Can Arsenal Clip Swans Wings?
Jan 14th, 2012 by 'holic
Decisions, decisions, decisions.
The press conference chat of late decisions being made on Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky due to sickness will prompt quite different reactions in each case, I’m sure. While Tomas would be regarded a ‘nice to have if he is fully fit’ option, it is probably fair to say that large numbers would prefer the BFG at ninety percent to the potential alternative. Defensively we face what on paper looks a stiffer challenge than we did at Craven Cottage on our last awayday, and we need to cast that performance firmly into the background with a statement of intent here.
The fact that our friends and neighbours have been ‘Frimpong’ed’ this afternoon presents us with an opportunity to close the gap on them as they head into a very difficult series of away fixtures. Personally I am more concerned that we make the most of the eighteen fixtures we have than how badly they might fare in the coming weeks. We cannot control what they do, only how well we perform.
Swansea have won friends aplenty for the quality of their football this season. Much has been made of the amount of possession that they have enjoyed, particularly at home. It is compulsory for all bloggers, pundits, and commentators to mention the fact that they have lost just once at home this season. Perhaps I should mention that after us they also have to play Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Newcastle in front of their own support. Of the top seven they have hosted Manchester United (0-1) and Tottenham (1-1). Of course we have already experienced their quality at the Grove this season, when a solitary Andrey Arshavin strike secured the points by the narrowest of margins.
I’m thinking we will have a back four of Djourou, Mertesacker, Koscielny, and Miquel in front of Szczesny. They will have their hands full if Nathan Dyer repeats his form of late. The midfield will also need to get the crisp passing that could give us the edge going quickly. I see Ramsey starting ahead of Song and Arteta. Up front there will not be a start for Thierry, destined to be our ‘impact deity‘ according to the excellent Arsenal Gent on Twitter. Arshavin will start left of van Persie, I would think, with Walcott likely to get the nod over Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right.
The ‘holic pound must be pointed at something similarly tight. I’ll stick with a single goal margin, but punt on a 1-2 away win. Shop around for sevens or eights on that outcome. Gunners Gaming have a tasty looking 7/2 against a draw at half-time and Arsenal to win after ninety minutes, and I will certainly have a piece of that as a back-up to the main pound.
Now I know our allocation isn’t huge but I know a number of the travelling Gooners are enjoying Welsh hospitality tonight and I hope you enjoy your weekend. I have no doubt that even a restricted travelling contingent will make for a terrific atmosphere. I have seen comments to the effect that the Cardiff to Swansea part of the journey will be a bus replacement service if you are travelling with First Great Western, so make sure you leave in plenty of time if that is your chosen mode of transport.
Have a great Sunday, ‘holics.
237 Responses to “Can Arsenal Clip Swans Wings?”
played ‘holic SG’s spreading rumours over the post re Arteteta – sooo
gonna stick my neck out and go 3-0 to The Arse – Henry getting at least one
There’s a blog?
Half-time quickie, Ollie 😉
Holic – Top post.
Like you I feel a bit concerned but have a feeling that their home form has been a bit overplayed.
If Arteta is really injured then that is a massive problem.
Ollie – on the last post – I thought there wasn’t a decision in the bar in regards to Man City players being allowed or not…
Ha! Wondered how you found the time, ‘holic.
Well it’s my own decision, Snir: they are cunts, not much difference with all the other lots, apart from geographical.
Aah Ollie blurring the red/blue boudaries of mancunian c*ntishness – someone had to say it – congratulations on being ahead of the game old bean
AL – It’s an old argument. No decision was made. 🙂
that’ll be “boundaries”. Time for more beer and a spot of limbering up pre watching s***s get frimponged on motd – to the fridge and beyond!
What about a return to 4-4-2 with Song and Ramsey in the middle. Theo on the right. AA/Yossi on the left. TH and RvP up front.
Good headline ‘holic, let’s hope the answer after the game is a resounding yes.
Oops – pardon, SG – hadn’t realised there were still awkward technicalities to surmount.
However would like to put it on record that i myself sympathise greatly with the general gist/thrust of Ollie’s sentiment – as am sure – SG – you do too
All those favour? Good. Carried – they’re a bunch of mancunian c*nts then!
We can also put RvP in the hole with TH up front or vice versa.
I just hope Arteta is fit.
SG @ 9 – AW wouldn’t – would ‘e?
psed where did the Artetetetaaa injury rumour come from?
AL – I don’t know anymore. We have more injuries than players…
I don’t think he has much of a choice.
We can’t draw this game.
We HAVE to win.
Some guys on twitter that I consider them as credible.
Of course they could be wrong. Like I said, I’m not the source of the rumor, I’m just writing it here.
’tis true re the injury front – if The Sack don’t make it surely the (old) boy Bouldy’ll be close to getting the call.
And what with the successful return of King Henry who knows it might just work for us!!!
Twitter, heh?
Source of many unfounded rumours.
I am a lot less worried now.
OK, question to all.
You have the same Mornington Crescent Almanach advert from amazon to your right-hand side of this page as I, right?
ahem – what Ollie said again
Ollie – Yes.
I think it’s Holic’s idea of a joke 😀
It’s been on here ever since that post about Mornington Crescent.
