This Is The Self Preservation Society!
Aug 24th, 2011 by 'holic
No point in doing a standard match report. You have all seen it, haven’t you? Every nerve-jangling minute of the opening seventy minutes as a very good Udinese side made us sweat, as we suspected they would. All ninety-five minutes as Arsenal made us proud again, as many doubted.
I have been quoted many times saying something tired like this one victory doesn’t make the season any more then one defeat would have killed it. Every time I have said that it was true. Tonight to repeat it would be a lie. I don’t care what people will be saying with the benefit of hindsight. Defeat in the qualifying round of the Champions League would have unleashed the footballing equivalent of the apocalypse on the board, the manager, and a number of individuals.
Victory buys everybody the gift of time. Initially only a week, it is true. Tonight does not mean that reinforcements are not required and it was plain from his post-match interview that Arsene has deals he wants his negotiators to close before August departs. Beyond that week though there is now a full quartet of the hardest competitions for us to compete in. How attractive would an Arsenal minus Fabregas and Nasri have been to potential recruits if we had traded the Champions League for the ‘Tottenham and other also-rans Thursday Night Invitation Trophy’?
I don’t mind admitting to helping to create a bit of the fear that surrounded this tie from the very last Arsecast of last season, when I said the prospect of this game scared the living daylights out of me. It’s a line I repeated at the start of this season. I have said we could lose the first three Premiership fixtures and recover the lost points over the following nine months, but defeat in this tie would have been catastrophic. I stand by that, but need to make some amends by praising the twelve players that produced one of the great Arsenal away performances in Europe tonight.
From the young man who made one of the finest penalty saves I have ever seen, to the ten million pounds worth of dribbling beauty that is Gervinho, our performance was full of spirit, and effort, from start to finish. An inexperienced midfield was stretched on occasion in the opening half, but the back four were looking solid until Di Natale, a wonderful player, stole a yard on Djourou to score a goal that seemed inevitable.
I was probably not the only one surprised to see Rosicky on for Frimpong at the break. The youngster added to his popularity with a really gritty display for three quarters of an hour. The arrival of Tomas however proved a revelation. “His legs are gone” is a charge I have heard in recent days. His legs looked pretty bleeding good to me tonight, but not as good as his heart. That was the desire of the Rosicky of old. It typified the spirit and effort evident in the entire side.
However you can have all the spirit and determination in the world, but it will count for nothing if you don’t take your chances. Take a bow to two players who will now be expected to hit the target regularly for us in the big contests. The new skipper made sure that Gervinho’s invention did not go unrewarded for the equaliser. Theo completed the job as he exploded past tiring defenders for a cheeky near post finish.
Now it is time to enjoy just what this victory means for the season over the coming hours. I know much attention will thereafter be paid to just how far we will go to add to this vulnerable, but potentially exhilerating young group in the next week. Any chance we could start before the trip to Old Trafford on Sunday please, Arsenal?
506 Responses to “This Is The Self Preservation Society!”
Thanks for this, Mr Smallballs. How apt!
Well, sort of first then?
Great write-up holic. Two signings before Sunday please. Even if they don’t play this weekend it would be a welcome sign of intent for the team to take along with the high from today’s game into the OT cauldron.
Not much I can add to that Holic. Gervinho probably a better replacement for Nasri than we first imagined (AKB anyone?)
A warm glow settles all round.
One in behind for you Sir π
βWhat Crisisβ? Deepens as Gunners Net 50Million in One Day!
In less than the time that it takes Slur Alex to cave in to a Wayne Rooney wage demand, or the Shake of Abbly Dabbly to cheat an AbblyDablyian of some well deserved food ration funded by oil revenue in favour of a new Shitty player, Arsenal earned 50 Million and proved once again, definitively and conclusively, that there is only ONE Arsene Wenger.
Under the glare of the spotlights of the global pukepress, with rat vomit oozing from every press pore, and boil sucking, plook squeezing teenage scribes poised to condemn, Arsene Wenger :
1. Sold β3 Good Months in 36β Sami Nasri for 25Mill
2. Nailed Udinese in a game billed as 25Mill for 90 minutes
And in so doing, put another 50 Million in the war chest for The Arsenal, while BBB looked on sickly greenly, trying to sum up the puff for a chorus of SSFM (Yes Gareth LeCunt- You and your likes).
So as Bella Luna rose magnificently in a past-star filled Pavarotti sky, Arsene stood splendidly and majestically surveying the scene of yet another Arsenal triumph, masterminded with Pat over a Chianti of a splendid red hue.
βF*ck meβ, opined Kenute articulately, βIβve spent a hunner million and am no in the Champions League. And ma team cannae play like that onyway in oor tumble doon stadium!β
Slur Alexβs words were drowned out by a crescendo of bursting blood vessels in the Old Purple Nose of the Famous Red Grouse.
βBella Donna!β minced Mancini, βI had to BUY my way into thees competeetion and Wenger earns 25M! Ow does ee do it?β
βGet me Wengerβ screamed Abramovicz and his Real Madrid counterpart simultaneously in an operatic, two-part harmony.
Arsene did it under huge adversity. With last seasonβs best midfield in the world Fabregas, Nasri and Wilshere ALL missing, he started two great stars of the future, Aaron Ramsey and the Frimstone with Alex Song in mid-field (having largely followed BtMβs guidance from Goonerholic yesterday – smirk)
Our makeshift defense was mostly solid in front of the best keeper on the planet, The Polestar Penalty Saver.
TV is a rock, The Jenk improves with every game and Sagna is much better than Clichy, even playing out of position β but we need a new LB nevertheless.
Ramsey was everywhere. Theo was pin sharp, Gervinho for 11M makes 25M for Nasri look like a real steal (β we can sell him to Shitty in two years for 40M if he doesnβt work out). Van Persie covered acres of threat and scored the decisive goal, encouraging all around him all the while.
Magic stuff and weβre in the magic hat tomorrow. Oh, and did I mention that we have 35Mill of Barcaβs money, 75M of Shittyβs money and 4 Jenkinsonβs worth of proceeds from Eboue still in the bank?
Gareth LeCunt β off you go and squeeze some more plooks, son before mummy tucks you in.
Come on you rip-roaring reds! Arsenal bloody Arsenal!
Spot-on post.Szczesny produced a quite wonderful save.He is a giant.
Absolutely agree about Rosicky.
Lots of men stood up to be counted tonight.
This was a very decent performance.Udinese are a very good side.We could do worse than sign two or three of them but of course they are barred from the Champions League!!
Maybe the spirit is now there as the two ‘wantaways’ have now departed and the rest of the squad that want to be there can start to bond knowing they all want it!
I am in Spain right now so two San Miguels please!
Really proud of the Arse tonight. The players today were proud to wear the shirt, and fought tooth and nail for it. Frimpong and Jenkinson have futures at the grove. Lets just hope that in a week it’ll be a lot harder for them to crack the starting lineup! Pint of London Pride for me tonight…
Nice piece FOD!!
Wonderful game of football and one that will give us belief. Let’s hope it inspires AW to build rather than papering the cracks!
@ #6- we could still sign them. I believe playing for a side that loses in the qualifying rounds does not cup tie you for the CL.
Alex Song is by far the best DM in Europe.
Woj is one of the best GKs in the EPL.
Gervinho is gonna be a star.
It’s so much fun supporting this particular team when you see these young players running their socks off for that cannon.
And by the way – 19 Attempts on goal! Now that’s an improvement!
On the money again Dad, lets hope this game has given the team some belief, and the manager some balls to enter the transfer market for some much needed experience.
@Bergkamp’s The Man
The Polestar Penalty Saver eh??….i like it!..better than man utd’s david de gea…same age almost..but arsenal players learn quicker!
Yes ‘holic well remember the Arse podcast and your very real concerns about this tie. Whilst we all know that the supporters should never have had to endure this tie if the team had even half performed towards the end of last season, nonethless, as fans we must acknowledge a wonderful spirited and determined effort by the team this evening.
If any gooner harboured any doubts about a ‘keeper I trust those doubts have been suitably quashed this evening. An absolutely terrific and commanding performance by Chezzer.
The club (ie not always just down to kneejerk criticism of AW) need to bring in I hope a further three quality players by next Wednesday. With that we really can compete. Pity to have missed out on Mata and would like to know how that didn’t happen.
Finally, a Jamieson for me good sir. Keep up the good work!
Great write up BtM. I actually ducked over to Le-Moan today just out of morbid curiosity (The same way I turn on Fox News every once in a while) and my Dennis was it painful. It was blatantly obvious how much it hurt that muppet to have to pretend to actually want Arsenal to win today. It was even better when he goes on about what players Arsene and the board should buy and then in the same post horribly mis-predicts the starting line-up that won the today’s match. Whether you think AKB or not, he certainly knows more than anyone who bangs on with their own self-contrived certainty about what is needed to take this team back to the top.
With the unsettling effects of Cesc and Nasri now gone we have a team, a team that wants to work hard and fight for each other – a team with belief. Asobloodylutely marvellous. I cannot and will not criticise anyone. Yes there were mistakes, yes some aspects need improvement and yes this team of young lions will benefit from the help and support of quality players who have maturity and are worldly wise but we should all now see and understand what AW has seen and understood for a long time. I am proud to be Arsenal. I go to bed elfin’ happy.
Chezzer is everything Fergie dreams De Gea will be. He must wish he’d got him for the same price though.
Only before the CL final against Barca have i been more nervous,this was a massive win a massive win but let us not kid ourselfes this squad is screaming for new blood to survive an entire season.
No point saying anything after BtM post. That’ll do boys.
Bergkamp’s The Man. Fucking hilarious!
And it’s Theo “no footballing brain” Walcott who puts Arsenal two goals up!
I tell you what, who needs a footballing brain when you can do that? Go on son, give him the eye then side-foot it past him!
BTM know I’m opening myself up for a kicking here but who is Gareth le cunt?
Le moan will be fun to read tomorrow!
im baffled…what a team effort and i have to admit it smells like team spirit ;
MotM Song …but it has to be said it was a team effort and Wenger too…the Rosicky switch was genius..
and even though im usually critical this evenig im proven wrong..great..might Diaby flourish ?
still we should get rid of Bendtner(who wants away)Almunia,and Squilacci…and we need to buy
sometimes You are a pleasure to read holic;and tonite you are quite excellent Sir..
c’mon you Gunners..
A toast to Carl Jenkinson, future Arsenal great!
@18- you’re damn right. SZCZ is a great shotstopper (as De Gea is) but he commands the box like we haven’t seen in a while. De Gea reminds me of Almunia to be honest
Been away from the bar since the last game last season. Had to take a little break from… well… opinions of Arsenal. Even if this place is and has been the best place to be for years for informed and reasoned opinion I just had to let everything sort itself out in my own head. That doesn’t mean I haven’t read your blog posts, ‘Holic, them I can’t be without.
This feels like a good night to return to the world of Arsenal on the Internet and not just talking with the mates down at the cruiser.
So, without further ado, a big thank you to the team for the performance tonight, a big thank you to the regulars in here whom I have missed reading, and who always make me feel at home here.
Lastly, I say we sign BtM. We could still use someone who can work some magic and weave some nice patterns and you surely can. You are ‘Holic’s Pat Rice (without the shorts?).
I’m off to get drunkeredish!
Been out tonight – game on sky plus – but good news could not be kept from zico for too long…..
Nice report Holic can’t wait to see the game in its entirety and BtM, you star.
News is reaching me of a mad scramble for the Happy Train – I expect a report from DLL management over the next 24 hours is liable to arrive.
Nice one, very pleased for Arsene.
Arsene out on the town celebrating with slippery Stan, getting him pissed and shaking him down for a bob or 2 afore the window slams shut, i trust …
UmighteeeeRRRRRRRReeeeeeedddddddds!!!
IDKA…. still awaiting upon your opinion on the “pretender” Walcott.
N7: 1st part of the deal done. Will she be wearing balloons??
Great game. We started quite positively in an open first half. Di Natale had a quality finish and for about ten minutes after that we were under pressure. But credit to Wenger, Rosicky for Frimpong seemed strange ( I thought Ramsey had a poor first half ) but was tactical genius. Rosicky is a player I really hope does well for us after his injury troubles. Second half performance was even better and we were unlucky with the pen. But “Chesney” spared us a nervous ending, some journalists still keep talking about us needing a new goalkeeper, I doubt they watch our games. Jenkinson had a solid game as well.
I hope this forms the catalyst, what is frustrating is not the fact that we haven’t won a title in 6 years but this squad has potential. Potential that will translate into trophies with a few solid signings.
Sign a left back, a creative midfielder to replace Clichy and Fabregas at the very least.
Get Van Persie to sign a new contract.We have a good base of young players now that are not only talented but seem likely stick around for a while . Support them Arsene, Sign a few players π
Does anyone else see similarities to two years ago with the way Nasri is behaving and Adebayor. He has every right to move to a club that may win more trophies and pay him more but show a little class .Jeez.
Cascarino in the Times has stated that “only Vermaelen looks like an astute signing” so much then for RVP Sagna Gervinho Rosicky and Walcott never mind the young players that have come through in particular Chezzer Frimster and Song. And he gets paid, as Rumpole used to remark, “good folding money”, for tripe like this! Any wonder there are so many ill informed so-called football fans these days.
Like the mighty rerds – ClArsenal BTM – ‘We’re gonna win the cup, we’re gonna win the cup …’
Up (up and away) The Arse!
Based on that looks like the team spirit is better without Fab and Nasri. A cloud has lifted? grab a point on Sunday and we’re back in business.
What a great second half display, Chez, Gervinho, the Thong, were great but hats off to Jenkinson at the back, he played a blinding game for us. Come on Arsenal! thanks to Man City for the Β£70m for our cast offs and good luck with the grotesque way they run that club. Rich mugs. They’ll never be as good as Arsenal. Come on you reds!!!!
Many wise words holic-football is a results based business and this was a result. I thought Rosicky played well against Newcastle as well. Chesny was excellent and Walcott scored a great goal. But make no mistake we rode our luck in this game-Udinese hit the post twice,the ref missed a handball by Djourou and it took a miracle save after another hand ball. Udinese are not the best team at the back- but Di Natale would be a great centre forward for us.
What it does show is this team has more fight and can be more direct and could hold it’s head up for the first time in months.
Nice one ‘Holic – so calm, so rational, just like me in front of the telly tonight. Well, almost.
BtM – I’m not one for unnecessary profanity – unless that rather uncouth PHW is around provoking me – but that is one f*cking brilliant post π π π
On a totally humourless note unfortunately, but nevertheless, just how good was Carl Jenkinson tonight for a lad of his age and experience. Never even played in League 1 until February this year. Unbelievable.
Earlier in the summer, Snir Geuli asked me, via the drinks, what I thought of the transfer situation at the club. The gist of my reply was that I was so sick and tired of ungrateful, spoiled players in general, that I no longer cared who did or didn’t stay, or who did or didn’t join.
All I wanted to see in return for the fortune that I’m now paying for my season ticket (Β£1,955), was eleven players who were prepared to give every last ounce of fight and effort for the team.
After four games, in two competitions, with admittedly a mixed bag of results, and an even more mixed bag of injuries and referees decisions, we are doing just fine.
We do, without doubt, need to bring in some big players to guide our galaxy of emerging stars, but tonight, Arsene still knows.
Gareth, Cusop – DO ONE!!!!!
Amusing thought for the evening: chesney was brought to the club for a fee that wouldn’t pay two days of Wayne Rooney’s current salary. And still people criticise Wenger.
CG – if we win at the scum I’ll do my best to convince her to wear nothing but icing sugar and a Gervinho mask. How’s that for a deal?
A thoroughly nauseating interview with Nasri tonight.
Although he did refuse to ‘disrespect’ Arsenal, and heaped praise on everyone at the club for “finding him in Marseille and making him the player he is today”, my only thought listening to it all was, well where the hell are you when we need you then.
As Patrick Barclay said in the Times today, he does not have the personality that Arsenal need. If he did, he would have grabbed the chance to lead the team, not walked out in our hour of need.
Half a good season in three years ?
Samir Nasri, watch that performance tonight and – DO ONE!!!!!
Raaaarrrrrrhhhhhh!!!! The rumours of our death have been grossly exaggerated. We’re not joining you in Europa Cusop and friends!
Nail-biting stuff….heart still beating like a race-horse. Maybe vodka before bedtime wasn’t such a good idea :S
Gervinho > Nasri
Szczesny > De Gea
Now, to get ready for Old Toilet…
I cannot read small characters so Ill read this blog tomorrow.
I feel Imight be pretty drunk.
I need someone to expkain some texty conversation beteen me and TS.
-the first one is too long but seems to be happy internetless TS got the news from Dr Z.
