Hello, Concentrate Please, It's West Ham Next For Arsenal
Mar 19th, 2010 by 'holic
I know it is difficult. Everywhere you look the talk is about something I’ll come to in turn. For now we are potentially eight wins from the Premier League title, and if we are not distracted that should be seven on Saturday night. One game at a time, please.
Down the years the Irons have produced some unexpected results over us, and they are desperately in need of points as they seek Premiership survival. True, they will be expecting to pick up enough points at home to survive, but as we saw last season, and earlier this season at Upton Park, they will give that little bit more against us.
There is good news for the Hammers with Carlton Cole likely to make his first start after a lengthy spell out injured, but even better news for us, with Cesc Fabregas, Tomas Rosicky, and Alexandre Song, all likely to return. For all that we have to be aware that West Ham will play above themselves, we must go out with the belief that if we approach the game in the right manner it should yield the three points we need to go top of the table.
Yet again there is no midweek fixture which will require making decisions about who to play. It’s the best eleven, surely, for Arsenal? That means the only selection posers will be at right-back, and in the two wide attacking positions. Whoever Arsene plumps for will be the right selection, no question. let’s not doubt it.
If you are going be aware that the visitors could make it very difficult in the opening period, maybe for more than a half. Just keep behind the boys. We are the extra man that could swing things our way, and over the ninety minutes I have no doubt we will come out on top.
The ‘holic pound is struggling to find any value. The bookies have made a 2-0 home win the favourite, and I’m prepared to go along with that. William Hill offer a best of 6/1 against that scoreline, so I will have to get up a little earlier than usual tomorrow to get down to my local shop and grab some of that.
With Chelsea and Manchester United not playing until Sunday we need to put the pressure on and grab pole position. Only once that has happened can we allow ourselves a moment or two to consider what will follow.
So Barca It Is Then
We have all of the coming week to fill those empty days with our thoughts of the Champions League quarter-final, so I don’t want to go overboard now. There is no doubt the draw has captured the imagination. The drinks and all of the blog comments fields out there have been overflowing all day.
I will say however that Barca will not have faced a side who play like Arsenal, and I will accept it if you say the reverse applies. This is a truly mouthwatering tie, and it’s a shame it won’t be the Final again. We cannot confidently claim that we will definitely win, but I’ll tell you this for nothing. Neither can the Catalans.
This is what the end of the season is all about if you are in the shake-up for the major prizes, so buckle up, and try to enjoy the ride. The alternative would be what has happened to the supporters of Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Chelsea, who will have to stand outside peering at the big boys through the window, and wishing they had been good enough to get this far.
Although our friends at the Bridge will probably not watch us, preferring instead to follow the progress of the one club in West London with a bit of history, as Fulham prepare for their European quarter-final against Wolfsburg. Suck it up, boys!
77 Responses to “Hello, Concentrate Please, It's West Ham Next For Arsenal”
Top stuff ‘Holic. True enough the Hammers do seem to drag more out of themselves when they face us, home or away. A goal, two at the most should settle it. Though I’d love to sit back and watch us spank ’em.
Corona with a wedge please. After two days if Guinness, Jameson and Jim Beam I need the quencher.
I wished one of the French team but we take Barca then. Our boys won’t let us down starting tomorrow.
Good stuff ‘holic. See you soon I hope. Cuba Libre por favor!
hollic do you mean i can get 6-1 on the score being anything but 2-0??
I think a lot of Arsenal fans feel as bewildered as I do at the moment; a strange mix of fear, excitement and hope. Let’s hope the players can forget about this draw and focus on the West Ham game like you say. After having been so comprehensively beaten by Inter, seeing us go top convincingly may just plant some seeds of doubt in the flabby, hollow balls masquerading as heads of the Chelsea team. Not to mention that a trip north to play an Allardyce team is never easy… Come on you Gunners, we can keep the momentum, we can win anything!
I’ll have a nice pint of real ale please sir. Stronger things will be needed before that trip to the Nou Camp though.
Nice article brother.
