Arsenal Exercise Their Vito In Europe
Nov 6th, 2012 by 'holic
A two goal lead turned into a point gained rather than two points dropped tonight, I am bound to say. Arsenal turned up for their toughest Champions League qualifying fixture with question marks hanging over their form and attitude. They survived a tough opening, took control of the game as the first-half progressed, and just about held on as the inevitable storm arrived in the shape of a Schalke fightback.
The expected recalls for Laurent Koscielny and Theo Walcott gave the Gunners a more balanced look going into the match. That didn’t stop the home side starting the brighter, and the first of a number of good saves by Vito Mannone prevented Afellay from firing a smart drive just inside the near post. The Italian ‘keeper seems to have worked at negating his weak points. Not once tonight did he come flailing at a cross, preferring to stay home and deal with the efforts from his line. As long as defenders know he is not coming they know where they stand too. Credit where it is due, he is playing to his strengths.
The tide swung almost decisively in our favour in just eight minutes. First Theo Walcott was on hand to finish the job when Olivier Giroud’s attempt to dink the ball over the advancing ‘keeper didn’t go quite according to plan. Then Giroud himself netted with a diving header after some determined approach play by Lukas Podolski. For a while you could hear the travelling Gooners over the passionate home support, although that sodding drum didn’t stay quiet for any length of time.
As the final minute of added time at the end of the half ticked away a dubious free-kick was awarded against Theo and from the resulting attack Huntelaar buried a smart finish in the bottom far corner. There will be questions asked about a lack of concentration defensively, but I also hope questions were asked of Schalke at the final whistle, like “how much do you want for the Dutchman?”. The goal made for a tense second-half.
Five minutes into the second-half the same forward beat the offside trap but lost the one-on-one with Mannone who made another fine save. Arsenal’s midfield, a dynamic little trio when we have the ball, are not so hot at getting it back. Schalke enjoyed the sort of possession normally the preserve of the visitors and when the equaliser arrived, a Farfan effort being deflected home by the skipper with over twenty minutes remaining, things looked ominous.
Arsenal ground out those final minutes and at the death surrendered a great opportunity to steal the points when Theo burst clear again only to make a bit of a Horlicks of his finish. My bank balance would have looked much, much better had he scored or teed up the unmarked Giroud, but I’m not bitter. Sell him Arsene!
Only kidding. Theo showed us again tonight why he should be starting more matches, but his situation is not clear cut. I understand only too well both sides of his situation and I have to say, although I would love him to stay, he simply isn’t worth either the money he is seeking or any assurance of playing as a central striker.
The upshot of all that is that we will qualify on matchday five if we beat bottom club Montpellier at home, and Schalke defeat Olympiakos in Gelsenkirchen. Without taking things for granted that is infinitely preferable to going to Greece for the last game needing a result.
Still Time To Win The Titi Biography
Don’t forget to check out the preview of tonight’s fixture for your chance to win Philippe Auclair’s new biography of Thierry Henry, which is published by Macmillan and available to purchase on Thursday.
Get your entry in to competition@goonerholic.com by 6pm UK time on Wednesday so I can post the prize on the day of publication. Come back on Wednesday night/Thursday morning for the result and a review of the book.
Good luck to you all.
163 Responses to “Arsenal Exercise Their Vito In Europe”
First ?
Knock out stages!
From FGW train leaving Didcot. ;(
Great photograph
http://i.imgbox.com/acl1geFM.jpg
Damn and Bath is pissed up on booze as well
You must have had great seats nonny
Not even Europa Cup?
I did. I was able to switch over to cartoons at half time.
Thanks for the report Holic. Will now watch it when I finally get home. Happy to take the point, myself. Schalke impressed me the other night at our place. Has to be a good result despite the nearly better one.
Into double figures and I didn’t even see the game!
Cheers.
All to play for and cheer for at my first game at the Emirates against Montpellier. Yes!!
Can’t wait!!
Well in Bath. Shame about Didcot π
Great snap, Nonny. Thanks.
3G dies before Swindon. We’re in the Styx mate.
A moderately better performance but nothing for us gooners to feel excited about. At 2-0 I turned to my sons and said at least weβve given ourselves a chance of a draw.
Positives?
Manone looks better with each passing game.
Sagna, wow!
Per: calmness personified
Theo? Give him a signing on fee and Β£100k a week (fund it by culling any one of Santos/Ramsey/diaby/rosicky/Chamack/squillaci or preferably all, either dross or perma injured.
If Theo is allowed to leave after all the effort and patience of the last 6 years it will be the final nail in The current regimes coffin.
And as much as I admire giroudβs attitude would he scare you if he was playing for the opposition?
