I’m Missing The Jol-ly Boys Outing
Nov 9th, 2012 by 'holic
Fitness tests hold the key to the side that will face up to Fulham this weekend. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey are set to undergo those tests and will challenge Francis Coquelin for the space vacated in the Gunners midfield by the suspension of Jack Wilshere.
Frankly I would be surprised to see any other changes from the side that started at Schalke during the week. I know there is a question mark over the skipper at left-back, but we know there is a very good defender wrapped up in his frame that is sure to re-emerge soon.
Fulham arrive perhaps more in expectation than hope for onceΒ after some lacklustre performances by us lately, and buoyed by the four points they took off us last season. Ironically, in the week that Thomas Vermaelen put one in his own net in Gelsenkirchen, we recall he scored for both sides in the corresponding fixture last season.
It is another chance for Arsene Wenger to come face to snout with an old adversary, Martin Jol. Slowly the former boss of the little club up the road is putting his stamp on West London’s most historic and atmospheric club.
They are relatively free from injury, with only Davies definitely out, and Diarra rated at 50:50 to be fit. Another old foe from the Lane is getting used to playing regularly again. Berbatov has had most of the Old Trafford splinters removed from his posterior and is developing an interesting partnership with Ruiz.
Like everybody else I haven’t an earthly which Arsenal will turn up on the day, but the ‘holic pound has to rest on the dangerous assumption that we will be capable of getting the ball moving forward at pace, and with fewer sideways detours than when we are in a bit of a fug.
Favourite with the bookies is a 2-1 home win, and I will be guided by them. Don’t forget, if you fancy a chance to win four hospitality box tickets for the Champions League meeting with Montpellier to stake a tenner with Gunners Gaming to be entered into the draw. Use the banner ad above and tell them ‘holic sent you. Thanks.
While I am in grabbing mode the link to Philippe Auclair’s biography of Thierry Henry, released yesterday, can be found in the sidebar. If I can make enough I hope to send one of my grandchildren to school with shoes on their feet next term. That may appeal to you more than meeting my server hosts invoice next year!
Right, I’m off to enjoy a weekend of celebrating the management’s birthday. I’m sure my replacement in Block 32 will be altogether less animated than I after a gallon of Guinness. Fear ye not neighbours, I will certainly be back in situ for the visit of the bottom-feeding swamp-dwellers next weekend.
Have a good one, ‘holics, wherever you will be this weekend.
297 Responses to “I’m Missing The Jol-ly Boys Outing”
First! (and I did read the post too!)
First goal likely to be crucial on Saturday. Got to start fast.
Personally, I’d play Coquelin and leave Ox and Rambo on the bench. Look to control that midfield and take the heat off Arteta, so he can get the tempo going. Doesn’t hurt to have attacking options to bring on in a game like this.
Top 3!!
π
And Martin Jol is a putz.
See. Told you yesterday he should expect to be called that regularly.
I can see no link to the book apart from the review link. Maybe a graphic link, towards the top, would be ideal (and by graphic I don’t mean “Buy the effin book you counts”) π
I know you don’t want to be Mr Commercials but shoes need spare laces…
‘twould be fun to have an outing with the jolly boys, I must say. π
Have a good weekend, ‘holic. I’ll be watching for signs of any remaining splinters in Berbatov’s posterior.
Great piece as ever ‘Holic.
I sense your trepidation for this fixture. It would appear that every game is fast becoming a “must win” and, I expect, the team are probably feeling the same way as we are too, which is never a good thing where Arsene’s teams are concerned.
I am truly worried that the wheels could truly come off the wagon over the next 2 or 3 games. A loss tomorrow, or anything other than a reasonably convincing win, will only fill those already stretched minds with more doubts, and with the next fixture being the North London Lottery, things could well start to show all the signs of the slide being at the top and heading down.
All that said, a decent performance and 3 points tomorrow coupled with the winning numbers for the next game and all could well start to look and feel a lot rosier, such is the balance of where we find ourselves right now.
