Everton To Provide A Real Test To Gunners Firepower
Nov 13th, 2010 by 'holic
My first trip to Goodison was for a midweek League Cup encounter back around the mid-seventies. Not many Arsenal travelled that night, and we experienced the not-so-good side of the local scallys, despite getting decent tickets for the top tier of the main stand from one or other of the players. Thankfully later that night, in their supporters club, and a few times since in the Twelve Pins before home games, we have met some good guys from the blue side of Stanley Park.
In the main they are proper football folk up there, always happy to share a pint, some banter, and a laugh at Liverpool. They reflect their team. Resilient, hard-working, sometimes confrontational, but usually passionate. I have always regarded the trip there to be a litmus test of what may follow. In successful years it is a ground where we are delighted to win. I’ll never forget the standing ovation they gave us up there in 1989, although I suspect that owed something to the fact we were the only threat to Liverpool reclaiming the title.
This season the game, even this early, carries even more significance, I think. Everton are recovering from a dreadful start and have hit a rich vein of form, unbeaten in seven. Although the suspended Fellaini will be a big miss for them they still have Cahill, who seems to relish matches against Arsenal, and will attempt to feast on any indecision in the box at set pieces, often our Achilles heel. With three defeats in our opening twelve games a fourth at this early stage is unthinkable.
Arsene hinted at some rotation in midfield, “maybe one or two”. I really hope he meant one, Nasri, although I know one of the ‘holics will be very keen to see Denilson restored to the starting line-up. Surprisingly the treatment room remains relatively quiet after the games with Newcastle and Wolves, so regardless of the starting eleven we will have some extremely strong options available on the bench, should they be required.
That persuades me to approach the placing of the ‘holic pound with a degree of confidence, but I am not expecting it to be anywhere near as straightforward as last season’s 6-1 on the same ground. The main pound is attracted to the eights widely offered against a 2-1 win for the Arsenal. Check the drinks tomorrow once the team is announced for a potential back-up pound that I’m keeping an eye on.
As usual, to those going, have a safe and enjoyable trip. I know you’ll be giving it plenty. I hope the team rewards you with one hundred percent application, and no less.
Nicklas Bendtner
As usual our young Dane is reported to have made comments that may come back to haunt him. Perhaps it is best to cut him some slack. He has the confidence, maybe brashness, of someone who has an undoubted talent at an early age. Patience may be a quality he lacks, but at the same time it is no bad thing for him to be keeping Chamakh aware of the option available to the boss. The Newcastle home game apart, Chamakh has been very impressive and is obviously preferred to his rival at the moment. A little reminder of the competition will, however, do him no harm.
I’m wondering, though, if at some point the boss may explore the opportunity we have to surprise someone with a return to a very offensive 4-4-2 variation.
Don’t do anything daft, Nick.
106 Responses to “Everton To Provide A Real Test To Gunners Firepower”
No drink?
I’ll have an Irish Coffee please while I read the blog.
Blimey, Ollie. That was quick 😉
Football Focus on BBC2 now has a Feo/Cesc special.
Was it? No idea.
I thought your appearance in some other place might be linked to something new being imminent (since there was nothing last night;) ).
And I was just having a work break now, I thought I’d check my favourite pub 🙂
i blive is gona tough but i see gooners takin 3point score line will be 3-1 to us guys pray hard pls
Morning, ‘Holic. Just up. Off for a foursome at some fancy club. Be back later. Enjoyed the blog this morning as a “must first read”. Haven’t seen the Bendy comments. Will research before returning.
A foursome, BtM, oo-er!
Enjoy the holes.
*gets coat, never to be seen again*
Good afternoon fellas.
The team need to embark on a sustained unbeaten run now, at least until Feb/March. Although it may be asking a lot, with a little luck and a little more application, it can be achieved irrespective of who the oppo are.
I would like to see a return of the 4-4-2 in some games, but not tomorrow, maybe for some of the home games. Nasri would be a welcome starter tomorrow, maybe in front of TR7, who worked his nads off against Wolves.
Fabianski looked fetching in his all pink outfit at Wolverhampton the other night, but whatever happened to goalkeepers wearing green? Bring it back I say and stick a huge cannon on the chest, like Pat Jennings in the late ’70’s.
A Guinness extra cold please Sir.
CoYRRR’s
All teams in the premiership–> green keepers
9th
wow this day is so shit!!!! first i broke both my toe nails and now this…..
something to numb my pain please, barman
Usama, 9th isn’t so bad just be glad you’re not 11th! Off to my virtual fancy club.
