A Bridge Too Far Or A Demonstration Of Strength In Depth?
Oct 2nd, 2010 by 'holic
Under instruction from Bergkamp the Man, I am publishing earlier than promised! You must have a doozy of a preview for us in the drinks, BtM?
I’m still looking forward to heading to the Bridge tomorrow, for all manner of reasons. The pre-match food looks good, even if I have to leave home at nine to get there in time, and the prospect of being with the travelling Gooners is always an exciting one. Most of all though I’m looking forward to it because this is the first real test of where we stand in the pecking order this season.
Those who heard yesterday’s Arsecast will know that, for once, the big man and I are divided upon the importance of the result at this stage of the season. This is game seven, of thirty-eight. I happen to believe the attitude and performance are far more telling than the scoreline. I think that because of the nature of our surrender to West Brom, when attitudes were found wanting.
I’m not altogether sure that the performance was much better in Belgrade, but the application and determination certainly was. A similar display of desire is needed. Concentration is also vital. Last season at the Bridge we put up quite a fight with a much-weakened side. Chelsea won by converting two of the only three chances that came their way. Both were the result of not staying tight to Drogba, who almost claimed a hat-trick when his second-half free-kick hit the bar.
Having said that I would value the performance over the result I should also point out that I am also unbelievably confident about the outcome. That may make little sense, I know. Arsenal are 4/1 against with the bookies for a reason. Those people don’t give money away for a living.
Again we are going there with what last season would have been regarded as the spine of the side missing. Almunia, Vermaelen, Fabregas, and van Persie are a big miss, obviously, but we are I believe better placed to cover their absence this season. Maybe not the ‘keeper, but Koscielny and Squillaci look capable of dealing with Drogba at their best. We have, in my rose-tinted opinion, the two best midfielders in England this season in Nasri and Wilshere, so I am glad that Cesc is being properly rested while there is doubt about his hamstring.
The main difference between this season and last though, is the inclusion of Chamakh up top. The Moroccan can hold the ball up, bring the likes of Nasri, Wilshere, and of course Arshavin, into the game in dangerous areas. With all due respect to Andrey and the job he did up front for much of last season, he was never going to physically cope with the Chelsea central defenders. Chamakh can.
If the key battles will be between the opposing strikers and the central defenders tasked with muting them, there is one other area in which we need to concentrate to avoid ending up being brushed aside. Malouda is having a wonderful start to the season for Chelsea and is popping up all over the place. I am hoping to see a more disciplined performance from Alex Song, and him being deputed to be the second marker on Malouda wherever he chooses to roam. Nail down him and Drogba and we could be on a nice little earner tomorrow.
Readers and drinkers in the week will know my pound was placed on Wednesday night. I’m looking at a repeat of two seasons ago, when Chelsea led at half-time, and Arsenal won the match. Such a scenario was 50/1 against in the week, but that is now cut to 40’s at sportingbet, so head to Paddy Power for 45/1 if you have a pound to spare.
Whisper it softly I also have a back-up. Down the years Stamford Bridge has been a happy ground for our left-backs. Gael Clichy is so overdue a goal it almost hurts. Put the two together, add odds of 80/1 against him scoring first, and I just had to plant another pound down!
So there we are. If you too are going tomorrow I’ll see you there. I hear rumblings we may have another John Terry story to celebrate with the locals. That would be mahoosive fun. To those watching on the small-screen or listening to the radio can I wish you too a happy weekend. Keep everything crossed, and pray for just a little bit of luck to go our way. It is our turn, after all.
COME ON YOU RIPROARING!
131 Responses to “A Bridge Too Far Or A Demonstration Of Strength In Depth?”
I am confident we can come away with a victory at Chelsea
By the way what was that tackle by Karl Henry all about. He must be given the same treatment.
your absolutely deluded if you think this lot can go to the chavs and beat them.
MFRITM, until further notice that means Maybe Fabianski Really Is The Man. If Clichy does score first I will personally go to the bookie and collect your earnings for you, ‘holic! Have a great day and let the Guinness protect your vocal chords.
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As usual a good fun read. safe travels, enjoy the game with your fellow Gooners and hope to hell you will be toasting the night away in a suitable establishment after yet another famous win at The Bridge! I want us to score first though. We need to create doubt in Chelsea’s mind. 2-1 to the Arse but after leading 2-0!!
If d formation should b 4-3-3. defence. Rb sagna, cb kos & Squlac,Rb Clichy. Defensive Mid Song & Denilson or Nasri, RCM Ebue ahead of Sagna to keep Malouda & A. Cole advernsing, Rosiscky & Wilshare, up front should b Arsharvin wide & Chamakh. Good luck to all Gunners fans,while we beat Chelsea.
Forza, you’re a fucking idiot. The man believes we can do it, and there’s nothing to suggest it can’t be done. The world and its dog know that, on our day, we are capable of beating anybody.
Why don’t you grow a fucking spine and support your team, or fuck off.
Sorry about the swearing ‘holic. I’ll have a shot of Jack if you don’t mind.
Excellent stuff, ‘Holic! Pressure!
I’ve been to Chelsea once. I can’t remember exactly when, but I do recall it was shortly after they’d spent more than Scotland’s GDP on their new stand at the Bus Stop. Scotland was still saving up for a new road bridge over the River Forth at the time, so their profligacy made headline news in the Fife Herald. “Aye, they damned English, mair money than sense ye ken…..”