@5. I am indeed. Very fine Margaux. Mmmmmm
“A two goal lead turned into a point gained rather than two points dropped tonight,” is a perfect description of the game, ‘Holic.
Tip of the hat to Don Vito tonight. Looked the part. The BfG and Kos confirmed that they are our best CB pairing. Sagna was his impeccable self. The skipper is having one of those runs previously reserved for batsmen who get appointed captain of the England cricket team. Schalke is a none too shabby side. They will prove a handful for anyone they are likely to meet in the knock-out rounds. Given our own ropey run of games, a point tonight isn’t too shabby either, even if sneaking all three would have been so much better.
And before anyone asks, I double checked the Castle Ned monks’ scrolls and they definitely said Schalke 0 4 Arsenal. Oh…
When OG settles in another few games or so (my crystal ball all powered up and very crystalline tonight!), Geoff you are going to think, whewww … I’m glad OG is on our side.
RVP was a Gunner 4 seasons before he scored over 13 goals in one season. And in 8 years he scored more than 11 in the league just twice. (I googled it but hell). Let’s not write off OG and his magnificent coif just yet.
Cheers all in the bar!
Hands up ‘holic – the keeper ‘ad a kracker! Up The Arse!
Hey Homer, I hope you are right!
Like the title Holic.
Nothing to add except for our continuing problem at left back.
Maybe it is just me as nobody else is raising it as an issue, but it is driving me mad that we give opponents so much room on our left hand side.
Even Kieron Gibbs rarely prevents a cross coming in from our left. Santos, who I loved last season, is mostly so far out of position that any discussion is pointless.
Tonight it was Thomas Vermaelen, someone who, while not a natural full back, has played the position often enough for us and for Ajax.
Time and again he followed the ball or ran inside, leaving the wide attacker completely unmarked. We had six players in our own six yard box when Schalke scored their second goal, but noone anywhere near the scorer. It’s so frustrating that we lose our defensive shape so easily.
At least there was more fight tonight and a very good first half allowed us to escape a difficult second half with a point.
In the circumstances I think most of us would have settled for that before the game.
Sagna looked excellent and Vito did well. I still don’t think he is the answer, but good on him.
There is no point, in my opinion, people starting to talk about resting Santi, Arteta etc on Saturday. Jack is suspended and every other creative midfield player we own is still missing in the “Three Week Triangle”.
And it is only Tuesday night.
Just a few observations:
Ollie G is getting his foot hold in the team. He is a good target man a is going to score. We just need to get some more crosses into him.
Santi and Arteta need a rest but we don’t have any midweek game next week and we are also without Jack this weekend so Fulham is not the game to rest them.
Theo needs to start, if he doesn’t then we need AOC on that wing. We need someone with speed on the wing at all times.
This weekend, maybe Le Coq and Arteta with mikel playing in a more advanced role.
Santos coming on at the end tells me AW is not giving up on him yet. Too bad. As a midfielder with Gibbs behind him for the last 5 minutes of a game is about his only use right now.
It’s too bad if Sagna leaves. He has always been a favorite of mine. Solid to a “T”. Jenks is getting better and played well to start season but we need quality backups as well. Just look at last season.
TV5 on left is only an option because we don’t have a quality backup.
Hey AL,
Must be fireworks time. Santos got a rocket from the boss, and Vito had a cracker, as you said.
Post match meal of German bangers and mash. π
Holic, Really liking that title π But I took a sneak at your Twitter page, so I just knew, well you know. See how good it feels, when our lads come good. Great write up, impartial where required but a nice undercurrent of a terrific sense of humor bubbling to the surface in a couple of places π
Cheers Trev. Looks like we have similar thoughts.
And yes the Islington triangle. Three weeks from everywhere.
Homer@17: OG is a little bit ahead of RvP at the same stage of their careers:
OG has scored 66 league goals in his career to date, now in its seventh season. It has taken him 167 games, or a goal every 2.53 games.
RvP took 176 games over eight season to score his first 62 career league goals, striking at a rate of a goal every 2.84 games.
He then scored 48 in seasons nine and ten over 63 league games, a goal every game and a third (or a goal every 118 mins).
Trev @ 22 – and tomorrow morning – Bratwurst in bed (fireworks optional?)
AL,
Whenever I serve Bratwurst in bed there is always fireworks!
At least that what Ivana tells me, god bless her.
Just read the title.
Heh, Holic. π
A brammmer, big man.
Theo tried to chipolata balls over the keeper, but it didn’t quite come off.
NorCal – Ivanidea shesavinuon – psed, news from the front – who’s winning the election? BBC reporting dead heat at mo!!!
Still looks to be very close in the election. May not know a winner until the morning.
Can I get Vito power if its not to my liking? Where’s a Mannone when you need one?
