Three Points Secured With The Touch Of An Angel
Sep 10th, 2011 by 'holic
“I’m not even slightly interested in our performance, only that we win the game. If we’re shaky at the back and toothless up front but score a goal deflected in off Frimpong’s arse in the final seconds of injury time, I’ll take it. I’m not sure I’ll enjoy it, but I’ll take it.”
Prophetic words in the Arseblog preview of Swansea’s visit to the Grove. The goal may have come a little earlier than predicted, and it may have owed more to the superbly named Angel Rangel’s heel than Frimpong’s arse, but that was a game that will be remembered more for the three points than anything else.
There will be both good and bad aspects of the performance for Arsene Wenger to discuss with his troops as he attempts to turn them into a clinical and cohesive unit. Le Boss won’t need any supporter to point out that the infamous handbrake is definitely on at present, a product of low levels of confidence possibly.
Defensively I thought there was much to admire in the performance of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, but still we offered the visitors a lifeline in injury time from a set piece and breathed a collective sigh of relief when Danny Graham hurried his effort over the bar.
The midfield, minus the suspended Alex Song and the injured Jack Wilshere, started brightly I thought. Watching a back-up stream on a small screen one could be forgiven for thinking the ingrate Nasri was still around. Mikel Arteta is a more experienced version who lit up the first-half, but had less influence on the second. As he settles into new surroundings I’m sure we will get full value from him.
The goalscorer continues to delight and frustrate in equal measure. Andrey Arshavin rations his effort carefully, playing in fits and starts. He is a player who embellishes our work when we are at it, but a questionable luxury ahead of a nervous young left-back who needs more help on occasion. I was surprised when he was substituted that Yossi Benayoun was sent on as a direct replacement. I would have expected the Israeli skipper and Theo Walcott to exchange flanks. What do I know, eh?
Robin van Persie’s chocolate leg could have secured the ‘holic pound, but no goals from three attempts typified our luck up front. Overall though it has to be said that the main objective was achieved. The three points were critical to get our League campaign back on track, and we can look forward to welcoming back Song and Gervinho now they have served their suspension.
That will hopefully be the start of a run, a return to form little by little, a recovery of confidence piece by piece. Defensively we do look better, although further improvement and concentration is required. Offensively there is work still to be done. Too often today we were one-paced and ponderous in the build-up. The pace of Gervinho may add a much-needed second gear. let’s hope so.
Cheers ‘holics. Let’s drink to this first win, and to the oft-criticised home support who lifted their flagging side over the line today with an endless rendition of “We love you Arsenal”. We’ll have better performances, but few matches will yield three points of greater importance than those earned today.
290 Responses to “Three Points Secured With The Touch Of An Angel”
First! One nil to the Arsenal…
Let’s all have a drink to 3 points
Hear hear. I’ll drink to it all. And for those who have seen my last few posts during the game, about Mertesacker, still feel he did not work well in relations to other players during this game, but quite well on an individual level. This is not surprising in any way given this was his first game.
One or two more wins now and I think we will start to see this team improving very rapidly as new players get their game on and old players get their confidence back.
And if only I could afford it I’d buy most of the home support a drink each. Well done! Now I’ll have to settle for paying another round in here.
Off to get me the ingredients for a creme brûlée. Be back later!
Come on Arsenal! Thanks for the write up, Holic. Mertesaker was powerful, I think he will integrate better over time. Arteta looked sharp and eager- solid signs…
Guinness, please, and a toast to our first league victory.
cheerss…beuty or not its a win….yeahhhh.
Holic- absolutely spot on with your excellent assesment!
3 very welcome points.
Guinness over here, please. 3 points in the bag. We can work on getting more goals later on.
Good scruffy 1-0. Like the Mancs do
Loving all the happy drinks btw. Keep it up! We’ve all got everything to win by getting some positive feelings up and running again.
Drink to a hard fought win and the start of something new. Cheers ‘holic. 😀
Bang on the money ‘holic — great assessment.
Our season has finally begun!
hope PM4 blend soon dats by d way, cheers 2 d start of fifteen games winning streak
A quick drink for the win. This is the first time I am fine with Arshavin not tracking back …
Mat (2)@10- ah yes, thanks for reminding me there are two s’s in assessment! Bloody state education
A Glenmorangie all round to toast the beginning of the recovery. But it’s a long, long road back by the look of things. However every journey starts with one step. Cheers ‘holic.
…and cheers to the home support as well. Keep it up lads.
Not the best performance by all means if I was to take the one nil before the game I would without a doubt. Few scary moments indeed but overall happy with the win. Young Oliver loved every minute of it.
Stuck at Paddington now train signal issues, where is our HT?
Come on You Reds!
3 points,clean sheet.
Cheers to it mates.
This is going to be a hard campaign and those with no stomach for combat will fall by the way like so much chaff.
Mertesacker can defend, Arteta is skillful and not above dishing out a kick or two when called for. Frimpong is well…Frimpong.
Nuff said on to the Deutschlanders.
Great result no matter the performance exactly what we needed. Superb debuts from the new boys Arteta was allover the pitch even if he did fade in the last 20. The only negative was the display by Gibbs, he seemed a bit at sea at times. I understand having Arshavin in front of you makes things a bit harder but he did let his marker out wide go free a bit too much for my liking.
3 points is 3 points but almost at the expense of a flat screen tv (if I had something like a rock in my hand about 4 or 5 times).
Szczezer was on fine form with the exception of the final corner kick – but I think at the end of the season he will be in the 2 or 3 spot in the EPL pecking order.
In the back only gibbs showed his inexperience and really poor decision making in 1 v 1 situations (on both sides of the ball). So full marks to Merte, Kosc and Sagna.
I thought Arteta and RVP combined well at times given Swansea’s 10 behind the ball approach. But 2 things stole their cutting edge as the match went into the second time – Rambo and Frimpong were well off the pace with Rambo’s howler from Arteta’s perfect pass in minute 2 representing where his game would go. Frimpong just off a card and he needs to be taken off at minute 65?? WTF?
Theo was out of the game just before the yellow card and continues to show he is easily put off his game by a little rough treatment and some tight attention. He needs to grow up this season or he will be just one of a committee of 4 players at that position this year if AW wants to win games vs. guard players emotional state.
And AA is AA and will be AA forever. Touches of brilliance mixed in with lots of jogging and walking around sprinkled with 2 or 3 defensive howlers.
I see only 5 of the outfield players starting today’s match on the pitch when (if) we are at full strength in the games vs. teams at the top of the table, or in the knockout round of the CL – God willing.
Relieved and delighted to get the first win of the season. Very encouraging signs from Mertesacker and Arteta, and I think Benayoun will prove to be a very useful player as a long and arduous season gathers pace. Just a quick point on Matt Le Tissier’s criticism after the match – he said that we were lucky to get the three points after the chance Swansea missed at the end, and in one sense he has a point but the logic is faulty. In fact, it is a classic piece of confirmation bias. While it is true that we were nearly punished at the end, what about all the chances we missed, not least the header by Chamakh in the last ten mins? Overall we had better possession and chances, and just as we were lucky not to concede in the closing stages, so too were Swansea as we couldn’t apply the finishing touches to some decent moves.
Now that Van der Sar has retired, Woj is the best keeper in the EPL, by a mile. What a keeper. He oozes with confidence and makes everybody else very very calm.
I have to say I wasn’t that impressed with PM but I’ll give him some time.
Aaron should have made the game much easier in the first minute, but like Holic said, I’ll take it every day of the week.
How weird would the reaction have been had Graham scored that chance eh?
Listened on the radio. Wont be watching the match on Sky because it sounded like a team in decline and not good enough to win anything. I will however wait till the new signings have been involved until January to make up my mind if we will be playing CL football next season.
I know we don’t have a right to win anything but I still believe we have had the money to buy better players and win something in the last 6 seasons. Our poor form has been unnecessary and unforgivable.
Whatever we say about this game would constitute over-analysis, I’d say. We won, that’s the thing that matters. A team still ravaged by injuries and suspensions but this time with a few additions who have had one or, at the most, two training sessions with the rest of the team got the job done and it can reasonably only get better from here.
Here’s to three points!
Well summed up. 3 points I will take but did not enjoy it. Home support was superb and the effort by most cant be faulted. I wonder what will make this team tick and who will bring the mojo back to Arsenal, early days for the new signings but no complaints just a wee bit flat, sorry holics I feel I need a drink.
Great to know that we can scrap out victories even when not at our best. We need a lot more of that spirit if we want to get to the top. But methink Ramsey should be allowed to watch from the bench except in FA cup, Carling Cup n when we are short. He sometimes destroyed the rhythm of the gane and was that effort a ‘shot at the sky’ or what. Benayoun was wonderful when he came in, in my opinion. I have not seen a player that wanted more of the ball like him in a long while. He had intent, and that is a good quality. I can stand Arshavin’s supposed laziness always because I know he guarantees moments of magic that can turn games on their heads. What I cannot stand however is Theo’s predictability and lack of alternative guile once he has been found out. He was out of the game in a matter of minutes just like that teenager from Liverpool did to him the other night. Think Wenger should start thinking seriously of giving Chamberlain and Ryo the few preparatory minutes they will need to know they can do a good job when needed. All round, great result, shite football and God blesses us with Schezny. Hope we will start looking like Arsenal when the new players settle down and the carded players return. Here begins our season!!! Cheers all Arses!!!
Cheers for the post ‘holic and to the Gunners, today was indeed all about the result. I must add that the Walcott effort scurried off the line was one of the best goal line clearances I’d ever want to see (if we have achieved it and not the opponent). One word to sum up Arteta – calm. It was nice to have that in the middle of the pitch.
I know many admire Frimpong for his work rate and passion but I fear it’s too early to start him except when he have to, his ability to lose possession will cost us dearly soon but I assume Song means he will rest.
Full credit to Swansea, they just need a good striker and their play deserves that – perhaps Bendy should have gone to Wales.
Let’s see where we are after 6 matches (10 point I think) before hitting any panic buttons. As for today, job done and I bloody love our keeper.
Oh….and why is Theo so uptight? Lad needs to relax, this season he seems to think he has to battle the fullback and the linesman….
An accomplished performance from a team who could have done with a pre-season together!
Promising moments from a team lacking confidence against a newly promoted side who had gotten off to a good start this season and thought they’d caught us at the right time (not).
3 points in the bag roll on Tuesday! 😉
Evening All
Sage words as usual maestro. I’ll drink to three nervy points all day long. This could be a year of 1-0 to the Arsenal.
Gerv coming back (& Song) should make a big difference for the next match.
Cheers all. A round is on the bar courtesy of our resident viking 🙂
One nil to the Arsenal , one nil to the Arsenal
One nil to the Arsenal , one nil to the Arsenal
Nothing else matters !