Fingers crossed the midfield finds some rhythm, Giroud finds the net and Walcott gets a start. His pace and knack of finding Giroud (apart from in the last minute of extra time in the ECL!) could well prove to be the winning factor.
Have a good “weekend off” and birthday wishes to ‘er indoors!
COME ON YOU GOONERS!
Hey Wind,
Alex Morgan ( super hot US woman’s player) tweeted you kept her up all night! Something you need to tell us? π
Alex Morgan? Constable Alex Morgan? Former singer with the Arsenal Police Band?
Wind, there really is something you need to tell us! π
I think we’re in for a tough game tomorrow, Fulham have looked a pretty decent side and that Berbatosser is a dangerous foe.
As for us, I’d prefer to see Sagna switched to the left and Jenks brought back in with Mertescielny inbetween them, but we all know that’s not likely to happen.
The front three should stay the same and I’d be tempted to put the Coq in (yeah I know) for the suspended Jack, putting Arteta in front of him. The bench will look a bit healthier with both the Ox and Ramsey on it giving Le Boss the options to change things up if things aren’t going our way. (yeah, yeah I KNOW)
I hope the lads have taken some form of confidence from Tuesday’s result because we can’t afford to be dropping points at home. As, always. COYG’s.
Great Preview Holic.
Think Coquelin will probably get the nod, though I hope that Ox gets 20/30 minutes if he passes his fitness test.
Can’t see any other changes. Hope TV5 recovers his mojo, though the possibility of doing so at LB, must remain doubtful.
I’m with N7 – fast start please.
Martin Jol? Fat ugly Troll.
Well in H2H?
No? Thanks for the >>>> and well in LArs!
And a happy birthday to the Management!
True Storey, Holloway2Holland, arsabeatbarca, NorCal, takeabowson & last but not least Ollie & Clive (& Holic for being a conduit π ), thank you for your encouragement, congratulations & compassion. If I had a Bucket List, Arsenal vs T*ttenham at home, the fixture that is checked first by the majority of Arsenal fans when the fixture lists for the new season are released, would be towards the top of it. The stuff dreams are made of, becoming reality… π
NorCal @ 10, no need for description, I’d know Ms Morgan’s hotness & skills anywhere, I’d disturb her all night if I got the chance… 8)
tabs @ 11, why don’t you go disturb that Constable Alex Morgan eh? Or better, get Wolfie…. ‘on the case’ π π
Wind,
Is Alex Morgan on that bucket list?
Cheers Ollie π
Agree with H2H, put the Coq in the middle and the chances of a happy ending to the afternoon will increase. Fulham look very decent this season and say what you will about Jol, but he has got them playing some really good football. He is still a putz (copyright NorCal) and a trolling caveman though.
And of course a Happy Birthday to the management!
Oh, and I’ve forgotten to congratulate Wind on getting the ticket for the NLD. Let’s hope you are rewarded with a game to remember!
NorCal, if I had one, I’m sure I could fit her in somewhere π
Thanks Lars, I can only hope so!
Getting my Arsenal Scarf dry-cleaned for the occasion(s), it took some weathering last Winter, will have to start using it on Matchdays only or something or start wearing it right, it is the 1st scarf I can remember myself having π
Hopefully it’s a ‘lucky’ scarf, Wind π
I recall going to fulham with my dear old departed dad when i was very young. Might have been late 1960’s?
Think is was in march as during match boat race went past
is that possible or just bad memory.?
Think johnny haynes may have been playing for Fulham.
can remember ground being full of gunners fans even though match was at Fulham
think we lost 1-0
can anybody throw any light on it?
or has the alcohol finally addled my brain???
Take your pick, Sydneyred …
http://www.arsenal-world.co.uk/head_to_head/arsenal/vs/fulham/index.shtml
Nice one ‘holic.
Hope you and the Management have a splendiferous weekend. And I’ll see you next Saturday. Long time since I’ve been able to say that!
Should be a good gathering at LWC game, Esso!