Cagy. Agreeing that 2-0 is the most likely score but laying the ‘holic pound against that score and not predicting an alternative. I’ll go out on a limb and say if we can prevent West Ham from scoring on a Diamanti free kick, we have a pretty good chance of a clean sheet, but I think this could be the week we break free and score a few. Seeing as everybody seems to be overly focused on the CL draw, here’s a prediction to grab some attention:
Song (og) 3′
Diamanti (free kick) 17′
Fabregas 26′
Bendtner 51′
Arshavin 69′
Arshavin 73’
the don, I think you know that isn’t the case đ
Whoever the plum is using John’s name from a London ip, you aren’t funny. Fuck off.
We said up front that we had the easy run in, but we still needed to win the games and we have … 6 wins in a row in all competitions.
No need for anything fermented here … picking Barca has sobered me up smartly.
Well said Holic, the lads need to be focused on tomorrows game. Hammers have always played a trick on us, none of that what happened on their home turf please, how vital would these 2 points be now? We were flying high at 0:2 and wham bam it finished 2:2. Our defence needs to be tight ah what a signing Verminator has been for us! I’m a lot calmer when he plays and takes charge.
For those of you going make some noise on my account please I will be shouting in front of my TV set hopefully in HD đ
As for Barca well I think we can do it, but hey main thing for now is to stay positive, believe and support the lads 110%, Le Boss has already given us a great season let’s enjoy it too…!!!
Oh to be a Gooner…
Some people say the Italian league has slipped to such an extent their big teams can no longer be called giants of Europe, but AC Milan and Juventus can be added as big spenders who legitimately could have hoped to be where Arsenal are now. ‘Holic, can you find out the odds against Fulham and Arsenal lifting the two European trophies? That could be an interesting betting proposition. Sorry for all these distractions from the West Ham game. A Kronenbourg for me, please.
Fingers crossed for another 5:30pm kick-off victory, though without the late goal drama.
Holic chill out mate!
I can’t (won’t?) count the amount of times it seems we’ve been here this season- a string of strong performances to take us to the top. But ‘holic’s right, this is what the Arsenal were made for. I expect Cesc to be in a bullish mood tomorrow, and I hope Czech the Technique will be in the starting 11 to join him in this final, sustained attack to the be Champions of England and Europe! (Plus I hope Campbell is getting fitter each week of training… looked a tad off the pace last weekend.)
Have any sangria, barman? It’s getting hot here in the Bay Area! Cheers.
I guess Cesc will be going to Barcelona after all…
With the whole team of course
It’s all about focus.
And the key to this title race is the Fabregas-Diaby-Song midfield.
If they play at their peak, it doesn’t matter if Bendtner misses 5, it doesn’t matter if Arshavin shoots 15feet over the bar, it doesn’t matter if Nasri fails to shoot and looks for another pass. A goal will come & victory will be ours.
8 Straight Wins = C H A M P I O N S
Believe.
Well said, Ali!
Hey tommy, easy on the spotlight! Ain’t you superstitious?
I agree with you about our central play, though. And believe is absolutely right.
Evening all.
Felt a bit down after the draw, but honestly after contemplation it’s not that bad. The media have been jizzing all over Barca since last week after they beat Stuttgard, who are a decent team, but didn’t we kick the crap out of Porto who are also no mugs.
Don’t get me wrong, Barca are a great team, but there not the invincibles (I like that word) that many would have you belive. They didn’t exactly storm through the group stages did they? Didn’t they lose at home to Rubin Kazan? Anyway we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
Evening kick offs have been good for us lately and I fully expect the boys to do the the business tomorrow, 3 points top of the league and wait untill Sunday to see if the competition slip up.
Come On You Reds!!!
Pint of Cider for me please sir.
Cheers.
Arshavin/puyol,fabregas/toure/song/xavi,vermalean/ibrahimovic,messi/clichy,henry/sagna…….gentlemen, we have a GAME on our hands. just cant wait.
Against the galaticos,they said no chance.Against rosoneris absolutely no chance.against biaconeri,no way, the nerazzuris…..you know the story.Now the catalans………………..ha!same ol story
I know yet again coming back to CL draw malarky but as you can see Pique knows we are a good side.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_6038283,00.html
Good stuff ‘Holic. I agree we need our best available 11 on the park tomorrow – as ever will settle for the 3 pts right now however they come.