Get the Krug out , Barkeeps 🙂
After a stutter, the season started today. We have much, I feel, to look forward to!
3 points, a clean sheet, no red cards for a change, and a winning debut for our new guys. Lots to be grateful for there in that simple sentence.
We just need to build our momentum slowly, keep ourselves in the hunt until we get our key injured players back and gain confidence along the way.
Given the interlull and the lack of time to prepare as a team, today was pretty much as I expected. We need to be patient – we will get there.
And the longer we are written off by all the c***s “who know”, especially the media whores on Sky, the better.
I’ll join you in that Krug, Wolfgang.
you’re more than welcome Dr Z 🙂
Lovely post ‘holic.
Nervy and anxiety making game, but three points in the bag, and the home support in fine voice to boot. All things considered, seems to be going in the right direction at last. Long may it continue.
I know many will write this off as ‘only Swansea’ but blimey they did put a shift in.
Tabs – on the Krug so soon in the season??? You classy devil you!
ATG – Hope the little gooner enjoyed this most traditional of Arsenal scorelines too ☺
Good Evening Hollics
Just got in from the match ,one which will not live long in the memory. We were woeful in front of goal. If only Ramsey had put his early chance away it would have been an entirely different game but we are the Arsenal and do everything the hard way!
Arteta began brightly but disappeared in the second half. Theo had one of his off days and I would have subbed him at half time, a pity Oxo was not on the bench. Our little Russian shone in the first half and was on hand to make the most of their keeper’s error, quite a comedy turn.
I thought PM did quite well but he did get caught out for pace on two or three occasions. Gibbs was my main concern. He looks great going forward but was caught out of position a number of times , Kos having to help him out.
It was a very humid afternoon and the players looked tired in the second half , the weeks travelling for most of them and a lack of time to gel with the new players was evident.
I am very pleased that “Szczesny” is on my new shirt , a huge player for Arsenal for years to come.
With Song and Gervinho available next week things can only get better.
As always COYRs
Evening Wolfie, Dr.z, tabs & Dr.F
The more we think about it, Edwin and I think that this was a massive 3 points. Definitely onwards and upwards.
I only listened to the game on Pravda Player, but it sounded like Big Sacks and Arteta both had decent debuts. Szcz must surely be one of, if the not the top EPL GK.
UTA and I’ll also partake of the Krug if I may….
Well said Snowy.
ATG – hope you had a day to remember with ATG Jnr 🙂
Bring back Song for the awful Ramsey and Gervinho for the clueless Walcott
Swansea are nothing more than a championship team and like Blackpool will go straight down.But how bad does that make us?
Watched United game after ours.It shows the 8-2 was no fluke.They are a million miles ahead of us.
We will struggle to finish 4th.MOTM again for the 6th game running Szczesny.That sums up our season
Santos sitting on the bench must have been thinking i have nothing to worry about from Gibbs.Time and time again Gibbs was caught out of position.
Dont know whats happened to Ramsey his form has completley gone this season
Walcott had a shocker Gervinho must replace him on tuesday
Thank god we were playing Swansea.Against any top 10 ten we would have lost.
ONE UP FRONT AT HOME TO SWANSEA!!!!!!
Well done Szczesny
Snowy – on the money . After the last 5 months , we have to take every opportunity !
TS – of course , pick up a glass .
Frank – thank you for your tidings of joy , almost as depressing as being in on a saturday night watching X factor . Carry on your good work .
Reg the Veg – ” Don’t know what’s happened to Ramsey … ” – how about a recovery from a leg snapped in two ? … Jeez
Medicinal Krug? Marvelous….
I hate the mediocare working in SKY. They like nothing about Arsenal. i think the were paid for the media war on Arsenal and Arsene. pls leave us alone. No matter whay you write the fan still believe in Wenger. Three points. Kudo to the Players
Come join the tranny gang Dr C 🙂
Heh Wolfie
Cheers for the Krug.
Some in here need to consider the word perspective. Very important in light of recent events on the field, a summer to forget off the field, a tough Interlull schedule for most of our players and lack of time to bed in the newbies with the squad.
Actually patience and perspective….
…. and not being a misog (miserable old git) 😉
Cheers Wolfie, my dear.
You get refueled and then we’ll set you on the misogs….
TS @ 36
It was certainly an important 3 points. We have a number of new players to bed in, and 2 of our most important and better players out injured. Add to this, players out with suspension, and the long term goal of having to replace one of the best midfielders ever to grace the shirt, we are not going to turn into world beaters overnight.
Manchester United have bought well, and are playing with loads of confidence. We are a long way off AT THE MOMENT, but god forbid the players start to think like some of the lily livered who come on here and refuse to put the current state of affairs into proper perspective.
One of the teams that is supposed to be taking Arsenal’s place in the “top 4” lost to Stoke today, yet their world doesn’t appear to be falling in.
Things will improve for us, of that I have no doubt.
Long Island @ #19
Which two GKs are you putting ahead of Woj?
Thanks TS and Mr Smallballs, have some more Krug on me 🙂
But most importantly, Delia – Have you found a home for your old Na$ri shirt yet? I offered mine to my Bengal cat (who is a Gooner) but he’s refused to go near it…
Oh I see you got the perspective bit in before me, TS.
Short sighted old git that I am. 🙂
Well in Dr.z @ #36.
I have a very strong belief that by the time Manure come to the Ems for the return match, we will, as a very minimum, give them a real run for their money…. not that they have any 😉
I’m only looking at The Arse at the moment (steady Wolfie). I don’t give a FF YET how the others are doing…. just as long as we can stay above the LWCs as we canter along the road to recovery 🙂
snowy @ #48
May I suggest red and white, Nike branded bog paper?
Frank – if you want to be a Utd fan, be a Utd fan.
Otherwise, if you’ve come on here to tell us that we’re a ways behind a side who finished a dozen points clear of us last season and absolutely tore us a new one two weeks back, then I’m afraid it’s a big ‘no shit sherlock’ from me.
Happily, the season is long. Utd won’t keep this pace up for 38 games and I also suspect that we have now bottomed out and will improve from here.
I, for one, was bloody glad of the three points today. You don’t go from the low of our last league result to playing in top gear in one step. Sure, the game wasn’t pretty, but I think if you’d offered most of us 1-0 at 2pm we’d have taken it. The result was the important thing.
In fact, come to think of it, I’d take scrappy 1-0s in our next couple of games. Before dishing out a hammering to the LWCs.
…Oh, and if you keep offering that shirt to your moggie, Edwin syas that he may be compelled to call the RSPCA 😉
PS: Sorry Snowy, ‘moggie’ wasn’t designed to offend you or your thoroughbred
Agreed TS .
And Dr Z , totally right .
Are we gonna win the league ? probably not .
Are we gonna finish above the Mugsmashers ? I’d stick my mortgage on it .
Snowy – Thank you for the top up – its all in the refuelling 🙂
zico @ #49
Better a ssog than a misog, eh? 😀
Nurse Wolfie
Did you see the game, dear?
I understand that we won and got 3 much need points.
However, I am a little concerned that we didn’t score ten goals, nor, at the very least , also qualify for the final stages of the Champions League while we were at it. I would of course preferred we’d actually won the World Cup against Swansea today, but I suppose I should keep my expectations reasonable.
NOR, I understand, did we manage to successfully solve the Middle Eastern crisis or the global economic recession.
Wenger out.
Pass the pipe, there’s a good girl.
Thanks guys, ATG Jnr had a great time he added to the noise as well bless him I had to pick him up when everyone stood up to see if we managed to score. We will definitely do it again soon, good father and son bonding time!
Let’s be honest three points is three points no questions asked I will never complain about that, we had better games indeed we got lucky some could say but perhaps this was needed to get over the line.
LS @42 What did you expect from SKY? Bunch of Hansens!
Frank – I should point you to Le Moan but what is the point? Why moan after a win I just don’t get it!
Forward & Upwards!
Good to hear ATG. I can see you had a good day, in perfect persepctive too.
Please have a pint on Lars and a pipe on me (assuming Jnr is now safely in bed) 🙂
Heh Dr.C @ #57
You may have forgetten to add abolishing famine and curing cancer too.
ATG
Glad you had a good day with your son. I can’t wait to do the same in a few years.
I was watching the rugby this morning with 4 year old Catalan junior.
Later on we were playing golf on Wii. “you will fuck lose” said junior.
Really got to watch my language from now on.
Moving on to wine from the Krug.
After 82 (The number of the beast) this win looks huuuuuge…but it isn’t… Swansea?!?
The way We played is like Mikel’s in the dull squad.
Lucky Borussia D. is in a similar state or…
TS – heh x 2:lol: Frank Fabregecat is grateful for Edwin’s concern 😉
And N7 – YES. Absolutely. Three cheers for that.
Now. Have we finished the Krug yet? Is it time for the Cristal? Where’s Lars’ card…???
No worries TS,
I’ve got a patent on both of those already. Someone has got to perform around here, and I got fed up with our “manager” messing around.
Wenger out.
I’ll buy a round for the first person who gives a Cher “Snap out of it!” slap to Theo Walcott for an atrocious performance today. Sloppy game with a fluky gift for a goal, but, unlike some Arsenal fans, who will whine and moan about how bad we looked at times, I will drink to the self-evident truth that a win is a win is a win.
TS @59 Safely in bed of course and I will gladly have that pint and your pipe if still on offer?
Dr C @61 Thank you, it’s special time when you take them to the games. Funny you saying that, mine was asking me why are these people signing fuck this or something like that? Where they singing that toward the other fans?
Yes son! 🙂
A drink for everyone on Lars tab please Landlord!
Heh Catalan @ 61 – at least he didn’t say it in Spanish. Or did he?
Snowy, I gave the card to tabs – expect the credit limit was maxed in the first hour of custodianship.
Dr C 2 57 – priceless! Is there a smiley emoticon thingy for crying with laughter???
ATG @ 58 – very glad to hear that!
CG @ 61 – more tears of laughter. I see a bright future as a chant-writer for that one 😉
Dr C ,
Splendid to see We are on such good terms sweetie . 😉
And some very good points you make . Astonishing that The Arse didn’t within the scope of ninety minutes make sure that they’d sorted out World Famine , emphatically made sure that they’d crushed racial discrimination , and solved all economic problems that beset the world .
Doom and Gloom I say .
PS – Tabs wnats to sleep with Katie whatshername who presented Last Night of the Proms .
PPS – Why isn’t the uplifting tear-inducing Jerusalem our National Anthem instead of the turgid God Save Queenie ?
