a lad of 21 or so, AFC won the league 70-71(?) with 14 players or some such..played 60+ games and all….against the likes of Chopper, Norman-bites-yer legs, dirty Leeds et al…..the game was tougher…current day they fall over someones outstretched foot and they’re out for a month..wots that all about?…need to get Peter Storey in to give em some tips…anyway..back to my cherryade and memory lane
Goodnight from Orstraya
I hear you Malcolm. Again from memory I think it was sixteen players in 71, but your point is valid. In fairness to today’s players I think they play at the limits on pitches that are much firmer and less forgiving than back then. The muddy pitches provided a degree of shock absorbtion that no longer exists, and the boots were a bit more solid as well I think.
Look at the video of that season, and you will see tackles that would get you sent off today didn’t even get you free-kicks on occasion!
On balance I think the spectacle is better today, but the make-up of the crowds and the advent of all-seater stadia have taken some of the ‘edge’ off of the experience.
Denilson reminds me of Song from about 18 months ago; wandering around the pitch without any impetus or much of a clue.
Hopefully its a phase and we’ll see the same sort of improvement from Denilson as we have from Song.
Clichy is a different kettle de poison. I worry that he’s genuinely not the player we thought he was but thats been hidden underneath a lot of industry from him and a litany of injuries.
Hope I’m wrong
Didn’t Villa win the league in 1981 only using 14 players all year?
Good point about the pitch ‘holic….but wouldn’t you love to see the likes of Storey for toughness, Eastham for consumate skill, McLintock for leadership and my all time favourite Peter Simpson to teach em how to defend…were you at the Fairs Cup final…now that was a spectacle!
Anyway sorry to bore all others with history but as you said earlier, we’ll be there with em forever..and thank you Mr Murdoch for Foxtel (Sky)..Bring on the Chavs
No doubt, there’s still life in the season! Would love nothing more than to lift the title this year, but there’s a lot to be said for proving all the “so-called experts” wrong for writing us off at the beginning of the season. Go Arsenal!
Great read!
That’s the problem and they know it, we will be back next week, so why are we being short changed. Team selection is down to the boss and if he wants to continue with out of form players I can take that, but Denilson has never added anything to this side full stop. The real opportunity this season for silverware was the FA Cup and Mr Wenger let all us loyal supporters travel to Stoke to watch the reserves, that is not good enough. He has given up on the FA Cup too often. If a miracle happened and we won the title I would dancing in the streets of N5 with the rest but can’t see it.
People are going to be banging about this FA Cup game from here to eternity, he played a hand seeing the games that were ahead, it maybe wasn’t the best hand, the players didn’t perform, end of story.
PS to my post above: Stop whining about it!
I was seriously pissed at the weekend and had my usual WTF is Wenger playing at rant, But was then pleasantly surprised to hear him admit that we were woeful and it confused even him.
So injuries aside if any players in that game had been carrying injuries surely he would have defended them then, the fact he did not do this must speak volumes, I WILL always support Arsenal but not blindly, A true fan can question the teams attitude, aptitude, and desire, Blind loyalty is dangerous, we need a healthy questioning attitude towards our team and Wenger really does need to buck his ideas up.
We are i still believe on our day the best attacking team in the world, We used to be one of the best defensive teams in the world, now if he could marry the two together like it was close to in the early 2000’s then we would have an unbeatable team.
Yes Chelski changed the football landscape forever and we cannot possibly compete but Wenger used to know players that other teams thought nothing of and he would turn them into world class players, when was the last time he did that?
I will be cheering us on everytime we play, but our general inability to kill off games always worries me that we can guarantee a win.
At the start of this season I honestly thought we had that demon bottled up but come midway and it started happening again, too many games this season we should have won we either drew or lost, This is solely down to Wengers team selection and tactics.
He should rightly get the plaudits for all of our success, but with the good comes the bad so of course he should get the criticism when things go wrong.
I’m Arsenal till I die, My concern for the club will never fade, I’ll share in the glories and I’ll share in the bitter disappointment, But I’ll never stop questioning dodgy decisions from the referee or his assistants anymore than I’ll stop questioning Wenger when he makes poor decisions.
