Charlie George Can Tell The Gunners How It Can Be Done
Mar 5th, 2012 by 'holic
Milan at home, the game I have referred to as the dead rubber since the first leg, only to see a small wave of optimism, or is it over-optimism, break out in a few corners of Goonerdom. Since our four goal tonking in the San Siro I have been among those calling for rotation in this tie rather than the Premiership encounters that flank it. That debate has taken place in the drinks on the Liverpool match report and very good cases have been put for all the options tomorrow. You are a quality bunch.
So persuasive have some been that my view has swung between the poles of the argument, but it is now at an end. In his pre-match presser Arsene not only listed our catalogue of casualties from Anfield (funny that, when Suarez was shot in the shins at least three times) but also confirmed he will start his strongest available side.
“It is not an argument for us, we want to have a real go tomorrow, we want to make it possible. I would not be very credible to tell you we want to score five goals and then leave Robin van Persie out.”
I have to say I admire the sentiment, and I am old enough to remember Charlie George grabbing a hat-trick for Derby County against Real Madrid in a 4-1 first-leg win in 1975. I also remember watching Real win the return leg 5-1 to progress. It isn’t mission impossible for Arsenal, quite.
I also have time for the argument that we spend so much time debating the pros and cons of qualifying for the Champions League, that to sacrifice even the remotest chance of progressing this season would not send out the right message. Not to the supporters, not to potential future opponents in coming years, and most importantly of all not to young players who need to develop the right attitude, as well as their technical level. We’re still in the one trophy we have yet to send to the engraver. Seek the impossible and just maybe achieve the unlikely.
Of course the task has been made even more difficult by the loss of Mikel Arteta, Yossi Benayoun, and Abou Diaby from Saturday. Also doubtful are Kieran Gibbs and Tomas Rosicky. If the latter doesn’t make it then by my reckoning we have only one recognised midfielder in the shape of Alex Song. That also presents us with an opportunity in my book. To pull off a shock we will need to surprise the visitors. A 4-4-2 could do just that.
How about Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the centre of midfield with Alex Song. They had a brief partnership on Saturday when Diaby limped off. Theo Walcott and Gervinho alternating right and left flanks to confuse and bewilder, and provide the crosses for Marouane Chamakh to get his head on, either to score or provide knock downs for the skipper? Alternatively the skipper can drop into the hole as he sees fit, offering us possibly something only one other Dutchman has provided in the Wenger years.
Fanciful, of course. Will Milan be expecting it? I doubt it. More importantly, have we the players available to do anything else? I don’t doubt you will tell me in the drinks.
The ‘holic pound? There is the acid test, I’m afraid. No, I am not putting good money on us going through. There is only one bet for me. We have to score first just to set the game up. There is only one man you can back to do that with any confidence at present. Marouane is widely available at tens, so my pound is firmly on….Robin van Persie at a decent 4/1 with Gunners Gaming.
So there we are. The handbrake is sure to get a mention or two. Personally I think Arsene will have to cut the bloody brake pipes before sending them out tomorrow. An all out assault to prevent Milan getting down our end and killing the tie with an away goal. Will we do it? Probably not, but isn’t the enticing prospect that we just might, if all of the planets align and the son of Dennis is favouring us, what makes watching football in general, and Arsenal in particular, such an emotional roller coaster?
340 Responses to “Charlie George Can Tell The Gunners How It Can Be Done”
I’ll have a pint and go.
Have said more than enough for one day, methinks.
Holic, Berlusconi himself reads “Goonerholic”. You’ve given the shop aweay!
Ah, Zico, the old Scts one-two punch. Havent seen that since Wembley 1967.
I’m totally with zico on the debate about tomorrow’s team selection. Maybe it’s shared celtic gloom. Can you see us keeping a clean sheet? No, nor can I.
So how many goals are we going to score against that very impressive Milan team (no longer the ageing team that we and the LWCs humbled in recent seasons) that will sit back and hit us very effectively on the break?
I would love us to beat AC Milan 7-1 as I saw someone suggest on the Arses earlier today. I would love it if we turned that embarrassing defeat around.
However I am simply going to pray:
(1) that our key players survive intact,
(2) that we put in a performance that makes us forget the abject performance in the first leg
and
(3) that we achieve a fine victory to regain a bit of face.
A win that turns around the 0-4 deficit is as others have observed, improbable rather than impossible but I don’t think it’s worth crocking one more key player for that slim chance.
Bathgooner i are with those thoughts 100%
Nice post Holic .
Suggested the same side at the back of the last drinks . With the doubts over Rosicky and the Boss hinting at a new formation , I think Chamakh will get a run out , with RVP in a more withdrawn role .
Looking forward to it .
Nice little piece from the unlikely source of Radio 4 , for anyone interested …
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01cvkc1/Fever_Pitched_Twenty_Years_On/
Good stuff, ‘holic.
For once I’m not in the same camp as my Scottish fellows.
I see we’re 150/1 to win tomorrow.
Worth a punt, ‘holic.
*waves cheerily*
Evening boys. Sorry, alternating the odd glance here with tending the patient. Got her home tonight.
Understand entirely the debate. If we lose anybody (ok then, specifically the skipper) tomorrow night that will be another stick to beat the boss with.
I think we have to give it a go tomorrow until it is clear we’re out, then hook the key players a bit smartish.
Berlusconi isn’t worried, BtM. He has already bought the ref I expect 😉
Ah yes, good point, ‘holic. Good to hear the management back home and being tended to by you.
Evening mrs, lovely to see you here.
TaBS, I had that on in the car on the way back from Reading. Far too many literary claims made about the book in my humble opinion. Still thoroughly enjoyed it, and the film of course, but let’s not build it up into a modern day classic.
Just a cracking good tale about a man’s two loves.
Hellollie 😉
RvP would not even consider not playing tomorrow, it would be another thing to make him want to leave.
Frankly, apart from the ‘I’m never ever getting outside the house in case I get driven over’ logic, I don’t see it.
Different from a properly meaningless game like Olympiacos earlier.
Evening Holic , great news that Mrs H is back home .
There are no camp Scottish fellows here 😉
@ 7 – so there was an Arsenal before the internet then? 8)
My future N+2 will be based in Swindon, I believe, ‘holic.
Wot no 14 said.
For some reason, Dr Z, I expected someone to make that association.
Even though this is not the arses.
Agree to an extent Holic , but I do think the Book has been enormously influential .
Dr Z @15 – It would seem so 🙂
tabs, great recommendation for QPR: The 4 Year Plan, excellent insight into the scenes behind the cameras at a club coming back from the brink 😛
Nice write-up ‘Holic, we’ve got to come out fighting, no choice but to. Show of intent an’ all.
Wind , I just found the whole thing extraordinary . Beyond hilarious 🙂
Swindonollie, oh my, what a bad influence.
Management will want us to move to Paris, I’ll wager 😉
bloody hell, if Chamakh starts, we’ll go from 150-1 to 1000-1 – he really has been terrible. Worse than Theo, who will also be on the pitch.