Me:
– Sans Internet I see…ΓΉYeah brilliant. You sound more drunk than I
TS;
– Oui mon ami, en Breton
Aww fuck know checking it all I think wired crossed etc.
Fuck it I still don’t underustnzaovtihioz moz”bt’n,u’bt(z(‘
www fuck
We are the Arsenal and we’rre through.
We’re the best!
10 games 10 wins in qualifiers. Nobody else.
Fuck you Nasri you cunt!
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees !! Get in you lovelies .
Sleeping Giant and Wolfgang The Imposter – lets be ‘avin’ you . What ? only gonna pop in when we lose – Cowards !!
Arsenal , my Arsenal , our Arsenal , Oh how I love you !!!
A more considered response to follow , but for now , get in you little beauty .
‘Holic , fantastic report , lovely-jubblie .
And it’s the real Wolfgang’s pleasure for the theme tune @1
Lovely fresh air in here tonight.
No sign of Cusop then. He’s probably at home trying to work out how to series record Sky Plus on Thursday nights. π
Trev, in addition you might care to consider the clear and open admission that he was tapped up by the bluemooning cunts all summer.
http://tinyurl.com/3bczr4o
Will anything be done? Will it fuck. The FA and UEFA are lame ducks.
A round of London Pride for everyone in the bar on my tab please barman! I’m off to work now. Will catch up on the drinks and maybe say something clever and uplifting later π
UTA
Hey Tabs – ARSENAL, BLOODY ARSENAL !!! π
I have now read the write up.
‘holic. I bow to your wonderful skills!
THANK YOU!
‘Holic – fuck the lot of them. Give me anyone who really wants to be here π
Several of whatever you desire, maestro.
I don’t see my previous drunken rant.
Oh well, probably for the best.
I blame TS, it was the drunkedest post I had ever posted on these here drinks.
Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
2-1
10 qualifiers, 10 wins. I’m pretty sure nobody did and ever will do this again.
hey Trev , what a great night ! Arsenal were magnificent . Bring on the Mancs .
tabs. Take a bow son.
You know what? Before today I was thinking sunday is the first time for ages (ever?) I thought we’d lose a game. Not anymore.
Drunken optpimissm so doubt but fuck this Manky cunts.
WE ARE THE ARSENAL SO FUCK ALL THE REST!
Holic
Tomorrow the sun will shine a little brighter,the grass will be a little greener,the air will smell a little fresher,the trains/buses and planes will all arrive on time,the girls will look even more beautiful,and every GOONER will have a very very very wide smile on their Faces..
BTM,wonderful read as always.
Cheers
The Sweeper.
‘Holic – I have to say I love this bar.
It’s mad, it’s serious, it’s daft, it’s considered, it’s populated by uber-serious suicidal maniacs, and laid-back loonies.
But, especially when times are a bit tough, it makes supporting The Arsenal twice as good.
Cheers mate, good job.
Holic
To pissed to give my own gratitude the team I have witnessed meant things in my life time that zubrowka took it on!
GREAT FUCKING GAME NO QUESTION HAVE BEEN ASKED A ROUND FOR EVERYONE IN THE BAR!
Indeed Clive.
Big grin here π
Happy GOONER ALWAYS A GOOONER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You lot are amazing.
Truly, barkingly, amazing π
Ollie , my old son , never doubt the Arsenal . On sunday were gonna have 11 boys out there who want to bleed for the club .
Mancs 0 The Glorious Arsenal 2
You heard it here first , Bring the indebted fuckers on !
Holic my long comment got deleted my other half did some bad thinsgs tonight! Despite we won the game
I SCREAMED AT THE TOPOF MY LUNGS TONIGHT!
COME ON …………
Great result and nice write up by holic and as usual BTM good stuff. Great display from the back, we also got a look into what Jenks could do around the box. As I said in previous drinks this team is capable of winning together and will gel the more time they spend together in training. Needless to say it is a great ask for Jenks frimpong Ramsey and jack for that matter to carry this team on their undeveloped but strong shoulders. We do need some cover so they can stay sharp and more important healthy. This is a dangerous team we have developing in front of us. We will see what the closing days of the window has in store for the team, arsene and the board. Keep those chins up an keep pushing forward.
With a result like this under the circumstances the team has gone through in the past few weeks does anyone have a case against the AKBs. It’s early but it feels good today….
Nurse ! I think Tabs may be in trouble !
I have to go to bed.
Work tomorrow might be messy.
But my boss is from Trieste so Udinese are the enemy…..
Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeench!
Goodnight.
Trev count me in!
Win lose or draw , Trev , always in trouble ! π
Ollie, you are a bad influence π
We’re in the CL group stages, now what’s next? A 22M bid for M’Vila that’s what next: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/aug/24/arsene-wenger-yann-mvila-arsenal
Now we mean business.
@IDKA: I understand where you come from, I’ll try to find the time to reply to your long post asap.
And as the HT MkII speeds triumphantly back across Europe, resplendant in it’s TS polished Red & White, I have a very busy day tomorrow, and Spuds to hurt, so I will bid you all –
Goodnight Glorious Goonerholics π
Firstly, great post ‘Holic. Nailed the general feeling and covered all
of the salient points as ever.
Secondly, I would like to say thank feck for that after what can only
be described as a performance of absolute commitment, concentration and courage turned out by our pride of young lions and augmented by a wonderful effort from Rosicky who, I am delighted to say, was finally a joy to watch again.
Thirdly, I would like to respond to this comment on the last drinks
from iH2H (from the bar):
“Canβt wait to see what the doomers make of that brilliant display.”
I think that after my recent “outburst” I was probably (and possibly
even correctly) getting lumped into this group. I have spent the past
few weeks feeling really rather down about our chances this season and, to be fair, I think with good reason.
Things have gone particularly badly for us in this close season, worse than I can ever remember for us and without question the worst of all and any of the established Champions League sides.
That said, credit where it is due and in the spirit of that and my penchant for short concise posts (/sarcasm ,) ), I would like to offer
the following:
Szczesny: Utterly brilliant from the big man (boy?!) between the
sticks. Seriously, reminds me so much of Schmeichel when he plays like that it is uncanny. Seems to be improving all the time and, strangely, when he plays like today he even makes Fabianksi look better!!
9/10
Jenkinson: A no-nonsense display from the youngster showing glimpses of what Wenger saw in him. I could count on 2 fingers the number of times he made me feel nervous. Rare indeed from a “second string” defender at AFC in this day and age! Seriously, Sagna might think about practising with his left foot! A few more shifts from Jenkinson like this and he may need that left back spot ,)
8/10
Djourou: Solid-ish as ever! This guy doesn’t totally convince me yet.
It is nothing to do with ability either, but he just seems like one of
those totally unlucky feckers who will always have those “moments”
regardless of how hard he works. Still remains to be seen whether he can stay injury free for 5 games in a row too!
7/10
Vermaelan: If there is one thing I cannot stand, it is Wenger harping
on about “like a new signing”. However, for once, TV’s return has
proved to be EXACTLY that. WHAT A PLAYER HE TRULY IS! I know we all “knew” that after his first season, but seriously, it is almost as if
he spent his entire 8 months injured studying Tony Adams, Martin Keown, Bobby Moore and Sol Campbell training videos! A monster at the back and surely the armband should go to him before it gets super glued to the wall of the treatment room along with RVP?!
9/10
Sagna: His usual solid self. Such a joy to see a player that can simply put on his boots, do his job and go home. No histrionics, no tantrums, no huge glaring gap in his game…Except he couldn’t put a cross on a fecking pools coupon, but then, when did we last have a full back that could?!
8/10
Song: Incredibly, he kept his head for the entire match, put in more
than his fair share of great tackles (although the whistle happy man in black certainly tried his best to give a free kick every time he so
much as looked at an opposition player), looked composed and unhurried on the ball (unusual in my opinion) and, above all, closed down every single inch of space between the their goal and, well, quite frankly, RVP! Didn’t give Udinese a second of peace and did it with intelligence (yes, I said that!) and drive. A joy to watch and my man of the match.
9.5/10
Frimpong: I recently used Frimpong as the next excuse for not buying a new player that Wenger will come up with. Admittedly, he still has a long way to go to prove that he can stay injury free as well as do the job week-in, week-out, but that said, if we went out and bought somebody like De Rossi, we would probably never find out, would we?! (Cue slightly tongue in cheek laughter here!)
7/10 (mainly because he only played 45 minutes)
Walcott: Yet again “El Conejo” (as I have convinced a bunch of people here to call him…The Rabbit to the who’s at home!) came good the minute he swapped side of the pitch anonymity for the central role that he is begging to be played in with every performance like this. I know we have all had the “He is like Henry”/”Don’t fecking say that” debate, but seriously, can you think of another player that he reminds you of when he is in full flight like that?! I can’t. Was anybody, anywhere in ANY doubt that, from the moment he cut inside and Sagna shaped to pass to him, he was going to leave all for dead and bury the ball in the far right corner?! Well, the keeper was certainly convinced which made it easier as Theo buried it in the bottom left! This is the kind of thing that, for me anyway, frustrates the hell out of me right now with Wenger. When you have a striker capable of playing off the shoulder of the last defender with more pace than most of the strikers in the world, with the ability to finish in ten different ways when actually given the chance to “flow”, why stick him out on the wing and watch him fail to turn up time after time?! Terrified the hell ot of Udinese, the players and the entire city, every time he got near the ball and should have got a penalty and induced a red card on the cheating scumbag that elbowed him in plain site of both the referee AND the “fifth official”.
8.5/10
Ramsey: Not his best game in the red and white, but worked his socks off, gave his all and played some nice passes at various moments. Needs to add more consistency to his game but must also be forgiven a lot of that after being out injured for quite so long. Was basically asked to carry the midfield’s attacking effort for the first 45 minutes and for such a young and inexperienced man he did as well as could be expected given the high pressure circumstances.
7/10
Gervinho: Wasted far too many chances for others with his desire to
take on the entire pitch twice and roll the ball over the line with his
ego alone, but that said, created the goal which we so very desperately needed at exactly the moment when we needed, drew two markers for a lot of the game freeing up RVP to find himself some space to play in and frightened the living daylights out of everybody in the stadium. Truth be told, we have been crying out for a player to actually take the opposition on rather than pass the ball backwards for quite some time (since believing that Arshavin would do the job, I think) and now that we have him, it would be unfair to slate him for doing just that. Anyway, loves to play, has an incredible desire to be a hero, got sent off in his first match in the red and white…Has a great future ahead of him!
8/10
Van Persie: We all know that RVP is the most cultured player in the
side when he is fit and firing on all cylinders, but isn’t it just fecking BEAUTIFUL to watch anyway! Was bordering on majestic tonight, a
lot of which was through the unsung stuff. Changed the pace of the play whenever he felt like it, found space (in no small part due to the threats of Walcott and Gervinho pulling their men all over the place) and genuinely looked a class apart in terms of technique, vision, awareness and guile. Class, effort and an impish, lovable arrogance…Bergkamp, Smudger and Charlie (George, not Nicholas!) rolled into one on his day. Those days seem more and more to be only limited by injuries so let’s all hope that chapter is well and truly behind him and that he can now get on with putting his name in the list of Arsenal legends and maybe even get himself a seat at the Armoury Square!
Rosicky: When we first bought Tomas I was both thrilled and furious. I had almost idolised this player for years having found him originally in Football Manager!!! Seriously, I bought him for my team and he starred like no other so often that I took a genuine interest in him, going as far as watching some of the worst football in the world (Czech and German football, imagine!) and knew that he would be a great player for us. When he left Sparta and went to Dortmund for around 10m quid I felt that he had slipped through our grasp (we were seriously linked with him at the time). When we finally bought him, 5 years later, I couldn’t help but feel that we had missed his best years. 18 months without so much a looking at a football and, well, who could be blamed for thinking he may never play again and probably wouldn’t ever in an Arsenal shirt. Well, I am thrilled to say, it appears that the 18 months are now a thing of the distant past for Tomas and he is starting to genuinely play like the world class player I/many always believed that he was. What a joy to watch today (tonight for the majority of you guys!). Controlled the tempo of the distribution from midfield, knocked the ball forwards backwards and sideways with the kind of accuracy that our midfield has been crying out for every time Cesc has been injured/sold and generally played out of his skin. Most remarkable of
all, his tackling seemed to be coming out of the Vieira and not the
Scholes playbook! Where did he get those long legs from all of a
sudden?! Thank you Tomas, you are the pleasure to watch that I always dreamed that you would be.
8.5/10 (and that would be 10 had he played the full 90)
So there you have it. Long winded, self-opinionated, as myopic as ever and feck me didn’t that feel GREEEEAAAAATTTTT!!!!!
Ok, ok…I know, I am starting to sound like an AKB! Truth be told, I
have almost ALWAYS been more in the AKB camp, if any, from the signing of Vieira onwards, but so far in this close season I feel that he and the club are letting themselves and us down with their general inaction. Not to say I don’t still have the same passionate love affair with the man, it is just that when the cold nights drew in he kept forgetting to put the electric blanket on…Know what I mean?!??!
Put simply, I think that we were fecking fantastic tonight. Best Arsenal performance I can remember in quite some time, possibly even as far back as Villa away last November. That said, I think that Udinese are not in the same league (obviously literally, but you know what I mean) as the real competition in the Premier and Champions Leagues and I also think that performances like tonight are typical of us when the chips are down but there is nothing to truly “win”.
Qualification for the CL was, for me, an absolute must in terms of the fans getting behind the team, the players belief, the money and, most importantly by far, the chances of bringing in those players that we all know we so desperately need. We simply cannot reply on the team to play like this week-in, week-out yet and, until such time as we can, and I believe that day is not far away, we need some older, cooler heads who just know how to win.
Like I said, thrilled to bits and we truly needed that, but I hope this
doesn’t serve to brush the bigger issues under the carpet until the
January window when, quite frankly, it could all be much too late.
Anyway, told you we would win the Champions League!!!!
HAHAHA!
Pint of whatever the hell everybody wants and, just for once, I will
put it on my own tab and not that of Lars!
COME ON YOU GOONERS!
Please dont start with the “Β£25 million added to the warchest” because we qualified for the Champions League, cause that aint true that money comes later and surely will be used to reduce debt. However, the sale of Nasri is already being proved useful as the Guardian states that we just put in a bid of Β£22 million for M’Vila. Probably more than what he’s worth but he fills a much needed position with more quality than we have at the moment and everyone knows we got a shit load of money to spend. And also why do people think we need Hazard, we dont cause he’s a winger and a winger only, he CANNOT play as the head of our 3-man midfield. PERIOD. Depth is what will be improved, in the center of the park and center backs. (I would prefer a LB over a Cahill/Dann/etc. but whatever)
The best thing about today, this has to be the first time in a while that I have seen Arsenal play with two true wingers. Too bad the mancs wont get a taste of Gervinho on Sunday but good things come with time.
Breathtaking second half from the lads and what way to show that we can move on from Cesc and that French rat. Szczsney, Song, Rosicky, Gerv, RVP, Walcott all showed us that there are still players that will bleed for our beloved club and for me that was the most important thing. We can hold our heads high at Old Trafford on Sunday and give them a game.
Signings would be nice now and I hope Wenger delivers some much needed steel to this team.
Fuckin’ beautiful Arsenal, more of the same!
Wolf,
If we had lost today, the 25 million would have been the headline of failure on every single one of the bleat presses front pages, immediately discounted from our income stream and washed down the Thames with Arsene’s head by the pimple pickers.
Enjoy, nay savour, this fine moment. Let’s spend in anticipation and enjoy every single one of the se 25 miliion crisp notes. Don’t take any one thing away from today. Please.
Well Said BtM , and a magnificent report earlier .
Since old Wolfie Smallballs burst onto the blogging scene , we’ve had a cesspit of negativity from a”Wolfgang” , now we have a less than an enamoured WOLF .
Something fishy methinks .
Anyway , despite these no-marks , off to bed with a very happy heart
I’m happy…that is all….especially for a very young goalkeeper convincing everyone and an older midfielder showing the perfect blend of skill, heart and passion.
Arsenal always and always Arsenal. Players come and go….let’s get behind these lads AND our manager, it’s still only August after all.
‘Holic…your piece was brilliant – worthy of the 1,000th post in my book as was the performance by our lads. Just think, under the same circumstances 12 months ago we would have had Eboue at right back and you know who between the sticks. Arsene still knows best.
Watched the game live this morning then went for my walk.The sunrise never looked better.
“We live in a society where everyone has an opinion on everything. I’m like someone who flies a plane for 30 years and I have to accept someone can come into the cockpit and fly it better than I do” Arsene Wenger
Nothing but praise for our red and white soldiers. They brought it back home with some amazing energy and fighting spirit. And without our normal large number of away supporters as well. Just 350 according to the Sun? They, as well as the team are all heroes and legends.