Come on you rip roaring free scoring all conquering team of non stop runners, come on you GUNNERS
Like the blog and like the sentiment – we will of course still be Gooners, win lose or draw.
Doesn’t mean I can’t ask for a shiny new goalkeeper for next season though. How many teams in the EPL would take Almunia off our hands and install him as their first choice keeper?
‘holic, very mature outlook!
Stepping back and reflecting on our season to date, if Arsenal were an 8 cylinder car, I would say we’ve played most matches on 4 cylinders.
Even on 4 cylinders, our play at time has been scintillating. Improvement of many of the younger players is teasingly exciting.
With our roster bolstered by players returning from injury, we need to hold our faith that Arsenal finish the season on 6-7 cylinders?
Go Gunners.
I am as guilty as anyone on matchdays of criticizing certain players, followed often by necessary apologies to my neighbours in the stand! Even the football at Sundays game though was a good deal better to watch than most of the games I witnessed towards the end of GG`s reign, which wasn`t even winning football. Having watched the Gooners on and off since the early 60`s, I have seen a mountain of dross, and even when we won that first double in 1971, I couldn`t help wishing the football was easier on the eye.
I, like others have been spoilt by today`s Arsenal, and, having raised the bar, our expectations have risen accordingly. AW recognises the problems, has critisized the team and had them in for extra training, and, given we can`t be as bad again–can we? I am my usual optimistic self. COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!
Heh ‘holic and et al,
You may find this article interesting:
http://arsenalcolumn.wordpress.com/2010/02/05/exploiting-the-uncertainties-of-marking-when-its-not-man-zone-or-ball/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ArsenalColumn+%28Arsenal+Column%29
There are some very thought provoking comments from Wenger, Baresi and a few others.
Perhaps as a team we are still finding our feet in terms of defending?
As always, ‘Holic, reading your piece is refreshing – like a nice cold Hefferveisen in July. Thank you for the effort you clearly put into your pieces! As you said, they are ours, FOR LIFE (and beyond?)
Great post holic.
I have tried to digest what you are saying on balance with what i am feeling.
I agree with you that i have sat and watched some piss poor player/teams over the years. For some reason at the age of nearly 40 this team seems to hurt me more.I remeber travelling up to Anfield in 1989 thinking we would win.In fact every game i ever went to in the 80s and 90s i attended i thought we would win.Nowadays im never sure for instance the Bolton home game a couple of weeks ago.Every pundit worth their salt were saying the result would be 3 or 4 and there we were 2 nil down. They dont convince me.
I also question our managers judgement/coaching.Do you really think Denilson would have got away with what he did for the 2nd stoke goal and manures 3rd if Mouriniho of Ferguson were the manager.I dont.he was overtaken for the 3rd goal by the ref for gods sake.
Anyway rant over.
Victory through harmony
You´re so fcukin weak, it´s crazy! Keep watchin Arsenal regardless?
That´s the problem with the club, it´s complete shyte and what measures are taken by the supporters? Like end of last season they have a support march outside Emirates praising wenger and his losing team!
We need D.Dein back, somebody who does what´s needed, and not just kissin wenger ass like this gazidis figure.. What´s the point of having a new employee that thinks exactly the same as wenger? Investing in these shyte players, giving them pay rises and long term contracts? They are too damn comfortable! It´s a job! Do your job or be replaced! I spent a lot of money traveling to watch Arsenal, i was just in london to see them against bolton and that cost me some 500-600 hundred pounds! On top of that i had to go to london twice! I live in Sweden, and because the game was cancelled dué to a little of snow, fcukin farce! I had to pay for double flight fares and hotell!
Forgive my little rant, on a constructive note, what we need to do is lay down some bloody demands on these players, they feel comfortable as fcuk! They have no competition, no demands, the play like shiiit and they are kept in the team… They even get larger salarys, we need to buy some fcukin players or wenger has to leave.. It´s becoming too much, he´s worked with this little project of juniors for years and nuthin is coming from it, no wonder the man.united fans call him a pedohphile!!!!