No chance. No chance whatsoever I’m afraid.
If we can barely start 11 fit players why has he sold Arshavin who is now banging them in and setting them up in Russia?
And I bet Park still cant get a game!
Just seeing your comments on the previous drinks tabs. I would be even happier to see the boss go to 442 with Chamakh providing an additional aerial threat. Really any line-up that gets AOC, Theo, and Gervinho on the field running at the Milan team is mouth watering. They should be able to get to the touchline quite a bit so having Chamakh there to try and get on the end of some of the crosses would be great. Either way it would be the most attacking line-up we have seen all year at a time when the situation demands it.
The debate on whether to field your best line-up seems to hinge on a person’s belief in the psychological impact of trying to pull this tie back from the brink. I am firmly in camp that you fielding your best team instills a belief in the players etc. I think Faustus said it better than I ever could in the previous drinks.
Send out your best team and if you aren’t up 2-0 at halftime take him RVP off, but at least give the captain and leader of the team a chance to lead his team out in their own house and exact some punishment for the loss in Milan.
Agree with all of that Bearded .
Good to hear the management is on the mend, sir.
Cheers tabs (from previous drinks)
I just about made the cut off on the last drinks, so I won’t re-post it, but as I said, I’m sharing a hymm sheet with Zico.
I understand the whole pride thing, but doesn’t pride usually come before the fall?
I’d love us to win, but if it’s not by a scoreline of 5-0, then what’s the point of risking all the top guns that are going to be needed now that we are in the business end of the season.
Have any of you watched AC lately? They have quiet a few fouly gits in that team, what price a crocked RvP, Kos or Song?
Surely we must have some kidfs who would love to get at ’em. This just seems like a massive gamble to me.
Please prove me wrong.
heh ‘holic.
Not to worry. I’ll be based in the same location as now, and don’t know yet where I’ll be sent or if I’ll spend any time at all in Swindon.
On the other hand, I do love the way that RvP’s demanding to play.
All I hear from the pundits on British TV is how he’s destined to leave and bla, bla blah. They clearly have no insight into the Dutch pyschy.
Over here pundits such as Marco van Basten, Ruud Guilit and Wim Keeft have all stated that it would be in his best interests to stay at Arsenal and they believe he will stay and become a legend. They believe that the way he would be regarded and the fact that he would achieve legendary status if he stayed would outweigh any possible medal haul or increased financial gain. They also make the point that he has grown up here at Arsenal, is the captain and the main man. Anywhere else he’ll be just another player.
Don’t jinx RvP the way you jinxed Santos, folks…
Remember Pharsalus! Remember the Alamo!
It’s not about pride, it’s about belief – courage.
What makes the muskrat guard its musk? COURAGE.
What makes an elephant guard its tusk? COURAGE.
*Good enough for the Cowardly Lion…good enough for me*
Congrats, ‘Holic – first you get the Management home, then you go and mess it all up by attracting the attentions of (allegedly) crooked, former heads-of-state. 😉
BMBD.
i’ve not really vacillated between all out and the binman squad, until i heard le boss i thought we should play the binmen and see if they could shock milan off the park with their yutefull exhuberance.
now that le boss has laid out his marker, i support that 100%. perhaps park instead of chamakh, for a bit more control and workrate up front, especially with robin picking passes from the hole. we’ve nothing to lose if we run them off the pitch.
glad the mrs. is home. getting them home is so much 90% of the battle. remind her that guinnii are medicinal, even though she isn’t allowed to have them…gotta keep the nurse happy and purring on along!
I said my piece on the selection at the weekend; my opinion has not changed, this particular miracle ain’t going to happen so husband the resources carefully and try and conserve the main men for the Prem run in…
Holic very pleased to hear that your better half is back home..
Who are the three we hook @ halftime. RVP obvious, Song obvious again as he is our only fit midfielder and lastly it has to be between Theo, Bac, TV or Kos.
I would start Afobe with RVP or Theo up front with RVP, Ox wide and Ozy in the middle. Might as well give a couple of the young lads who show promise a run out in a big one.
Great stuff that the management is back home ‘Holic. My ever strengthening AUD is on Kos scoring first.
Go the gunners!!!!
nice article, introduced me to a new word, tottenfreude. 🙂
http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/story/_/id/7647249/liverpool-spurs-andre-villas-boas-all-sucker-punched-weekend-david-hirshey
Please, will Ramsey be available?
No for Ramsey. Wenger said he was out for both Liverpool and Milan games
at least that means he should be well-rested for the barcodes.
On one hand, we have the argument that securing CL for next season might be a factor in influencing RVP to sign a new contract.
And on the other hand we have a home tie against one of the top 5 european teams, yet it’s suggested that RVP be denied the opportunity of playing in the holy grail competition?
*scratches head*
I really can appreciate the desire to give it go, we are feeling pretty good after the last two games. But, if Song, RVP, Sagna or one of the central defenders get hurt I can hear the cries now. Don’t get me wrong, injuries can happen at any time in any game. However, the CL spot is a must and we must be prudent going forward b/c as we have seen in the past five to six years, this team seems to reverse course in short order (I really hope not) so I’d like to see a healthy bunch going forward.
Arsene is probably thinking that we don’t play again until Monday so there would be extra rest…but tomorrow’s game is on the heels of a pretty tough match just two days ago. Cross your fingers what ever route we choose to go….COYR!
Evening all. Was hopefully going to try and play catch up after the Liverpool game but sadly at the moment there just does not seem to be enough hours in the day. Great report on both that one and this holic. Not much I can add to either. A fantastic 3 points at Klanfield. Surely I am not the only one to see the irony of a bunch of Scousers getting robbed???
Must admit that I am with Zico and a few others who think we should be resting players on Tuesday. 4th in the league is an absolute must. For a long time it has looked something way ahead in the distance. However some good performances, a slice of luck (at long last) and the failure of others have seen us not only get ourselves into the top 4 but to do it with small cushion. Even the spuds have started to shit themselves. How funny is that by the way. As much as I want to be bullish about Milan I just can’t see it happening. Our squad is lacking when at full strength. We have injuries and players who have played a lot of matches. Personally I would not have a problem if I turn up tomorrow night to see a team missing many regulars. I would be devastated to see one of those that we need for the run in get injured in this game.
Hoping to meet up with a few pre match in the Tollie if anyone else braving the elements.
Final word for the classless shower in Wet London. It just goes to prove that you can have all the money in the world, you can not buy class.
Things turned from bad to worse for AVB. Having been sacked he left the training ground early to go home and tell his wife only to get there and find John Terry’s Range Rover parked on his drive.
Onwards and upwards.
Charlie knows – and great news re the management ‘holic
ComonUreds – a blaze of glory and a full bill o’ health – pleaze
Steve, I’ll be at the Tollie.
