Mixed Blessings On The Sabbath
Apr 11th, 2010 by 'holic
Who’d a thunk it? Manchester United dropping two points at Blackburn means that all we have to do is win our last five matches to finish above the reigning champions. Say it quickly, and don’t think about it too much.
If there is a downside to that it is the fact that we too still have to go to Ewood Park, and will have to make a better fist of breaking down a very well organised side than Fergie’s boys could manage.
Now all we need is Chelsea to surrender four points, but to who? They face Bolton, Stoke, and Wigan at home, so forget them. That leaves the away games at Liverpool and Tottenham. Until this afternoon you would have thought they would be the banana skins lying in wait, but now?
The scousers home draw against a weakened Fulham side with just four games remaining all but ended their hopes of catching Manchester City for the final Champions League qualifying place. City’s 5-1 demolition of Brum means they are six points clear of Rafa Benitez’ outfit with a game in hand, and four points clear of the fifth placed club (wait for it!).
Now, that fifth placed club were also in action this afternoon. Straight off I have to say fair play to them. I thought they put up an astonishing fight to take Pompey to extra-time, but in the end the inevitable happened and they succumbed to the better team. They also lost Wilson Palacios for the games against us and Chelsea. Can’t smile without you, indeed!
You know, don’t you, that they will put up more of a fight this coming Wednesday, but anything less than a win will surely spell the end of their hopes of overhauling Citeh. That would see Chelsea travelling to two demoralised outfits, which is a sobering thought on this otherwise excellent day.
There I go, racing ahead of where we are, or should be. Time to get the focus back on Wednesday. All we can do is win our games, one at a time, and see what happens. That starts at the Lane.
Oh, and I’ll raise a glass as well this evening to Kanu. What odds a second Wembley winner in three seasons for the grand old man of football? It’s not like he hasn’t scored against Chelsea before.
Win the next match.
76 Responses to “Mixed Blessings On The Sabbath”
I’ll join in the toast to Kanu and of course also have a sip for the barman. Great write-up and sobering thoughts indeed. In the end, however, days like these are to be enjoyed, as I’m sure you are, – quite a lot, ‘holic, even though you’re mature cautiousness almost manages to hide it. We both know we just loved todays results.
So a third toast and I’d like the toast to be “To hell with soberness!”.
We’ve had a hell of a season and I’ve been loving every minute (except for the defeats, I might add). I’m going ‘all in’ with my hope because it’s boring as fuck not to, right? We’re Gooners after all and can always afford to hope.
Win the next match.
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I still believe Liverpool will play for pride against Chelsea at Anflield. No way they’ll sit down and die against that lot, too much history in the past 5 or 6 years.
The Kanu treble against the chavs still stands up there with my best highlights as an Arsenal fan. His third goal was out of this world.
Results today were great. Spuds have been all over the place moaning like hell. I had a spud pal of mine even suggest that they would win it 8 nil???? Not heard from him since the final whistle.
However, the biggest irony is this. How magnificient that the only ex player that Harry did not rape Pompey for actually scored the winner???? Do you think he will see the funny side or just twitch his way back to the South Coast? When is he next in court anyway????
Not heard from Fergie yet but I am guessing they were hard done by again?????????????
I agree with you holic when we look at the remaining Chav fixtures. Not so sure where they are going to drop 4 points from. Sadly….
Keep the faith.
Two demoralised teams or two teams with nothing to lose who may want to put one over the champions elect…..!?
Keep the faith
Win next match. Win the four afterwards. Chelsea collapse
at home to Bolton.
We’re League Champs.
It looks that chelsea is the only danger it could be down to goal avarage in te nd so we need to start scoring lots 5.0 against the spuds would do and 5.0 against wigan and Blackburn we just need to win te la games and see what happens
Can’t say I ahree with you on the Spids result – woul have been far worse for is to be facing them on a high on Wednesday and then United and Chavski playing them when they’ve already lost the chance of 4th place and are resting players for the Final.
Don’t think so hard about what might or might not happen or you’ll drive yourself crazy. Keep the faith and enjoy the ride!
Apologies for the spelling – darn iPhone
No worries, Rob.