So, I thought I’d better go “doon” and check it “oot”. I was a regular patron of the fine arts at Dens Park at the time and this was my very first sojourn into the wonderful world of Division 1. My expectation was twofold; foot-balling excellence, of an inter-planetary galaxy of difference to that which Dundee FC was serving up at the time, and, a stadium of splendour, matched only by the Taj Mahal in its majesty.
Chelsea under-delivered ultra-spectacularly on both counts. The stadium looked like half a stadium and work still in progress. A fine stand in the middle of what otherwise looked like Central park at Cowdenbeath (without the greyhound track). The pre-match atmosphere was rarer than that on the moon. Where was the Dundee Police Pipe Band playing Jimmy Shand’s Bluebell Polka for goodness sake? Where was the comedic crack on the terraces. Where, oh where, were the people – particularly those that had been sleeping there since the last home game? Was this really English fitba’ at its best?
Things got worse from there. The Dundee team of the day had Ian Ure, Alan Gilzean, Gordon Smith, Andy Penman and Charlie Cooke. They’d just been knocked out of the European Cup, in the semi-final, by AC Milan. so they were pretty handy and great to watch. But they weren’t the moneybags of London WC1. So my expectations were high.
I can’t remember a THING about the game that day, other than that the only highlight was the half-time pie. They didn’t have Forfar Bridies like the ones I was used to at Dens, but I do recall the subtle flavour and texture of the local fare. I was somewhat concerned by the long, rubbery textured, ligament-like intrusion that looked suspiciously like the tail of some rodent, but didn’t let that spoil the day’s high point. And it was worth every penny of the fiver I handed over (And only four pounds, seventeen and sixpence more costly than my usual weekly bridie!).
So, I haven’t been back. Not since the oligarchic gazillions have finished the building site, bought a new team, bought some silver and spawned plans for a new disco so that John Terry can “twist” the night away with Abramovich’s young thing.
Do I envy ‘Holic the opportunity tomorrow? You bet. But, ‘Holic – steer clear of the pies, mate. Rat (fricasseed, ratatouille, or encased in pastry, Baldric) is not what it was in the sixties. And don’t be fooled into washing anything down with Moscow Spring. It tastes viler than Arshavin’s hair pomade and that yellow tint is some indication of its bladderic origin.
Oh, yes, and the rabbit skin is standing vertically on the BtM sporran. A sure sign of a 2-2 draw.
So much positivity ahead of the game. Love it!
Up the Gunners!
The key to our victory tomorrow is frustrating the pairing of cole and malouda &manhunting drogba by our defenders.ensuring these, im seeing another volcanic eruption at stamford bridge 2morow. Up Gunners, down blues.
Simply analytical, u make me enjoy reading ars blog. I also pray we’re luckin 2morow.
Thank you forza, for penning your deep and meaningful critique of my post, and sharing the limits of your intelligence with us. I stand corrected.
Now then ‘holics, I think you can see the dream script would be for Gael to open the scoring before we stumble to a 1-2 half-time deficit, thereafter recovering to win by any score you like at ninety minutes. That would not only cover the new iMac I need, but also a new huge flatscreen telly for the management.
A boy can dream, can’t he ? 😉
Wonderful stuff BtM.
Worth pulling my finger out for 😉
I’m really not sure what to expect, we always seem to go into these games a few important players light. The pensioners have a strong team and our defence will have to be at its best. A confident Fabianski is also a must.
Come on you reds, give ’em hell.
Lager please barkeep.
Cheers.
Hi there Holic,
Must say your positivity is very refreshing. I have a weird feeling in my gut as well this weekend (dont know if its sixth sense or yesterdays chicken curry). The head says Chelsea but the heart as always goes with the Red and White.
Enjoy your day at the Bridge, Holic, and I hope you do that with a victory.
Positivity comes from http://twitpic.com/2u093l
I’ll try one then please ‘holic sir.
Better make it two. 🙂
I would rather see us perform poor and win the game one – nil tomorrow. I just want us to beat them.
I don’t want any scares tomorrow.
Nasri is the key.
In my humble opinion, it is a must win game for us.. prove the doubters wrong, and we will be just right behind the leader.
Time to prove that we have learnt our lessons.
That’s Blogger’s argument Booland, and I totally understand it, obviously.
Just think we should be managing the fall-out from the worst case scenario, even though I believe we’ll win.
A defeat will NOT be the end of our season.
I look forward to hearing the details and location of your match day socialising AFTER the event Holic! A much safer idea.
Pint of lager please…
Will take a point and then go for a big push post Interlull.
But it is about time we brought back a vicrtory from the bus stop, so, ‘Holic enjoy your day. I won’t be on here afterward as I am off to a gig in Glasgow – Ian Hunter as it happens, he must about ages with you ‘Holic 😉
Will be in the Sporting Page behind Chelsea and Westminster hospital before and the White Horse in Parson’s Green after.
Good choices Little Dutch. Lots of good beers on tap in the Sloaney.
Ian Hunter, zico, as in Mott and Once bitten, twice shy? You lucky beggar. Top geezer him.
I hear you LD. Booked in elsewhere, but hope to see you in the Shed.
Listening to Ian Hunter the day before a match at the Chelsea has never resulted in a loss. It’s true.