Enough is ENOUGH! We as fans should be burning up seats at the stadium and making ourselves heard, not only through booos and mummeling! We need to take action like the fans in italy do, if they´re not happy they make themselves heard!! At the emirates u can barely shout, one bloke that was screaming “too loud” was told to pipe it down or he was threaten to be escorted out of the stadium by the bitch ass stewards!! While the most of the lame ass wankers that support arsenal, just wanna enjoy their free wine and beer in at the club level at halftime, aslong as they get that, they are satisfied…. fcukin wankers!
I’ve been defiantly wearing my Arsenal scarf all week and absorbing United-supporter guff. It’s my (strikerless) team.. win, lose or draw. Well done holic!
So what are YOU going to do about it, Arsenal8? Tell me not to go any more? Do me a favour.
Love the passion. Hate the way you use it as an excuse for venting your spleen and not thinking about the bigger picture.
I can’t believe the total negativity being expressed on some blogs – so thank goodness for yours. I enjoy your views a great deal holic and the (usually) reasoned responses – there are so many well versed supporters here.
As for those who seem to think Wenger needs to be replaced or ‘forced to spend’ it just doesn’t make sense. I do believe in the old saying you make your own luck – and injuries aside we’ve made our own luck this season. While the defeats to CFC and Man U looked like a discrepancy in effort more than quality I also think we’re too quick to forget the lesson given to Villa at home and the come from behind results we’ve seen. Cesc isn’t going to score every game – even Wright and Henry never mastered that.
I would like to see funding / recruiting / training / coaching be very heavily applied towards defenders and goalkeepers, I maintain that is the key to our next 3-4 seasons. That said, I think if RVP had not got injured we’d be near to wrapping up the title this weekend.
Keep the faith.
Matt,
why on earth would I want to ruin my weekend? I would never ever ever want Arsenal to lose!
Anyways, enough of negativity for a week, bring it on.
H2H:
“take Terry out of the side and Chelsea are not the same animal”
Wrong. Take Drogba and Essien (esp. Drogba) out of the side and we can beat them, even with Terry on the pitch. Like we did last season. With Drogba on the pitch (and even more so if Essien were going to play on Sunday), no way can we beat Chelsea. Not going to happen.
Hoping for a draw, which will be miracle enuf.
The reason teams like Hull and Burnley can contain Chelsea (and we can’t) is that they do what we don’t: work hard to close them down for 90+minutes and then fight hard to regain possession. They fight, they practice corners, they communicate with each other effectively. We don’t. It was amazing to see how little communication and understanding there was between our players on sunday. Gallas doesn’t even look at Almunia anymore.
Good post, holic. Of course I’ll keep watching Arsenal, will keep supporting them.
I’m just fed up watching a team not trained to defend, not trained to fight, not trained to adapt when opponents refuse them the freedom of the park, not trained to communicate with each other; as well as a manager who refuses to change things when we’re down 2 or 3 goals, and who fields players based on hierarchy instead of form; and the constant humiliations season after season from Utd and Chelsea. Every season it’s 2, 3 or 4 humiliations. Now opponents are not even afraid to come to our home ground anymore. I see no progress at all, no learning from mistakes, they keep making the same damned mistakes over and over again.
But I’ll still watch and support them, I can’t do otherwise, always have, always will. It’s like breathing, you can’t stop it for more than a minute or two.
As for Denilson…whether it’s form, lethargy or injury, people have to remember that they are watching a work in progress. Yes, it feels endless but if we’d watched Henry or Vieira mature and develop from the age of 18-19 until 21-23, we would’ve had periods of frustration and disappointment with them as well. I too have criticisms of Denilson but we simply cannot make any definitive pronouncements about him yet. When he reaches 23-24, then we can begin to make some serious judgments about him.
And one more thing, AW in his interview (official site) said that he was very close to signing someone in January, and that he worked up to the last minute to get someone. Anyway, there’s far too much importance put on new signings — it’s the training that’s the issue.