Theo sounded like a castrated Barry White in his interview
A sausagey good morning to all the arabic Gooners, or
A-salami-leikem. π
CNN have Romney up 33 to 3.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggh
but long way to go.
Vito or veto? (Sorry.)
*offers AL his coat*
Relax, Bath. He’s winning votes they always win at the moment
I don’t think most Merkans are adequately enough informed to be allowed to vote in as globally an important ballot.
Bath @ 34 O-bummer! Still time. If Mitt Romney gets in – glove-puppet government???
I’ll get my …
Jesus, Graham Rowntree is coming up on Sky Sports News and he’s got a head like Lion bar, it’s so bumpy. His cauliflower ear is the size and shape of a large half eaten ring donut. That somebody sat on.
Romney marshing to victory…….
Trev!!! You know Mitt makes cents!!!!!
It’s a marathon Trev, early days.
Psed Trev – that was Rodney Marshes.
Snickers @43
In my gag/head/slash.
He does indeed AL, about $300 million worth, I hear.
Is he a Gooner ?
From sausages to chocolate bars ?
Some journey – Cumberland to Mars …..
Great Report ‘Holic.
Can’t disagree with any of that, I’ll take the point, even though octogenarian Dennis was getting ready to do a bit of table dancing when Theo went through at the end there.
Sorry to hear that you, Nonny and NorCal all just missed out on a few bob tonight.
Right I’m off. Too many Fruit and Nuts about at this time of night. π
Come on Barack!
Ill/Annoy – sounds AWFUL!!!
Can’t help meself. We done good. And there’s a US election ON – what’s not to like???
Thanks TaBS. It was more than a few bob! Chuffed with the point though.
Up the Arse π
Is Kroenke running???
Anything???
Hey TaBS.
Add my name to the list of those wishing Theo an early grave or likewise! 3-2 with Giroud to score at any time was at some tasty odds, I can tell you!
Oh well…Like nonny, I think my betting days are coming to a close as fast as they opened!
I blame you ‘Holic!!! π
Great write-up by the way!
Seriously, really thought that Vito was the man tonight, although Arteta seems to be getting a bit of stick after what I thought was a good old-fashioned water-carrier style effort.
Quite frankly, a few more water carriers wouldn’t go amiss in this side. Was good to see some spirit tonight. That was the main factor of the recent Gooner Rage as far as I can tell. Losing is one thing, but rolling over and taking it in the Arsenal, well, it just isn’t our way.
Can I finish up by saying that I absolutely LOVED the yellow that iPod got…Seems the boy has a bit of a sharp edge to him after all.
Good on him, I say.
Let’s hope the “recovery” continues with Fulham.
Florida and Ohio will pick our president.
Bath, I agree with your assessment of our general population and that most dont know up from down but yet I was still slightly offended.
Well lets just hope the next 4 years are better globally than the past four.
$5 billion to $6 billion spent on these U.S. elections and it looks like status quo, Democrat in the White House, Republican majority in the House and Democrat majority in the Senate. Four more years of bickering, rancor and inaction. That was money well spent then.
We coulda bought Messi and Ronaldo for that, right?
π
NorCal — but don’t you think that is better than the reverse alternative? All cynicism aside, there is always an outcome in politics that is better than the other possible ones. And house majority has not been called yet. :–)
Thierry — Poldi being a Cologne boy Dortmund and Schalke are local rivals, so there would always be an edge…he was booed vociferously while being substituted.
And now for something completely different:
Looks like Barack Obama won the US presidency.
Again.
Still some states counting votes.
But thank the maker that the brainless, rudderless, moraless fool has been sent packing. Hopefully.
Cheers to all in the bar.
Battling performance. We fucked up at home against them, that’s why we are second. Still I wouldn’t mind qualifying second from this group
Thierry Wrightkamp: “Losing is one thing, but rolling over and taking it in the Arsenal, well, it just isnβt our way.”
I was thinking thabout this during the game, and I always felt we had a chance to knick all three points and we came very close to doing so because we kept fighting. Had we lost we’d have at least gone down fighting and that’s all I can ever ask.
I still haven’t seen any replays of the Theo penalty incident but to me it looked like a penalty any day of the week.
Props to Don Vito, this was probably the best game I have seen him play for us. No wild flaps at crosses (and the one he did come for he punched away with determination) and generally quite calm in all situations. Still want Szczesny back asap, though.
Giroud looks like he is starting to find his place in this team too. I thought he was one of the few on Saturday that never hid and he worked hard yesterday and got himself into several good positions. I saw yesterday that someone described him as “a poor man’s Andy Carroll” but I don’t agree at all. Andy Carroll is very good in the air but that’s pretty much it, Giroud has much more on his plate and is involved in the general play a lot more.