We Jamaican Williams’ consider ourselves Welsh by heritage (in my case mostly African with a dollop of East Indian chutney) so I have always had a soft spot for all things Welsh and that extends to the Swans. They have always played good football and they are the kind of team we like to play against. They will give us space to play. We were very tentative in the game earlier in the season and find ourselves in a similar situation – after the defeat at Fulham – so its important we start tight and don’t let them get their tails up in front of their passionate home crowd. If we can contain them early I am confident that we will run out winners by two clear goals..
…and John Toshak was one of my favorate non-Arsenal players ever..
I only noticed it now, presumably it’s because I normally only step in when there are hundreds of drinks, when the advert is too far up the page! ! 😀
Evening all.
Just finished catching up. Been a tad busy lately. Two great posts holic. Never saw Jack play but a nice read.
Sunday is a must win. Not read this about Arteta anywhere I must say. Snir, you do love a rumour and a bit of gossip. You putting a bid in to get the News of the World up and running again????? 😉
Must say that I do not think TH12 will start. My guess would be another place on the bench. RVP will be fresh from his holiday and hopefully on fire. I would actually start AOC in front of Theo. I think he deserves another chance. I also like the idea of both Theo and TH12 entering the proceedings against tired defenders.
Bring it on.
Keep the faith.
Steve, agree very much with you about AOC starting and Henry not.
Ollie, I also have the Mornington Crescent ad. No idea if it was there before, though 🙂
Steve, like I said, I didn’t make it up. I’m just writing it here! 🙂
Steve T’s post @ 25 goes for me as well.
I don’t see why this Arsenal side can’t finish on 90 points with possibly the title after having won their last 18 PLgames of the season starting tomorrow. I really don’t 🙂
Ollie, I see it too 😉
Well in Geoff, GT go easy with your goal scoring efforts mate, you cut it awfully close… 😉
Mornington Crescent: The Ad’s been there for months. Maybe Holic put it there for those new to the game. I followed the links and read the synopsis and was ready to play when you all got bored with the game and dropped it! Ah well…
Wind @ 28: I may have lost a yard or 20 with age but I can still be counted on to arrive in either box at speed when the opportunity presents itself – problem is I have to rest for quite a long time afterwards…Like TH12 I much prefer to be called on as an impact sub with 20 minutes left…
Ist time comenting but alway been a reader of ur great post,nyc work holic
Our small neighbour been frimongnised calls for swan to be arsenalised,gotta be a tough one after their convincin win against villa,thay hope to build on winningways while we hope to bounce back after dat set back at cottage,3 points will make my day
Stop Press, Stop Press, Stop Press, Stop Press, Stop Press, Stop Press, Stop Press.
Rumour has it that if your auntie has Bollocks, then she is in fact your uncle.
Just saying like……..
😉
Start henry n kip him fit to devour manyoo
Holic,based on ur question,we can n will clip their wings
For their home record,we are the record holders n breakers,TH12 to score d last n send a warning mesage to d manures
@22, GT, you’re a Williams too? In Trinidad a lot of Williams tend to be of Chinese heritage not Welsh though…
Great post and as been said before, a lot has been made of the Swans home record. While it will be tough I believe if we get the basics right and show a little creativity we can get a result. Let’s see if one of RVP, Arshavin, Walcott or Theo can get past Vorm today
P.S. Let’s all laugh at the LWCs for their new “record”! If you have a LWC friend,make sure and work it into every single conversation with ridiculous puns as well 😀
Rumours=unfounded= speculation= bollocks.
Of course always with the caveat that one may be bang on the money….
CoR @ 36: Yes…. In Jamaica we have many, many Chinese Williams. Indian too. And Whites. The Africans, Chinese and Indians are obviously given (or taken) names but the whites have mostly Welsh …
Good to have you back in the conversation and I missed you while you were living the life of Riley on the beaches of Trin’dad
GT @ 30, fair play my good man 🙂
Yeah man, good to be back!
Trinidad was good, missed seeing voluptuous women and drinking beer from bottles on a daily basis. I can’t stand canned beer to be honest….
Btw, my long sleeve Henry shirt is coming tomorrow 😀
CoR: Come to Jamaica and you will see voluptuous women drinking beer FROM bottles (0;
Girls be drinking Red Stripe in Jamrock right thru I expect…but the important thing is whether they support the red and white or not, dreadlocks 😀
Of course lets get our priorities right eh CoR?
Yuh done know 😀
ARSENAL TO LOSE THIS GAME..2-0 BECAUSE
1.ARSENAL CANNOT SCORE MORE THAN ONE GOAL
2.AND THEIR DEFENCE CONCEDES ONE GOAL IN EVERY MATCH..
3.AND BECAUSE OF A VORM IN THE OPPOSITIONS DEFENCE
FROM AN ARSENAL FAN..
45 – I don’t know if you know but Arsenal has 7 clean sheets.
Swansea have 9.
Not a whole lot more.
But to the more important question – why on earth did you press “caps lock?”
More important than that Snir is why he ends every other sentence with two periods. That’s a lot of crankiness for one month 😉
Arsenal either win, or draw at worst, if we keep possession with the strategy of hold and attack, this is one game where I won’t complain about the slower tempo of approach.