Now, what’s all this about getting up early to visit your local William Hill’s? Have a lie in mate and place your bet on the Interweb đ
(That way you can keep the bar open longer tonight!)
So true ‘Holic! One game at a time boys!
however, when we win the chanpions league, we would have beaten barca, inter and then untd! that run of victories will mean that we are truly the kings of europe!
The best of spain, the best of italy and (according to last year and the current standing) the best in england!!
It is going to be sensational!
I’ve already got three accounts, zico, and Willie is only across the park from me. Do me good to get a bit of exercise đ
Berg your right on that one, feel the same way! This reminds me also of WC06 when France went up againts Brazil, everyone and there mom were saying it’s the end of the road for France and Zizou. France won that game. I feel the same way with this fixture, not to mention how pumped up were gonna be ’cause of what happened in the CL final in 06, you add that to it, Arsenal will beat Barca.
Make no mistake when we play Barca, the Chavs will be watching us praying that we loose.
Hi guys,
Is the Green quadrant Block 120 is for Arsenal supporters right? I was offered to buy tickets to that block but I don’t want to waste my money on a plane ticket to sit with Barca fans…
Can anyone help please?
I watched the draw at work and as soon as our name was out of the hat i had a chelski glory hunter next to me with jumping up and down with raised fists above his head screaming “your out, your out!”
I must admit I felt pretty pissed at that moment but it didn’t take long to cheer up once I started thinking about all different possibilities this encounter is going to throw up. It feels like a final in it own way because we all know the whole world will be watching with a fiz of exictment with what’s to come and win or lose we won’t be dissapointed. But it all about tomorrow!
3 points is essential and we all know west have proved tricky of late. Here’s to getting behind to boys tomorrow. Good I’ve missed the buzz of challenging for the title!
3-0 Arshavin first scorer
120 is upstairs, above the barca fans, and definitely an Arsenal area.
Define morinic irony;
a chelski glory hunter next to me jumping up and down with raised fists above his head screaming âyour out, your out!â
Thank for that Block19 mate, you made my day đ
I cannot agree more with you `Holic. West Ham is and should be the focus as we have a golden chance to grab the title this season and the game against the hammers is the only one final that matters right now. I know we had mixed results in the past against the hammers but on their current form we should dispatch them at home.
We will be in the lead Saturday and if the gods of football are still with us we will be sharing the lead Sunday evening. Liverpool looks like they are fired up for the game against United and the Chelski mercs have surely something else on their minds than playing what could be one of their last football games in a blue shirt.
This could be our best week-end in a long time!
Holic, thanks, I’m sure no matter what it’s worth every penny as it will be my first ever Arsenal…
Well, to be honest I’m more excited to actually see the outcome of the Man U and Chelsea matches since there might be a lot of hope coming from there! I’m sure we’ll do our job tomorrow.
Cheers, pint of Carling please.
I’m gutted that we meet Barca so early with Gallas not fit for the first leg and probably still not match-fit for the second. We are ascending nicely and it’s really bad luck to get the toughest possible opponent. I guess it’s payback for our easy run last year.
Not that I think we can’t win it but we would have greater chances with a fit Gallas and another month of victories under our belt. Then from a purely football-lover perspective I’d rather have the 2 teams playing attacking football make it to the final rather than have to deal with the nth variation of catenaccio/counter in most of the other QFs.
Then the 2 french clubs must be even more disppointed to face each other I guess…
Pitcher of sangria please, plenty of ice because it’s damn hot. Any bar snacks? Pintoxs perhaps?
Perfect draw for me.
‘Holic, you’re spot on. Our time to think about Barca will come, it’s WHU up now, and with them clearly punching above their weight against us recently, the best XI we can muster is necessary. We need focus and determination to drop the hammer on the irons, so to speak. A caged animal is a dangerous one…
Still, the prospect of two fantastic footballing sides is positively mouthwatering… I can do without the million-odd stories from Barca’s geneticists about Cesc’s DNA of course, but I could certainly do with a nice gin and tonic if you please…
Wise words âholic.