I keep flip-flopping back and forth between wanting to rest players and playing the best team we can, so I agree with you all and think you are all wrong at the same time…
Lars. Hoping to meet up with Snir. He has my mobile number. Hope to be in there sometime after 6. It would be good to say hello if you are there.
See you tomorrow then, Steve!
Anybody care to guess which avaricious little cunt has planted this story with his chosen outlet?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2110640/Why-Robin-van-Persie-leave-Arsenal-David-Deins-son.html
Read the wording and understand.
Holic. Hope things are well with Mrs H?????
tabs @ 22, to be honest, I hadn’t laughed that hard in a very long time discounting this link:
ladyarse.co.uk/2012/03/exclusive-behind-the-scenes-at-the-chelsea-managers-initiation-ceremony/
Whoever wrote that, it is of the highest quality, take a bow son 😛
(Be warned, has been compared to ‘gimp porn’ at certain stages) 8)
Those Italians eh… Beyond Fucking hilarious 😆
Bearded Gooner @ 25, I’m with tabs @ 26, agree with every word, especially about the Captain leading us out at our own home to exact some punishment :’)
*wipes solitary tear out of his right eye*
Good strong Words Lonestar @ 31 🙂
I’m with the lads regardless, whether the Captain leads us out from the front proudly or the Vice-Captain brings up the rear as Captain with Park and Chamakh up front, as long as they give it a go with heart and gusto, I’ll hold my head up high with my Arsenal Scarf around my neck the next day, staring down all who look my way, silently answering the question they ask with their eyes with my eyes in turn, ‘Yes, I’m a Gooner, and Proud. 😀
Hello Steve.
Home tonight. Will take time, but we are at the start line. There were times last week when we wondered if we would make the race.
Thanks mate.
A man far wiser than I will ever be once said that “a walk of 10,000 miles starts with the very first step.” God bless holic. Glad it is positive.
here in sydney at sportsbet you can get 150-1 for a 5-0 win
worth a lazy $20?
Evening all,
late again, but just to chuck in my two-penneth.
This is the Champions League that every club craves so much. Surely we don’t just give in when we have just put 7 past Blackburn and 5 past the Totts.
No they are not Milan, but so what.
Who thought we would overcome Anderlecht in that famous Fairs Cup Final, and what a night that was !
with the crowd behind the team and a pressing performance from the players who knows?
Theo gets a lot of criticism, often justified, but it is also true that he tends to save his best, and goal-scoring performances for the very biggest matches.
If he can get in behind them a couple of times ?
As for the injuries, well, they can happen all the time, and to us they usually do. But do we just give up playing all matches before an important game, in case ?
It’s worth noting that Santos damaged his ankle in trying to save the ball from going for a corner – not even a tackle.
I remember Martin Keown breaking his fibula in training some years back – so do we stop training as well.
I take your point entirely Zico but I just feel if injuries are going to happen then they will. If not, then likewise.
I’ve been saying 5 – 0 to anyone who’ll listen – not a huge audience – for a week now.
Hopeless romantic – I hope so 😉
Be Jesus said Paddy Ive sung it so well, I think I’ll get up and I’ll sing it again, so Paddy got up and he sung it again, over and over again?
Holic @ 46 I wonder how much this parasitic slime ball has extracted from the club over the years.
These people add no value and suck money funded by ordinary Gooners out of the club. And there are people who reckon all of our problems will be solved if his father returns.
They forget we would be playing at a half empty Wembley if he had had his way over the new stadium.
Interesting to speculate if there is any other agendas over and above lining his own pocket, given the way his old man was turfed out of the club.
Very good point made by Blogs today re the problems that can arise with one all powerful owner.
The Chelsea fiasco is maybe a warning to others.
AVB was brought in at great expense to reshape and rejuvenate an ageing squad.
That meant ultimately replacing the old die-hards who are getting past their sell-by dates.
So when those players complain and refuse to do what their manager tells them, the owner sacks the manager. Tragic / Hilarious ?
He will now leave at equal expense – and all for what ?
I heard on radio yesterday that his 39 games in charge had cost a total of £42million !!
I have no way of checking those figures but they would include paying off Ancellotti, compensating Porto, paying and compensating AVB, and they still have another manager to find.
Oh, no they don’t, they’ve got the bloke that West Brom got rid of 🙂
Russian billionaire, anyone ?
Snir –
will RvP stay ?
Everyone else and his dog has an opinion and clearly a lot of inside knowledge on negotiations within Arsenal Football Club.
Would you please check your balls and let us know what they reveal ?
Trev. Pre the AVB sacking the Russian had spent £80 million in compensation on managerial appointments.
As I said, you can’t buy class.
Steve T, they’d already made a loss of £67million last year, and that didn’t include any of the players they bought last year, eg Torres onwards.
Where does Financial Foreplay (zico) come into all this ?
Trev @ 52 : I’m there with you.
Hello fellow gooners one and all. Seems like I haven’t been in the bar in a long while, place looks different…Some guy in the corner is wearing our leopard design away kit and Arsenal underwear in the corner there, who’s that freak? 🙂
After several weeks of preparation for a weeklong international conference which took place last week and required my unrefined intrepreting skills I can safely say I no longer have the ability to think.
Not sure if I even have time to back-drink, but if I had to guess I’d say they were all great posts. Amazing win over the scum followed a cockney robbery of the scousers in a field. Robin himself described himself as a geezer who’d nick anything, even a 90th minute goal. A little bit whooo, a little bit waaa…
Liverpool played all over us and we gave them lots of chances but it was throwing pearls to swine because they couldn’t convert any. I love our generosity, giving them a goal as well as helping ourselves to two classy goals. Stan must be saying, “Oh my god, they killed Kenny!” as surely his time at the helm is now limited. Are the Kop tired of his 80’s style tactics, I wonder? Do you know they have scored almost the same amount of goals this season as Wolves? Suarez has a conversion rate of 1 goal every 14 shots and yet people were going on about him being better than RVP. Rubbish. Also, does anyone think Henderson should be punished for knocking out Arteta intentionally? I thought it looked cynical but yet no mention at all in most quarters…
As for the Milan return fixture, I’m pretty confident we’ll win but not convinced we’ll be able to reverse the score difference. Should be a pretty good watch notwithstanding. Unlikely scorers and a few own goals should do the trick 😉
London Pride all around and maybe I’ll see you all again in a few hours when I need some Irish coffee
Steve T @41 – Lol! Talk about kicking a man when he’s down.
I share the same sentiments as TABS, Trev and Lonestar, that is, let’s get the strongest team out there and play football. We aren’t fortune tellers and thus will never be absolutely sure when injuries will occur as players get injured in training on a regular basis.
Cheers to a great performance against Milan! Gunners4life!
Holic, all the best to The Management.
I hope the management is recuperating well, ‘holic.
Well, if, as seems likely, the boss is going to play our main men in an attacking formation enforced by the number of crocked midfielders and the desire to give it a go, who am I to demur.
