Win The Next Match (Cut And Paste)
Apr 2nd, 2010 by 'holic
Less than forty-eight hours after witnessing as good a game as there has been at the Grove we are now counting the heavy cost of that astonishing draw with Barcelona.
The Friday press conference was more a like a casualty report. In brief we learned that Cesc did break his leg in the challenge with Carlos Puyol, and not before, that Arshavin is out for three weeks (phone your Mum and let her know, will you Andrey?), and that Gallas is out for five weeks.
Before I quote the bit where Arsene spoke of Gallas being available for the Champions League Final I should point out that these were of course Arsenal weeks, and therefore equate to months on the Gregorian calendar, so goodbye Billy. It’s been emotional.
We all know that what remains of the squad is going to have to reach hitherto unscaled heights if we are to achieve either of the targets that remain. All we can ask is that they give everything they have in the remaining month-and-a-bit.
East Lower has a terrific piece centred around the recognition that ‘almost half of all our goals scored this season have come from players who are now injured’. Therein lies the challenge for those that remain firm in the fetlock.
So, Wolves at home next. They are in a bit of a purple patch and presumably will put out their strongest side tomorrow, unlike when they went to Old Trafford. So who do we have left to face them?
Manuel will probably be playing behind a four of Eboue (or Sagna), Campbell, Vermaelen, and Clichy. The midfield trio is perm three from Song, Denilson, Diaby, and Nasri, whilst upfront it looks like Walcott, Bendtner, and Rosicky.
We can’t take a chance and rotate in all honesty because we need to win the next match. For the next seven to ten matches (I know, but it is posssible) we have to put the best team out we can muster and win the next match.
Win the next match is a mantra you will hear repeated here, and I’m sure Arsene is drumming it into his players too. As long as they give everything then we cannot complain (some will I know). We can forgive players for being off form, but we will not forgive any lack of effort in those remaining games. Win the next match.
The ‘holic pound has to be ventured on an Arsenal win, but what margin? I’m hopeful that a ninety minute show from Theo will provide opportunities for both he and Bendtner so I am plumping for 3-1 to the Arsenal. Best offer on that seems to be 11/1 at Extrabet, so I will settle for the tens being offered by Ladbrokes at the stadium.
I’ll be hitting the pub by half twelve so I can watch our title rivals kick each other off the park (please God, several one month injuries would be good, and if you could see your way to sparking a mass brawl requiring the docking of points as requested by the lads at It’s Up For Grabs Now you would be making a nation very happy).
Talking of podcasts you really should catch todays Arsecast. PerryGroves, Arshavin, Barca advice from a man who knows, what more could you want? Well I know, but I wasn’t available this week!
If you are going, please remember to buy a pint of Guinness for every grey-haired old duffer you see, just in case. Let’s give it another lungful tomorrow. If ever we needed that twelfth man stuff from the crowd, it is now.
Have a good one ‘holics, and win the next match!
66 Responses to “Win The Next Match (Cut And Paste)”
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Amen.
Maybe there’s something wrong with me, but if the boys give it their all and come up just short, I can’t begrudge them that…but there’s still a chance. Just gotta keep the faith.
Hard to do, but we need to get the thought of Barca out of our systems for the next 48 hours. Don’t “save” any players for any matches (seems we rush them back from injury rather than hold them back or save them though). Wolves are bad but if we are not up for it we might be playing form behind in the first 15 minutes. 3-1 will work for me Holic.
holic,
please reply to my email as im leaving here in the morning and wont have any internet with me.
cheers, thank u!
WTNM
WTNM
WTNM….
We need that magic sponge more than ever. Win the next match indeed.
A pint of your finest lager please ‘holic. Come on you Reds!
Snir, mail sent.
Cheers.
Great intro to the game `Holic which indeed is another must-win final to get back closer to the top thanks to the United-Chelski game. Considering one or two arsenal players get crocked every game we can only hope that the team will remain intact for the Catalonia trip but I’m not too confident about that..
I totally forgot that the cuntfest started this early, I thought it was on sunday. not that I would have spent 50 more Euros to catch the first 15 minutes of it, you see 😉
No ‘pound on first scorer? I can’t see you winning this time 😉
Mine’s a mojito tonight.
Cheers.