The Barca tie will hopefully be like a fine Red, whilst WHU will be a pint and a pot of jellied eels; but itâs the latter we really need to choke down and spit out to achieve, what should be, our primary aim of winning the league.
I donât know any Barca fans but have enough friends/acquaintances that are all too happy to yap on about the mancs, chavs, totts, etc. that makes winning the EPL essential.
Personally I remain uninspired by the bloated CL but it is a monkey we need to get off our back and perhaps home and away will suit us better than the lottery of Paris and we can see off the Spanish upstarts and then progress to beat the mancs on penalties in the final. If they get there . . . .
p.s. like you (I think) Iâm not going tomorrow. I know the reasoning behind the Category A Games âor whatever they call them – but to charge a premium rate for a club facing relegation (administration?) is absurd and I wonât pay it.
Can we add Villa and City to the list and drop WHU and the repulsive totts as clearly neither of the latter two are serious contenders for anything?
Whatever the outcome of this tie, this is what the Championd League is all about!
On paper barca are favourites.But football is an unpredictabl game. If the result is a foregone conclusion,fans may as well not turn up and let Barca go to the sf.arsenal need not turn up .
My take is do not be overawed by henry and company. for this to happen,AW must repeat must change his game plan.I am sure messi and Roony cannot score in every game. Yes they can provide assists.To make sure these guys are least effective,heavy marking is the order of the day.Arsenal must not embark on a kami kaze attack plan.They will be massacred.The defence must be onntop of their game and stop the Barca midfield feeding Messi.
As for MU,the media are saying they are going to the final. i would be happiest guy if BM kicked the rfc out.yes rooney is a top poacher. let’s see how good he is when Liverpool suffocate him. The cl defenders are a class above th epl.time and space will be denied unless the defenders awol.
All you guys are right that the priority is for the team to focus now on the game at hand with WHU. But it is more important that the whole team realise this and must do it by putting aside Barca out of their mind, at least until after the WHU game. There should not be any distraction at this final stage! The team should not let up but continue to focus on the WHU game with total seriousness and with the same hunger. After this, then it’s Barcelona at home! One game at a time. No retreat , no surrender!
I am just a fan and concentrating on whu for tomorrow is impossible, must be 10x harder for the players.
Cant wait for the Barca tie. Lets do our talking on the pitch and let Cesc show what they haven’t got and wont have next year either!! Come on Arsenal – revenge for 2006 and constantly trying to tap up our best players will be sweeter than anything!!
hey holic…i just wished the blog ended with the West Ham preview !
a gunner,
I know exactly what you mean, and thought about doing that, but in the end I thought starting with it sent out a message about what comes first.
Garrett knows! First West Ham game I have missed in years, but enough is enough. From here, by the time you add up train and taxi fares, the ticket, and a half pint or two, each game costs me a ton. I’m not paying over the odds to watch a relegation-threatened bunch of workhorses when in the coming weeks I am up for Barca, Wolves, Man City, and Fulham, plus the Champions League semi-final.
Although I doubt it will happen I would love the Irons to go down just to stop this absurd nonsense of them being a cat A game.
Too True Holic
Back to the business at hand and that is West Ham. Any of the bottom 8 are fighting for their lives and as we know a lack of concentration and well we know what happened the last time we met. From coasting to a draw, we need a win here, No we must win. Are remaining home games have to be wins there are a few bannana skins on our run in, ok a possible 8 skins lined up for us. But the new belief in the team I think will see us through, to have Cesc and Song back is a huge lift to the team and Diaby along side them this is a midfield to be proud of people. I can see these 3 being such a force in time to come. they have only been playing this formation since this season and it has bare fruit already. Can you imagine in say 2 years time with more experiance and in their prime
mouth watering.
Cole is back for the hammers and he is a threat, but luckily he is just back from injury so hoppfully lacking a lot of match practise and not as sharp. I think I heard Scott Parker is out which is great news he is there driving force in midfield. I always thought Parker was a good little player, He dose give 100% ever game which is nice to see in any player.
I am hopping for a peacful 3-0 so my heart dosent have to keep wondering if its going to stop.