Let’s get 100% behind that decision and cheer on the team in this brave and romantic venture. Fingers crossed we survive intact and set a record in turning over a 4-0 deficit.
4-0 after et and a win on pens anyone? Szcz MOTM?
COYRs
Yeah ‘holic, I quite like the look of that line up. I just hope there are no new injuries.
How unlucky is Diaby btw, I still think there is a great player in there if only he can get an injury free run of games, but he wouldn’t be the first to have his career finished before it got started.
Some great posts Trev, let’s not forget, “We are THE ARSENAL and NEVER surrender” We don’t do quitting, we don’t lie down and however bad we may play we never give up and it isn’t over ’til the fat lady sings.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-i-m-tempted-to-change-formation
Nevermind 4-0 or 5-0, what about 7-2?
Weirdly quite looking forward to tonight. I’m in the “scared of injuries camp” but can well appreciate Trev’s romaticism!
*scary*
Let’s have a go but hook ’em quick and give some youngsters experience if a win isn’t on the cards.
Meanwhile…. Verminator’s mate would be nice to have, would he not? BFG as 4th choice?? Such luxuries….
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12691/7572026/Vertonghen-won-t-pen-new-deal
Norfolk…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk 😉
Spot on from arseblog today, I thought.
This deserves sharing…..
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/sport/sport-headlines/chelsea-hires-supernanny-201203054969/
CG – That would be funnier if it weren’t so close to the bone! That pie-eater Lampard definitely needs someone to tell him to ‘shut the f*ck up and do what the manager tells him’.
“scared of injuries – camp”. Is this a BMA approved preventative measure CG – if so i hope Wolfie’s around about the place.
And tabs – over the post – aye Briatore and his cabal mentalfukkinbonkersfukkinmentalmadnessmad. No way to run anything let alone a football club with all that it means to so many. And as i say – can’t help thinking Uzbekky Stan shows signs of being cut from the same sort of meglomaniacally c@ntish cloth – though, of course, don’t know for sure. And Silent Stan – if you’re looking in from over there – your, erm – silence-ish re overall long-term strategy and money matters makes me nervous still – too. But am mostly – especially in light of what’s gone on re ownerski just recently – hands-up for hands-off
Anyway – another big, BIG GAME
Up The Arse!
Morning All ,
Ollie @68 – Completely agree . Blogs right on the money as far as I’m concerned .
Mr C @69 – heh , nice piece 🙂
Wind – Cheers for the LadyArse link 🙂
Trev @52 and @58 – Great stuff . Agree entirely with your thoughts on tonight’s game . As for Chelski , it all just beggars belief . Financial Fairplay indeed !!! Having watched the QPR fiasco on Sunday night , one cannot help but wonder if exactly the same brainless farce (but without the comedy) is not occurring at The Bus Stop . My prediction for today is that Chelsea will be relegated within 6 seasons , (if they don’t go bust first) .
The warnings are there for all to see , which brings me neatly on to Holic’s link @46 . What a pair of c*nts BOTH father and son are . We all know who they now really work for . I have a lot of sympathy for the view that we have never properly replaced Dein Senior , but is it any wonder that the Board seem strangled to the point of paralysis , when we have such fifth columnists in our midst ?
“I only want what’s best for Arsenal” is the mantra always relied on by the Deins and the Uzbeki slug behind them . That supposed show of support is transparently self-serving .
The Future’s Orange ? God , I really really hope not .
We have an incredible home Champions League record against foreign teams. No reason we can’t do it again.
Holic – pleased to hear the Management is home 🙂
AL @71 🙂 Got my hands up here 😉
AL
I think it’s more commonly referred to as “Camp Zico”.
Whether or not Wolfie is in Camp Zico is probably best answered by one of them.
*shudders*
if they keep on – i know a bloke, who knows a bloke, who knows another bloke who, for a fee, would be happy to slice up the oranges at half-time. And in true DD (take your pick) style mine would be a 15% retainer from all parties involved – AW only has to say.
Bonjour l’holics
46holic.
That piece looks like nothing but speculation to me, pure guesswork, damn Daily Fail.
CoR. Love the South Park reference.
Ollie.
Maybe a 2-8 formation will catch ’em off guard.
Nice link from Dr C, and good stuff from AL, Trev, Tabs, Mr T and the usual suspects.
Looks like some of us are in slight disagreement to what sort of team should be put out tonight, but kudos to all for argueing the plus and min points with civalty and without bile, one of the reasons that makes this the best bar on the web.
Lunch time tipple anyone?
oh go on then….
freshly squeezed orange juice for me H2H – with a dash of something spiteful in it. Good to see you about the place as the big game brighton and hoves into view
Cheers H2H , Bloody Mary it is then , 😉
I’m Camp , he’s Zico , together we are of course Camp Zico !
Still glad that we’re playing a full side though 🙂
I shall be available for rub-downs for all injuries tonight . I shall also be available for “slicing oranges” . 🙂
Afternoon All
‘Holic – your link @ #46 has me thinking the worst over what will happen to RVP & Song this summer. I wouldn’t be in the least bit surprised if ‘pater’ hadn’t had that article ‘specially commissioned to promote his boy. Shameful really. ‘Fifth Column’ (a la tabs) is probably spot on.
I think we have to go for it tonight but with only one and a half midfielders fit, the line-up is going to be interesting. I see Jamie @ Young Guns is predicting that “Arsenal will line up with a 4-1-2-3 formation. Song will hold, with Chamberlain and Rosický in front. Usual front three”. Seems a sensible guess to me.
My expectations of us overturning a 4 goal defecit to a team as good as Milan are minimal. I’ll be happy if we simply win and come out of the tie with out any further crocks. All the damage was done over there. No point dwelling on it, IMO.
To all the ‘Holics going tonight: Snir, Trev, Steve T, Lars, Snowy, etc. have a great night out. Will hopefully see some of you for The Barcodes next week.
A round for all on The Scandinavian Tab please, Mr. Barman.
PS: H2H – good to see you back in the bar.
Quick update from the bus stop.
The Chekski board have announced that to save both time and money that their next manager has already been sacked.
Just saying……
Cheers BtM, Norfolk, Tabs, H2H –
probably my last look in before a very tight schedule means running for the train the minute I finish work.
So COME ON REEDDDSSSS!! That 5 – 0 is, I’m told, only 33/1. Makes it almost a banker, doesn’t it ? 😉
Hey TS, didn’t see you behind me there.
Steve T @ #83
Afternoon! My concern in the ensuing managerial merry-go-round this summer is that we see Maureen end up at Shite Hart Lane.
OK, their current brand of football will suffer but he is just the sort of guy that will help them end their 51 year drought. Just sayin’ *shudders*
I was going to say no more, but, feel that something should be pointed out (although I did say words to this effect in the last drinks):
If this game was poised at 3 nil, I might, just might have been persuaded that it was worth risking an injury to Robin van Persie and/or one of our two remaining centre backs but as soon as the 4th goal went in, over there, we effectively conceded the tie.