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Bloody hell, I just got home twenty minutes ago and turned on the tv and Aston Villa are ripping Man U to shreds at Villa Park. In those minutes I have seen Villa have gone 2-0 up and have hit the bar and the post as well as Albrighton missing a sitter. They could easily have been 5-0 up from what I’ve seen.
And keep a look out on MOTD tonight for Alan Hansens reaction to a tackle by Hernandez, it was an almost exact copy of the Cesc tackle on Wednesday – my bet is they won’t even show it.
…and as I am writing this, of course Macheda gets one back for United. Totally undeserved.
Oh, and as for us playing 4-4-2 I think that could be an aternative to try every now and then just to shake things up. We did revert to that formation on two occasions last season, one was at Stoke when Eduardo came on and the other one I can’t remember but I think it was a home game – and it is noteworthy that we won both games from being tied when we switched to 4-4-2.
…and it just became 2-2 at Villa Park. Brad Friedel did not cover himself in glory for that one.
The untied oppo drop points.
If we ever want to see Walcott and Vela make any sort of impact as strikers for the club, then playing a 4-4-2 formation is the way it’s going to happen by partnering them with either Bendtner, Chamakh, RVP or JET. You could possibly include Arshavin as another front man.
It looks very like our current formation is designed purely to give Fabregas as much free rein as possible, but that comes at the expense of playing a lot of others out of position.
Mine’s an egg nog.
NB52 Should be quiet and work hard.
Chamakh is our leading scorer and scored more than Malouda and Drogba and as much as Anelka but no one would dare mention it because “he’s not a 20 goal striker”…
Whilst encouraged to see Utd drop points, what I saw from Villa for about 30 minutes of the second half, suggests we may need to be at our very best to take 3 points from them at the end of the month.
They seemed to think the game was won at 2-0 though, and could have actually lost in the end. Maybe their inexperience will help us when we go up there.
Anyone think Wes Brown lucky not to be sent off for the penalty? Young was surely in more of a “goal scoring opportunity” situation than Geordie lad was with Kos last week in my opinion.
But we have a more pressing engagement on Merseyside tomorrow – as ever, I will take 1-0 to the Arsenal and think they will be dangerous at set pieces in particular, so here’s hoping we have been working on that.
I would like a rum and coke please 🙂
Yeah very true..Villa played very well and should have won.
it’s a tough month for Arsenal I think…we need a win tomorrow
I ll have rum, thank you
I gotta feeling that Nasri will be on the scoresheet tomorrow.
The lads must take advantage of IOU’s slip up and regain second place.
I know Everton are on the up, but Goodison has been a happy hunting ground in the lastv few seasons.
A repeat of last years result would make me exstatic 🙂
Cider please guv’
Cheers.
zicoinexile, I’ll trade you a rum and coke for a 1-0 to the Arsenal. Fair deal?
I was at Goodison last season and am going there tomorrow. Hopefully we can get another positive result.
I am sure Nasri will start and perhaprs Theo too as he can keep the Everton backline occupied and keep em pinned back, worrying about his pace. Theo has really looked sharp this season, with a clinical finish to boot! While nasri has been brilliant. With Samir and Cesc in midfield and Theo and Chamakh further forward we shouldhave too much for the toffees. And I havent even mentioned Jack, Rosicky, Arshavin or RvP!
Here’s to fabianski keeping another clean sheet and a good concentrated game from the back 4.
Brandy & coke please Holic.
nasri – will take that deal every time 🙂
Evening ‘Holic & ‘Holics
Interesting point about formation ‘Holic. 4-3-3 is widely touted as the new 4-4-2 i.e. most attacking big clubs now play in that formation. We often seem to struggle against sides that “park the bus” so maybe, just maybe a switch back to the old 4-4-2 will surprise the odd team and help us to unleash the goals that we always threaten to produce from all over the park. Don’t know, but worth a try, especially in the final 20-30 minutes of a match if we’re not making progress.
As for NB52, he does need to exercise some patience just as AW and us fans have shown plenty towards him. He’s always been a decent impact-sub and I won’t forget how well he did for us last year when RVP was out injured last winter/spring. BUT, and it’s a big but, I saw him play in many games where he was rightly nick-named Barn-Door Nick and we have helped him through his recent long rehabilitation period whilst on full wages.