I was going to say that we now have a good strech of home games, but just realised that there is one of them unbelievably idiotic international friendlies breaks next Wednesday. That means no rest for pretty much any of our players, but at least we are playing at home both before and after that break which should be a little better than playing away in either game.
Barman, a cup of tea please!
Nice post mate. The Don had a good game, as did Theo. Left back remains a problem and we certainly lack a ball winner in midfield. Not to say either Jack or Mik could n’t perform that role (double negative) but neither of them are at the moment.
3 home games in a row now. Need to win the lot. Convincingly.
And yeah, Obama may have won the American Presidential Election, but could he do it on a cold winter’s night in Stoke?
Morning ‘holic & ‘holics,
A much better performance from the team last night.
They had more bite, more fight & played a lot more like a team.
& I’d gratefully take a point, thank you.
Something I think I confirmed last night though, based also on my observations from previous matches, is that Arteta’s abilities are being under-utilized in his current position.
He plays the distributor/water-carrier role quite well but I really think he’d contribute much more to this team as the link man/box to box midfielder who plays between the water carrier & who ever plays the “Cazorla” role.
I think this team really needs someone who’d play the “distributor” role as well as Arteta, while also bringing a bit more of a physical presence to our midfield.
Have a good day ‘holics.
Esso @63,
I agree with your observations as regards a proper ball winning midfielder.
I would like to add though that moving Arteta forward from his current water-carrier role would give this midfield more bite/improve their ability to win the ball.
I think Arteta could press opponents for & win the ball if given more freedom but is prevented by his current responsibilities from venturing to far from the middle to close down the opposition to win the ball.
Bottom line though is what you & I are saying, this team needs a new(?) midfielder with a slightly different skillset that none(?) of our current crop of midfielders possess.
@ Lars
Goalkeeper played well.
(Still gives me the shakes though).
As for Giroud, yes he works hard, but he is only marginally faster than coastal erosion, both in movement and thought.
Think he would benefit from somone playing much closer to him.
Overall, tend to agree with what Steve T said last night, we got away with it.
At least the work rate was a vast improvement.
Just saw that Spain, next Wednesday, are playing in… Panama! What the fuck are they thinking? Fine, go on a long trip in a two-week break but when you’ve got two days before the game and no time after it, how can anyone come up with such a stupid idea like that? Not only will they spend pretty much one full day travelling, they’ll have to allow time to adjust to the time zone too and then the players will have to re-adjust when they get back home on Friday.
Utter madness.
zico, not sure I agree that we got away with it, I actually thought the point was rather well-deserved. They could have scored more, sure, but so could we have. We should perhaps have had a penalty as well, and let’s not forget the unbelivable call by the ref to stop play for a minor injury when Poldi was clean through and could either have scored himself of possibly also have played the ball in for a tap-in for Giroud in the middle. 3-1 there and I’m quite sure we’d have won it.
We also have to remember that this wasn’t exactly some shit-kicker team managed by Colin Wanker we were playing, we were playing a bloody good team away from home. We had the right attitude, we attacked with intent when we got the opportunity and we got a very valuable point as a reward for our efforts. We have some issues still but this was a good step in the right direction.
They are not even the best team in Germany.
We should be beating them 5 or 6 nil.
Wagner out!
Heh@70 π
Missed the first two goals and the 1st 25 mins because my usual streaming site went tits up [saw them at HT though, what a header by Giroud eh? π ] but apart from Cazorla’s slip which is still grating on me to a degree now, we weren’t too shabby. Vito can be called ‘The Don’ again because he put in an performance that is deserving of the moniker, Per immense although along with the rest of the team he did slip and fall with the grace of a bag of onions, the Captain worrying and Theo, efficient in cleaning up as he may be hasn’t got 100k a week decision making skills, really should of won it at the end if Giroud was open.
I implore all the UK Holics to enter this;
http://arseblog.com/2012/11/win-tickets-to-arsenal-v-fulham-2/
And the next time the CL games are on, I’ll be there! π Thanks again NorCal, its kicking in now stronger than ever for the both of us I’m sure.
Congratulations to Obama, and its not only because I’m black… 8) Its because Romney’s a idiot in my opinion and not fit to be the leader of the free world with his callous . But when you confess that you’ve written a victory speech to the media of howsoever words before the result is even close to being called, it can come back to bite you π
In the end that election result turned out to be as close as the two sides of Bobby Charlton’s hair.
Lookit, the Merkans actually came up with the right result in the Presidential election (just). π
Pace NorCal.
Even though Donald Trump has already called for a Revolution because it’s not a big enough majority to justify an outright win in his (thwarted Republican) opinion. These people are truly dangerous Neanderthal throwbacks.