I think we are going to have our best performance of the young season and win a bruising encounter 2-1.
Love my Arsenal, weekends like this make so homesick though. Own goal Terry…..
The very same Holic. 🙂
Tim, I am priming my iPod as we speak 😉
Chavs 0 – All the young dudes 1 !!
im surprised no one is laughing at united here…….why so serious?
@holic sir do i have permission to post a link? its food for thought but from an arsenal website….???
Usama, I’m still giggling like a schoolboy over the fact that L’pooh are in the bottom 3.
Our draw at Sunderland doesn’t look too bad anymore, does it? A shame they couldn’t top the Mancs today though. Their B team is certainly not on par with ours that’s for sure!
@usama: I’ll wait until tomorrow to laugh at anyone, it will only feel better 😉
@H2H: Noticed it too, went to check on their forums and it’s almost like they’re lusting after Newcastle 😉
As for our game in Fulham it can go either way, chavs don’t look too confident on their forums either, having doubts on how JT will contain Chamakh in particular and worrying about Drogba never having scored against Squillaci.
We can do it!
Go ahead usama…
Looking forward to this one Holics! Nice and positive post Holic too as per usual Sir!
I also believe we can do em, if we click from the start then why not?
I think we also need Jack in the mix, I can just imagine him pickout out Chamakh and Terry chasing him fouling and getting a red for it 🙂
Will be at home with the little Gooner of mine, enjoy your day Holic and I’m sure we can raise the glass afterwards with huge grins on our faces. 😀
Chelsea will overpower Arsenal,
They are steam rolling teams at Stamford Bridge,
Drogba has scored 12 goals in 12 games against Arsenal,
Blah, blah, blah!
We are the underdogs, we are being totally written off and that is just great.
It is that reason why I expect Arsenal to fly out of the traps tomorrow, it is that reason why I expect our players to close Chelsea down all over the pitch.
If you watch the Braga game, our work rate when not in possession was fantastic, almost as impressive as our work on the ball in that game.
We may well be missing a strong spine, arguably the strongest spine in the Premier League (Vermaelen, Cesc, Van Persie) *I have taken out Almunia for effect* but even without those players we still have a strong pool of players to choose from and I think they will be facing Chelsea at the right time, both for themselves and our own team.
Shoving West Brom to one side, we go into this game with some players in good form.
Arshavin looked back to somewhere near his best in midweek. Apparently he has created the most amount of goal scoring chances so far this season.
Nasri is in the form of his life, fresh off the world cup rejection. He is starting to stamp his authority on games and that was missing from his earlier game.
Jack the boy Wilshere fears nobody. He caused them plenty of problems whilst at Bolton last season.
Chamakh. Chelsea executed their game plan wonderfully well last season. Let Arsenal have the ball in wide areas, condense the middle. Arshavin and Eduardo were never going to get any joy through the middle or getting on the end of crosses. Let Chelsea try that one again at their peril.
Chamakh’s challenge for the first header that hit the bar in midweek was Alan Smith in his pomp. Brave, aggressive and deadly.
Denilson is fresh and has recaptured his best form after a disappointing last season overall. Chelsea better be accurate with their passing because our little Brazilian will nip in out of nowhere, win the ball and start our attacks.
I could go on but I won’t because I need the loo. I cannot help but feel confident about this game. It is about time we broke this horrific run of results against our rivals.
Even if I am wrong and we lose the game then it is silly to think that our challenge is over in September. If Chelsea had beaten Man Utd, Liverpool and Man City away so far then perhaps but come on, they have played shite thus far.
Come on the boys, work your socks on for the badge, express yourself when you get the ball and make the Chelsea scum pay.
We are the Arsenal!!
Great post Holic, I will be original and grab a Chocolate milkshake please. At least to help my trip to the loo… sorry!
Evening holic/holics.
Man, I love your positivity! I agree with you, the key players to watch are obviously Drogba (Kos will have to stick so close to him we’ll think they’re lovers) as well as the Malouda/Cole combo.
Sure, we’re long overdue a win against the chavs but I more cautiously foresee a 1-1 draw.
Come on you Gooners!!
Holic
I think what all Gooners want more than anything,is to see the Boys give nothing less than 200% for the cause against the Blue lot.
To cover every blade of grass for 90+ minutes,to never shirk a challenge,to stand defiant against everything Drogba and co throw at us,to leave our blood on their turf,and to crawl off the pitch at the final whistle,knowing they went beyond exhaustion in pursuit of a result.
Then,win/lose or draw,we can still hold our heads high and look forward to a great season.
My feelings exactly, Clive.
Mean, great to see you here. ‘holics, follow that man over to http://www.arsenalvision.co.uk/
A top Gooner and a great read.
‘Holic
Love your positivity. You have convinced this ‘glass half empty Celt’!
Come onnn yoooouuuu redzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Thanks Holic,
Loving the vibe that is happening around your site these days. I’ve always loved your work and it is great that you have a lovely community happening.
I am praying to Bergkamp that we can do the business tomorrow.
Forgive my mentioning for a moment…..Carl Henry (Wolves)? What a disgusting piece of footballing thuggery this man represents?? Did anyone see his red card earning challenge on Gomez (Wigan) today? Unbelievable!!!
Anyway….as you were people 🙂
Pint of Staropramen for me please if you will barman.
Fuck em !!!