Come on you gunners !
Whatever I can do to help get better concentration on the West Ham game, I will do. Yoga chants, telephathy, transcendental meditation, you name it!
I use Guinness myself, bt8bbnn đ
Excellent pre-match summary….as ever ‘holic.
So lemme get this right. Try to limit any reference/s to the Barca game. Remain focused. One game at a time. Ok, I shall try.
Because we need to remember the Barca game is weeks away, yeah? And putting the mouth-watering tie against Barca to the side for a minute, there’s a league title to play for. And if there is one side capable of beating Barca….it’s the mighty Gunners. And we’re all relishing greeting the old boy Thierry Henry back to his spiritual home. European football at it’s very best. But anyway….all that talk of the Barca can be had for another day.
Oh yeah….so tonight. Yes, West Ham. Keep focused. Don’t be distracted. I’m calling 3-0. Cesc, Diaby and a cheeky tap in by the Verminator.
Keep on believing đ
Fresh Orange juice for me please barman. Had enough sauce last night after seeing Marlena Shaw live at a local establishent to me. The soul sister is still rocking….pretty good show!
That sounds like a great night, don. I have some of her stuff. Didn’t know she was still going.
Right, back to it. Concentrating on today here, boss…
Good stuff, as always, ‘holic.
51st drink? It would be rude not to order a pastis then.
Very civilised, Ollie. I think I’ll join you. Splash of water?
Good blogging ‘holic.
Cheers Mr Bar!
Word for followers of the ill-fated pound. William Hill have had the wind put up them by my tip and now only offer 11/2. Victor Chandler still offer 6/1 so head there for the value on a 2-0 home win.
Yes please, ‘holic (you know it’s supposed to be 5 volumes of water for 1 of pastis, don’t you -I do mine 3 to 1 on a good day ;P).
Well done Holic! Stuffing the Irons today and exorcising old demons at St Andrews next weekend will go a long way in priming the squad (and supporters) belief for the tantalizing Barcelona tie. Yes, Lio Messi is an potent force but the Gunners will pose some difficult matchups for the Catalans as well (AA23 v Alvez, Cesc v Yaya, Walcott v Maxwell/Puyol). Barca defend/pressure from the front 3 and leave lots of space between midfield and the back four. Our passing and movement could be just the answer (Diaby powering through midfield anyone?!)
With the right results in the next two fixtures and (big if) no new injuries sufferred, I really think the Arsenal have a strong chance against the holders. (Note: Barca play Sun-We-Sun before the CL tie). Focus today is vital. Three important points to be gained against what I expect will be a combative West Ham team. Go on you Gooners!
Wise words indeed Holic, Think the holic pound would be better bet on a 4-0 home victory but each to their own đ
The Mockneys from the East will be travelling home with their bubbles well and trully burst tonight fingers crossed, And the North London artisans will be a game closer to destiny,
Defo big up to Fulham and Roy Hodgson what a great job the quiet mans doing and alot of so called managers could take a leaf out of his book when it comes to conducting themselves, Instead of the rags snuggling up to the odius browns and fat sams of this world they should champion this mans cause as the next England manager,
Roll on Barca what a game we have in store !
Chippy,
Hear, hear.
Hodgson is a class above most of the managers in the EPL.
Fulham’s come back against Juve was sensational!
Yep, forgot to mention…..big respect to Woy Hodgson. He’d be the first to say Fulham were bwwilliant the other night!!
NB. Marlena was class ‘holic. Proper soulful momma….”(ging, gi-gi-gi-gi-ging…)”
Itâs big Cyril Smith lying on the beach. Itâs one fat lady to the bingo caller. If youâre counting legs itâs an octopus. If youâre Chinese itâs a lucky number. If your guts are sore it might be something you eight. If youâre a Scot, itâs a dance. If youâre a Spud, youâre someone we h-eight.
So, take your partners please, for Arsenalâs Eightsome Reel, as the Gooners prepare to Hammer out the first in a sequence of numerical classics as the Countdown To Ecstacy begins. Your nerves had better be Steely, Dan!