And for the record, I’m not “scared” of injuries – I just think that we are simply taking an un-necessary risk which could scupper any chance of finishing 3rd, which I believe is now very much back on. If we have to rely on Chamakh for the run in, who would bet on us finishing in the top 6?
I wouldn’t want to be the man who told Robin “sorry I know you want to play, but,……”, guess what, our manager is getting paid handsomely to manage such situations?
Once again, I hope I am proven completely wrong on both the injury front and the scoreline. There is a reason my bookie is rich and I’m not, though.
Doesn’t mean I won’t be kicking every ball, tonight, as usual…..
Right lads drinks on the way.
It’s good to be back TS.
AL, I’ll be in (and here behind the bar all day, should be about a 15 hour shift. I’ll have the game on in the background tonight, but I’ll be busy as there are a few tables reservered for dinner already, plus I’ve got the local ladies billiart club in tonight too. I’ll keep the laptop screen open on this site to try to transmit my lucky charm vibes. 😉
Won’t happen TS . Maureen only goes where the financial cards are stacked heavily in his favour . If he can’t worm his way back at the Bus Stop , he’ll end up at City , and Teletubbie Mancini will be unceremoniously dumped , whether he’s won the League or not .
Afternoon Trev .
Hah Trev! Watch out for a professor coming from behind.
5-0 only @ 33/1? That’s incredibly short odds.
Here’s hoping that you witness one of the most remarkable comebacks ever in European football history tonight. Can’t see it myself. Should be entertaining though.
Let it go Dr Z 🙂 🙂
OK
I am going to keep everything crossed, tabs/Wolfie, that your assumptions @ #89 are correct.
As an aisde, listening to Radio 5 live after the LWCs game was deeply hilarious. At least two LWCs called into the show whilst I was listening to ask for the head of Redknapp! You couldn’t make that sh*t up. And they say Arsenal fans are fickle….
What Wolfgang just said.
Cheers all, enjoy tonight.
86 TS.
That will never happen, he’d only go to a club like Utd or City where he could splash the cash. He could go back to the Chavs, but his head probably wouldn’t fit through the door anymore after he gets Roman to kiss his arse enough to come back.
Lurkers start your engines……………..
That post was going well until you mentioned Chamakh. Just hope we score the first two goals of the night, earlyish, to get them rocking. If they score first, it will be like Man U all over again.
Heh! @ #95.
Can’t see Roman’s ego allowing him to climb-down like that.
Afternoon Dr.z. Thought your #87 was all reasonable stuff.
Bam!
Early goal will make it exciting me thinks, even if we ultimately don’t go through
Come on the Arsenal!
Assist-tastic again! 😎
Must say, I am firmly with Zico. I am also more than happy to gorge myself silly on humble pie if we pull it off. But like Zico I will be gutted if the only real credible goal threat we have gets injured in a game like this with 11 must win league games to follow. Too big a risk for me.
Me too Steve.
But for tonights game to quote the Right Hon General Hogmany Melchett;
“If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through”.
COYRRR’s
Explosive goal, H2H.
TS: nothing would please me more than to see Scruffy moaning lying Porto cunt at Shite Hart Lane, failing.
Heh H2H,
quality. You have been missed.
Bloody Mary on the bar couresty of our Swedish branch.
H2H & Ollie 😀
Yup, Swedish branch paying as usual 🙂 Quick stop here, then off out to have a pizza and then off to the Tollie.
Will be interesting to see our revolutionary 4-1-5 formation tonight, and after Chamakh has made it 8-3 in the 93rd minute we’ll all say “how could we ever doubt them?”. Yup, that’s going to happen, you read it here first!
Up the Arse!
Have fun Lars.
spot on H2H – Melchett’s precisely the fellow to call on for a more-or-less lost cause – upward and at ’em
And i love the idea of maureen at shite cart lane – why i’d carry his heavy mirrors all the way there for him. But with tabs and H2H on that front – he don’t go nowhere where he’s not got shed loads to spray about he place, and hopefully by then ‘Arry and Rosie should’ve bled the old dump dry
oops – pardon ‘the place’
Enjoy Lars! 8-3 more likley than 5-0 IMO 😉
Enjoy, Lars!
Keep those hats by the sofa, Gents. I really want to be tucking into mine later.
Oh and BTW…I missed the Battle of Monkey Ridge because I took my mum to the cinema, and neither can I watch most of this one cos I’m attending a conference on teaching listening and reading skills…
Surely a good omen for another 5-goaler?
The Scene : Feelgood Mansions
Dr Feelgood sits bolt upright in his bed, awaking from the most horrendous of nightmares. Roxette, significantly alarmed, springs out of bed and stands over him with a shotgun, “just in case”.
Feelgood : “God, Rox, what a dream. Everywhere I looked, men were hobbling, crutches, limbs in tatters. It was horrible.”
Roxette : “So, the dreams are starting again. Maybe it is time for you to pay another visit to the Home Counties?”
Feelgood: “This is different, Rox. This has nothing to do with trains, monopoly boards or pirates. I just have this feeling of impending disaster.”
Roxette: “Welcome to MY world……..”
Feelgood : “I’m going out for a walk…..”
________________________________________________________
Some time later, in a bar not far from here…………
Feelgood : “Barman, can I have a strong drink please? I need some fortitude, a spine, to grow a pair, an injection of enthusiasm.”
Goonerholic : “You need some Dutch Courage”
Feelgood : “Nah, I have my own form of birth control, thanks……
(under his breath) but it doesn’t always end up in a clean sheet.”
Hope everything’s going well at home mate.
Come on you Arsenal, lets put on a fucking show tonight!
Holic, Delighted the Management, your very own muse, is back by your side. Courtesy of the Bard, this is for her. Sonnet 38. Hope she enjoys! “How can my Muse want subject to invent, while thou dost breathe, that pour’st into my verse thine own sweet argument”.
Reading skills – who they got playing for them these days then?!?!
And Feelgood – i’ll drink to that – i think…
And have a good’un Larsene!
Esssssssssssssssoo!
Top Geezer. That call at the final whistle on saturday turned a great day into a perfect day!
H2H.
Thank you Darling…..
Just to clarify FG – the clean sheets – that is
and 8-3 to The Arsenal, 8-3 to The Arsenal, 8-3 the The Arrrsseeennallll, 8-3 to The Arsennnnnaaaaaaallllllllllllll – at least it scans, anyways
in best kenneth williams voice “ohhh i don’t know though”
AL, I feel that holic`s punt on Robin`s quadruple must`ve been a fixture early. Add to that Theo`s usual double after they eventually open up and one each for Gervinho and AOC, i`d say your eight scans alright 🙂
If you say so AL – it’s what dreams are made of 😉
I’m off for some real anaesthetic…….origin, St James Brewery.
Have fun Tolliemeisters.
Sun Tzu – “The fastest horses are useless if not allowed to run.”