We are the Arsenal and we are the best we are the Arsenal so fuck all the rest, Happy days win lose or draw they will always be a small club near putney and we will always be the top club in London:)
Come on Arsenal, it’s time for our players to come up with one to remember!
Having read the holic views and the drinks I am still not swayed either way. I think this is really hard to call and does depend on exactly what Arsenal team actually turns up. I think we will need several players to become the leaders we have been missing to have any chance of coming away with anything. I appreciate the holic pound is imperative but do think that we are quite unpredictable at the moment.
The goal keeping situation still worries me greatly. Flappy did okay in the week but he will need a darn site more than one performance to convince anyone that he is good enough. I came across the following old Brian Clough comment on the reasons why he spent all of that money on Peter Shilton…
“A team with an OK goalkeeper is always looking over its shoulder. At the back of its mind it’s thinking, it doesn’t matter what we do, the fella between the posts might make a mistake. With Shilton in goal, it gave everyone else more confidence. It spread throughout the side. We were full of ourselves.”
Must admit I agree completely with old big head on that one. I think the whole outcome could hinge on how Flappy plays. The slightest wobble and you could see confidence draining from the team and panic set in. Sunday is a day to see how much this crop have actually grown up.
Keep the faith.
All joking aside, Goonerholic, we really are due to smash those cunts.
All joking aside…..we really can….
In a few hours Tim I hope to be writing All joking aside …. we really did ….
Morning all.
Of all the days to wake up to the heavens opening 🙁
Oh well, let’s get ready…
@holic
sorry sir i fell asleep last night here is the link…..no wonder we get out muscled.. http://redlondon.wordpress.com/2010/10/02/which-arsenal-player-would-you-not-pick-a-fight-with/
Yep, Holic – I had even negotiated a heaven sent day of watching the Ryder Cup and then The Arsenal. Still, at least footy can’t get rained off.
Too early to drink?
@catalan…..
how could u watch the ryder cup i fell asleep after 20 minutes….golf is tooo boring
There’s only one side in London and that be the RED side. They may out-muscle us but we shall out-wit them.
Bring on that crappy blue team! (I hadn’t noticed until now but blue is a really dull color)
I have a lucky top on. Arsenal have never lost when I have worn it.
Ok, so it’s new, but the above still applies 🙂
and ‘Holic, make sure they all get behind Fab-handsky.
Ah Usama…. it is a weird and evil game to play, but once you hit a decent shot you are hooked for life. A chance to escape and talk nonsense with your friends for 4 hours.
Not normally bothered by watching it, but when there is a team to cheer on rather than a bunch of individuals then it becomes something special. Helps that they limit it to every 2 years – bit like the Cup Final used to be the only game live on TV.
That decent shot is coming, Catalan. I can feel it in my bones 😉
Morning ette.
Taxi time. Laters.
@catalan gunner
i get what your coming from…..
@holic
why dont u always wear the top?
@holic
have a great trip……hope we win. its 9am and im literally dreading drogba!! curse u merson…..
I’ve got this feeling all week that Chel$ki are in for a surprise. I just hope we all get the good result we all want. I know we can beat Chelsea, But the guys have got to really show they want it & fight for it. Lets go Gooners….
@ Catalan
You’re right about golf addiction, my former boss would plunge his very FAST Subaru into the trenches just to make the Tee-off (if that’s what golf people call it)
Indeed ‘Ette…. and don’t forget it’s one of the few games you can play whilst drinking… or should that be drink whilst playing? Depends on the day really…
mornin
just a thought – if wilshere is good enough to get in the side at 18 then is Schzenny not good enough now – he is 2 years older than jack. I’d much rather see him in goal than flappy! Wenger’s blindspot!
Good luck with the clichy bet – even though i think your more likely to see a cow jumping over the moon
Morning Holic and Holics!
Have you taken your brollie with you? Looks like a wet one today with chances of heavy rain.
I’m up and about and I can’t wait for this one to come now, not long to go though. If Koscielny and Squillaci can keep Drogba quiet then we are in for the Winner!
Come on you Almighty Reds!!!!
Absolutely delighted after reading this blog and the drink, ‘holic great work!
this is what we need the most today, the belief ..
We dont miss Cesc, there is no doubt about him being a Legend already but Nasri Wilshere Arshavin will cover for Cesc’s creativity and they would!
I am going for a brace by Arshavin, one on a penalty and the other one a screamer of a shot that guns the bridge Down!
COME ON YOUU GUNNERSS!!
Almighty we are Arthur!
Ive got a strong hunch were gonna be celebrating with a samba special ! COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!!
Lots of positivity going on in here, great to see!
Agree with the ‘Holic, a loss would by no means mean the end of the season.
Will ‘holic have a picture of the bus stop in Fulham? Will the bus still be there or will it already have left? These are the big questions we must ponder ….
Has the pressure has gotten too much for me? Quite right to ask. Clive, is there a spot in the secure unit?
behind the 8 ball but not nasri
I’m nervous as well but I’m being postive about this one!
Am I the only one who thinks that Chamakh will make John Terry miserable?
It’s all been said already, several times, so I’ll keep it short.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
I have that scary “they’ll get an early goal” feeling.
Hopefully i’ve jinxed so COME ON YOU GOONERS!!!
COME ON ARSENAL!!!!