Shadowphonix is an Arsenal fan..is that right? Well I happen to love the Spuds, Chel$ki and Manure..
I’ll take a half century for the return of my connection.
Wouldn’t have survived the day with no TV and not internet when I have some work to do, and I am on call and have a game to watch.
Morning all.
My tickets for Manure game have apparently left strike torn Lagos. Now, if they can just manage to avoid being pirated on their way through Somalia, I should be at the Tolly next Sunday.
Do we have plans?
Morning All ,
Today , I shall mostly be jogging .. ahem .. walking around the local park with a bird whistle and an air rifle .
There’s a swan there called Ivan . Nasty little f*cker . I shall adopt an all out attacking approach which might best be described as “shoot and move” .
I shall fire down its soft middle , until it is suitably becalmed . I shall then seize the opportunity to rip any last vestiges of life from its battered carcass by nullifying its fearsome wings , sling it over my shoulder , stick an orange in its gob , place it in the oven (gas mark 6 for 90 mins) , and then finally feast on its tenderised flesh .
I may even have a few spuds with it .
I shall call my dish a St Totteringham’s Day starter .
Morning Btm ,
Plan you say ?
1. A couple of pre-match liveners in The Tollie.
2. Watch the Mighty Gunners destroy old Red-Face and all he stands for .
3. Get horribly drunk in The Tollie , whilst watching our rivals drop points .
4. Dance on table .
5. Get told off by ZZ Top bouncer .
6. Stagger home in disgrace .
Sounds like a delicious dish, tabs!
Hi Lars ,
A right little Delia I am on the side 🙂
2-0 to The Gunners . RVP and Theo .
Surely the rivals will drop points earlier or did I get kick-off day/time wrong?
tabs, that sounds good – at least as long as you don’t do a literal impression of “The Naked Chef” at the Tollie…
Lars , heh 🙂 I never part with my Speedoes 😉
Apologies Ollie . For some reason I had it in my head , wrongly , that it was an early kick off . Correct time is 4 00 on sunday .
Please therefore amend no.1 of plan above from “a couple of pre-match liveners ” to “several pre-match liveners” 🙂 , and withdraw “watch rivals …” and proceed immediately to “dance on table ” .
I should know better than to trust you on kick-off time, tabs 😀
Wolves fans are loving the Frimpong! Got a link to the Wolves forum if you’re interested in seeing the praise he’s been receiving
http://www.molineuxmix.co.uk/vb/showthread.php?s=0c0256bcaef103a5beaef64eab8cd229&t=67080
Very nice tabs @ 52 🙂
Can’t wait to hear the tales from the Tollie next week 😀
Arsene Wenger is a great CON ARTIST. I hate Wenger. What a confidence trickster. Anything to detract fans away from the mutiny in the dressing room.
What is the problem with the January transfer window? Is this another excuse? Why should it bother him? Surely after spending so much time with the team he can say to them at the end of December or early January I have no interntion of buying anyone or I have the interntion of buying a couple of players. Simple as that. It creats no instability at all. And a window is just that. If you don’t want to use it then don’t worry.
Secondly, another detraction to get us away from the truth that this team is just hopeless. The influence on TV on the game. Just another excuse. Talk about the biting off the hand that feeds him. How much money is Wenger on? How much of that comes from us watching the team on television? Fixture congestion? Another lame excuse. That is why we lost to Birmigham. Really. Not because the team play like old french lovers. Plenty of kissing but no penetration. In fact no virility at all. Just another insipid display. Just play triangles on the floor in a moving formation. But don’t swarm in attack and defence and do not rotate that triangle into the box from either in trangle itself or from a blind run ala Pires, Bergkamp, Henry. That is all. Simple. Except you need players to play in such a simple albeit sophsiticated way. Walcott, to Arshavin to Chamakh playing moiving triangles doesn’t seem to work. I wonder why?
PROJECT YOUTH IS A LIE AT ARSENAL
Also this project youth is such a lie. What project youth? We had Fabregas, Song? a little of Wilshire and Ramsay. Yes give me the Ox, Nico, Jenks, Coquelin. Still have not really seen enough of Frimpong (out of depth in Athens) Coquelin or Miyaki. Do not mention others such as Vela or is still too light but great, Walcott who is no footballer and Bendtner who is so good for team spirit, and other YOUNG players like Fabianski, Gibbs who are hopeless. SO what youth team? Lansbury, Campbell, Vela, Merida, Randell, Muamba, Aliadiere, Nordtveit, Hoyte, Barazite, Watt, Gilbert, Sunu, Frimpong, Connolly, JET, Pennant, Owusu-Abeyie. A lie. Wake up. There is no Project Youth. These players never really starred for Arsenal. They just get cheap good young players and if one or two come through then great. That is all that has happened. Except for Fab and Wilshire NOTHING!!! And now look; FAB is gone and Wilshire has basically missed the whole season. NOTHING!!!
And the only two in the last ten years have been Fab and Wilshire. (Perhaps Song) Simple as that. You know for a moment then I thought we would have 11 world class 20 years olds who would win everything. A mix of Holland, Spain and Brazil. That was a fantasy. The great con job by Arsene Wenger.