Yep Ollie, will be its 1st outing at the Emirates since I bought it last December on the 125th Anniversary Game vs Everton, I wasn’t attending, only picking up a programme for myself π
I met Chris Kamara in a pub tonight( he proved a very nice companion) and he wasn’t sure what to make of Arsenal either. I also was drinking with my brother- in- law a Fulham fan, who believes this is the best chance they have ever had to beat us at home. I can see his point. I have no confidence in this side at all but blind faith and loyalty prompts me to suggest we might win.
We are much better off with Vermaelen at left back than Santos. News travels fast in the Premiership about weaknesses and its tough to see the Brazilian ever appearing for us again unless it is at Bradford. Arsenal don’t improvise well defensively and Wenger seemed unable to learn the lesson that we are ultra- vulnerable down the right.
We must hope the BFG can handle Berbatov and that Walcott starts and can carry on where he has left off recently. 2-1 could be absolutely right but this team just came out of a 7-5 win at Reading so I don’t really have a clue what will happen except that Martin Jol will have a face like a smacked arse!
Good goal by Justin Hoyte for Boro. They tried to say it was a cross at half time, but you don’t really hit a ball with the outside of your right foot to cross it from the angle he was on, as it would go toward the keeper. Definitely a shot.
Looking at things optimistically:
Schalke didn’t score 04 goals against us.
I’ll get my coat now …
Re: Wind and NorCal. Alex Morgan may be on your bucket list, and rightfully so on some scores, but not on this one. She supports the dark side.
http://www.kckrs.com/breaking-alex-morgan-is-not-perfect-wears-man-united-shirt/
Time to reconsider?
32 8Ball.
By that logic I hope we never come up against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
H2H. Sounds like a juggernaut of a club, that one. As a matter of fact, they make Schalke sound downright unambitious.
Nice one Holic – hope the two of you enjoy your weekend.
Is anyone appearing under The Tollie Brollie tomorrow ?
I shall be there, Trev. Though with weather and health I may confine myself to the indoors.
Goodnight
‘Face to snout’, hehe. Should be a winner for us, but no zonal marking, please! Berbatov is a deceptive player (looking disinterested when he doesn’t have the ball). Holic, thanks for your answer in the last set of drinks, I think it will be a most interesting read. Here’s to a jolly good time for all holics, esp. one lovely Lady in particular. Cheers π
Don’t want to curse it, but I’m actually quietly confident about this game.
Fulham are scoring a bunch, but they’re leaky at the back and not travelling well.
It’s a must-win game for us and I expect to see some flavour of the real Arsenal turn up. I’m tipping us to win by two clear goals, with Giroud on the scoresheet.
COYRRR
Now it’s past midnight I’d like to officialy wish your other half a Happy Birthday. All the best.
N7. Giroud could be one of the big keys to rest of our season. Come on Olivier!!
@ behind the 8 ball
I totally agree.
His attitude is bang on, and I thought he showed some real leadership when he came on at Reading. Rare to see a new signing come off the bench to drag the team forward like that.
If we can start sending him the right type of delivery then he will win us games.
bt8b @ 33, the offending image came up on Google Images, I didn’t want to think about it & see her as before I knew the dark truth, but with your drink this is impossible.
Ahh well, there’s always Hope Solo π
The Curious Case of the Missing GoonerTerry (from Holic’s Bar) – Can anyone solve it? Care to get on the case Detective Geuli if you’re around?
Tabs@25: interesting list. We’ve never lost at home to Fulham, it seems
Happy birthday to the management, ‘Holic. Hope the year ahead is full of good health.
A warm Happy Birthday to the Management π
London Derby before THE London Derby? Jelous of the londoners…
Hey Kenyan, how you doing. I was just about to include you in my Missing Persons Report (Official Business). The following Holics have gone AWOL. Gooner Terry (Founding Father of FFF). FunGunner (Debater Extraordinaire). Cor (He always calls me Honey π Cent (Well Mannered) Toby (Philosopher) Dr C (Mr Cool) Oxon Gooner (always teases us with “I wont tell you what I think”). First Lady (such an easy, breezy way she has). Lurky Oliva (gender bender) AND Dr Feelgood π Delia, I’m cutting you some slack, cause your match reports are first rate : ) Just miss you all terribly and looking forward to hearing from you, real soon. π
Like N7, I too am quietly confident about this one. I will be out for the first half of the match. Hopefully by the time I’m back we would already be in a comfortable position
*Runs before Ollie calls me a jinxing cunt π *
Abbs been lurking around and tried to read as many posts as i can, i have just been to busy to post my two cents.