You made us proud.
Not sure if I can concentrate today, too giddy….maybe time for “Arsenal Anthem” on repeat I think…
Just one observation: It is so great to read only positive comments for a change.
I honestly can’t remember the last time there wasn’t a single moaner with face do vomit over the Arsenal.
Up the Gunners.
Up Arsene Wenger the greatest football genius of all time.
Frelgian, you are a legend and a fucking nutter! Love it.
Up the arse!!
@ zgunner, agreed! With all the media/social media people have seemed to have been lead astray from what they know they love and to be true… The mighty gunners! We all read these opinions of someone with a keyboard and a send button. Lets not forget that…opinions are those of the writers/editors and surely must not be taken seriously in regards to what we know to be true. Again as I said in a previous drinks we have a good future team to rally around or something to that effect. Nice to know that we’ve all found a safe house with plenty of drinks to go around.
Bergkamp’s The Man – brilliant comment mate, you should do a blog !
Our #13 is still not hit his prime, if Iβm correct a keeper isnt really worth anything til about 30. Weβve got a bright trophy filled future ahead of us, letβs all stay positive and stand behind our red and white army!
Top drink, Winstons. My only change would be putting Szcz as MOTM (for commanding his area and a stunning penalty save), but I agree that Song had a fantastic game.
Good to see the HT picking up speed again.
Trev – Did I really ask you that ? Can’t remember that π
You’re absolutely right. It’s fun supporting these guys (I wrote it on the previous set of drinks), it’s fun listening to Frimpong, Jack, Woj talk about to The Arsenal.
Gervinho is a fucking steal at 10MΒ£.
Tabs mate – http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2029795/Arsenal-fail-Kaka-loan-Real-Madrid-insist-permanent-deal-Brazilian.html
I know it’s the male, but 17.5MΒ£ (same price as Cahill!!!!!!!!!!) for Kaka is an absolute steal and I want to build that statue!!!! π
Lol *mail
All of us have moaned in one voice about the lack of new signings. But I have a good feeling that last night’s result has helped us with a new signing – Team spirit. That cannot be bought with millions or billions.
Nice game, great effort. I knew we had it in us to kill off the circling vultures. Now, I hope this result doesn’t hinder any moves as we need depth. Don’t overthink this Professor, just buy quality. Doesn’t even have to be all-world quality, either. No need to try and get the best “deal”, if you have to pay a little more to get quality, do it. Need another DM (not new news), Djourou just can’t beat the man to the ball, happens over and over. Gervihno is a stud, Theo makes me nuts but he did well tonight…Sagna, world-class, simply put. Better from Ramsey…hasn’t been able to get the killer ball through yet, it will come. Youngsters played with some serious heart. Frimstone played within himself and Jenkinson did well. Rosicky played hard and effective…had a few nice tackles in midfield.
Sunday will be tough and I hope we can get a point but we are up against it with suspensions and injuries. No matter what happens Sunday, I think we’ll get stronger as the season progresses.
Lastly, Mr. Nasri…pfffff….why take one last swipe at the faithful?…can’t you just say thanks and move on? Why can’t you just say you wanted to double your salary?
Oh, I forgot….Holic is a legend….BTM, not so bad yourself.
@5 BTM, you really are the man! Here’s a case of Carib beer for your drinking pleasure π
@Snir, I’d have Kaka for that price!
Would be an amazing face to see in the dressing room when we need picking up…
Just finishing up behind my bar, major session in honor of the the mighty gooners
I’ll catch up on the drinks tomorrow as I’mfart as a pissed at the mo.
Voddies all round for the believers.
Up the Arse .
CoR – When people say a high profile signing to life the morale of the team, that’s what they mean π
Haven’t seen Hazard too much but if it comes to Hazard or Kaka, I know who I want.
OK we’re in the UCL.
Predicting time π
Who DON’T you wanna get?
POT 2: AC Milan, Lyon, Shakthar Donestk, Valencia, Benfica, Villareal, CSKA Moscow, Marseille.
POT 3: Zenit, Ajax, Leverkusen, Olympiakos, Lille, Basle, Bate Borisov and Manchester City
POT 4: Borussia Dortmund, Napoli, Dinamo Zagreb, Apoel Nicosia, Genk, Victoria Pilsen, Otelui Galati and Trabzonspor
I would really wanna avoid Milan, Shakthar, CSKA, Zenit and Dortmund.
Hmmm, I don’t really like for us to try to hide from good teams. It’s the Champions League after all and most if not all teams are of a high standard…But, I think if I could I would avoid Valencia, Villareal and Milan.
It would also be annoying to have to play City in the CL after everything that has happened between us recent times….
Not really sure about the standard of the rest of the teams after the summer though so I’m just throwing names out there…
Who would you avoid Snir?
Hahaha, didn’t read your last line Snir, gomenasai π
CoR – We cannot play City in the group stages.
I’m just looking to avoid any teams who would cause us any problems so we’ll clinch the group easily and will be able to rotate and give our players some time to rest as we all know how tough the EPL is (and no, I don’t want AW to rotate after winning three matches like he did last season because look where that brought us, only rotate after you’ve practically secured the top spot in the group) and not have to draw a tough team in the first knockout round.
I know, I’ve heard ‘that you have to win the big teams to win the UCL’ a ton of times but a bit of luck with the draw in the knockout won’t harm anybody!!
CoR .we can’t play Citeh till the later stages.
All done now, off to bed.
OK, one last drink then. Hic.
I agree with you on the luck part in the draw! Regaridng City, I meant in the knock out stages of the tournament as we seem to have bad luck against English teams in Europe…
Snir, have to avoid all the eastern euro(Asian) clubs at all costs due to travel but
Que sera sera
We went to stadio friuli
Took a vital win you’ll see
Que sera sera
Drinks for everyone (still on winstons tab I hope)
If not the first 2 get drinks…
Great, great match tonight. I was so nervous. Great result. Huge relief.
We’re through, now we need some luck with the draw π
Seeing idiots in the media publish stories such as “Arsenal are Goners” with a broken crest now forced to write “Arsenal show their resilience” stories kinda warms the heart doesn’t it?
Or does it just make you sick?
*Runs off to vomit in the face of such sycophantic, reactionary media reporting*
We all get drawn into, we need jagielka @ 22 mil or Cahill for 25 and in all reality yes TV5 is like a new signing… Kos, jd, and iggy( if only in the beer cup and FA cup replaces someone) are more than capable…. Albeit another cover for kos and TV5 is what we need, I believe we are not weakest at CB. Thomas and Tomas would be a huge addition to our squad should they perform but January is far too late to wait on… We need a respectable, reputable, strong, healthy international type to fill those slots but not overpay for either, neither whatever. I for one was really hoping OX was gonna get up and fill in for TH14 just to see what we’ve got but traore came on just as Gibbs would with clichy last season to fill the left wing… This professor may be a mad scientist but, I’ll still stand by my boys thru thick( and he’ll does it ever) and thin ( again does it ever). Nose to the grind stone boys a shit ton of footie left just give your all and compete is all we ask, look at shit Birmingham last season; nipped us in the bud…
I thnk I’ll take this 100th drink with my coffee….
A good day to read T’Interwebby thingy.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Wojciech Szczesny flying across the goal to save a penalty!
Lots to do at work today, but it will all be done with a smile on my face. And of course with the occasional break for catching up on the drinks.
And of course, my tab is open for you all while I’m away working π
Cheers ‘holic! Great team performance on and off the pitch. Really impressed with Jenkinson.
Since you put it that way Lars…can I have a gin tonic in celebration of our “Dutch courage”?
Simply massive performance from the boys last night, I was practically shouting the house down when Theo jetted into the area and coolly slotted home. Damn near gave the wife a bit of a turn!
And how fresh does the air feel in here today holics? No sign of our friends tomstoned (must be crying into his pint at having nothing to boo) and Cusop (only in here when we lose).
Gonna savour this baby all day long and beyond.
Have a good one holics!
Special mention to Holic for another great post and BtM for another legendary, verbal-wizard-esque summation.
Come on you RE-EDS!
great result well played lads good team performance,and i love that we are playing in a more direct manner something that has been needed for a while,big test this weekend i would think a point will be huge
IDKA … come on, where are you?
Morning all.
And *boilk*
Ok I’m hearing that Mvila kid is something special, like really special and that he’s probably gonna sign before Sunday.
Ollie, perhaps you can help us out and tell us what he’s like (and while you’re at it – is Hazard really THAT good?).
To be honest if AW chooses to dump the current formation and have 2 DMs and Jack in front of them I’d be pretty pleased.
But, if he can bring Kaka in, that would lift the club to enormous heights both on the field and in terms of morale. But then again, AW will never buy a 29 yo on a 150k a week salary and no resale value…
Too bad…:/
I would prefer Kaka over Mvila not to hurt Frimpong’s development as well. Song is 24, Mvila 21. With 2 DMs this young I can’t see any chances for Frimpong and that’s about the worst thing that could happen IMO, really like Frimpong and want him to get his chances.
An impressive *Boilk*, too, I’d guess, Ollie?
Good point about Frimpong, Snir. Now we’re sounding like Arsene!
But I think the creative midfield is more in need of replacements than the defensive midfield, having lost Cesc and some other bloke.
I was nervous as hell about last night, but what a fantastic game to watch, I have praised this side for their battling qualities against Liverpool even thouigh we did not get the result we needed, But this was on a whole new level, Could Chezzer turn out to be our best ever keeper?
Udinese were not some pansy flowerpuff opposition that made us look good as at times we looked to be cut open, but the difference this time was that nobody panicked and lost control completely, I’m not going to single out any particular players for praise except Wojnech as he was my man of the match.
Did anybody else have that sick feeling of deja vu when shortly after we scored we gave away a penalty………..and then an almost foreign feeling of euphoria as THAT save changed everything.
As predicted however the officials still seem to dislike us as they could notice the handball amongst a melee but fail to notice an elbow to Theo with nobody else in the way at all.
But once again what a game, Who needs a “tired” Cesc and a money grabbing NaΒ£ri when the players we have left seem to have found their heart and passion again……..could both of our departees have been having a negative effect in the dressing room?
And lastly I will hold my hands up and admit that Le Prof got both tactics and subs spot on last night and it was a joy to behold.
I totally agree Dr. C, but if AW brings in another DM it has to be a change of formation with Jack raking a more forward role cause I just can’t see Song being benched.
If he stays with the same formation with Song and Jack and someone in the hole then Kaka would be perfect.
About Frimpong, not only his he strong, tough, committed and loves The Arsenal, he and RvP had 12 passes between them. That’s as opposed to Denilson who doesn’t have 12 forward passes his entire career (although it had a lot to do with the fact that RvP was dropping deeper than usual last night but still…).
*taking
*is
Depth is needed I reckon. Just because another DM comes doesn’t mean Frimpong will be hampered though. Look at our situation now, injuries, suspensions. I’m pretty sure if the Boss is signing a DM is to prevent a similar occurence in the future. Because let’s face it, guys breaking up attacks are more likely to be carded…
Is the Mvilla story on the level though?
Ok so 21MΒ£ bid for Mvila has been lodged.
Bolton rejected a bid for Cahill, holding out for 17MΒ£.
And to the entertaining part of the day – Gazzeto Dello Sport are reporting AFC will bid for Snjieder. Don’t see it happening at all but boy, that would be so funny.
CG (the Catalan one) – well said at 106. Can I also add a call for Cusop, Sleepinggiant and tomstoned? Warming up their keyboards for Sunday no doubt!
COYR!
Snir – if we get Sneijder I will eat Holic’s pants.
Snir, I was actually thinking that the reason why Sneijder was dicking around with Utd was because he was coming to us. Pretty far-fetched but could you imagine if it’s true? Probably isn’t though π
Dann, Kaka and MVila then? All players who we’ll have a hard time coming up with songs for π
Not really in the know about M’Vila, but I don’t think that buying him would hurt Frimpong in any way. It WOULD probably hurt the next in line behind him though (be it Coquelin or somebody else) and would probably be the nail in the coffin that is Denilson (if that isn’t already well and truly hammered in already).
The way I see it is that both Song and Frimpong are cultivated enough to play in a box-to-box role. Remember Song’s attacking forays over the last two seasons? And Frimpong, having been with the academy for ages surly can string a pass or two together and will only get better. If we are interested in M’Vila I’m sure he is quite good with his feet as well.
Over the course of a season, we will have at least one DM injured at some point, perhaps even two if counting suspensions. And if not there will always be games against stiffer opposition where we will want to play to defensive midfielders, or just play one but have another on as a more central midfielder that still can put in a tackle. Or all the times we will need to shut shop.
Three DM’s competing for one and a half DM-spot would be great. I can see us starting with one of them every second game, and two every second game. Had they been complete destroyers and play-breakers it would have been a different story.
Having all that said, I do not have a clue as if to M’Vila is the answer to anything, but even though I will always support our players and always am extra proud when a young ‘un makes it, I’ll never say no to some extra quality if available!
Oh, and I still got a big grin on my face since yesterday.
@116: CG, are those two (sleepingiant and tomstoned) really gooners? Seems like this blog has some wind up merchants masquerading as gooners to me…
So thing I’m trying to say is that I don’t think we necessarily have to change to the formation in all games. We could always play one of our cultivated DM’s further up as a safeguard during tougher away-games. Song might not be a Fabregas yet, and will never be, but some of his through-balls have been lovely the past couple of years.
Cannons, very good question.
I agree Toby. Song really is quite gifted but IMO it’d be best to leave him as a DM and not put him in Jack’s role.
Is anybody else hearing about that injury to TV?
Absolutely Snir. But when the games come thick and fast and suspensions and injuries set in, I just don’t think that three technically gifted DM’s that can both play in the deepest role and play in the box-to-box position will be too much to “kill” Mr. #DEEEENCH. And that is even if we buy an attacking midfielder as well. We’re in four competitions after all.
AND WHAT?!
Injury? NO!?
ollie@39: heh and double heh! I also exchanged a few texts with TS, but I was quite a bit less drunk than you seem to have been π
winstons@66: a good post, if only a tad short. Care to elaborate a little? π Just kidding of course, a great post.
CoR@103: of course you can!
Ollie@107: I am impressed that you are already up!
Snir@108: I’m not at all convinced Kaka would be a very good buy. He is massively overrated in my eyes, and there is a risk that him coming in with a big name might put too much focus on him.
We still need reinforcements but last night was a massive, massive win. We are starting to adapt to life post-Cesc, and seeing Gervinho take on his man and creating space feels great. This will be needed against parked buses, it has been too easy to just pack the central areas full of players and watch us stand around on the wings. Gervinho may well be the key to unlocking this.
I have also watched the extended highlights on Arsenal Player (in VERY good quality, must have been upwards of 2Mbps – a joy to watch on my 21″ computer screen) and the penalty is a diabolical joke. It should have been a free kick for us because Vermaelen gets pushed in the back and from what I could see it actually looked like even most Udinese players thought it was a free kick. Thank Dennis that Szczesny came up big and like Riquelme before him, Di Natale now knows the true effects of the folly of trying to score on a dubious penalty against a slightly mental Arsenal keeper! It is actually a bit uncanny how similar the situations were – a penalty that should not have been, the player looking down into the ground with flickering eyes being visibly shaken, a high(ish) shot to our keeper’s right and then a crucial save and a corner to follow.
Also, a word about Carl Jenkinson. I was one of those who wondered what the hell Arsene was doing in selling Eboue and getting a player who less than a year ago was playing non-league football – but fuck me if Arsene wasn’t right again! Jenks has every possibility of becoming a magnificent player, he’s big, strong, quick and never complicates things when under pressure. There were a few occasions yesterday when he just belted the ball away when we were under a bit of pressure instead of trying something elaborate thus gaving us time to regroup and then just soak up the next attack. I am all for creativity, but sometimes you just have to wallop the ball as far away as possible (something a certain GaΓ«l Clichy would do well to learn, although that is not our headache anymore).
Anyway, a very very very very very important win. Now we have given ourselves the chance to build something quite good upon this team. We have a great foundation, now let’s get the icing for the cake as well.
DEEEENCH!
Take a look at him on the build up for the 2nd goal, right after he passes to Sagna.
AW said he asked to come off at the end.
I was afraid it’s the Achilles but it looks as if he’s holding his hamstring and he kinda played through it.
But AW says it’s a worry which has to be worse than out ‘for a few days’ which is at least 3 months out…
I can’t… GHE/&&%&”%”(… hea”/(β¬you&(” Snir=(…..PRRFFHHHGGGGG, I thin(/⬔HHHHGK I’m going into////&% a tunnel)/”)
Meh.