Zico @67
No – pure, clearly annunciated Anglo-Saxon! And so matter-of-factly stated too…
Wolfie am sure your anthem is Bark at the moon by Ozzy no? Around for everyone here for sheer genius posts, hold on while I fall off my tangent.
Nurse
Don’t get your hopes up my dear.
I am a quack. It is my God-given mysoginistic duty to patronise the pretty girls (especially my staff) and to flirt as I wish. Your duty is to giggle and bat your eyelashes. And to know your place.
I am aware that you are a little “different” from other girls. However your ability with the paddle is sufficient for me to approach this with an open mind.
Now then, let’s finish off these pipes and crank the bar up a little….
WTF, I can’t believe we didn’t win 15-0. What is wrong with us? Crisis, crisis, crisis, sack the manager, release the players…..ha!
Let’s be FRANK (@38)….a win is a win. This is a game we would have lost last year or drawn. There no where to go but up from where we were two weeks ago. Cheers.
I’ll read that blog (and the previous, I guess) tomorrow, but I’ll still have drink befor going to bed.
Goodnight, ‘holics!
*giggles and bats eye-lashes*
Dr C 🙂
Noel – I’m afraid I’m not familiar with the bat-eater’s work , but I do like Judy Garland .
Dr C on form tonite 🙂
Wolfgang @ 75 – it’s the red slippers, right?
NO IDKA , no Wolfgang the Imposter , no Tomstoned , no Ben .
What on earth is going on ? Oh sorry , I forgot . We Won .
Well well, Dr C has reported to me that his newly scourged team, the GT Rollers, has performed remarkably well this week. Only Lonestar’s Marauders scored more points (congratulations).
Well, there were two other teams that scored more, but he refuses to acknowledge them. I think we all know who they are. BOOOOOO!!
He tells me he has learnt his lesson and will continue to abide by the NSC rule.
Of course, the GT Rollers do still reside firmly at the foot of the table, however Ollie and The Flanders Frites are well within their reach now…..then it’s just a short skip to ATG, Lars and Toby.
Game on…
Look what happened in Spain this evening.
Just how much funnier would this have been if it had gone in??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcoBM40XeS4
Dr Z , @77 – red slippers very under-rated in my view 🙂
I think everybody is being way too harsh on Gibbs.
I mean he has to play 2 v 1 every single attack.
He was much better defensively when Yossi came in and helped him out.
Aaron could have killed the game but I’ll take it.
Blackburn next week? Hmmm. Tough game, but we should have enough with Song and Gervinho back.
Dortmund should be an exciting game. Both teams like to attack.
Snowy, Popped out to watch Federer fail to take his 2 match points. The Nasri shirt is still in the wardrobe hanging next to the Henry one, perhaps I should have a sale or something. Any suggestions ?
By the way I saw a guy today wearing a Nasri shirt with the name blocked out and “Arteta” substituted. Could catch on !
I was glad to see ‘Holic mention that Arteta faded because I thought the same thing. He looked really good early on though.
The other thought I had is about how little pressure there is on this Arsenal side. After losing the captain to Barcelona and taking 1 point from 9 including an 8-2 mauling, no one, including the players I imagine, feels any pressure to win the league.
We definitely looked like we could drop points today, but I didn’t even feel disappointed with the performance.
We’re so far down the table, people will hardly take notice of us, so we can continue the slow road to recovery in peace.
Don’t know really why I just watched MOTD because the only game I was bothered about today I saw anyway. But it does underline some things I know to be true:
– Watching Tevez stuff up a penalty enhances my life beyond measure.
– Just seeing Rooney gives me a horrible sicky thing in my mouth that needs to be eradicated with some expensive medicinal alcohol on Lars’ tab.
– Alan Hansen has a face that I could slap until my hand fell off. Wait…no….until my whole arm fell off.
– Hearing the phrase “Bendtner gifted a chance wide” suddenly fills me with a giddy sense of unutterable joy. I imagine this is akin to the feeling Mr Smallballs has when purchasing a new pair of sparkly red slingbacks.
– I find I dislike Adebyewhore as much as I ever did.
Happy days.
PS: Delia – TS had a good suggestion @ 51 above for my Na$ri shirt! I’m a bit loathe to do this as the thing cost a bloody arm and a leg. If the Fabrecat persists in avoiding the shirt I may wear it again, once Na$ri has completed his customary “3 good months out of the whole contract” at Shitteh. Just for a laugh. But if I discover I can’t pick off all the Na$ri letters it may be destined for the kitty litter tray after all
😉
With you on the slingbacks , Snowy 😉
‘We’re so far down the table, people will hardly take notice of us, so we can continue the slow road to recovery in peace.’
Are you kidding? The papers are just waiting for us to mess up again so they can resume sticking the boot in.
Snowy – Tell that to the leaders of the HT league!! They have him on their team!!!
Advice for the Na$sri shirt.
Give it to charity.
Don’t burn it because it’s an Arsenal shirt and don’t keep it cause it’s a Na$ri shirt.
I’m sure a lot of kids who don’t have a lot in life would be glad to have it.
TABS@ 78 – No Cusop?
My first trip to the Grove this year was somewhat off schedule. Junior football and a 7 year old son meant my journey started later than I would have hoped. A break with the norm. Was this a bad luck omen? I am very much a creature of habit.
I arrive at the ground and buy my programme. The first thing I notice is that it has changed. The normal staples have been removed and it now comes with a spine. Is this a sign of things to come on the pitch I thought? How great it would be to have a spine again.
As I took my seat I really do not know what I felt. The result was all important but surely we needed a performance as well? Would the new purchases make a real difference?
Let’s be honest, the media would have the knives out regardless of the performance or result. Win 10 nil and it would have been its only Swansea and we can’t do it against the big boys. Anything other than a win was just unthinkable.
The game was poor. It was poor to watch and not full of quality. Of the new boys I agree totally with the summary of Arteta’s performance. It was nice to see him seem to have a real desire though. Mertesacker does not have pace. But he showed enough for me to think that with Tommy V along side him that they can form a formidable partnership. What a shame that MOTD did not show that great tackle on the edge of the box.
As for the rest there was sadly very little to cheer about. Shezer continues to impress, I thought Arshavin had as good a game as he has in ages and Bacs worked hard. Ramsey was poor, Frimpong’s first touch was a pass and Theo was shocking. Is it me or does Theo only ever run fast when he doesn’t have the ball??? Gibbs was very poor and Kos, for all his potential makes some shocking decisions. The introduction of Benayoun injected some welcome pace into the side. I also thought that Coquelin had a decent game in the last 10 mins when he was on the pitch.
3 points is 3 points and after the debacle in Manchester I am grateful for that. But 4 shots on targets against Swansea tells you all you need to know. It was not good enough by a country mile. Of course the new boys will take time to bed in but you still have to ask, in the name of all that is holy why did we not do our business months ago? For the likes of Arteta and Mertesacker why was this not there 7th or 8th game in an Arsenal shirt? It will always, always baffle me, it really will. I hope that one day we will all get some answers. Today we were lack lustre. We looked sluggish and static at times. Our movement was poor and we were not crisp with our passing. Why? I will leave you all to debate that. My views are well documented.
The crowd were tops today. It has already been eluded to here and I must say the atmosphere, especially for the last 15 mins was fantastic. What a shame that at the final whistle half the squad could not get to the tunnel quick enough. I always find that sad. Those who feel that the home fans have a “duty” to do at home games please take note. It is often a two way thing. Just a minuscule amount of appreciation can go a long way boys.
So as we leave I contemplate a quick beer before I head home, but the best part of £4 for a pint of shit Tetley’s does not leave me lingering with that thought for too long.
So, where are we now? Well we all know it will take time for the new boys to settle in. See my views above re that point. At full strength I would expect Santos and Vermaelen to come into the back 4. I would expect Song, Wilshere and Gervinhio to come into the midfield. I would also hope that some of the youth width we have spent so much on starts to make progress, because we were devoid of it today.
So my journey home starts and again I turn to the programme. The spine is still intact. A good sign I think. I turn the pages and instantly note that the quality of the paper used is nowhere near that of previous years. Oh dear, I hope that does not destroy my new found spine theory.
Onwards and upwards fellow holics. Draught Bass for me please. I need a comforter.
Keep the faith.
Tabs – Thank you mate.
My thoughts exactly.
I said that yesterday and no one noticed.
Thank god the Holics are still here no matter what the score is.
Holics, what do you think of PM’s debut?
Steve – I disagree on Frimpong’s first touch but other than that, top post mate.
Snir, his first touch was shocking. His tracking back and work rate were top drawer, but his control let him down badly today.
Like I said, I disagree because I don’t think it was shocking. It wasn’t his best display of first touch in his career but it wasn’t shocking. Even when he did have a bad first touch he managed to recover and didn’t lose the ball that much. Most of the balls he did lose (which weren’t a lot) were passes that were intercepted.
He had 63 passes with 53 of the successful and out of those passes had 20 of 25 in the attacking third. That’s very decent for a DM.
What do you think of PM?
I thought he was very slow.
Kos bailed him out a couple of times. Especially with that challenge at the edge of the box when he intercepted the through ball.
Blimey Snir. Have you turned into Matt since I was away?????
😉
Not yet but I downloaded this great Opta app to my Iphone 😀
I love it, although it does make me lazy 😀
Now, please tell me what you think of PM?! I remember TV not impressing me in his first games (as opposed to Kos) so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt but he has a LOT to improve.
Maybe we could dulled Borussia with dullness and send them to Dullville.
I thought he played okay. The odd lapse but he will soon fit into the side and the prem. He made one crunching tackle on the edge of the box that just made me sit back and think wow, a proper centre half at last. I think he will grow and grow. You do not play that amount of times for the Germans and be poor. His positional play was good and I think that he will soon start to find his feet. A good signing in my opinion.
Was very impressed with Benayoun when he came on. He was full of energy and increased the tempo.
Watched Santos warm up. He looks a big, powerful lump. I look forward to seeing him play.
To be honest that tackle had my heart in my mouth. One fraction of a second too late and it’s a penalty. It’s something Kos was the culprit of last season (Newcastle away comes to mind) and I’d really would be a lot more calm if he didn’t do it again :D.
I’m not saying he’s poor, he just seemed confused. Not fazed cause he did play in big tournaments but confused. There were a lot of times where he didn’t know if to pick up the player or leave it to Kos, and the most obvious one was that Kos interception on the end of the box from a very dangerous through ball.
Santos would offer so much more than Clichy. He is very good going forward and as long as he understands the offside rule he’ll be better than Clichy.
As opposed to others, I’m not that harsh on Gibbs. AA had a great game going forward but looked exhausted and didn’t track back at all, leaving Gibbs in a 2 v 1 situation almost every time.
Once Yossi came in and helped Gibbs out you could see that Kieran was a lot more comfortable in his defensive play.