Marcus, “its the training that’s the issue”
Maybe, but Almunia? Well you can’t polish a turd.
zicoinexile, can’t argue with you on that. 🙁
Actually, you can polish a turd…
http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/mythbusters-polishing-a-turd.html
How long shall they come, see and conquer us before we accept that Arsene is down right head strong on what should be a routinel top club’s policy – Buy , sell, Buy and then buy some more players? Not too long ago Arsene inherited a bunch of players from George Graham whose eyes (Keown) would frighten the living day light out of his own team mates let alone the opposition. While those players were aging away, Arsene still had the right mind of freshening the team up with younger blood. With this mixture arsenal won things and then won some more things until Arsene decided he has pleased the fans enough and started filling up the pockets of board members who come to games in their plush cars, get into the stadium ticket free (maybe) and occupy the best seats in the stands while us, those who sing their hearts and lungs out to give the likes of Denilson an extra edge or two, those of us who have to scrape for ticket money, scrape for the train fare from Northampton to Islington, get pelted with rain, snow or what have you continue to endure the humiliation of coming to work at the end of the season and be laughed off by colleagues because once again, we’ve given it a right go and ended fourth with NOTHING, NADA, ZILCH, RIEN. You know the worst bit, seeing the likes of VP, sorry JT or Gary Neville lifting the cup all season every saturday or sunday you turn on SS1. When will this end? How long before I see an open top bus with all the players on it holding one little shinny metal? Still I will go down to the Grove. Going down because I love my football club – ARSENAL. I mean it when we I sing ‘We love you arsenal, we do’ This is not a union. This is like being a siamese twin sharing one heart. COMMON YOU GUNNERS!!!!
#80 AFC1974
Mind if I borrow that for my missus (she read my last post).
There is only one thing more important than life itself………..
YOU ALL KNOW THE ANSWER
ARSENAL FOOTBALL CLUB
Heh, Joshua, I saw that episode and it was quite astounding.
We all want Arsenal to win and yes will be back next time-that does not make us lame Arsenal8.
Many of our current weaknesses cant be changed overnight- the inexperience of the current squad, the injuries players like Clichy and Denilson are forced to play with which reduce their effectiveness, even the failure to be buy players in the transfer market. All that I can just about live with.
However, the way we are playing seems to be playing into the hands of the top 2. They just defend deep and hit us with fast breaks and we don’t defend crosses- the only thing which we can rely on is that our LB will go MIA at some point in the game. We not setting top opposition any challenges at all. They know in advance how we are going to play-and they handled it last time with ease and will do this time.
What happened to playing a tight game with midfielders protecting the defence and defending deep and denying the opposition space and fighting for every ball? What happened to competent hard tackling-or even incompetent tackling-any tackling of opposition midfielders and forwards? What happened to our ability to counterattack?-I for one believe it is still there-but our poor defending is heaping far to much pressure on our forwards.
‘holic, you beauty.
Ooh GoonerRob you are so in her bad books! But I know what you mean! Be my guest.
It was my 17th anniversary yesterday and i was thinking about Sundays game. Heh 🙂
Yeah u got a point gunnerholic, but what im saying is we as supporters need to revolt, make us self heard, voice our disappointments and demand changes!
this current crop of players AND wenger have been allowed far too much time, and there´s no result AT ALL!
The ONLY thing worth anything is winning trophies, and if u cant agree with that, u shouldnt be involved in any sports or any kind of competition AT ALL!
It hurts me to say that ARSENAL football club is becoming a joke and has been a massive failure since that final i paris -06..
We as supporters if we put our voice together we can make a major impact, STRENGTH IN NUMBERS! Besides all the money is eating from all supporters in different ways, while having first team players like denilson!
The thing that bothers me the most is, we got rid of THREE defensive midfielders in -08 in one season, diarra a worldclass player in Real madrid, gilberto still captain of brazil, and flamini because we wouldnt raise his salary a bit… and we have sol instead of kolo.t. and no striker when we had one of the best in the prem. league in adebayor!!!
all these players came, made a name for themselves and moved on because they didnt feel wanted, and we have denilson probably thinkin everynight” fcuk hell im lucky to be first team, gosh thank God all these worldclass players moved on”!!!
sarcastic comments aside, we cant let this go on!!! Wenger should be out NOW, makin comments like ” i was very very close signing somebody before the deadline” WTFFFFFFFF he´s fcuking taunting us!
Evening all.