Fox News are really confused. They don’t know whether to mothball the KKK outfits for another four years or make use of them now.
Christ, you can tell we never lost. It’s so undisturbed and quiet in here I feel like a pound coin in a Scotsman’s pocket
Apologies – think my account may have been hacked last night … by a heady mix of alcohol, an Arse match, a US election, and me birthday.
So drunk some, drew one, won one, gained one.
Up The Arse!
Oh and boillick (pardon – unsure of spelling)
Birthday, AL? Belated Happy Birthday wishes then!
Another year on Leg?
Many happy return fixtures!
Wagner out!
Get Beethoven in!
Would be great for post match interviews too π
Many belated happy ones mischievous AL π
Hope you had a nice birthday AL π
Happy birthday AL
Hope you didn’t boilk over yer bollocks mate.
Haven’t had time to do a complete backdrink so apologies if I’m repeating others’ views.
Once again I saw the game, as live, hours after the final whistle. Was a bit too busy in the bar for me to watch properly so I put on the Citeh Ajax game and recorded ours.
It was around 3am when I started to watch it, I’ll admit that I viewed it largely with my finger on the ff button, pressing back to play everytime we had the ball, which at the start of procedings and for most of the second half didn’t seem like much. Suffice to say it didn’t take that long before (for me) the game was done.
From what I did see, Vito played a blinder, kudos. Our left side is still not sorted although Poldi was extreamly improved, Mertescielney should be our prefered CB combo, Sagna is top notch as is Arteta, Jack’s not quite there yet and Santi looks a little jaded. Giroud tries too hard sometimes and I have to say I agree with the Landlord in his piece above with regards to Theo.
I would of bit your hand off if you’d offered me a draw before kick off and to be completly honest I think we were pretty lucky to get that. Schalke had plenty of chances and two pretty decent penalty shouts (handball BFG and off the line toparm Arteta) but we could of snatched it at the end. I can’t be annoyed at Feo going for it even if a pass may have been the better option, cest le vie.
The result was indeed important for our CL standing, and although there’s still work to be done there seemed to be a lot more effort and to me that’s the most important thing. I hope the lads will take confidence from this result and work hard this week on cohesion, because our passing at the mo’ is a bit sloppy and we’re conceeding pocession far too easily.
Time to iron out the negatives and build on the positives. COYG’s
Rightio backdrinky time.
Many happy returns AL.
Psed (AL-ism)
Was there something wrong with their pitch? Giroud took a large lump of turf with him a number of times (incl just before our first) TV and others were on their arse frequently and then there was the Poldi yellow card nonsense when their player was ruthlessly taken out by the grass.
Happy Birthday ALL The BEST!
Afternoon All,
Belated Happy B’Day AL.
Cheers Tim in the last set of drinks.
Thierry @54 – Ah, apologies. A case of mistaken identity I see. That’s what a speed read of the last set of drinks on err a set of drinks does for you! Commiserations on the bet, so close but yet…
As for last night, some things to encourage, but still much to fret over. I guess I’m somewhere between SteveT’s “we got away with it” and Lars’ “we deserved a point” this morning.
The game certainly threatened more woe in the first 15 mins. I counted 5 times where we were completely undone, 4 down our abysmal left, (as Trev has already pointed out), and we were only saved by poor delivery, bad finishing and on one occasion a good save from Mannone at his near post.
Ah Mr Mannone. Credit where it’s due, he didn’t do much wrong and made two very good saves. To be fair he also did alright up at Old Trafford. But most of us know he’s not good enough. I can’t do any better I’m afraid than the rather nebulous term “You’ve either got it or you ain’t” and I don’t think he’s got it, simple as that. It’s my guess that we won’t see an escape from the harum-scarum defending until there’s someone who radiates authority between the sticks. So well done Vito, but I won’t be calling you “Don” anytime soon. To be honest I would much rather call you “Gone”.
Still, it can’t all be laid at the door of Vito, certainly not last night. Individually, Sagna was excellent, and the Bfg and Kos gave some evidence that they are the best centre back pairing at the Club, but there were still times nevertheless when they all looked like they had just been introduced to each other. TV5 remains in a funk, and there are better options imo. Bring back Jenks and switch Sagna.
We needed a break and we got it when the linesman missed Giroud coming back from an offside position. He made a hash of his finish but luckily Theo was there to tidy it up and hit the back of the net. Thereafter, for really the only period of the game, I thought we were the better side to HT. The passing suddenly became crisper and crucially much quicker.
Cazorla and Wilshere were both involved in the second goal, great cross from Poldi and a good header from Giroud. Cazorla was pretty peripheral all game and needs a break I think. Jack showed glimpses of the player he is, which is probably all that we can reasonably expect at this stage, but I thought his substitution was 20 minutes overdue. Arteta had his hands full just trying to stem the tide for most of the night.