Just get yourself a proper squad rather than carrying babies, the permanently injured (where is Diaby?), and general rubbish (Walcott, Arshavin, Djourou, Chamakh, Benayoun, Rosciky, Bendtner, Denilson, Vela, Wellington, Fabianski etc). Basically another team.
WENGER EXCUSES
These excuses join the others like we are building a stadium, I believe in project youth (never had a project youth it is a lie), we are looking for players but they are hard to find, they are too overpriced and the recent beauty-we aere about to see massive depression and Arsenal need to be in good financial shape. You stupid idiot. If there is a depression then no matter how much money you have it will be worthless because all your opposition will be bankrupt. You can win the League by default. And even if you are in sound financial position what are you going to do with it. Invest it in the market? Buy a Boeing Business Jet for the team? Build apartments? Oh I know. Build a hospital at the training ground for your players. Wait even better, why not buy a player. You bought Viera, Henry, Pires. So go and buy some class players.
Wenger I don’t care what you think about TV or transfer windows. That is the job of others. Tell me you are going to build a team and that you are going to beat Swansea. That is all. DO NOT CON ARSENAL FANS.
Too right Ollie , thought it was Saturday lunchtime !!!!
Cheers Wind .
A village somewhere seems to be missing it’s idiot.
Nevermind, I’m off to the pub. Come on Arsenal!
FacT!
Done with work for the day, hooray!
The moon is full somewhere, eh 62?
I think paulie has changed his name!
You might be onto something there, Garsguns.
Hopefully ollie he will come back at 6 tonight under a new guise praising our genius of a manager!
@62 ,
I could of course spend time and effort dissecting your non-understanding of all things Arsenal but fear that such labour would be wasted on you . I can , though , confirm that the new stadium was not in fact a “lie” , and I hope that one day you will at last be able to get along to The Emirates to satisfy yourself that that is not in fact the case and that the new Stadium is very much with us .
For now , I would like to concentrate on your controversial and some would say deeply flawed contention that french lovers merely offer “plenty of kissing but no penetration” .
Whilst I would of course defer to my good friend Ollie in knowledge of all things French , I am able to point to an experience whilst I was merely a callow youth which goes to the heart of the matter that you have chosen to introduce to the Bar .
In a time long long ago , before The Internet , mobile phones , and even Madonna , I found myself on a Brittany beach , feeling , I have to admit , a little vulnerable , dressed as I was in only a pair of Joy Division Speedoes .
Looking for ways to distract myself from teenage self consciousness , I alighted upon a slightly older but still youthful lady sunbathing topless . To say I was entranced would be to downplay the effect this lady had on me , and I did what any self-respecting teenager would do . I went and laid down next to her on my front ( my Speedoes were not built to disguise any premature excitement) , and stared .
Luckily the girl , who I shall call Veronique ( for that was her name ) , took pity on me , and asked me to do a bit sun-lotion rubbing . This cunning female ploy turned out to be the prelude to a passionate , some might say torrid , affair , in which Veronique schooled me , not only in the art of kissing , and other such preliminaries such as the flirtatious raised eyebrow. the toss of her hair , the upturned and slightly open mouth , but also penetration ! Turned out Veronique was quite the expert when it came to a bit of “Comment est votre pere ” .
So you see your bone-headed statement that french lovers lack penetration was quite misplaced . May I advise , as one Bon Vivant to another ( for I detect that in you) , that you immediately take a french lover and desist from these xenophobic tendencies . You might find that you will then be able to more easily throw off the stresses and strains of life , stop shouting , and in a word (or 3) , stop talking bollocks .
If however you are only 12 , ignore the above advice , and I apologise for having led you astray . In those circumstances , I recommend a good stack of porn as a stress buster , (although I’m guessing you’ve got that one covered already) .
I would invite you round for Dinner (Roast Swan) , but fear that the event would ultimately prove disappointing for us both . My cooking might not perhaps be up to the standard of your usual fare , whilst I might be overwhelmed by your intellect .
Anyway , hope the above helps . I have been distracted for long enough . There’s a Swan that needs stuffing .
Monique , pass me the paxo .
Nice tabs,I think he hit your funny bone:)
Afternoon all, I’m posting this message as I stand by the grave of m
Mr Arsenal himself, the great Herbert chapman.
I recently read he was buried less than a mile from my home and the place I have lived in since 1967 so it’s the least I could do to pay my respects.
Amazingly there’s no mention of The Arsenal!
I’ve thanked him for having such a huge influence on my life and asked him to arrange 3 points if at all possible.
Must dash now, don’t want to miss kick off
Arteta out, Benny in
Snir KB – respec’
COMonUUURedds!
Woj, JD, BFG, LK, IM
AR, AS, YB
AA RVP TW
Blimey Geoff that’s quite a team talk – if we do really well today there may be moves to make it a tradition – i reckon
ureds!
Cheers Garsguns 🙂
Bad news Dr Z .
Respect Geoff .
Right , the swan is in the oven , I’m guessing should be ready by approx 5 50 .
Good luck everybody .
COME ON THE ARSENAL !!!!
