He Who Laughs Last
Oct 31st, 2012 by 'holic
Twelve minutes. Jason Roberts takes advantage of some dire defending.
Travelling Gooners “Come on Arsenal!”
Eighteen minutes. The Laurent Koscielny horror show gets worse. His own-goal makes it 2-0.
Carrot crunchers “Are you Swindon in disguise?”
Twenty minutes. Damian Martinez gets a big hand on Leigertwood’s drive, but merely helps the ball into the net.
Carrot crunchers “Robin van Persie, he’s laughing at you”.
Thirty seven minutes. Hunt heads home at the far post as Arsenal’s defence implodes again. There is a shuffling of feet. Incredibly some, and I repeat some, Gooners have had enough.
Carrot crunchers “Ducked on the telly, you’re getting ducked on the telly”. I may have misheard this slightly.
Last minute of the half. Theo Walcott finally bursts into life and the consolation goal is scored.
Travelling Gooners “We’re gonna win five four!”
The half-time summary? Do I need to go into that? Let’s just say it is a blessing that the signal in the MadStad is non-existent. I don’t mind admitting I attempted to send one tweet that would have come back to bite me. All around agree. In all my years I have never seen an Arsenal side play so badly. However the goal has given the thousands that remain something to cling to. Even at four down we were outsinging the locals. That must have been a factor in the most dramatic turnaround I have ever witnessed.
Sixty four minutes. Olivier Giroud, introduced just two minutes earlier, heads home Walcott’s corner. 4-2.
Travelling Gooners “Na na na na na na na, na na na na, Giroud”.
Eighty-nine minutes. More Gooners have left but still the volume in the South Stand is ramped up further when Koscielny grabs what appears to be a third consolation goal.
Travelling Gooners “We love you Arsenal, we do!”
The time-wasting that has been employed by the hosts throughout the second-half extends to four added minutes. This is made greater by a substitution intended to run down the clock. In the added time for that substitution Walcott looks to have scored, but Carl Jenkinson makes certain and the bulk of the four thousand visitors, who are still in the ground, go off the head.
Travelling Gooners “Four nil and you ducked it up”. That’s what I think I was singing anyway.
Full-time summary. The substitution that sent Giroud alongside Chamakh turned the tide. It was Arsene’s King Canute moment. Worryingly though as Reading players prepared for extra-time both Olivier Giroud and Francis Coquelin came over to the South Stand and chucked their shirts into the crowd. They had to retrieve them when the skipper told them they were playing on. Something missing in the preparation?
And so to extra-time. One hundred and three minutes. Print the teeshirt. Marouane Chamakh scores.
Travelling Gooners “Are you Swindon in disguise?” The simpletons in the East Stand are ducking boomerangs.
Four minutes remain, and a penalty shoot-out looms into view as Pogrebnyak equalises.
To be fair the travelling Gooners join in the celebratory dirge that gets played only when the home team score. Everybody is singing themselves hoarse.
In the last of one hundred and twenty unbelievable minutes Theo Walcott gets his second. The South Stand erupts.
Travelling Gooners “Robin van Persie, he’s laughing at you!” The simpletons have a collective head in hands moment.
It’s not over. Chamakh has the scoring bug and makes it 5-7 with a deft chip. Strangers hug and shake hands. It is a special night.
Travelling Gooners “Ducked on the telly, you’re getting ducked on the telly”. Revenge it seems is a dish best served when gripped by delirium.
“Five against Arsenal, you should have scored more”. Time to grind them into the dust, not that many remain.
It truly was a night like no other I have witnessed in all of my forty-fifteen years, and unlikely to be repeated. I just have to thank Tone for the ticket. Despite my suicidal feelings at the half I have to say it was a privilege to be there as it unfolded. I owe Biggy and Toasey a debt of thanks for keeping me positive when I was in danger of going off on one. The messages at the end were a lot different to those earlier.
I’m not sure I will be sleeping tonight.
584 Responses to “He Who Laughs Last”
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Historic night for an historic club. Proud to be a Gooner!
First?
Amazing character shown by the lads. Proud of them.
Damn you!
Now that, was fun.
Don’t sleep, ‘h, stay up and enjoy it. Don’t go to work tomorrow, watch the replay of the game in the morning, sleep all afternoon and then watch a recording of the re-run when you get up.
Just to make sure it really did happen 😉
Just this second walked through the door. Kids crashed in the car. Just got them to bed.
That is one of the most bonkers nights of football I have ever witnessed. I am totally drained. That said, I have 3 bottles of fursty ferret that are just about to get a right old shoeing.
Traveling Gooners were all we could hear on the broadcast. Very proud of you.
An evening at the Madejski Stadium – Capital One Cup
Having arrived at the desired location around 5:05pm before the game with my son I have already spotted Steve T with his kids in Arsenal gear making their way towards the Holiday Inn where Holic and the others have agreed to meet. I thought one thing, it was a real shame I couldn’t sit this one out with Arsenal fans but hey I never imagined what was about to happen and show us exactly why we really love this game and Arsenal for that matter and most of all why you should NEVER LEAVE THE GAME BEFORE THE FINAL WHISTLE!
For this game I had to sit with the Reading fans unfortunately I could not get an away ticket so I managed to get some on general sale through Reading FC. Being very local made a lot of sense at the same time and I was convinced we would walk away with a win without much effort. How wrong was I?
It was an absolute pleasure to meet Holic once again and the other Holics for the very first time.
After a quick pint at the Holiday Inn we made our way towards Madejski, at this point I had to leave the Arsenal party and keep my promises and take my little one for some well deserved fast food. We ate in haste I would say we had about twenty minutes by the time we stood in the massive queues and sat down to consume our tasty little chickens.
We got to our seats with about two minutes spare, the game started I was well up for this one and as I have already mentioned above I was wondering how long it would take before we score.
I suppose it goes to show that us fans can take the opposition for granted too. Reading has certainly started on the bright side. Our passing was awful we could not string few decent passes together and to be honest made Reading look very decent. Away fans sang and my heart was with them all way. Reading scored, I felt a numb pain in head but quickly recovered and thought nothing to worry about, they added the second my heart felt it too. Third I thought this was going to be a very big ask and when the fourth went in I seriously thought the game was all but over. They nearly scored a fifth and that thought just overwhelmed me completely. We seemed to have calmed a bit, passing started to be a bit more precise and they started making some movement at last. A through ball to Theo and it’s 4:1, half time please.
Second half started and we made a bit more effort and almost got rewarded for it. For me it was simple if we left them space they would punish us every time they would get the opportunity. We scored the second then I believe 5 minutes from time we scored the third. It was 90 minutes and a second or maybe third minute of extra time. At Madejski the clock stops after 45 so you really don’t know how much time is left. I decided for us to leave (how wrong was I again?) to beat the traffic etc. We were about 600 yards from the stadium when I heard a roar a massive roar from the Arsenal fans and instantly we made our way back to our seats. A police officer confirmed it to me that Arsenal just made it four all, Oliver and I sprinted back to the stadium to make sure we are not late for the start of the first extra time and what happened next you already know I’m sure. What a win, what a game? I reckon you will see this kind of game once in your life. Shocking first half, please let’s not even go there, however we showed spirit, fight and determination when we really had to!
This game taught me two things, first of all NEVER leave game before the final whistle and secondly NEVER sit with the opposition fans ever again. I wanted to shout and scream when those two late goals went. I wanted to celebrate with all the fans in the south stand as they went crazy, Oliver caught my attention:
Daddy I want to sit and sing with the Arsenal fans please….
Next time my boy next time indeed!
Yet again great to meet you guys tonight hope to do it more often in the near future!
Now bring on the Mancs please!
Cannot sleep. Just had warm milk and honey. And a nurofen after straining my hamstring when running for bus post Shalke. I can only imagine what the players must be needing to get to sleep and ease the muscle strain. Well done all travelling Gooners, you sounded great on the tele.
credit to the fans tonight they were fantastic ,they need that sort at home!the players needed them tonight ,they showed that when they never stopped singing after going 4-0 down and the team responded and produced one of the greatest combacks of all time,just increadible!
arshavin was motm for me ,he gave everything .but credit to the fans again just super SING YOUR HEARTS OUT!
Steve T I’m the same great to meet you tonight! I got what I asked for my car bonnet was covered in Reading bird shit when I got back to my car, jesus they are like flying cows around here!
For anyone having trouble sleeping, there are some great photos of the match on the sky sports iPad app.
Can’t sleep either. Really pumped after that and spending the game on the drinks, which I don’t normally do, was brilliant. It was rocking on there, sometimes roughly, but it was a great night with some very sane people.
Nice one ‘H 😉
Just this minute back in St Reatham.
I thought we showed great character, spirit, resilience and a very strong mindset tonight. And in the second half, the techical skills improved. (Courtesy of Thomas Eisfeld, star in the making).
When Theo made it 4-1 just before half time. I just knew we’d level it. I’d forgotten about extra time myself, I must admit. Brilliant last 76 minutes!
Why can’t the Emirates be this vocal? Can you imagine what a cauldron we’d have if everybody was singing in full voice?
Thanks Holic the pleasure was all but mine! See you soon and don’t forget about the PHP5 question 🙂
Well done, ‘holic, and all the travelling fans. Will be in London for the quarters, as it happens, hopefully with a ticket in hand.
Oh, and a pint of Red Stripe, please. Cheers!
Well in ‘h …
Reading the writing on the Walcott wot won it – no?
Top twenty on the hit parade?
Great match report including lyrical details. 🙂
behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory
Had to be done 🙂
Great write up holic. Not a lot I can add or need to add after and evening like that.
The first half was a total shambles. Defending of a nature I do not witness on a Sunday morning. The comeback demonstrates as much about the fighting spirit as anything else. I thought we looked a different side when Giroud took the field. I thought Arshavin put more of a shift in that I can remember and Theo looked very sharp in front of goal. I also thought that when legs looked tired that Le Coq still managed to find that extra level.
All in all a great evening. Arthur, great to meet up with you and the wee fella. Thanks for the parking tips. Saved me £7 and had we managed to win in normal time I have no doubt that I would have missed all of the road works on the M4. Holic, you made the right grub choice. The rest of the place was mobbed.
My two have again had a ball. Both have returned home exhausted and very hoarse. I have never seen Ben so animated at a game. 4 nil, and you’ve mucked it up he sang from the top of his voice. I am not sure of he is convinced that they were the words but he knows what he can and can’t sing. Emily has also managed to sing herself hoarse.
“Can we do another away game dad?” comes the request as we get back to the car. I am sure that can be arranged, I just hope they do not expect 12 goals next time.
All very very bonkers really.
That was something else. Bounced the young bloke on my knee and told him good luck if he sees that again in his lifetime. Poor bugger is six weeks old and that will be as good as it gets! Absolutely magical.
A truly special night. I really don’t feel like sleeping yet. My major conribution to humanity tonight was preventing Mr ‘H from diving over the rows in front of him. It was that sort of evening.
Of all the games, I had to miss this! Stupid work led to me being exhausted and hence could not stay awake
Snir, if you find a link to download the full game I’d be very grateful.
Cheers to the traveling gooners, heard they were fantastic
Arthur, Great match report from you too. Sorry you missed the tying goal but good job dashing back for extra time. 🙂
Absolutely fabulous. The super far away crowd here in the bar kept the place hoping. Sure we got a bit upset with the beginning but I was surprised at how many kept watching and commenting. Great time.
Cheers to all at the game and all here in the bar. Something to wet my appetite for our pilgrimage to the emirates. Crazy.
Great report ‘Holic. We could hear the away crowd the entire game.
Travelling gooners are the best of the best. I missed the second half due to having to drive my daughter to chorus practice but recorded the game and just finished viewing it, or what I could of it that is. Unfortunately I forgot to set record for an extra half hour and the recording stopped two minutes into extra time but I’ve now looked at the four ET goals on arsenalist.com for documentation that it really happened, and I guess it did. 🙂
That was the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen. Loved the fight. Eisfeld and Gnabry look like real prospects, General Meade was quite good as well when he came on. As angry as I was at the lads at 43 minutes, I’m just as pleased with them now.
Thanks for the show. And fair play to Reading for having a go, unlike many teams in this league.
Dadric. In other games I’ve been very impressed by Gnabry but not so much tonight. It was Eisfeld who stole the show in the second half for me.
Harsha – Here you go brother.
http://www.soccershouts.com/forum/topic/16540-reading-vs-arsenal/
If I have my numbers right our leading scorer this season, Theo Walcott, has only started three games. I could be accused of saying the obvious, but maybe he should start more games?
part of the arsenal, part of the history.. never thought it would be such an unbelievable historic result. all i want is just to see eisfeld n Gnabry. i turned on my tv at 2.00 am, looking for a night late Tv news before the kick off at 2.45.. and there they go. such a poor performance in the first half. 4-0, i begun to laugh to myself.. 4-1.. wheres eisfeld? then there he goes.. mission accomplihed btw. this wouldnt be newcaste-arsenal game. but it did. woohoo.. this is one of the reason why our local tv like to run the arsenal game. they are really interesting to watch n unpredictable.. so proud to be a gooner.
Heh great stuff mate! Magnificent write up. Spent most of yesterday afternoon sitting in A&E as the little ‘un had managed to poke himself in the eye; so had to go to bed early with him as he was pretty miserable. Was 4-1 when I drifted off to sleep.
Now just got up, seen the score and read your report.
Gonna be a good day!
C.r.a.z.y game.
still buzzing from watching it on stream. holic, great write up, made me tingle, you lucky man (and steve t, and arthur, and toesy).
dadric, agreed about meade. he seemed much more assured than miquel, and did well going forward in his short stint.
what do you call an arsenal midfield of the future? a jack and coq, on eis. smooooth.
Possibly the strangest game of football we will ever see at the top level. It was helter-skelter, and tactically naive for most part, but technically actually rather pleasing from both sides.
Just finished watching the recording…well deserved praises for Eisfield, Coquelin, Theo and Giroud. I thought Chamakh — in addition to the well taken goals — did very well especially after Giroud came in. He dropped deep, created space for Theo and Giroud, had a few nifty touches (the back-heel to start the move before his first goal was clever ) and generally passed the ball around with speed and accuracy.
Arshavin too, despite many WTF moments in the final third, was involved in most of the attacks and contributed through well taken corners. I am not sure when was the last time he actually played 120 minutes in a game. 🙂
scruz @ 37 — LB is not Iggy’s natural position and he tends to struggle running up and down the wing. Growing up he used to play LB but his physique as well as his playing style are more suitable to the CB position and that is where he plays most of the times. He has been used as a LB for the first team, and I am sure that would help him a lot in the long run. But among all the upcoming players, I rate him as highly as Eisfield or Aneke or Gnabry or Ryo.
Meade is very tricky, a month or so back he had a great match for the reserves where, if the highlights in Arsenal player was any indication, he was the most active and effective player going forward.
Sadly, Swindon lost so your chance of a repeat even nearer home is gone, ‘ holic 😉
Toasey, great stuff . I’ll stop short of calling you ‘Phil’ though ;).
Away fans were magnificent. Wish is I’d been there!
Top write up ‘Holic, what a mental night, we pulled that team back from the brink, every last one of us, was good to share it with you.
My 5 years old this morning “what’s up with your voice daddy”
“12 goals sweetheart!”
My young lad needed a very early night last night so I kept quiet about the game being on, hoping he would forget.
He sleepily remembered when I went to tuck him in and he asked the score. I sadly told him we were 4-0 down already (as we were at the time) and he burst into tears.
Had to calm him down telling him how he was going to see many trophies won by Arsenal in his lifetime, not to worry, just wouldn’t be the League Cup this season.
As it’s half term, he’s still in bed asleep as I type.
Can’t wait for him to wake up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Away fans were TERRIFIC on the night – made me (and I’m sure the team) really very proud to be a Gooner.
That was a ducking great report from one of the heroes of the night. Each and every one of you who stayed to the end played a part in this. Holic, Steve, Ed, BtM, Arthur and everyone else who were there: thank you for your contribution to a night that will live long in the memory of Gooners!
Now to do some work, though I might just take five minutes here and there (about once every seven minutes, probably!) to back-drink and read some reports on the game.
Hardly a body language expert but Theo’s seems to be a whole lot different to a certain RVP which makes me feel confident that he would put pen to paper. Maybe for the club’s benefit and Theo’s benefit the club could include a clause of top up in his wages if his performances are consistently good. No top ups in the case as Theo would say ‘consistent in patches’.
Biggie! Still haven’t watched a game with you, but looks like you picked your local game right!
Sunny brass monkeys here.
Oh, and you can tell ‘holic must have been knackered, because he style was a bit cramped up: on the telly, I heard the same chant as Steve T! (‘mucked’) 😉
DAF, the boy will be amazed, great stuff 🙂
Great write up, holic. Took me ages to feel able to get to sleep last night – unbelievable stuff from the lads…. away fans heard loud and clear on TV. In fact, they were much better entertainment during the first half than our team were!
Hope you managed some decent shut-eye.
x
Thank you snir.
*downloads*
Crazy game indeed!!
I thought the game would be on at 9.45 p.m my local time, when it wasnt I went to bed but texted a friend to complain but he assured me the game was on telly and would start an hour later. There was a blackout then so 10 minutes to the game I got out of my pajamas went to my favourite den to watch the game.
Just before kick-off plenty of the fans there weren’t happy with the squad as they thought we should have played our best team to ensure a win. My argument was our best team lost us a final and this has always been a game where we blood our young stars. Plus we had games coming in thick and fast and we were an injury away from being very thin. About 10 minutes later their reasoning was vindicated when Reading scored, it wasnt too long before they scored another and another one. By this point I was laughing like a crazy mad woman as I couldnt believe what was unfolding infront of my own eyes.
When reading scored the fourth people started saying we’d be lucky to escape with an 8-0 beating, I still held a glimmer of hope we could come back but I wasnt very confident especially with our keeper. And then, Theo scored. I cheered and said we had three to go and they laughed.
Second half started off brightly but the game didnt change until Einsfield and Giroud (I am in love with this man) came on. When the second went it, even those that had lost interest in the game started paying more attention but it looked like we had left it too late as the clock was ticking down but the goals weren’t forthcoming. When the third went in during the last 10 minutes of the game I went completely mental, I think I broke a chord or something.
It was extra time but the four mins ran down so fast I figured we had done our best which wasnt good enough and was off my seat and on my way out when we equalized. OMG, I was speechless, it was just too good to be true and I sat my ass back to watch extra time. If ever there are people who dont believe in miracles, that stance must have been shattered last night coz if that wasnt an Arsenal miracle I dont know what is!! I wasnt too confident we’d win if it went to penalties after they equalized but I neednt have worried since we got two more goals to seal it.
Went to bed way past 2.a.m so I didnt get enough sleep but ooh my word, I’d never have forgiven myself if I had missed the best comeback in the history of football. I am still buzzing.
I love you ARSENAL even with all your faults and disappointments at times.
WE HAVE THE BEST AWAY FANS. Thank you for keeping the stadium alive and with hope.
Redders on the drinks!
Morning all. I feel totally drained and could have done with a lot more sleep.
One thing I forgot to mention. Pre match in the Holly my two got to briefly meet the guvnor. Our need to dine along with not wanting to interrupt the maestro’s meal meant it was an all too short an affair.
Just as we exit The Holly one of them turns to me and says, ” was that really holic?” Yes I reply. “What, the real Goonerholic?” Yes I again reply. Both in unison then say, “wow.”
About 2 minutes later Ben turns to me. “Dad, what is a Goonerholic?” Sometimes kids are priceless.
On one other note, he has been to two games this season. He saw us score 6 against Southampton and seven last night. He is clearly a lucky omen. If anyone wants to take him to old trafford on Saturday then please let me know.