It was a good combination from Poldi and Giroud. I thought they both did reasonably well all night. Poldi didn’t pull up any trees but he was certainly not anonymous as he had been in Manchester. Apparently he’s been having a little moan to the German Press about wanting to play as one of 2 strikers or in the “10” role, so we’ll see where that goes if anywhere. Whatever he was clearly more at home in the German air, so I think we should be feeding him more Sauerkraut or giving him Bavarian dancing girls if that’s what it takes to get him firing. Giroud was willing all night and I think any criticism of his performance is pretty harsh.
So 2-0 and pretty comfortable? Nah, course not, this is Arsenal after all! Santi’s slip gave ’em a lifeline, and there was an inevitability about their second. I fully expected a winner from the Germans, and that the last 20 minutes were seen out in relative comfort gives some encouragement.
We might have stolen it. I would be grateful if Gooner Ref popped by and informed us why the dickens the Ref stopped Poldi in his tracks. Theo was given a clear shove but I thought it was just outside the box, and of course Theo might have won it at the death. To be honest, I thought he did all he could, having done well to get in front of the Defender in the first place.
Theo is a tricky one. His pace will always scare defenders and at times he looked a menace. He mixed that threat with at times complete anonymity. Holic sums up his situation as well as I’ve read. I want him to stay, but earning far more than Cazorla, Arteta etc? Not for me.
A point gained I think.
Various hehs @ AL, Trev, Zico & Nonny.
Lars; And yeah, Obama may have won the American Presidential Election, but could he do it on a cold winterβs night in Stoke?
π π
Nice write up holic.
I still think to some degree that we got away with that. We played well for short spells but were largely second best. I don’t think Shalke are that good a side but over the two games I think we have struggled at times to match their work rate.
Vito played well last night. I don’t think any of the saves he made were that difficult, but I do think he was strong and commanding. He looked at lot more assured.
I desperately want Giroud to be good enough but I do have some doubts. He took his goal well but at times looks slow and cumbersome. The way he was caught so easily for what turned into Theo’s goal was frightening. There is still time for him and I hope he comes good.
All in all it is a decent point. I fear that we have not helped our situation by the result two weeks earlier. I am also thankful for the fact that a draw was a decent result for Shalke.
tabs, about Giroud being offside for our opener – I am not sure the ref got that wrong. He is definitely in an offside position when the BFG hits the ball upfield, but it is clearly not going to Giroud who in turn makes no attempt at all to run towards the ball to win it and then the Schalke player makes a complete balls-up of the header (but still makes good contact with the ball, i.e. it was not just a deflection that he could do little about) and guides it towards Giroud who, while still in an offside position, has now effectively been played through by a defender. The key here is that the ball was not just deflected, in my eyes the defender simply made a very bad header and that means Giroud shall not be flagged off.
Thanks a bunch for the belated ones yous top ‘holics; helping mightily to get me through a tricky afternoon (of the self-inflicted from the night before variety)
Still psed – ‘Ere Zee, that Coastal Erosion you mentioned before sounds like an interesting prospect – available in Jan???
UredS!
Fair enough Lars, I’m not really convinced but I’ll take your word for it π
AL @93 π
Heh at H2H .
Steve, I think you’re being a bit harsh on Schalke there mate. I think they’re a bloody good side.
Tabs. Don’t get me wrong, they are a decent side. But we have played a lot better over the years and come out victorious. I don’t see that side causing the Arsenal of a few years back the same problems they have caused us over the last 2 games.
I agree with Tabs, Schalke are a very good team from an exrtreamly strong league. Dortmond top their CL group having drawn away at Madrid, beating them at home and taking a point fom Middle Eastlands that on any other day would have been three. Bayern, last years finalists, are also joint top of their group.
Vorsicht, die deutschen kommen.
And I know it’s early in the season but Schalke are currently a few points ahead of Dortmund in the Bundesliga, so they’re clearly not too shabby.
Anyway, if we can win our next game we’ll be in a strong position. At this point I’ll take qualifying, and I won’t be too fussed whether it’s in first or second.
That’s a good point Steve, but I’m afraid we can only row with the oars we have and at this moment we are being out paddled.
Takes a shot…
Unselfishly squares the ball leaving the keeper beaten………….
Looks like we need to swap places on that one Lars. π
Heh, a bit bass-ackwards there, H2H!
Re Giroud @91, it made me smile this morning to read some comments elsewhere that he was unmarked when Theo had the chance to win it at the end, as when presented with easy finishes with his feet, Giroud has spannered them well off target. There’s a great photo somewhere (I forget where) of his goal last night from behind the goal, and his eyes are tight shut as he heads it π
Pleased for him though. He looks so much better when he’s in a more attacking lineup.