So, if he really is threatening to leave us because he’s now finally fit after having aggrevated his injuries in S.Africa and finds himself in a side with a fabulous new addition in the shape of Chamakh, then actually he can F.R.O. I trust the reports are grossly exaggerated as always but if I was NB52 I would, as others here have said, keep my head down, my gob shut and continue to shine when given the opportunity. If he does that, then he will no doubt be rewarded with many starts just through squad rotation alone. That way, he’ll find himself on the Emirates Express when it terminates at Championship Central at a quarter to June, 2011 😉
Niklas Bendtner would do well to remember that he has not been fit enough to play for us for a long time.
In that time he has been fortunate enough to take home a couple of lottery wins in wages and had the very best of care in returning him to health.
Against Shakhtar he was awful, and he wasted nothing in effort when coming on against Newcastle last week.
If he wants to go, then as with any other player who expresses that wish, he should be pointed in the direction of the door.
He clearly doesn’t realise how lucky he is to be at The Arsenal, but if he wants to stay, he should shut up and work like a dog because, as yet, he is certainly no Great Dane.
It appears I’m not the only one who is less than impressed with the alleged comments from NB.
I like Bendy but he still has a fair bit to prove before he’s a nailed-on starter.
Anyone care to defend the fella? AW did a good, measured job on Pravda.com I thought….
Sorry, forgot….
Barman? A drink for Trev and whoever else is in the bar tonight please. I have a pint of Carlsberg and one for yourself as usual.
TS – hadn’t seen your post before chipping in with my own but we obviously share a view on NB52. We have tried to cheer the bloke through a catalogue of errors and this is what we get in return. The players equivalent of a “boo” at the club. Nice.
Lager for TS please barman – not a Danish one, I would suggest.
‘Holic, have just noticed the Spuds Count-Up – LOVE it !!
Trev, glad you spotted my ironic choice of pop 😉
Evening all,
Get tomorrow out of the way and we can prepare for the Spuds all week Trev 😉
Evening ‘Holic
Would love to be doing that on the back of a win tomorrow.
Will we be chewing or spitting toffee tomorrow?
Another round please barman. I stick with the Danish lager 😉
Got your “50 Years” T-Shirt ironed?
Indeed TS.
Right then, Haye early, or Harrison with one punch late?
NB52 should take a look at his young friend Larrson at Birmingham if he wants to see how lucky he is – he too could be languishing at a club full of mediocrity, and since he has already spent some time there, should be grateful that he has been invited back to fight for his place.
Confidence is one thing, but until he proves he can do it EVERY time he steps on to the pitch then he should keep his own counsel.
Since the Arsenal are not on tonight I will give the MOTD retards a miss – Hansen of the week will be Alan Hansen – even if he isn’t on it.
More rum and coke please! 🙂
Haye early then…
Keep the riojas coming please barman! This extra day’s wait seems to lead to an extra day’s drinking, and if I had an ounce of business sense in me I might open a bar to take advantage of this marketing insight.
Zico
Yes, there’s no substitute for the original is there? 🙂
Think I’ll join you in giving MoTD a miss tonight – who wants to watch Spuds making another DVD stocking filler anyway?
More rum and coke for Zico please Barman.
Jonathan Wilson wrote this during the World Cup on the shortcomings of 4-4-2. Explains why Arsene prefers 4-3-3/4-5-1/4-2-3-1.
http://bit.ly/d2pdF9
A glass of something white and crisp, if you would ‘Holic, for this beautiful November day.
http://bit.ly/d2pdF9
on the shortcomings of 4-4-2.
TS – thanks, have one yourself.
And you’re right, there’s no substitute. Nothing a crucifix and a clove of garlic would’t fix though 😉
Something in my bones tells me tomorrow could be Theo’s day in the goalscoring department. His confidence should still be high because of the way he started the season, and his condition should be getting back to peak. Come on Theo!
Cheers Ned.
Abbout Wenger playing 4-4-2, when asked how Chamakh would fit in with the current strikers, he said he would use it with RVP and Chamakh together…
Hey back online at home now! Yay!
TS and Zico I responded in the last post re; our keepers and defence!
Just going to have some breakfast for now (the luxury of working from home)!
Mug and Ned, apologies. Found comments in my temperamental spam filter this morning. I’ve released them. Sorry if you thought you were on some sort of blacklist, although that did double to two this week!
Keep posting and I will see if I can sort out whatever it is that’s happening.