😉
Steve T, splendid kids stories 🙂
Steve T @51 hahaha
Any takers on Steve T’s offer 😀
Just what in the ducking hell did I miss? I was up in the air on the way home to Singapore when all this went down.
Landed in transit (Doha) and match report came in, mucking shocker of a scoreline, then had to wait 8 hours to get home to watch the highlights.
Thanks ‘holic for the play by play write up, definitely helped re-create the drama.
I think I should get some of BtM’s “luck” next time and have my plane’s crew on the sicklist.
Well done away Gooners. Well, fucking done.
Ok, so who can get little Ben a ticket for Saturday? 🙂
And lol at “What is a Goonerholic” 😀
Good to hear you’re safely back home, Steve-o.
Any warmer? 😉
Imposter about to be an ex-imposter.
Great to see Reds here, x.
Glad I am not drinking coffee right now, as I’ve been invited to a ‘scum meeting’.
(that was supposed to read ‘scrum’). Hysterical laugh ensued.
Not sure I can put into words how arsed off I am at having missed that, hoping I’ll get the time to watch the whole thing.
I have to say I find the optimism in the bar regarding Theo quite mystifying. All this talk of how his body language looks different to VP’s before he left smacks of wisdom after the event.
The way I see it, if he was interested, he wouldn’t tread water for this long. Look at people like Vermaelen (or was it Kos?), the new contract came up, he’s not going anywhere, he signed it. The other bone of contention I have is his goals, 5 of them against inferior opposition. Sure, they were all pretty tasty but I refuse to be impressed until he does something like that against a bigger team, and not in the COC (which we’re highly unlikely to win). Added to that, the goals could well have an element of him putting himself in the shop window.
So, apologies if I don’t see any glimmers of hope on that front. Until he signs, he’s as good as gone for me and not in the least bit endearing.
That aside, can’t wait to watch this one all the way through. And loved Chamakh’s second for the record.
Did you sleep at all, ‘holic?
Amazing job though, I see you’ve removed the extra ‘o’ I noticed on waking up this morning.
May I tempt you with a morning Guinness?
A fine eye witness account Holic, and Arthur (if you need to learn it, that’s a good lesson to learn, mate).
It must have been even grimmer to actually be there watching such ducking inept defending at close quarters for 40 minutes. For all the justified euphoria at the comeback, there are a few arses that need kicked to ensure we never have such a dozy start to a game again. A shocking display by experienced defenders.
The spirit that underpinned the revival was very impressive (particularly when it seemed that our third would never come) but I think the addition of Eisfeld for Frimpong adding faster recycling of the ball in midfield and greater use of the ball to the flanks as well as the drive that Giroud added to the front line improved us immensely.
However most credit must go to the away fans for keeping the noise level up despite the shock that must have followed that first 40 minutes.
Only the Arsenal!
@56
Merci, back home safely and a nice chat with a lady from Oz on the way helped a dreary flight.
The cloudy sky looked uncannily like London’s when I touched down…then I exited the airport.
Yes Ollie..much…much warmer.
I don’t like it.
Oh the pleasures of following from abroad
Turned sat dish to watch fav Bulgar channel but not running clear
Came to computer to find latest patch for decoder and internet aint working so reboot box
Get patch and ask permission to interrupt boss watching fav tv show so can install – grudgingly given since I have reserved tv for 2 hours
Patch works so wait patiently for appointed hour
Settle down to watch what is clearly going to be a one-sided romp in the park – sole possible misgiving – I do like Jason R’s style of playing, (and wish we had someone like him – why aren’t you playing Giroooo…)
40 minutes later Im hiding under settee and boss is saying – why do you bother – after latest cry of frustration.
Can only admire Readings attack which picked holes in the defence everywhere
Lessons so far – Stevie Bould has not explained to our defence how they can deal with bullying attackers – (ok I will concede we got 9/10 for zone defence from corners). Jenks and Miquel did their supporting well going forward but Frimp was not helping in the defence
Midfield is non-existent, not looking up just pass and pass, and not feeding the strengths of the forwards, apart from odd long pass from the Coq. Andre is powerful going forward but on only one occasion did he look for others
Forwards clearly totally frustrated at lack of correct service . Gnery gave glimpses again of his potential, but Chammy got no service, and Theo had to get the ball himself in order to show his strength
Theo 1 – ok – AW must change things around, cos there isnt a backbone
At whistle flicked to 5live (sat motor turns auto back to Astra sat) for an alternative view but Martin Keown seemed to totally agree
Second half
Frim off for Iceman, and Gner for Geroo, what a difference to the midfield which took control, a goal immediately, and game on
Ice’ started feeding the forwards and the difference was clear to see
Goal of the night went to Carl – or did it – anyway his celeb was the best – even more than Chammys!
85th minute and observing certain people leaving early – ho hum!!
At full time I was looking forward to the replay at ours, and flicked back to 5live to hear that there was some problem with recovering shirts and extra time was due!
Boss thought it was funny that I didnt know about extra time – guilty as charged
When they scored their 5th, I was not worried, because the belief was clearly there
At the end totally knackered, but couldnt sleep – what next for the reds – oh yeah the old trout farm
Bastard. Remembered just now that I had a treble on Leeds, Villa and us at 12/1, and that I’d punted on a Leeds Arsenal double at half time, because our odds were 28/1 at that time. But they only pay on the score at 90 minutes :’-(
Wonderful, hilarious report, ‘holic.
What a night to have been part of! Fulsome praise is due to the away support, who must have felt that they were reliving a repeat of the 8-2 horror movie of last season, but nevertheless stayed with the team. I hope this goes some way to erasing those dreadful memories and the shame they felt.
For the squad, although you would never have chosen to go 4-0 down in 37 minutes, this is the best thing that could have happened. Nothing builds confidence like coming through adversity. The “first team” will get the benefit of the psychological lift, and have had a rest. This feels like a turning point for me, and not just for this season. Over the last few seasons, AW has tried to rotate by playing two teams. This is the first time it has worked. We have proved to ourselves and to the world that we have strength in depth. I mean, Chamakh scoring a brace!
Just wow.
And whilst we’re all loving football….
@GeoffArsenal: OMG, Genius at Work! RT: “@BBCSporf: VIDEO: Zinedine Zidane embarrasses a young Goalkeeper in Training… http://t.co/ITz5wMkt”
@ 8 ArthurTheGooner
Lovely report, thank you.
@ 49 Firstlady
(chuckling)
Beautiful! Miracles DO happen.
@ 59 Camberwell Gooner
I am sad to say I agree with you about the likelihood of Theo signing, for the same reasons.
How did you get on with the *ahem* re-education of your mate’s 7-year-old, by the way?
***
@ 61 bathgooner
The spirit that underpinned the revival was very impressive (particularly when it seemed that our third would never come) but I think the addition of Eisfeld for Frimpong adding faster recycling of the ball in midfield and greater use of the ball to the flanks as well as the drive that Giroud added to the front line improved us immensely.
Absolutely bang on. We’re all about moving the ball quickly. Eisfeld is a very exciting prospect. Also Giroud is a leader.
[…] Menit dan menit berlalu, Arsenal terus menyerang, fans Arsenal terus bernyanyi, Reading semakin kehilangan kepercayaan diri dan akhirnya kita mendapatkan hasil yang diinginkan. Gol Koscielny di menit terakhir dan gol Walcott (yang kemudian dikoreksi dan versi resminya menjadi gol Jenkinson) di injury time menghasilkan comeback dramatis Arsenal pertama musim ini. Tertinggal 4-0 dan membalikkan kedudukan menjadi 4-4, kita resmi melakukan “New Castle” terhadap Reading. Fans tandang Arsenal yang terus bernyanyi tanpa henti sejak ketinggalan sampai menyamakan kedudukan pasti senang luar biasa karena kepercayaannya pada tim ini terbayar tuntas. Simak catatan saksi hidupnya di blog Goonerholic ini. […]
PSG vs Marseille again tonight. Once more, Frogball offers alternatives to the other cuntfest.
So, the Goonerholic made the (albeit short) away trip last night, mingled with the support, cheered on the lads, kept the faith, witnessed an all-time Arsenal classic, and couldn’t wait to get home that very night to tell his worshippers all about it, and share with us his great pride and joy at a memorable night.
Meanwhile, Arseblog, who decided that 5-a-side with his mates was much more important than Arsenal’s future, generously opted to share a text message with us this morning, and just left it to some bloke called Tom to tell us things we already knew.
No wonder we’re ‘Holics!
Fun, seems to be going OK, I’ve only seen the nipper once since I received all the great advice about the situation.
Have enquired about his favourite player and it seems to be Cazorla (glad he’s got a fave), even though he still “quite likes” Man U and RVP. Have told him what a big fat liar the Dutch Skunk is, and also that he’s now best mates with Rooney, and we hate him because he looks like a potato, cheats all the time and uses swear words. A lot.
I also told him his mummy cried when VP left. I’m no expert on reading 7-year-old facial expressions, so I couldn’t tell whether his expression meant he believed me, half-believed me or knew I was joking.
Still, he has been told that noone EVER changes their club and he also has to know who to hate. Give him time, he probably doesn’t watch MOTD yet but when he does he’ll get to know what c***s most other teams are!
@ 71 Camberwell Gooner
Cazorla – good choice by the little tyke. Cuddly and smiley as well as insanely gifted.
I hope you remembered to mention in addition that Rooney smells of wee, and as he keeps hugging him, the greedy badger probably also smells of wee now?
You guys won’t believe the dream I had last night, The Arsenal were playing at Reading and we were 4-0 down and then……..
Hold up!
Holic – Great to see you again. For me, your match report includes every important word and fact about last night. Impossible to add anything other than my thanks for recording it so accurately and for capturing the incredible emotions of last night. Like you, I never expect to see anything like it in my lifetime again. I’ll just repeat the phrase privileged to have been there and revenge is definitely a dish best served when gripped by delirium.
Steve T & BtM – Sorry we didn’t get to say hello again. Great anecdote @ #51, Steve.
Arthur – Pleasure to meet you and Oliver for the first time. Thanks for those directions to free parking.
Tone @ #4 – A brilliant 4 word summary. That, sums it all up….
I’m still pinching myself, H2H
Sorry
typo earlier
As I said, Arsenal should just pay Theo the 100 grand and be done with it.
2 and a half goals and 3 and a half assists within 70 mins?
Wow!
🙂
Ben, Emily, and Oliver,
It was great to meet you and your Dads last night.
Remember that game. You are unlikely to witness anything quite that crazy again.
Guinness sounds good, Ollie 😉
Couldn’t sleep, drifted off about five, got up at tenish, went for a long walk half an hour later, just got home and recording the replay of the play. I’m going to have a sleep soon and then watch our game all over again later. STILL buzzing.
And again, part of the pleasure of last night was having great company on the drinks. Must do it more often during games.
play? Feckin’ typo.
Arsene should pay whatever Walcot wants and get him to sign the contract after this showing.
He can start to persuade him to sign by playing him a bit more often, starting on Saturday. It’s a joke that he’s been left out all season.
It’s difficult to read Walcott’s plans from his public body language but I agree with Holic that the absence of a signature hitherto means that he plans a big signing-on fee (and bonus for his agent) in June.
A pity as he’s a useful squad player. I can’t see him getting games as lead striker in any club that regularly plays in the ECL no matter what $hitteh and Chav$ki may say.
Afternoon All,
Well I’ve been scratching my head for another game like that. Can’t think of one. There was of course the 5-4 at SHL in 05, but that lacked the sheer madness of tonight, and the 4-4 at St James Park, which is remembered for less pleasant reasons.
Neither however mixed the absolutely abysmal with the sublime like last night did. It is impossible to know what to make of it all. Gut instinct is that though one must be grateful (fuckin’ over the moon) for the win, it is a victory which will give very little pleasure to the coaching staff.
The first 40 minutes were as bad as anything I’ve seen from Arsenal under Arsene. Worse than at Blackburn, Man Utd or Milan last year, it really was defending so naive it couldn’t bloody wait to collect its Jim’ll Fix It badge. And it wasn’t two raw recruits at the centre of our Defence. Djourou and Koscielny, two Internationals lest we forget, were both hugely undercooked. Djourou was at his tentative best, whilst Koscielny seemed intent on waving Roberts through so easily it was as if only he knew the way to the Andy Cole looky-likey competition.
Both full backs had huge trouble out wide. Jenks caught out upfield, Roberts says thanks very much, 1-0. Miquel turned inside out, and Kos is at hand to drill it past his keeper’s near post, 2-0. Martinez, who had started quite brightly with a great stop at the feet of an onrushing forward, suddenly decided all this Keystone Cop malarkey was rather fun. What should have been a regulation save was instead used as an excuse to practice his triple salko pike turn and he unsurprisingly succeeded only in flapping it into his own net like some particularly shit volleyball player, 3-0. Finally, after what had looked suspiciously like a foul on Chamakh inroads were again made down our left, one cross and one unchallenged header later, 4-0.
It was awful, it was comical, it was uncomfortable, it was back to awful again.To be fair the hopeless Defence hadn’t received too much help from those in front. Coq seemed rooted to a circle of no more than 10 yards on the pitch. Frimpong was abject. Constantly 10 yards behind the play, he was unable to make even the simplest of passes, gave Miquel absolutely no protection and is clearly nowhere near ready after his injury for this level of competition.
Game over. Even the away support which had been loud and proud up to the fourth goal seemed to vacillate. Some were seen leaving and a sizeable section could be heard singing that most desperate refrain of the Johnny come lately “We want our Arsenal back!”
And yet and yet. Even at 3-0, I was praying for a goal, not just to stimulate renewed interest but because there was a real belief that Reading were as abject at the back as we were, and that it wouldn’t take much to turn the game round. Arshavin, who mixed casual incompetence with moments of vision all night, had fashioned opportunities for Walcott which had both been spurned, Chamakh had had a sight of goal, an otherwise anonymous Gnabry had had a shot blocked and Kos had just failed to turn in a corner.
At 4-0 however, I gave up, and though on the stroke of half time I recognized the excellence of Arshavin’s first time pass and Walcott’s clever chipped finish, it raised little more than an eyebrow.
Half time and a quick look at the drinks. Not a happy place. I remember thinking and saying that a second goal might make it interesting but that I held out zero hope that we would stop Reading scoring more at the other end.
The first 5 minutes of the second half were as abysmal as anything that had gone before. Reading might have scored on 3 occasions and should have had a penalty. They didn’t however and slowly Arsenal gained a foothold. Gnabry flashed one just wide and Walcott went close.
On the hour Arsene made his move. Giroud and Eisfeld on for Gnabry and Frimpong. Eisfeld was everything that Frimpong hadn’t been. He played on the front foot, he got his head up, he was comfortable in possession, and his passing was incisive, accurate and penetrative. Giroud came of age as an Arsenal player. Scoring with a bullet header with pretty much his first touch, he was thereafter a magnet for the ball, rarely losing it and displaying an awareness of the play around him. He was far from the workhorse which some have chosen to prematurely label him. Suddenly even Chamakh looked interested, whilst Walcott mixed brilliance with anonymity.
In an instant the game had changed. With Arsenal essentially playing 5-0-5 rather than the 4-2-4 Arsene postulated post match, the game became very stretched. Giroud tested the keeper with both his head and his left foot, and half chances came and went, mostly fashioned by the hugely impressive Eisfeld.
The goal that would have made it all interesting refused to come however, and mindful that we needed two, I gave the game up for the second time around the 89th minute. I carried on watching though and when more woeful Reading defending allowed Kos to head home in the ninetieth minute there was just a glimmer. Game fucking on!
The Board went up – 4 minutes injury time. Not bad, one more minute than I had anticipated. I was confident we would fashion one more opportunity. We did. After at last getting the ball back from Reading playing silly bollocks in the corners, upfield we went in numbers. Theo collected and was direct, running into the area, flashed a curler when better options were available. Wide. Fuck it. That is surely that. Good effort boys but too little far too late.
Fantastically for once the Referee decided to add on the correct amount of time for Reading’s time wasting substitution in added time. Into the 96th minute we went. Long cross, great knockdown by Chamakh(?), wonderful take from Theo and great finish. Was it over the line? Probably, but I’m not convinced the Ref was going to give it. Having seen replays it looks like the Ref is about to give a pen for handball on the line. Whatever. Corporal Jenks drilled it home with a great volley, due reward for an all action second half display and should be given the goal.
4-4. Final whistle. Reading fans booing. The substituted Roberts (who had given Kos the runaround all night) having a touchline strop. Lovely. Surely we wouldn’t fuck it up now?
First half of ET went to plan. We dominated against a clearly deflated home side. Walcott had the beating of his full back time and again, and it was no surprise when Chamakh put us into the lead for the first time. I say that. No surprise that we took the lead, but Chamakh drilling one home from over 20 yards? That’s right up there with Des Lynam wining and dining a beautiful young lady only to get her home to find she had the full meat and two veg intact for a kinda eye-popping surprise.
Into the second half and our defensive fallibilities returned. A last ditch tackle from Kos saved Djourou’s blushes, Martinez made a very good save from a set piece (though it was offside), and again there looked to be more space down our left hand side than in Astronomers Weekly. Their equaliser had a certain inevitability about it. Arshavin was slow to get out to block the shot , up it looped for Pobrewhasisname to head home. Fuck it. Penalties. Tits.
Back on the front foot. Kos striding out of Defence plays it out left. Arshavin picks the ball up 50 yards out, with a Reading defender chugging along behind him. How slow have you got to be if you can’t catch Arshavin? On and on Arshavin went. Shooting instead of squaring to what looked like most of the Arsenal team in the middle, the ball was cleared off the line but dropped perfectly for the onrushing Walcott to drill it home. Cue rather more than a raised eyebrow. Bedlam.
Just time for a couple more semi defensive scares, before Reading obliged with another gargantuesque fuck up leaving Chamakh to lob the keeper from fully 30 yards. It doesn’t get much more surreal than that.
Fucking Hell.
Thanks for the describing the atmosphere holic awesome have you sobered yet ?
Great reports from the frontline SteveT and Arthur. Cheers.
Hoping Vermaelen and Mertesacker didn’t watch the first half last night to pick up some pointers from their deputies …
Holic, Unbelievable, mind blowing, should have been covered by all the media…I mean are these holics something special or what? 🙂 And the Arsenal aren’t too shabby either 🙂 Eh, haven’t seen the game yet, dead on my feet but Holic it doesn’t get any better than this. Thank you for creating such a sweet haven for us gooners to crash and celebrate, mean that 🙂
” How slow have you got to be if you can’t catch Arshavin? ”
LOL
Ask Aaron Ramsey 😉
“I doubt though that I will be experiencing another Fever Pitch moment. Or describing one with a Hornbyesque gift.” – from the previous blog
Wrong, and wrong. What a night.
Nice one tabs.
@89 “Wrong, and wrong. What a night.”
2 wrongs make a right night.
Thanks for the recap, enjoyed all the crowd banter you included, really makes it great. We are lucky to have such passionate away fans. What an extraordinary game, still haven’t recovered!
Cheers Steve-o. Glad to hear you made it home ok.
Heh @88 Bit harsh 😉
Thanks tabs. Had a bit of a scare at the customs though. Sneaked in an extra bottle of bushmills unscathed, eventually.
Back after a week’s self-imposed exile. Glad to see such a positive spin being given to last night’s happenings.
COYG ICDDR
TaBS – agree completely about Eisfeld.
The way he picks up the ball and drives forwards…. a young Rosicky perhaps?
Gnudges the ball forwards to Gnabry….
tabs@83: “[Frimpong] is clearly nowhere near ready after his injury for this level of competition.”