Lao Tzu – ” A journey of a thousand li starts with a single step.”
Gen. George S. Patton – “Nobody ever defended anything successfully, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.”
Mark Twain – “It is strange the way the ignorant and inexperienced so often and so undeservedly succeed when the informed and the experienced fail.”
And finally – Han Solo – “Never tell me the odds!”
On this one endeavor…count me in with these cockeyed optimists.
Now then, cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war. Up the Arse!
Have another drink with me Dr. Z (and all the other voices of reason) 😉
BMBD.
Lonestar any chance you’ll change your sign-off for the day to MMBD? Or at least as an addendum.
And to clarify further – the ‘8-3 to The Arsenal’ wasn’t addressed to Feelgood – it was merely a spontaneous outpouring of foolish over-optimism in response to Larsene’s predicted probable scoreline. Personally i think 7-2 is a far more sensible and realistic prediction. Although Bird’s cold-eyed analysis of the 8-3 scoreline has me wavering again, already
Up The Arse!
I’ll have what everyone seems to be drinking here….
As you wish – Bearded…
And a glass of the purest nectar for good ol’ Ollie!
MMBD!
A few more for the bar:
“Fortune favors the brave” – Elton John “Aida”
“Luck, be a lady tonight!” – Frank Loesser “Guys and Dolls”
MMBD!
Regarding the merits of putting the best possible side out tonight I take the point about not short changing the folks who have shelled out hard earned cash, also injuries can happen at any time including training.
However, some of the key players (particularly RvP and Kos) have been pretty much ever present this season, and a mid week break would freshen them up and put them in better shape for the Prem run in which has got to be the priority now.
I admire all of the positivity in the bar but I think its mispalced but I hope you prove me wrong..
you’ve to have a dream
if you don’t have a dream
how you gonna have a dream come true? Rodgers and Hammerstein – although first heard eminating from the eminently aptly named Captain Sensible
Oops – You’ve “got” to have a dream
Nice Lonestar. My person contribution.
“I swing big, with everything I’ve got. I hit big or I miss big. I like to live as big as I can.” – Babe Ruth
I’m not sure if DLL Ltd Management will agree – but it’s time to get the HT Mk II rolling.
It’s about to get real happy – let the irrational exuberance start!
The inmates are running the assylum, at least for the next couple of hours… time to go find The Sweeper! and the CMC 😎
MMBD!
Good efforts AL and Bearded. Good efforts, indeed.
MMBD!
“He drinks a whisky drink, he drinks a vodka drink, he drinks a lager drink, he drinks a cider drink”. – Chumbawamba
“We didn’t underestimate Arsenal. They were a lot better than we thought” Bobby Robson
“A football team is like a beautiful woman. When you do not tell her, she forgets she is beautiful.” Arsene Wenger
“If you do not believe you can do it then you have no chance at all.”- Arsene Wenger
Lonestar @ 125. Thanks for the positive vibes. I’ll have what you’re drinking.
COYRs
‘Remember the Alamo, Rorke’s drift, Marathon etc’
Let’s make history, Arsenal.
GO WIN…..by a barrowload.
….and Bannockburn, BTW.
And Stirling Bridge. And Prestonpans. 😉
Van Bommel.
Dirty c**t.
Just sayin’
Zico @ 115, You are at your self deprecating best with this installment. Very enjoyable.
thanks Abb – I was trying to escape from my own self-induced gloom and doom rather than falling out with any of the other drinkers.
On my third Guinness and life has started to sparkle again 😉
Before the game begins, just want to say thank you for the terrific team spirit you have ALL demonstrated here at the bar. Personally, living with someone born and raised in Italy, who dearly hates the Arsenal, isn’t easy. His only legitimate criticism of them is that Arsenal fail too often to take their chances when first presented. Let tonite prove him wrong!!!
Remember the finale to Ghostbusters as the spirits start to congregate in one place?
I’m picturing a giant marshmallow walking down the Holloway Road right now…
COME ON YOU RIPROARING!
I know I counselled caution in the team selection yesterday but I have to admire Arsene’s ‘go for it’ approach. It stands in stark contrast to the stance of many Premiership clubs approach to European games.
A fine addition to the proud history of this great club.
Go make history you Gunners.
OO 2 B, OO 2 B, OO 2 B a Gooooooooooonaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah
H2H – in and around the bar – check!
GoonerTerry – absent from the bar for the last 24hrs – therefore assumed to be deeply ensconced in recently rediscovered ‘secret’ pre-match ritual – check!
Tim – when last heard from still residing in super-Cali – check!
And General Hogmanay Melchett donning tin-hat – check!
Let the game commence!!!!!
err – in a few minutes or so, when the ref’s checked that everyone’s ready to go –
CooooMonUrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeDDDDDDDDDDDDDSSS!!!!!
van brummel yell card
corner us by ox – and again
goal kossssssssssss
any decent small running channels of water?
YES YES YES!
Kos – lettuce believe!
goal? YESSSS!
COME ON KOSCIELNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
scruz try
http://livetv.ru/en/eventinfo/108799_arsenal_milan/
chanks, cg. beautiful. GUNNERS!
we are harrying them well in their half
yellow for Bacary – not a foul
C’mon you GUNNNEEERRRSSS!
Great positivity everyone. If the boys play hard, I will be pleased as punch.
I hope we do it tonight for ABB!
MMBD!!
no way a yellow, stupid ref, even i know that!
Gibbs clums on edge of our pen area – yellow
what a di*k head this ref is!
Damn, he’s handing out yellows like they’re candy.
UTA!
MMBD!
theyre playing wonderfully, great movement and pace. back four don’t look bad, though why scz played that way out to gibbo i don’t have a clue…
after some harrying we have 2 on 1 chance but RVP to Rossic goes astray
I’m here AL.
COYRRR’s, only 4 to go.
holding the offside line very well right now. ibra off three times running.
good shot from RVP and good save – corner
another corner
cross from gibbs too strong
Theo fouled but advantage – then ball lost
2-0 Rosicky!!!!!!!!!
yes, my lord….
It’sss
ONNNNNNNNNNN
B*TCHES!
MMBD MMBD MMBD!
break by Theo pushed out weakly Thomas scores
They’re shaking!
MMBD!
YESSSSS! theo draws three, and rozza sticks it in the corner off the rebound. halfway home, boys, halfway home. COME ON GUNNERS!
GAME ON GUNNERS
COME ON ROSICKY YOU BEAUTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
they’re really focusing on theo, and he comes through.
beautiful defense on the break by our back line and wingers.
Fuck me! Rosicky the Goal Machine !!
we are tackling back well after their quick breaks
just listen to our fans, so proud of them!
Control the adrenaline please TR pass too hard again
Time for the OX…
MMBD!
stats
attempts 5 on targ 4 2 goals
them 2 1 0
LG just thinking the same
one more before the half, gunners, let’s send them in with jelly in their bellies…
good tackle Alex
boy o boy o boy o boy the next goal’s a big’un
Goal kick TV heads forward strongly and Theo fouled 40 yards out RVP takes -nothing
fucking divers.