All cool here. Focus firmly on Wednesday now. Feeling good.
The weekend just goes to show how hard it is to be consistent. Hull couldn’t beat poor old Burnley, Nor Sunderland W Ham, Man U, Blackburn nor Liverpool Fulham and now Tottenham couldn’t get past newly relegated Pompey. All of them desperately wanted to win and somehow it just didn’t happen for them.
I think that Chelsea will suffer similarly in one of their banker home games and Man U will drop at least 2 more points.
At least we have only lost recently to Man U and Chelsea ( part of our lulling them into a false sense of security strategy) and Barca, and look what they did to Real yesterday. So we shouldn’t get down on ourselves.
So as you are saying ‘holic, we only need to win all of our games to reach the promised land. Just one of our winning runs that we have produced regularly this season. I’m sure we can do it, that is I think/hope/believe/pray we can.
Just get me a pint of Pride with a Nelson’s blood chaser, then I will get my head down until Wednesday when like Lazarus I will rise and smite the turkey that lives in N 17.
That 4th isn’t quite city’s yet so Spurs will most certainly be up for all their remaining games and with regards to Liverpool well they hate Chelsea so they’ll do all they can to beat them. Thing is we can’t worry about that we just have to worry about winning our games and hoping that Chelsea drop points along the way. We should have Van Persie back for Blackburn and Man City and he can make the difference, thats what United where missing today without Rooney a difference maker. Oh and Berbatov is shite I mean 30.5 mill for a lazy cunt, they could of had me for half that.
Liverpool will indeed play with pride against Chelsea – they always do. But is pride going to be enough? Personally I don’t think this Liverpool team are good enough and Spurs definitely aren’t. The title is now Chelsea’s to lose and, realistically, sadly, I can’t see them doing that. But stranger things have happened in football – all the Gunners can do is keep winning and hope something freaky happens.
Just spent a wonderful afternoon at a Cypriot christening eating and drinking far to much whilst watching the heebs get stuffed at wembley, carlsberg don’t do sundays 🙂 will say tho even through me hatred for all things tottenham today’s defeat was all the sweeter as I’ve a small soft spot for Pompey and there fans as they are a knowledgable bunch and after what storie and redknapp have done to that club they so deserved today, so tonight if I may I’ll have a double rusty nail followed by a fat Sam chaser!
Up the arsenal,
Guinness, please, on this beautiful, rainy Sunday. Thanks ‘holic for bringing that photo back out! Man, I really have never seen anyone play in that silky, slow, magical style that Kanu had with Arsenal. Cheers!!!
And excellent write-up, as usual. Now if only we can get Anelka to show up this week in his old Bolton kit…
I’ll have a yo ho ho and a bottle of rum please!
Sounds like a random blog to me ‘holic. But a lovely one all the same 😉
I’ll have….. No. I can’t.
If the title is still up for grabs in the last game im sure Cesc may be in the ear of Toress, telling him to do him a big favour.
Also it will probably be Benitez’s last game, im sure he will be pumped up to go out on a high.
So today we thank Fat Sam, and soon we’ll be spending a few matches cheering for Tottenham.
What a bizarre season.
A feel good Sunday!!
Spuds lose not just the match but Palacios, Krancjer and Corluka – result.
Must congratulate the wembley ground staff on a magnificent energy sapping pitch- good work
Man ure drop two points against Uncle Sam – will he be invited to the next race meeting sir RedNose?
Win the next match
Pint of Jaegermeister Please!!!
Can always rely on the Totts to make a good day even better – up yours Twitch !
This day actually makes me worried.
I saw how awful Spurs are – which should be a comforting feeling for Wednesday, problem is, I really hope they’ll be able to draw with Chelsea – Am starting to doubt that though.
It will be brutal for Chelsea to win the league on GD as the 5-0 and 7-1 wins against Pompey and Villa were a joke.
Just came to think of it a couple of days ago that our games against both Man U and Chelsea were without NB. Now I don’t rate him that much to assure a victory but it sure would have changed the whole game style as Arshavin would be on the wing and not up front – Maybe we would have even won at Villa Park.