He has even said as much himself, he said the other day that he probably needs a loan spell because by his own admission he is not ready for first-team action yet. I suppose Arsene thought this was a good game to get some more experience but in hindsight he probably shouldn’t have played at all.
Have I come at a bad time?
Assist?
Ooh, it drifted past the defenders and left the goalie rooted to the spot and it’s a goal!
Oh! Well in Lars.
Walcott officially credited with the fourth goal. Currently in a taxi to Reading, trying to find his match ball 🙂
Tabs saw the same game I did. Great write up.
Just wanted to add a word for Coquelin. Utterly abject in the first half, but I thought once the formation changed on the hour, and it was clear he was in sole charge of covering the front of the back four, he did a terrific job. Worked his nuts off for the rest of the night, broke up attacks, organised those around him and sorted his passing out. He was a big reason for the turnaround.
As for Arshavin…. I’m really not sure I’ve ever seen such a gifted player with such a pathetic work rate. Even in the games he phones in, you can see he’s a cut above most of those around him, but he just can’t rouse himself to really make the effort. God knows what sort of player he’d be if he was fully fit and motivated. I actually guiltily enjoy watching him, because he’s a lovely little footballer. I just enjoy it more when he’s playing for Russia and not giving the ball away in an Arsenal shirt.
I don’t think last night is one for the coaches to dwell on. Hopefully it might inject a bit of fight into the first XI though, because they’re likely to need it on Saturday.
COYRRRs
83 YOU gave up tabs?
We’re doomed. See my 184 and LArs&Eandy’s posts around that time last night.
I wasn’t just being flippant, I believed it was possible.
But then, I had watched Lorient vs Bastia at the weekend (admittedly, Lorient’s 2nd goal came before our 2nd, and their third long before our 3rd), which went a long way to helping me believe (granted Lorient didn’t go 4 down, and weren’t as shit as we were for over 35 minutes, but still….)
Well in Lars, even if you didn’t mean it 😉
Just want to thank all away fans that made their voice b heard during the match even when we were down 4 0. This is really a big bost for us here in nigeria as other fans were teesing us all through when we were down, and when gunners were shown leaving, other fans started singing, one by one dem don dey go. But we the GUNNERS had the last laugh.
Free-O now credited with a hat-trick of goals and a hat-trick of assists in last night’s soopa-doopa 7-5 CO Cup fightback …
Reckon AW might be getting a call from his people later.
Up The Arse! (Still basking – despite sleep deprivation.)
Great write-up though, tabs, with you all the way.
And yep, Eisfeld I liked a lot.
Looks a lot more mature than Gnabry too (but then he’s two years older, fair enough, Gnabry’s been a bit overhyped recently, but on the pitch for the first team hasn’t been so impressive despite the breeze of fresh air feeling).
And yeah, N7, Coq, like Jenks, and practically all the other ones, were completely changed players after the first few minutes in the second half.
And while I’m sure a lot of people expected Giroud to come on for Chamakh, subs were quite inspired, also keeping a ‘spare’ for extra time.
I thought Meade was also great when he came on.
I haven’t watched an more incredible game in my life. Strange how they always happen away from home, eh? 😉
To ‘Holic, I heard (on the Arses) that you stopped someone failing over into the row below him, well in 🙂 To all the ‘Holics (and their kids) in with the away fans and at the game, I heard you on my stream throughout the game, exemplary 😀
My older sister asked me to help her locate the required printer ink at PC World so I missed Kick-Off and the 1st 1/2 an Hour or so, the last time I checked the score after Kick-Off it was 0-0 still so I was in disbelief when I got home, opened up a stream after 5 minutes of difficulty beforehand the scorebar with 3-0 popped up, was wondering whether it was actually Arsenal playing at all. Beggared belief that Hunt could score such a simple 4th and so apart from a fist pump & maybe an ‘get in!’ I didn’t register Theo’s goal much (well taken from the CF position indeed, he can finish well consistently in those positions a lot more lately).
The goal gave much needed hope for Gooners in the bar and on Twitter, although the prevalent feeling was rightfully despair at the defensive performance to concede those 4 goals, considering the internationals at CB, nowhere near good enough. Makes the support of our away fans (surely the best in the land) even more incredible.
The 2nd half compared to the 1st was an vast improvement even though similar mistakes were abundant, lucky not to go even more goals down but wasteful with our chances. I didn’t want to jinx anything by throwing my full weight behind the comeback so I remained as cool as I could considering the circumstances 8) Frimpong was very disappointing, and my thoughts were Eisfeld and Yennaris (the latter who turns out to be Giroud) don’t deserve to have to come on to this mess but Giroud excelled with that amazing header immediately after coming on for 4-2 and Eisfeld began to dictate play, Rosicky would have been proud 🙂 Koscielny redeemed himself with another Giroud-esque header for 4-3 and at that point I was celebrating in full flow regardless of what was to happen, Theo’s 2nd of the night (100% certain that the Reading player leeched the momentum out of the shot with his arm making the ball appear like it was only 95% over the line) had me in joyous disbelief. (Plaudits to Jenkinson for making sure with a delicious angled half volley that deserved a goal by itself but today the Football League had given the goal to Theo anyway).
Roberts’ twat face on the touchline was hilarious after all his & Reading’s time-wasting, and at 4-4 FT the talk turned online to the fan who supposedly left at 37 mins or so (he actually didn’t) & others who might of done similar missing this comeback and to Giroud and Coquelin throwing and retrieving their shirts from the crowd 🙂 (Ollie, in the French Equivalent of the League Cup does it go to a replay if there’s a draw at FT?)
Quick run downstairs before the 1st Half of ET for some fizzy drink to cool the hoarse throat and boost the sugar levels and play resumed, Arsenal looking confident and Reading fearful, from when Chamakh pulled off the backheel I had an inkling something would come off and he didn’t disappoint with a 22 yard Golazo to sent the away fans into delirium and reduce the Gooners on Twitter into babble speak from their mouths and from their accounts 😀 Miquel goes down injured and Meade comes on, shows his bravery within Minutes. 5-4 up after the 1st Half of ET, you’ve saved our collective blushes now hold on Arsenal but after a Theo chance to give himself the Hat-Trick & Eisfeld making the wrong decision after exchanging One-Twos in the centre of the pitch Reading equalise, Penalties await. But then steps up Arshavin with the run down the left wing and the shot that is palmed by the keeper towards Theo who drills it in for his 3rd, we’re winning again! Martinez clears it instead of retaining possession, Wenger rages but the Reading defender misses the high-ball, like a flash Chamakh is on it and the 30 yard lob of the keeper enters the net to complete a crazy night for all involved.
I think I ran 1/4 of an Mile in about 1 Minute 30 Seconds after the game (abietly to the bus stop so I could go & meet my Dad & other older Sister in Camberwell & drop off Car Keys) but the Adrenaline rush last night was like nothing else, who needs drugs when you have & support the Arsenal eh? 🙂
Wind, replays are an alien thing in France. In both cups, it’s extra-time and pelanties on the day.
No two-legged semis either.
Steve-o @94 – Heh nice work! 🙂
Mr C @96 – Early days for that kind of comparison (I don’t think he’s as skilful or as quick as a young Rosicky), but I was certainly very impressed. He seemed very confident to me and as Ollie has pointed out, mature.
Lars @98 – Agree with you and the man himself. I really couldn’t understand why he was still on the pitch after half time. I can’t defend the time it sometimes takes Arsene to act, and the improvement when he was replaced was immediate. Well in for the goal.
Nonny @103 – Interesting. Has the Ref said he would have given the goal before Jenks put it in?
N7 @104 – Cheers and agree that Coq was one of many who showed a marked improvement after the 50 minute mark. Don’t really know what to make of him if I’m honest. Seemingly has it all, but there are still times when he just seems to switch off and the game appears to pass him by. Hoping that it’s just a question of experience.
As for Arshavin, what can one say? Has moments of brilliance and I thought he was one of our brighter sparks even in that woeful first half, but he is still astonishingly wasteful at times. Too much of a liability despite his creativity to be granted a central role in the Premiership.
Heh Ollie. I didn’t really give it up 😉
Well I did between their fourth and our first if I’m completely honest. I certainly did see your drinks at HT and I think it was you I responded too. I certainly had a feeling that it “could” be done inasmuch as Reading looked very nervous at the back, but I just couldn’t see us restricting them to four.
Agree completely that the subs and the change of shape (what shape?) were inspired. Arsene needs to do it more.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/comebacks
heh at the inclusion at the bottom of this article 🙂
Tabs – He blew his whistle before Jenkinson’s finish. It’s clear on the replay. I think the only confusion came from from the prat reporter on Sky with his “the officials didn’t give it”
Shape, what shape indeed.
As for Arshavin, I mostly agree with you. Although I didn’t really see that spark just a lot of incredibly bad passes in the first half.
Well, until that one… 😉
But I think I know what you mean. After all, a spark, in isolation in the great darkness, is just a spark.
Since the only common denominator between Coquelin & Giroud is that they’re both French, that makes the case of the Thrown Shirts even more curious Ollie 🙂
Nonny @114 – Ah fair enough.
Ollie – Heh very philosophical! 🙂
Fantastic write up tabs @83 – exactly summed up my own rollercoaster journey through that game and with your unique added colour (can I still say that?):
“How slow have you got to be if you can’t catch Arshavin?”
N7 @104 – good call on Le Coq – like a man transformed.
I think the Eisman will bring a lot to our midfield in time.
Cheers Bath, no good for the collective ticker, that one 🙂
I really don’t know what to think about that game.
Two fucking Arsenals, there must be two fucking Arsenals 😀
Heh @120
Wind @109 – In answer to the question posed at the end of your post … I DO 😉
Heh @120 🙂
tabs – propranolol will slow your pulse and prevent any more adrenaline surges – is that what you mean?
Bathgooner @ 124, I was thinking along the same lines relating to tabs @ 122 😆
Not really Bath. I was thinking more of a Cocaine/Ecstacy cocktail with an amphetamine chaser 😉
Well it was fun.
Can’t help but wonder though what a good team would do to defending of the sort served up by, in particular, Koscielney and Djourou last night, and not just in the first half either.
Laurent was lucky to be on the park to score the third and as for the other guy, well, a small period in the side two seasons ago apart, he’s just a bombscare, for me.
There were positives aplenty as well, with the bodysnatched Chamakh being returned to us, and as virtually all have agreed, young Eisfeld, based on that performance looks to have a very bright future indeed.
Did it really happen?
Hmmm Kos seems to be having the infamous “2nd Season blues” but delayed?
This is his 3rd season right? Last season’s Bosscielny would grab this season’s Kostlyny by his collars and go “LOOK LIKE YOU WANT TO PLAY FOR THE ARSENAL!”
After debating whether Arteta was offside (who cares? Mark Hughes cried), we’re debating who scored that epicly timed 4th goal? Who cares? Jason Roberts cried 🙂
heh Andy Goram
Steve-o, I think Kos’ goal showed he wants to play: grabbed the ball and made sure no time was lost in celebrations.
zico, I thought Koscielny was ‘lucky’ to stay on following that second ‘foul’ on Roberts, as the ref blew for it. But then it was only luck through half-blind refs. As Bart indicated and the replay conclusively showed, that cunt grabbed his shirt first and it should have been a free-kick to us.
Difficult to disagree with you on Djourou and Kos Dr Z.
Djourou radiated nervousness all night, and I hope we are not reliant on him for any extended period this season.
As for Kos he was second best to Roberts from the get go, was caught out time and time again, and as you say was lucky to still be on the pitch to score our third. The longer he goes without playing Premiership football the further he looks from the stellar defender of last season. At his best, he is a better defender than Vermaelen imo. Get him back playing again, and take the short term hit for the long term good.
After Old Trafford though 😉
Steve-o – Third season. As you say, Kos bears little relation to the player of last season. In his Defence, it is difficult to immediately step up after a prolonged period on the bench, but the longer it goes the worse it will get. I got the sense that a lot of Kos’s rashness last night stemmed from his own recognition that he was off the pace and having a ‘mare. All a bit chicken and egg.
@134
I agree.
For the record, I am a big Kos fan, but he had a horror show (topically).
The other guy I just don’t rate.
And while we’re at it, the young goalkeep didn’t look too clever either.
Moan, moan, moan.
I feel so Danish. 😉
A wonderful back drink. An absolute crazy game, made all more enjoyable by watching here in the “bar” yesterday.
A nice line up of benzo’s are on the bar for anyone who who needs to “slow the ticker” with a smile still on their face.
Hope the first team takes the atmosphere and euphoria of last night and plays with the second half passion that was displayed last night.
Cheers all
I reckon you are Danish 🙂
@132 no doubt he wants to play. Kos always had great attitude. I was referencing Keown because Bosscielny of last season is a huge difference.
@134 which makes it an annoying problem because I rate him higher defensively than TV. I really hope he doesn’t get Senderossed.
…i just managed to short circuit my entire apartment.
Koscielny must be listening.
@ 137
Something rotten in the state of Denmark. 😉
Kos is out of sync. Trying too hard instead of just playing the game.
He may need to play striker this season, he has a nose for goal!
Djourou is too passive to play. He just keeps backing up until the player passes the ball. I think if they had just kept dribbling on a few occasions both the ball and Djourou would have ended up in the net. Ah well. Hope they both review their performances with a critical eye and look to improve.
Fixtures update for January :
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/three-fixtures-selected-for-tv-coverage
return of the Sunday 4pm kick-off (aka go back on the day, 30 min less post-game drinking time and exhaustion at work on Monday 😉 ).
Just like for France again Spain, though, Kos improved during the game.
Beyond the goal, let’s not forget another crucial and perfect intervention in our box.
Agreed he had a stinker ‘overall’ though, but then they all were shit in the first half and of course it shows more when you are in defence.
Well, well, well.
Well, all’s well that ends well, and that does, or did, didn’t it.
Having missed all the first half, I entered the TV fray just as Ollie (Giroud, not ours) scored to make it 4-2.
I must have missed all the good Arseshavin work described above, as to me he seemed to be treating the ball like an unexploded grenade – anywhere, anyhow, just to get rid of the thing. Right up until his brilliant run at the end of extra time. Can’t remember what happened after that as I was just staring and laughing in disbelief.
Holic and Tabs have provided superb write-ups to which I could only add my own Eisfeld comparison. To me, his pass and move and pass and move perpetual motion, reminds me a lot of our own little Jack Wilshere. Never content to pass and watch, he always seems to have the next move worked out.
If we have uncovered another JW, that will do me very nicely, thank you. From the minute he and Giroud were on the pitch, the impossible seemed merely highly improbable.
The away support was as brilliant as ever.
To all those on a Tolly Jolly – you lucky buggers. 😉
Great write up. Must agree I switched channel after we went down 4-0. Missed the 1st Theo goal and when I switched back it was 4-1 and I thot if only we can get another and it would be game on. Well d changes came and Eisfeld was brilliant in mf as well as Giroud upfront. Theo also came alive. I actually thot that Arshavin should be substituted but thank god he was not becos we later needed that last man. I think he spurned so many chances that could ave brought us back into the game. I was telling my little boy that we had more going forward than Reading in extra time and that we just needed to keep our cool since we were bossing play. At d end could not believe the scoreline. Only time I ever saw anything close to this was d Nigeria under 18 semifinals against Russia where they scored 4 goals in less than 15mins to later win on penalty shootout.
Hehs at Steve-o and Dr Z.
Alright Trev, sounds like you caught the best bits last night.
Right my download is complete – Cheers Snir! Second half and extra time only. Lovely. Off for a bit.
‘your download is complete’? That sounds a bit dodgy.
I’m off for a 4 day weekend soon.
Followed by 3 days off 😉
Just emerged from the powerless, connectivityless vacuum that is Hurricane Sandy (not the best of times to have had to be in the US). Thought the Reading game was Wednesday, or just lost track of time. Started to read ‘Holic’s post and thought it was some sort of whimsy. Surreal. Missed one of the games for the ages.
As a statto, Ned, ypu missed a feast 😉
Hope you are well, NBN.
Ollie, lucky bastard.
Okay, I’m off to bed. Night ‘holics.
Ned,
Hope things are oK. Glad it sounds like power is back on. My wife has a lot of friends and family back east. Hope things clean up swiftly.
Noughts and Crosses.
It’s still difficult to think seriously about what happened last night, but it seems to all boil down to a game of noughts and crosses.
Arsenal are, generally, not very good at crosses. Most of them come, in fact, to nought.
I suppose we haven’t had a player for a long time now who could make much use of a cross. Crosses are most difficult to defend, or most dangerous to attack, when they arrive right in the middle. Most of ours tend to hit the first defender, or fizzle out of play.
At the beginning of this season our defence seemed suddenly so comfortable with crosses that they thought nought of giving away corners and free kicks in crossable areas, confident that the resulting attack on our goal would come to nought.
After Chelsea and the Interlull it all rather fell apart.
Crosses from anywhere on the grid were flapped at, fluffed and barely defended at all. Our man Ollie, was reduced to a bit part player and must have been very cross to see so many crosses being wasted and coming to nought.
Crosses are quite an old fashioned idea in modern football, still mostly favoured by the likes of old dinosaurs like ‘Arry and Big Fat Sam.
The truth is though, that we now have a forward in Ollie Giroud who is great in the air, and has just scored a superb header for France against the World Champions, and an equally good one for us last night. He surely has to be used better and more often.
At the other end of the pitch, it is just as true that, if we don’t learn how to deal with crosses, our possession dominating football, and sometimes brilliant attacking play, will come to nought.
After last night though, you can’t be too cross. 😉
A thought indeed for all you Merkan Gooners in the wake of that storm.
And for your lad Esso. Any kind of injury or illness to a young one is a big worry.
Wolfie,
A noughty little cross dresser
🙂
@ N7
so glad you mentioned Le Coq – he seemed to grow magnificently into the game.
@ Wind
ha ha – I had the same shock – my Arsenal Player stream kept going down and it seemed like every time I got it going again, we’d conceded!
I was shellshocked, but I always had a feelign we would manage to turn it around because a) it was Reading who have been weak at the back all season and b) to lose like that was unthinkable. I knew if we could score 1 goal before half time, a comeback was on. Although I admit that at 4-2 in the 88th minute, my faith wavered. But we did it.
It was a film screenplay, but real!
Home just on time for Montpellier vs Bordeaux 🙂
Trev, may I remind you that Chamakh was known as a specialist header scorer, far far more than Giroud? 😉
Ollie,
Giroud is a better all around player than Peacock, but Chamakh really played better when Giroud came on and took some of the pressure off of him. 2 goals from distance. When’s the last time we ever saw that from Chamakh. Granted the last one was not power but it did show some deft touch. I know we won’t see it much but with both of them up top we have 2 guys that can win a few balls in the air.
Enjoy your Bordeaux match.
You may Ollie and he was (supposed to be).
FunGunner, that’s exactly how it was for me in the 3rd Round of the Capital One Cup except that we scored everytime I got the Arsenal Player Stream back up! 😆
Even when I don’t use ‘Medium’ when Arsenal Player is streaming live it lags & cuts out for me, probably too many devices accessing our basic & overworked router at the same time when the match is on 🙁
4-2 down, 89 mins, I was of the persuasion that at least we’d saved most of our blushes & the inevitable slaughter in the media would be lessened, only at 4-3 with a few minutes to go did the idea of forcing the tie to extra time become evident… 8)
@ Wind
🙂
@ NorcalArsenal
I think we might very well see Chamakh and Giroud together. It would be very AW to do the unexpected and of course now we have lost Gerve the Swerve for a month, Chamakh could be the one to throw on as an extra striker. with luck, this is the start of a return to scoring habits for MC. He took both goals so confidently, it was like he’s been pretending to be off form for the last 15 months.