Cheers.
4 arsenal academy product in England squad.Gibbs,Wilshere,Cashley Cunt,….., Bothroyd (WTF he is doing in the England squad) add Theo who develop with us .Not bad for a club that destroy the national team.
Victory today at Goodison and Alonso world Champion would make me very happy specially after the other idiot Harrison got get kick his ass ,the most boring and overrated boxer ever
A glass of your finest Whiskey please barman before going to work
Afternoon ‘Holics.
Hmm, not sure if I must say this, but truth be told: I have a bad feeling about this game.
We have struggled against Newcastle and Wolves, and Everton are an even better side than people give them credit for.
I really hope I’m wrong though.
*Eats final toffe muffin for late breakfast*
Yeah, hmmm, I hope I’m wrong.
A cup of capuccino sir, it suits the music just fine (Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata).
* actually, make that “toffee” muffin.
See, I’m already struggling with them…
Has anyone picked up on jack’s comment that Arteta is now “good enough” to play for the Arsenal.
😉 Are we tapping up players now? Or trying to unsettle them before the match?
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
First backup ‘holic pound on 2-4 at 80/1 with Stan James. 1-2 still the main punt, but you can’t turn down odds like that on something that could easily happen.
Possibly a first or last goalscorer punt to follow when teams announced.
EVERTON: Howard, Baines, Distin, Heitinga, Jagielka, Neville, Coleman, Arteta, Cahill, Pienaar, Saha.
ARSENAL: Fabianski, Sagna, Squillaci, Djourou, Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Nasri, Fabregas, Arshavin, Chamakh.
If Theo’s not in the team then Cesc is my man to score a big goal today. Come on Arsenal!
I’ve just laid an Arsenal win @ 7/5 with bet365
I’ll also lay total goals over in play
Sweet!
Cahil and Nasri to score at anytime could be good to go…
Mmm, fancied Theo for first, but not in. Taking an ambitious punt on Djourou to score first at 66/1. Watch him nut home the first corner 🙂
Djourou was sure he had scored last week, and he didn’t hesitate to shoot hard and low so it could be in the cards. I will be hollering iif it does.
Interesting bets there ‘Holic,
My bet is on Arshavin – he’s got to come out of this funk sooner or later, no? Only 9/4 but its getting my vote.
Incidentally, has NB52 been dropped for talking out of turn?
I can’t fucking stand the commentators today.
Zico –
B52 has an injury and may not play for Denmark says Wenger
‘holic, I forgot to tell you I put all my money on Sagna to score first!!!!!!!!
Sagna you beauty!
Why oh Why is Stewart Robson commentating today?
I hate him with passion.
How he gets paid by ATVO is beyond me…
You gotta hear how he talks on Arsenal live and then how he talks on the Sunday match, it sound as if it’s 2 different people.
Sluggish start but in the past these sluggish starts would not produce a lead.
Up the Arse!
Halftime now and it feels great. The only problem is I couldn’t get anybody to take my bet unless Sagna scores in each half.
Arshavin and Song shots from distance were decent chances and were not too far off target. We gained confidence during the half, but how Saha was allowed that close to the far post on the last corner is shocking.
Snir: I could not agree more. I think he was saying at one point Squilaci has had a rough start to his Arsenal career. Yeah, defense has had problems at times but I think Squillacci has come straight into the first team and done well in a new league.
One that set him really off: Cesc wants to run the game , both with the ball and by talking to the ref. I mean have you seen Terry and Ferdinand and Rooney?
Afternoon Holics.
Very Good first half did you see how Cesc was urging everyone to get on with it? True leader!
Shaky start but a shaky end as well, Sagna deserved his goal we need to get another one at least to calm the nerves downa little!
Come on you Rip Roaring!
Squillaci has been a giant and I can’t conceive where we would be this season without him.
Bacary of all people!
goonertown
Bacary who? 🙂
Denilson on for LJW and Brazilian dancing girls warming up.
Denilson!! is it an injury to jack?
Come on you GoonerS!!!!!!!!!!
Cescy baby!!!!
Fabregas !!
@ 68 – bt8bbnn – Tell that to Stewart Robson that prick.
Tell all the other pundits we have the best away record in the EPL but aren’t we young and not true title challengers?
By the way, Djourou is one of the best headers in the EPL, wow!