When we get to seven, will we be in heaven? Or will the eight card turn out to be blacker than a Spade? Will the Irons be the Club to burst all eight of my balloons? Will Wee Lulu MacSparry be in his mortuary, reading his weakly eulogy to Arsenalâs chances of a trophy, as todayâs refâs whistle brings todayâs classic encounter to a greighting halt?
The BtM crystal ball is predicting a close game. Itâs flashing âHome Winâ quite brightly, but itâs having trouble with the score. Over the last eight hours, the winning margin has narrowed from an octonistic 4-0 to 3-2 to the Gunners. I think itâs remembering this seasonâs away encounter when a two goal half-time advantage was surrendered to a team of tryers and terriers, never prepared to say die and seal their feight.
So, weâll need to w-eight and see. What will be our feight? Can we hope for a speight of goals? Will Samir Nasri, our number 8, be our own lucky number?
Iâll be watching the game on a delayed tape at 4 pm US time. Now what time is that in the UK, âHolics? Youâve guessed it! Eight pm. Itâs written in the cards. My Heart is hoping the outcomeâs a Diamond.
Enjoy the game, âHolic. Anything greight from the bar would be a delight, Mr Barman.
P.S. Sorry for the late post. Most of this week has been spent at 30,00-8 feet inside an aluminium tube.
Should have said, I’m off to bottle some beer I brewed here a couple of months ago. (Arsenal Pride of London – lovely red label complete with golden cannon). Should be a nice little drop (400 bottles – enough for the next eight games).
OK, I need to be Octa-gone.
@BTM
Love it ! Its a classic post alraedy.
The 400 bottles will be fine, just dont invite any mates around to steal your brew.
Don’t forget St. Totteringham’s Day could be hastened quite a bit today with the proper results!
Uh-oh! Gudjohenssen scores for Spurs and Whitehead redcard for Stoke. Today’s St. Totteringham’s Day hastening looks like it may be all up to us. Not having seen it I can only imagine what a Stoke player did to merit getting a red card from a Premier League referee. Beheading a Spurs player?
I eight it when BtM doesn’t offer me a bottle of home brew đ
Was that a sending off? I think it was a very soft penatly…
Mr Atkinson is a complete twat!
Arthur – I think that Arsene agreed with you!
That wasn’t even a foul, let alone a red card
Great display by the lads what more can you say, I thought I was going to swallow my TV set when Cole hit the post.
Sounds like Holic will be collecting his winnings again.
I need to have a beer first and get my thought together.
The worst part of this is that we are loosing Verminator for 3 fucking games!
Arthur – we should only lose the Verminator for one game according to the BBC. One match ban for a professional foul
Said before I would take 3 points however they came.
Keep it going Arsenal, this is a very impressive run of results.
Pity about TV – need others to step up to the plate in the 3 games he misses ATG.
Well it was refreshing to see such good officiating in an Arsenal game, Letting the Hammers errr hammer our boys for 9-10 fouls before issuing a card, then an instant red for poor old Thomas, followed up by refusing to issue a second yellow to Matty Upson for deliberate handball, Gotta love consistency with the officials
great bet on the 2 nil holic….
Hi guys,
Tell me, is there any chance Vermaelen will be suspended for 3 matches for the straight red card or is that only a punishment for a straight red card which is off the ball?
I’m not too sure but people told me that a straight red card in the EPL is 3 match ban.
Snir Geuli – it should only be 1 match for the professional foul. It it is normally 3 matches for violent conduct
O.k, you cooled a lot of nerves there đ
I thought that was the case but wanted to be sure… Thanks a lot.
I think Le Boss should not appeal as it might just extend TV susspension.
Now it wasn’t violent conduct do one game ban I take it?
Just to add Uspon should of seen his second yellow for handling the ball and also should have been sent off for this.
I have to say this but some Ref’s in the EPL are just plain thick and should never be allowed to ref another game in their life’s, there is a feeling of corruption here I tell you that.
How many time did West Ham players fouled and it took a good 9-10 of them before he produced first yellow, then TV gets his straight red for something that wan’t there.
Ohh well fuck em, lookes we will not only need beat the teams on the way but also the officials too!
COME ON ARSENAL!!!