Does anyone want to see Arsene prove everyone (including me I must admit) wrong?
I do.
I have been thinking for a couple of years now that we need some leaders.
Now – Szczesny, Sanga, Vermaelen, Song, The New/Old Rosicky and RVP are all people I would want in my trench. Add Aaron, Jack, and the phenomena that is Frimpong and we can start to build a right old fortress.
A couple of days back I was thinking what a waste of time we have invested in Denilson, Vela, Bendtner, etc.
Today I am marvelling at the astute purchases of Jenkinson and Gervinho and the huge promise that is Frimpong and wondering what the Ox and Ryo are going to be like.
When King Kenny pays Β£22m for Henderson and red nose Β£20m plus for Young and we get Gervinho I know which manager I would prefer.
Current thinking – don’t rush Arsene! You know what you are doing.
Happy pills all round today.
Fuck it, you’re all right – sign M’Vila!!!
Nice idea about 2 defensive minded ones and Jack further forwards, or even reverting to 4-4-2.
Happy days.
Wouldn’t mind Kaka or Sneijder either. But haven’t RVP and Sneijder had fallngs out in the past??
Took a look now, yes, he does seem to be moving in a bad way. I know it’s easy to say now, and things might have ended differently but when they needed three goals, why not get Miquel on, or even move Song down? Oh well. If we are to risk a players health this was the game to do it. Heh, if nothing else we might have to move Song down to CB now and have M’Vila fill his position :p
But going to United without Song, Frimpong or Vermaelen will probably mean a busy night for Sczc.
Anyways, fuck it! It’s soon (erhm) lunchtime, I’m up for an IPA!
Toby, if Kos is fit then I think it’ll be Kos and TV/Miquel (if TV isn’t fit) at CB and Djourou at DM on Sunday.
Well I’m off to pastures new, as posting here makes bugger all sense if nobody ever bothers replying……Gooners need to stick together even if they have opposing viewpoints, Good luck to all and glory for the gunners!
Snir, that’s probably the best option we have available yes and might well work. I THINK I’d rather have Verm as a DM (but I’m not sure what I base that on since I haven’t seen any of them playing in that position for more than a few minutes really, perhaps it’s Verm’s left footed strikes and the allure they have) but then again, if fit he must play in central defense. Can we have two of him please?
http://t.co/IAGfGhY
That M’Vila kid has some impressive stats. Very impressive.
Most impressive – gets dispossessed only once a game.
Draped ol’ chap. Good post, not much up for debate. My first post on todays match went completely uncommented as well, just the way it goes when the bar is flooding over with pretty much the same #DEEEENCH (I wonder for how long and in how many different context I can get away with this). I feel pretty much the same as you with regards to the game.
The only thing I can say is that even if I was 100% sure Sczc wouldn’t save the penalty (and that is not down to me doubting him, I just love him too much already and it wouldn’t be fair of me to expect him to start saving every other penalty) I wasn’t that nervous. Still thought we would get through. Just felt like we had one goal in us, and even if not, I felt that had the penalty gone in it would have been one fabulous goal and a very lucky penalty for them. Could well have held out without letting a third one in, and we did.
Snir,
This got me all excited:
“In all the 37 games he was only once picked as WHOSCORED.COMβs Man of the Match but he finished the season as the player with the highest rating (7.06) in the whole squad.”
To be fair to tomstoned – have a look @23
Draped – do you actually want a reply to every post you make? Doesn’t ever happen. I’ve gone back and re-read your post, and mostly agree with everything, but can’t see any question that needs answering.
You hang on in there. Or turn on the light. π
Oh, and everyone, have a look at young Jenk’s post-game interview at Arsenal.com. He can hardly hide how bleedin’ proud he is of himself and of the team. As much as we all love experienced players, seeing the eyes of a player that never has done this before, coming away from a game like this with a win, and hearing him speak about it is beautiful. He is living the dream and he really is a Gunner down to the core.
At work still pissed I think need another soul to get me through today…
COME ON YOU BLOODY ARSENAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Morning all π
Probably coffee all round?
Regarding the Β£25 mil CL ‘lotto win’, – don’t know where I read it, think it was Tonys Untold Arsenal or the Swiss Rambler, but in the initial move to the Grove, in the financial plan, it was allowed for, that we could financially afford to miss out on CL every 3 years (might be 4) and still maintain repayments and blah blah blah
So that’s what Le Prof was referring to in the post match interview last night, – financially it wasn’t the be all and end all that the media were harping on about.
HT is rolling again… good to see all the bright eyes this morning! (perhaps not draped lol)
Morning all, as I was at the match last night I have to say what a great day out I had. Lots of liquid refreshment prior and some quality time spent with so many different nationalities of gooners. As for the match it really has all been stated already on here what a fantastic performance and no renditions of ssfm was heard anywhere.
All of a sudden it was rosy in the garden again the boys did us proud and boy have we waited a few months for a performance like that. On the game the penalty was at our end and I have to say what a great save one of the best I’ve seen that’s for sure. It always looked though even in the first half that we were pretty much controlling the game.
Do you remember the opinions of some when we bought that unknown youngster from Charlton when we were all crying out for some experience? He played like a man last night did Jenkinson and showed no sign of pressure at all dont know where you get them from Arsene but keep em coming!!
Get 24 mil for Nasri is just great business for 3 months of decent play and Gervinho is a steal at 10mil that’s for sure. Most fans I spoke to last night wouldn’t swap Wenger for anybody as like most of us can see the potential of this team and so it showed last night.
One final word for the away fans, they are truly fantastic, welcoming and friendly and had so many great laughs last night, we are truly just class. I must also mention that the Italians in this region are also known for their friendship and warm welcome and so it proved last night which is such a relief, those who have gone to Rome and Turin can vouch for that one, not one bit of bother last night.
Keep the faith guys and the same perfomance up at Man IOU will do for me on Sunday.
Up the Arse
Austrian Gooner
Nice one buddy!
I think my mind is deceiving me but didn’t the Udinese fans cheered us on late in the second half?
Drinks all around…. please barman!
Arthur@143
Indeed they did after we did a lot of keep ball.
Morning all, great post btw last night holic. Just watched Jenks interview and you have to say the desire shown last night and the apparant joy in the dressing room is down to arsene. Woz, Frimps, Jack young and already well on the way to legend status. TV, RVP,Sags and Rosicky older heads with the desire required. Of those who left how many would have died for the cause last night, how many would have pumped up that dressing room and instilled a belief that now yes we can go to OT and get a result. Arsene has weeded out a lot of the half heartedness in this squad and now its core bleeds red and white. Add a bit of class and you have to say we are defo on the right road. Thought Udinese were just the type of team that could cause us problems but we stood tall and its onwards and upwards. And to Nasri all I will say is buy yourself a tweezers and a good book, the bench gets cold in january..
I would like to apologise to all our customers for the severe overcrowding on our North Italy service last night.
D L Ltd are happy to extend the invitation of a Season Ticket to those faint hearted souls who have been suicidal since the Summer on the strict condition that they show our “Inspectors” that since then they have a grown a pair of testicles. *
The company also accept no liability for leaving passengers Spectrum, Sleepinggiant, and Gareth Lecunt stranded on the platform with their reptilian tails between their legs.
in addition, the company have given a lifetime ban to an ex associate, the lesbian known as Nasri, for making outrageous comments about our most loyal customers.
The Happy Train is rolling.
All aboard, next stop Manchester.
* Wolfgang Smallballs was not deemed suitable for this role at the Company.
Ha! Tabs – I’d never thought about Nasri like that before. But he does.
Brilliant observation.
Sorry – my apologies, Dr F!
I really need to pay attention here.
Have we signed Messi yet? Perhaps we have too many small wingers already.
Benito Mussolini , Benito Carbone , The Leaning Tower of Pisa , Luciano Pavarotti , The other two tenors , corrupt Berlusconi , Roberto Begigni , Cicero the Lawyer , Julius Caesar , Mark Antony ,Monica Belluci , Sophia Loren , The Mafia , michelangelo , Leonardo Da Vinci , The Molinari brothers , Sergio Leoni , … listen up
YOUR BOYS TOOK A HELL OF A BEATING , YOUR BOYS TOOK A HELL OF A BEATING
Hair of the Dog please Barkeeps
Morning fellas ,
Dr C , Dr Feelgood is the good Dr Z , and much as i would love to claim credit for his perfect description of Na$ri , the accolades should go north of the border .
tabs @ 149 – you forgot Don Corleone and Tony Soprano π
and @ 150 – whilst said individuals have never been seen in the same room at the same time, are you SURE?
Today, I am enjoying Thursdays the way I loath Mondays……
For some reason I have been extremely inproductive at work today so far.
Another coffee please barman!
I feel I have just invented a word though.
Hello Ollie
Work? What’s that then?
Join TS and I on holiday – he’s on holiday and I’m in the office π
Dr Z @151 , quite right , can’t be sure , tho I do know Dr Feelgood ain’t me , although given my mood this morning , perhaps I am π
Morning Ollie .
Morning, eh? I see π
Koscielny in the France squad.
Could he be fit for sunday then?
Yep… knew that Dr F and Dr Z were related. I thought they were cousins on their mothers’ side?
I just saw a post from a bizarre alter ego and, for some reason, thought “TABS” !!
Who’s drinking what?
Dr. C
Sounds like you’ve had enough to drink already, Sir.
Spicy Bloody Mary Dr C – Cheers .
Ollie – Time just flies when you’re having fun π
Dr C I would like a brief reminder of last night’s Dark Rum frenzy.
Thanks.
Make it a super quality dark rum π
Dr F will settle for a toke from the GT and a quick look at the ticket sales graph 8)
tabs@160: ooh, a Bloody mary – I’ll have one of those too!
Nevermind Sunday for now, I’m just going to keep enjoying this for the rest of the day. I have a growing feeling that this squad might have something special about them, so if the board/Wenger can just make the right additions to allow the potential to be realized that’d be good.
Barman, another Bloody Mary please! I’ve already drunk the last one…
Right , so , a more considered reflection on Last night’s Italian Job .
The away juicer of choice was sparsely populated last night , reflecting perhaps not just the fact that the game was on terrestial TV , but that many had swallowed the tabloid-driven line ( and endlessly regurgitated here by Sleeping giant) that AW was a complete incompetent and that Arsenal would never ever ever win another game of football . The mood was verging on the funereal , and it appeared most wished to mourn in private .
Not so the hard core , who need the flow of shared alcohol to fully engage , the communal nerves to feed off , the occasional word of optimism to keep spirits up . So the start of the game saw young Tabs chatting to old Denis , 80 years old , and fit as a fiddle who’ll tell you stories about Arsenal during the war , and old Wolfie Smallballs perched precariously on his bar stool , giving withering looks to would-be suitors .
First Pint – My we’re looking good . Confident in possession , knocking it around sweetly and authoritatively . Flipper , with an ability to go past people for fun , immediately made friends with the ball with the consequence that VP was nowhere near as isolated as he had been against Liverpool . Theo took some early pub stick , but Wolfie just smiled to himself , he’d seen that the first touch was much improved , and that he wanted to impose himself on the game .
Second Pint – Adjust the pace-maker to level 4 – we’re getting pushed back . Our midfield 3 , whilst all enjoying good technical games , was too easily bypassed by the pace and guile of the Italian’s passing . Behind them , Verm and Sagna were as immense as they had been on saturday . IDKA – Sagna not a great full back ? you’re having a laugh . Jenks , calm and assured , nothing fancy , nothing beyond his limitations , as far removed from the headless Eboue as it is possible to be .
Third Pint – Jesus , this game’s open , whoever scores the first goal will win . They rattle the woodwork (twice) , Theo misses one put on a plate for him by the mercurial Flipper . Just as I’m thinking we’ve made it to HT intact , Djourou is caught ball watching , ( so was Wolfie) and the ball is in our net . Bollocks , bollocks , bollocks , when will Johan become aware that he lacks awareness ?
Half-time fag and stick the pace-maker up to “off the scale” . We can’t be putting up with thursday footie , I mean Jesus , that’s my squash night , and Wolfie likes to catch up on his knitting .
Fourth Pint – Come on Arsenal , bloody good start , and magnificent tactical intervention from AW from the bench . Rosicky is hugely industrious , calm in possession and biting in the tackle . His introduction allows Ramsey to play slightly deeper , and with slightly more time on the ball , he begins to look much better . Flipper , VP , 1-1 , Spilt beer , a roar , and clenched fists , we’re back in business . Even Wolfie had to adjust his dress , given all the excitement .
Fifth Pint – Just keep it calm Arsenal and we’re home and hosed . What’s that ? The Ref giving the oppo a completely daft penalty , which hadn’t been appealed for and which no-one had seen . Ollie’s prediction of corruption come to fruition . Put your pint down Tabs , no more spillage when our young keeper , awesome throughout , saves it . WHAT A SAVE !! Tabs is on his knees , Wolfgangs on his knees , Denis just sits there , and maybe we have the best penalty save in the history of The Champions League .
Sixth Pint – The pace-maker is still on maximum , but you know it’s Arsenal’s night . Jenks and Rosicky play a bit of 5-a-side , over to Bac , who slips in Theo . They ain’t gonna catch him , go on son , yeeeees , 2-1 Thank you and good night . We’re in the Big Boys league again , and for all the Arsene doubters out there , only Manure , throughout Europe , can match our 15 year consecutive streak . The guy must be doing something right . The truth is he’s doing an awful lot right .
Seventh Pint – Old friends reacquainted , strangers back slapping and the Beer takes on an altogether more seductive taste . Only the Arsenal does this .
Come on Wolfie , time to get a curry .
Bloody Marys all around – an excellent choice.
A dark rum Mojito (all the rage over here) for Dr Z, and a rolled PiK special for Dr F from the GT (official sponsor of the GT Rollers, having bought the naming rights for a packet of Frosties and 6 pack of Pot Noodles).
Holics, I know we’re all cock-a-hoop about last night’s game, but has anyone mentioned, Di Natale aside, what a filthy bunch of diving cheats some of the Udinese players were last night?
Perfect example of some of their craven play-acting tactics: winger gets dispossessed fairly by Le Sagna just outside the area, counter attack starts. Said winger is lying still on the grass clutching his completely un-injured ankle trying to get the ref to stop the game while we break up the other end and nearly score.
Throwing yourself down after a little clip is so commonplace I barely bat an eyelid when it happens, but THAT level of cheating is on another planet. It puts them way up there with one of my favourite filthy cheating bastards, Boaz Myhill – remember the FA Cup quarters when Hull went 1-0 up in 5 minutes and he spent literally the rest of the game taking really, really slow goal kicks?
And while we’re on the topic, anyone else got any Players You Love To Hate who showed what utter c*nts they were in the short space of just one game?
A Pina Colada with all the trimmings for Wolfie?
Oooooh yes please Doctor . My oh my , you know how to treat a lady …
In honour of number 163:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLrnkK2YEcE&ob=av3e
Good spot, Camberwell, yes I noticed that during the game yesterday.
Well what can I say, but my word, there are some brilliant posts above that have cheered me immensely, and I am seriously in need of some cheerβ¦
Used qualifier to take opportunity of paying visit to Italian-based brother and his family.
Arrive Monday to news that brother has been having affair. Sister in law knows. Has seen some photos on computer. And some emails. Ones better left unseen I think.
As a result brotherβs house a mini-warzone, with weather and atmosphere only marginally cooler than the surface of the sun.
Spend Tuesday placating warring parties, downing copious bottles of red wine, offer soothing and sage words of advice all round. Drunken conversations continue until darkness.
Trip up wobbly flagstone steps in unlit olive grove on way back to house. Completely Koscielny the old back. Hobble drunkenly to bed in some pain.
Wake up in early hours of Wednesday unable to sit up let alone drive 6+ hours to Northern Italy. Red wine + heat induced megahangover pounding inside skull. And bedroom full of bats. Well not full exactly, there were 4. But this is 4 more than I will actually ever require on any given day or night. They are not helping the bad back. Or the megahangover.
No matter. Must be some way of seeing game later. This is 21st century after all. And this is Italy. Pivotal CL football game bound to be on a telly box somewhere within hobbling distance.
However brother and sister in law wish to take me to dinner in nearby town. Really not necessary I say. βWe insistβ I am told. Protestations go nowhere. Give up and go to restaurant.
Do not watch game. Eat pizza. Drink even more red wine. Canβt check match, no f*ckinβ signal on iPhone. Hobble back to house arriving just in time to discover that in the first game I have not seen in person or on the telly box in I donβt know how long, the glorious Arsenal have played a blinder.