Not bad at all from the lads Fabianski has a decent game too a bit unlucky on the goal I reckon thats Drogba for you I suppose.
I’m happy with the game so far but we need to attck them in the second half.
Come on YOU REDS!
The only thing that actually cheers me up is that it’s not “men against boys” anymore and we will get the victory at the Emirates.
Chelsea are not going to get away with it easily this time, they had a touch of class with that goal but we had the upper hand for most of the half.
It’s within our reach. COME ON ARSENAL!
Poor goal yet again to give away. Sloppy at the back and flappy wont be happy letting one in at his near post. I have said in the last 3 pre match blogs that we need to be more clinical. Today is no exception. Better quality in front of goal please.
Poor comment that Steve, poor comment really.
Fair play to Fabianski.
Excellent in goal. Came for all the crosses and balls in the box. Had no chance to save the first or second goal.
Alex’s injury is very good to us.
Chelsea has no cover for Alex (and please don’t tell me Ivanovic’ll play CB and Ferreria will play RB cause Ferreria is the worst RB in the EPL) and will lose a lot of points in the upcoming games (Villa, Blackburn, Liverpool and Brum all away in the next month and a half).
7 points are a lot but no reason why it shouldn’t be back to 5 in 2 weeks (after the Interlull) when we play Brum at home and Chelsea are away at Villa.
KEEP THE FAITH
I’m dejected… I’ll need a while to wind down. My apologies Steve.
I wonder what more we could have done. Which is pretty sad.
Although, we won’t play chelsea every week. Up the arsenal.
Matt – I’m dejected as well, but we mustn’t lose faith. Chelsea have some tough fixtures away from Stmaford Bridge these coming weeks and that gap can be closed in no time.
We have City in 3 weeks, I’m pretty sure Cesc will be fit by then and maybe even Vermaelen…
The encouraging fact is that that performance in my opinion will be good enough for a win at the Emirates with only Cesc coming in (I’m not relying on the broken RvP and Walcott).
Arshavin didn’t stay in the wall as he should be for the second goal, he turned side ways creating a gap, that was a thunder of a shot from Alex.
Matt I agree with you on that one!
unlike wet brom game ,they give everything and we should be proud of our boy.True we loose ,but how many team will say that away at Stamford bridge this season.Nearly all of them.
I think fabianski was outstanding , hopefully he can keep up like this and we can stop with we need to buy a world-class GK bullshit
We gave it all we had, no lack of commitment or effort. Chelsea have a script against us though and we didn’t counter it.
Well played indeed Fabianski.
If we had the spine the ‘holic talked about in the post we get at least a draw today. The disaster was last weekend – not today – let’s keep that in mind.
I’m going out for some BBQ Ribs at Harvester I need to treat myself I feel dejetcted too, but some of it was very promising.
We had plenty opportunities to shoot outside the box, I was shouting shoot all the time, but it wasn’t meant to be.
Don’t be too down about this one Holics, we are 7 behind now but this season has only just started.
Yeah, today is disappointing but barely anyone gets away from Stamford Bridge alive – the real frustrations are the two previous league games, where we could have (and should have) stocked up more points. Today was a shoulder shrug really, last weekend was the swearing!
the boys played well today. the chavs needed a freakish goal and a thunderbolt to beat [wait for it] fabianski. more of this work rate and we will start winning again.
but… we seem to lose matches in pairs. got to fix that!!
Good positivity, much needed.
@ 88
Yeah the back to back losses it definitely a trend I’ve seen and not liked. We now need a healthy 16 points out of 18 and see where we are in Mid November. If nothing else we have less of a goalkeeping crisis on our hands….but we really need some rotation at striker…
Today is very disappointing but I do not think it taught us anything new. For all the play and all the ball we had we created very little. I lost count of the amount of balls thrown into the box that we did not win. Apart from Arshavin in the first half I do not remember testing Cech. I know we were missing key players but who honestly thought we could actually score today? Not me. We could be playing until next weekend and I really could not see us causing too many problems. That is very disappointing for me.
On a positive side I thought that with the exception of the first goal Fabainski did what little he had to do well. When we could have folded in the last few minutes he stood big and strong. We worked hard and showed a good spirit. Thought we actually looked quite solid at the back. 2nd goal was a great strike but Song needs to do a google search on how not to shit himself when standing in a wall. The clue is in the title Alex. It is not called “a wall” for nothing.
Today also highlights for me how poor the results at Sunderland and against WBA were. Take 6 points from those games as we know we should have, then no one will really be that fussed about today. It is poor errors and performances like these that will eventually cost us, not today’s result.
Matt. Apology accepted. If you are in doubt about my opinion check out AW’s interview after the game. He seems to agree with me.
I am off to hit the sauce.
Yep….we can hold our heads higher than we could have after last years game at the bridge. The difference today was in one single area…….the finishing! Drogba had the gods with him for that fluke lay off………and not even the American army would’ve stopped that Alex thunderbolt.
Credit to Arsenal for their application and mental strength. Shame our finishing couldn’t have been bettered.
Another cold San Miguel for me please barman….good man.
we got what we deserved today. nothing.
go to stamford bridge and you can’t afford to a) miss gilt edged chances (koscielny), b) pull out of tackles in vital areas (chamakh for the 1st goal), (c) let the opposition stand in your wall to create the gap for them to aim at, (song, arshavin), and you come away with sweet f.a.
for me the biggest crime was koscielny laughing and joking with the chelsea players after the final whistle.
we care mate. wish you did too.