Good stuff, Geoff!
good to see the big lad at the back has made it
Why do these tedious cut and pasters never identify themselves?
AL: You’re on, if it works it’s a pre match ritual (until it doesn’t).
Ollie, Tabs: Cheers!
Oh and Tabs, wonderful story at 71, I was in Israel many years ago and the same kind of thing happened to me, Ahhh, something else for us to discuss in depth ath the pub!
Exactly ‘Holic.
tabs @ 71, you are on a fucking roll 😀
Israeli girls <3
comonureds!
Oh yes Snir 10/10 🙂
And more…..
Arshavin`s assist again 🙂
Could have been worse.
Apparently Song is ill, nearly didn’t start.
But what a finish there!
‘e scores wen ‘e wants!
Come on Van Persie!
The chocolate leg!
He scores when he wants 🙂
Now if Swansea can equalise before halftime, and we get the only goal in the second, I am collecting big style.
That small halt was genius.
We’re playing quite well aren’t we? Passing seems quick and crisp and we’re pressing really well at the moment. (Just as I wrote this a pass went really astray…)
Soft penalty!
Well you are getting some help from a young Welshman wearing number 16 there, ‘holic.
Nah, Arthur, pretty clear-cut in my book.
*tries Route one pass*
SHoots.
Simple but efficient, Wind, well done!
Thanks Ollie for the assist, and gets back into the right state of mind for the match.
‘holic@93: You jinxed it!
I hate to admit it during a game but really, Swansea are playing some wonderful stuff. This will be a good game whatever the outcome!
Swansea are playing with such pace I can’t see them playing like that 90 minutes. We do look a bit slow lets hope the 2nd half we up the tempo.
RvP misses a relatively easy chance, we are doomed :s
We just need to be the first team to score two in a game at Liberty stadium this season… COYG
Heh, aw, come on Ollie, he just didn’t feel like scoring.
Oh yes Toby, how could I forget? 😮
Set up nicely for Henry with 25 minutes left…..
The swansea players have worked their socks off so far for that rqualiser, the worying thing for them they need to keep it up for the entire game as for us we have not clicked into gear yet. They are dropping already
Decent stream folks?
Who is the brave man wearing shorts on our bench?
Is Theo still ill….or…..? 😉
CG @ 112, http://www.firstrow.tv/watch/102354/1/watch-swansea-city-fc-vs-arsenal.html
Blimey they’re useful. More scene setting? Shurely knot!
Great spot Ollie, I was just about to post this:
Theo has played over 200 games, how long do we have to wait for him to come alive?
CG, if you have Sopcast:
Try channel 106723 (Bloodzeed HQ)
Excellent quality.
Swansea pushing forward mlght allow us to hit them on the counter…..if we can get one of our wingers to wake-up.
Exciting match so far, can’t get my heart to beat slower (or is that the beers and redbull?)
Once Swansea tire from all that closing down we’ll start having more pops at Vorm I reckon
I’m sorry guys, I like Swansea but I refuse to join in on this adulation.
For all their possession, they haven’t threatened too much.
Good team aren’t they? We seem to have corrected our tactics towards the final 10-minutes of the first half – we are much tighter now. I think that we will take ’em in the second…But we need TH12..
I’ve with you Snir.
They are not the Arsenal. Fuck’em!
I think Yossi looks a bit lost today though.
If that was us, pundits would be saying we’re all possession but no end product.
Great game, cheated out of the equaliser, but that could be to my clear benefit. Let’s see this replay. No, diabolical call referee. Dyer puts a leg breaker on him. Cunt.
Their penalty should have been a free kick to us!! Ramsey was fouled..According to replays..
How did you not see it? It was fairly obvious in real life, not just in slow mo.
Of course they haven’t Snir, they are playing the Arsenal! And doing a bloody good job of it as well. I’d say we’re quite even at the moment. I bet they look better when playing Stoke. So – point is, yes, they haven’t had loads of chances but I’d disagree with anyone that says they are just playing keep ball. They are always looking to find a surprising way of getting the ball forward again when it comes back and all the passes back to their back line are short, inviting the centre backs forward.
They are playing well and I enjoy seeing it, that they haven’t had better chances is due to them being what they are, and us actually defending quite well.
Can’t remember the last time we had a game without a big decision go against us (more usually a penalty NOT awarded to us…).
But anyway, let’s win this and hope ‘holic is very rich tonight.
Come on Snir don’t be such a Grinch..relax and enjoy the game – at least they are playing football and not trying to break our legs…be thankful for that..at least
Oh dear it looks like we got mugged again. The penalty was actually a foul on Ramsey a leg breaker. Shit refeering again
Sorry GT – I’m pissed off that everybody and his dog are going crazy for this Swansea team. I don’t mind it, but if it was us, we would have been reproached for being all possession, no end product. I’m sick of the double standard.
GT, it looks lilke Ramsey nearly had his leg snapped again, so I’m reserving judgment on that score.
I agree GT, Swansea are playing lovely football, every man is comfortable on the ball, they do the simple things well and pass and move.
The reason they haven’t created more is because we are working hard too.
Impossible for the ref to see that at normal speed, I thought it was a penalty.