AND I HAVE MISSED EVERY BLOODY SECOND OF THE THING.
Moral of story 1: do not claim you wish to see actual family when your real intention is to see football family.
Moral of story 2: Football family may be frustrating at times, but mostly causes significantly less pain and irritation than real family.
What drink is good for a bad back then? Iβll have about a hundred of those please π
Hey Snowy , great post , I’ll get you a hundred drinks of your choice , on Lars’ tab of course π
Thanks TABS you’re a legend ! I’ll have a hundred of anything that is NOT red wine π
100 Bloody Mary’s on their way Snowy .
I think a visit to the CMC might be in order for the back .
Highlights of the game on Arseblog’s video page if you haven’t yet caught it .
There’s only one Wojciech Szczesny, one Wojciech Szczesnyyyy
There is only one Wojcech Szczeeeeeeeeeesnnnnnyyyyyyyy!!!
Good stuff there :
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/keep-alex-ferguson-off-the-bbc-forever/
We believe that Alex Funguscunt’s long absence from post-match interviews has been a huge benefit to most football fans who do not enjoy his paranoid and self-serving rants. We call upon the BBC to boycott Alex Ferguson.
Snowy, would be happy to mix you any number of the grade-A caipirinhas I concocted for the CG Management pre-game last night.
They went down a storm!
WHAT A COCK!
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/transfer-news/Samir-Nasri-leaves-Arsenal-with-dig-at-fans-claiming-new-club-Manchester-Citys-supporters-more-passionate-article789949.html
βWhen I saw the [City] fans had tattoos and were passionate, I thought, ‘Thatβs what I want.’
Hahaahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
I have to say that made quote me laugh, Arthur.
What an idiot.
Zico,
your local boys are in fine voice in the bars around Liverpool st station, a very big turnout as well, apparently their going to win 6-0, well think we’d all go along with that!
Drinks all round for 180, my favorite dart score, get in.
Holic’s
All been said over the last 16 hours or so on here already, but i’d like to add two words to the proceedings:
THANKS
&
HOPE.
Because that’s how I felt after watching the game last night, & what a game it was. not sure we will see a better one this season loved every min of it.
Our young lads played a blinder, even young Carl after a torrid first half put in a blinder in the 2nd hope this was him coming of age, but in fairness he probably still has a way to go.
Oh as for Szczesny this boy just gets better every game I see him play, I actually said to my boy just after half time, ” the thing I love about Szczesny is he just don’t make mistakes, ” hope I don’t regret I made that statement?
What a refreshing change to some of the clowns we have had between the sticks for too many years now, since England number 1 all those years ago now.
Keep it up boys………….
Ollie
His wage obviously degraded his brain function, fucking tattoos?
He is one disturbed individual!
Snowy,
Dr C would like to prescribe you an :Auntie Beechams”, as detailed previously on this fine site.
Take one glass of Vodka. Add a sachet of Beechams (the ibuprofen is the important part here). Stir well. Down rapidly. Repeat until loss of consciousness relieves pain and muscle spasm.
What’s that? Professional indemnity??
Heh Dr. C.
Nasri you fucking wanker.
He’s arsed off because Wenger showed he really wanted him to stay in the team and stated it publicly on various occasions and did all he did to keep him at the Ems?
He thinks he’s qualified to comment on what the atmosphere was like at Highbury, at which point in his life he was scrubbing around in the playground wiping snot off his face?
He thinks he can have HALF the standing in the team at Shitty that he had at Arsenal?
Good fucking riddance you deluded little gold-digger.
Anzhi in a couple of years for him, CG π
Guys check this twat Citeh Player with Arsena kit on heh?
http://twitter.com/#!/Nanas08
Oh what a beautiful day, the sun is shining, (hasn’t happened a lot here in N Holland this “summer”) children are singing (I wish they’d shut the fuck up, I’m trying to enjoy my hangover) and everything seems just a little better in the world.
A Bloody Mary please squire, while I catch up on the drinks.
Ollie, “Anzhi”? Excuse my ignorance…
Just read Nasri’s parting comments and it started to rain, I shit you not. What a cunt, shame for him that Adebuymore is unwanted there as those two would have got on like a house on fire.
Back to the drinks.
I’m off to get a tattoo on my forehead saying Nasri is a Lezza . No passion ? , I’ll learn him
That’s where Eto’o just signed, Camberwell.
Ah. Of course. Or how about Chicago Fire? π
Snowy , beware families and football, they just dont mix. Plenty more nights ahead to get blathered in the company of like minded folk.
Nasri,when your career is over who will you belong to, who will remember you when your trying to speak. Not among the pantheon of greats will you sit my son but outside in the cold with only the candle of past regrets to keep you warm…you fuckdog..
And where Arshavin was rumoured to be going, until he said…
I Am Gooner.
@Vinny π
Any similarities to the 2005-2006 squad that went till the finals even though for a large part of the campaign we did not play with our best team??
In today’s Tuesday Club Arsenal podcast they mentioned a photoshop image I did on their Facebook page of Ian Stone and called it superb π
http://thetuesdayclub.libsyn.com/the-tuesday-club-have-that-in-your-hole
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150278122616298&set=o.123701174368610&type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150278070361298&set=o.123701174368610&type=1&theater
The Tuesday Club
thetuesdayclub.libsyn.com
EDIT_HERE
Get in!
tabs @ 163 – great summation of a visit to the pub….and the match
but Wolfie has forsaken his Speedoes for a dress? At least you had the class to take him/her for a curry π
Glennw@ 180 – nice dream, but they will be lucky to get nil. They will however drink your town dry. I hope they behave themselves – zico Management will have words if they don’t. π
1650: And I have some timings for you now. The trophy will arrive on stage at 1651 BST. The first pot will be drawn at 1705, the second pot at 1716, the third pot at 1727 and the fourth pot at 1737.
Not drawn out.
At all.
Eto’o – I’m not at Anzhi for the money – To quote the Dench master – pffff come on.
I want Marseille, Ajax and Genk. All nice and close, no poxy trips to Siberia in late November.
Snir
Have a drink on my tab pffff come on
Would sound OK to me, CG.
Caught up.
Excellent posts above.
@Winson’s Myth.
Nice post, I wasn’t singling you out as a doomer, not my style, but fair play if you’re willing to admit your mistake. π
Snir, I have to agree with Lars re Kaka, the occasions that i have seen him play over the last few years, which weren’t that many due to injury, the only thing I remember was thinking that he did his name justice.
From our reporters in italy. Good stuff, nice report from Austrian and a good “how to miss a game” report from Snowy.
Thanks for the gulp by gulp review tabs, thirsty stuff.
Dr Z,/F be sure to check all the tickets of the HT passengers, I think we may of picked up a few stoyaways, doomers in disguise, maybe we can assign them a carridge of their own, I suggest we call it “the bandwagon”.
Ollie, the CG’s, BtM, AtG, GW and the rest of the holics, grab yourself a drink lads.
Where’s TS?
OK now for the draw. I’m hoping for Ajax.
Marsaille!!
What a prediction! We got Marseille first.
Marseille the furthest French team, cunts, no Lille then, gutted
Dr Z @200 – congrats on the effortless double century .
As regards Wolfie , he told me the dress was to protect his modesty – he likes to dress up when he knows he’s in line for a bit of prawn ceylon , I am assured The Arsenal Eurotrip Speedos were on underneath . π
–
But I hope in these conditions that your next predictions are spot on too, CG!
I can feel Ajax in my bones.
It’s quite a weird sensation I can tell you.
H2H – you’re welcome , and Cheers for the Beer .
All to yours if we get Ajax ?
Your bones must be very clean then, CG.
*gets coat*
We are off to Marseille
Haven’t seen Steve T here for ages what happened to him?
We are going to get he Tattoo man’s team heh
Ollie I was going to make the same joke but didn’t want to have to do what you just had to…
Fuck you Nasri , you Billie jean King lover , if my maths is correct City in with Barca and AC
Olympiacos…not bad…
Kebab me up !
That would have been great tabs, I was praying to get Ajax, but it was not to be, we get the greeks instead, not too bad i suppose
Shitty get Bayern and Villarreal
tabs
Extra garlic on mine please SIR!
bugger , City not in with Barca , but Bayern and Villareal will both give them a game .
Sorry Camberwell.
Senior….I should say…
Your maths somewhat leave to be desired, tabs old boy
Last pot to go….come on….
If we all think ‘Genk’ at the same time, will we get them?
Ollie, now you know who NOT to ask when looking for a good betting tip!
Genk, Genk, Genk…
Coming right up Arthur . I’ll even throw in some stuffed vine leaves for you .
This group looking pretty ok . Anyone in group 4 we need to avoid ?
Genk me up !!
No Genk, no ajax but still nice!!!!
Dortmund – bollocks
Germany Dortmund…not bad could be worse….
Bah. Gutted.
Tough-ish draw.
Bollocks. Aren’t Dortmund quite good?
glad we avoided Dortmund tabs, i watch a lot of Bundesliga and they’re pretty good.
I blame Camberwell, of course.
He relaxed too early after his first prediction went through.
Fuck, the commentater fucked up here and said we had the romanian team, didn’t want to get Dortmond, they were easy the best team in pot 4.
*hangs head in shame*
It’s all good anyways Holics. You know what we’re like against the whipping boys, we turn up and think it’s won before we even get on the pitch. Put us up against someone with a bit of quality and our own quality comes out.
If we can do Barca at the Ems we can definitely put one over on Dortmund.
H2H – we didn’t avoid em . Sorry if i misled you . I was just joining in the wished for chorus for Genk .
Tough group for us but still fancy us to come through it .
Strange that Citeh, who finnished third in the league and have never played in the Cl were in Pot 3 wheras German champions and former winners were in pot 4.
But then again, with so many wankers at middle eastlands, I suppose its only to be expected that they were “seeded” higher.
:B
That should be π
Wouldn’t be surprised H2H if a few pieces of silver didn’t cross a few palms to secure shitty’s seeding .
Pretty good draw.. dortmund play attacking football, should be a creat couple of games
Still catching up with the drinks holic. Why is it that after a brilliant european night, I have to get drowned in work?
Basically, now is the time to sign Mario GΓΆtze!
whoops double neg
Nasri in first interview with shity said he would love to draw Marseille so he could go back to his home town and play. Seems like the curse of bad luck the moment you leave the Arsenal has already started.
Yes, I must have missed the recent and numerous glorious campaigns of City in Europe.
Right, what am I still doing at work. Off home, toodle-pip!
I suppose it could of been worse, but I can’t ever remember being more worried about the team drawn from Pot 4, then the teams from pots 2 & 3.
Funny ol’ game.
Holics of course..stupid phone
H2H@206: TS is on holiday somewhere (don’t know where) and he has got no Internet connection.
So…
Dortmund
Marseille
ΞΞ»Ο ΞΌΟΞΉΞ±ΞΊΟΟ
Not the easiest of opponents, but definitely far from impossible. Most definitely a winnable group. Win all the home games, win one away game and draw the others and Robert has become your father’s brother.
Rosicky’s old team,innit?
Cheers Lars, I need to pay more attention.
Snowy-
I gave up on “family” long ago. A man can’t choose his “relations”, but a man can choose his friends and like-minded associates. Those become his family if he is lucky.
Gooners are my family. Wenger is a most capable patriarch.
Long may it be so.
Barca must be destroyed.
Check out the new Cesc interview over on arseblog vids, he often refers to arsenal as “us” and “we”.
Tough tough group. But also very entertaining group. Three very difficult away trips. Dortmund can beat anyone on their day and Marseille gave Utd real trouble last year.
H2H@261: good stuff! “…and then after we saved the penalty…” … “…we deserved to win…”
H2H and Lars , wise words re Cesc .
But what about Frimpers’ interview . F*cking hell , that lad looks like a young Joe Frasier .
Smokin’ π π
Please please Barton , go to QPR , so that Frimpers gets 2 more opportunities to lay you out with nothing more than the evil eye .
Have a confession to make – couldn’t resist a quick look over at Le C*nts today . There is some serious wailing going on there because we won a game !!!!! Arsenal fans ?? Do me a favour .
Tabs, my intrigue was piqued so I had a glance over at Le Moan (first and last time). What a bunch of spoilt whinging twats. One guy bitching about how it’s shit that we’ve made it into a tournament we’ll never win…didn’t say much else because his mum called him in for tea and made him finish his algebra.
Cahill, M’Vila and Martin to sign.
LB and Forward not likely at the moment.
Who would be happy with that?
It really is awful over there Camberwell . The worst offender was Geoff Gervais . He told one pro-Arsene poster that the site doesn’t do insults before calling him a c*nt .
The irony appeared completely lost on him !
Tabs. Ha! What a douche.
Adebaywhore signed for Spuds
Not really a raving review of Ade or Tottenham from City if they are prepared to send him on loan to a… title… erhm… riv… no I just can’t say it *breaks down laughing*. Speaking of lost irony, I’m not sure that neither Adebayor or Spurs realise that it’s a complete and utter write-off of both club and player. For once I almost enjoy something that City have done!
H2H, Lars – You guys are mad!!! π
Kaka would be more than great, he’d be absolutely perfect. What a player. Not overrated in any way.
Tough group but we should (!) win it.
Snir, I’d say he is overpriced, not overrated, if you know what I mean. A very talented player. He is not a Β£56m player. That is his biggest fault, but you can’t blame him for that. So in that regard, Real Madrid probably overrated him. I wouldn’t mind him, not at all, but certainly not for any sums anywhere near that.
Tabs and CG – agree on LeMoan( see my post @16). That lot is the very antithesis of supporters.
Toby – Agreed .
Snir – Evening . Thanks for linking to The Daily Fail article re Kaka above . Now if that article is to be believed ( I know , I know ) , surely this means that the great AW was at least thinking along the same lines as me back in June , even if the deal doesn’t come off . Imho , I reckon I am entitled to half a statue . Now then , my best half is my bottom half .
When can I pop round for a fitting , or whatever it is you statue-making chaps do , before you get your hammer and chisel out ? π
Le C*nts are worse than spuds , Bearded .
Jam tarts playing all the football against the Spuds . Spud young’uns very ordinary . Jam tart supporters superb .
Would love to see them win .
Sadly I have to agree Tabs. If nothing else at least the spuds actually want their team to win. Windows to lick
To save our season,
Give us this day a good result,
And forgive us our poor discipline,
As we forgive those who commit fouls against us,
And lead us not into the Europa League,
But deliver us from mid-table,
For we are The Gooners,
The class and the history,
Together forever,
Amen.
Drinks all around and Wisnioka in me pocket, Holic would you like a taste of this good old medicine?
ATG – class mate, pure class. Can you do an adaptation of Hail Mary, entitled Fail Harry?
I have forgotten how to spell in Polish now……..WISNIOWKA π
(being Polish and all that) hi hi
CG I will give it a go….wait few more days please unless some Chinese herb is in order!
MCM who the man?
Heh Arthur π Here’s some Chinese . In the meantime , perhaps you can use this as your starting point π
Fail Harry , Full of sh*t
No-one is with you
Greedy art thou amongst tax men
And stupid is the fruit of thy loins , Jamie
Twitchy Harry , brother of Frank ,
Lose to The Gooners ,
Now and Forever
Amen .
Tabs
Love ittttttttttt
A drink is in order for you gezzer
Cheers old son , a small scotch ta
Dropping in on Le Groan is like peering through a microscope at pond scum – a weird new breed of football “fan” who would rather be proved correct and see their team lose than be proved wrong and see them win. No joy whatsoever, just relentless whinging in an increasingly shrill voice.
I particularly enjoy the attempts at self publicity, the allusions to links and sources within the club (of course – I bet there are Arsenal employees queing up to chat to a geezer whose primary goal in life is to convince the world that they and everyone else faintly connected with the club are doing a sh1t job) and the relentless, misguided “I was right” crowing (e.g “Messi scored a hat trick trick at the weekend. I said we should sign him last summer”).
I like to pop in every now and then for a good laugh. Watching them bitch and moan with each week of the summer that passed without a signing almost made the whole thing worthwhile.
Polar opposite of this place and I hope the pair of herberts who run it choked on their mars bars while watching that second half last night.
Anyone else starting to dream re: the weekend? The rational part of me gives us no hope given injuries, but I will piss myself laughing if we emerge from that scumpit with all three points. God, I’m starting to love this new team.
N7
What else can you be? Just keep the faith!
N7 – As usual , a perfect post .
As regards Sunday , yes , more hope than expectation , such a shame Song , The Frimstone and Flipper aren’t available , but I wouldn’t be surprised if our new found spirit allows us to sneak the points back onto the Happy Train .
A drink on my tab please barman plus can you pour some Wisniowka in there to make it legal?
and one or two for TABS
He is on fire tonight!