I think you’re being a bit too harsh on the guy
what for, missing that header or the post match frolics?
by all means share a joke with your fellow pro, but at least have the humility and decency to do it away from the cameras when you’ve left the pitch if you’ve just been turned over again.
one point in 3 games isn’t much to laugh at.
Evening ‘Holic & ‘Holics.
Only managed to catch snippets of the game whilst traveling (again). Great to see that the majority in the bar this evening are not sitting with their heads in their hands or thier heads up their… ;-). Congrats to all for that.
It’s not the end of the season for us by any means. We have so much to look forward to.
We cannot complain about the result too much today – as many of you have already pointed out -our application and attitiude were a world away from last week’s capitulation.
I’m confident that we’ll lift some silverware this year but I don’t think that will include The Championship – not this year anyway.
Great to see “Pole The Younger” put in two decent performances back-to-back. Don’t know about you but I still need convincing that he’s the No.1 that we need – let’s see if he can string a dozen decent showings together first. Here’s hoping though.
Barman, drinks for everyone please and a toast to putting back-to-back defeats behind us and going into a l-o-n-g unbeaten run so that we can keep The Chavs, Manure, Citeh and all honest.
Cheers!
Well, at least the boys gave it their all. Fabianski was solid and had a very good game, and while I suppose that many will try to blame him for the first goal there really wasn’t much he could do about it. Same for the second goal, Fabianski does everything right but then of course Alex manages to fire off the best shot he will ever manage in his entire career.
good to see the gonners united for a change- we just missed too many chances and that would always be critical with a team like chelsea…well played boys…
@Matt p
did kosc really do that?
proud of the boys today.
folks thought we would be slaughtered today but I think we dominated the midfield. Young Jack was outstanding and Diaby coming back to fitness did’nt lose possession in critical areas of the pitch.
This is probably the first time in a long time that we made the chavs think about us in both areas of the pitch. Chamakh was awesome, I lost count how may times he won the ball with his head.
We have good run in with city away as the only tricky game, but from what I saw today, they will struggle with our technique. Hopefully fab is back and theo.
True Storey I agree completely with your 96. Dare I say it but Fabianski did very well to get his hand to the 2nd goal (I think MoTD may perhaps prove my point). No keeper would have stopped that.
Look, the defeat hurts. At the end of the day we lost. But I maintain we have improved. There was only cigarette paper between both teams output and we will be there or thereabouts come the seasons end. I’d love to see Wenger come away with a Beer cup trophy win. I really think it will do wonders for this teams’ overall confidence and be the springboard for better things to come.
Steve T @91. Do you think we need to recall my boy from Citeh to add punch up front?
No way we can blame Fabi for the first goal in my opinion.
This games just reminds us all that those two previous games Sunderland away and WBA at home last weekend 🙁 cost us too many points, this wouldn’t hurt as much as the fact we didn’t take the opportunity to catch them up especially against WBA you have to realistic here.
I’m trying to find some positives as well here, I don’t want to sound too negative as I think we needed a bit of luck topday and that didn’t happen either. Chamakh had a few headers but unfortunately wide… there were number of occasions where we they had to shoot instead we were looking for the perfect pass that never came.
Anyway….
I’ll have a pint of Star please barman!
Evening all.
I am going to sleep on that one. For the second year running at the Bridge, we had the ball, they scored the goals. Proud of the effort, which was what we wanted. Could we have done more?
Sorry BtM, if you are primed. I need beer and reflection…
BTM. Holic asked the question in his title. A bridge too far or a demonstration of our strength in depth. I would suggest the answer to that question is a bit of both. I think the fact that when you are chasing a game against the likes of CSKA Fulham at their gaff you need alternatives on the bench. I am sorry to say that in those situations I would not expect to have to rely on the likes of Carlos Vela and JET to rescue something.
I think your boy is a pain in the arse. I think Citeh are starting to find that out. I think he will be trouble wherever he goes. I am not sad he went as you well know. (Nothing personal). But I do think it was a mistake not replacing him. I have said for some time now that I think we are light in certain positions. Sadly I have seen little to change my mind.
The season is still young and we are all still hopeful. But one point in nine against the likes of Sunderland and West Brom is just not good enough.
My opinion. A bridge too far???? Yes. Strength in depth????? Not quite good enough. And as I have also said in many previous posts, I sincerely hope that I am very wrong.
I’m primed ‘Holic, but then I didn’t have the pleasure of the train, underground, bus trip to and fro to the Bus Stop.
Rest, drink, reflect and I’ll follow your wisdom tomorrow with my usual nonsense.
Just to finish things off I’m glad we are not Liverhoof in relegation zone and looking form bad to worse.
Steve,
My comment was tongue in cheek (even although “he who can’t be named” had a fair game today).
The strength in depth issue is an interesting one. I won’t allow myself to use the absence of Vermaelen, Gibbs, Fabregas, Ramsey, Walcott, Van Persie and B52 as an excuse for defeat today (note I didn’t even mention My Pal Al). However, I do think the missing magnificent seven should be put on the scales as we weigh the question on whether our squad is deep enough.
I agree with you that, after we missed two superb chances inside three minutes, we lacked a killer finisher.