I was really disappointed with Gibbs. No one wants Gibbs to be a success more than me. But today he looked like a rabbit in the headlights. His positional play was shocking. I really really want him to be great but at the moment I just do not see it.
I am not a big fan of Kos. I think he has potential but I am still not convinved about his football brain. He has potential but a massive amount to learn.
Mertesacker’s first day at the club would have been Thursday so do not be too harsh on him just yet. Stick a proper centre half next to him and judge him then. That is my take on it.
I think you’re a bit harsh on both Gibbs and Kos.
Gibbs positional play is perceived as shocking cause he needs to take a position for two players as he gets no support at all from Arshavin.
If anything Kos has a football brain, his ability to read the play and intercept is magnificent and even when he doesn’t, his recovery ability is excellent. His play against ball playing opponents is terrific although he does need to improve his aerial ability (and he has. Last season he won 53% of his aerial duels as opposed to 75% against Newcastle which is a team that only plays the aerial balls). He does have a lot to improve though to become one of the best, no doubt.
I’m not judging PM. I’m just saying that if this is the ability he will show in his Arsenal career (although I’m positive he will get better, a lot better) then it’s not enough. But, like I said, I’m very happy we signed him and not Jagielka or Cahill. I’m positive he’ll prove to be one of the best CBs in the league.
After a car crash next time out behind the wheel is daunting and nerve wracking.
We had ours last time out so exorcising the demons and 3 points was a marvellous therapy.
Key players will return, we’ll get better.
Spot on Geoff.
I remember falling asleep on the wheel and flipping over, couldn’t drive for about 6 months.
We’re starting our mental recovery 😀
I admit that highlights is not a way to judge a player’s performance but I’m delighted we didn’t sign Gary Cahill.
He gets schooled by both Chicharito and Rooney on the first two goals. Like really schooled. Chicharito gave him a headache.
How he leaves Rooney so free on the third is beyond me.
Now that’s lacking a football brain.
Haven’t seen the game yet, but have seen about one minute of highlights which qualifies me to say nothing other than:
– Arshavin took his chance well from an acute angle;
– Wish Rambo had score after his MOTM game for Wales at Wembley
– Unbelievable save from Wojcieck after six minutes
– Robin won’t keep hitting wood. He’s storing them up.
– I’m looking forward to seeing Song, Gervinho and Santos start on Tues.
Dr. Z @ 32 – succinct and to the point. Good man. Hope you’re saving your pennies for the Bolton game.
Frank – funny to see you summing up our season after 4 games. Jog on.
Holic, I hardly need to watch the game after your summary. But, I think I will anyway. Surprise!
P.S. Cahill didn’t exactly look like a world beater in the highlights of his game today, did he? Nice work by Henri Lansbury for the Irons.
Steve T,
I really enjoy your summaries – although I’m not always completely aligned with your perspective. Great stuff and please keep it coming. By the way, I look forward, at some time in the future to seeing the width you’ve been calling for, in triplicate, when Chamberlain, Miyachi and (impact sub) Walcott ALL play in one of our games.
Are you and the kids going to Bolton or Olympiakos?
I must say that, like the Gunners, the Midnight Marauders are climbing the table…and we are doing it the RIGHT way.
In other words, no Mancs, no Chavs, no spuds (some people should be ashamed 😛 )
I think I’ll go out an purchase meself some souls.
*searches in pocket for thirteen talents of silver*
I know it’s been said but 3 points is 3 points and a big win for the new guys. We aren’t the mancs or even chavs yet but, we need this breed of player that literally hates those teams. What we need is someone ( frimpong) to pull an all out Martin keown on that ogre shrek and get in the face and show them who’s boss. We have the (new) right pieces in place to make a good run and threaten for some silverware. Keyword the new boys adjust and reap the benefits of Arteta to van persie later, that looks a promising pair doesn’t it? Benayoun will slot in, the big sack positioned himself well enough and is it me or did the saint look like he wanted at dyre like wolfie wanted Snir to his bed at TDD? Well again, onwards and up up up from here folks, let’s drink to the 3 points, oh and everytime someone doubts koscielny we all take shots…. May be in for a long 3 months it season.
In the cool light of morning, after a very satisfactory night’s sleep (3 points to the Arsenal, Barca pulled back to a draw by a partly-inspired Carlos Vela Real Sociedad, and Messi getting a yellow for diving, ha-ha), I have to wonder if RvP is the right choice of captain.
Yes, maybe he will settle into the position – and our upcoming fixtures might allow such time.
But yesterday seemed to show him as not relaxed enough to play at his best, nor did the way he relinquished the armband when he was subbed.
And, more to the point, real leaders don’t need time to settle, they simply lead.
Let’s hope the two who matter (RvP and AW) know the answer to this.
*boilk* is the operative word.
Snir. I take your point re Gibbs and the lack of cover and I do think it is valid to a point. But I also think you get a totally different perspective being at the game than you do on TV. That is no criticism, I just think you get to see the bigger picture. Gibbs yesterday looked out of place at times and far from comfortable. As I have said previously, no one wants him to succeed more than me but at the moment he has a very long way to go.
BTM. Thank you. High praise indeed from one so gifted with the pen. I will unfortunately miss the Bolton game as I am away cycling would you believe? But I will be at the Olympiacos game, and luckily for me I will be bring my son as my normal mucker can’t make it. Are you over for those then? Would be great to hook up.
Hello Steve. Agree on Gibbs, but I try not to rip into young players in the main body of the blog. He had an absolute ‘mare yesterday, but Snir is right when he points out the lack of cover. Arshavin will bust a gut once or twice a half to get back and get noticed, and that does for him.
It will be interesting to see if Santos gets a start before Shrewsbury. I think that will tell Gibbs he is back-up again. I hope it doesn’t demotivate him, but he has a way to go yet.
Steve T – Don’t worry mate, I agree completely.
Having been to hundreds of matches (albeit not of The Arsenal :\) I definitely know what a difference there is.
Unfortunately for the time being I can’t be a regular at the games (hopefully in a couple of years for my MA, planning to study in London for that 😀 ) so I’m writing what I do see and that’s what I saw.
I also watched a rerun of the game and noticed it. It is obviously a lot easier to pick up on things when you watch a rerun as you aren’t as nervous so you let your eyes wander off the ball a bit and spot things that weren’t spotted live due to the tension and the fixation and the ball.
Steve T – great match day report. Keep them coming, please.
Bloody Mary?
AtG: great to hear you son enjoyed it!
SteveT: cycling? Now what has the world come to? 🙂
Still feel good about the three points. Call it the first step towards recovery, call it whatever. It wasn’t a particularly good game but that is really quite beside the point right now. Getting the win was all the mattered, as it is for the next four or five games as well.
Snir….you? Tense? Never.
Steve T – Have a look at the 29th minute.
Scott Sinclair is up against Gibbs but he’s all alone on the wing and Gibbs deals with him quite easily. Arteta comes to help but Arshavin is over the halfway line no where to be seen! He does it all the time and you saw that Gibbs looked better with Yossi offering cover for him.
Dr. C – I’m as calm as can be.
(Or maybe not 😕 )
Actually Lars, it feels bleedin’ excellent with the three points. Hell, let’s drink to that. Un caffè corretto all a grappa, please! And one for everyone that wants one.
Grappa? ….noooooo!!!
Toby – look over your shoulder, the Rollers are coming! 🙂
Hah! I must say that I do really find the taste of a young, fiery one in a strong espresso being quite agreeable in a kind of kick-in-the-bum kind of way. You really do feel alive after one of those and a cigarette.
The funny thing is that it is Arshavin’s laziness that gets him his goal. If he tracks back as he should have done then he would not have been there to put it in. How ironic is that?
Snir, I look forward to you becoming a regular.
Hmmm …… Gibbs or a 28 year old lump with 27 Brazil caps?
I know who my money is on right now….
Steve T, that is actually quite funny 🙂
So, we seem to have done the game to death now so I’ll treat you all to some classic 90’s britpop:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI6YPGdDB1A&ob=av2e
Sunday, Sunday here again in tidy attire
You read the colour supplement, the TV guide
You dream of protein on a plate
Regret you left it quite so late
So gather the family around the table to eat enough to sleep
And mother’s pride’s your epithet
That extra slice you’ll soon regret
So going out is your best bet
Then bingo yourself to sleep
Oh, the Sunday sleep
thought new parts of the sum did OK
Up The Arse!
Nice call Lars. I’ll call you on that and go for a Damon song perhaps more suited to the more pessimistic amongst us, but at least ending in a way befitting to us –
A love song for the collaboration
You and me will never be undone
We’ll let it blow away, yeah
Ladies and gents, Kingdom of Doom – http://youtu.be/h_a1uEe__aY
Steve,
Yes. Will be meeting up with the Guvnor and Dr Z. (and hopefully some others, Lars, TS, Trev?) for Bolton. Would love to say “hello” before the Olympiakos game.
Holic – sorry to trouble you again Mr Mailman. Pls send my contact details to Steve.
And your comment “Is it me or does Theo only ever run fast when he doesn’t have the ball???”
– It’s not just you. When Theo is given the ball with a competent LB ahead of him, he is rarely able to beat him, either for speed or by skill. He’s no dribbler – frustratingly, he often stops and passes backwards to the player at RB – which is why Jenkinson saw so much of the ball as an attacker in his recent games. Now, pass the ball ahead of the LB (or any other defender) and Theo is then at his best and scores regularly from through balls. Solution – “More through balls Mr Arteta”. I suspect Theo would have scored from the chance that fell to Aaron.
Still haven’t seen the game. But that’s never stopped me having a viewpoint in the past and won’t now!
BtM@128-the perfect summary of Theo!
That amazing run with the ball at his feet, slaloming past bewildered Liverpool players in that fateful CL qurter final seduced us into believing it would be a regular occurrence, alas it seems to have been the exception rather than the rule.
Toby, have to confess to not having listened to very much of what Damon has done post-Blur, but that was really good. I should probably check out some more of that stuff.
BTM: I plan to be at the Tollie post-Bolton. I will also be over for the Stoke game.
I love Arsenal Player – but hey, where’s the first half guys? I’t can’t be too difficult to format 45 mins of play can it?
Anyway, based on the second half there’s much to be positive about here. You are absolutely correct, Holic. Arteta does have the potential to make Nasri a distant memory. The midfield pool of Arteta, Song, Wilshere, Diaby, Benayoun, Ramsey, Frimpong and Coquelin represents a better mix of youth, commitment, athleticism and experience than we had last season – and it was bloody good last season. Per looks like he’ll be an excellent addition and he, Vermaelen, Kos and Djourou have potential to be as strong a CB “pool” as any.