But Fun, that would make us look like a 4-4-2 and AW doesn’t do tactics or 4-4-2.
Clever Trevor @ 152.
One of the many crosses we have to bear….. 😉
Bollocks, Montpellier score. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Yeah, I think the first Chamakh goal was like a sudden realisation.
‘Bollocks, there’s nobody around to help me. I’m in a shooting position, what do I do now? Not like me to shoot from here, is it? Oh fuck it, I might as well have a pop!’.
Bellion and Ben Khalfallah now off the pitch, maybe there’s hope 😉
Just turned on to see the sending-off Ollie. Didn’t think my powers would work that quick 😉
I noticed above and throughout the drinks during last night’s game, a real polarised view of Andrei Arshavin’s contribution to the game.
Here’s my take:
Much of what he tried last night, did not come off. He tries the improbable pass 9 times out of 10 and when it comes off, it is usually brilliant, and yet we somehow seem to take it for granted. When it doesn’t come off, which was often against Reading, it appears as sloppy and giving the ball away.
I don’t agree with the idea, though, that he is serially lazy, the way some would suggest. I thought that he never hid last night, always looked to receive a pass and, when all is said and done, was primarily responsible for 2 of Theo’s three and ultimately finding a way back in a match that had “gone”.
Now that is not to say that I think he will ever provide the team with the workrate that, say Podolski does, and do the “ugly” stuff, tracking back and supporting his full back,. So in that sense, I guess he could be descibed as lazy and is certainly not what we need in the first team just now, at a time when we need to keep it tight, and try to re-build confidence after 2 awful team performances and a more perfunctory one.
But can you genuinely say that Arshavin, at his best, fit and motivated, is someone you would want to see play against us for someone else? I know I wouldn’t. I know also that some will counter with the argument that “the problem is he is not fit enough or motivated enough, enough of the time.” But he is not solely to blame if that is the case.
There is no excuse for any player anywhere near the first team squad to be physically unfit, and if they are, it is an indictment of the Management team AND the player. It’s part of the man-management skill set required at any club, to ensure players don’t drift into bad habits and retain what should simply be an expected level of discipline and professionalism.
I know, not for the first time, I will probably be in the minority, but I can’t forget the guy that first came to the club. We may never again see the player that we thought we had bought after that performance at Anfield.
But for as long as he’s on the payroll we should do our damned best to try and find him again.
Doesn’t look good for Bordeaux. ‘holic, your powers aren’t strong enough now.
Injury time, can they do it? 😉
Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
zico, I’ll be honest with you, I see some bizarre praise for Arshavin after last night.
To be fair, it was a fairly anti-Arshavin performance (sorry for the cliché). He tried a lot, very hard, run a good bit too, but was technically mostly deficient. A couple of good passes (well the one for Theo for the first goal certainly), but it looked like 90% of his passes were just completely random punts aimed at the general direction of no Arsenal player.
Too late, Bordeaux out of the League Cup. Can’t have fun every day. :'(
Some pics of last night courtesy of @RasDamAFC:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77698666@N08/8142304629/in/set-72157631897140245/
As it’s Halloween, a couple of snaps of a mad professor seem strangley appropriate.
Dundee Utd 0-1 Jambos.
http://www.atdhenet.tv/53706/watch-dundee-united-vs-hearts
Don’t think anything else is on, is it?
Scary Akhil, TS 😉
I know! Heh! 🙂
@ 163 NorCalArsenal
He does 4-2-4, though!
Zico,
The little Russian is an enigma to me. He is probably the most talented player on the entire team. But he only plays as an attacker. The one thing we have always asked of the team is to give an honest effort. Andre only gives that effort when the ball is at his feet. And that is what frustrates. We want him to give that effort because if he did he would contribute so much more. I like him and was encouraged the last few games when he did track back and defend, but last night there were several times where he gave the ball away and then just stopped. He did not even try to get the ball back, get into a passing lane or anything. He literally just stopped and waited for his teammates to hopefully get it back. I hold out hope that he will give us more but it is faint hope.
Trev @ #152 – He’s not the messiah, he’s a very noughty boy.
Zico @ #169 – With Theo likely to be away this Xmas (shock horror) and Gerv out and then off to the AFCON I’m hoping we’ll choose to retain every bit of class that we’ve got in our squad. Arshavin is class.
I don’t think Arshavin is technically deficient Ollie, period.
But will agree to disagree.
Like I said, I expect to be in the minority.
I just think it is a real shame what happened to him and often wonder whether another style of management may have brought different results.
Ollie,
I hope last nights passes to no one was because these guys never played together. But that is the optimist in me.
NorCal, you don’t have to go 4-4-2 to play two up front – you can play 3-5-2, as we did for the last ten or so minutes of the game at Upton Park.
Zico & NorCal, good points on Arshavin. It seems like the majority of Gooners (myself included) hold him up to that MotM 4-4 Game he played at Anfield, and when we see him stop when the ball is lost and not track back, it grates on people. Its a Matter of Mind over Matter for Andrey Arshavin, will he be the best he can possibly be? I bloody well hope so, for Arsenal’s sake.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/walcott-awarded-fourth-goal-at-reading
To settle it 😛
Lars,
True. Or the the 4-2-2-2 we played at end of yesterday.
I’m afraid Arshavin, for me, spent most of the game last night just hitting balls into spaces with no intent, especially in the first half. I also thought Coquelin played the majority of the game as if he thought the league cup was beneath him, and I thought that he and Frimpong (even allowing for his lack of matches) were our worst performers by a long way.
zico I don’t think he is, generally, but I think he mostly was, last night.
Personally, NorCal 181, my thought was that they were all on drugs 😉
Well I would be in a dark place if Nonny agreed with me 😉
Didn’t know Mr Quigley had made the trip to Reading.
Lucky bastard.
NorCal, or as Arsene called it, 4-1-5 🙂
1-1 in the Cunts v Cunts game at the bus stop in Fulham, by the way. Giggs scored for the Cunts and then Sideshow Bob scored for the Cunts from a spot kick to level the score.
Pelanty to PSG+Red card (harsh)
1-0 to QSG here now Lars.
On Arshavins case, I always liked him and was so glad that we bought him, like said above, there is few players as gifted as him but he epitomizes Russian nature when it comes to sports and talent.
Being czech I do also watch lot of ice hockey and matches against Russia are usually the one of the best to watch, they have so many supremely talented players, skillful and technically gifted, but only few of them actually give a damn when things are not going their way.
On their day they can tear you to shreds, but when they are on the losing end you suddenly see those players not helping defense and overally losing interest. Only the few who are able to maintain their focus and workrate usually end up in top leagues like are KHL and especially NHL (See Datsyuk and Ovechkin for example ..and even his attitude used to be dire during internationals when Russia was losing).
My point being, when you have naturally skillful and gifted Russian player, he sort of “sins” on his talent, not putting in enough dirty and hard work. I am not saying it applies to all of them but its sort of their trait. I would like to hope that Andrei is going to find his motivation and focus again but it is very doubtful from my point of view. However, he could be perfect impact sub for us when we need to create (like he showed versus QPR and against Sunderland last season).
Even Ollie was in agreement last night, zico. I was quite stunned 🙂
Heh, fair enough Nonny.
Pint on Lars’ tab for you to celebrate a historic win. 8)
I think that’s a big problem with a team made up of half youths and half squad that don’t play much. There was no continuity or team play to start the game, just 11 guys hitting passes all over. However I would have hoped that Jenks, Djourou and Kos would have been better in tune and our midfield was just abject. Coq walked the entire first half. Lots to think about before the next round.
heh Nonny 194 😀
Next round you say, NorCal?
I say it’s now. On Lars’ tab.
Andrei,
thru ball or is it?
Zico,
I’d go along with most of what you say about Arshavin.
The only qualification to it all really is that while the club has a role in getting him fit, insofar as providing the program and equipment is concerned, the all important motivation has to come from him.
A super fit but unmotivated player is not going to put in the all important ingredient, hard work.
We have all said enough times that we can excuse a player for lacking talent. We cannot excuse a lack of effort.
I was thrilled when we signed Arshavin and would love to see him back at his best and in an Arsenal shirt.
The puzzle is why does he often put so little into his performances. Given the chance to leave in the summer, he reportedly said he was happy in London and wanted to stay. Is he just not that bothered about winning ?
That, of course, we cannot know. I think you have a good point about him always trying the improbable pass, and maybe that comes across as sloppy and misplaced. I’ll watch for it and hope it’s true – and that it all starts to come off again.
We need to see his class again, and he certainly possesses it.
seventh?
Trev,
A simple “ping” or “goal” would have been sufficient.
😉
Eandy @193,
Which one of them used to be with Anna Kournikova ?
That would probably explain his lethargy on the pitch. 😉
Hey, off the backside again !!!
One day I’ll score on purpose. 😉
Nice post Holic,
havent reed any of the comments yet, so sorry if this has already been posted.
Eisfeld vs Reading, for those interested.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zchP300wdn0&feature=youtu.be
A big fan of him since yesterday.
After THAt surreal game we got no option but to win that Capital One thing.
Trev @203,
Sergei Fedorov and Pavel Bure, guys who actually made it to NHL and had HUUUUGE impact there, so guess having Anna Kournikova as “off field support” actually makes you work harder:P
2-0 QSG. Good goal, Trev.
Zico, With you on AA. He lasted the entire match, his short legs carrying him past me on the screen, almost in a blur. Fitness in question? Musit Ozil (7 years his junior) rarely lasts regulation time. Something special, he is. The most emotionally rewarding part of the game for me, was seeing Chamakh score both goals. Seeing his face light up, really touched me. And AW shaking his head at the end in disbelief, priceless.
Heh @ the Neighbours….
Spurs and Liverpool OUT of the COC. Chelski and Manure 3-3 and playing extra time.
Hey abb – amazing game, wasn’t it? And AA seemed to gain strength and stamina as the match went on.
Spurs lose, but eh, Arsenal always disrespect the League Cup, don’t they? 😉
FIngers crossed, Swansea can hold on, but I fear I’m jinxing them here and now.
I hear Cuntski vs ManUre is going to extra-time? Lovely.
Can I still wish for a meteor to hit, nevertheless?
Sorry – spoke too soon about Liverpool, forgot they had the later kickoff.
FunG, I think that Scouse game is still on-going. I shall absolve myself of the jinxing shame if it turns sour now 😉
Ha! I see you realised it too now.
All over in Paris: Qatar Oil Rich Cunts 2 Olympicunts Marseille 0
@ Ollie
It’s weird, isn’t it – every single club plays their second string or at changes at least half the team, we get into the last eight regularly, never lose to lower league opposition and yet it’s only Arsenal who disrespect the League Cup.
Aaaaand Pool are out.
What Trev says on Arshavin. Only one person responsible for his fitness and that’s him. Nobody else’s fault. I’m just amazed they can still find a pair of shorts to fit him.
That said I agree with Dr Z that he had a good game last night, and didn’t lack for effort.
Watched the second half and extra time again. Possession is surrendered on occasion but he does an awful lot of ball carrying into dangerous areas and is always looking for an opening with his passing. I thought he did well on the whole and I think opinions were skewed by the “isn’t he having a bad night” commentary.
I wouldn’t say he was technically lacking. He’s not. But he does take the wrong option frustratingly often, and not always in safe areas of the pitch. Against the better sides that will cost you.
Pissing myself laughing at the Totts. Great that the Mancs have had to go into extra time, and are now 4-3 down after being seconds away from a win. How I wish Scott Wootten was playing against us on Saturday.
tabs: I didn’t have the ‘isn’t he having a bad night’ commentary. 😉
And you just said it yourself ‘ you just watched the second half and extra time again. Care to watch the first half again? 😉
Yay! In your face, Purple Nose!
Hooray, now we can all laugh together, FG!
chortle chortle
This COC is opening up. Who would you like to draw in the next round?
Tabs,
Those shorts don’t fit him. But Wolfie always liked a good eye full of some Andrei!
I did of course mean “whom”. Tsk. I’ve smacked my own hand.
ManUre out.
Boro at home please.
Fair enough Ollie on Arshavin. In the first half I thought Arshavin was shit, but it was just that everybody else was slightly more shit 😉
Right. I think we have a trophy to win.
…Top four here we come!
And oh, I’d like to pick up that COC on the way as well…
The COC suddenly seems very winnable. While still being the lowest in priority, it would be nice to win it so let’s give it a decent go.
Fully agree, Lars. Fully agree.
Indeed NorCal 🙂
Is the draw for the next round tonight?
Lars,
It is tonight. Eminently.
Right now Lars.
http://fancystreems.com/default.asp@pageId=43.php
@ Lars
Yes, the draw is very soon.
I genuinely love this competition because of it’s for the kids so I really want to win it. Would love a home tie, that’s the main thing for me.
Cheers, Snir!
Away at Bradford.
Bradford away.
Leeds vs Chelsea
Norwich vs Aston Villa
Swansea vs. Middlesbrough
So, Bradford away it is!
It’s not just the fact that we play our kids. The format makes for a more exciting competition – no replays – the timing, and funnily enough the fact that it is the least important of the cups. More clubs play second string teams and therefore there are shock results.
Bradford?
That’s one foot in the semis.
Thanks Dwight, thanks Alan!
🙂
Sounds about reasonable.
Problem is though, I guess every other team left in the competition must look at the teams left and say “Hey, we can actually win this”. Competition will be stiff even from the “smaller” teams.
Leeds v Chelsea
Swansea v Middlesborouh
Norwich v Aston Villa
Bradford v Arsenal
Can’t wait to meet the Blues again 😉
I just wish the semi-finals weren’t two legs in the League Cup, seems strange they still retain that. Just feels like a random oddity they’ve thrown into the format.
And oh, Leeds v Chelsea sounds like a few reds waiting to happen.
If only it had been at the Emirates. But still, it means AW will stick with the same team, barring injuries. all good.
And there was me hoping Sky might use Hey Hey We’re The Monkees as their playout music. Spoilsports.
@ 244 Charlie
I like the two legs, it’s quirky. It’s kooky. It’s wearing a hippie hat. It’s dying its hair orange and wearing wellies indoors.
At home to West Brom, Away to Bradford and then back up to Reading for the second round. Quite comfortable on paper!
Thank God we’ve avoided Leeds.
I just hope,if this is the team we are going to play with, that they get a little work done on the training pitch. A little more familiarity and actual TEAM work will improve that group immensely. Maybe we would need a miracle comeback. 😉
Leeds v Chelsea will be interesting after Warnock’s comments about Clattenburg
FG, absolutely over the moon not having to meet Leeds yet. It was starting to feel like one of those Liverpool-Chelsea games that we got eight times a season a few years back.
Good thing would have been us getting Henry for a loan against Leeds again. Just for nostalgia.
Yes Nonny. Very interesting that Warnock basically said Chelsea were on a witch hunt. I did notice today that Chelsea dropped the Mata complaint from their official complaint.
@ Toby
Good thing would have been us getting Henry for a loan against Leeds again.
A little tear sprang into my eye.
OK. So I’m likely to be up here in N Lincs in the week of December 10. What’s the drill for getting hold of a ticket for the Quarter final?
apropos of nothing: i just rewatched the second half, and extra time (thanks, snir) of yesterday’s game, and then replayed from the 28th minute of ET until the end. and still i have chills, and teared up when arsha was making that run down the left.
amazing game.
Bradford City. A club I have actually seen play in the flesh. It was the one and only time I attended an English football match. Lincoln City v. Bradford City, circa 1979 in the old Third Division. I didn’t like them then, and I don’t like them now!!
Actually one of two times I’ve seen an English football match. The other slipped my mind but it was many years later. Fulham v. Bolton at Loftus Road in 2003. Bradford City the most villanous of the four clubs I’ve seen, without a doubt!!
The San Francisco Giants won our baseball title which we quaintly call the World Series. Since I’m a Giants fan I thought I’d mention it even if the news is a few days out of date. Today they held a Giants victory parade in downtown San Francisco, and my favorite player, Sergio Romo, is pictured in this story with cool t-shirt and beard.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/sergio-romo-dons-thought-provoking-t-shirt-giants-003022090–mlb.html
Bradford away in December will be a tricky tie.
Bradford v Lincoln, 8ball, not most people’s first choice ?
Morning Ollie and Trev.
Looks like Gervinho has wandered into the 3-weeks-away Burmuda Triangle.
And Szczesny isn’t back either.
We are DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMEEED
It would suit me if Gervinho stayed in that triangle.
In other news, would I be the only one amused if PGMO decided to refuse to officiate any Chelsea matches, should the Clattenburg thing turn out to be bollocks, as expected? I doubt the league would be able to find overseas officials to take their games after what they did to Anders Frisk. Solidarity and all that stuff.
They have already destroyed one referee’s career with lies so it wouldn’t surprise me if this was all made up as well.
Or maybe not. Doomed that is. Morning all. According to Andre Arshavin, it was ‘Divine Intervention’ that helped the Arsenal win. Me thinks there is more to this lad, then scoffing down pickle flavored potato chips and sporting a irrepressible impish grin 🙂
Press Conference Digest:
the team news ain’t good: no Gibbs, no Szczesny, and no Gerv.
Looks like we’re trying not to rush players back (Szcz). Or is it mind games?
Or what Steve-o said.
Morning Gents,
Bad news re Gibbs, Schez, and Gervinho. My heart really does sink at the thought of Santos playing. Andre the Elephant trying to mark Valencia up at Old Trafford brings me out in a cold sweat. If Arsene decides at any point to bring on the other Andrei to “shore up” the space in front of Andre the Elephant, many might be forgiven for thinking we were witnessing the first reunion of The Roly Polys since Les Dawson turned his toes up.
Santos and Arshavin – fat chance ! 😉
Morning all,
MIKE DEAN FFS, how unauspicious is that?
I share tabs concern about the absence of Gibbs and Szcz, though agree with Nonny that Gervinho will be less missed (for his idiosyncratic tendencies – but we will miss his holding the ball and drawing defenders towards him).
I cannot see AW choosing anyone other than Santos for LB (in part because Miquel had such a ‘mare on Tuesday) though the young lad who came on for Miquel, or indeed a fit again Sagna would have more defensive instincts. Hopefully Poldi will provide cover but that will again neutralise his offensive capabilities.
I have to confess that the news that it is to be reffed by Dean means that I am inclined to write it off and go into deep football lockdown for a week.
Heh Trev at 269
and
– unauspicious
+ inauspicious
@269 Ooooh. nice one.
@268 Hopefully the boss decides to put tv or sagna at leftback. But Jenkinson and Kos are probably still knackered. Sigh…
Cheer up bath,
Look at it this way – it could have been Dowd, or Mason, or Webb, or …..
It’s not like we’ve missed out on a whole lot of decent ones.
heh Trev. Your coat 😉 -OK I chuckled
(at 269)
Morning all, by the way – do excuse my lack of manners.
Arsene is clearly worried about the choice of official and has adopted a crafty tactic to try and get the men in black onside (pun intended).
He has said publicly that Chelsea should not have said publicly what they have said about Mark Clatterbug.
I’m quite pleased he’s said that publicly anyway.
By the way, has anyone ever seen Mike Dean and Jasper Carrott in the same room together ?
I hear you, scruzgooner@257. I finally got to watch THE game late last night, and despite knowing the time of every goal, i kept whooping and hollering with utter amazement and joy from the time Koscielny scored at the very end of regulation time. What a game to miss because I have no power! Without wanting to in any way trivialize the great suffering and loss of so many right now, could I say that for me, along with light, heat, and being able to cook food, one of the wonderful things to appreciate and cherish anew when I got to somewhere with electricity was being able to watch the amazing, infuriating, exhilarating, miraculous rip roaring GUNNERS…
Heh Trev @269 🙂
Mike Dean has a head that just begs to be put in a vice.