Since our defence has been leaking goals left right and centre recently i wonder if anyone has called this one out on bould as he was receiving all the plaudits when our defence was inpenetrable.
fulham have taken points off us in the last few season and there is so much unpredictability about this new Arsenal so it is hard to say which one will turn up but i think it will be a tight game
Obviously with Arsenal coming up on top.
Holic a very happy birthday to your mrs. It is nice to see you remember such milestone in her life, some men half your age cant be bothered or have to be reminded about it. Atleast nowadays they have fb to thank for reminders.
Morning. Mrs H’s birthday? Surprised you did not treat her to a few quiet ones under the Tolly Brolly? I am sure she would have loved it?????
I think le Coq deserves his place today. Don’t think there will be too many other changes.
May make the Tolly. Will all depend on timings re kids etc.
Up the Gunners.
Thank you all for the birthday wishes.
I’m rather intoxicated at the moment but gotta wake up for Arsenal, so if I think there were two balls in play, you know why…
Take care fellas.
Love y’all.
N7, two clear goals? I’d be very happy with that, I would in fact be quite happy with one clear goal too. I think this may well be a very entertaining game for the neutrals, but a stomach-churning, nail-biting, headache-inducing rollercoaster for us…
Greetngs nursy. Poor run of form does tht to me sometymes
Very quiet in here this morning, are you all on your way to the Tollie already? π
Morning Holics
Just off to catch my train. Going more in hope than expectation. Arsene, please give Theo a start and our little Russian some game time.There is so little creatively in the side at present, we need all the help we can get.
I have no confidence in TV5 at the moment and fear Fulham will do a ManU on our left flank. Fingers crossed, you never know ,they may turn up and surprise us all with a bit of a show!
See you later
As always COYRs
Delia.
Fulham haven’t got the quality to do that, and although Martin Jol may be a scrotum faced knobgobbler who looks more like Shrek then Rooney*, he has nowhere near the darklord powers of the evil Darth Fergiscum.
*I dare you to tell me it’s not true;
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IzqfFKmIkVY/S6ozJn3_SCI/AAAAAAAACGY/IHASiz2Zhng/s1600/jol+shrek.jpg
H2H – Haha excellent π
Worst ITK Ever or not, we will win 3-1 today, FACT !!!
Time to head for the station. Enjoy Holics.
Oh no , if Trev’s tipping us we’re doomed !!! π
Have a good one mate.
2-0 to the Arse.
Great interview with LJW on Football Focus.
Liked Jack, hated Crooks H2H.
What an utter cock Crooks is.
That goes withouit saying, Tabs.
He puts the anal into analyist.
Analyst even.
π
Hehehe H2H @63….gud one!
Sorry …..H2H 64…..hehehe to T@bs 63 too!
Arsenal: Mannone, Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Coquelin, Arteta, Cazorla, Walcott, Podolski, Giroud
Looks like most of got what we wanted.
The Coq in. π
Substitutes: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Santos, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arshavin, Chamakh
On 2-1 with a supplementary punt on BFG to score anytime at 12/1.
Have a good one, all.
Coq in for more penetration H2H π
Right I,m off, toodle pip all.
Come on The Arsenal!
OK Gents enjoy.
I’ll probably be around to hold down the fort. π
Got a sneaky feeling Walcott will shine.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
Bang up for this.
One big motherfucking boilk.
How the fuck did I wake up for the game only God knows.
Still drunk.
H’ – happy birthday to the management.
Scorpios <3 π
Morning all, it’s even cold in San Diego and I need coffee.
Today is the beginning of our best streak in the league in a few seasons. I woke up optimistic and we’ll win 4-2 today.
Giroud (2), Walcott and Vermaelen
Morning all. Time to get going. Lets start with a spark not a bark.