I want to see The Ox on for the anonymous Theo and TH12 on for Benny with 30 mins left.
Snir lets fight that battle later…just now be glad they have no end product…we are defending well and as soon as AA gets his head up and look for the early pass beyond their CBs we can do some damage..
Snir, 9 years ago Swansea were bottom of the 4 professional leagues, what they have achieved is sensational, credit where credit is due please….
Geoff.
I do give them credit, but we don’t seem to get credit for playing the same way.
Not on this occasion Geoff the manner of their equaliser was rather hard to accept. one of their players conned the refree
Snir, I agree with quite a lot of the statement about double standards. Of course there are. I feel it all the time. But I must say I’m not sure if it’s just me as a Gooner that feels the bias is against Arsenal or if it is really true. Nor do I really care. Part of being a supporter is the privilege of always having the right to be annoyed with how ones team is treated.
Having that said, I think that in this occasion the perceived double standard is a result of pundits just expecting more from us than from Swansea.
I usually do agree with you on most things Snir, but on this occasion I must agree with Geoff and say credit where credit is due.
Anyways, have a drink on me Snir and let’s start the countdown towards that Henry goal!
rottenpassars
Ramsey has to do better.
Right. I don’t give a fuck about goal difference. I’d rather lose this game 4-1 than draw it. Now bleeding GO FOR IT.
We’ve lost the midfield, need to work very hard to get back in this.
Theo off The Ox on NOW please
Song should have covered Dyer. Lazy from Song.
Wind – cheers for the link.
Everyone – is it just me or has our midfield been absolutely shocking? Agree with Theo off and Ox on.
Injuires not withstanding we are being thoroughly outplayed by a squad who cost a fraction of ours.
Just saying….
And there we go…..
This is embarrassing.
How can he leave Theo on with The Ox on the bench?
Un fucking real.
At the moment we are a comple shambles. We need to get some shape and get a grip of this game now.
Come on Theo!
Go for the kill now!
Get in lets go!
Told you!!!
It worked at the Chelsea game and it worked again 🙂
The Theo! That’s better my son! Good game
THEO! Well in lad. Now let’s go for another one. Doesn’t matter if we lose. I mean it. It’s not just the heat of the moment. We really need a win.
Wtf
This is FUKCING SHOCKING
FUCKS SAKE
Oh Fuck 🙁
Oh for chrissakes! Is the old Arsenal back or something?
For Fucks Sake!!!
Right. Not it’s going to end up like one of them gung ho games. We have EVERY chance to get another goal or two. As do they, must be said. But from here on in, it’s not going to be a controlled affair.
that was poor but we playing better since subs mind
BFG, OMG!
We really are our own worst enemies at times. A great finish and then barely even schoolboy defending.
Going in with three defenders!
Go on The Ox!
I fancy us to score
Greatackle!
The Ox, Theo and Henry on at the same time.
Who woulda thought it? 🙂
Swansea out on their feet, COME ON AFC
No knee jerxck reactions guys please…let’s give ourselves an hour or so
Good game. Too many mistakes at the back – did enough to get a result but so did they.
Up The Arse!
Nothing to really analyze here, were just not good enough, full stop.
Great play by Swansea hats off to them they showed us at times how to pass the ball to be honest!
No excuses yet again we lost points and another game away…
I feel rather disappointed and we got what we deserved!
Cock it ninety times!
That penalty was soft as butter.
Our defending was rubbish.
The midfield couldn’t keep bees, let alone the ball!
Ho hum, chin up gooners – we’ll do better next time eh!
AL Good game? Which game did you watch?
Still rather disappointed with Song for the 2nd goal.
I know Aaron lost the ball, but plays go on after losing possession, he was marking Dyer and just jogged along instead of staying on him.
Have to say the 3rd goal was rather poor from Woj.
Definitely like Steve says we’re our worst enemy.
We coulda won it, we didn’t.
Fair play to Swansea.
I’m disappointed for the 1st time in quite some time in Arsenal :'(
Heaping on the pressure unnecessarily, especially with United at home for us next.
Third goal complete shambles!
Geoff, wise words. If we play like this with at least one of our four proper full backs on the field I’d be very worried. As it is now I’m just fucking angry at most about anything and anyone, including the team, the manager and myself for watching. That doesn’t mean I mean all of that. I’ll calm down in a while, and – mark my words – we will play better with proper full backs. Not just defend better but attack better. We will be fine, I believe, but it will be scary.
Djorou as a RB, I don’t think so. Miquel as LB , I don’t think so. Ramsey is completely useless. Walcott is completely useless. Are we going to have one major embarecement to MU, until Wenger realises that players needs to be bought. Oh wait, he is exploring options. wtf
Forgot to mention – they outplayed us.
Pathetic. Quite embarrassing. Another lead thrown away. More errors. I am very rapidly losing patience. So please, no more shite about how we have a world class squad, best youngsters in the world ever and that world domination is just around the corner.
I’m with Steve T.
I really thought we were going to throw the kitchen sink at them in the 2nd half but it never happened. sadly we lost to a penalty that never was but can’t hide from the fact that defensively we looked a shambles. An opportunity missed again to close the gap
@184 GT
Yes they have outplayed us there was no urgency in our play at all perhaps the first 15 minutes! We pressed them high scored and as we do fucking best is to drop! Why do we always shoot ourselves in the foot? Go for the kill but I don’t think we have this instinct where it really matters!