Wow ‘holic, business is booming here in the “bar” recently, some excellent drinks being served up, not all agreeable with my palet, but hey, it’s always nice to see things from an others perspective.
@39FunGunner, Cheers mate.
@123marcus, OK, I respect your opinion, but I don’t think Chelsea particulary missed Essien and Drogba last month when they were away for the ACoN, they won all 5 games scoring 19 goals without those two.
Terry looked shaky Tuesday against Hull and they only managed a draw, and after the week he’s had in the extreamly bright media spotlight culminating with the loss of the England captaincy today, something he clearly wanted to keep, I think (hope) that he may not be completly up for it Sunday and I personally believe this could have a ripple effect on the team. Of course this could also have the opposite effect and galvanise the Chelsea team, but let’s hope not.
Weekends here, so a nice pint of cider please barman and once again…
Cheers.
@Arsenal8:please stop yelling
We did not get rid of 3 midfielders, they chose to leave:
1) Diarra because he was not playing regularly as Flamini was ahead of him and making all the right noises about signing a new contract. At the time he was far from world-class (unless you count Portsmouth as wolrd-class) and I remember vividly the likes of you insulting him on Arsenal boards and rejoincing when he left because he had a disruptive influence.
2) Gilberto had become too slow and was told he would not be a starter, so he left to look for first-team football and as far as I know Pana is not world-class either. And at the time everyone agreed with the decision as it was obvious he’d lost too much pace although we were all sad to see him leave. It’s much later than people started saying he should not have left.
3) Flamini repeated countless times that he would sign a new contract and waited until the last few games to renegade on hiw word. Wenger was furious at the time and we were all livid and yes he was offered more money at least twice during the negociations.
Get your facts straight.
A sane voice in the lunatic wilderness. So, so Needed.
Liked it so much I just bookmarked you.
Thanks ‘holic
@125 Zinoexile.
Almunia had the best shot to stop ratio 2 years ago. He stopped 4 of 8 penalties in the league since he took over from Lehmann.
He has a bad season for whatever reasons and he probabbly won’t be with us next season.
Still AC Milan dominated the 90s with Dida in their goal and closer in time Barca have Victor Valdes. Both make Almunia look like Buffon.
LMFAO
Cashley and Dogshit have been where Terrence has been and it will be all over the papers on the morning of our game with the chavs.
Love, karma, Arsenal… such joy 😆
@111- DrapedINDarkness:
“Yes Chelski changed the football landscape forever and we cannot possibly compete but Wenger used to know players that other teams thought nothing of and he would turn them into world class players, when was the last time he did that?”
Errrr, Thomas Vermaelen 7 months ago?
@139 Strongfellow Hawke
LOL, looks like she was really promiscuious that one, even Marcel Desailly feels he has to deny he slept with her 🙂
a certain ex chav who has signed for the yids… also had her.
she was the chelsea bike, and it was all a big laugh to see there teammate have a son by her.
this will implode chelski
there are all sorts of rumours doing the rounds
terrence been at hilarios mrs aswell
1m gambling debts paid off by the club
what a morally fantastic club full of wonderful blokes.
Good article. I guess things could be worse, we could be…dear I say it, Spuds or Fulham supporters. Two teams that never make the Champions league, always have to fight for a top 6 position-never mind reaching 4th, don’t have as much talent, not as much dosh, shite stadiums, etc….the list goes on and on. Point being, that although we may not “always” win every game against the Mancs and Chelski, we are and always will be a top 4 squad….just looking on the bright-side I guess!
Cheers!
Oooooh to be a Goona!
Well they’re all angels compared to their massive-scale thief (and probabbly worse) of an owner!
All this could not unravel at a better moment… Keep it coming!
H2H, Drogba has never lost against us – he’s scored 10 goals in 11 games against us. He doesn’t lose against us, ever. When he plays against Arsenal, he’s totally motivated and on fire. Best we can hope for is a draw. Believe me, I will be VERY VERY happy to be proven wrong and will gleefully eat humble pie on this and other blogs I post on if I’m proven wrong on Sunday.
Matt — stats show that 17 keepers in the PL have superior records to Almunia this season, and 4 of those keepers have played fewer games than Almunia. Which team in the PL would pay for Almunia’s services?