No value in the goalscorer betting against the supposed lesser teams, Ollie.
Injuries injuries injuries when will this season (& last) list ever end I’ve got to say it’s really pissing me off now, we must have had more than any other team this season by miles?
I have my theories & again it’s because of the age of our squad (too young not a criticism because I’m looking to the future), but in that I mean they are still boys in the main so not yet physically formed although we now seem to be getting our senior citizens on the treatment bench far too often for my liking.
Is there something in the training methods that needs to be looked @ I don’t know but it does need addressing for next season, as it’s too late now………….
I did enjoy that piece on East Lower too thanks. Let’s take stock in May but when we get to the end of the season – the fact we can still be in the hunt for the league potentially until the finish line and (fingers crossed) the last 4 in Europe is simply remarkable.
I’ve never seen an injury filled season like it either – logic says the worm will turn next year right? When we lost RVP in November I must confess I felt if we finish 3rd or 4th it will be a great accomplishment, and that view from last year was fair and accurate.
If the upside of all these injuries is a tighter squad with more resilience then it’s almost worth it (barring the Ramsey incident….nothing counteracts that brutality).
Cesc has now played what 260+ senior games in a role of ever increasing importance and this is the first major injury I can recall, so a sense of inevitability seems to have been looming.
We’ll have the belief to make short work of Wolves I’m sure. Here’s to a draw at Old Trafford pepping up the lads before kick off.
Keep the faith –
I’m trying to keep the faith but when in the same week ManU loss their best (only) player & then we go on to loss the Fab man the next night.
It just seems to me the gods of football are plotting against use, alone with every pundit in the country too……..
Lee, sadly we’ve never had (or needed) the support of pundits. I was reading some of the earlier fanzines I’ve still got from around 1987-1990 the other day – substitute the player names and irrational anti-Arsenal bias as it’s alarming how nothing changes.
Reminded me of the Paul Davis treatment, Norwich City fine for fisticuffs and seemingly pure hatred from Harry Harris (was that his name?) and others in the press. Even when that side played some really good football the pundits always said we were lucky or a one trick pony. Back then it was our defenders that were the only dimension of the side worth applauding and now its our midfield.
I’d be worried if the TV and press started to like Arsenal….
Echoed my thoughts exactly.
Can’t remember Theo having a good game from the start recently, is that just my bad memory? Seems to have the most impact coming on later against tired legs. So long as he plays well, no complaints whether he starts or comes on.
I was at Wolves for the away leg of this fixture. I feel they have come some way since then but that the side we will put out will surely be good enough.
I agree with some of above re injuries. I have never known a season like it. Cesc is our third broken leg???? Someone is really testing us.
Down to the bare bones and it will be interesting to see who we actually can put on the bench. It has got so bad that I might even take my boots! If we have a first half like we did against Barca with injuries I reckon I might actually get a game. So if you are anywhere near block 4 and during the interval you happen to spot this tubby middle aged bloke stretching the old hamstrings off then give me a wave. Don’t be a stranger.
3 – 0 to the Gunners.
Keep the faith.
Agreed jt, but now it’s time for him to come to the party from the start. Thanks for the pic. Love the own-brand 🙂
I will be able to see you at close hand warming up with the rest of the subs tomorrow in front of the Junior Gunners, Steve. Long story – don’t ask…
Evening All Holic & Holic`s
Back your statement 100% I too will except bad form but not lack of commitment. If the lads give their all for the run in, I will have no complaints at all.
With the superman out, I mean Cesc the rest of the team will have to step up to the plate big time. Please no passengers as we cant afford none. When Cesc has been out we have all seen signs of the progression in the rest of the squad. Nasri,Diaby,Song and Denilson but we really need Theo on form for every game not every other game. Theo has the chance now to prove all the doubters wrong and that includes me, with his string of injuries he has not progressed as the boss has wanted. Arsene has said he thought Theo would be further along by now.
Bendtner has tried his best and has improved this season and I believe has the makings of a 1st class striker. Now can Vela & Eduardo add to the teams strength for the remaining games, we will find out. Sadly both have little or no match fitness to make a huge difference as the only way to get them match fit is to play them and that could be a very big risk with such importance on every game.