Toby, Kaka is surely not worth 56MΒ£ today.
He has about 2 years left on his contract, he’s 29 years old with no resale value and on the back of 2 horrible seasons where he was injured most of the time.
That article I linked mentioned that Real would want at least 17MΒ£. That’s Gary Cahill’s price!
He is a magnificent player and I wouldn’t mind paying up to 30MΒ£ for him.
Now if only Ollie (cough cough) would answer and tell us if Hazard really is worth the hype then I’ll know if I prefer him or Kaka π
Heh Arthur , cheers π
In my book he perhaps wasn’t worth the money then either. But that’s easy to say with the benefit of hindsight and he really did look a player when he went for that sum. Still does, even if perhaps not as much, but that might well be down to circumstance and I’m sure he has at least one great run of form left in him.
I’d say Β£17m is a price well worth thinking about, but I think the problem would be the wages on top of that. Would make him quite an expensive player during the course of the contract. It’s just too big a decision for me to call methinks, could go either way (very glad I’m not the one making these decisions!)
Can’t say I’m dying to get him, but he probably might well do the trick if he came. At the very least he is proven talent.
Over to you Ollie!
tabs
You welcome mate Wisniowka kicksin nicely jsut ask Holic π
ooops *just
Toby, wages are a problem but maybe AW is convincing the board to give in a bit with all the recent interviews by Dein and that Arsenal Times piece that was granted a reply (!!!!!!!!!!!) by AFC.
Everyone can laugh all they like but even though we lost Cesc and that other guy, I still feel we can win the EPL with a good replacement for Cesc or Jack in the hole and a good strong midfielder with Song.
And I certainly have no problem with TV, Kos, JD and Miquel as our 4 CB’s.
tabs that was fucking genius! my mrs was wondering why i was giggling at the laptop like a loon!
Snir, whisper it softly, but I agree with you. Might not be this year, but not just down to us being rubbish (well, since we aren’t), but just because there are several good teams in the league and you’re never guaranteed anything. I wouldn’t MIND a magical strengthening all over the pitch but which football fan would? I still believe in this team and the manager and with just a couple of additions we have a good chance to accomplish something. Not a guarantee, but even 8 new world class players wouldn’t be a guarantee, for, let’s face it, loads of teams have world class players nowadays. It’s a bit of a lottery still, and that’s the way it should be.
Anyways, going to bed now, my birthday in a few hours and I need to be in good shape for the celebrations!
Have a good night all, and thanks for the talk Snir!
Camberwell , I fear you overstate the case , but cheers mate π
Have a good day tomorrow Toby .
Guys
I have spoken to Holic himself, I have had a blog up for monkeys of time and since I love this place so much and I haven’t got a fucking clue how to write so I welcome everyone to contribute!
http://www.arsenaltalk.co.uk
have a gander and let me know what you think…
I’m also pondering of writing a andriod app for Holic so who ever can help the better!
PS. Every article willbe published in your name I pay for it myself and will gladly continue to do so … adds alike will keep it alive..
Tabs
info@arsenaltalk.co.uk you can do it…
Links will be placed to Hoilc bar as well…..lets make it big!
Toby – Happy birthday mate, the Bartender is waiting for your order under my tab. Knock yourself out!
Snir a post is order? Happy Bday chappy!
Let me add to this, you guys are a pure act of class….
And I would be honoured to have you writing for my blog …
I’m eager to change as well so new ideas are welcome?
Come on holics Chinese pipes are full of the stuff!
Barman I thank you KINDLY SIR you are a true Gentleman!
Great stuff Arthur , will give it a go .
Holic, have you had a chance to look at the latest email I sent you ?
Tabs My last post was lousy
http://www.arsenaltalk.co.uk/?p=1312
Nothing wrong with that piece , Arthur , absolutely fine . Great stuff .
Tabs
Thanks a bunch! The thing is I haven’t really got the time, life is way too busy for me at this moment in time. When the little gooner will return from Polska (poland) i will have even less time.
Hence I came on here asking for some help because the site needs to go on and so on. You Holics are the perfect Gooners to do just that, so feel free….
I dont mind posting your comments as articles either….and I mean that to the truth of me Gooner heart! Because you are just great people!
Good blog Arthur
I’m sure that with our collective efforts we can keep the site going . True Gooners need to stick together and any site that drowns out the libellous and never-ending heap of hooey emanating from the keyboard warriors is a worthwhile cause .
N73
I’m not consistent this is where you guys kick in hopefully…?
Guys feel free anyhow I will consider all your thoughts…….
info@arsenaltalk.co.uk
A drink for everyone in the bar a double Wisniowka all a round! Barman can please please top up the beer π
Ha my ramblings barely make reading Arthur, I,ll leave it to the Brendan Behans of this world like TABS and BtM but will give any support I can ..
@Snir: I do hope we will find a much more adapted signing than Kaka. Even at his best Kaka would have been too slow for the pace of our game and he always required the team to play for him to perform (hence his failure at RM). Let’s try not to rebuild the team around one player this time and even more so around one not as good now as what we just let go.
Cheers N73
Working on the app it aint easy fucking Java shyte!
You can definitely contribute come my man don’t put yourself down!
Crikey Noel , a fine writer was Brendan , but didn’t he end up in the Clink ??
I think his drinking was pretty special too …
matt?
tabs
Dont even go there please after all I’am Polish π
Borstal Boy is a great read TABS and yes a ledgendary drinker. Am sure he would have made a fine addition to the HT on those away nights up norf..
284: tabs, is that what gooners say for penance when we lose to the LWCs or on a regular sermon at the Emirates? π
Yes indeed Noel , as was Confessions of an Irish Rebel .
No offence meant at all Arthur . Not sure if word has another meaning , but it is a slang word for prison . Sorry if it has another meaning I’m not aware of .
Hey Cannons π
Matt, the failure at RM is due to the fact that he’s constantly injured (and that every ball goes to Ronaldo, but that’s something else :D) and the fact that Mourinho doesn’t really rate him.
Totally disagree about the pace.
Cesc was one of the slowest players in the EPL but his speed of thought is the quickest in Europe so he compensated for his lack of pace.
Kaka is exactly the same, his speed of thought with the ball is absolutely great.
And Matt, any player we bring in would be a player that isn’t as good as the one we just sold.
I agree on ‘not rebuilding the team around one player’ but I think Kaka can excel even if the team isn’t totally around him.
Ollie (!!!!!!!!), we’re waiting for your expert opinion on the other target – Hazard (and M’Vila!) !
Rather than Kaka (a fine player) I’d rather get a hard nosed professional in. Sneijder???
BUT, idon’t want anything to spoil the spirit that seems to be developing in this team. Love ’em.
ATG – good effort, lad. Keep it going.
@Arthur: thanks for the offer, unfortunately there is this thing Romans called torture and we call work which gets in the way of any attempt at writing more than 10 lines.
@Snir: disagree about Kaka’s speed but it won’t matter imho. Sports site in France reports we’ve agreed terms with Hazard and it’s now a matter of making an offer that Lille would agree to, which may never happen. http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://www.mercato365.com/infos-clubs/lille/lille-hazard-d-accord-avec-arsenal-735447.shtml&act=url
Matt – I saw that but Lille Director Frederic Paquet was on Canal+ this evening saying no players will leave Lille. “The Gates are Locked” was the exact quote.
But then again, he’s some kind of Manuel Llorente (denied the Villa speculation before selling him to Barca, Silva before selling to City and Mata of course).
FEEEEEECCCCKKKKK!!!!!
Jusy typed a whole bunch (for a change) and didn’t put my name and e-mail first…
Cue fill in your name and e-mail page and the loss of the whole damed missive!
So, will keep it short, believe it or not…
SCUMBAG LITTLE C**T!
That about sums up how I feel about that, well, scumbag little c**t!
Whenever Na$ri is ready, he is welcome to wander over to South America and visit me at which point I will be pleased to show him my original Arsenal Crest tattoo on my upper left arm (as seen on Sky Sports in ’97)…
Wanker.
After that, he can see exactly how hard it is to pick up his teeth with broken fecking fingers!
Livid?! Not even close! What a bandwagon jumping, gobshiting, moneygrabbing little fecker he is…
…should fit in PERFECTLY at Citeh!
Regards M’Vila, starting to think that Wenger is rying to rebuild a Vieira/Petit style midfield pairing, giving the likes of Jack a roaming role and a three man attack of Gerv/Ryo- RVP/Chamakh – Theo/Ox.
Now that may be exactly what we need. Solid central pairing that can dominate midfield whilst the namby-pambies (sorry Bobby and Freddie but you know what I mean!) get out on the wings and actually trouble the full backs with their ability to cut inside.
Is it even possible that Wenger and Fab actually did have an agreement last year that if Barca offered “x” they would sell him this summer and thus give Wenger the time to plan/rebuild the formation around this old idea?!
Obviously players like M’Vila are looking for CL football and the whole 4th place debacle may thus be the reason things have been so cack for us in the close season. You know what the Prof is like, gets an idea into his head and sees it through regardless.
Just random supposition, but still food for thought.
Bugger, is my glass half-full or what?!
Joshua@80:
Thanks mate and full steam ahead! Let’s hope we will be picking up those all important new signings along the way though or it may be a very bumpy ride!
You don’t want to be here…leave@95:
Absolutely mate, all drinks are on my tab (but I am going to pay in llamas!)
Lars@125:
I COULD expand on a few points if you wish!!! π Agre totally re the TV penalty incident…But we really should know better. You simply cannot pull on the red and white and expect to get anywhere if you are going to stand around just waiting for the opposition to push you into the ball, nowhere at all. And you have to feel sorry for the elbow of Neuton too…That had to hurt when Theo just wandered around in the box looking for it!
Strangely, I thought that Ramsey should have been sent off for falling over when tripped in the box, the lucky bastard!
Oh, and close you tab, drinks are all on me!
H2H@191:
Don’t fret mate, he will be joining him at the Spuds before you know it!!! Oh IMAGINE that without getting at least slightly aroused if you can!!! Now add Frimpong ripping his left arm off and beting him to feath with the wet end of it and we have can seriously start thinking about rubber sheeting for the night!!!!!
H2H(again!)@207:
I know you weren’t mate, not your style at all. To be fair others were and have been and I thought it a good quote to kick things off in the right direction! Regards making a mistake, not quite ready to admit to making”a” (should that be “the”) mistake yet, but more than willing to admit to making a few mistakes such as Jenkinson, Frimpong and others! Lions every one last night.
Lonestar@261:
Did exactly the same thing! Got rid of the whole damned lot of them…Heady days and not one single regret in almost 10 years. No piggin’ funerals either π
Anybody else feel like me that Paddy is a turncoat? The only real take away for me in the whole Nasri deal was that he admitted that Paddy was instigating the transfer.
I thought he was real Arsenal (Paddy, that is). I don’t begrudge Nasri going to make some coin. I wish he wasn’t a cunt about it, but, hey, you are what you are. He had no real reason for extraordinary loyalty to Wenger and the Arsenal. Football is his job, and I defy ANY one of you to honestly say you wouldn’t be tempted to leave your current employer if someone tripled your wages.
I have much less sympathy for those who claim loyalty and then piss on it. That’s why CF4 will forever be “some Spanish bloke” to me.
Paddy, it’s a shame you’re about to share a similar ignominious fate…
π₯
Barca must be destroyed.
Here, here. Winston.
bmd.
LG – You don’t begrudge Nasri?
Agreeing for a pre-contract in January and then refusing offers of 80,90,110 and 115 is claiming loyalty and then piss on it.
He agreed for a pre-contract and played us around (him and his agent Jean-Pierre Bernes who wanted to get back at AW for years – His agent was involved with Marseille match fixing and AW tried to get him jailed)!
I tried to make you think differently about Cesc 2 weeks ago, I’m not gonna try again, but Nasri is a cunt π
http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/1512486419/_amir.jpg
Snir-
Hilarious pic! I see that I haven’t been able to convince you otherwise regarding that Spanish bloke.
Listen, what Nasri did was hardball negotiating. No more no less. Supporters should realize that the modern game has no room for loyalty. I get the irony that I am criticizing that Spanish bloke for the same quality that I say is nonexistent in the modern game.
But there are some differences. The team wasn’t built around Nasri. Nasri hadn’t been here for 8 years. He wasn’t the center of the team…that Spanish bloke was.
Anyways, we’ll agree to disagree on that one…we agree on much more than not. But here’s the thing *I’ll whisper it*
The next heroes that we are crowning with laurels as real Arsenal (we know who they are – I love them too) will leave Arsenal if the compensation + ethos factor isn’t large enough. Don’t think our academy players will suffer and toil for years if Arsenal (or its checks) are not competitive.
That’s realer
than Real Deal Holyfield. (damn iPad).
Barca must be destroyed.
LG – Well then we have no problem because we will be competitive :).
Negotiating is one thing, but don’t you think agreeing to a pre-contract has to mean something? I mean, is his word worth shit?
Agreeing is after the negotiating and he agreed for a pre-contract in mid season.
And about Paddy, no reason to get mad at him for talking to Nasri, it’s his JOB, if anything I was disappointed he chose Man City over Arsenal this summer but I guess Pat Rice’s stay had a lot to do with that (yes, I know he ain’t the assistant manager at City).
Thanks for covering Winston
Interesting news coming out that rosicky has been linked to Wolfsburg, didn’t he redo his contract last season? I’ve always been a fan of his so much so in fact I got his name on last seasons home shirt. Still hard to believe we’d part ways under the club current circumstances. Also good news( maybe) snir the deal with kaka may still/yet be on assuming that RM are willing to pick up a piece of his wages. And maybe more good news seeing Hazard has agreed to terms with the 2 clubs needing to agree to their own terms…. Can’t always believe what we read though eh. Yet at this point in the campaign no news wouldn’t necessarily be bad news or is it good news, hell we need something, right?
Another beer for me and the others please sir.
Snir, now you know that agreeing in principle is not the same thing as signing a binding contract. You’re in business school, right? We all know the way of the world.
Now regarding Paddy. The man can do his job at Merc Citeh without tapping up fish that weaken the team he is supposedly “loyal” to. I feel the same way about paddy’s behavior as I do about a politician (like former Homeland Security Czar Chertoff) who builds a reputation, leaves government, then uses his influence to peddle equipment that government doesn’t need. (that example was political, just an apt analogy…I’m not trying to run afoul of house rules)
Barca must be destroyed.
Come on…surely Czech the Technique is staying with us. We haven’t gotten a full season out of him yet! π
BMW.
BMD… (I hate this iPad keyboard!)
BM fucking D.
@ iLG I was just thinking that the other day about PV4, shame that he’s found employment with the scum that is $hitty but, you certainly can’t beat the paycheck assuming that they don’t start bouncing after all this spending.
YDWBHL
Here is what I managed to figure out.
Rosicky is not leaving!
We bid 21M for M’Vila and some people are even saying he’s gonna play on Sunday as we’re in short in midfield but that is EXTREMELY unlikely IMO.
The 6M bid for Cahill is with NB52.
The Hazard thing is old news cause Arsenal have first refusal on Hazard and terms have been spoken about a long time ago when the first refusal was agreed on.
The Kaka deal is truly on, apparently Kaka would be willing to take a wage cut to move away from RM and the loan option would be possible if RM would agree to pay 25% of his annual fee.
He only makes 35K a week more than what we offered Nasri (115K/week) so with a wage cut and 25% from RM it’s very possible.
I’m confident. Very confident.
But – Why aren’t we buying a medical staff ;)?
LG – It’s sports management but yeah it’s about the same as business school π
BUT – I DIDN’T say it’s the same thing, I just said his word has got to have some credibility, doesn’t it? Otherwise he’d be a cunt π
All I’m saying is that to agree for a pre-contract and back out on your word is being a cunt π
By the way – Lacks pace ahh :)?
Notice who’s trying to track back behind him.
Snir-
When you’re representing the next up and coming (simmer down Wolfgang) Spanish bloke, I hope you keep him on the straight and narrow π
I sure hope your G2 is correct.
This round of Sol is on my tab, boss.
Barca must be destroyed.
Thanks snir, would hope he doesn’t leave an don’t expect him too either. I wiki’d hazard earlier and noticed he’s got a brother around 19 years old, seems up Le professors alley, don’t you think? Obviously anything to be done by this weekend you’d expect them to play, right? Why did we let Tom Cruise leave btw, don’t think he played horribly against panthiakos, I think, could’ve been good cover for Gibbs, Jenks because from what I’ve seen of traore he’s not what we need, we already have one Arshavin struggling to track back on defense lord knows we don’t need our LB struggle too.
Whoops – @344 should have been
By the way β Lacks pace ahh ?