And Martin Jol is a putz….oh!
Spare stream going anyone? All I’m getting is MotoGP π‘
http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=176206&part=sports try these ones Wind
Wind.
If I need a stream I go here;
http://www.thefirstrow.eu/sport/football.html
Hey All π Delighted that Delia and First Lady have ‘checked’ in. Yes, I was Hall Monitor in school π Multiple giggles @ 58. C’mon Arsenal!!!
Hey wind. It’s on espn2 here in the states. No stream that I know of. Sorry.
Bah my stream suddenly switched to everton vs sunderland >:(
Lets go gunners!
COYRRR’s
Thanks all, went with firstrow for now π
Nice cross from Theo!
Brave from Vito π
GIIIIRROOOOOUUUUUUUUD
OG Yessss! Great delivery from Theo π
GET IN
OLIVIEEER!
Theo’s corners have been very good and consistent
Get in there Olivier.
Impec1, How right you are!
Agreed Impec
Keep it calm boys. Good early lead.
Tabs it
That one will definetly count, well in NorCal
Nice one NorCal π
Wind to NorCal. I see a good partnership.
And a position of glory for H2H
We score from a corner? π Get in there!
Ouch, snap went the hamstring.
Oh don’t like to see that, hamstring injury. Need to warm up properly.
Pooooooolllllddddiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Goldi Poldi , yes!
GOLDI POLDI!
COME ON POLDI!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAA
Well done. Hi Abb!
Confidence. Lets keep building it. Lu Lu Lu.
I have on an Arteta kit and my 5 year old is wearing a Poldi. Oh yeah!
Nice one Lukas with the outside of the boot π
Hi there Impec1 ! Hello holics π
NorCalArsenal good teamwork π
Goldi Poldi? You gayers.
NorCal, I’ve got the Arteta shirt on as well! π
Our passing is decisive, crisp like a crunchy red apple π
Tosser
Rubish defending again.
Mark you’re man π
Bollocks!
Kos and Sagna both missed it. Come on! Wake up!
Terrible marking!
ah well..needless corner conceded again π
abb π
Ahh Berbatov pulls one back π
Appalling defending and I think it was Koscielney making a poor effort, as if he was worried about fucking up his hair (too late)
Free header wtf!
What are they doing back there?
Hey Wind, the game is young and so are you π
Suddenly we are all shaky again and can’t deal with a bit of pressure!
Come on wake the hell up!
Need to pick it up. Play with some urgency on the ball.
Fuck fuck fuck
fuckit!
This was coming! What the fuck are they doing?
Why do we go to sleep? So slack!
We’re giving it to them on a silver platter.
Total gash down the left flank, junk in the middle and the keeper beaten by the bounce off our rock hard pitch
Ugh 2-2, will our Goal Difference ever improve?
I’m sorry but our defence looks like it will leak a goal any time!
And back chasing the game again!
Another chance from poor defending. It’s like watching a kids game.
Fuck, we were lucky there.
They’re opening us up with ease.
Must do better.
FOUR WORDS – WAKE THE FUCK UP!
For fucks sake, finally our attacking game looks improved, comfortably in the lead…and once again we manage to fuck it up! Come on guys! Tighten it in the back and score one, preferably two more.
Utter gash of a game.
We desperately need a left flank that wants to work hard and we need much more from the attackers, but if the defenders were up to the job we’d be cruising. Mertesacker/Koscielney is our best pairing, but it’s a pairing with only one defender in it.
One word – “Frustrating”
When we were 2-1 up, you could get 18/1 against Fulham winning. As soon as they scored I was tempted to have a look at the odds, because you could see at least one more goal coming for them.
We are the only so called top club who can fuck at 2 goal lead in consecutive matches. Sorry to say but we have no midfield. Maybe too technical but no power or presence. First time in years we don’t know how to keep the ball. Arteta is going backwards. God knows what Toss is going to be on show in second half
We need 2 more goals. We can get at them. They are not strong at the back either. But come on. Our flanks are weak. Sagna not having a great game either. We are slow at the back.