I still believe and mostly hope Spurs can draw with Chelsea as after our win on Wednesday (fingers crossed) they’ll make the same calculations on City having United at home and having to travel to the Emirates just like we were calculating every singe Man U and Chelsea fixture these past 2 months :).
Cheers Holic! How have you been doing?
Just want to add that Spurs still have to play City so even if we do beat them they won’t be out of the race for fourth… but it will put them in a situation where they need maximum points.
I think things went as good as they possibly could for gooners today. If only bolton could somehow come away with something from Stamford Bridge… get in there Wilshere!!!!!
How pleasing it is to be scouring for reading material while unable to sleep and to to find a fresh dose of Goonerholic. I thank you.
‘Holic the voodoo spell seems to have worked on Man U and Tottenham in the same day. The miniature sir alex and twitchy harry dolls did their special magic and the drogba doll is at the ready. Do you have any Haitian potions at the bar?
Hmmm. I can see the temptation to view today’s good results as bad ones. We’ve no choice but to take all the good that comes our way, and today was a good day for Arsenal. Truth is results are turning our way and that’s a good sign. Little else we can do other than win our own. If there is a God, five more wins will give us the league.
Dadric says: “So today we thank Fat Sam, and soon we’ll be spending a few matches cheering for Tottenham.
What a bizarre season.”
hahaha, indeed, it f**king is.
There’s little in life more pleasing than to watch and listen to the rhythmic popping of ruptured blood vessels in the Big Purple Nose of the Famous Red Grouse. I’ve written him a note guaranteeing one reliable cure for nasal blood vessel popping – a hairdryer on hot and full blast directed vertically up the rear passage. Hopefully he’ll follow my prescription. If his hair is standing on end before their next game, you’ll know ‘Holics and you’ll smile, won’t you?
I fancy Citeh to increase the purple tint. They’re all playing for their shirts for next season. An Ade hat trick would do me nicely. I can imagine it now. “What was the secret weapon in Arsenal’s Armoury in this title winning season, BtM? Most certainly Emmanuel Adebayor and his goals against Manure and Chelski, Mr Linneker”
I think too that the Scousers will emerge from Loolooland (the disco in Toxteth they all frequent) for their game versus Chelsea. They won’t need any special motivation. A couple of snide comments from Terry, a disdainful glance from Dogbreath and an Iberian kidney punch from Carvalho on Torres (all in the first three minutes) should be all that it takes.
After that, who knows? They’ll be wobblier than Moscow’s Dynamo, the one and only Boris Yeltsin in a Cossack dance with Mrs Yeltsin after a good night on the Smirnoff in the Kremlin’s kitchen. “He was Putin in it and she was Putin it in” It won’t take much to topple the Gulag lot of them over into a Red Square box with a golden gun and “Secondo!” painted on the lid.
Glastnost, ‘Holics – a Molotov for me barman.
BtM, I hope you are right the Liverpool performance v. Chelsea is as motivated as you suggest!
It’ll be Stalingrad all over again, bt8.
hope RVP is fit enuf for the spuds game.its worth risking at least if he cant be useful for us , then he shouldn’t be for anyone else
Even if the scousers come away with 3 pts, we still need the Chavs to drop a couple more, which I hate to say, is highly unlikely to happen.
Can ol’ red nose not make a few calls that misteriously lead to the Chav’s dropping some doggy points or even another call to Mrs. Shawcross so she come pick her barstard son from the old bus stop.
I’d rather unleash RVP on Citeh Toby. It will be payback time. The Citeh game will be like the Arsenal v the Arsenal wannabes.
RVP hopefully to throw a few bows against Ade.
But what am I thinking. Its the ****** on Wednesday. Get excited!
How about some St. Totteringham’s Day trivia: Anybody know when was the earliest one ever? How about the average date?
“Anybody know when was the earliest one ever? How about the average date?”
i think it was on march 9th 2008 in epl!
If we finish with 86 points ( which means 5 X WTNMs) – thats all we can do and the boys should be extremely proud of themselves.
Its Chelsea’s title to lose , but not really thinking about that.