Now Arsenal have more than enough quality to cope with Wolves tomorrow but no one can be rested. The cliche of every game is a cup game in our case couldn’t be more true. Now on to victory at the Emirates and 15 red cards and fourteen broken legs and one case of adultery at Old Trafford.
I Believe. Come on you Reds !
Yes we are to bear bones at the moment and to be honest with you I have never seen anything like this.
I hope Cesc recovers in time so that he can play at the wolrd cup, lad deserves to be there. Hats off to our great Captain, he should be an idol to all.
I was glad to hear that both Denilson and Clichy will be in the side for Wolves tomorrow, thay add that extra cover if needed.
Nasri needs to step up to take Cesc’s position and Theo needs to get his skating boots from the start of the game as for now he has only been a super impact substitute.
Hopefully we will have RVP back in the squad soon, perhaps even for the tie against Citeh at the end of this month. As for the Barca tie next week well lets win it first tomorrow and think about them next.
I’ll have a pint of Staropramen please barman.
What is it with Staropramen, Arthur. All the Paddys that come over are drinking that stuff in the pub before and after games. Here is me, born cockney to a Scots mother, throwing the Liffy down me neck in case it floods.
Talk me through this lager nonsense. I don’t get it 😉
Little question please
Due to the number of injuries, (and given the way he is playing), can Jack W have his loan contract cancelled and then he can be brought back
Glad you liked it. I’ve not tried it before, a little more expensive than my usual. Could not sneak it past the Minister for Finance.
I think if this is going to be our year, the CSKA v ManU game is where it’s gonna have to start. A horrible 0-0 draw which starts a run of bad form for both of them, please.
good call cognacgooner, I was thinking the same thing myself?
Tim too many ex Liverpool misfits in the punditry world if you ask me, they really know how to hold a grudge “I love Paul Davis” even though he went to work for them, he’s back home again now!!!!!!
Holic
Straopramen is a very nice smooth and crisp lager brewed in Prague it’s stronger than the usual lagers they serve here in the pubs it’s 5% so it has more of a kick as well. Personally I like a good lager and it’s something I would drink when watching footy.
Being polish and all that I also do like the polish selection of lagers:
Tyskie, Zywiec and Lech are the main ones you can probably get in here in UK especially in London where little polish shops have multiplied everywhere. Mind you even Asda and Tescos sell polish beer too and also have a wide selection of our vodkas so that would be my second choice, but it has to be served ice cold as we take it neat. 🙂
Not sure if you ever tried Zobrowka?
It’s basically scented vodka with a herb called buffalo grass. I do like it my self but for me it goes really well with apple juice.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%BBubr%C3%B3wka
Who’d a known with a name like Arthur? My best job was working for a Polish fella who lost his driving licence so I would ferry him about. I used to neck the Wisniowka like it was water, and of course it wasn’t 😉
Top man Arthur. Glad to have you here.
Wisniowka certainly brings some memories for me too and as you say it’s definitely not water he he.
But hey nothing wrong with a bit of cherry on top, so they say.
Here’s an interesting article about Arsene from Billy Beane, general manager of the Oakland A’s baseball team, another Arsenal supporter on our side of the pound:
“When I think of Arsène Wenger, I think of Warren Buffett. Wenger runs his football club like he is going to own the club for 100 years.”
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/ca9c6514-3e7d-11df-a706-00144feabdc0.html
Dzien Dobry, Arthur, now if you’d like to make your way down to the cellar, there are some pipes that need looking at….
😉
You ‘holics are top people.
Thank you.
Off now as I have a taxi booked for 9.45 in the morning to get me to the pub near the Grove for the ‘other game’.
This is a big, big weekend people. Don’t get down on the boys if it doesn’t go our way. Please?
Dobry Snail,
I’m in the IT business so any PC, Laptop or Server issues let me know and I might just be able to help. Cheap rates for Holics also apply…
🙂
I will be cheering as always Holic,
You have a safe trip to the Grove and make some noise for our lads, I do feel a little flat but I’m sure I’ll be roaring to go come 3pm tomorrow.
UP THE ARSENAL…!!!
Personally I’ve rather developed a taste for Medovina – a spicy Slovak aperitif; not especially strong but very tasty – courtesy of my youngest’s partner and her family in Bratislava. A crate please.