Theo on a run hurt following through a tackle
Theo up again
ah, theo.
There’s another goal to be had b4 half…
MMBD!
WHat I tell you!
MMBD!
Penalty for Ox after great run – sandwiched out
ok, i’m stupid…what’s mmbd?
the ox runs into the box!
RVP!!!!!!! 3-0
PENNO!
Can you believe it!
MMBD!
ours for the taking, i never stopped believing!
What an RSVP!!!!
What a 1st half!
MMBD!
PROUD PROUD PROUD
There is no stress in my life
There is no stress in my life
There is no stress in my life
There is no stress in my life
There is no stress in my life
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
@AL, HELL YES!
As TaBS said: serene stay serene
My apologies for the self-assist.
MMBD!
They should have got one but Scz put them off
yeah baby, he missed!
I can hardly Adam and Eve it.
You Reds!!!
Thank you Dennis!
WHAT a first half. shaking, shaking, happy happy, and COME ON you gunners. well done, excellent effort, let’s *take* this one.
What a first half!
When we’re up for it there’s not much any team can do about it…
Incredible absolutely incredible!
I really believe we can do it now but we need to defend really well. Well done to the lads and Szczesny right at the end!
They are not up for it are they and WE ARE THE ARSENAL!
LG @ 215 for some reason no one noticed…..
With Rosicki scoring in every big game now we look much better.
Song, Walcott and AOC to score in the second half, not sure in which order though.
Calm. Composed. Nothing stupid.
So if we repeat the score in 2nd half then we can cope with their potential of a single goal
COYReddddds
ooooooo 2 b a Goooooooonaaaaaaah.
Lets make history
Dare I believe?
I’m past Daring now, Come on lads!!!
and its arsenal, arsenal fc!
we’re by far the greatest team the world has ever seen!
Just so’s you know, I’m currently checking the ingredients in humble pie to see if I’m allergic to any of it…….
you and me both, iz. still, if we win this one i’ll eat as much as anyone can make for me…
Glad I’m recording this, it’s history in the making.
Damn work getting in the way of me watching it now. Seen all three goals though.
COYGloriousGunners.
H2H 232: Too right — this really is history in the making!
Brilliant stuff and whatever happens — this team has shown what they’re capable of.
Arsene got this (well the 1st half anyway) spot on.
Scruz @ 202 –
Milano Must Be Destroyed.
I switched it up at Bearded’s request for this game only.
Open bar at the CMC, folks – come and get your groove on 😀
MMBD!
Whatever happens….the Wenger out mob can shut the **** up, this team has character and balls.
gotcha, thanks lg.
absoulutely.
I wonder how much effect on the Milan defence the early yellow for Van Bommel is having
What Tim @235 said.
if my heart explodes in the 2nd half tell my family I died happy….
The second half is going to be unbearable. This now feels like a final because, even if fourth place in the league isn’t a trophy (if even a very very precious thing) this will almost feel like it if we make it. A Champions League title is handed out every year, turning around a 4-0 against AC Milan happens once every twenty years, if that. It, in a way, feels almost more special.
I feel that fighting for another special record in the history books is almost more interesting than the fucking cup.
Honestly – (and I have ALWAYS said and felt this game was here for the taking), but after that first half, and that reaction from the team, I couldn’t care less what happens in the 2nd half.
Be calm. Remain composed and aggressive, but if the boys can’t pull it off – they have acquitted themselves brilliantly…
That said, let’s go do this!
MMBD!
he hasn’t seemed to slowed down too much, still saw some flick kicks that put tomas and robin off their strides above the d…
Ox hurting!!!
milan playing quicker from the off. another offisde, great line.
Good cover by the Ox
And by Sz
Adrenaline TR again
Alex gets yellow after Ibram trips over own foot
hey, they missed again!
fucking abbiatti.
double save from Gervy and RVP how oh how
nice coverage, kg.
and again they missed!
Oy!
MMBD!
TR encorages RVP as they run back – good man
chez. oh. my. god.
Scz makes terrible pass and Ibram misses easy chance
Good idea from Ox but high and wide
good idea, ox.
watching le boss on the sidelines, he’s as focused and sharp as i’ve seen a picture of him this year.
every time we’re breaking with threat.
Ibram wins oscar
Bit more aggression, please.
MMBD!
Rosicky now very tired.
Aussie Cup
Vermy body checked but I dont think ws seen
terrific game, this.
Desperate defence by Ox
chamakh for gervs? moving to a 442?
off comes the ox. well played, son.
Chamakh on for Ox – he done good
Reflex save from Scz
CHEZZA!
CHEZZA!!!!!!!!!!!
Park stripping off
ref an utter c*nt – comonUreds!
Walcot was hurt – coming off?:
ref’s absolutely a cunt. all one way traffic off his whistle.
park on for theo.
Amen, Scruz.
Come on you Redss!
MMBD!
Ibram FK hits Bac for corner not given, yellow for them
glad to immediately be proven not quite right on the ref! he’s not a cunt, just a screwup.
dig deep, boys. one last burst of brilliance to take this to extra time.
get a grip reds
two minutes plus stoppage. COME ON.
Can you hear them singing
COYReds
arrrrssenal, arrrssenal FC….
3 mins added
only three minutes. COME ON!!
last chance
good try well played couldnt ask for more
Brave, brave effort.
arrrrsenal, arrrrsenal FC! we’re the greatest club the world has ever seen………..! heart in mouth, but damn well played, lads.
Last three games.
Wins again Tottenham, Liverpool, AC Milan.
I can’t argue with that.
man, we have a *team* out there. i hope to hell all the knocks are healed and we take this effort out on newcastle. just shred them, and the rest of our opponents this season.
arrrsenal, arrrrsenal fc!
Well done, lads!
So VERY PROUD!!!!!
BMBD.
Well played despite we did get through, credit to teh lads they almost did what we asked them to do!
Hats off to them
Ref awful and Milan are a bunch of sissy’s!
well spotted, toby. and a clean sheet today, too.
So close, so frustratingly close.
we certainly played v. 12, some of his decisions SUCKED.
So very nearly ours, but my heart is so full of pride. A win, remember, just the same. WE WON! WE SHOWED THEM! WE ARE THE ARSENAL!!!
just like my last post, bath…:)
Get in
I’d say it was worth the team selection. What says you, zico&baff?
So close yet so far. How did Abbiati save that? 3 days after Anfield away, the legs were never going to stand 90 minutes with the same intensity.
But immensely proud.
well done boys.
Missed it……. just so close.
Arent we also till unbeaten at home in CL ?
now, does this result give robin the faith that, assuming we keep 4th or better, he should be coming back and seeing what a year with jack might bring?
Well worth it Ollie, I came round in the end. Brave performance, more like the charge at Culloden than the tactical victory at Bannockburn though.