I don’t know what’s worse, still having Song and van Persie in the Junior Gunners fan packs, or using Comic Sans on the art work.
http://media.zenfs.com/en-GB/blogs/world-of-sport/gunnersfunny1.jpg
Nonny@103: actually, more or less all players close their eyes for a split second when heading the ball. It is a reflex that very few can control.
Funny that, I usually close my eyes when the balls at the other end of the pitch. π
Your right holic walcott is not worth the money but it’s irrelevant as he’s as good as gone as the club have profit in mind.
Bath @74,
I’m bath-eled,
Do I have pace, do I need pace?
Pace picante sauce?
Peace
Double Dave.
Not sure how the club will make a profit on Walcott.
If he doesn’t sign a new contract, he doesn’t have to agree to be sold either.
In fact he’d be quite mad to accept a transfer in January when he can legaly negiotiate with whoever he may choose and sign on his own terms leaving Arsenal with diddly squat.
Not once but twice
Women can be a bit brutal.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/thetoepoke/id/478?cc=5901
Hehe yeah NorCal, I always disliked playing footy with girls, not because they would not be worthy opposition, but because I got kicked up and was bruised much more while playing with them than during regular footy in Sunday league hehe.
Swapping shirts at the end must have been good though. π
H2H @106
Lol!
H2H @106
Hehehe!
No more self abuse?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20244204
Makes interesting reading. May just go some way to explain why some people are asking some difficult questions of the board.
http://www.givemefootball.com/premier-league/manchester-united-arsenal-make-forbes-top-ten
Ivan needs to start taking care of business. I understand that the clubs hands have been tied, so to speak, due to the Emirates construction. But now is the time to shine, that Manure earn almost double what we can pull in tells its own story. Success on the pitch generates success off it.
Steve -Isn’t that because of the fact that we’re recording profit in addition to having close to 95% of our full matchday revenue potential?
If it’s because profit then we’re once again in a catch 22 because that profit is from trading players only.
From Swiss Ramble:
So far, so good, but Arsenalβs profits have been very reliant on player sales and (to a lesser extent) property development. In 2011/12, if we exclude the Β£2.5 million profit from property development and the Β£65.5 million profit from player sales, the football club would actually have made a sizeable loss of Β£31.3 million.
Snir. I am not a businessman. All I am saying is that we are listed by Forbes in the top ten of all sports clubs worldwide. Fans read that. Then they see top players sold every year and players brought in that are not of the same calibre. They are then told that they still pay the highest prices for the privilege. It’s not difficult to see why they react, is it? Not difficult at all.
@109Holloway2Holland
Good point. Obvious the issue is not about making a profit but about paying him a realistic wage. One that is acceptable both to him and others in the squad. If twats like scouse cunts are going to offer him more than we pay Mik or whoever, he’s offski, whether anyone likes it or not.
Indeed Esso.
=====
Celtic one up against the Barcunts (again)
These were two fucking heavy drinking session.
Back home and suitably wrecked.
Gelsenkirchen is not Dortmund. Bit of a shithole, and fans far less noisy (and less friendly?).
Lovely stadium though, ask Tone about the facilities π
Ollie what facilities are we talking about ze beahtyfuullll Helga? π
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/man-of-the-match-v-schalke-walcott
Er, what?
heh, no Arthur
Shakhtar certainly know how to pass the ball they do remind me of Arsenal in many ways!
I take it you were taling about the statium facilities then? Hope you had a great trip!
Ollie – I think that’s a message to the club as much as anything and maybe a bit of relief that he was picked as well. Give him a decent contract, get him signed up, don’t lose yet another of our better players.
Nonny
I agree but will the board and the rest listen? I don’t think so.
I just think he wasn’t all that on Tuesday. Like Bendtnerising that last chance was frustrating.
Message to the club? Huh. Like Vita Mannone getting first and second in the last two games?
It’s just, thinking of it, nobody was really outstanding, even if it was an improved group performance.
I hope Feo stays too, but I don’t feel he will. He should, really (I do think we’re offering him a decent contract though…)
I liked having Kos back with Mertesacker (Vermaelen has left back was only a mild improvement on Santos π ).
Anyway, I think I’ll try and get some food and stay comatose. Going back to work tomorrow is going to be extremely painful, I fear….
No currywurst here, but thankfully no JΓ€germeister either….
Ollie@125 & Nonny@129
Ollie, I was just about to type pretty much exactly what Nonny has said until I read his comment.
Truth be told, I don’t think that Theo has EVER been appreciated and, more importantly, NEEDED than he is right now.