Can I tempt the God’s of Fate to grant us good fortune, for once, by already writing off our season as a magnificent failure?
One can moan about individuals, albeit not many, but overall the team has been superb, especially given the injury list (yet again).
One can moan about the manager’s tactics, team selection, substitutions, etc – and I do think Arsene was yet again guilty of expecting a cagy 20 minutes on Wednesday rather than the blitzkrieg Barca brought to The Grove – but ultimately he’s the one who has brought us here and deserves huge credit.
The injury situation really does need attention. Earlier comments that perhaps it’s inevitable given the age of the squad definitely have merit but we’ve lived with this for at least the last 5 seasons (I think that probably it goes back at least another 2 or 3 years) and does mean that we should have a bigger squad.
It does seem that every thug northern team will be seeking to maim at least one player per away game (note until last week serious injuries at The Grove were rare) and unless, the Club take legal action against the perpetrators/FA, we have to accommodate this wretched situation.
Anyway we’ll see the season out as best as we can and travel in hope and can I just echo ‘holics sentiments re. “If you are going, please remember to buy a pint of Guinness for every grey-haired old duffer you see, just in case”.
I am ‘holicus!
p.s can I echo ‘blogs view that RVP should be rushed back into action. If he falls apart who cares, at least he’ll have the summer to recover. World Cup? Who cares, we’re not in it are we?
@Bergkamp’s The Man: I don’t have TV (too many things to do in a life and there’s Netflix…) so it’s either streams or more rarely the pub for me. When I am lucky I find streams in french, german, spanish or italian which I can understand to some degree but with very few exceptions all the english-speaking ones are god-awful. I wonder why that is, perhaps a big of xenophobia/anti-french sentiment on Murdoch channels… Also the french and spanish ones often have experts tacticians (former or current managers, like Wenger does from time to time for the international games) but the english-speaking ones only seem to host pundits who are as assertive as they are ignorant.
Well I’ll be as proud of the boys win or lose this weekend, We have a team stretched to the very limits.
Every week seems to find us shorn of one or two players through injury and the mere facct we have stayed in touch so long this season is nothing more than a miracle, I still bemoan the fact that we should have strengthened in the window, but Arsene chose not too and that now is consigned to history.
I think we still have a them against us attitude and that will serve us well for the remainder of the season and could well be the catalyst that pushes us on to winning ways with real silverware at the end of the season.
On a side note, could we just have a moments silence please for the news that poor Ryan Shawcross is facing a battle to be fit.
Anybody else sickened or indeed felt it to be proved that the media is biased against Arsenal, Aaron’s injury was horrific but warranted mere mention in the press a day after it had happened, Rooney turns his ankle and it is the top story for days.
Hypocrisy is one of the greatest traits in any media, but the sports media in the uk has to be seen to be believed.
Come on you rip roaring free scoring never boring GUNNERS!!!!!!
Drink of the day, draped. Drink of the day!
Coolio Holic old chap, Make mine a Pepper, (Still don’t drink) 🙂
Win The Next Match. You couldn’t have put it better.
There is no such thing as “rotation” now. We are down to the bare bones and we have to go full throttle for the rest of the season. Barca on Tuesday? Well, I wouldn’t know anything about such a game. It is all about beating Wolves. Who we face after that is irrelevant. Play our best team and give it our best, that’s all I ask.
Win The Next Match!
Yeah and looking at the replay Henry definitely did not mean that did he 🙁
How can the referee not see Henry surfboarding on Walcott?
laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaast minute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
we won
come on Barca – lets show them hoiw we win awaaayyy
make it a large one don’t care which type
We might not win the league but we’ll never be accused of giving up. I love my Arsenal!!!
I feel physically sick…that was just unbearable to watch
Bendtner – thank you
Nerve-wracking!
Love the attitude. Every game is like a cup final for the rest of this season.
How many times have you said aloud ‘our season depends on the next ten minutes’ over the last six weeks? It must be five or so.
Can’t ever remember a stretch where we keep leaving it so late…..reliving Anfield ’89 every few days is a bit fun eh?
Bloody hell ‘holic…..this last minute habit of scoring crucial goals goal is playing havoc with my nerves. Throughout all my life I’ve never smoked ciggies but it might now be the time to start…..anything is welcome!!