Notice whoβs trying to track back behind him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL6g_BRM7wg
Nice one Snir. One thing Kaka doesn’t lack and that’s pace. I agree that it would be a good signing but the terms have to be right on our part. Specifically, as he’s struggled with injuries since his move to Madrid.
A season-long loan with AFC paying 75% of his contract sounds like a great deal for me.
A great player with a reasonable salary and no need to consider resale value as he’s on a loan.
Oh and one player I would not want AT ALL is Raul Albiol.
Extremely poor CB in my opinion.
A point well proven, Snir!
Toby – Happy Birthday!
Mexican last night? – Check.
etc etc ad nauseam.
Coffee please, and a cool refreshing baby wipe or two.
CG – What do you think of Albiol? Apparently he’s available at 8M and he’s a target, that price has got to look nice to AW so he’s probably a realistic option.
As someone who watches more La Liga than most of us (I think?), what do you think?
‘holic, Having returned from a week’s holiday I’ve caught up on your last three excellent posts as well as some momentous Arsenal news including the departure of Nasri, the loss to Liverpool and the win over Udinese. Time may not allow catching up on the thousand or so drinks I missed but the glass seems to be half full on this end despite a more interesting start to the season than I would have chosen.
Snir
I’m fairly sure you watch more La Liga than me – I save my brownie points for English matches, so unless Barca are playing then I don’t get to see much.
I do know we have been linked with him before, and isn’t he able to play fuill back too? That would interest Arsene?
Snir, I’d take Hazard over Kaka.
Of course there is a risk (haha) factor, but the boy has massive talent and was best in Ligue1 head & shoulders above anyone else last season.
I might wait a year for M’Vila though I’d be happy to get him too.
Ollie…groan…
π
Truth be told I’m very fond of puns…
So I went to get my car the other day and found a little note on the windscreen, which said “Parking – Fine.”
Nice compliment, I thought to myself.
CG – Wouldn’t want him as anything. He is so poor.
Ollie – So finally, there is some justification for the hype around a player :), O.K – I’ll take your word for it, Hazard it is π
But isn’t he a winger? Does he play ‘in the hole’ at Lille?
I have a feeling AW will lodge a cheeky bid for Baines with Traore on the verge of QPR move (on loan). Don’t see AW loaning Traore out and leaving Gibbs to play LB with no backup (and I don’t think he wants TV there as well cause I don’t think he’d wanna break the TV-KOS partnership).
Heh Camberwell 358, I like it!
Yesterday I took my dog to the vet because he’s been a bit under the weather lately.
I said, “Can you have a look at Rover, he’s been off his food for a week and I can’t work out what’s wrong with him.”
So the vet picked Rover up, examined his eyes and ears and said, “I’m sorry but I’m just going to have to put him down.”
“What!!” I exclaimed, shocked. “It can’t be that bad can it, doc?”
“No it isn’t,” replied the vet, “He’s just too heavy!”
I’m here all day.
Arthur: If I ever feel I have anything to write as a blog post I’ll definitely send it to you for use on your site.
snir@326: “Cesc was one of the slowest players in the EPL but his speed of thought is the quickest in Europe so he compensated for his lack of pace.”
Actually, he wasn’t. People just think he is slow because he is not the quickest of starters but when he gets up to speed he’s not too far behind the best of them. Just look at his goal at home v Villa where he outran their entire back-four, both his goals away at Everton in the 6-1 win, or when he humiliated Sp*rs in the Eleven Second Derby etc etc.
Winston@330: I hear that UEFA have opened an inquiry against Theo’s jaw. It might be suspended for three games.
Lonestar@331: Vieira has certainly disappointed recently. However, do we know for sure that Arsenal had not agreed to allow City to talk to Nasri?
Camberwell@361: This cheese-and-tomato sandwich walked into a bar and asked for a beer, but the landlord said “sorry, we don’t serve food here”.
Snir love the Na$ri piccy, niece one fella!
Lars – awesome.
A bra and a pair of jump leads walk into a bar and the bra asks the barman for three pints of lager.
Barman says, “Sorry mate I can’t serve any of you. You’re clearly off your tits and your mates look like they’re going to start something.”
Boom, and indeed, boom
OK time to stop now.
A blonde walks into a bar and asks for a double entendre.
So the barman gives her one.
I too love a good pun, Camberwell π
And also, this horse walked into a bar and the barman asked “why the long face?”
Shall I get your coat for you while I fetch my own?
Hello Holicβs Regularsβ¦if i can weigh in on the Kaka thingβ¦I think I would not go for him as first choiceβ¦I have watched a good number of Madrid games and Kaka seems to be strugglingβ¦I mean La Liga is not so physical but he really struggles to impose himself on gamesβ¦ I donβt see how it can be any different in the English gameβ¦ That knee injury seems to be hindering him greatly and I would not compare Kaka to Cescβ¦. As Kaka is a player who is good running with the ball and a finisher(so is more selfish when near opponents boxβ¦few assists) but Cesc as we know him is a player who is a good distributer of the ball from deep and so close to opponents goals hence the high assistsβ¦. So I see kaka struggling more when he joins but I would welcome him all the sameβ¦his know how and movement(something I have noticed we lack lately unlike Wengerβs Arsenal teams of old)β¦cheers all
A cheese&tomata sandwich walks into a bar and asks ‘Can I have a pint of bitter, please?’.
Barman says : ‘I’m sorry but we don’t serve food here’.
Ollie, you’re a bit late with that one – check out my last paragraph @362 π
Oops, sorry Lars, missed that.
I’ll pay your tab today then.
*files for bankruptcy*
Cheers for the coat Lars. Wanna share the cab fare?
Cab fare?
Who chucked you off the HT?
Afternoon Chums ,
To pick up on some of the overnight points ;-
Lonestar – PV4 not a legend ?? Pfff . Captain of The Invincibles , winner of 7 major trophies whilst he was here . So he’s now getting paid an enormous amount of cash to do a job for Shitty , and had a word with Na$ri . So what ? Think we didn’t “tap up ” Oxo or Flipper ? Think we’re not (hopefully) tapping up others as we speak ? It may not be very palatable , but it’s the way of the world , and the football world in particular . PV4 – always a legend .
Arguments about Na$ri and Cesc are now completely redundant – they have both gone . We can all argue all day long about their respective merits as human beings but none of us know them and none of us will ever know the full story of what went on in both cases this summer .
Based on nothing more than instinct , I suspect I would enjoy a beer with Cesc , whilst in the same circs with Na$ri would end up wanting to bash his little lezza face in , but that is pure speculation on my part .
Based on footballing reasons alone Cesc will always be welcome back , whilst Na$ri has burned all his bridges . End of .
8ball@353 -Welcome back .
Kaka , hazard , M’Vila and Cahill me up . That statue edges ever closer . π
Camberwell , Lars and Dr C π π
A drink for Ollie to soothe the pain of settling a debt , bigger than something very very big , and a drink for Ugandan , good to see you back .
And finally …..
A bear walks into a Bar and says to the Bartender ” I’ll have a whiskey and ……………… soda” . The Batender says ” Why the big pause ? ” ” Dunno ” says the Bear ” I’ve always had them ” .
Gotta fly – any room in that cab for another one , Camberwell
heh, I would have spilt coffee over the keyboard for the bear joke, had I been drinking coffee just now.
Come on Shamrock Rovers you fucking beauties. Beat Spurs and you truly will be remembered..
Thanx TaBs…always going through the drinks …. you can say am always lurking around….enjoying the humour..you are all legends where am seated…best bar in Gooner-land…and the world…
Ryanair are very pleased to announce their new shirt partnership with Celtic, Rangers and Hearts: In and out of Europe in 3 hours.
Waka,waka, wakaaa
(I don’t have a coat as it’s summer here but I will get my shirt)
P.S. Anyone check out my photoshop work?
Excellent Fail Harry prayer tabs, will make sure I say 10 of them everytime I sin, fuck it., I’ll say 10 of them even when I’m good.
Snir, you mention yourself that kaka has been restricted/hampered by injuries over the last few years. La Liga is fairyball compared to the rigours of the PL. Would you really want to take a gamble on such a highlypaid, almost thirty year old sicknote?
Another con for me is that Kaka needs to be the centre of the team. I don’t want us to once again build around one individual, we need to spread the responsibility, so if one of our mainstays is unavailable it is easier to replace him as the others will pick up the slack.
Toby, many happy returns, have a great day.
Whilst walking through the local church yard I saw a man crouching by a tombstone.
I said to him; ” Morning sir”
He replied; “No, I’m taking a dump”
Samir Nasri in 2010 : “I think we have more merit as a club than those who have built their teams with millions of pounds.”
Gael Clichy in 2009 : “If any player Only wants Money , He will go to Manchester City.”
Kolo Toure in 2008 : “City may spend a lot , but they will never overtake the Top 4 of the Premiership
nothing funnier than the truth eh?
as in not a made a made-up joke but what those wankers actually said…
Nice quotes CoR.
Me, I can’t get over Ade signing for Spurs, talk about a downward spiral career trajectory.
He left a regular CL playing team, to one aiming for a spot in that competion. Now that team have their spot, he is shipped out to one playing in the UEL..
Do you think he’ll be dreaming about Real while he pulls on the white shirt with the cock on a beach ball emblym?
The whole situation is just laughable.
Hello holics
Wonderful set of drinks fellas
Arthur @312 – I know a bit of Java, actually I cleared a certification on it recently. May be I would be of some help π
Barman can provide you my email addy if you think of building an app
And I like this one,
” A bicycle cannot stand on its own because it is two-tired”
Cheers
provide you with*
Train to Dortmund and hotel booked!
Gold medal has to go H2H for joke of the day.
Meanwhile the HC (happy cab) is getting fuller by the minute. Good thing it’s got a big boot to hold all those coats…
Boyata to Bolton on loan. This strikes me as a clear signal they’re ready to deal, and well they should be given their finances and Cahill’s contract situation.
I predict we’ll close this out for 10-12m approximately thirty seconds before the window bangs shut. Decent piece of business if I’m right.
Also glad to see that Arsene has confirmed he’s in for a forward. I have a feeling this could end up being the area of the squad where recruitments are most essential.
Oh, and finally, please god let us sign a left back. Sagna is too good to keep wasting out of position and the failure to start Traore midweek spoke volumes. Baines has been my pick all summer – I don’t know about him defensively but he can cross a ball which would be a nice novelty for us.
Come on you rip roaring gooner negotiating teams!
Oh my, my team in Israel has been drawn with Stoke in the groups of the Europa league. I can’t seem to avoid those bastards.
H2H – he is over that injury, he’s just not being selected and I think that in case he misses a game Jack is a much better replacement than Nasri was to Cesc last season in the the hole.
And if Hazard really is a winger then we need someone for the hole.
Lars-he has examples where he’s quick and examples where he’s not, but Kaka certainly doesn’t lack pace.
Snir,
Kaka for me just doesn’t fit the profile of an AW signing. Too old, too non-French and too expensive but Hazard is quite the opposite on at least two of the three fronts. Juan Mata was apparently too expensive?
‘Holics,
Even though the prize has been awarded already for best joke/pun, here is my entry-
So a baby seal walks into a club…
TaBS (supra) I never said Paddy wasn’t a legend, but his actions, for me personally, were distasteful. I take your point, however, that any such discussions are superfluous.
One of my Manc coworkers invited me out to watch the game on Sunday. I will oblige…here’s hoping that the underdog comes through – love it (when the underdog comes through – a little shout out to the Tribe).
Barca musΓΎ be destroyed.
Just picking out the common thread between these two news headlines:
1. Barton Completes Move to QPR
2. Rosicky Calls for Arsenal to Maintain Discipline
It looks like Barton will have an extra opportunity, or more, to torment Arsenal this season and to bait our young players into retaliation. Will we succumb or rise above it all?
8ball – Frimpers will poke him in the eye , take an axe to the psychopath’s legs and then set him on fire . It’s the new Arsenal way .
H2H – joke of the day , closely followed in silver position by Lonestar π
*shamelessly gets his spikes on for the dash to 400*
Joke of the day, I’m honoured lads.
But credit where credit’s due, it was twitchy who signed the greedy twat. π
Anyone who hasn’t listened to the Arsecast today , I would urge you to do so . The ” Penis of William Gallas ” skit was comedy genius , the Frimpong skit at the end not far behind . Proper laugh out loud stuff .
Good point H2H . Twitchy never fails you when you need that warm fuzzy I’m an Arsenal fan feeling . A drink Sir ? Lars tab has been taken care of by Ollie , so I reckon Lars has got plenty of credit .
“Also , Phil Gartside has a midget’s head .
Arseblog News suspects that Arsenal will try and do business with a club that isnβt run by an oversized Time Bandit. ”
Arseblog News on the AW / Gartside contretemps .
Blogs is a genius π
I’ll join you in a quick voddie, tabs mate.
Off down to the bar for Friday night session, may even have a peak at the Barca Porto game.
Laterzzz.
Here’s my shameless bid for #400…
I know. I know.
bmd.
If at first you don’t succeed…
Barca must be destroyed.
Shameless indeed Lonestar π
Have a pint on me
8ball – yes Mata was too expensive. Didn’t it look like he could have been coming to the mighty Gooners but then the Chavs just waltzed in and probably offered him double our weekly rate?
Things like that seem to corroborate the “Arsenal Board of Directors are wankers and won’t approve ANYthing unless we can give them Β£350 a week plus a crate of Coke and a couple of curly-wurlies” hypothesis. Still, I don’t actually have a clue if they’re the ones holding everything up…
Lonestar, for your transgression you must ride in the boot of the HC and say 12 Fail Harries over the rosary. Shame on you!
Oh and before I forget, Holics. It’s bank holiday weekend Y’ALLLLL (bit of Texan in there to keep Lonestar company)
No, it’s not, Camberwell π
Sorry Ollie, is it plain old Friday night for you? That sucks…
Next bank holiday in November here.
The Italian Job vibe seems to be doing the rounds beyond the bounds of this fine site…just seen a trashy ad on tv about dog food involving a van driven by a dog, with a couple of pooches and a load of dog food in the back, ending up teetering on a precipice with the hounds inside trying to work out how to save the dog food!
Uncanny!
Seriously, no pun intended but that’s one of my finest unintentional efforts!
Camberwall –
Thanks for making me feel at home. I know how it feels to be “[a]n Englishman in New York…”
All those Fail ‘arrys made my knees ache and my throat singe with a mixture of bile and acid. I need a beer to wash it down.
Here’s another joke for the bar…
*The scene is set in Heaven. Jesus is taking in the wonders of his kingdom; harps, angels and what not. He comes upon an old man in a dark, dingy part of Heaven (kind of like my dark corner of the bar)*
Jesus: Say, man why are you crying? Don’t you know there are millions of people living miserable lives of self denial and dying just to get in this place? I can’t have you crying about here. It’s bad for publicity.
Old Man: I’m sorry, my Lord. It’s not you, it’s me. I was hoping I’d see my son again once I got here.
Jesus: Well go, on.
Old Man: Well, in life, I was a carpenter. And I sort of thought my son would go into the family business with me. We did everything together. *Tears form in the old man’s eyes*
Jesus: *Begining to form tears himself* That’s a shame. So what happened?
Old Man: Well like I said. We did everything together. *Bawling now* And, and one day he tells me that he has to go on a mission… and I never see him again… and I just miss him so much…
Jesus: *Wailing, he hugs the old man and says* FATHER!
Old Man: PINOCCHIO!!!
*I’ll get me coat*
Cheers, all
Barca must be destroyed.
Cesc scored a beauty for the Basterds.
I can’t stand them, but I still have love for him.
Sorry.
H2H –
Your continued love for that Spanish bloke will cost you 10 Fail ‘Arrys.
Small price, though…
Barca must be destroyed.
LS, heh π
So it turns out we will be missing half the squad against the mighty indebted. No worries. Conor Henderson will save us, have faith.
With Kos and TV fit, I’m actually quite confident.
Can anyone help me out here? Is Hazard a winger or Attacking Midfielder?
Barca Must Be Destroyed. π
Yessss, that’s it, Snir.
Come on over to the Dark Side :devil:
Barca Must Be Destroyed.
πΏ
Damned, smileys…
BMD.
LG π
You don’t want me on the dark side π
I’m too hateful according to some people here π
I absloutely love ‘that Spanish bloke’.
This is from now, after he just won his 2nd trophy in 10 days…
“Thank u all for your great support. And all i can remember in this moment is in what AFC has done for me in my career. Always in my heart.”
Class, always was, always will be.