Too far? Perhaps 😉
Fair point Trev @ 273, those you name are all shit and have an apparent generosity towards Saturday’s opponents. But have we ever won a game that Dean officiated?
Not far enough, tabs.
Have to agree with Trev@263, the only refs who were not biased for Man u last season were Martin Atkinson, Andre Marriner, Anthony Taylor, and Peter Walton. Peter Walton, who was the most biased against Man U, is now working somewhere across the Atlantic. For some reason or another, I’m not entirely surprised…
…meant Trev@273…
Morning/Afternoon/Evening (choose as appropriate for your time zone) all.
I kind of did expect Woj not start since he has only been back in full training for a few days. Barring any setbacks, I do however expect him to start next Saturday at the latest and quite possibly even at Schalke. Gibbs isn’t even back in full training yet, is he?
ManU will attack down our left flank to get crosses in for Shrek and CvC. Like most others I dread the thought of Santos trying to defend against Valencia or whoever is played on their wing so we will have to hope that the central defense can deal with the crosses that will inevitably rain in on us.
I have to say I am not looking forward to this game at all. Not one bit. I don’t see ManU as a team that is neccessarily all that much better than ours overall, but much as I hate to admit it they do have a pshycological advantage over us and they never ever go into a game against us not being charged up to the max. Add to that the Santos/Mannone combo and we have the potential for a footballing disaster. I would have felt a lot better with Gibbs and Woj in the team, that is for sure.
Bath@279, remember Mike Dean skipping like a happy little girl when Saha scored in the win against the scum last February?
Bath – heh 🙂
Bstrum – Glad you’ve got your power back and that all is ok.
Lars – Have to agree with your gloomy prognosis for the weekend. If you offered me a point now I’d bite your hand off.
tabs@284: lucky for me I can’t offer you a point then, but if I offer you a pint instead will you let me keep my hand?
I’ve been away from the past few days as it was a bank holiday weekend over here – so am catching up on some back-drinking.
Two things I would like to mention off the cuff in light of the Reading game:
Zico: I think your assessment of Arshavin @ 169 is 100% correct to each and every syllable. Not only was he involved in both of Theo’s goals, but also in providing the cross for Koscielny’s and the layoff for Chamahk’s first. Whatever side of the Arshavin coin people come down on – his stats and influence in the games he plays at times – can go unnoticed and without due credit. While everything did not come off for him on Tuesday – I largely felt his work ethic was honest and transparent.
I also wholeheartedly agree with the importance of managing a talent like his and would question if we have made the most of it? The case in point by way of example, that I have alluded to in the previous postings, concerns the decision to substitute him against Chelsea in the semi final of the FA cup just because RVP was returning from injury (and co-incidentially, was also on the cusp of agreeing a new contract with the club at the time…..which sounds a little familiar to Theo Vs Ox last season don’t ya think?)…! This was at a time when Arshavin was in blistering form and scored 4 at Anfield a few days later as if to prove that point. A game – which we only eventually drew after conceding 4 as well..!!
Which brings me on to the second thing that I’d like to say:
I don’t think that Woj – Sagna – Vermy – Per – Gibbs would have conceded 5 goals against Reading. And the league performances so far this season would largely support this contention.
Its obvious that the same level of intensive training has not, as yet, petered down to the remaining players on the panel and that this sense of discipline will take some time to implement. Its also obvious that some players are just not good enough, irrespective of what training they receive.
The point that I want to make – is that there is, I would still say, some element of improvement on the defensive front..!
Some people on Tuesday might have felt aghast at conceding four goals in 37 minutes. That’s because we’ve been more disciplined this season – and conceding four suddenly feels strange. I would respectfully remind people that it wasn’t too long ago, when conceding goals like this was the norm and not the exception..! And thats the difference this season so far I feel. I might still feel very nervous about having to rely on Mannone this weekend against someone as wily as Ferguson but we’re still in a better place than we were last season I feel.
A word about Chelsea.
Totally agree with Nonny @264. They really are off the scale these days. I have seen them described as a “rogue” Club in the Press in light of the Clattenburg incident and I reckon that’s very close to the truth.
The truth is they have been villainous and self-serving ever since Bates got his grubby mits on them, but Abramovich has taken them to a new level of Bastardry.
I was amazed at how gutted I felt when they won The Champs League last May, even though their victory had the not inconsiderable consolation of ensuring Thursday night football for the Marshmen.
Much as I hate to admit it, the truth is that I think I should hate Chelsea more than I hate Spurs. That might just be as a result of their greater success whilst Tottenham continue to revel in laughable incompetence, but at least Tottenham (the Club rather than their deluded fans) attempt to stand on their own two feet, play some reasonable football, and don’t provide that many reasons, other than their proximity, for outright contempt.
Chelsea however are rotten to the core. Libel Law forbids me, for ‘Holic’s sake, on elucidating on what Abramovich is. There is no need. Anyone with 2 brain cells to rub together knows what he is. He lives in a world in which 99% of problems are solved by money whilst the other 1% are dealt with in a rather more dramatic way.
That type of malevolent omnipotence can only lead to insufferable arrogance. Look at their attitude to FFP. At least City paid some lip service to it during their Summer dealings. Not Chelsea. Another net spend of £80 mill of questionable source found its way into the hands of willing vendors, at a time when they still struggle to sell out a small stadium on midweek games. I don’t speak Russian, but its clear Abramovich couldn’t have communicated a bigger “Fuck you” to the Game’s authorities than had he climbed the Eiffel Tower stark bollock naked and bent over to show “You’re mine Platini” scrawled with lipstick on his hairy arse .
With such an owner, is it any wonder then that such maleficence filters down throughout the Club to the lowliest smokebomb-throwing trainee? Bruce Buck’s provocative gutter language prior to our fixture at The Bus Stop last season told you all you need to know about him. Puerile “banter” between fans is I suppose fair enough but the Chairman of the Club? Say what you like about PHW but there’s no way he’d get involved in something so distasteful. The Chief Executive, Ron Gourlay, dressing like a manager and screaming obscenities at Clattenburg in the Ref’s room? Again, for all their perceived faults, can you imagine either Ken Friar or Ivan Gazidis acting in anything like a similar fashion?
And then there’s the players. Now I know that many footballers, awash with Lambourghinis and Personal stylists, don’t help themselves but Chelsea seem a particularly charmless bunch. Would you expect anything less when the Team are led by a man who has been found to use racist language, who charges for training ground tours, who taunts Americans on the day after 9/11, and who is seemingly able to act with complete impunity insofar as the Club are concerned?
And then there’s the latest incumbent of the managerial hotseat. Now I’ve got nothing particularly against Di Matteo, especially when he is compared to some of his peers. But was it just me or was he utterly contemptuous of reasonable inquiry in the wake of their defeat to ManU, one of very few lowpoints in their season thus far. A few more defeats and I suspect we might see a very different Di Matteo, and it won’t be a very pleasant sight. He seems to have learnedc the arrogant sneer very quickly.
The episode with Clattenberg sums up all that is wrong. Even if Clattenburg was the biggest goose-stepping racist since Hitler (which I very much doubt), I refuse to believe that he is so stupid that he would air such views in the present climate. For that reason alone I would guess that Chelsea’s allegation is utter tosh and that it is nothing more than an attempt to blacken a man’s name, against whom they had a grievance for losing the game. Contemptible. I would love to see The Refs Body take the action that Nonny suggests, though I think we all know that is a forlorn hope. What we can hope is that as soon as these allegations are dismissed for the clear nonsense that they are, the Authorities throw the Book at them. Clattenburg should also sue for Defamation.
Last April I was firmly in the Blue corner when Chelsea beat Spurs in the FA Cup Semi. Despite my protestations to the contrary old habits die hard and if the same fixture were to take place I suspect (know) that my decision would be the same. What I do know is that with every passing day I have less and less reasons to justify that decision.
baff 279, didn’t we kill that stat near the end of last season (or early this one?)
A Pint Lars? We have a deal Sir! 🙂
Excellent piece tabs. I couldn’t agree more – I’ve felt that way about Chav$ki being a better focus for our ire and derision than the Scum for about a decade frankly.
A wise old lady I once knew (not Juventus) always used to observe about organisations that
“A fish rots from its head”.
Indeed Bath and Cheers.
Excellent, tabs – both the deal for a pint and your post@287. Fully agree with every single word.
How do you know Abrahmovich has a hairy arse?
Cheers Lars.
@293 Ashley Cole told me 😉
Heh, leading the witness again…. 😛
Bonjour Blogamis.
I was in Amsterdam all day yesterday, so before I start I’d just quickly like to say… *Boilk.*
Right, now that’s out the way, I’d like to proceed with a quick reminise of Tuesday. Here in the bar Tuesdays are Ladies Billiarts Night, but this week a large number of them had called off due to whatever reason so there was a lot smaller group then usual. As I didn’t have access to a tv channel that was showing the game I informed the ladies that I’d, if they didn’t mind, be viewing the game on my laptop (cheers for the stream Eandy). The ladies said it would be no problem and I informed them to give me a shout if they needed anything.
Forty minutes later I wished I hadn’t bothered. One of the more perceptive ladies, seeing that I was rather peeved (nee shittin’, spittin’, steam comming out of my ears while spewing profanity in, to her, a foriegn tongue) asked what was going on. I explained that we were 4-0 down and getting our arse handed to us. “Not to worry”, she said, “remember what happened in the Germany Sweeden game a few weeks ago”.
For a split second I was taken a back by her percieved knowledge of the beautiful game until I remembered that that was a game that I had here on the screen a few weeks before, on a, yeah, you guessed it, Tuesday night. I politely, using all my powers trying not to be patronising, thanked her for trying to cheer me up and returned to watching the game. Theo then popped up to net one on the stroke of HT to give us a glimmer of hope. Surely she couldn’t be right, could she?
Not in my wildest dreams could I have imagined what would transpire over the next hour or so. The bar had got busier, but there were quite a few of us huddled around the computer with a mate/regular delegated to bar duty. What a crazy game, I can’t remember ever witnissing anything like that, nor could those who had joined me. At the final whistle I was emotionally drained and was only running on adreniline (and beer fumes).
It’s days like those that makes you realise why you love footy so much, what a ride!!!
Hahahaha
https://twitter.com/unibet/status/263956653215453186/photo/1
Makes like Theo and makes a run down the right wing in anticipation of an incisive through ball from the little Russian. (Sajit, Are you Russian?)
Gives a defence splitting through ball
Nope , from the tiny little state of Kerala, India
Ps great on the spot accounts from our in tredipid ‘holic roving reporters, I thoroughly enjoyed them, thank you. Plus great stuff by the usual suspects. This really is a briliant community.
Shit.. Since theo had a brain fart..Arshavin runs onto his own through ball and finishes it off. 🙂
Just watching the game again and need to state the bleedin’ obvious.
Lots of bitching about all the extra stoppage time in the press (and from Reading) and much talk of six minutes instead of four. True enough, six minutes was played, but Walcott scored goal number four just before the clock ticked to 95 minutes. The referee had signalled for four, there had been a substitution to waste time and that adds a mandatory 30 seconds (or is supposed to). If you take into account the fact that referees rarely blow dead on the time they should and usually go at least a few seconds over, adding that 30 seconds takes us to 95 minutes. The further added time comes from restarting the game following mayhem goal celebrations.
/bleedin’ obvious
Media don’t like the obvious, Nonny.
Good stuff Tabs, I think you’re going a little easy on Chelsea there though. 😉
Their dispicabity knows no bounds.
===
Heh @ Sajit. Robbie Keane is internationally (un)known
C:\Users\Paul\Pictures\article-2225914-15C8B01B000005DC-12_634x405.jpg
Pretty funny for a Manc.
Sajit. Devious little self-assist there. Keralan ingenuity hard at work. 🙂
Ignore my previous post, I tried and failed to link a piture of a banner from the chavs v manc game.
It’s in this article;
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2226112/Chelsea-racism-row-Club-launch-probe-picture-appears-fan-making-monkey-gesture-Manchester-United-striker-Danny-Welbeck.html
4th picture down
Trev. Lincoln v. Bradford it was, not the other way around. I didn’t plan my trip around the games, rather I attended the games that happened to be where I was at the time. Lincoln being a good place to stop on the way from Norwich to York, I was there on the Saturday and found out there was a game on that afternoon. They have a nice little cathedral in Lincoln, too.
Hey 8Ball, sorry, but I have to ask, why were Fulham and Bolton playing at Loftus Rd?
Cheers, Tabs2284, but not for quite a few more days I’m afraid. As for Chelski, I’ve always felt it was a large scale money laundering exercise. In my opinion, it was a way for Abramovich to establish himself as a ‘reputable’ person in England and move himself and some of the Soviet wealth obtained by bribery a little further away from Putin’s grasp (think of Khodorkovsky, the one-time richest man in Russia). It is very disheartening that he has been able to despoil the game we love so much in the process.
Nevermind 8ball, I forgot about the Craven Cottage renovation.
Alcohol, killing my braincells since………………..
I can’t remember. 😉
Good stuff above from Joe and H2H .
Dr Z @295 Indeed! 🙂
Nonny @303 – Couldn’t agree more. The substitution in added time takes 50 seconds. There are also a couple of times where the ball is in the crowd and not immediately returned (lets say a total of 20 secs), the Ref was entitled to add the extra minute especially when the original 4 minutes could in reality mean anything from 4 mins 1 second to 4 mins and 59 seconds.
We score on the stroke of the clock hitting the 95th minute. Haven’t got the foggiest what all the fuss is about.
H2H @308 Heh, that banner sum it all up. A witty Manc, who knew? 🙂
bstrum – Sorry to hear that you’re still not back “on”. All the Best mate. Completely agree on Chelsea. Just an exercise in both money laundering and obtaining a western profile for an oligarch anxious not to become another Putin target.
I find it interesting that the :
‘** Szczesny, Gibbs, Diaby still out’ line from the Press Conference Digest still hasn’t got the usual article associated.
@ 296 Holloway2Holland
ha ha
great story.
It’s days like those that makes you realise why you love footy so much
Amen.
@ 314 Ollie
hiya – why do you find it interesting?
@296
Great stuff H2H, reminds me of the little bar in Vietnam I watched the Liverpool game in. Well, not precisely an epic match…but…
Okay my train of thought got derailed and I forget where I was going with this.
Have a drink on me Steve.
The delicous alcohol will either jog your memory or make you forget what it was that was bothering you that you couldn’t remember.
A win-win situation. 😎
Ah yes, Fungunner reconnected the link.
I was in a small sports bar in Ho Chi Minh (on vacation) and there were about 8 random Gooners in there watching the match against ‘Pool.
At the end of it, the Aussie bloke in front of me turned around and did a fist pump then high-fived me.
And he followed up with “now for robin van traitor to get injured in the next match”
Hatred for traitorous ex-players: uniting fans since 1981.
It’s days like these that make you realize why you love footy 😀
FG, because last time something was omitted between the digest and the articles, it was when Szcz was injured.
So I wonder whether we’re playing the opposite card and he will, in fact, play.
Heh Steve-o 🙂
Cheers H2H. I totally agree.
A round of Lagavulin next, if you’d like.
Tabs @287,
Love it. On fire again, mate. Every word.
I’m going to risk getting thrown out of the bar and say that
I would want the Spuds to beat the Chavs in a cup final.
Bath, agreed.
The Chavs throw their weight around from the “chaitman” down.
The club officials, players, trainees and fans have a despicable, amnesic arrogance about them, apart from the odd old timer who actually dislikes the current regime and situation.
No point in me continuing – just read Tabs again.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/team-news-gervinho-szczesny-gibbs-and-more
Oh well, forget it, the news is out now.
@ 319 Steve-o
ha ha ha!
@ 320 Ollie
Aha. Cunning.
Nice one Steve-O, H2H.
Even Mrs Trev was moved to watch the last 35 minutes vs Reading, and she knows and cares less about football than I do about Under Water Basket Weaving.
And that ain’t much ! 😉
Christ just watching the final 5 minutes of the Reading game again. How the traveling Gooners’ guts must have wrenched when the clock struck 94 mins.
My acid reflux bubbled a little just imagining it.
@320
Ollie, a lot of us must have been praying for that to be the case.
Btw, Jason Roberts remonstrating after the whistle blew at 95 mins is just funny.
AW Press Con
http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/arsene-wenger-presser-pre-manchester-united/
Cheers Trev.
I couldn’t in all honesty bring myself to throw my hat in with the Totts, but I would secretly admire those, like you, that did.
After watching the League Cup Show from last night, I’ve come to a few conclusions.
i) Chelsea really want this cup, that was a strong team they put out last night.
ii) The competition is much more exciting then the FA Cup which has too many tedious draws due to the replay possibilities, the COC is real balls out cup football as proved by the results of many of the games.
iii) This is a trophy that we can win, I don’t think he will, but I think Arsene should prioritise this comp’ a little more, after last nights kind draw this really could be a chance to get the – so many years without a trophy- monkey off our back and as has been stated by many, winning begets winning.
iv) SAF may very well be one of the greatest managers the UK has ever seen, his team of youngsters and OAP’s gave it a real go against a much stronger Chav set up, yet when it comes to class AW beats him hand’s down. For all his faults, Le Boss would never lay the blame of a defeat at a single players door, yet that was exactly what the Ol’ Beetroot did last night, singling out Nani for losing the ball when the game was almost done, I was shocked.
H2H – apart from the time he blamed Bendtner for missing shit loads of chances which led to us going out of the same competition against Burnley. I think he used those actual words too 😉
Damn you, Nonny. 😉
Since BeInSport are replaying the game, I am watching it again.
You do see things differently when you know what happens.
You even see decent things even in the first half, even from Kos. And Arshavin looks less infuriating. Well, I’m in the second half now and it’s pleasing to see the little one bust a gut.
Substitutions coming up!
Bear in mind if we do make the semi-finals, the two games would be either side of playing Man City and Chelsea in the league. Also, while it would be nice to win of course (if only to shut up the media for a week or so), I think people overrate what a League Cup win can do for a team, Liverpool, Birmingham and the Spuds have all won it in the last four years after all, and in that time Man Utd have lost to the likes of Coventry and Avram Grant’s West Ham (though they have won it three times as well since 2006).
Excellent post tabs @287
I completely agree
Interesting stuff H2H.
Got to agree with you on the replay thing. Since the FA Cup lost its sheen (Don’t get me wrong, I would love to win it, but rightly or wrongly it is now viewed as a consolation prize), replays now seem like a particularly anachronistic eighties throwback, ( a bit like Kenny Dalglish in that respect).
Also agree with you on “going” for the COC. One can’t help thinking that when you’re two down going into the last minute and you somehow escape that it might be your year. To win it is another 4 games. That’s not going to kill anyone. The kids have done their job (just), time to throw in a few big Guns at Bradford, and make sure there are no fuck-ups, get the job done in the semi, and then destroy Chelsea at Wembley. Easy!
As for Fergie I think it was a pretty cack-handed attempt to divert blame from his young centre-half who gave away the pen and then endured a desperate 15 mins. Agree though that it was a horrible way to do it. Don’t think Purple Nose likes Nani much. He’s singled him out before.
Cheers Harsha.
Ollie – Re Arshavin, Told ya!!!!! 🙂
Heh @ Kenny Daglish
Charlie, you’re probably right, but I can’t help but think back To GG’s reign when that win over L’pool at Wembley laid the foundations for futher succesAnything to stop the meedja from rolling out the since 2005 line will make me happy.