I don’t understand any of the criticisms of Ramsey’s contribution that I read from some above. Great to see a youngster make himself so available and work so hard for all around him. Arshavin nudging back toward form. One more haircut and he may be there? Gibbs is so much better than Clichy going forward, but yes, his defensive efforts yesterday weren’t at the level we saw prior to his long absence.
Swansea were better than I expected. Unless they can learn to convert though, they’ll likely struggle to survive which will be a pity. Refreshing to see a team come to Arsenal and NOT decide to park the bus. A nice display of Welsh heart – well done to them.
And last – a very amusing press commentary from the boss. He’s a man of great quality. On Chamakh picking up the armband:
“Yes, he looked for others to take it, but couldn’t find anyone. Yes, we have a vice-captain, Vermaelen, but he couldn’t give it to him – he was in the hos[ital at the time.”
So, the long unbeaten run begins. Alex Song and Gervinho back next week. Yes!
Off to hit some more little white balls, Been pissing down here this week so I don’t expect much roll. Her Nellieness will likely be the victor. Again!
Geoff @ 29 – I almost mentioned that Liverpool game and Chelsea last Christmas. There isn’t anyone I’d rather give the ball to in that situation than Theo.
Lars – Perfect. The Bolton game and The Tollie afterwards (and before also for me, Zico, Holic and Ollie I suspect) is shaping up to be a thing of splendour. Her Nellieness “doubtful” at the moment unfortunately.
Pretty good summary of the match over at Arseblog too, particularly the builds on Arsene’s “confidence” comments. To add to his stats though, so far this season (last season is now irrelevant, 9 players have gone and 10 have arrived. Let It Be, mother Mary):-
Played 6. Won 3. Drawn 1. Lost 2. Not perfect. Not pretty. But not a platform for despair.
The draw (Newcastle) and one defeat (Liverpool) were self-inflicted 10-man events. As for the 8 goals against game? Happens to Arsenal once every 110 years or so. Damnation, it’s becoming a habit!
Arsenal, Bloody Arsenal.
: – )
Hey Lars @ 130
As BtM has said, I will only be able to meet up before the game at Bolton as I have to dash straight to Heathrow afterwards. Hope you can make it for at least one pre match, but if not I will look for your MasterCard behind the bar. 🙂
PS BtM – last I heard no TS for Bolton, but tabs and I will be there.
zico, I will have to change my plans then! I assume you all will be there fairly early?
Mid day 😀
Just a word when people here have a say – like what was said – about Ramsey or other players that we believe have quality and, ‘don’t perform’ in a particular match.
We understand that Rambo “made himself” available and did a “lot of work” and “filled in” where and when he was needed. But at the top levels of the game a good coach / manager will always focus on “the moments”. Those are the times in a match when a class player can / must stamp his impression on the game and – generally – there are not a lot of them.
Generally well-matched sides with well-matched players spend 90% or more of the match in stalemate – playing for incremental advantages that may create something.
So when a player of Rambo’s quality is given a clear chance on goal in the opening minutes he MUST take the chance. The fact that he didn’t even hit the target in one of those “moments” is what creates the observation that he was “poor” on the day. Same thing in the 92nd minute with a 4 v 1 for the gunners. Rambo MUST take advantage of that key moment presented to him and make the next pass to put us in on goal and kill off the game. In the case of more on Rambo in this past match, I would add that his shooting boots were definitely not on as he had a few more half chances to turn into a “moment” and he scuffed a shot or two and didn’t beat the defending block on others.
Does anyone not think that performing at his personal best level in both of those obvious two “moments” would have been worth 3 points right then and there? So yes, we agree that Rambo belongs on a top-tier EPL team side and can play with the best of them in the 90% of the game that is a stalemate. But if he is to be the player we all know he can be / he should be – he MUST put his stamp on the game in those key Moments.
@True Story – Czech might be considered by many the top keeper in the EPL. #2 might be a tie for Pepe Reina and Joe Hart
Mwahaha
Well that was supposed to come with an embedded youtube….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=t5RYnaqKg9A
I think Cech has been overrated for quite a few years now.
Pretty exciting season shaping up if you ask me. Frimpong and Coquelin are doing quite well, and then you have all the other fresh faces to add to the mix. Arteta and Mertesacker had good debuts and we have reason for optimism so glass half full. 🙂
Ollie, Cech hasn’t quite been the same since Stephen Hunt tried to kill him a few years ago. Still a very good keeper, though, if you ask me.
Long Island
I get what you’re saying. But let’s put it into perspective;
How were YOU doing in your chosen profession at 20 (assuming you had already missed a year of your progression through no fault of your won).
I appreciate we are judging by different standards, but that’s why we get SO excited by the likes of LJW and Cesc….
Let them grow…..
Apologies for typos… bloody wine….
Same assessment from here, Lars!
Back from Memorial. Guinness time!
BtM, shall I share ME account or YAHOO?
And of course, our thoughts are with all ‘holics affected by the events of 9/11.
If only Bolton was a lunchtime kick-off. Fancy serving the whisky/whiskey from 4-7pm 🙁
http://www.purefestival.com/
Afternoon ‘holics.
Like I said yesterday;
A win, a win, my kingdom for a win.
Well, win is what we did, it wasn’t pretty, there were a few abject performances, but believe it or not, that could be the most important three points we’ve got in quite a while.
I thought the new boys did extreamly well considering the lack of time they’ve had to settle in. Arteta slotted in perfectly and Benegoon made a promising cameo. Big PM’s gonna be good, for what he lacks in pace, he make’s up in guile, he’s a real CB.
Gibbs and Theo seem to have come in for the most criticism, on the former, I’m afraid I’ll have to agree that although he has promiss, I’m not sure if he’s quite ready for the big time yet, an opinion I think that is shared by AW due to the signing of Senior Two Saints.
As for Theo, well, I think it was Alan Hansen who once said that TW didn’t pocess a footbailing brain and loathe as I am to agree with anything that plank says, I’m afraid to a certain degree he does have a point. Theo has no bag of tricks that he can use, except for pace, to beat defenders and quite frankly his decision making is poor most of the time, but in his defence, I think he’s been played out of position in a system that does him no justice. He needs to be in a more central position, chasing balls over the top. I’m sure given the chance, he’d do much better there. His goal against Udinesse showed his best assets, pace and the ability to put it in the net when that’s the only available option to him, give him time to think and that’s where it goes wrong.
B.A. Frimpong filled in well, but his inexperience shone through. I know everyone loves him, as do I, but I feel we need to air on the side of caution and employ him sparingly, he will be a legend, but let’s not pile the pressure on him by expecting too much, too soon, he’s still at the start of a very steep learning curve.
Speaking of legends… How good is Woj?
Unbelievable to think that little over a year ago this young man was our 4th choice stopper. He is calm, assured, fearless, has presence, cat like reflexes and just the right dose of “nutter” that makes a good keeper a great one. I’m sure I’m not the only one who literaly soiled his trousers every time a ball came into the danger area last year, well not anymore. Our prayers for a keeper have been answered, finaly we have a real No1, I’m sure our defence will also grow in confidence with the knowledge that Scezzer is behind them.
A word also must be said about our 12th man, the home crowd. The supporters in the stadium did us all proud, on my tv, all I could hear for the last half hour was a sterling rendition of “We love you Arsenal…” even though we were on the backfoot, now that’s real support!!
I’d also like to praise Swansea who came to the Grove to play football and gave it a real go, also offer my condolences to their manager, who lost his father on the morning of the match.
To sum up, on the whole I thought we looked scared, which is understandable considering the precarious position we were in going into the game. The players had not much to gain, but everything to lose. A win would have been put down to; “well, it was only Swansea” whereas a loss/draw would have spawned a backlash of scorn of biblical proportions.
Luckily we hung on and hopefully this victory will give us a much needed confidence boost. We’ll also have players returning from suspension for our visits to Dortmond and Blackburn, so things are only getting better.
I’ll have a pint of BM please (session ’till 7am yesterday/this morning, double bolik) and a round for the bar good sir.
Cheers.
H2H – It was Chris Waddle mate who said it mate.
I’ve thought about it for a while and while I don’t rate Theo that much, I think he can be useful.
Like I said the other day, I do think he’ll get to play in the center but not because of his ability but because of AOC’s ability to play on the wing. His crossing is excellent and he can take a player on (as opposed to Theo who can’t go past a defender if the ball isn’t to space), meaning AOC will get game time.
Woj – Wow! The best GK in the EPL by a country mile. The most area commanding GK in the EPL. So calming, I can’t remember the last time I didn’t hold my breath when the opponent goes past the half circle.
I also think a mention has to go out to Kos. Absolutely excellent. If he was English, he would have been lauded as one of the best in the league.
Campbell assist for Lorient yesterday.
And heh ‘Bordeaux vs Evian’, the drinks derby.
Was it Chris Waddle, Snir? I thought I saw it on the BBC.
Heh Ollie.
Hmmm, the drinks derby.
I hade a beer v vodka contest last night.
Not sure which drink was victorious, but judging by the way my head feels, it was a high scoring match.
You were right Snir, it was indeed Waddle (I did a quick google, easy Wolfie)
Ironic that a man with no brain whatsoever should make such a statement.
heh, nice one H2H. I think that in my own case, no drink offered beer any competition (well I had a little dram of Knockando before going to bed but damage was already done).
Dr C.
“Later on we were playing golf on Wii. “you will fuck lose” said junior.
Really got to watch my language from now on.”
===
Indeed mate, it’s “you will fuckING lose”
Let’s teach the young uns properly or not at all. 😉
Knockando, eh Ollie?
When it comes to mixing beer with whisky, I usually say, “no can do”. Don’t think my head could handle it.
Booing really is a national sport for French fans now.
0-0 HT at PSG. Cue booing.
H2H
You are correct, his grammar (could do with some improving, but as he speaks 3 languages at 4, I thought I’d let that one pass! Also, best not to draw attention in his mind to it…. 🙂
SG – I have to agree with you on your point about Kos. I’ve liked him since the start!
3 languages at 4? Impressive, sir, you must be proud and rightly so.
I wouldn’t worry about grammar too much.
When I was a lad the only thing I new about grammar was that she was married to granddad. 🙂
Boom boom!! 🙂
Just watched the Arteta post-match interview.
He is going to be mahoosive for us, isn’t he? Great signing.
Arteta has said the right things the second he signed. Makes quite a nice change from the silence we suffered from his fellow countryman. I do not think it will be too long before he reaches cult status.
Evening – night? – all. Kept away today by hospital visiting and other things and not had a chance to read all the drinks, so apologies for duplication.
Apart from what has probably been said about 150 times, I thought Arteta looked very good in the first half.