Another player sent off against barca…refs seem to be in awe of them. Sorry H2H cesc was great but he aint all that, think I will stick to pining over true lost loves like pires, viera, henry and martin hayes. Think this M,Villa guy would be a good signing, him ,song and wilshere would do me in midfield providing Jack can stay fit. Hazard by all accounts is a wide man but would still like to see him come in. Seems to be hotting up on transfer front at moment…
Just give me one transfer. Bora Bora will do quite nicely. π
Velcro, eh. What a rip off.
This bloke said to me, “don’t mention deodorant”.
I said, “Sure, Mum’s the word”.
My manic depressive friend had a bit of bad luck, – got attacked by a bi-polar bear.
This fortune teller said to me, “you can either have a long penis or a long life”.
Can’t remember which one I chose.
*notices bar is empty – ends stand-up routine, fetches coat and leaves* π
Sorry, so tired I completely codsed the fortune teller joke.
Should be “long penis or a long memory”. Sleep beckons π
Trev, The bar may be empty but that last one at least was pretty decent. π
Trev – codsing up the joke made it even funnier π
No signings yet? Damn.
Barca must be Destroyed.
Looks like Old Red Nose is back to practising his black arts –
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/aug/26/alex-ferguson-defends-arsene-wenger
I guess he knows we are a wounded animal this weekend.
OK – Scratch that confidence I had @413.
Howard Webb is fit to start for United.
LG: Two words for SAF: desperate and pathetic, although not quite so much as the BBB.
Re: Snir @427: I could have taken any news but that. π
What about this piece of news 8ball?
AFC have offered a coaching role to Sol.
I’d be delighted if he came and fixed our defense π
Changes are being made!
Now all we need is the Millanello lab and a better medical staff!
Snir, Sol is the right sort to have around, projecting a positive approach right and left, and it’s great news to hear the club is pursuing him. According to the Guardian, “aware of Campbell’s interest in coaching, Arsenal have already offered him the chance to help train the academy and reserve teams.”
To be honest I’d rather he coaches the first team, not the reserves!
Me too, Snir! Campbell is good for the Arsenal Sol…
(I’ll get me coat)
No, stay!!
It’s only 12 AM here, I’m staying at home because of that Irene bitch and everybody has already left the bar! Please stay!
π
Some top drinks today. π You guys are the Sol reason I Camp out in this bar.
Snir, the plus side of him working with the reserves s that when they are ready to step up they’ll have the steel needed to fill in for a TV5. They’ll also know how to find the proper positioning and correct communication…. In other words there is no down side, really.
Also heard a bit of news that linked us with gourcoff which would please my mom, she quite fancies him. Ha ha. But, IMO thatd be a great signing.
I know it’d be great future thinking but I’d prefer we deal with the here and now :).
Gourcuff? I’d rather not buy anyone in this window than to buy him, extremely overrated IMO.
A fair player but not more than that, and to replace Cesc or at least ease the blow a bit we need much better than Gourcuff.
That made me laugh, Twitchy’s tailoring a new suit to Nasri:
“So, the facts talk for Man City. I hope to win titles. I played at a high level with Arsenal but I never won anything.”
Redknapp disagrees, however: “I don’t believe that, no. He could have gone to Man United. He wanted to go to Man United, that’s what I heard. But then Man City came in and offered him more money again so he went to Man City. That’s how it goes. It’s just a shirt and off we go.”
Strong statement snir, that Irene got you a little stir crazy?
What about thus nonsense with coyle then, you wan to sell him, you’re willing to sell him…. Keep your mouth shut cause as arsene said….
” βIf Gartside can say I am lying, I am ready to confront him. ” in other words I’m not taking shut but, I’m taking you’re player. Gotta love when the boss gets a fire lit under his arse.
Be safe Snir.
BMD
Thanks LG, will do my best to stay safe physically, but need The Arsenal to keep me safe mentally ;).
YDWBHL – I reckon we’ll get one out of Cahill and Jagielka but it’s clear to me Jagielka is the preferred option (I think his versatility wins it for him).
Just watched the highlights of United – Spurs (a 30 Minute highlight reel from the excellent motd2u.blogspot.com – A website for us Gooners who don’t have MOTD and wanna see it, has extensive highlights of basically everything).
I have to say that United lack physicality in the middle with only Cleverly and Anderson (and of course Vidic and Ferdinand out) but we won’t Song or Frimpong so that kinda offsets.
Spurs’ defense on the day was an absolute outrage and with defending like that on a regular basis they’ll finish 7th or lower.
De Gea is an absolute flop and he did nothing to change my mind about him.
Smalling is so heavy on the turn a good and fleet footed winger would slaughter him (too bad Gervinho is suspended but with the way AA is playing right now I really wouldn’t mind giving Miyaichi/AOC a debut. I know it’s Old Trafford but Woj made his debut there so AW won’t be afraid to do the same).
I have to say I’m quite confident about Sunday, especially with TV and Kos fit and Woj in goal.
Should be interesting, was telling my mum I think we could come away w a point…. She laughed…. I said ( a list of injuries to ManUre she said keep going, this sounds good) a draw would surely shock the world but 3 points would be a catastrophe for those in the north. Although we will surely miss our key signing (thus far) and our mental well… Mental. Sure would like to see our one and only Emanuel push that ogre around a bit.
Snir, I agree though, chezer played well too, why not use OX or Ryo to put pressure on that weakened defense or midfield as well as Theo and RVP must certainly scare them a bit.
I want to see Ryo start. Even though I like Arshavin, Ryo is as fast as Theo I heard. And he has pretty good dribbling technique. He can changed out for Arshavin later, and maybe Ox for Walcott as well…hit them with hard speed in both halves and we can break them down.
I think I saw that Fletcher is coming back? Maybe Rosicky can keep him quiet I don’t know…it should be pretty even. I want all 3 points!
But with Howard as ref, we have it all to do….
Screwdrivers for everyone!
Trev@421: π
8ball@412: sorry, Henderson will not save us. He is out injured for the whole season…
TBH I’m not that worried from a defensive point of view strictly because our defenders will be defensive minded defenders.
Sagna won’t push up that much from the left, Jenkinson won’t either because of Ashley Young/Nani, Djourou is much more defensive minded than Song or Frimpong at the DM role (I’m quite positive he’ll get the nod at DM) and of course TV and Kos are solid.
I think our relatively bad start and the perception that we’re weaker can only do us good.
Ferguson likes to concede the possession battle so that he could hit us on the counter, even at Old Trafford. He normally starts with 1 up front against us as opposed to 2 against everybody else.
By us ‘being shit’ he might be over confident and try to take the game to us and I have no problem with that (the only thing I’d be concerned about is Young/Nani on Jenkinson but I expect Djourou and Theo to help him out there).
We should get plenty of chances on the counter from winning the ball back and more importantly from Woj starting the attacks with his throws.
Gotta have speed, Theo will kill Evra (Lennon beat Evra for pace last week so Theo will absolutely crush him) and whoever plays on the left will kill Smalling.
Just have to take our chances – oh and shoot! No matter where from, just shoot! De Gea is as confident as Almunia.
Agree with everything you said there Snir…De Gea will be the decider tomorrow. Mark my words…check this photoshop I did of De Gea and Almunia, you’ll lol….
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150269153356298&set=o.123701174368610&type=1&theater
How come I can’t add you?
That’s strange.
Add me where?
You couldn’t see the link Snir?
It’s being reported that AW might try and get Alex.
Now that’s a CB I’d absolutely love to get. LOVE to get him.
What a great player he is, miles ahead of Jagielka and Cahill.
I saw it, but then pressed Bryan Williams where it said ‘added by …’ to add you, but there’s no add friend button for some weird reason.
Didn’t Alex do his knee last season? I haven’t seen much of him since David Luiz came in…would he bring energy and passion though? I sense the second coming of Silvestre….
CoR – In the TV – Kos partnership TV is the hardman to Kos’ elegance.
But, TV is so talented he can be the elegant CB and Alex the hardman.
He was injured for most of last season but so was Frimpong and we’re giving him chances. Puyol was injured for 4 months last season (in total) and I assure you he’d be thrown right back into the first team.
True, true. I just fear another defender from a rival team coming in with the attitude that they don’t have to work as hard. If he’s in the pipeline and coming over I’d be all for it, once he gives us as much as he gave Chelsea π
To be fair, ANY defensive cover that can take a first team spot and so challenge the others is more than welcome at this point eh!
I don’t know what happened to the facebook thing…maybe I’ll throw the picture up on photobucket or something…unless you want me to add you?
Here’s what I want to see on Sunday at Old Toilet
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150269052296298&set=o.123701174368610&type=1&theater&pid=7857914&id=505371297
Cheers for the congratulations ‘holics!
I ended getting bleeding’ drunk and watching Arcade Fire. Now I’m hungover and my ears are hurting. I’m getting too old for this.
And oh:
Knock knock.
Who’s there?
To.
To who?
To WHOM.
Yeah, my name is much easier to search as opposed to Bryan Williams π
Alex would be absolutely great. He’s one of the players on my dream list,(with Baines, Kaka and Higuain).
It is a dream list based on realistic targets (as opposed to Messi and all kinds of unrealistic dreams…).
Toby – Good one!
Knock knock.
Who’s there?
Interrupting cow.
Interrupting cow wh–
MOOOOO!
I hope the Snir Gneuli in the club is you, lol! I would hate to add the wrong Snir π
Yeah, Alex is not a bad player but I just feel like when players move around the top they sometimes don’t play like they have anything to prove at times…
Knock Knock!
Whoβs there?
Cash!
Cash who?
No thanks, but Iβd like some peanuts!
Article in Spanish paper yesterday reporting Arsenal interest in Wesley…… maybe they heard it from me??
Will see if there’s anything else today.
Happy Hangover Toby!
I keep reading reports of either Anelka or Drogba leaving Chelski.
Would we…. could we???
Morning all,
Apologies for the delay but lots to do with the grandkids today. Will attempt a United preview later, plus the bonus of anticipating another League title for Arsenal tomorrow.
You just want another 500+ drinks section really mate π
‘holic @461, interview with Emma Byrne? π
Welcome back to your bar.
You will find it low on supplies.
Camberwell, what did you start yesterday? π
Folks, new signing?
http://www.francefootball.fr/#!/news/2011/08/27/121407_park-lache-lille-pour-arsenal.html
Morning Chums ,
Trev – Is the real reason for your late posts not that you have a busy surgery , but that you are out gigging on the Comedy Circuit ? Excellent stuff π
You don’t want to be here @435 – I think either way , your mum will be disappointed . If internet rumour mongering is to be believed Mr Gourcuff attends the same parties as our very own out of touch centre forward Chamakh . Wolfgang Smallballs refuses to confirm or deny !
Canons – great photoshop stuff – Miyaichi The Last Samurai – marvellous stuff – and your joke wasn’t too shabby either π
Toby and Camberwell π
Dr C – Drogba ? Yes please . Anelka ? No thanks . Schneider ? Beeeehave .
Ollie@463 – I’ve finally thought of a way to help you out with the funds to pay off Lars’ tab . How about a ‘Holics sponsored penalty shoot out against Emma Byrne . I for one would love the opportunity to bang one home in Emma’s net .
Thought for The Day – Was Phil Gartside the chap , who when approached by a Genie and granted one wish , asked for a little head ?
And Finally ….
Knock , knock
Who’s there ?
Little old lady
Little old lady who ?
I didn’t know you could yodel .
Ollie @465 – Who he ? Any good ?
That Park story is underwhelming.
And weird. Lille president said he had deserted his hotel room this morning (was supposed to have second part of medical with Lille this morning) to go to London.
Haven’t watched Monaco much last year, tabs. And well, they got relegated.
I blame the Asian tour, we should have toured Benelux instead.
Like your idea for sorting out the tab though.
π
Well, at least we got a favourable draw in the Carling Cup – Shrewsbury at home.
Ollie, never thought my rubbish jokes would have such legs!
Afternoon all.
Arsene in for a new player?
A defender?
Park Da Bus?
Oh wait, he’s a striker;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Chu-Young
I think someone may have “vandalised” his wiki page, unless he does indeed party like a ………..
Big Bloody Mary please, I’m still reeling from last night and I’ve got to start again in less then an hour. The missus is off to a concert, but in return I might be able to arrange a free pass so I can bog off to a little town called Dortmund next month. Fingers crossed.
Shrewsbury in the CC? Won’t Wolfie have divided loyalties?
H2H, His Wikipedia page no longer says he parties like a …….. or that his name is Park Da Bus for that matter. π
They changed that quick 8ball, but luckily thanks to the wonders of technology (ie I forgot to close the window) I can show you what was written;
2011
On August 27, 2011, Park came to my place and hit some dank chronic. And he parties like a boss.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14692916.stm
Hmmm – looks like there’s something in this one . Completely out of leftfield if true .
H2H – You don’t need me to tell you to start the bidding low , in the pending negotiations with Management . Look at how Arsene does it .
8ball – No problem for Wolfie , his loyalty is to Arse always . π
Drinks for the boys , Barkeeps
I”m in the luxorous position of not having much to offer, tabs. π
H2H – heh π
Nicked from Arseblog news – slightly bad taste but made me chuckle :-
He’ll shoot , he’ll score
He’ll eat your labrador
Park Chu-Young , Park Chu-Young .
Tabs, Heh. Bad taste like everything else depends on your perspective. π
Buying this Park dude smells a bit like “we want to sell shirts in Korea”. But then again, Arsene usually knows more than I do so maybe he will bring something we haven’t got.
And in other news: Two blonde rabbis were handing out presents but they said they would only give them to those who deserved them, and I thought “fair dues”.
Re: Lars @443, If we have anybody who is not out injured for the season, please let me know. π
News item: Wigan make their best ever PL start with 5 points after 3 matches. What the news item does not tell you: Wigan have played the 3 promoted clubs in that time, managing to beat only one of them. Are Wigan therefore relegation fodder by definition?
Heh tabs & Lars.
Hi guys, Iβm a South Korean gooner. Everyone in Korea is surprised by the news of Park Joining Arsenal! Shocked!! Especially by the manner that he left Lille! Shocking!
Iβve seen him since his highschool days. He went to Brazil to experience Brazilian football for a couple of years when he was younger. He has got good skills and techniques. I think he can be a good sub. Starting 11 at Arsenal? Not so sure that. He has still a lot to prove.
BUT HEβS GOT A BIG PROBLEM! He hasnβt finished his military duty.It is compulsory in my country and as long as I know, he has only two years left until he must join the military! (If my memory is correct, he has to join the military before he turns 28 or 29 years old.) I finished mine 10 years ago for 2 and a half years. Now itβs much shorter.But still around 20 months. I suppose that was the main reason why many clubs didnβt show much interest in him.
Football fans in my country are divided by this story. Some blame him for the way that he screwed Lille, others are thrilled by Park possibly joining Arsenal.
It this story is true, then I wish him all the best! But not only South Korean but also a gooner for more than 10 years, Iβm not so sure about this move!
8Ball
I’m watching the chavs v norwich at the mo and the newly promoted team are giving it a good go.
Sammy, thanks a lot for the info on Park!
Cheers Sammy.
Cheers Sammy , is he bigger back home than Manure’s Park ?
I reckon we’ve buggered up all chance of getting Hazard ( if there ever was a chance ) .
Lille’s noses must have been knocked so far out of joint , they can sniff coke round corners .
takeabowson
Manure’s Park is a legend. No one even dares to say a single bad thing about him. (I don’t like him though. He plays for Manu! But I don’t say it to anyone ha)
Expectations on Chu-young Park were really high. He was really good when he played for u-18,19.
Everyone believed he was going to be the best player in our country. But now people are relatively disappointed by his progression.
He is good, but not that good like everyone in my country hoped him to be.
He is right footed, but also has good left foot. But his slim figure worries me. And I want him to be more mobile.
Cheers Sammy , for the info .
Let’s wait and see what happens .
I’m with you on the slim figure . More fatties in the Premiership – that’s what I say ! π
We’re signing Andy Reid, tabs.
You’re welcome guys.
Park’s story is all over the news! still shocked.
Ollie heh π
Go on the Canaries !!!
And in other news , with Howard saving a pen , can anyone stop the inexorable rise of The Speedo Massive ? π
Norwich are making the chavs look average.
Chelsea score – boooooooo
Howard saves 2nd penalty π
Go Norwich you can do it.
Rude not to !
Pelanty on Samba for climbing on the back of opposition player attempting to trap a long throw. Who gave it? Lee Mason, one of the worst refs known to mankind. Worse than Howard Webb? That one is debatable.
Jagielka also given a penalty today. All the Arsenal targets are being targeted apparently.
Lee Mason out on his own as the worst 8ball imho
Tabs – no, on a par with Dowd lest we forget π
And don’t forget Massimo Busacca.
There’s a new blog it seems!