It’s a little early here to start drinking, and I’m at work, but nice post Tabs re: cuntski. Have a drink on Lars.
Not happy that Gibbs and Woj are still out. Our left side is going to be bombarded all game. Santos has to stay back and just pester Valencia so that his crosses are poor. If he misses tackles up field, CvC and Rooney will both be running down the middle waiting. Keeping a good shape is imperative.
Theo needs to start with Sagna. Any word on AOC? Is he available?
Will Poldi play all 90 minutes! I don’t think he has all year in the prem.
Too much to ask Jenks to play on the left. Poldi could help him with positioning. I’m sure it will be Santos though. Arteta and wilshere need to help cover as well.
Can Arsenal park the bus? Ha
I’m with H2H. I think a League Cup win would mean a lot to this Arsenal side. Winning breeds winning and a trophy would get rid of that nearly men tag that both we and the players have endured for seven years and encourage a collective belief (so often flaky despite AW’s protestations to the contrary), that we can compete with the more moneyed.
It shouldn’t be forgotten that Maureen’s first trophy in England was the League Cup, a success from which they sadly never looked back.
4-3. After Roberts getting a free-kick despite himself pulling Koscielny’s shirt, comes a bit of time wasting.
Feooo, 92nd minute. Noooo. Shit we nearly made it back.
Now for the timewasting sub. Goodbye, Jason ;). Milk your moment, it won’t be the same in a couple of minutes 🙂
I believe that’s when I went for the piss. 93.30, we won’t have time to score, they’ve got the ball and kick it into touch our way.
Yessssssssssssssssss! Incredible.
And yep no doubt it was 2 goals and a penalty (handball) in the same move there.
In fact, I suppose the Reading player should actually have been sent off?
Doesn’t matter that the ball went in, he still tried to stop it on the line with his hand…
Ollie,
That Chamakh appeal was a foul and a deliberate hand ball on the Reading dude. He actually swats at the ball on his way down. I watched most of the game again last night and the officiating was horrible. They fouled us all game with neary a call. Kos was lucky to stay on but they had several guys that should have seen cards as well.
Special thanks to Ollie for the (almost, but then again nowhere near) Live Blog. 😉
The Roberts sub takes 45-50 seconds hence the added time. But his disgust and rant on the sideline at the end was comical.
Preseason game in Jakarta, Indonesia?
We really do try to play in some off the beaten path kind of places.
I’d like to see this man http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/coquelin-i-ll-play-anywhere-for-this-team given the left back job on Saturday .He certainly has the right attitude and is agressive but disciplined which will be needed in this fixture.
An update on my ticket for Schalke for those interested,I got a phone call at work this morning and found an email later confirming that the ticket will be delivered by courrier to my home address on Monday.Maybe it will turn up after all but I won’t be absolutely sure until I go through that turnstile on thursday night.
Tuesday night
What’s in a name?
A commón phrase for a striker who’s not very good tells us that he couldn’t hit a barndoor with a certain guitaar like instrument.
Jason Roberts is an anagram for Banjo Tosser(r).
tabs @ 343
Except it would be “Arsenal, who have only won the Cock Cup in the last x years”……
In other words, as far as the meedja are concerned it wouldn’t make a difference. I do agree it would make a difference to us and our players, big time.
Oh, it’s just gone ten to beer…… 8)
350, NorCal, there is that one, but I was there talking about the one when we scored our 4th goal!
Hi washed up. Have you had any news for your Schalke ticket yet?
I didn’t hear back from that possible spare, haven’t heard of another one yet.
There might be some on the day though.
heh 351 H2H
And at 352, sadly, for time reasons, they cut that bit in the ‘re-live’.
OK sorry, washed up, if only I had read the post that just preceded your last post, I would have had the update 🙂
Fingers crossed.
H2H 356, superb 🙂
Ollie,
Maybe the ref felt that Theo scored before he hit it with his hand thus play had stopped and no peno….. That sequence was hard to really follow. They did end up giving the goal to Theo. good for him, but too bad Jenks couldn’t be credited for that one as well.
Any Indonesian ‘Holics out there?
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-to-visit-indonesia-in-summer-2013
@353 Indonesia has a huge gooner base, and they are nuts over Arsenal, so it’s a good idea. Nice folks too.
Fuck, I knew we weren’t safe. Feo’s missed chance might come back to bite us.
Lucky cunts with the deflection though.
Not looking forward to penalties.
Impossible, NCA, hand action was before the ball crossed the line.
I think he just judged that since there was goal, there was no need for sanction.
Chamakh, close, ooh.
H2H. 🙂
And with you and Tabs on rhe League Cup, whatever it’s called this year.
Arsenal, with their “disrespectful” approach, now copied by all and sundry – except Chavski – have turned it into a far more exciting competition than the FA Cup.
That old visionary geezer in the long coat keeps on doing it.
Steve-o,
Glad that anyone gets to have the Gunners come to their country and play. I’m just Jealous.
@366
Hand action ?!?!
They didn’t have time for any of that, surely. 😉
6-5!
Koscielny played a good part in that too.
Yeah Ollie I was giving the ref the benefit…….
Why? I haven’t a clue. And neither did he. 😉
Out of contact for a while – installing the new router.
See you next week ! 🙁
heh Trev
Just a quickie Trev. 😉
NCA, I had the fortune to travel with the Singapore gooners to Kuala Lumpur to watch the Arsenal 2 years ago, I did not realize the Indonesian contingent was so huge. It’s nice knowing our club gets crazy support from unexpected places.
Don’t be jealous, just fly there!
There were a bunch of UK gooners (maidstone gooners or something like that) who flew all the way down 2 years ago. Hats off to them 2 ladies.
Why the fuck did Martinez kick that?
Chamakh!!!! Lovely finish.
Heh, Arsène looks on in disbelief, can’t even bring himself to celebrate.
Think we’re safe now 🙂
Steve-o,
Don’t give me any ideas. Leaving a week from Saturday to come to jolly ol England to see 2 matches.
Jakarta, hmmmmm…..
NCA, hahaha do it! Just did that last week for Schalke and QPR.
Yes, hmmmmmmm….
Montpellier and Villa for me. Wanted to go to the NLD too but ….. Maybe next time.
Gonna be tough to get NLD tickets this late. Montpellier and Villa does sound tasty. Bring the luck with you!
Cheers for the drink NorCal.
Ok Ollie’s posts have made me go and have another look at our third and fourth, and sixth and seventh goals again. Fuckin’ ace. Roberts really does make himself look a prize plum at the end of normal time.
Washed Up – I too would have Coq in preference to Santos at LB on Saturday. Good luck with the ticket.
H2H @356 – Brilliant! 🙂
Dr Z @357 Fair point re the media.
Trev @369 🙂
Good day,all.
Been too busy for a while now. I managed to watch the game live and all i can say is that,that was the craziest game i’ve ever watched and i will probably not watch another like it for the rest of life.
Unlike many,i’m not too worried about saturday,i expect a high scoring game-which we will win if we can manage to convert 50% of the chances we will get- i don’t think Valencia will cause Santos the kind of problems Nani can cause him(and us) so i’m just hoping Slur purplenose chooses Valencia over Nani,at the moment it looks like that’s what he’s going to do because i just read he’s blaming Nani for their loss at the bus stop yesterday,hopefully he punishes him by benching him on saturday.
My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all Gooners,and indeed everybody,that was affected by hurricane Sandy,stay strong.
Yes Ollie ,that will be my last chance,but one thats already worked for me for the 78 cup final.In fact met someone on the tube to Wembley who had a spare”This is your lucky day ,son “he said to me .Unfortunately it wasn’t as Ipswich outplayed us and won 1-0
Steve-o,
Me Irish grandfather is a wee-bit dead and gone for me to bring him with me, but we are going to visit the Emerald Isle before the games so I will rub every short person I see. 😉
unfortunate phrasing NorCal
@384
Brilliant! That will do. That will do, indeed. I hope you find some pots as well.
With gold in them.
Or silver.
As in silverware.
(that was a long shot)
Don’t think I can stay up any longer to set up an assist for the 4th goal, so here’s a long punt up the pitch.
Someone chest it down soon.
Good night, holics.
Shamelessly stolen from twatter:
BREAKING: Luis Suarez, Gareth Bale, Ashley Young, Sergio Busquets and Neymar have been nominated for FIFA Fallon d’Floor 2012.
😆
Night Steve-o
zico, you could have stolen it from the arses too.
Good day,all.
Good post all around from the usual suspects,i see Tabs has been in good form.
Been too busy for a while now. I managed to watch the game live and all i can say is that,that was the craziest game i’ve ever watched and i will probably not watch another like it for the rest of life.
Unlike many,i’m not too worried about saturday,i expect a high scoring game-which we will win if we can manage to convert 50% of the chances we will get- i don’t think Valencia will cause Santos the kind of problems Nani can cause him(and us) so i’m just hoping Slur purplenose chooses Valencia over Nani,at the moment it looks like that’s what he’s going to do because i just read he’s blaming Nani for their loss at the bus stop yesterday,hopefully he punishes him by benching him on saturday.
My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all Gooners,and indeed everybody,that was affected by hurricane Sandy,stay strong.
Washed up,
A short rub then?
rub of the green perhaps
Are the leprechaun’s green?
Whatever it takes. I will just rub everyone a hope on is indeed lucky.
And hope one is indeed lucky.
Chested down in the path of the runner….
in a rub a dub(lin) stylee
I hope I don’t get arrested. To much Guinness and I may rub the wrong persons wife. 😉
An Ollie assist….
Goal?
That ball just hung in the air….
Well in Amby. Both of you.
Yeah, it was and thank you NorCal, glad it wasn’t handsball :p
Left foot, right foot, who cares? Well lurked Amby.
Certainly I don’t, Ollie…especially if we can score lots of them on saturday…
I thought he could live on both land or water!
One of the best quotes of an athlete:
Charles Shackleford: ” I can shoot with my left hand, I can shoot with my right hand, I’m amphibious. ”
http://hoopedia.nba.com/index.php?title=Charles_Shackleford
Sad thing is I was at NC State when he said it. Says a lot about my edumacation.
Great video of Santi and Mikel having a chat over tea. Two great lads. Talented but grounded it seems.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/thetoepoke/id/424?cc=5901
NorCal, Steve-o, Trev: Thanks for your good wishes. But nomadic at the moment as my NYC digs are in downtown Manhattan so have no power, heat or potable water. Plenty of river water around, however. But all well and safe and cadging off the kindness of friends. And nowhere near suffering the devastation that others on Long Island and the Jersey shore are facing. Worst hardship was walking 40 blocks to get a cup of hot coffee on the morning after, before starting the incessant search for power and Internet.
NorCal. Thanks for the great video. I think I want to try out Arteta’s cook’s home cooking myself. 🙂
Ned, All the best to you from one who survived Hurricane Katrina.
Hope it all works out soon, Ned.
Everytime… I see a Ticket… On Ticket Exchange… For the NLD…
Its always unavailable… 😡 People keeping them in their baskets for the longest times, insane stamina heh 😛
Ned, Im coming to the city tomorrow since power is finally back at my office.
I know we havent met, but Id be glad to help out in any way I can.
4125513831
In case anyone hasnt seen this .fan video of the Reading game.. Goosebumps
Why are fan videos anyday better than any video compilation out there..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxbZwN5KVo8
Nice link to the Santi-Mik video, NCA. Always good to see our players being genuine and having a bit of banter.
Now I’m convinced I spotted Santi at the entrance of Leicester Square tube station on the friday before the QPR game. Should have said hi.
Wind my Boy
Keep trying to find a ticket for the NLD,even if you have to pay over the odds,i am still standing in the Market to pay for your ticket.
I have put out feelers via my family and friends who are all Season tickets holders,to see if we can snaffle a ticket for you from somewhere.
Just remember the Reading game,and NEVER GIVE UP HOPE.!!
Cheers
The Sweeper.
Excellent piece from Stillman if you haven’t seen it :
http://arseblog.com/2012/11/family/
When travel is no objection, the last week before a game is generally the best for Tx. LWC might be a bit different, but it was the case with the Bus Stop too. So plenty of hope, Wind.
If money is no objection, the odd club level (OK some are £281, that’s a bit too steep, but the barman spotted some £140-something) or upper tier central (a ridiculous £120-something for no free beer) pops up now and again at the moment.
I can only agree with zico, if you haven’t read Stillman’s piece then go do it now.
It’s a long scroll down to the bottom. I have to sit down and get the hip flask out now.
Good piece by Stillman for a change.
“Robin Van Persie is a bonafide superstar, and we’ve got him!” Well, that is what I (naively) proclaimed last year at this bar. Robin had the last laugh on me. Tim’s piece is a beautiful tribute to his friends and to one in particular, who made the journey where none could follow. So I appreciate his sentiments and ‘get it’. But for me, it will never be so cut and dry. How can it be? When you follow someone like Jack through all his ups and downs, just praying he would succeed. Players are human, and it is we fans who put them on a pedestal. And then when they falter, we act surprised. Better to think of them as family, knowing full well, they might end up dissapointing you. As in Robin’s case. But I’m still grateful to him for his contributions to our club, and still marvel at his ability as a player. For I’m only human, too.
Disappointing to see France Football trying to turn into tabloid mode:
http://www.francefootball.fr/#!/news/2012/11/02/184339_arsenal-peut-il-exploser.html
Hyperbolic bollocks question. We’re not Leeds.
Robin van Persie is a bona fide cunt. :p
(great player, but that’s not any reason for me to appreciate him)
This place is class.
See above – Sajit / Ned. – Clive / Wind.
All because of The Arsenal and the old chap who runs this place. 😉
@421,
Would that be hyperbollocks Ollie ? 😉
Ollie, I’m in £120 something ridiculous if you don’t mind.
I’ve been asking – one possible, but not very likely, at the moment.
I’ll let Wind know as soon as I do, if it happens.
Brilliant piece by Stilman.
I appreciate the players abilities and of course watching them week in and week out you get attached, but with a few notable exceptions I mostly think they’re all cunts and have done for 20 years.
Who would I rather drink with, the Holics or Jack Wilshere and Frimpong? The Holics of course. Mind you, if you offered me Arsene and Arteta, the Holics can go hang 😉
I won’t be up at Old Trafford tomorrow, but if I was you could bet your bottom dollar that I would be belting out that “She said no” song, no problem, no embarrassment, and no self-excusing irony. Loud and clear, the man needs to be told.
I agree with Ollie.
What Ollie said @ 422.
He is a traitorous, treasonous, Quisling of a cunt.
Cannot see Arsene and Arteta getting up on the tables to the sounds of “Liar, liar” somehow. 😛
Brilliant link Sajit , Cheers.
All the Best Ned.
Depends how much I give ’em to drink Dr Z 😉
I would like to not care one bit about CvC tomorrow. But of course I realise I will be sat there hoping he falls on his face repeatedly and that we score the winner with the last kick of the game through a completely misdirected shot that cannons into the back of the net off his face, leaving him in a heap with blood streaming out of his nose and Alex Funguscunt having a go at the fourth official… yes, it’s petty but I am not going to be a sanctimonious twat and pretend to be some holier-than-thou wanker. He pissed all over us and in time I will stop bothering but this being the first time we play his new team I expect my feelings to be, shall we say, somewhat hostile towards him.
Intend to make tonight a six-pinter so I am more than somewhat hostile towards him 😉
Agree 100% Lars.
Except as far as CvC is concerned I’ll see your bloody nose, and raise you a torn cruciate 😉
Heh Holic, excellent news 🙂
tabs, I never wish injuries upon players no matter how cuntish they are but let me put it like this: I wouldn’t particularly mind your alternative scenario…
Holic, looking forward to that six-pinter 🙂
“Theo Walcott’s next club is Arsenal”
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/early-doors/revealed-theo-walcott-next-club-090119218.html
Not exactly brilliantly written but I like the article.
@ 432
I can feel a rant coming from Feelgood Towers.
Will I get there before the 6th pint has gone South, though? 😀
‘holic 432, and there was me thinking tomorrow was what they call a ‘six-pointer’ 😉
Re 437,
I remembered that I had already travelled down this particular road. Here is what I posted on the first day of the season, following CvC’s introductory press conference the day before. My feelings haven’t changed:
I was sitting on the plane this morning, when I read the reports of van Persie’s press conference, which I missed on Sky on Friday, preferring instead to warm up for the new season in the pub. (Well, you can’t mess with tradition, right?)
There are no hard feelings he said.
Notwithstanding how horrified Wolfgang Smallballs would be with that sentiment, does he really believe that to be the case with us, the fans? He will be put right on that score at the earliest opportunity, I’m sure, but I couldn’t believe the anger that his pithy statements induced in me. Rage does not begin to describe it.
My anger is no doubt, irrational. I fully understand that for the most part he was (once again) playing to the gallery, that the comments to the media in these type of situations need to be taken with a cellar full of salt, but know this, Mr van Persie:
There are hard feelings all right.
No one signs for THEM and gets a free pass.
They are a team that is riven with cunts, followed by cunts and Managed by the biggest cunthead from cuntingville. You are now going to share a dressing room with more cunts than were posted at Greenham Common in its’ heyday.
And that makes you just another cunt.
No hard feelings.
My arse.
I think we should appreciate what van Persie did for us over EIGHT years and think about how much respect he deserves for that.
That’s why I’m right in there with Tabs and Zico.
Notwithstanding that van Persie is footballing aristocracy.
He’s a Count, right ? 😉
heh Trev. Yeah, those amazingly consistent 8 years of non-stop fitness and performance 😉
Brilliant piece from Tim Stillman. Cheers zico, I probably wouldn’t have got that far today.
Hey now, ‘Holic, do YOU mean to tell me that you actually lost faith on Tuesday?
It was never in doubt, really. 😛
BMBD
The ‘arses’ are impenetrable to me, but if Bloggs drops in here today may he know that RvP directed, ostrich ultra-violence is him at his best, imo.
Take a look, if you haven’t.
Nice comments all….
What worries me most – is that I just hope the same sense of betrayal exists with the players tomorrow and that they stand up and fight for the jersey, for themselves, for the manager and all the fans – who our former captain and leader thought so little of…….
A top class cunt of the highest order.
Jack will have that sense of betrayal and I think he’ll start too. I also see Kos or Jenks being preferred to Santos. I just cannot see Santos being left to deal with Valencia.
And I think Wenger will want to fill the space in front of the back four with Arteta and Jack because he’ll want to protect Mannone and if thats the case – I see a counter attacking strategy being employed (ala Liverpool). So I would not be in the least surprised to see a pacey front three of Oxlade, Theo and Podolski.
Being a supporter from a distant land, and not really taking the trouble of journeying to away matches like so many of you locals I probably don’t have the rights to express this: but as an Arsenal supporter what would please me most if our away fans simply ignore the ex-captain. He used to play for us, now he no longer does. Yes he had been too full of shit in designing the move away, especially with that squad strength posturing, but not unexpectedly so. And not unprecedentedly so. And not so very different from most human beings with great abilities in a given field but a general low level of human qualities. And whatever, can’t be bothered about him …
Let us sing the praises of our current group of devoted players instead. Some of them eventually will turn into mercenaries, but what is football without the periodic sobering insights into our own delusions. :–)
And as for the result, I think we can look at both sides and feel confident that ours is as good a team if not better, and unlike last half a decade or so we don’t have the wide-eyed babes manning the fields but really an army of mostly seasoned and hardened professionals.
Not only we can win this, we can win this by a margin.
@ 335 Ollie
Since BeInSport are replaying the game, I am watching it again.
You do see things differently when you know what happens.
I couldn’t agree more. You have perspective and also you notice more, I feel. I always listen first and watch afterwards.