Brook, Did you look that up in Wikipedia or do you have the date memorized? The Wikipedia article does not provide the average date of St. Totteringham’s Day so that challenge still remains out there for some zealous researcher.
Here’s a St Totteringham’s Day webpage, gives the history back to 70/71:
http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~mikepitt/totteringham.html
Time to stand up and be counted Jack Wilshere ! You will endear yourself to Gunners fans everywhere when you score the winner against Chelsea. Go Jackie boy – we’re all with you !
Thank you jt, you are on your game today! Here’s to the coming of St. Totteringham’s Day, and if we win on Wednesday it appears we will beat the average date.
Funnily enough, I thought the way Blackburn set themselves up suited us quite well. They defended the box in numbers and pressed hard on the flanks, knowing the main ManU threat is crosses, and let ManU play it around as much as they wanted in the central areas 25-30 yards out. If they do that to us, even without Cesc, we’ve got to back ourselves to unpick them. I think back earlier in the season to the way we coped with Cesc’s absence by Song pulling the strings in exactly that area (e.g. West Ham in the cup), and now Nasri’s doing a bit of that too. Wednesday aside, I feel confident about all the remaining games.
As for the Chavs dropping points, our best way of ensuring that is to beat the Scum this week. That would mean they’d go into that game on the back of 3 defeats having been on a run of 6 straight wins beforehand. If that doesn’t trigger a backlash, nothing will. I’m relatively confident about Liverpool taking points off the Chavs as well, provided Torres is fit: their last home game of the season; possibly Gerrard’s and Torres’ last game in front of the Kop; and the Chavs would have to pull off the unprecedented feat of winning all 6 games against the other EPL Top 4 to win.
To Arthur The Gooner,
If you are reading this mate,
My heartfelt commiserations on the loss of your Country’s President, his good lady wife,along with the Senior Government officials from the Opposition party,and most of the top brass from the armed forces in that terrible plane crash in Russia.
A very very dark day for Poland.
Former President Lech Walesa has said it is a tragedy second only to the slaughter of 20,000 Polish officers by the Soviet NKVD at Katyn.
What a terrible irony that those that lost there lives were on the way to Commemorate the 70th anniversary of that terrible event.
Kind regards
Clive
Great post mate. I hope the scums will drop points too, my pessimist side tells me they will drop against bolton.
44Clive Waterman,[ Gooner since 54 ]
Thank you for your kind words, it’s a very dark time for my country everyone is still in state of shock. It was as you say just a routine visit to pay tribute to the Katyn Massacre. Losing a President his wife and such a large number of top government officials is very hard to swallow for everyone.
I would like to take this opportunity to say to all the families who have lost their close ones that our thoughts are with them at this difficult time as for those who lost their lives, Rest In Piece.
I have been reading the blog but have been unable to really get my head around for what has happened, my football thoughts have been shut short with this tragedy, all entertainment and sports events have been called off as a 7 day National Mourning has been announced.
Eboue to exorcise this most painful of demons?
Thinking of you, and all those affected by this tragedy, Arthur.
Now’s the time to just drop thinking and let the pure and raw football excitement take us and hope for that fairytale ending. You never know with this season.
our very own wilshere might coz havoc against chelsea! He neraly did it against manu lets see if he can do us any favors! I hate saying this but chelsea are having their share of luck. Terry should have been yellow carded in the match against villa for his tackle on millner. Had that happened he would have been banned for 3 matches. Difficult to see chelsea dropping points but keep the faith gooners 🙂
First, and most importantly, indescribable sympathies for Arthur and all the sons and daughters of Poland. There’s much that could be said, but I’ll keep it short and just say that the thoughts and prayers of those of us over here in the United States are certainly with you.
As for the more traditional topic, just more of the same: WTNM. Not sure that Chelsea will drop points, but there’s no point in us worrying about that. We need to worry about the things that we can control, and if we’re meant to win the title, the rest will take care of itself. If we pick up fifteen of the remaining possible fifteen then regardless of what happens around us, I won’t be complaining. By all rights we shouldn’t even be in the top three at this point, given our abysmal luck this season, and it’s a testament to the manager and his troops that we’re still so deep in the race.