Looks really busy in here tonight well this evening rather, there is a great deal of interesting points of view being thrown into the ‘Holics bar and to my understanding some make a very valid case, from both sides that is.
In all honesty people who go on about Denilson should really look at Anderson and compare him and if any of you will say that Anderson is way better then Denilson please go to Specsavers. I heard enough fans saying but look at Anderson bla bla bla well look at him now he is as good as gone and hom many goals did he score this season?
I think Arshavin is more to question here his work rate has not been as good as we would have wanted. He cost a lot more and has more chances than Denilson but you never hear me moaning about him do you now? I certainly think he is not in form at the moment, how many chances should we give him?
The only reason why our team has not been performiong on the same level this season it’s only and mainly due to injuries, players go on the table come back etc, don’t have to time to adjust read each other at same time it all comes into account, players change in and out of positions all the time and some of you forget that these guys are young, probbaly younger than most of you here. I can understand Le Boss and his views he sees them day in, day out not us.
Barman…
Two double Vodkas for me and Matt please…
Steady, GoonerA, enough with the ageism already.
*orders more Shiraz*
@ Snail…
I wasn’t trying to bring in ‘ageism’ into this but I think certain fans need to understand that inuries weren’t kind for us this term.
We lost Van Persie and this was the biggest blow, yes Le boss should have tried to bring someone in to replace him but that never happened. Then we lost players in and out for long periods, when they got back they seemed to forget how to play with one another and reading games became more difficoult. Clichy is primie example of this, him and Denislon did not have a clue against the Mancs they were all over the shop.
I saw Arsene’s TV Onlive interview today and I can see that belief in him, for his lads and he certainly knows what they are capeable of.
Come on you GOONERS….!!!
I’m tipping Eboue to score a penalty this weekend and continue his 2-year streak. Now that would be a way to cheer me up!
@marcus, very interesting stats, they are really damning. What a slide from a few years ago… May I ask you where you got them from?
Anyway, yes he has a terrible season no one is questionning that. Arsene knows it too and Almunia being 33, his future at the club hangs by a thread until this summer. At the moment the best we can hope is that he recovers enough of his ability, now is the right time. It’s not impossible, we just need a few good saves against Drogba and Anelka without gracing Chelski with a fuck-up. He is capable of doing it, he’s done it in the past.
@GoonerA, thanks a lot for the vodka! Just what I needed.
Bit late here. Agree with ‘Holic 100%. We can talk about who we should have bought, what the manager should have done, who should play, but all of that doesn’t really matter. What really matters is that we know everyweekend that that is OUR team taking the pitch.
Beer please. With a beer chaser. It’s been one of those weeks…..
Cheers AFC1974,
1-0 to the Arsenal will do me thank you very much.
To all the non believers……WE ARE THE ARSENAL…..WE ARE THE
BEST etc hic*
G’night all…stumbles out the blog
Well sew up one of the holes in my royal blue, John Terry Y-Fronts!
I ain’t been here for months. Ain’t got time. Too much richness for the konosore over on “ChaverHolic ……Fart, Belch, Vomit Chelsea”. Our Guvnor, Old Chaver, is going from strength to strength over there wiv his deep, intellectual insights on fings like, well, football and birds, an’ fings.
And what do I find after months and months? You Gooners is still living in a Perry Groves world – and what a plonker he was. And it sounds like this Goonerholic bloke ain’t any better!
Your talking like you lost a Cliche and found a Cole! Seem to fink yous has a chance on Sunday, even after we gave you a three-nil lickin’ at your old place. Chaverholic is saying “Arsenal has as much chance of winning as Almunia has of catching a Nani chip with ketchup on it”. He’s got a way wiv ’em words, old Chaver, ain’t he?
We was hoping Mr Adebayor was going to come over and join us at Roman’s Palace of Pleasure. But, we don’t really need him against you lot. I reckon our Didier could win it on his own against your best eleven. What does yous think?
And that plonk Wenger. He ain’t even noticed that Mr Roman and that Arshavin of yours both work for the KGB. Why else would the arse shaver have blasted six perfect chances past the post against the Mancs? Nudgski, nudgski, winkski, winkski as we say at Ancelotti’s Politburo.