****
Thanks for the link. Very well-written and personal piece from Little Dutch. How sad to hear of his friend dying at 41.
Like abb, I can’t help loving the players and putting them on a (small) pedestal, especially when I have seen them develop from a young age. But I only love them while they play for us. (Except in the case of the King, of course.) When they’ve gone, after suffering a degree of short-term pain or feeling a measure of resentment in some cases (C van C), I feel little for them as individuals. While the players are on the train, to use Tim’s analogy, for me they are part of the train – the train includes whoever are the players for the time being.
Another difference is that for me, my football family is my club – that’s my focus. It’s probably because, unlike Little Dutch, my Arsenal love affair started on telly, and telly loves to make stars. LD started with matchdays, I progressed to the matchday experience. I don’t have the football-supporting hinterland that many others have – the reason I started visiting blogs was to find people with whom I could talk about Arsenal all day or night.
It was interesting to hear about the friend’s wit, because what began to change the jaundiced view of football fans with which I had been brought up, was being introduced to the chants, some of which had me in stitches.
On a sidenote to do with Fever Pitch, I’ve recently had the moment of clarity which Nick Hornby talks about, when he says that he suddenly understood that his life was not Arsenal’s life – that it could be a bad week for Arsenal and a good week for him, and vice versa. For years previously, my mood for the week hinged on the results of the previous Saturday. Now I can feel wretched for Arsenal and happy for me.
Tim has put his finger on what football offers – the tribal loyalties give us the chance to experience a whole range of powerful, limbic emotions in public, all magnified by the human beings around you. It’s a kind of team sport, being in the stands. It’s a wonderful way to let off steam, lose control and connect with your inner cave(wo)man. We don’t have that much any more in the West. Football takes the place of public stonings, witch burnings and the like – so we should be grateful to its existence for that as well.
After all that, I think the best reaction to the Greedy Badger is…nothing. Don’t pay him the compliment of being angry or showing hurt. He has gone, Arsenal endures.
Also on the GB – interesting article here. I tend to believe the story narrated, because it fits with what we heard from reliable sources and also the David Ornstein article claiming RvP hadn’t wanted to leave. The article below says he changed his mind after he saw the new signings.
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/11/02/3494876/revealed-van-persie-told-wenger-which-players-to-sign-in?source=breakingnews
Now to give myself a treat and watch that Santi/Miki clip…
Nice stuff Dr Z – still good on a second read-through. I take it though that you didn’t care much for for the Greenham Common lovelies in your yoof? 🙂
Cheers for the heads up Trev. Thought I’d won the “lets wish awful things on CvC” game when I raised Lars’ bloody nose to a torn cruciate. Safe to say however that I think Blogs wins the game hands down with his “ostrich pummelled acid burnt no face left” scenario 🙂
Joe, I would love to think you’re right re our LB but can’t see it. I think Santos will play sadly. After his excellent hour on Tuesday, Giroud has to start. I think he’s capable of bullying Evans.
In fact I can’t see any changes from the line-up that played QPR. Ramsey on the right makes more sense up at Old Trafford than it did last week.
Theo and Ox on the bench. I hope they are joined by Eisfeld.
..and the clip was adorable.
Trev, I have turned your drink into an arse.
So to speak.
Can’t believe that websites are still running the “Van Persie wanted to stay” line and people are still swallowing it.
For the last time, he bought a property up North in March and his swimming pool was being dug at the same time as he was helping us reach third place. As some people are fond of saying … FACT.
He was off to Manchester. The only question was which Mancunian side he would join.
Everything else is smoke and mirrors.
Heh Ollie 🙂
6 pints. I think that would be 3/4 of a gallon, if I remember my maths correctly from last week. 🙂
Can’t believe that websites are still running the “Van Persie wanted to stay” line and people are still swallowing it.
It is a thing of wonder indeed, tabs.
Tabs – he’s a cunt. End of.
I can’t wait anymore.
Any suggestion how to kill the time?
He wanted to not look like a creep. My take is that he said he wanted to stay/wouldn’t mind staying for the final year of his contract – but *after* he knew it was not a realistic possibility, and because the really big money move – to Real Madrid or similar, had not materialised.
Ignore him??????? Ignore?!???!? I would never understand that.
Booing him is a part of football.
It’s a fact of life. So much so that it’s now on FIFA 13!!! The Dutchman and Cashley get booed every time they touch the ball!!
I think we should make his experience miserable. And no, ignoring him won’t do the trick.
DMBD (the Dutchman Must Be Destroyed)
@456
Watch the 5-7 again 😀
FunGunner – stop it. He’s a cunt who played us all.
I can’t wait for tomorrow.
Cunttttttt.
Worse than Cashley in my book.
He was the fucking Captain dictating the club what to do.
Who the fuck does he think he is????
Indeed Ollie.
Snir, we are in agreement. Where have you been? My advice would be to put the Reading game on repeat until lunchtime tomorrow 🙂
Ah Steve-o got there first I see! 🙂
This game was made for Snir’s brand of vitriol. Keep it coming mate! 🙂
SG @ 458 — “Booing him is a part of football” … by extension of that same logic presenting Figo with a severed pig’s head on the field too was a part of football. :–)
I know, I know, it is a matter of degree … I simply don’t agree that such virulent expression of tribalism will have to be continued as a part of the sporting experience.
It is like saying that watching lions devour Christians is a part of being a Roman…except that the world has moved on.
IMHO, also, more you boo him more you recognize his importance in your mind. No severance is as cleansing as absolute lack of interest. :–)
Tabs – The difference is, how we were raised.
As I told you, in Israel there is no “you let yourself down,” there is only “all is fair in war (fuck love).”
So, I’m not going to lie, and say I don’t want him injured.
I want him to have a season ending injury… Lol 🙂
I hate him THAT much.
Doctor Faustus – But he IS important in my mind!!!
He DID betray me!
Was watching Fever Pitch (again) last night, trying to explain why football is so important to me to my roomates, and he said something that I agree with.
Why can’t adults behave like kids every once in a while? The 90 minutes on the weekend is the only time we’re not a responsible adult, so let’s act like someone who’s been betrayed and not be the “mature adult” and booooooooooooooooooooo his ass off.
And I have no problem with what Figo got. But then again, treachery to me is the worst sin of all. I actually wrote a philosophy paper on how the Israeli state should revoke citizenship from Israelis who betray the country despite the fact that being Israeli is a birthright (on account of being born Jewish).
@ 460 Snir Geuli
I completely and totally agree with you.
If he had wavered, I just liked the idea of AW saying: Too late, sunshine.
I did think it could be true that Manchester was not his first choice – but then I didn’t know about him buying a house there last March. I have never bought the line that he wanted to stay long term. I certainly don’t think he was pushed out, and *that* statement meant he had to go last summer in any case, even if there had been a genuine change of heart, as opposed to a “PR story” of a change of heart.
Faustus, couldn’t disagree more.
Nasri was definitely shocked at the amount of vitriol he got on his first visit back to the Ems. It affected his performance to such an extent that he wanted to be subbed after 20 mins. All good.
I was at SHL for the 2-1 defeat when Adebywhore was subjected to that song of questionable taste for 90 mins. The song wishes ill on him. I joined in heartily without guilt or shame. It affected his performance – all good.
The Figo incident was one step further, but to be honest the only one I felt sorry for was the pig.
Christians and Lions? Come on !!!! No comparison.
Mind you, I wouldn’t be averse to chucking anyone of ANY religious persuasion in with the lions. Well maybe apart from Buddhists – they don’t seem very preachy.
And if that last comment doesn’t set the lion amongst the Christians I don’t know what will. 😉
I agree with Snir ( at least on the football-related stuff if not the flag waving bit.)
Morning all,
The silent treatment.. Um it will not work for the simple reason that it will not be silent. We are playing at the toilet so the entire stadium will not all of a sudden go silent when the cunt is on the ball. Even at the emirates it would not be silent.
Also, he was far from silent when he released his bull shit statement to “us guys”. He raised a big middle finger and instead of just moving on, said ” fuck you I’ll play for manure.”
If theo leaves at this point, he at least kept his mouth shut and didn’t think he was bigger than the club. CvC took the smug BS to a level above Cashley, or even Ade for me. So nothing but disrespect deserves the same.
Tomorrow is not about RvP. its about 8-2 and the need to exorcise some ghosts.. And get some pride back.
@ SG
Re how to treat the GB…for me it’s just a question of which reaction would be worse for him. I can see your point of view, but if you have a massive ego like he does, nothing wounds like indifference. He will have braced himself for abuse and not getting it could throw him. The snag is that the fans can’t vent their feelings. It might be worth it just this once.
SG @ 465 — One thing I know for certain in this very uncertain and ambiguous world: I don’t want you as my enemy. :–)
I don’t believe in sins or treachery. A country is as much a nebulous entity as a religion, and what is betrayal to one is freedom to someone else. I know you will disagree with it strongly, but humanity will culturally evolve to a point when our current excesses and wastes in ruining the lives of each others in excuse of such nebulous entities would be looked back in collective embarrassment. Just the way we look back at our past and see things like slavery and colonial conquests and inquisitions …
To answer your own question: football is indeed a domain to relinquish the worldly worries and immerse in pure unbridled joy. But where is the joy in wishing someone gets injured? As a kid playing football — or sport of your choice — did you ever want to maim an opposition player how much you didn’t like him? If not, why invent that violence as a spectator? Maybe it is not the irrepressible joys of the sports that are being expressed but that of the irresponsible violence of the psyche as it moves through this fractured world?
I want us to win. I want us to win by a big margin. In all games we play. And more so against Man U because they have been our biggest competitor since the days I started following Arsenal in late nineties. But that is where my sporting tribalism stops.
🙂
He is, pure and simple, a cunt. Wait, no, a humungous cunt. Cunt in chief, in fact. Truly a cunt’s cunt.
A good piece indeed from LD, even though I don’t agree with a lot of it. I too am first and foremost an Arsenal supporter. As I’ve no doubtedly mentioned before, my heartbreak after a player left days were done and dusted years ago, A one Mr Brady cured me of that particular ailment.
I’d like to be able to say that the players are nothing but employees and they can do what they want and I couldn’t give a toss, but it’s not as easy as that, is it? The very nature of a fan is to be fanitical and that in itself falls out of the realms of normal life.
I read a lot of crap about people saying that if someone moved from your place of business to a rival then you wouldn’t boo him everytime you met, ofcourse you wouldn’t, unless you were a complete retard. So by using this logic, the idea that a football player is just an employee is flawed to the extreame.
Also, like I, many are not fortunate enough, or are simply unable due to geographical or financial reasons, to get to have the whole matchday experience, that means that the connection to the club is mostly via the players (not in all cases ofcourse, but in many) so although that analogy may work for LD, it just doesn’t for countless others.
Still, good piece though.
As for vanwhatisface, he’s gone, he means nothing to me and is not worth the steam off my piss, let alone any meaningful emotion.
No it won’t.
I’ve been waiting for this since 4.7.12 and that statement.
I’m sorry, but I can’t hold back.
That cunt.
I hate him so much I quit FIFA 13 and turn off the PS3 if he scores against me.
I’m literally going to boo the TV.
Tabs – Flag waving?
Faustus – If it was a kid I hated? I wanted to break that muthafucka.
If it was just another dude playing for the opposition, then no, I wouldn’t mind him, and would even shake his hand after the match.
But a kid I hated?!?! He’s getting my best impression of Roy Keane.
But then again, I woulda wanted to do that even off the football pitch so that’s a bad example 🙂
@ 473 H2H
Yay! My thoughts exactly.
@ NorCal
You’re right that everyone will do what they want to do, so this discussion is probably moot, but the “silent treatment” isn’t what’s meant by showing indifference. As you say, it’s impossible to orchestrate anyway. Showing we are totally over him, is what I meant. We’ve got OG and Poldi now so ner ner ner.
We were confused, mixed up and misunderstood.
Then we heard about Feelgood and the Happy Train….. 😉
But Faustus, there is no “cause and effect” relationship between wishing a player injured and him actually getting injured. Without that causative factor, wishing someone an injury or in the case of the Adebywhore song, worse, is reduced to the level of a pantomine hiss, nothing more. Football is tribal. In the west it is probably the only safe or even legitimate place left for that tribalism to be expressed.
In the circumstances, bring it on!
I agree also with NorCal. Tomorrow’s game will not take place in a vacuum. As such, to ignore CvC is a dereliction of duty. Let him have it right between the eyes, the insufferable cunt.
Tabs – I have to say, I would have never thought, out of everybody, YOU would agree with me on this matter lol
Greenham Common Lovely,
I don’t trust ANYONE who doesn’t wear lipstick! 😉
What a touching story by Tim, May Greg rest in peace. Sajit loved the video. Snir thanks for the link, My internet connection is the slowest so I have only managed to download first half but I am sure I will enjoy the game when I am thru downloading it. It is really one for DVD collection.
Football is just like music you can tell when it is good even if you dont understand a word (the carzola video just illustrated that). The way he plays it is like he’s been with us for years even though he cant understand most of what his teammates are on about when they speak to him. I wonder if Wenger has a translator to explain things to those who cant understand.
Lars 431 and zico 439, I hope the away fans give him grief because he deserves it. Of all the players who have left his betrayal hurt me the most. I can’t even bring myself to mention his name, that is how much I loathe the man.
I am always jittery when we are playing manure because even when we are at our best and they are shitty they always end up beating us. In the recent past the game I missed is the only one that we won, I wonder when i’ll break that jinx. Here is to hoping I do tomorrow.
472 Andy Goram
He is a cunt. A large cunt. In fact, if you got a moment, he’s a twelve-story cunt with a magnificent entrance hall, pubic hair carpeting throughout, 24-hour penal portage, and an enormous sign on the roof, saying ‘This Is a Large Cunt’.
tabs @ 467 — I expected to be disagreed. :–)
About Buddhists — well it is difficult to apply the construct of ‘religion’ in the Judaeo-Christian-Islamic (i.e., the Western prism) to any of the Indian philosophical-religious schools, including what came to be known as Buddhism or many of the theistic/agnostic/atheistic tenets of traditional Indian thought.
However, to survive as an autonomous entity all these schools had to create their own monastic traditions, their version of conversions and ‘us’ and ‘them’ boundaries. So, even though the genesis of Buddhist thought is profoundly non-discriminating — essentially a mode of existential counseling without ‘worrying’ about any teleology — the dharma as it has been practiced has not always lived up to its own ethics.
Anyway, I digress — I think I will stay silent on my outlandish proposal of silent treatment and not wishing grievous injuries to the ex-captain. :–)
A win tomorrow will really kick start the season. And I think we are well poised to make it…
Me and Andy Goram are having a few pints.
Afternoon H2H, good points very well made as regards the Stilman piece.
Snir @479 – In CvC’s case I am prepared to make an exception. 🙂
You had it right when you said that he was a cunt “who played us all”. Absolutely. All that guff before the Birmingham Cup Final about it all meaning so much more in an Arsenal shirt. I believed him. The “You Guys” thing was the end for me, knowing as I did that the Cheshire property was already bought and that it was all just PR bollocks.
and @474 – In answer to your question, I don’t have the same strong views of Nationhood as you do, although accept that that can depend on where one is brought up. On that, I agree with Faustus. I can’t agree with you on EVERYTHING 🙂
So by using this logic, the idea that a football player is just an employee is flawed to the extreme.
Hear, hear! That’s such a lazy comparison.
Tabs – yeah. It is different. The first thing I learned growing up is about the Holocaust, and the wars that were declared on us.
Growing up in a country that is in constant sure is different, and makes the person a lot less faithful in this whole “lovey dovey world” thing.
Cassowaries are the most dangerous birds in the world. They have dagger-like claws which can tear out your entrails in a matter of seconds. This is why they are one of the most difficult creatures to keep in captivity. Ostriches are mild in comparison. The fine for smuggling out a cassowary, would be quite hefty 🙂 But hey, if it floats your boat 🙁 I prefer we make Robin feel homesick, for what he once had at Arsenal…and what could have been.
Plenty has been said about the traitor since reading my last post (437) and writing at 481. I totally agree with Tabs and Snir, the bastard should not be spared!
Fungunner @447 great post though I disagree about giving him the silent treatment/indifference. One of my weakest traits is I like having the last word so to show him indifference would mean allowing him the last word.
I also hope he sucks tomorrow and doesnt score against us, just imagining his smug stupid face is making me nauseous. I think I need a drink. Is Lars still paying?
Perfidious, treasonous, traitorous, glory-hunting, money-grabbing, horse-faced cunt.
Who were we talking about again?
This is a place of wonderment to me. A discussion about Robin van Staplescariot diverts into the area of Buddhists in relation to the Judaeo-Christian-Islamic prism.
You couldn’t make it up 😉
@ SG, Firstlady
I’ll be sticking up my middle finger at the telly as well. I honestly know how you feel, Zico’s re-post brought it all back for me. Treachery from a player we idolised and who seemed to epitomise our style. From the captain. From the man we had nursed through 6.5 years of injury.
But the force of my emotions has abated – the process started when I saw him playing for *them* and realised how little this club and the fans meant to him. I will not harbour strong feelings for someone who has no feelings for me (us).
And just so you know, I’m not proposing a show of indifference in the spirit of respect that AW talked about, I’m proposing it because I think it will hurt and throw him off more than abuse, which he will be expecting. But like I said, everyone will do what they want anyway. Most important thing is to win the match.
***
@ 488 abb
First the habits of hyenas, and now cassowaries! Some of your posts make me fascinated to hear what you have done in your life so far.
And I’m with the Judean People’s Front.
And Back. 8)
http://bird.net.au/bird/images/3/3a/060527-114929-1944.jpg
‘Flame Robin’. Yeah, that could work 😉
Put it that way, I wouldn’t trust myself going to a pub watching the game tomorrow.
I’ll stay home and safe.
@ 493 Dr F
Splitter! I’m with the People’s Front of Judaea.
@ Firstlady
🙂
@ 494 Ollie
ha ha
@ Firstlady
That 496 was meant to be a friendly smile rather than a laugh, but I don’t know how to do the smile symbol.
*passes the ball to Ollie and runs into the channel*
*controls with a bendtnerisque first touch annnnnddd
*Makes dummy run, luring centre back away*
Can i score today!!I promise it will be a good omen for tomorrow!
Um…sorry.
“John Stuart Mill, of his own free will,
On half a pint of shandy was particularly ill.
Plato, they say, could stick it away;
Half a crate of whiskey every day.
Aristotle, Aristotle was a bugger for the bottle,
Hobbes was fond of his dram,
And Rene Descartes was a drunken fart: “I drink, therefore I am”
Yes, Socrates, himself, is particularly missed;
A lovely little thinker but a bugger when he’s pissed!”
🙁 you stole my thunder at fungunner 😀
pffft. With that kinda first touch, I’m glad someone on our side got on the end of it.
Well in Fungunner, bouncing the ball past the very confused goalie. 😀
@ FL
Sorreeeeee.
It can still be a good omen for tomorrow, though, can’t it?
It is ok, as long as the team scores then I am all good.
I really need that drink, aave a lovely weekend all.
Thanks, Steve-o – not one of my finest. As the goal scorer, I was pretty confused as well. But hey, they all count and that, folks, is the lesson I think we all have to take from that.
Fg it is, when was the last time you scored? Chamakh comes to mind 😀 good omen all the way!
Sorry Steve-o, I wasn’t about for the one-two, but I see you managed to catch your own pass.
In fact since 500 was dummy, I believe the goal was given to you.
Although that makes it a self-assist, so it’s invalidated.
Ah fuck it, too complicated, well in FunGunner!
Although it was only a dummy run, rather than a dummy.