Let’s just hope that the board and Le Boss are seeing what we are seeing.
Arthur@130
Great minds π
HAHAHA!
Arselona with 85% possession, 503 passes to 78, 92% accuracy, 100% tackles won, 10 shots to 1 but Celtic have 100% shot accuracy!!!
Fuck ’em! HARD!
Come on Celtic, do a Chelksi Rovers!
Possession stats in the first half: Celtic 18%, Barca 82%.
Goals: Celtic 1, Barca 0.
(and Song should have been sent off for two yellows but got away with only one)
Oops, TW posted on the same topic while I was typing up my drink π
We should sign that ‘keeper.
Willian, man that’s a player if ever there was one! Fernandinho, class! Shaktar, hell of a descent side; pace and quality! One can only hope this is what Arsene’s aspiring too!
AL – belated birthday wishes. Sorry, been busy all day.
Off for a back drink – looks to have been fairly quiet.
What a fucking save again.
Ollie, from what I’ve seen of him (the keeper) he’s not too bad at all.
Nice save again.
Ollie – he got it caught under his feet and looking at it again, a pass to Giroud would have given the Frenchman quite a narrow angle to shoot from, especially if he’d taken a touch, so he had to take it himself.
Looking at the second goal of theirs again, I can’t believe how bad Vermaelen’s defending was. It was schoolboy stuff to chase the ball like that and leave his man. When Gibbs is fit, TV has to be dropped. But he won’t be.
Live report from Celtic Park:
Sideways pass by Barca.
Sideways pass by Barca.
Sideways pass by Barca.
Sideways pass by Barca.
Celtic intercept and punts the ball as far upfield as they can.
Xavi or Inesta picks up the ball and runs with it and stops about five yards before the Celtic penaly area and makes a sideways pass.
Repat ad infinitum (or until 90 minutes plus stoppage time at least)
Ollie/H2H, which keeper are you talking about?
From where we where, Nonny, I never saw Giroud (it was at the other end of the pitch), it was definitely a chance for himself to take.
Agree on dropping TV when Gibbs is fit too…
I didn’t think Feo was all that great yesterday, certainly not MOTM.
He certainly does divide opinion. Personaly I’d like him to stay, but I don’t think the club should bend over and take it because I don’t think he’s as good as his agents or he believes he is. A bit of a garment from the new collection of a certain emperor if you ask me.
If he stays, great, if he goes, meh.
Lars The Celtic keeper – Forster!?
2-0 Ha ha
2-0, mwahaha, mental.
Lars@136
More great minds π
And STILL Arselona look like a second rate version of us!!!
If Feo goes, break the bank for Willian! Beautifully compliment our attacking potency and penetration!
H2H: cheers, and I agree. He’s been good this game, but he hasn’t had that much to do to be honest. Barca have been pretty dire, I think.
TW@150: yup, when we play like Barca have today everyone moans about us having no end product but when they do it it’s all “oooh look at all those pretty little passes!”.
Lars, he was good in the last game too, but that’s the only time I’ve ever seen them.
To me scottish football holds about the same interest as non alcoholic beverages. π
But nevertheless, congratulations Celtic.
Incredible!!! HA!
So, now EVERYONE knows how to beat them, they really ARE a second rate version of us!
Lars@150
Spot on fella.
Rangers implode then Celtic smash the basque-kit cases in the champs league – any chance of us gettin their McWitch-doctor on loan in the new year???
Ta Trev
Heh, just saw a wierd stat from Celtic-Barca:
Good Chances: Celtic 1 Barca 2
Since Celtic scored two, how can they only have had one “good chance”? I’d really like to hear the definition of “good chance” if a goal does not count…
We were rumoured, oh yes, to be interested in Willian a couple ofbsummers ago. The press, of course, were then talking of his inconsistency and shortcomings. Not thatnthatbwould have made AW’s mind up, but he jow seems to be the consummate player.
Nonny, I commented a couple of times yesterday on Vermaelen’s terrible positioning but I seemed to be a lone voice. Thought it was just me.
I couldn’t honestly see much difference to Santos, except Vermaelen looks fitter.
In his first season he looked superb. Second season he was permanently injured. Inconsistent since really, and difficult to work out, this season, how his form could so totally collapse.
As he has lost his positional sense at the moment, maybe now would be a good time to try him as a holding midfielder, allowing Arteta to play further forward again.
That, plus Eisfeld, would also give us a chance to rotate the midfield a bit, as one or two look a little bit tired.
How many weeks / months away are Diaby, Rosicky and The Ox ? Anybody know ?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
AL, basque-it case, π
Trev…
3 weeks!
Latest rumor: Lonestar to Celtic. You heard it here first …