Big 45 coming up.
He may have to take off Podolski here. Our left hand side is a disaster. It’s either that or send Bac over there.
Time for the manager to earn his corn.
Your right none of us know what arsenal will turn up and that’s the problem it’s a disgrace.And who’s responsible for that ?
Is it me or I don’t see too many interested players except Girould. He is the only one running his socks off. Has Walcott done anything in the game?
Couple of runs in behind, some good corners, one of which led to the first goal. Apart from that he needs to up his game, as do most of the so-called attacking players.
It would not surprise me at all if the rumoured friction between Bould and Wenger is down to the defending of set pieces and a difference of opinion on zonal vs man for man.
Right, first 45’s done and dusted.
Here comes the second half.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
No one should be tired. No one even ran that half. Come on Arsenal!
Are Arsenal in white?
Put your neck out Giroud!!!
Time to switch on. Come to think of it, why have we been switched off??????
Head the sodding ball.
Nice try Feo.
Coq out, Ramsey In.
oh nice between theo and OG
Odd change that, I’d have had AOC on ahead of Slowcoach
Time for Aaron to have a good game now.
SHAMBLES
Dowd is a twat
The fuck is Dowd doing? O.o
Cazorla off please
He was going to give a second yellow but then …… Wtf
He gave a yellow to Ramsey
COME ON ARSENAL
Good effort by Theo, again.
Pass the ball theo!!!!!
pass the fucking ball Feo
Ramsey got away with it there, wtf is he playing at?
Ramsey is a disaster ! Come on. Bring the OX
Ramsey is having a shocker so far -_-
Ramsey is asleep ffs!
Arteta stooopid
Wtf
Oh dear. What a fucking hash up that was. Get it clear ffs
FUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKK
Oh dear. Shit.
Cazorla and Podolski off, Ox and Arshavin on please.
Hahahaaaaa this is a fucking Sunday league team performance!
The fuck is happening
Keep trying Theo, don’t give up!
PASS THE DAMN BALL THEO!
Shambles at the back. Where’s Sagna?
I stopped being angry now this is a JOKE!
GIIIIIROUUD. NOO…YEEESSSSSSSSSSSSS
Two assists for my boy π
OG BABY π
GET FUCKING IN!
It’s fucking on game on!
Great cross again from Feo
Oliver Giro. Is he Scouse? π
SIGN FUCKING WALCOTT
Time to step it up, COME ON ARSENAL
Sagna ffs -_-
COME ON ARSENAL! COME ON ARSENAL! COME ON ARSENAL!
Theo could have 3-4 assists
Super defending from Kos
Oh Kos whew!
Ox for Poldi.
COME ON YOU REDS
Can we have some subs please Mr Wenger!
Ramsey should have been off as well!
OOooooooooooooo. Giroud.
Oh OG, Beautiful effort!
Brilliant by OG!
Feo’s been working on his crosses.
I am seriously bricking it every time Fulham counters to be honest.
Eandy
Same here! π
Feo for AA
Theo off, Terrific Game by him. AA, please help us!
If he’s not injured that’s a poor substitution.
Fulham looking shakier then us at the back.
I think he was limpinga bit, Nonny
H2H
They shifted three as well π
Thought so too H2H π
Heh, indeed Arthur
Laughing at Danny Mills – “The game never got going until the sixth goal went in”
PENALTY!!!
OMG!
PENFUCKINGALTY – DON’T let Giro take it, he has feet like 50p pieces
C’mon ARSENAL!!!!!
FUCKING HELL
AAARTTTTEEEETTTAAAAAAAAAAAA
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Arteta’s had a mare today.
An absolute mare. But he’s been due one because he has been great.
Oh, what a heart breaker. Gutted.
FUCK SAKE ARTETA!
Why didn’t Giroud take it.
Gutted! But, we played like shit!
Was never a penalty, but what a wasted chance, Was more of a great save then a miss.
Whatever your opion of the result, at least it wasn’t dull.
Absofuckenlutely gutted now, two points dropped for sure given the opportunity at the death…oh well.