See you back here tomorrow no doubt.
I thought Fabianski was excellent today.
Beyond that…I just don’t know what to say yet. So many strange emotions.
I thought with the players we had on pitch today, we played the best we have so far this season! it was simply breathtakin, the counter attacks im talkin about!
Even Chamakh was Great, Kos Squillaci and Fabianski were all decent, Sagna was supremo and so was Nasri!
Long long way to go brothers, Mental attitude of today and class of Fab, RVP, Theo, Verma will take us somewhere this season!
Something that’s made me laugh a bit this evening anyway – 50/1 on Liverpool to be relegated. Any takers?
@Charlie: I think they’ll recover but then I said the same thing about Newcastle 2 seasons ago… Now if there was a bet on them finishing behind Everton I’ll take it!
50/1 10 pound bet.A great return.I probably put a tenner tomorrow.
Nobody is too good to go down.
look at their squad and i think it s possible.Torres should have been sold to raise cash to rebuild
I don’t seriously think it’s going to happen (it’s like when Spurs has two points in October just before Redknapp arrived, they’re bad but they’re not THAT bad), just seeing the odds made me laugh though. A real shame we seemed to run into about their one decent performance of the season so far now in retrospect.
Matt, I wouldn’t want to bet on Everton either. They are terrible this season.
Chelsea will be a tough team to catch. It’s doable, but we’re going to need a good run of wins (and better fortune with injuries). It’s a pretty open league this season. Man U, City, Spurs, and us have all dropped unexpected points (OK, it’s not too unexpected for Spurs to drop points). Heck, West Brom are level on points, and even Blackpool are within a point of a Champions League spot at the moment.
Hmmm. Haven’t seen Arsene’s post match response so not sure what he thinks. But…
Chelsea still the benchmark in this League. You can hate Drog, but…
What a forward. Funny The KGB reminded me of us a few years ago with Paddy and Co. Pace and power.
WTNG.
‘Holic, agreed that after WBA we needed to see real fight and commitment today.
I guess we did but unfortunately left far too much room out on the flanks on many occasions, knowing that they are a standard ploy of the Chavs – that is, the ball played deep down the wings for C Hole and Anelka to run onto.
With all our missing players, I think we did as well as could be expected. Chelsea just, somehow, always looked too powerful for us.
Given what an important part they play in our system, the quality of balls played in bt our full-backs has to improve. Sagna is unpredictable while, unfortunately, the most positive thing that could be said of the quality of Clichy’s final ball, is that it is very consistent.
No criticism of Fabianski today – brave, sharp, some good saves, some effective saves, albeit with elbows, knees and forearms. Oh yes, before you jump on me Steve T, the goal at the near post. . . well . . ?
Our support was good and noisy. Well played ‘Holic, if you were leading them !
A feeling I felt too many last season, but along with that, real belief that nothing’s finished.
Can’t week for the next match. I’m sure Villa would do us good service at Villa Park.
Matt @ yesterday – ‘did Arsenal have their own hooligan element ?’
The name ‘Gooner’ is one that is applied to all Arsenal fans these days, without further thought.
Originally the name belonged to the Arsenal Clock End ‘firm’ who would both travel, and try most tricks in the book to get into the ‘away’ section when the Clock End was first segregated.
They were originally our ‘nutters’, although I don’t believe they ever had the vicious reputation of the Millwall or West Ham mobs.
Although I only ever tried to avoid trouble, you inevitably came close to it on occasion, and it could be pretty scary stuff.
Although we are a bit over-stewarded these days, it is good that those days are, apparantly, gone.
I await your correction on the above ‘Holic, as I believe you were a Clock End boy, while I looked on from my spot on the North Bank.
BTM. I got the tongue in cheek bit. I also eluded to those missing in my previous post so I do get that as well. I can not fault the effort today but in the end there was no cutting edge. No real quality when it really mattered. I do believe that if Van Persie and Cesc had played things may well have been different. But reading about how large our current account is whilst failing to address the issue is little consolation for me.
more than the defeat or how predictable it was, it is arsene’s attitude towards it that angers me most, “You could see that Chelsea finished with cramps because they had to run a lot, so I give credit to my team”
areeya shitting me arsene ??, and what I am also beginning to loathe is how he never talks about how we may feel about being mauled, would it hurt arsene to say ‘I give credit to the away fans for being robust all day and getting behind the lads, we may not have given what they deserved, but we will make amends’. I have no complains about the performance today, the lads were top notch,that is the best they could do and maybe an early goal for us would have changed it, but I am seething from how Arsene’s perceives the defeat.I have no qualms if this team shows this attitude every time it turns up, the trouble is I do not know which arsenal will turn up anymore.I hope to god that this team wins some form of silverware this season, it might just change their belief.