He tends to move the ball on a bit quicker than Nasri did, and with great accuracy. Some fine Cesc like passes, but faded in the second half. Generally very encouraging.
RvP does not look a natural No 9 but is a superb No 10.
So why not play Walcott up with him in a 4-4-2, ‘cos whatever Theo is, he is not a winger. If he could time runs to RvP’s passes he could be lethal, but I think he is gradually losing confidence playing on the wing, and is another one who tends to disappear as the game goes on.
Frimpong did not have his finest game today whatever tha stats may tell you. In his defence, I thought he seemed to lose a bit of confidence after being pulled up after one or two challenges. This, following his red card, seemed to leave him unsure of what he was allowed to do, and so as the game wore on he dared to try less and less.
He has to realise, though, that you can’t grab oppo by the shirt and throw them over sideways.
Bennygoon injected a lot of urgency when he came on even if he did not create a great deal. Didn’t have long to make an impression though. Not even one of Bruce Forsyth.
The worst aspect for me was the space we allowed Swansea to play in in front of our back four. Why do we not press teams quickly, when it has been shown to be so effective – and works against us !!
Best aspects were the three points. And the crowd. We were brilliant!!
Sorry again for any duplication. Will try and keep up during the week. 😉
WTF?!?!?!
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3808119/Top-Premier-footie-ace-is-on-cocaine.html
takeabow
good day to you too. am in nz for rwc so timezones not good. managed to catch highlights of the game in a pub and tbh i thought we were very poor.
i can understand the relief at the win but whoever said “we would have lost or drawn this last year” should remember that on this site last year most were saying we would win all four. by drawing loing at home to swansea ? swansea will prob finish last and for my money a banker for bottom three so while its good to get three points it wasn’ reall what anyone expected on this site last week,
good to see some now see frimpong is not fabulous as many thought after the liverpool games and walcott, is , well , frustrating and really one dimensional. ramsey was awful. we look more solid at the back but cumbersome but its better than being lightweight. we don’t care enough guile or variation to trouble the top teams imo but time will tell.
The more I think about it the more I realise that our performance on Saturday was way below where we need to be. But as someone far greater and wiser than me once said, “a walk of 10,000 miles starts with the very first step.” I hope we don’t have to walk 10,000 miles to achieve our targets but you know what I mean.
IMO everyone’s touch looked heavy and indecisive in the final 3rd. The good news…. Rambo, frimpong, koscielny, Gibbs and even the littlest russian may not make the prefered starting XI. which means we line up more like
Woj13
Sagna BigSack. TV5/kos. 2Saints
Song
Our-teta. LJW/Little Mozart
Theo Gervihno
RVP
creativity from most of the XI and fight from most of the bench, fight is what this squad may have been lacking for the past few seasons. We knew it’d be fab, that cunt and aluminua with clichy and aa earning starts but why? We never won anything with them but, lost a whole shit load so at this point why not change your system and yes play RVP SLIGHTLY behind Theo and let the wing players cut in while letting song hold your last line before the defense. Not up to us though we can only sit and watch and watch we all will despite the outcome or position in the table and if you don’t think the “AKBS” don’t agonize the same as you others you are sorely mistaken, we all love this club and this just so happens to be the position we are in at the moment but, greatness is surely coming if the HT needs someone to fill in to get us past Manchester (still) let me fill in and lead us to brighter days. And as David Brent would say el vino will flow…. Drink up my friends, and I hope someone steps on that cunts hand.
Idka- if we play crap and win with a clean sheet then I’ll take that at the moment. Utd have won titles playing like that. As you say, time will tell!
The IT nazis at work have just banned arseblog it seems.
Bah. Heavy drink needed.
Actually, funny as it was, Chamakh looking confused and not knowing who to give the captain’s armband to is indicative of Arsenal’s lack of planning.
Sum’s the manager up – no forward thinking or awareness of what might happen.
Morning chaps.
Top post @ 90 Steve T, one behind the bar for you.
Today I will be hating wind/rain and all Somalians
SG@ 166 – I’m definitely watching that tonight. Sounds like another career is about to be ruined!
I’ve got my suspicions but do not want to draw any markers to the bar!
But my guess is he’s now playing in the Championship and featured heavily in the news 2 years ago!
As has been analysed, we didn’t play well but we got the three points
I’ll take that
On to Dortmund, now this game could be very entertaining indeed 🙂
GT- I don’t have channel 4 so please quite who it is when it’s announced.
*write
Morning chaps,
A quality interesting read were the comments I thought (why am I talking like Yoda?).
Missed pretty much everything bar some crappy highlights on 101gg due to my attendance at a festival – and by the sound of it, my time there was much like Saturday’s game: very messy but achieved the desired result!
So I’m not in any position to comment on hardly any aspect of the game but I will say that after being largely ignored by the football gods for a long, long time I think they must have smiled on us that day: ludicrous keeper error leading to our goal? Check. Late, late chance in a penalty-box scramble spooned over the bar by the opposition? Check again.
If it had been last season that late chance would have been straight in the back of the net, almost no question.
Shall I bother with the doomers? No, I think those who went before me have done that so well that they even wrote what the D+G’s would say before the D+G’s could even THINK it! Scary if you ask me.
We won. The others lost. We kept a clean sheet. We needed this and we got it. Who gives an almighty FF how it was done? Oh that’s right, the media and the D+G’s because no matter HOW it’s done it’ll never be good enough for them.
There’s a ‘great’ team in Catalunya who would appreciate your support, and they win trophies every season. Why not do what our ‘friend’ Stingy Voyeur did and go give them what you call your ‘support’.
Onwards and upwards gooners!
Herbal teas all round. (It’s good for you. Stop complaining holics)
Random thought of the day:
there’s a market for flights between Orly and Dublin.
That doesn’t have to be reduced to Cityjet’s rather limited schedule.
Morning All,
Steve T @ #90: Thanks for the report mate. Nicely done. Stark but honest and open as ever. I’m going to keep my faith w.r.t. Kos, Rambo, Walcott and Gibbs. Same deal for Frimpong whom I believe will be good backup for Song this year.
BtM @ #128: I should be at the Olympiakos game on 28th. If you’re going, it would be great to meet up if your schedule allows. I’d be more than happy for ‘Holic to pass you my contact details (please Maestro ;-))
Trev @ #165: Good post, like your qualifying thoughts on 4-4-2. Can’t you get you good friend PHW to drop them on a fag packet to Arsene? BTW, I think Theo does a better ‘Brucey’ than Yossi 🙂
Having watched all the MoTD highlights, I have a few observations of my own:
1) I am now doubly convinced that buying Big Sacks over Cahill was a very wise decision. I know the whole Bolton team looked cr*p vs. a Manure team currently on fine form but I thought Boton’s problems stemmed directly form the back. Maybe Cahill is just pining to be a Gunner now…?
2) We won ugly on Saturday but if we can keep a winning run going whilst the new boys bed in and we wait for key players to return then we can get back to challenging for a top 4 slot and maybe even the title. Either way, it’s still very early days.
3) Adebaywhore’s opening goal/performance for the LWCs was oh so predictable. Let’s see how he’s playing for them after half-a-dozen games when he realises that he used to play for a big club. His open declaration of his ‘love for The Arsenal’ in his post match interview was, IMO, hilarious. What a great way to ingratiate himself with his new pay-cheque providers. They deserve each other.
4) Hansen will always be a Hansen but compared with Lady/Lilly Savage he is the voice of reason and pro-Arsenal.
A morning round for all please Mr. Barman and one for yourself.
PS from TS
5) Bendy will be as good a Mackem as he was a Gooner. Seriously, I wish him well but how many times have we seen him play like that in the famous red and white?
Ollie @ # 171, I will wear my black armband for you today whilst you buy your head of IT a brown shirt 😉
Long Island @ #137,
Thanks for responding re: top GKs in the EPL.
IMO, Szczesny is the equal of all the names you cite. Overall, they all have their strengths and weaknesses inc. Szczesny.
Right now, I wouldn’t want any other keeper between the sticks for us other than our mad, young Pole. I think he’s made an exceptional start to the season and I’m a very big fan.
Cheers.
Camberwell. Please have a look at the email I sent you mate. Thanks.
Morning all,
The more I think about it the more I would like to see 4-4-2. Theo up top, RVP in the hole.
I agree with Trev and BtM, if Theo has one unique attribute it’s his ability to make a lightening fast run ahead of an anticipated pass.
Arteta, Benny, Motzart, Wilshere, Ramsey, RVP, even Song are all capable of slipping either an angled ball or one over the top for him.
Playing our current formation with a lone striker is supposed to allow us the benefit of ‘flooding’ the midfield and denying space when we don’t have the ball.
I certainly didn’t see much evidence of that working at the weekend and I thought our pressing when not in posession was poor. So, instead of utilising a formation designed to defend space let’s commit to one that makes the best of the talent, belief and our philosophy of attacking and that puts the opposition on the back foot.
Thoughts?
Arshavin’s summary of Saturday’s game and tomorrow’s tie:
“Today the Welsh club has shown confident football for a beginner. Swansea tried to play football. If at the beginning of the match they thought only about defending their goal, further into the match they tried to save the game. In the first half they performed a dangerous combination but our goalkeeper showed his skills.
Today you saw the renewed Arsenal. Today we had the newcomers in the starting lineup as well as the subs. They looked good.
But they need time to fully comply with the playing manner, the signature style of our team. They are the great players, and the sooner they join the team’s game the better.
As for the game itself, we created some chances but our opponent also could have found the back of the net. We won. And it is great that we managed to win our first game in the championship this season. It was not easy. But it’s something to start with.
[At the end of the first half] I asked Frimpong to play with a player during the throw ins, not to stand in the zone because it brought some confusion into the team’ game in the middle of the pitch.
He was leaving the player, and our two central midfielders were left against three Swansea midfielders. I thought that it would be better for the team.
It will be interesting for me to play against Borussia from Dortmund. It’s a good team with the talented young guys. On the one hand, it is difficult to play against them; on the other hand it is interesting.”
hi Snir, sorry for not replying last week.
I’ve got your mail but today’s the first chance I’ve had to look at it. Get back to you soon on that.
IDKA 167 – we do have enough guile and variation to trouble the top teams – there you go, it’s a 50/50 straight down the middle piece of guess work at this stage of the season – simple.
The truth is no-one knows yet, and as you said time will tell. But with 9 (yes nine!) new signings and a clear change of playing style (much more direct by the looks of it), surely we should give the thing a chance, instead of lazily writing it off before the new boys’ marks have barely dried on their recently signed contracts.
And I don’t understand why people are getting on Ramsey’s back already – if they can’t see that that lad is a class act then well – wtf. Like Frimpong he’s probably being asked to do a bit more than he’s capable of at this stage in his career due to the special early season circumstances involving injuries, suspensions and the bedding in of new personnel – give these boys a break – they’re on our side.