Great effort. really entertaining game. Oh to have had Ramsey, Arteta, Frimpong or Le Coq for MF duty around 67 mins. Wasn’t to be but we have momentum and a relaxing week of hot baths, massage and rest before next Monday.
No doubt the BBB will point to the weakness in the squad as the reason for our exit. We came close with the bare bones available. Strong starting eleven but The Ox injury was a turning point.
A noble effort from the boys – but gutted now that they didn’t quite do it
Let’s hope The Ox and Feo aren’t too badly injured.
Heh, it bore no resemblance to the Culloden I remember, but I guess I missed the event by some 250 odd years.
So fucking proud.
You know, it was well worth the selection. Even if Walcott’s out for a week or so. Keeping the momentum with this sort of performance is every bit as important as keeping him healthy. With Gervinho back in the squad, I’m fine starting him and Ox at the wings. Let’s just hope Arteta makes it back quickly–the central midfield looks like a gaping hole right now.
Good on the back 5 for the clean sheet, even with Ibrahimovic diving all over the place.
@306 scruz: I sure hope so. Maybe that flailing left hand of Abiatti means there’s unfinished business from RvP’s end, and he’ll want more than one year to do it.
Berlusconi isn’t worried, BtM. He’s already bought the ref I suppose. Who said that?
What docciavelli said.
I think Walcott got a knock, I don’t expect him to be out for Newcastle.
Song had nothing left in the tank at the end, ran himself into the ground. As the commentators pointed out, he played under 40° on an artificial pitch last wednesday, came back on friday, to play at Anfield on saturday and now gave everything today.
I’m sure some of the usual suspects in some other place ( 😉 ) will have the usual moan though, but fuck them.
Lovely to see Rosicky score again. Very clever shot.
full of pride from those 90 mins….those in the shirt and that brilliant crowd…wish I could have been there….
only thing that aches is that if were somewhat better in Milan we’d be through….
The win should continue our growing confidence….Koscielny is world class right now….truly…
Sczcz needs to practice kicking….every day….he scares me…though I love him…
Gotta actually do some work now, but I am so proud of the 1st half response (and second half determination). This is the message i wanted the boys to send to themselves.
Now then, let’s rest up… and WIN THE NEXT MATCH!
BMBD.
So nearly wrong unfortunately…. here’s hoping the justifiable boost to morale more than compensates for any injuries.
unfortunately u were wrong – the optimism wasn’t misplaced – just sayin’
@ 303
At half time, I ingested half of the humble pie Ollie. If Robin had converted that chance I would have demolished the lot before the full time whistle
Never saw that first half performance coming in my wildest dreams.
Very proud of the boys – if we play like that for the rest of the season we will be back in the CL, hopefully with a fully fit squad so we can get another shot at Ibrahimovic (how the hell did he score against us – he looked like NB52 with a pony tail).
Some amazing performances – Koscielny, Rosicky and Song (passing a bit slack but what a heart he has). Much to be positive about.
Like BtM says, rest up lads and bring on the Barcodes.
Again:
Arsenal 5 – 2 Tottenham
Arsenal 2 – 1 Liverpool
Arsenal 3 – 0 Milan
Eight goals in three games against opposition, that if not always possessing class, having a proper history.
Also notice how we let in just three goals, none of them against the the Serie A leaders and last season winners.
Remember how we during the course of the game today had Walcott, Gervinho, The Ox, Chamakh, Park and Robin Van Persie on the pitch. Not all of them has set the world on fire this season, but what an effort by the manager and the players. We really went for it.
And just remember Persie’s stoppage time volley just a few days ago. Or when Spurs went two nil up (that is the best moment of the game for me, because without that moment, that seventh heaven for the Spurs supporters, the victory wouldn’t have been as sweet.
I’m so proud.
Brave performance. Koscielny was outstanding. If only the players were a little bit fresher we would have pulled it off.
At one point I thought I saw Ozyakup warming up. I feel Arsene could have taken that chance and taken Ox off once he got that knock and put Ozyakup in. He can pass, control the possession, tackle, dribble and we would not have lost the midfield battle in the later parts of the second half.
Gervinho visibly stil has not recovered from the ANC exertions and then the mid-week match. Song has had it worse. One can only commend the effort and the willingness. What a fighter to have in the team.
Do any of you remember that Ibra tried out for Arsenal years ago. So very glad Arsene had him sized up for what he is, a embarrassment to the game. Makes Joey Barton look like a saint.
Ah – the secret of good pottery – Thai ming.
zico knows, now 😉
NB52 with a ponytail, yep, that’s it!
Couldn’t ask for anything more than for the team to show their pride. They entered the field tonight as beaten boys, pride torn apart, with personal scores to settle. Yet their exits were showered with appreciation – pride regained, spirits lifted, self-belief reborne. The tie’s result was disappointing still, yet tonight our boys fought like real men. They are boys no longer that’s for sure.
Thanks for the spectacular effort lads.
BBC Radio 5 live’s Simon Brotherton at the Emirates:
“The scarves are out and the flags are waving because Arsenal’s pride has been restored but ultimately they are out.”
Can’t really add anything to that. Proud Gooner this evening.
Ollie @ 326
I have had a few Guinni – it always brings enlightenment. 8)
Arsenal have beaten the Italian, German, English, Spanish and Greek Champions in the last 13 months. No other team can say that, and that’s why I have my head up high. If someone said that we’d beat Milan 3-0 at home, you’d have to bank it on us going through over 2 legs, unfortunately we didn’t come good.
Chin up lads, let’s look forward to beating Newcastle at home next Monday 🙂
No glory for young men…Too bad but proud is the word!
Proud to be a gooner!
Despite the exit I thought the reputation of the club has been restored. We went out fighting and that will send out a positive message about Arsenal. both teams won but one is out, sounds strange, if only we had an away goal.RVP should’ve blasted that chance instead of the chip but he is allowed to miss.
The Ox and Theo’s injury in 2nd half changed the game.
These guys have had so many ups and downs (with lots of downs) this season; recent results especially against Sp**s and Milan show that they really do have guts and talent – no question. They aren’t going forward in Europe, but they are going forward in other ways. Love this team.
(And I’m so glad that Ibra is not a Gunner.)
Match report:
It was a game of two halves.
The end.
Over to you Holic for the real stuff….. 8)
Clean sheet anyway Zico… 😀 (contrary to forecasts 😉 )
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arsabeatbarca@324 — recently in an interview Ibra said — with a slightly revisionist version of history — that he is glad he didn’t join Arsenal. He was given the no. 9 shirt by Arsene, but was asked to show up for trial but apparently ‘Ibra doesn’t do trial’. Poor boy — his pride was hurt.
On his day an excellent player. But doesn’t quite have the class. Much better than NB52, and in many ways comparable to that mercenary who now plays for Spurs. 🙂
Widely ignored but me @34 tipped Kos for the first. 25/1 is what I got.
Sweet………….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!