I thought we played well and the game easily could have gone our way. Had either of Chamakh and Koscielny’s early chances gone in, we probably would have increased in confidence enough to pin them back a bit. This was Koscielny and Squillaci’s first big test and they did at least as well as our centre backs of last season. Somebody said at least it wasn’t men against boys this time and I have to agree. The two reasons I guess are because we are one year older, wiser and stronger, and we jettisoned Gallas. If we can get the same application for the rest of the season, we’ll be fine and good things just may happen to us. No guarantees that we’ll get our wounded players back before the next wave hits of course but the odds are that we will get back some of them and they will help us. So I’m feeling more positive than negative about today. Certainly nowhere near the bad feeling after West Brom.
we were denied a stone wall peno when chamakh was fouled in the 2nd half when it was 1-0,but the centre backs were very dodgy again,TV is so badly missed and any word when he’s back?was supposed to be only 2 weeks out but it looks like it’s gonna be a few more,flappy did well today but he still should be shown the door but we all know he wont because he has ‘potential to be world class!!!!’we have no hope of winning the league and should go all out for the carling cup,its the only thing we might win,4th in the league is what we’ll get ,IF we start to win games,all in all as bad if not worse than last season.
Catching Chelsea will most certainly be difficult. We have a shot, but we’ve got to start winning consistently again. As for the other teams in the top part of the table, they have all dropped unexpected points so they are not any different than us. We’re looking solid in the Champions League and there is still the FA Cup to go for. With Fabregas returning soon, we’ll be much stronger. We almost always play better with him on the pitch. I’m positive about the season and think we have a good chance at bringing home some silverware this year.
Great news! Remember I recently posted a comment based on Ryan Giggs’s interviews and concluded it would be great to have someone like him help our youngsters? Well my wish has become a reality! Bobby Pires is back at the club for 6 months to train with the reserves and youths: http://younggunsblog.co.uk/2010/10/pires-training-with-arsenal-youngsters/
@Steve: I went overboard not because of your point about the lack of cutting edge upfront but because of your remark that Fabianski was at fault for Drogba’s goal when everyone else has been marveling at the precision of the shot. And although my wording was unfortunately offensive and uncalled for, I admit I found it quite strange (coming from you that is) that in the middle of a fierce battle when our players were giving it all, the first thing that you thought worthy of posting was a criticism of a player. That does not excuse my wording of course, just clarifying my thoughts.
@Gaz: Calling for Fabianski’s head just after he had two good games in a row? Please…
Matt. My point was directed at the defending for the goal in general which i thought was sloppy. The sloppyness was concluded by fabianski being beaten at his near post. My point was that he will be disappointed at that. I get very frustrated when all the good work that you highlight goes to waste through players switching off.
‘we have no hope of winning the league and should go all out for the carling cup’
No we should not, the Carling Cup is a big waste of time (will the Wenger bashers and the media really say how great our season was if we win it this year), it would be ridiculous to devote our resources to it. If we want to really try for a cup, go for the FA Cup, Chelsea can’t keep winning the bloody thing.
We now have better options defensively, but what does Alex Song think he’s doing going on marauding runs? The times he found himself in their penalty box was just unbelievable. You are/should be a defensive midfielder. He needs to curb that.
AFC1974: I actually think that he is under orders to do that. If you look at how the three in midfield play, they rotate quite a bit and I think that is a good idea because it makes our game less predictable for the opponents.
Matt, lordgunner and others: If Liverpool don’t turn things around VERY soon, I actually think they can go down. Can you imagine the panic that must be starting to spread in the squad by now?
Good day fellow Holics! I suspect there’s a case of the “morning afters” for many of us today. Looking forward to Holic’s thoughts on this later today, I’m sure that will add some fresh perspective.
In the gloom of a rainy Monday morning and the fug of another defeat at the hands of The Pensioners, Matt’s post @ #124 really helped to lift the spirits – thank you Matt 🙂
Pires back home? The chance of a repeat of Sol’s cameo last season? That would be an unbelievably great asset for the team and the club. Imagine the effect on Jack and Rambo as Bobby takes them under his wing! Mouthwatering stuff, even if it only turns out to be a Gooners wet dream.
A good week to us all. Interlull well timed for once?
A strong coffee for me please barman and one for yourself of course.
AFC1974
Song was covering for Arshavin most of the time not sure if you have noticed or not. Also his outbursts up front should be kept to minimal in those big games.
I feel a little annoyed that we couldn’t score at least one goal, we roamed around the 18 yard box had chances to shoot as well but we never took them. We know there could be a deflection so why not pull the trigger?
We can play little passes with the likes of WBA and other minnows against Chavs, Man U, Citeh and other stronger sides we need to pull the trigger at every opportunity!
Better get back to work now, have agood Mnday Holics!
@ Lars #128
Thanks, great point! That’s another thing to feel good about this morning – we aren’t Liverpool 🙂
What an unholy mess they’re in. We may all get frustrated as hell with Arsene’s parsimony at times but look what happens when you can’t service the interest on your (massive) debts. They could quite easily “do a Leeds” now. No-one wants it. If the unthinkable happens, hopefully lessons will be learnt by all and the knee-jerk that follows will inject some realism back into the EPL and the way that most boards run their clubs. That’s another area where we can hold our heads up high, on a relative basis of course.
BTW, apologies for the gloat but I wonder how Joe Cole feels now having allowed himself to be talked out of an alleged pre-contract with Arsenal by his “friends” in S. Africa? Jim Henson would be proud.
I’m going to jump off my soap box now before I’m pushed and get accused of ignoring the Chelski sized elephant in the room 😉
TTFN
PS: Sorry for this as well but did you hear Hansen on MoTD last night? I’m going to have to learn to turn the sound down when he speaks. You could put him, Karl Henry, Tony Pulis, Ryan Shawcross and Old Twitchy in the same sack and you couldn’t kick the wrong F*@ker.