Besides, if we end up two points behind the eventual champs simply because Tottenham lost to them (especially if that’s the nail in their top four ambitions), is that the worst thing in the world?
Thank you Holic!
As for us playing Spuds on Wednesday well nothing but a win will put a smile back on my face.
And yes it is hard to believe Chelski will drop points but hey we have to keep on believeing…
Too right Holic… Win the next match
Most kind Dadric thank you.
While I do realize most holics arent fans of Le-grove they get their transfer rumors spot on most of the time. They mention that Arshavin could be off in summer. And if thats the case ,I’m sort of devastated. While i do agree that he could be contributing more on the pitch but he is one of the few truly world class players we have in the squad and we need players like him. Replacing his creativity will cost another fortune too.
Thats a sad start to the silly season for Arsenal.
Afternoon Holic & holic`s
ArthurTheGooner, sorry to hear of your country’s loss all are thoughts are with you.
Nice blog as usual Holic, the spuds will be a bit tired after 120 mins of football on a big pitch. However I’m sure the legs will get an extra lift to face their nemesis. They will be looking to bounce back with a victory at home against the arch enemy, the true London footballing side The Arsenal. They will not be the only side pumped up for this game thou, the boss has had the troops to himself for a week by the time the game comes around, and I’m sure any thoughts of the Barca game have been put to rest. There is only one thing in their minds now and that is the old foe with the tiny trophy cabinet down the road.
it will be a hard game and I’m sure the boys will do us proud as they too will be looking to come back with a good win over the spuds.
Don’t be too shocked to see a glut of goals in the last 10 mins or so followed by Bendtner ripping off his top in celebration and taking the yellow card with a big smile on his face after completing his second hat-rick of his career.
As all of or remaining games they are a absolute must win, any draws will probably hand the trophy to the chelski as I don’t see them dropping 4-5 pionts but as this season has shown anything is possible and i believe if the footballing gods have any compassion then we will lift the PL trophy at home to Fulham. Were we are in the league is nothing but amazing with the injuries we have had to endure in this season. So on sheer determination and football of the highest quality with everything going against us we are still right in there. If you took manure and chelski`s top striker out of the picture like are`s was were would they be ? Without Rooney and Drogba we would proberly be crowned champions already. It was such a blow to loose RVP then as we as a team were on fire and so was the dutchman.
I BELIEVE
Thanks Arsenal 1971
Just saw the Terry tackle on Milner and cannot believe he was not given a red card. There must be a point when the majority of clubs recognize the game will drift into irrelevance unless the referees do not hesitate to send players off for horrendous tackles.
Football seems a little trivial now. Incredible tradegy Arthur. But for what it’s worth sometimes it’s the trivial things that give us hope.
Wszedzie dobrze, ale w domu najlepiej
Everywhere’s fine, but best at home
Special request ‘keeps, a bottle of Zubrowka for Arthur and pour one for our lost friends.
Interlude sounding on the comedic reality of a take-over by The Krankies?
Had Her Nellieness not given the plastic the mother of all hammerings last weekend, I might have been positioned to sweet talk Lady Nina and her legal entourage into some kind of a deal.
A seat on the Arsenal board, with the mutual benefit for Mr Wenger of BtM whispering team selection into his ear and the likely return of Our Emanuel to The Emirates.
Lady Nina’s shares, a snip at a mere 80 million. Bargain basement really when you do the DCF on a free season ticket, meat pie and Tolly Cobbolds for two at half-time.
Well, then again, when I say a deal, the question is “Would Lady Ninaness have jumped with the enthusiasm I’m imagining for:
– A down-payment of 20k (balance on the never-never),
– Uninterrupted entitlement to drive my Mk II Cortina (on Tuesday),
– Use of my Directors Box seat for EITHER Bolton or Wigan at home?
– A chicken tikka massala, every 4th Friday night in the month”
Can’t say fairer than that really, can you?
But the hole in plastic is a big ‘un and so I can’t quite make the 20k mark. Attractive proposition as the Mk II is, I have the horrible suspicion that this may result in Her Ninaness having a natter with Stanley Krankie. (I think he was the little lad with the cap in the duo?). Even worse that Russian bloke with D. Dein in his pocket?