Fantastic result. The lads of down us proud again. Hats of to a team that simply refuses to lie down and accept 2nd best.
🙂
A last minute cold Stella for me please barman!
description of the goal anyone?
Last gasp cross from Sagna on the right…NB climbed to head it home – cue screaming
Pint of win the next match special for me and whatever the others are on
In the name of all things good and holy, Arsenal has to stop doing that.
I’m going to have a large brandy and cigar in the office.
*slams door*
Was going to have a dry night…. maybe not now! A chilled glass of Penedes white to start things off please barman.
Now to sit down and study Tuesday´s opposition. I´ve heard they´re quite handy….
Never stop believing….!!
Ibrahamwhatsit pulled out of warm up with an injury…..
it’s rather funny I recored the second half as I had to do some management duty I just finished watching the second half, why do they do this to us? No denying it’s a part of being a football fan. I was livid when Almunia passed the ball wide jesus I thought I was going to go mental. then came cross from Sagna and Nicolas got to the ball first and slotted it past a very good Wolves keeper.
A large double ice cold Vodka please barman and whatever is everyone else having.
Catalan Gooner
How serious is it?
Not sure. Unfortunately both legs looked still attached! 😉
But the replacement centre half Chyngrynskikikikikilooks awful…..
Both legs looked still attached ,double leg splint,must be serious
I think i will need anew heart by the end of the season. A hollywood writer could have written a season script with so much drama!
Hell of a B-team we have if you ask me!
Ridiculous! I dont need to go a theme park anymore. I get more than enough thrills right in the morning every weekend.
Please , dont do this to me again fellas 😀
Phew, who could have thought that going 1-0 up against Wolves at home could bring such joy? All of us at the pub had given up, but along came Bendtner… this team just doesn’t give up.
My hat’s of to Wolves, though. Apart from the tackle on Rosicky (red card was the correct decision) they fought hard and tried to get close to us but were not playing dirty. Take note, Tony Pulis et al – you can be physical and in-your-face without breaking people’s legs.
On the train, pissed as a carrot. May attempt report after MOTD 😉
Nice one Holic
Im going to do exactly the same now 🙂
and it was a pleasure to meet Snir and his Dad…
May prove to be nothing but hey, if true and it stays the same even better for us I reckon!
http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/221/champions-league/2010/04/04/1862476/barcelona-forward-zlatan-ibrahimovic-may-miss-champions
Looked at the team sheet and saw a list of players that have all been maligned at one stage. It’s 12:30 am here when the game starts, why would you bother staying up for that?
Arsenal create a host of chances in the first half but ultimately don’t score. Surely not worth staying up for the second half?
It’s 2:20am, normal time is finishing and your team cannot score against a clearly inferior side, down to 10 men. Your stream is starting to freeze up. Just go to bed.
Well I didn’t give up on them and they didn’t give up on themselves. Every game now is ‘season defining’ and this team keeps giving a good account of themselves.
So the league is out of our hands, we might finish 3rd. Isn’t it nice to know the team that lost against chelsea last night had an average age of 31! And a lot of chelsea’s best are the wrong side of 30. With our ability and spirit we might be seeing the birth of an eleven headed trophy winning monster, which has the chance to be active for 10 years or more. (OTT? 🙂 )
Maybe it’s just me but I don’t remember seeing Eboue play better than servicably in a position other than RB. It seems to me like he grows a leg playing in his natural position. His runs are more incisive, his crosses are better. It’s a real luxury to have 2 great right backs, wish they could both play at the same time.
I thought the commentators were passable in the stream I watched, but how anyone can not think that is a red card is beyond me. I would have thought it was a red card if it was one of ours doing it. Tackle from behind, studs up and get the man first.. that is red EVERY TIME! You could see the stud marks in the back of Rosicky’s calf. “He’s unlucky there, no more than a yellow”. Give me strength.
What an exciting season. Can’t wait to see how it ends.
Hot… Cold… must have been said 20 times by the commentator everytime Theo touched the ball. Great win anyways. New chant in the making?
He’s six foot fourrr
He’s six foot fourrr
We’ve got Nicklas Bendtner!
Fuckk Adebayor!