Oh well. They all count.
Firstlady you wheeled away to congratulate the scorer first, so well done 😉
Okay back to the CvC topic. I’m going to the Liz to watch the game tomorrow, possibly packed to the brim with about 400 Singapore Gooners and unfortunately there will be some manure cunts as well.
Am I going to sing (many) nasty songs about CvC? Yes.
Are we going to boo his every touch? Yes.
Are we going to cheer if he gets injured? Fuck yes.
At the end of the day, our emotions will get the better of us. And although I wasn’t raised to display emotions outwardly, I always do when it comes to football.
Always. Even though looking in from outside there will be a lot of tut tuttering…Robin is a cunt.
Big hehs at the CvC definition as expressed by Andy Goram, H2H and Dr Z above.
Heh @Holic 🙂
Snir @487 Yeah I understand that and appreciate where you’re coming from. I can’t say I think it’s a good thing though.
Faustus – Agreed. My initial and somewhat controversial,(though no-one has pulled me up on it 😉 ) post was really meant for the judaeo-Christian- Islam school. My knowledge of Buddhism extends only to a few months out in South east Asia. I was quite impressed with how the Temples had been largely turned into mini casinos replete with slot machines and how the monks instead of trying to convert me were quite happy to offer me a fag and have a chat, but all that said, I’m quite happy on your say so to chuck ’em in with the lions with the rest.
🙂
Firstlady – Will you marry me?
Well done Ladies 🙂 Have I told you all how much I adore you lately. Even those who are a bit predictable, which I find quite endearing and oddly enough, very comforting 🙂
I like you Steve-O.
I’m gonna get all y’all to wish injury upon that cunt… Ruining the English manners.
Muahahahaha
Have to admit it was great teamwork though, Ollie, that FG was making that distracting run ala Handsome French Bloke.
I hope he gets a good goal tomorrow. He really deserves a moment with us, HFB works hard and applies himself well.
And I hope that CvC gets in his way while HFB celebrates with a triumphant sliding knee, catching that cunt in the metatarsal, rendering him useless for 8 months 😀
*@487 – meant to write constant war, but forgot to add the word war lol
513 Tabs.
Now that’s a temple I’ll be tempted to go to, sounds like my kind of religon.
@ 510
Thanks, Ollie. Nice to catch a break from the officials.
@ 509 Firstlady
I’ll have you know, young lady, that like Mikel Lego Hair, I have been sacrificing my attacking instincts for the sake of the team in recent months.
@ 515 abb
thanks and right back atcha.
***
Now I will attempt to do some actual, y’know, work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw8ZL_gcTSM&feature=related
Everytime I have to think for a bit to remember what HFB means.
It’s Handsome French Bloke, not Huge Fucking Belgian, right?
hehe @ SG
Well, another story comes up, my best mate’s wife married into Goonerdom and albeit being a very quiet lady, she proves to be quite passionate about The Arsenal.
The week after CvC committed the sin, we met up for drinks after playing our local footy match. Obviously the topic came about, and after us blokes had our say, she chimed in…with slightly red eyes;
“Why did he choose to go THERE? He was my favorite player.”
Should have seen the level of hatred just well up in the menfolk around the table.
My answer, after a short silence, “because he’s a fucking cunt”.
“Cassowaries are the most dangerous birds in the world.”
Apart from the human kind.
Ollie – HFB = Huge Fucking Bignose
Steve-o,
I’ll drink to that.
I hope Poldi gives the little boy in him a karate chop to the back of the head, just what every Dutch cunt at manure deserves.
Oh Nonny 🙂
Nonny, Ibrahimocunt? 😉
@ Nonny
Ollie – HFB = Huge Fucking Bignose
You’re just envious. 🙂
@ Steve-o
And I hope that CvC gets in his way while HFB celebrates with a triumphant sliding knee, catching that cunt in the metatarsal, rendering him useless for 8 months
Which might seem like Karma in operation (since we touched on Buddhism) but it would actually be Karm-edy, as his own treachery would be the cause, his broken metatarsal would be the effect and many of us would snigger.
(Sorry, abb. Please don’t think badly of me. A broken foot wouldn’t end his career, it would just give him time to ponder.)
Right, I really am off now. Just popping a bottle of Bolly on the counter to get back into abb’s good books and the same for Firstlady – just because.
Everyone else, I believe Lars is your man.
Heh at Joe @various.
Hats off to the continuing level of barely suppressed murder-wish being expressed.
As for me I find it’s the little things that really piss me off about him. The way he runs for a start with his arms held high. Good taste prevents me from saying what it reminds me of, but think smallest pub in the world.
And the way he flicks the sweat off his eyebrow as if he’s pondering one of life’s great mysteries is seriously out of order.
And he runs like a jessie.
…. tabs.
It’s always the little things that count the most.
Snir @518 – I got your drift 🙂
H2H – It was amazing. You could buy a ticket for their version of the National Lottery in the temples. You could also for a few pence get one of those christmas cracker predictions about the future.
” To stay on the right path, don’t waste too much time on a lying badgery Dutchman”
That sort of thing 🙂
Indeed Steve-o, indeed 🙂
” To stay on the right path, don’t waste too much time on a lying badgery Dutchman”
Double heh. 😆
Speaking of which, we can’t really blame him for being such a prat, in keeping with my what’s in a name serie, I’d like to introduce you to…..
Penis over Brain.
Yeah, know where your at Tabs – you’d almost be tempted to put Frimpong on him if only to break his legs….!
Anyway, an appropriate pagan smithsonian headline for your next guest post should Theo do the business tomorrow perhaps:
“A-theo-ists of the world, unite and takeover……”..?
FG, Don’t you worry about that. In the past, I must confess that just seeing his face, made me want for an exorcist 🙁 But I’ve let people down, that I care about because I was selfish. It is just my inherent nature, to try to see the best in people, that’s all.
Heh, he does indeed run like a Jessie.
A big girly treasonous horsefaced-jessie cunt.
Beer time !
TFIF .
bt8b, ‘Holic, tabs: thanks for good wishes. It is what it is, and it could be a lot worse. I was down in NO a few weeks after Katrina, bt8b, and that looked so much more devastating on such a larger scale than what we’ve got in NYC. Glad you survived.
Sajit: generous offer. Much appreciated. I am able to get out of the city Friday, but let’s make a point of catching a game together sometime in the future when I am back in the city. Hope your office is warm, dry and in tact. Stay safe.
http://i.imgbox.com/acj5CF1Z.jpg
I tried to post this once but it appears to have failed to work. Pic of HFB and Feo and Kos
Big pic by the way, for those on dialup 😉
H2H – Massive heh, where do you get these anagrams? 🙂
Joe – Heh, not sure after his performance on Tuesday that we could trust Frimpong with anything more than a last minute suicide mission where he sacrifices himself to maim the cunt.
Safer option is for the Verminator to be on leg-breaking duties tomorrow.
I really do hope the players “get it” and that there are no pre game hugs a la Song with Barton last season. The hostility must be clear, if only for appearances.
Massive heh at the proposed headline 🙂
Good to have you here Ned, all the best.
Caption competition Nonny?
Caption?
Kos – Watch it Theo, he’ll have your eye out with that thing.
I’m beginning to like Giroud though. He wants to do well so badly he gets down on himself all the time when he should just relax and play.
Someone please tell me we have more than a slim chance of winning tomorrow…feeling really pessimistic about this game.
Haha
Giroud – “You two can cuddle all you like, but you ain’t got one as big as this between you”
Camberwell – My pessimism was so acute that I have actually found that it has bottomed out and bounced. I now have a genuinely sneaky feeling that we might pull something out of the bag, against all odds.
It has, after all, been a pretty mental week.
Giroud – “I am the God of Thunder! Geddit, Kos? Geddit, Feo? huh huh?”
You know…Mjolnir, hammer…no? Sod it.
Nonny,
Optimism……. Starting to like Giroud……
Who are you?? Has someone hijacked your computer?
😉
Kos – “Fuck off Sweet Cheeks, Theo’s mine”
Ned, My hometown of Long Beach (out on Long Island) witnessed the ocean meeting up with the bay. Most of my relatives live out there. One of them, just a block from the beach. Really feel bad for you. Take care.
Thanks for that tabs. Even my Chelsea-supporting mate said to me today, “Everyone’s forgotten how to defend. It’ll be fun!”
Also I didn’t have the chance to see the COC game so have no barometric reading of the form of certain players. But if you tell me Giroud was a real handful (stop sniggering at the back) I might start to change my outlook to something approaching positive.
Time to put this out of my mind. Time to get out of this hell-hole. Time for a pint.
COME ON YOU REDS (no, not those massively cuntish ones, OUR reds)
…BTW all, “this hell-hole” does NOT refer to this fine establishment. Answers on a postcard please.
Theo ” I don’t care how big your cock is Olivier, I still ain’t signing”
*sniggers at CG*
All this talk of female reproductive organs…I vote we add Theo to it, EVEN IF HE SINGLE HANDEDLY WINS THE GAME FOR US. The less he signs that contract, the more out the door he is in my mind. See Arseblogger’s fine piece on this matter for supporting evidence. If he was staying, he would’ve put pen to paper by now. Ergo, he’s one of those.
Holic @491,
It’s ‘cos he’s not The Messiah, he’s just a very naughty boy.
And a two faced, lying, ungrateful git. 😉
Our form will have to turn quicker than van Persie’s coat if we’re going to win this one.
But, the weather forecast is good so maybe we should attack early on and shake De Gea while the sun shines. 😉
Okay, I’m going…….
Camberwell, I think Blogs’ take on Theo’s situation is the right one, that the position thing is a smokescreen, and that he is off for all the riches that a Bosman will afford him, but the nature of the beast demands that he enjoys our support for as long as he wears the shirt. Anything else and your cutting off your own nose to spite your face I think.
I like the Paddy Power odds on Arseblog news. Per to score first goal at 40/1 looks enticing.
Mind you, I liked the next one even better (sneaked in by Blogs methinks) …
Robin Van Persie to be a cunt 1/infinity 🙂
Ahem your = you’re
Trev haha 🙂
Kos: it’s ok Feo, I’ll protect you. Did that big handsome French dude scare you? There, there…. It’ll be ok.
Clive, Ollie, Trev, thanks again and again for your support 🙂
Snir @ 474 & previous, 😆 😆 😆 you’ve got the heart of a revolutionary 🙂
On Fifa 13 on PS3, I defend for my life when Fabregas & Batman’s Sidekick are on the ball, Fabregas’ success rate against me must have been 5% over the entire year of facing Barcelona the season he left, that’s how determined I was although as I’ve gotten over his transfer the hate & disappointment towards Cesc has lessened.
I still defend for my life when Batman’s Sidekick is on the ball, you just can’t compare the way the hypocritical, patronising ‘you guys’ bastard left the Arsenal to Ca$hl€y, Adebaywhore or Na$ri, although my general measure of indifference towards him at most times (when I see him on MOTD or in the media) prevents me from turning the PS3 off if he scores against me, oh you really must hate him 😛
heh Nonny 539 😉
I like the non-PL numbers with the cannons inside
tabs – I think Arseblogger is completely wrong regarding money and smokescreens, but I would say that because I like Theo and he doesn’t.
Personally I don’t blame him for not signing when he’s not in the team, but it’s a bit chicken and egg really. Wenger appears keen not to pick him until he signs, which in turn seems to be giving Theo the impression that he doesn’t want him anyway and that makes him even more reluctant to do the deal.
Put yourself in Theo’s shoes for a moment. The club have tried to strongarm him into accepting a deal in the summer with a threat to sell (they forget it’s not up to them when he leaves by the way). He’s done nothing wrong through the summer and kept quiet, unlike RvP. His reward is to be dropped after one start and almost anyone gets picked ahead of him. He’s done one interview after getting loads of stick to say it’s not about money, and he has never seemed the type to demand money in the past so we can safely ignore all the “informed” people who claim he is acting like Billy Big Bollocks. He’s kept his head down, scored seven goals in twelve, only three of which were starts and two of those were League Cup starts, which is all a bit of an insult really IMO. He has basically been treated like shite and yet is expected to believe he is part of the club, when it’s quite likely they only want him to sign so they can sell him for a big fee. Would you sign if you thought you weren’t really wanted, just so the club can have a payday?
If Wenger wants him to stay, he should prove it by picking him. He is a far better player than Gervinho. Much better wide right than Ramsey.
I know you love Feo, Nonny, but I think your view is really biased and one-sided.
He’s been treated like shite? No, really…..
He does seem to get better and is improving (I was actually impressed by some of his recent stuff now), but it’s not like he’s set the pitch on fire on ALL his appearances this season either (and let’s not forget he was injured for a couple of games he may have started).
I hope he signs on, I do think he’s good and is starting AT LAST to show some signs of consistence.
I DO like him, though he’s frustrated me many times, Gervinho-style.
The positional thing though, is utter bollocks: he’s scored many goals from a notional position on the wing. Including on Tuesday. The thing is, these days, all 3 strikers seem to be constantly shifting positions.
Also I doubt Ramsey was picked on the right for his kills, more for his workrate and depending on the games.
And if you think about QPR, Theo was only back. I didn’t expect him to start that one, on fitness grounds alone.
And when I say ‘for his kills’, I mean ‘skills’, not the probability of someone famous dying if he scores 😉
Ollie, we know what you meant 😉
Nonny – appreciate the view. It is different to mine but I see where you’re coming from. We’ve disagreed on Theo before so I’m probably going over old ground but in response I’d respectfully argue
– He was a certain starter all last season and that didn’t seem to bring him any closer to signing the contract.
– Competition for places is a very necessary part of life at any top level football club, and he, like everybody else, can’t be guaranteed a start.
– I agree that it is completely a chicken and egg situation. Where we differ I think is that for me the ball is almost entirely in Theo’s court, whereas unless I am mistaken you seem to think that the onus lies with the Club. On that we will have to agree to disagree.
– £75k a week plus bonuses seems a funny kind of “strongarm”! I wish someone tried to pin me down in that kind of half nelson.
– I agree that there’s a lot of bollocks spoken about the money situation and that nobody really knows the position. What I would say is that AW has, short of making it a contractual clause, gone as far as he is able in giving assurances that he will in the future be played down the middle. In the circs, if it’s not about the money, what is it about? I know that i might be adding 2 and 2 and coming up with 5, but generally if it looks like a fish and smells like a fish …
– Has he really been badly treated? I guess that all depends in whose court you think the ball lies as regards the contract. I certainly don’t think the League Cup starts are an “insult”. I know Gervinho is not your favourite but he did alright early doors. Don’t forget Theo got injured which ruled him out of a couple of games. I agree with you however that if he was fit enough for the bench last weekend, he should have started.
For all that I do understand where you’re coming from. At the moment Theo looks like a man with a point to prove. We should take advantage of that.
Ah I see Ollie pretty much said what I wanted to say and much more pithily too 🙂
Sitting here, calmly, with my soulmate Arthur, the calm I currently feel does not betray the turmoil that is bound to be unleashed the minute the zico alarm goes off tomorrow morning.
There is something about matches against that mob that get’s the adrenalin gushing more than most, and even the tranquilising effect normally induced by an early kick-off is unlikely to still my beating heart for long. The local battle-cruiser will have more than a smattering of ManYoo “fans”, although I would hazard a guess the furthest South they’ve ever been is Berwick, to follow their real team, Zombie FC (once known as Glasgow Rangers).
The game itself arrives amidst a poisonous backdrop of hate, yours truly contributing above, and let’s face it, even a short list of reasons to hate them, is long. From their arch-hypocritical manipulating sour-faced Manager to the contemptible arriviste supporters in the stadium, out on their annual trip from Guildford, whose most heroic act is to call Wenger a paedophile.
But we need to take a step back for a moment, and look at the game for what it is. Whilst it’s true we will get the same number of points for winning tomorrow that we left foolishly behind at Carrow Road, we will take massive heart from not losing tomorrow, and whisper it, should we win, the team will get a massive psychological boost. The same turn of events will also require a number of drinkers in here to be scraped off the ceiling. Probably sometime on Sunday. Including this one.
We’ve said all we need to say about Him and Them. What about us?
We’re in better shape than we were this time last week. The report card for October is won 4 lost 2, the fixtures that brought defeats sagging in the middle like Dr Feelgood’s midriff. We were better last week than we have been, but that wasn’t saying much. We witnessed the modern Arsenal in microcosm this midweek. Abject ineptitude followed by a Lazarus-like revival. The sub-text for all – never give up.
We ARE in better shape. We have Jack to take the game to them, to ease the burden on Cazorla to provide the creative drive. We have the players up front to hurt an ordinary Manchester United back four and we have the midfield to dominate possession. We still however have issues at the back. Whilst we may lose a bit of balance by doing so, I would play both Sagna and Corporal Jenks at full back. At least both know the discipline required to play the position. The centre-backs have to be TV5 and BFG, after the horror show by Koscielny midweek, who wouldn’t last too long on the park anyway as Ferguson has picked Mike Dean to strengthen his line up.
We need to play well tomorrow, and we need to concentrate on our game and try and ignore the Dutch side-show. I would accept a point tomorrow, but deep down I really fancy a night on the ceiling, so you know what to do boys……
zico, looks like you got in before the six-pinter 😉
NYC Gooners – Does anyone know if theres anyplace in Manhattan I can watch the game tomorrow since BP is still without power, last time I checked.
As previews go Dr Z, that will take some beating.
Excellent.
Holic, the gauntlet has been laid down 😉
With everyone doing their previews&reviews, this place is like many blogs into one now!
Good work, Dr Z!
Sajit, if I may indulge in some bad taste, are you saying The Blind Pig cannot see?
Heh, that was me musing through my third pint.
Which means Goonerholic’s will be twice as good.
At least.
(And without all the spelling mistakes and grammatical whatsits….)
I haven’t had a bag of wotsits for ages.
zico, you bastard!
Ollie – When he starts, he kills my heart.
There’s almost a song in that, someone call Billy Ray Cyrus.
Zico
Cheers for including me in your piece fella! 🙂
And a great piece too!
Dr Z,
I’ll gladly join you on the ceiling. I might even dance a little up there.
Will AW really play Sagna and Jenks? I wish, but don’t believe. I think Theo should start. I have not seen anything abou AOC. Is he still out?
My guess:
Vito (in a speedo?)
Sagna BFG TV Santos
Arteta Wilshere Santi
Theo Beefcake Poldi
Ramsey on for jack around the 65 minute
We can do this if the whole team contributes. Lets go boys.
Heh, Arthur
You won’t be saying that when you leave my system and are sloshing down the urinal tract to much less convivial surroundings…. 😉
I expect to be lauded and abused in equal measure >>>>>>>>>>>>
My only doubt came when their 4th goal went in. But when Theo pulled one back at the end of the first half, I knew that we were more than capable of turning the tie around.
My wife is not a dyed-in-the-blood Gooner, being American, and I had to keep telling her that we would come good and could score the goals needed to level it up and win. She should listen to me more often.
Harping back to the Swindon chant, sad to say, I was at Wembley in March 1969 when Swindon got lucky on the day. Lucky that our team was decimated by illness. Lucky that the disgraceful pitch reduced our playing ability to their level. Lucky that Don Rogers chose that occasion to play out of his skin. But I still remember an extremely emotional Bobby Gould running over to us when he equalised.
Sajit,
My old local is the Kinsale Tavern. Upper East, 94th and 3d.
Great little spot. Short walk from the 96th st. stop off the Lex. line. Many TVs. Guiness very good (but, then when isn’t it?). David Hirshey who writes for ESPN is one of the regulars. A good goooner following there as well. Careful though: Pauline the bar mgr is a hard core united fan, about 5’2″, and quick as a whip!