A Russki or a Yank takeover, ‘Holics? What’s the wrld coming to? Time to start the SALT III talks now! (Sell Arsenal Limitation Talks – Goonerholic for Chairman). What do you think?
I need a stiff one after that news, barman.
You’re making it all up as you go along ‘holic
Heh!
AFC1974
Life will never be the same for sure, but as you say it’s time like these that should unite us all and make us stronger.
On a lighter note, your polish is pretty good and has certainly put a smile on my face, keep it up you are making progress.
A big Thank You to everyone from ‘Holic bar for your kind words, they are deeply appreciated.
Now this whole take over business is bit if distraction don’t you think?
Hello Arthur,
It’s a non-story according to John Cross.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Lady-Nina-Bracewell-Smith-hires-brokers-to-sell-Arsenal-shares-article390823.html
Makes sense, but …
I think she knows there just in huge demand which will drive the price up on her stake so she’ll probably only sell for a MASSIVE price.. but they’re business men aren’t they, and will probably not go that high. It’s good publicity nevertheless for the club because outside ( possibly oil rich? ) investors will probably see Arsenal as a very financialy stable club and with little tweaks to the football scheme will dominate Europe soon enough with little expense. Why not invest?
Oh and a prayer and guiness for those who have deceased in the plane crash, and more importantly those still carrying on the struggle and aftermath such as countrymen and families… as they say in the commercials : TO ARTHUR!
ABU.
Anyone but Usmanov.
Not that I think this current distraction will lead to any sort of takeover, but just to be clear.
And of course as soon as I say this, I discover that Stan’s exercising his option to purchase full ownership of my (current) local team, the St. Louis Rams.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8177c7f3&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true
I think this puts to rest any thoughts of him displaying interest in LNBS’s shares.
Poor timing by Stan, Dadric. I have just done an interview on this elsewhere which is now out of date before it has hit the light of day.
Dadric,
You a St Louis dweller ? My family moved over to wildwood a few years back and love the place not for me mind the nearest pub as we know it is 45mins away by car lol !!
Too bad, ‘holic…an extra drink on me, then! It really was shocking, there hadn’t even been a whisper of it, it seemed like a done deal that Khan was going to be buying the team. “Silent Stan” indeed, eh?
@chippy
Been here for about a year and a half now. Sorry to hear about your pub situation, that sounds unacceptable! Which one have you been going to? For match days, we usually head over to The Amsterdam Tavern in Tower Grove.
I dont know if it is proper posting here but today’s arseblog had some clarity on the Nina Bracewell stake issue !
Dadric,
Mate i dont live there im still a london dweller My Mum Sister and Brother moved out there, all that open space is not my cup of tea, and defo couldnt survive with a pub that far away :-), I restrict myself to a visit a year stateside !! 🙂 Think my clan all watch the games through the internet or on fox sports they do miss the live occasions mind, But the pros out weigh the cons, ill let My Sister know there is a Small Arsenal Community in St Louis tho she will be chuffed and im sure they may even head to that bar given half a chance, Shes above the Us Drinking Age but my little Brothers a couple of years away what they like on under 21s ? !!
The Dutch Master is back! http://bit.ly/bRpzRP
@chippy
Haha, 21 it is indeed. A bit low, but what can you do? Honestly, that’s not nearly as obnoxious as the restrictions on drinking in public parks and the like. Definitely tell your family about the pub though, it’s a great game to watch a match…good crowd of “regulars” and usually a good cadre of Gooners. If they see someone running around in a Walcott or Vermaelen shirt, it’s likely me 🙂
Dadric,
thanks will let them know and prewarn them off nutters running around in Walcott shirts 🙂 if you do hear a couple of London accents before the seasons end you’ll know they’ve found the place! Theres a good chance I will be over yourway this Xmas and if so I’ll make sure I pay the bar a visit if we’ve got a game on, cheers again probably best not mention it before we visit the heebs as all have a dislike for our neighbours and wouldn’t want them getting barred on the first visit lol
Holic, dare we expect some prescience and insights on the where-to-be-abouts of the ‘Holic pound? Or is this one the preview?