Don’t know if it’s worth me getting out of me scratchy pit on Sunday. Maybe I’ll just watch our six goals on that programme we Chavs love, MOTD.
But don’t worry, I’ll be back here for a laugh on sunday night to see all your suicide notes and blood all over the screen from slit wrist. Your as changeable as me me Didier Drogba underpants. Well, maybe even more changeable than my once every nine months, brown stains or no brown stains.
See you then, all you mis-placed, mis-guided people. Gooners? You do make me larf.
Billy, I was going to say you’ve been missed, but I’m a little bit worried you are getting institutionalised in that role. Snap out of it son, before you flip completely and turn blue permanently 😉
@140 – Matt
Thomas Vermaelen was far from an unknown or unwanted commodity as his £7m price tag shows, The only difference is nobody thought he COULD make it in the premier league because he is perceived as small.
I’m talking about Petit £2.5m, Vieira £3.5m, Anelka 500k, Toure 150k, Lauren 720k, Ljungberg £3m, to name just a few, Even Dennis Bergkamp was considered a risk as he was thought to be too set in his ways and not fast enough or good enough to cope with the premier league, Now the players we are buying in with a few exceptions are not good enough for the top of the PL
Sidebar from Wiki about Flamini
On 23 July 2004, Flamini signed a professional contract for English outfit Arsenal, rejecting Marseille’s long-term senior contract offer to which he had already verbally agreed. Soon after the incident, Marseille manager José Anigo stated, “This is a beautiful treason. He used me and I vow to get him back one day.”
Manchester United have won the EPL 11 times since 92/93 and for the past 3 years and must be favourites to do it again. Why , because they have spent virtually unlimited amounts of money on transfers and wages over the past 10 years or more. No other team but Chelsea could not afford 30 m for the luxury that is Berbatov.
Chelsea have spent astronomical amounts of Russian oil money, have 2 teams of seasoned internationals and have probably got the most expensive team assembled in history.
The EPL is a not a real competition- its even more of a monopoly than the SPL. The media in England are blinkered former players. The EPL needs to be properly regulated to make it fairer- and yes it needs to be run for the fans.
Some people need to get real -Arsenal are not able to compete financially and never had the number of experienced internationals to have any real chance of winning this year- despite the wonder that is Wenger. Of course its men against boys and it will be again on Sunday.
156DrapedINDarkness.
Wenger did not sign Bergkamp mate.
Also, living in Holland I saw TV playing fot Ajax a number of times and I wasn´t highly impressed with him, but he´s a completly different player under Wenger. I know this sounds a bit silly, but in todays market 7mill is peanuts for a full International defender. Maybe the deal of the season.
gunnner top post as usual, think ure right and denilson will be operated on this summer, and lets hope the first words the neurosurgeons hears when the pretty nurse removes the bandages from is ead is I AM A PREMIERSHIP PLAYER, I GET PAID TO BE A PREMIERSHIP PLAYER AND FROM NOW ON IM GONNA PERFORM LIKE LIAM BRANDY
are u going to the game or is the PARTY on this wakened olic?
tom
im dis 1 not dat 1 or d oter 1
@DrapedINDarkness
What goonergerry and 158Holloway2Holland said. In today’s market the players you mentioned would have cost us up to 10 times more. It’s already 3 years since Ferguson forked over 15 mils each for Nani and Anderson, can you imagine any normal team (that is without a sinkhole of debt and a suggar daddy) forking that amount of money for those 2? Compare that with the 5 mils we paid for Ramsey and 10 mils for Walcott…
TV was a great find. Tottenham did not want him and probably others we don’t know about. 7 mils is what Ferguson paid for Vidic which was the last big defender find in the league almost 4 years ago. For a player of this quality in the current market, it’s a hell of a bargain. Cheaper than Smalling with his 2 games in the premier league!
Good find about Flamini, I forgot about it. His reputation is well established by now. Unortunately he is proving a point to all the mercenaries out there, he doesn’t care about silverware but in exchange he is maximizing his earnings. Still it must be grating to watch Diarra star in the french national team, even if it’s on the biggest TV screen money can buy…
@158 – Holloway2Holland
My memory might be playing tricks on me, But I could swear Bergkamp was signed at the request of Wenger before he could come to the club.