As are – lest we forget – other very good players (RVP, Jack, Woj, TV, Sagna, Kos, Rambo, Song etc). With the new signings brought in to compliment these (as many of us demanded), and the management engaged in trying to alter the playing style – something else plenty of us wanted too – to then write the whole thing off before the white-lines on a brand new season’s freshly marked out pitch have barely dried, makes no sense to me . So much so that i’ve made the same effin’ point twice in the same effin’ post – taken different routes to get there, mind.
To be so one-eyed as to make out that everything is wonderful at AFC is a nonsense and does none of us any favours. But equally – to tip shit over the club’s obvious attempts to address its on field problems before any of us (and that includes the management) has had a proper chance to take a good look at it is just as ridiculous.
And we can suggest these things should have been addressed sooner blah, blah, blah – but the fact is they weren’t. We’re where we’re at and dramatic steps have been taken to get us moving in the right direction again and for that – right now – the club deserves our support. And anything else at this point in time doesn’t make any…oops, pardon – think i might have mentioned that already.
Up The Arse!
Snir, check your inbox pal
And lester @ #187
Some good points there, agree with many.
We need to see what happens for (at least) the next half a dozen games or so before we can get a decent persepctive on the capabilities of our new team. Hopefully, we ‘ll make some clear progress during this period.
If we do things right and the players gel and raise their collective games how refreshing it will be for us to be on our best form in the final third of the season.
So what reasonable targets do you think we can have for the next 5 league games peeps?
How about:
Blackburn A: 0-1 or 1-1 (sorry, just trying to be realistic…)
Bolton H: must win, should win
Spuds A: ditto but could end up a draw
Sunderland H: as Bolton
Stoke H: see Bolton and Sunderland, but add “and break Delap’s arms, Shawcross’s legs and Pubis’ cap”
…giving us a points total of 11 minimum, which I’d be pretty happy with I have to say.
What say you holics?
Camberwell
Good post.
All 5 are winnable.
Personally, I’d like us to beat LWCs and The Munsters the most, of course 😉
11 from 15 would be definite progress and be the makings of a decent run towards and possibly into the Top 4.
A herbal beer for you…
190 Cam’ G.
I expect 15pts and nothing less.
Bit of an optimist, me.
Breakfast BM please.
This in from Pravda:
“Wenger takes 18 man squad to Germany”
Arsenal squad (in alphabetical order):
Andrey Arshavin
Mikel Arteta
Yossi Benayoun
Marouane Chamakh
Johan Djourou
Gervinho
Kieran Gibbs
Lukasz Fabianski
Emmanuel Frimpong
Laurent Koscielny
Per Mertesacker
Ju Young Park
Andre Santos
Bacary Sagna
Alex Song
Wojciech Szczesny
Robin van Persie
Theo Walcott
Looks OK to me and the absences of both Rosicky and Rambo confirmed.
Zo meinen freunden …. vus about zis:
WeisBier Woj
Bratwurst Bac—-Mertenutsacker—-Knockwurst Kos—-Schnitzel Santos
Achim Arteta—-Gott Von Song—-Bayern Benayoun
Gerhard Gervinho—-Rudolf von Persie—-Hans Young Park/ Wunderkinde Walcott
With all due respect to our German friends and colleagues – I have many but maybe not anymore 🙂
COYRRRs
Rambo injured during training with an ankle problem. This is not good news one bit hope it’s only short term!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14887239.stm?
Ja Wol TSz, wery amuzink.
Intereessstinggg – TS a midfield 3 involving 2 of the late, late signings. He could pop AA in there – it’s where he plays for Russia after all – personally i’d like to see that but Le Prof has shown no inclination to do so, so far in AA’s Arse career.
Uppen ein Arse!
I know of three Polish players that play for Dortmund, two of them are starters and look very dangerous on the ball:
Lewandowski and Blaszczykowski and you thought Szczesny was hard to pronounce. Lewandowski is a good forward keeps on scoring in Bundesliga for them as for Blaszczykowski, think of Walcott with tons more skills on the ball. Similar to Arshavin but very high workrate just keeps on running all the time.
Still The Mighty Gooners should be Victorious!
pardon, meant to write – interestink
Camberwell
Baring in mind we’ve just lost Aaron but will gain Song and Gervinho…
Blackburn A: Win
Bolton H: Win
Spuds A: Win or draw (with Vanderfart still on the sidelines it’s a win)
Sunderland H: Win
Stoke H: Win
But then again this is me talking! 😀
Ask about the whole season and you’ll get a similar reply 😉
!
robbed – and not before time –
Ureds!
TS – Yossi for Aaron? Interesting test!
Saturday’s bench wasn’t the strongest but it had strength! 😉
As you can see the trio from Dortmund were taking the mickey out of Wojtek……
Reeeeveeeeeennnnnnnnnnnnngeeeeeee is zweeet!
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23986097-szczesny-eyes-revenge-on-united-jokers.do?
Come onnn youuuu Gonnnneeerzzzzz
Vielen danken Und lester und H2H 🙂
ATG – zis vill be eine real test of ze mental strengz
Weissbier und pretzels all round please Herr Barman
Up Ze Arse!
Afternoon All ,
Some great posts up there . SteveT @90 , a great match report , with a tip of the hat to H2H @149 and Trev @165 . Also AL @187 , with you all the way .
Difficult to find things to say which haven’t already been said , but I’ll have a go 🙂
Defensively we were sound . Over the course of the 90 , we restricted Swansea to 2 chances and one very well-taken free kick that rattled the bar . For that , our enormous German must take his share of the credit . I saw nothing in his performance that dissuaded me from the view that he could turn out to be a very astute signing .
Young Gibbs had a poor game , and is taking some flak . Whilst there is merit in the suggestion he receives little or no help from those playing directly in front of him , it cannot be ignored that he is battling his own demons at present . The boy can clearly play , witness his run and cross for Chamahk , but his lack of physicality taken together with a lack of confidence which has largely been missing since he broke his foot , means that I will be surprised if he holds off the challenge from Mr Santos for his shirt .
Arteta’s performance reminded me to a degree of Dreamy Bob’s first pre-legend season . He wasn’t able to thoroughly impose himself on the Game , but you could tell , just in the simple and effective ways he used the Ball and in his reluctance to relinquish possession , that we have a player on our hands .
Frimpong’s performance was without the pyrotechnics ( good and bad ) of the Liverpool game , but whilst his first touch and distribution was at times poor , he still showed that he will be a very important player in battles to come .
Ramsey is another who has come in for criticism , which I find harder to take . The boy is clearly struggling at the moment , with much of the game passing him by , but I saw no lack of effort . It is easy to forget that he has played less than 10 Arsenal games since being Shawcrossed . It is a miracle he’s out there at all , and deserves our support . With suspended players returning , Aaron will probably get a much-needed rest to take stock and push on .
Arshavin had his most effective afternoon for some time . This was due in no small part to a much freer and therefore more central role . Whilst defensively this left Gibbs exposed , it did mean that AA was far more effective (and involved ) in advanced areas .
With Flipper presumably chomping at the bit to return , AW faces an interesting selection dilemma as to whether AA or the out of form Theo should make way . Whilst I think some of the more hysterical criticism of Theo is borne not from any rational analysis of his performances but more an unrealistic disappointment that he is not the Boy Wonder that some had us believe in 2006 , there is no doubt that he was poor on saturday , refusing to use his pace when given the opportunity , and often squandering possession .
I would join the clamour for him to be tried in a more central role in tandem with VP . VP is a worry at the mo . Increasingly isolated in the lone striker role , his body language and general demeanour was not great .
So all in all , as others have said a win is a win is a win . The slow climb back begins here .
2 final things from the weekend ;-
King Kenny thinks he’s getting a bum rap from refs at the mo . And there was I thinking that the Mugsmashers were awarded 2 offside goals at the Ems last month . Meh .
And that beacon of level-headed , non ego-driven rationality , Mr Adebayor has spoken –
” Adebayor , you don’t have to give up , no matter what happens you’re a human being ” he said .
Well allow me to retort , Mr Adebayor . By going to the Spuds , you clearly have given up , whilst your human being status is , at best , questionable .
Drinks all round Barkeeps .
Gt @ #203
I think Yossi can cope. Arteta for uber-meister play maker.
Do you have an alternative configuration that you’d care to share?
ATG at 198 – you tease
AAAAAAAhhhhhhhh Walcott with tons more skill on the ball… even AAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhher Arshavin with a very high work-rate…
hell why not go the whole effin’ hog – RVP, TV and Gibbs without injury problems, KOS and Geranimho with another season under their belts, Song with more positional discipline, future Captain Jack at 22, Djourhu with a rocket up his arse
breaks into –
*Somewhere over the rainbow weigh a pie…*
Like Geoff (@184) and many others including myself have posted, I think the team, especially with the players we now have, would do a lot better if we moved away from the current 433 system we employ.
Now, I’m not pretending to be some kind of tactical wizard and I’m sure AW knows a lot better then myself, it’s just I feel we’re not getting the best out of players like RvP, Theo, Chamakh and AA. A few slight tweaks, e.g a 4411, with Theo in front of RvP, might improve them both.
If we decide to stick with wingers, then at least employ 2 CF’s, Chamakh can head the ball and know’s where to be (his header against Swansea) Park (from the little I have seen) also pocesses the same qualities. We then also need wingers who can put in a decent cross, I know from his days in the Ere Divisie that Myachi can cross, according to Agent Snir, Oxo cube isn’t too bad either, add Gervinhio in the mix and that’s a choice from three wingers, so there’s no need to stick Theo out there anymore.
Afternoon tabs.
I think RVP’s body language will improve when he gets decent service from Gervinho/Arteta and others and he starts banging a few in. I’m confident he’ll do that very soon.
I didn’t have Yossi down as a central player but after watching him on Saturday, I’d have to agree with you there TS!
IAWT!
😉
TS – think Frimpong will play instead of Benny , and wouldn’t be suprised if AA gets the nod in front of Theo . Yah vol ?
Black ‘humour’ warning.
I saw a title on the BBC website that really confused me:
‘Russian plane crash survivor dies’. Not so good at surviving then, eh?
Afternoon Tabs.
BM ready and waiting sir.
And a drink of choice for the fine gents in the bar please, guv’.
TS @211 – hope you’re right . I’ll just be happier when he signs a new contract .
Heh Ollie.
I crashed my car into a lemon tree a while back. It’s left me bitter and twisted.
Could be tabs.
I presume you’re thinking of two holding MFs (Song & Frimpong) – safety first in a very tough away match?