Soft penalty but they are given or not given this one was given end of, deal with it!
@185 Steve T
Fucking shambles I agree I have seen too many times for my liking if we are going to continue like this then 4th spot may only be a dream in the past. Seriously that was pathetic embarrassing and showed how fragile we when under pressure!
Well that was a bummer! Credit to the Swans – they played really well. We were like headless chickens again…fuck this pace..in games like these we need someone to slow the game down, put a foot on the ball and pick out a killer pass. We were never in control of this game and so we have to admit we were beaten by the better team..as painful as it is to say..
Arsenal Swansea ATG – like i said good game
Good match, (result notwithstanding) gutted we lost but we really lacked cohesion and were too ponderous in midfield. I guess that’s to be expected with Song and Mertesacker being sick this week. Swansea really and truly out-passed us for many periods of the game but in the periods when we took control I felt like we should’ve put our chances away. Can’t believe BFG missed that shot when he right in front of the goal, unbelievable….We have to dig deep and keep going. We got some more big games coming up
UTA
We look ragged. Too many injuries and some tired legs.
I hate to say it, but I think we might be back to “spend some f**king money” again, because it’s asking a lot for these players to go on and seal a champs league spot, especially with champs league
I’m also concerned that Walcott has the look of late period Nasri about him, and has had for a few weeks now. The goal today disguised another poor performance and it’s tempting to ask if his head is already out the door.
Suffice it to say, if we play like that next weekend it could get really ugly.
what a liar Dyer he said Ramsey clipped him. embarassing. he almost broke Ramsey’s leg
Holic
I know we scored two goals but it will be very hard to look for positives ahead of the Man U game next weekend!
Our away from is dreadful, we are leaking goals like there is no tomorrow!
Don’t seal the fate on next week’s game just yet.
It could also get ugly for Man U if they play like they played against Newcastle and Blackburn.
Hold on.
Save it for next week.
Waiting for holic to say that everything is ok and it was worse before blah blah, nothing is wrong etc etc.
We need to be realistic please.
Sorry, meant to say “especially with champs league football returning soon”.
seem to find myself defending Theo by default – oh well. Thought he had a stinker of a first-half but a much better second-half – even before he scored a corking second – something no other team has managed – we should have capitalised on that – sadly we didn’t
Its too easy to think negative for the Man U game on the back of a result like this Snir, it can’t be helped.
We all seem to think that if we get 4th that will be a massive success. Correct me if I am wrong but we are still The Arsenal? When did it happen that we played for 4th and that was acceptable. We have been going backwards. We have been treading water and now we are going backwards. The most frustrating thing for me is it is so unnecessary.
Sky just saying we have now conceded more goals than anyone else in the prem. Now if that is not a massive wake up call I really do not know what is.
Embarrassing.
200?
The answer is no we can’t clip Swans wings they have clogged our cannon instead!
Well in Steve T… I guess.
Will Wenger relent and sign full-back cover? Probably not.
‘It would be stupid to drop points just because our full-backs are injured…’ Indeed.
I’m going to write a reasoned response a little later, for now I a question open to everyone:
If a small club with limited financial resources like Swansea can play us of the park and compete beyond their means, why can’t we?
Answer semms obvious to me
Steve, Sky is wrong.
Yes we conceeded more goals than any team in the league. that points to a shambolic defence
Steve T, don`t fall in the mistake of repeating Redknapps facts without checking them first by yourself. We have just 6 more than Chelsea 🙂
Goeff @ 204
I think you have answered your question already!
Conceded more away goals than anyone else, but in fairness fully a third of them were in one match.
Sky can definitely fuck off, whether their facts are correct or not.
Swansea out-passed us and out hustled us. We missed Arteta in midfield and Song did not play the role of a defensive mid well at all.
We looked very poor.
The thing which keeps haunting us is conceding goals immediately after we score. It makes me crazy. I mean why the fuck can’t we keep things calm immediately after scoring??
Steve you are too right.
We have declined steadily.
Selling our best player season after season is finally cunting us.
You want to rant, go ahead.
But at least be precise.
We aren’t the most porous defense in the league.
We have not conceded the most in the league.
Geoff- yes we are doing better than them with limited budget. we 10 ppoints ahead of Swansea. this is a typical performance of plyaers putting themselves on the shop window.they give 200 % in these type of games then go and lose to poorer sides.
It is not the worst but we have conceded more away from home than any other side. Not as bad but still not much to be proud of.
Arthur, I just wonder if anyone else arrives at the same conclusion…..
Ok – I know he’s been brilliant this season. But the 3rd goal was alarmingly poor from Woj.
Snir
Koscielny gave up on the ball Wojtek hesitated but Koscielny should have done more on this occasion! Easy to blame the keeper really!
Geoff
I think even a 5 year old would work this out 😉
ATG – It was a foot race lost by Kos.
Woj should have done so much better.
Song was at fault for the 2nd goal, but that’s irrelevant now.