And £7m is a lot of money for a non-established PL defender, Look at the money for Vidic and Ferdinand, If we had been Chelski or Man U, I’m sure TV would have cost us at least 3-4m more, But luckily nobody else sees Arsenal as a big money side anymore.
@160 – Matt
I absolutely agree and made this point myself, we are playing in a ruined league, and we all knew it was ruined when Abramovich showed up and Chelski bought a whole new team, Without that event i honestly think the invincibles would have gone on to successive PL wins.
We simply cannot compete in the same league transfer wise anymore, But Wenger has got to stop being so bloodyminded, Virtually every transfer window now he says that he has 1-2 players in mind and we end up with nobody, This was the first transfer window in ages where he actually claimed he WOULD be bringing in at least 1 new player, I’m sorry but Sol Campbell in no way fits the bill.
Wenger never played in the same transfer market as Fergie anyway, where Fergie would spend £8-9m on a player Wenger would spend £2-3m, And when Wenger did spend big it inevitably ended up being a waste of money, I loved Wiltord for scoring big goals against Man U, But was he really value for money?
As for Flamini………wa~#er pure and simple, same for Hleb, mercenary bastards both, same for Adebayor.
Don’t know how many subscribe to the Arsenal mag, but he was the cover star the month he left us, and the cover quote
“Never doubt my commitment”
A well constructed piece sir. Agree with just about all of it. I have been a Gooner since way back in the dark times when we were boring boring Arsenal.
The Stuart Huston days still haunt my dreams!
I for one have not forgotten what Mr Wenger has done for us and the game. Under his guidance we have had the most fruitful period since the decades of yester-year when most TVs were bowls screened and the players had stupid haircuts (ok, some still do)
It may be a dark week in terms of our title hopes but considering our squad/injuries and the Profs non-buying policy we are only (pre-Chav game) 6 points of 1st with the possibility of closing to 3 in the next 24hrs.
How many of us would have taken that at the start of the season? Considering many pundits had written us out of the top four at the expense of Man Shitty/Spurs (yeah I laughed too) or Villa.
Sorry, but I am not shitting my knickers yet. I think even a loss at Chavland given the run in is not the end of the world as I have seen the Gunners overturn a 12 lead to win a titles from Utd before.
Chins up, and unlike Marriage/Jobs/stupid haircuts…
Being a Gooner is for LIFE, and I for one would have it no other way!
@161 No, it was Vieira that was signed by Wenger’s recommendation before he was officially appointed
@163 – jt
Yeah, I just recall an interview where David Dein said that he was a recommendation of Wenger, but like I say it could be my memory
@ matt..
Point. blank. PERIOD! Arsenal or may i say wenger did not do enough to keep hold of those midfielders or a host of other very good players that have left the club in the last few season!
Even if some players wanna leave, u convince them to stay, that Arsenal are the club for them, like sir A.Ferguson did with ronaldo for a number of season before he eventually left, and meanwhile they won 3 league titles in a row and champions league among other trophies..
and yeah why shouldnt flamini leave if he got more money in milan?
its a JOB! if u walk in at your workplace tomorrow and u get a offer from another job thats well known and respected AND u get a hell of a payrise, of course u will leave.. TO BETTER YOURSELF!
some people insist on calling these players mercenaries, thats the dumbest shit i ever heard! first of all like i said its a job, the only loyalty they should have is to provide the best present and future for their families! and of course because its a job the have demands to perform while on the pitch, loyalty to a club is the most ignorant type of bullocks there is!
i hope cesc leaves if we dont invest this summer, 1. because hes a worldclass player, playing alongside denilson, traore, diaby, vela, bendtner and the likes.. he deserves better after 7 years at the club 2. it may spark a revolution in the club, and along goes wenger and we get a manager thats willing to spend, because like barca say; we have a Arsenal DNA, whoever the coach is, due to the ground work laid down by wenger, the football philopshy will not change, nor will the supporters let it change… all the change we need is spending on a big squad of good players, not reserves and juniors OR wenger OUT… YES WE CAN!