Would like to see Park get a good run out but AA may well be the chosen one.
Augeseichlicht!
Ah tabs @ #216, now I see where you’re coming from. Yes me too. To lose two captains in two seasons would be down right careless of Arsene.
Cheers for the BM H2H . 🙂
TS @ 193.
Well they nearly got their alphabetical order right this time.
I believe ‘Sagna’ should come before ‘Santos’.
Well, and of course, last time I checked ‘G’ was AFTER ‘F’ in the alphabet.
I’m sure they’ll get it right, eventually.
H2H @ #217. Sehr drole 😆
TS @218 yep , earn the right to play and all that 😉
Spotters badge for ‘black humour’ Ollie @ #221.
Even Arsene is cracking jokes with his interviewers in his pre-match exclusive re: what to do about the touch-line ban. Very good to see him in good humour again, that could spread through the team…
Alphabet yer they won’t
Ich bin einer fussball speilen!
Yet another spotters badge for Ollie for the alphabet find.
I missed it too, and I was really looking.
TS @224 – Szcz juggling , Mertesacker using Arshavin to show off his ventriloquist’s skills , and Frimpong speeding around on a penny farthing ?
Afternoon Ollie .
TS & Tabs –
I reckon he’ll start with tee-o and ger- to the vin on the flanks. Could start with the frimps similar to the udinese game and then throw on yossi if needed. Think we may see park get a run out too especially as the forward numbers are down 😉
Heh tabs @ #227, the Arsenal circus comes to town 😆
I’ll fetch my pipe on the back of that one 😉
Good suggestions Gt @ #228.
I think what we’re all demonstrating is that our squad now has some reasonable depth to it. We’ve gone from looking a bit anorexic to one that a chubby chaser might consider pursuing, if you get my drift….
I think caution should be the key tomorrow.
Dortmond haven’t made the best start to the season, but they are no mugs, they have bags of talent in that team. I saw them many times last season and they were very impressive as a unit.
I think this will be our hardest game in the group, un-fuckin-believable that they were in pot 4, definetly the strongest team from that draw by a country mile.
PS tabs @ #227, you missed Gervinho jumping through hoops out of a swimming pool whilst a fine young maiden rides him bareback.
Ollie
How do you italic text in the drinks?
H2H @ #230
More evidence of Barca and UEFA teaming-up to try and see us out at the Group Stage? Meh.
Fuck ’em TS, Fuck ’em both in their middle eastern oil lubricated, Qutar sponsered butts.
TS @231 – what an oversight ! Gervinho , the star attraction . 🙂
H2H@234 – nicely put Sir . 🙂
H2H @ #234
Agreed. I think we should ask Herr Wolfgang Kleinenballs to get TGLM to administer a serious session of Hardinso for those f*cktards.
And Lester @ 187
Top response – you saved me a job.
The only thing I would’ve added is “All four is still on” 😉
TS @236 – Consider it done 😉
Afternoon Dr Z , only a midday kick off for Bolton ? 😉
Vielen danken Hr. Kleinenballs 🙂
Evening all
I reckon we’ll see
Wos,
Sagna, Kos, BigSacks, Santos
Frimpers, Arteta, Song
Flipper, RVP, AA / Theo
Wouldn’t mind seeing him change it to 442 either, with Flipper dropping back into midfield, and Park up front with RVP.
But then, what do I know??!
Sounds good to me Dr.C
You and tabs have both proposed 2 x DM and I see a lot of sense in that given the quality of our opposition and the fact that we are still finding our feet as a squad.
A round of steins of lager followed by schnapps seems appropriate this evening?
TS 232, I see you didn’t need ask, eh?
Ollie, have now idea how to do italic or bold text, honest.
Will you divulge your secrets of the mastery of WordPress?
Ah! I see. I think The barman is having a little fun at my expense. Heh!
Maybe it was all the pseudo-German bollox that brought this on my head?
Ah! I did wonder if that was the barman’s work. :p
Not sure how this copes with space, so, it’s something like
” and to end the sequence ”.
‘b’ for bold, naturally.
Right, been a long day, but I can go now. Early start tomorrow, happy train (that’s Thalys, not Eurostar) to Köln at 8am then Dortmund.
Cheers.
ta 4 the kind ones gents
Genuinely a little twitchy at the thought of the inexperienced Frimpong getting involved in a ding-dong (i won’t let it go) with street-wise Bundesliga pros. Don’t think his wrestle-you-to-the-ground-yer-c@@t approach’ll go down too well with Euro-ref either; plus his first touch at the moment suggests he might struggle to Von Trapp a small family in a V. tense high-pressure situation…
If any one wants my Edelweiss i’d go A. Song, R.Tetta (sitting deepish too) plus an advanced AA, with Yossi ‘gis a lob’ taking over when little legs tire late on. Can’t see it happening thou (with AA) – it’s a v tough call for AW…
It could be be an opp. for Arsene to drop thatman Robin back into the hole with Song and Arteta behind and give the Theo the chance to show what he can do up the middle – hmmm am warming to that possibility as i write it down…
*The hills are alive with options…*
UReds!
tabs @ 239 – that was for the benefit of Lars – there could be an emergency Board meeting of D L Ltd at opening time 😉
OK, I’m giving up before I mkae too much of a prat of myself, nothing new there then 🙁
“before” ??? 🙂
Thanks Dr.C, good to know who the comedians are 😉
Allow me to buy you a pint, TS.
On Lars’ Tab, of course.
I’m with Dr C’s team @241 . The choice between Theo and AA is a tricky one . All speculation , but think he’ll go with AA , with Theo to terrorise from the bench , when AA comes over all tired ( probably on about the 20 minute mark !) .
Have a good one Ollie – give ’em a cheer for me .
TS – you are getting bold in your writings these days 😉
Dr Z – now you’re talking , nothing like an early Board meeting ( and DLL is nothing like a Board meeting ) to stir the blood 🙂
Chucklebutty 🙂
For italics use left arrow i > phrase left arrow / i > and leave out the spaces…
<iYou mean like this?
This?
If not then I too give up….
Yay 🙂
QPR playing great football tonight, as did Swansea. Are things really changing in the lower leagues, I hope so and why cant Stoke go back down and learn how to play like this.
And if I may be so bold, that lad Taarabt is looking good for QPR
zico: just name a time for the board meeting and I’ll be there!
Dr Z – now you’re just showing off ! 🙂
Lars – opening time 😉
Ok Lars, we need someone sensible to record the minutes anyway. 🙂
If you are bringing back our barmaids, then the earlier the better. Assuming my flight is on time, then I can be there for 11 am, which is presumably opening time.
TS@225 –
It’s good to see some depth back in the squad
Cu’mon yooo goooners! 😉
Dr Z: yeah, I would also guess 11 is opening time. And I can do the minutes, I’ll have to go easy on the alcohol anyway because of the pneumonia. I will re-visit the doctor sometime in the week after the Bolton game to hopefully get full clearance but until then I don’t want to risk anything.
And I haven’t seen the barmaids for days. If they’re not back behind the bar then they must have stopped off at someone else’s!
tabs: so how’s this for showing off, then? 😉
egomania gone mad Lars 🙂
Rambo hobbled off on Saturday with what looked like an ankle problem. He did not look good then. I am not surprised he has not made it. Big shame.
Unless there was an injury involved, it took the QPR manager only 51 minutes to decide he had seen enough of Armand Traore. Join the club, mate. 😉
Chuckle bunny
Alright then, here’s an alternative approach. It took the QPR manager only 51 minutes to experience the injury-proneness of Arsenal players, whether ex- or not.
Chuckle bunny
Are you drunk, TS? 😀
TS
Are you practising some php/html tags? Doing well so far so good 🙂
Heh, I’m only seeing now that my didactic post didn’t at all work.
You know what? fuck html then.
But I see you worked it out in the end.
Right, goodnight.
TS is drunkHeh, I’m only seeing now that my didactic post didn’t at all work.
You know what? fuck html then.
But I see you worked it out in the end.
Right, goodnight.
Too right Ollie 😀
tabs@265: absolutely 🙂
8 ball @ 267 – he was injured.
Learned that at Arsenal, as well. 😉
Hello Ollie & ATG
I was just figuring out how to type in bold and italic text.
Sorry fo messing around. I’m not drunk honest 😳
ATG, what’s the letter for strikethrough?
And is bold italic an ‘i’ and a ‘b’ inside the left and right arrows?
zico & tabs
Edwin is looking a little glum. He’s feeling left out regarding the ‘Notlob Board Meeting’.
Based on the Dr.F diaries last week, he’s also getting paranoid now that he may have to dust down his CV. He was half expecting to be replaced by PHW but now fears that a viking appointment will be part of his ousting from the board.
Any words of comfort for the fella? He lives and breathes DL Ltd. It’s no longer about the financial rewards for him.
Newcastle vs QPR at 0-0 was the best possible result for us in terms of the table.
We could go as high at 8th this weekend provided that we beat Blackburn and the results of the teams above us go the right way too.
Apologies but I’m having one of those petty days 😉
TS, Thank you for 268 and 270, even if not all fonts were created equal. 🙂
Heh 8 ball.
‘Holic sorry for messing up the drinks a but. feel free to delete those irrelevant posts. Nice trick earlier BTW. Are you rustling up a pre Dortmund post BTW? 😉
Put you text heretags without spaces< strike etc…. you know the rest….
Did this blog drop a double dipped strawberry ? Lost..
All getting way too complicated in here 🙁
A gang of fonts walk into a bar . ” Get out of my pub ” shouts the Barman ” We don’t serve your type in here ” 🙂
TS. The day we have to look at the result of QPR and Newcastle for our league position is the day we are proper fucked.
In my humble opinion.
😉
TS @279 ,
Don’t think Prof TES has anything to worry about . Dr Feelgood will obviously want to slate Wolfie for the first hour , and by the time we get to the Profs (in)capabilities , the Rum will have started to take effect . 🙂
Lars’ minute taking still to be assessed , but I’m guessing he doesn’t have the pencil (skirts) required for the role .
I see that bellend Gary Cooke , MD of Man City , had to resign at the weekend for sending offensive e-mails . I wonder if Feelgood will feel compelled to follow suit ? 😉
Preview is up, ladies and gents >>>>>>>
Heh tabs, quality @ 286.
TS @ 279 – Edwin is indispensable – you and I both know that. Don’t worry too much about what the mad twin scribbles in his notebooks….
Oh and the Viking is there so we can see his big one in the flesh, er, leather, err plastic.
Pity you can’t make it. Now doing some early scheming for Scouse Toffees in December, if that helps. After Bolton, that will probably be the earliest I can get back down without Roxette doing some forensic examination of the finances.
Pint of weissbeer for you on my tab in the meantime. 😎