I have a gut feeling we’re gonna hear some injury news re Cesc come the end of the game…
Snir, re 76 it looks like Cesc is getting around ok at the moment so I hope you’re wrong.
Any thoughts on why we play better at Goodison than at the Emirates?
Fabianski with another huge save against Beckford.
Fabianski saves against Saha too. Pressure.
Holic pound was well worth the money and guess what I did put my money anywhere grrrrr….
Nervy end yet again but at least we have six ponint out of two games so far.
Clive if you are reading it wasn’t as bad as you predicted.
Snir
Djourou has leap an a half my man…
God we made hard work of that second half. Thankfully the new Fabianski was in goal.
Still great 3pts – bring on the LWCs!
spot on ‘holic. a good 2-1 win!
come on you gooooooooooooners!!!
‘holic pound stardust and golden but what a unexpectedly tortuous route to get to 2-1. We actually dominated the first 30 minutes of the 2nd half before they brought on their two subs and more offensive formation, but I thought Wenger should have brought on our last sub earlier.
Don’t you think that was a foul on song which led to the goal..?
I certainly thought so…
And the commentator was absolutely shit!! what has he got against fabregas??
Great win…. Keep the faith
I ll have rum, thank you
And clichy should clear the ball when he’s under pressure!! when does he learn?!
How the f&*$ did Cesc get booked for Distin landing ( not intentional) on Cesc’s ankle?!
Great game but I did wonder where our ball retention skills went in the last 5-10 minutes of the game? The team does love leaving us supporters on the edge right to the end of the game.
BtM – Denilson was top class from the moment he came on for young Jack.
Harsha – The commentator is Stewart Robson, and a neutral that would hear him would be surprised that he is employed and paid by Arsenal TV online.
He’s an absolute prick, an ex gunner who’s trying to seem objective no matter what.
My problem with is that on ATVO last season he kept going on about how Arsenal are equipped to win the league and how they’re gonna do it (on Arsenal Live) and when he commentated games on Sky Sports he kept going on about how we lack strength and are not true title challengers…
Afternoon ‘Holic & ‘Holics
Missed the entire match, was out with family, what a plastic!
Should have put my money where my mouth is. A great away win!
I even managed to guess one of the scorers right.
Nasri: The “TS Tenner” worked but I guess it’s quits because I only got one of the scorers right. Never been so happy to lose a bet.
Let’s hope we can keep this going all the way to catch The Chelski…
Barman? Drinks all round to help the post-match celebrations and a few for yourself. Let’s party now and prepare for LWCs next Saturday – being ’em on, we overdue a good home win and they’re just the side to help us correct that! 🙂
PS: Is that another match where we can say Fabianski earned us at least 2 points?
TS @ 91 – I’d agree with that.
And Sunderland are currently all over the Chavs 🙂
TS – Well, he was excellent when called upon but wasn’t called upon too much…
I have never rated Cech as one of the BEST keepers in the world but as a top 10. I still think he’s poor on set pieces and aerial balls in particular (Chelsea concede about 90% of their goals on set pieces) but his reflexes are absolutely something else, his saves against Sunderland are taken from a highlight reel, every single one of them.
Amazing.
SG, Zico,
Let’s hope Sunderland can make it a near perfect weekend for The Arse and that Cech has a sudden dip in from for the 2nd half.
2 points behind would be seriously game on.
Come on Sunderland!!!
😉
Excuse me while I become a Sunderland supporter for the next 25 minutes or so 😉
Good shout TS I’ll join you on this one 🙂
One more goal and they’ll go above Spuds!
Note to self: Mustn’t get too carreid away now….
Me too, TS..
Only half of a half for them to hang on now….
A 1-1 draw at Roker Park doesn’t seem so bad now does it?
Cashley seals it! Ha fucking ha!
Is that Lou Reed I can here on the jukebox???
All together now….. It just a PERFECT day……… UP THE ARSE!!!!!
Large Jack D’s all round barkeep
Well done the Mackens, or whatever they’re called. Have a few key players out and the bus stop in Fulham are very ordinary. Great assist from Cashley!
Stewart Robson is a West Ham man and shouldn’t be working for ATVO.
oh fuck!! perfect day!!
chelsea 0-3 sunderland!!!
@Snir An Ex-Gunner?? what a shithead..
Its just two points now…Although we shouldn’t get too carried away, pardon my cautious mentality 🙂
As someone keeps saying in this bar…hope we are top by christmas!
Rum and coke please
I was wrong.
Thank fuck.