Next Sunday can’t come soon enough.
This week will be a hard week for Gooners.
Snir, he has made his fair share of errors. He normally gets away with it. He will learn if course. Now, we could sign an older keeper who has been top quality, is full of experience and can act as a mentor figure???? Controversial and really ground breaking stuff I know, but it might just be the answer.
Two key moments in the match
1) not being able to hold the 1-0 lead for more than a few minutes….
2) not being able to hold the 2-2 for more than a few seconds…
Face it, this team have all the mental strength of crack addict.
Combination of the two for the third goal but Woj comes, stops, dithers and is then all over the place.
Beaten by the better team on the day too many individual errors, however when we went 442 we looked so much better with the OX RVP Henry and Theo.
433 isolates Van P too much and really shows how good a player he is to score that many goals up front on your jack,
Chin up still only 4 points off 4th but need a win next week
Up the Arse
On a positive note, I thought Aaron and Koz were superb.
I can swallow a defeat, but the manner of today’s defeat was absolutely mind boggling. This was even worse than the West Brom defeat at the Emirates because of the total superiority of the Swans.
How did we,The Arsenal, ever look so pedestrian against a promoted side? This side needs quality and fast, if we want to finish in the top 4.
We need Jack back, as much as i realize and appreciate the hard work of Ramsey he lacks that quality that separates the greats from the rest.
Another striker is an absolute necessity too. I don’t care if it costs us 10 mn more than the market rate doing business during January. It makes sense economically (finishing in the top four). It helps signal intent to our captain and maybe persuades him to stay. If, God forbid, RVP decides to leave the new striker has already acclimatised for the next season. It makes sense, to me atleast, in every manner possible.
Over to you Arsene. This is too much of a fall for the greatest club the world has ever seen.
COYG.
“I dont like the January window”, “We are not after Kalou”, “We are not after younameit” “we are exploring LB options”, “Arshavin is still an efficient player” etc.
Are you kidding me?
I don’t get it. I still have faith in Wenger, and I always will, no matter what. But manager with so much experience and knowledge who knows that his only LB’s are injured for 2-4 months refuses to go for a back up. He is now exploring options. He should have do that in mid december. As they say, Arsenal are always late. Sad but true.
We will bounce back im sure of that.
We were out Arsenal-ed today. Swansea pressed and passed better than we did. Overall they were half a yard faster in play and thought. Arteta was noticeable by his absence, and Song wasn’t the influence on the game he has been this season as a result, perhaps Ramsey, too, who had a game of parts, and seems on the basis of replays to have been hard done by with the penalty. This team of ours has to boss the midfield throughout the game because the middle three don’t have the flair to conjure something out of nothing in tight games.
Guy, girls and those who aren’t sure
Knee jerk, oops must spend some money!
Who would want to come knowing we’ve got FOUR full backs coming back from injury? who would come knowing we’ve got Jack coming back shortly. Put yourselves in the shoes (or boots!) of a ‘quality player’, would you want to join a club where you were likely to find yourself dropped within a few weeks?
This isn’t a computer game where, by pressing a couple of buttons on a keyboard world class players appear in your squad,
Anyway time for a drink now, something long and smooth to help the blood pressure come down, any suggestions from the bar?
https://p.twimg.com/AjOFeS4CMAAnLRs.jpg
That’s a penalty only against Arsenal.
@Goonerref
Ure spot on there we’ve got a lot of quality players coming back ,and we’ve got a lot to look forward to in the 2nd half of the season .I mean next week is a massive game against utd , its not all doom and gloom.
#afc official confirms incident between away fan shouting abuse at FT & Henry, who replied “Support your team.” Henry says was ‘no big
deal’
Now that is embarrassing.
Even the pundits said it wasn’t a penalty, then they gave the cheat MOTM.
WTF??
Dudu?
Evening Holics
Swansea did a “Barca” on us. They passed the ball so much better than we did, were quicker into the tackle, and left our mid-field in their wake as they bared down on our goal. Apart from the first 15 minutes we were struggling on the back-foot.
From what has been said earlier , a virus has hit the camp and this might have a bearing on the poor display of Song, who continually gave the ball away. Others in the side were said not to be fully fit.
I thought the Subs livened things up but we managed to shot ourselves in both feet when we had a platform at 2-2 to go for the win.My friend Szczesny won’t be happy with his error for the 3rd goal and neither will Kos, who up to then had been our best player.
We missed Arteta’s calm influence and Rambo had to put up with a hostile reception which affected his game. He tried too hard, his return to Wales was not a happy one.
We scored two really good goals and RVP did have a fantastic one on one with the keeper, which should have found the back of the net. TR7 had a couple of half chances and the disappointing Walcott and Mert spurned great opportunities.
I am still hopeful that the return of LJW, Sagna and TV5 will make the difference but am worried at what I might see at the Ems next Sunday. I shall have to fortify myself at the pub before I face United.
As always COYRs
Spot on, Delia.
BTW somebody give ramsey some relaxation pills before the game ,he looks so frustated and not enjoying the game ,i know the talent is there but he is forcing it to come out, i mean how many backheel flicks he make every game .He is scared, he might lose his place if wilkshere comes back .RELAX .
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