When we can score we can’t defend, and when we defend we can’t score.
Bould has so much work still to do….
Should have had Giroud take the penalty…he was immense today.
@235 – Because he would have hit the corner flag unless he’d headed it
Just watched it again.
You won’t see a better penalty save then that in quite a while.
Even though he missed the way we let them back in the game is quiet a worry because it keeps happening every single game now!
Why the fuck did Giroud not take that?
NLD looks a bigger and bigger game for this team.
looking like a mid table team. very poor, and this is a trend.
Missing Gibbs and Corporal Jenks, big time. OG and Theo tie for MOTM for me.
@Matt….we look like a 6th place team…..are we though?
Giroud was our best player today by miles
With you H2H, it wasnt exactly badly taken penalty, more of the good save from Schwarzer…what to take from this game? We thought that we learnt how to close out games. ..apparently we didnt.
Giroud was immense, Santi is obviously jaded as hell, Arteta had bad one, Ramsey..well..lets not go there, Feo would have had great game should he passed the ball more often in certain moments, Mert did everything he was supposed to do. Mannone might have stronger touch on their second to pull that one out of the goal but nothing else much could be done about their goals.
I just fear in what shape is Santi going to be for NLD considering that he is obviusly tired even now ..and hes flying to stupid fucking Panama and back.
I thought Cazorla has his best match in about six. Coquelin for me isn’t ready yet and that really showed in the first half.
matt@244
+1
no difference between sides , both attacks were better than opposite defences
Early season promise. Oh such a false dawn. Defensively we have our best players. Midfield wise we have such an experienced midfield. But still second to everything. Always wake up when go a gold behind. I can see why we are mid table as if today. Everton and even west brom look better. What’s next. Spurs. Well. Make or break game for these players. Will show how much passion they have for the club. Wenger to reassess his control over the players.
Teams have worked out how to stop Arteta from receiving the ball from that pivot spot and starting the distribution and thus, we’re struggling. He’s being marked and roughed up and seems a bit rattled. We probably have to put more focus on having Koscielny bring the ball out of defence, which he’s pretty good at doing or find a different option.
I thought the penalty was a bit telegraphed. If he telegraphed it like that he’d have to use a perfect technique to get it closer to the post.
On the positive side;
Feo looks like he’s learned how to cross a ball, I can’t remember us looking so impossing at corners for a long, long time.
Giroud showed glimpses that he will come good, we just need to play to his strengths.
It could of been better, but it also could of been worse. Ramsey was lucky to stay on the field. And even though in the end we couldn’t quite snatch the win, you can’t say we didn’t go for it. Maybe we do lack a certain amount of quality and this team hasn’t quite found it’s niche or learned to click yet, I can overlook that as long as they put the effort in and today most of them did.
Indiangoner. Please. I hate to have a go at you but thats just nonsense your spouting sir.
Take a walk. Think a bit. Then post. Advice i myself need to heed sometimes but itsbest that way.
None of that generality anti Wenger BS.
Thanks.
Need a left back and a centre back in January please. Preferably ones better than we already have for a change.
Sign Theo and Sagna up because letting them go would be dereliction of duty.
Although he scored, Podolski wasn’t great and if he’s kicking off about playing central simply because he’s not fancying the amount of defending he has to do, I suggest we might do well to cut him loose sooner rather than later.
h2h – good summary, no lack of effort (overall) today
It’s a concern that we have to be in a dire position to show that fire, at 2-0 up we should have controlled the match and hunted a third goal. Instead we got pegged back (as we were before the goals) and exposed at the back. I thought Mannone conceding their second was awful…he’s setting up for a shot that was never coming on his near post and then can’t get over for a header into the ground from probably 16 yards out. Bad decision making.
Ramsey, perhaps, but why Sidwell didn’t get a 2nd yellow about an hour in is beyond me.
Arrrrrggghhhh,
We snatch another tie out of the jaws of victory. That game is arsenal. Up and down.
Players didn’t even wake up until we were behind. An early goal didn’t settle us, it just made us complacent. And lackadaisical.
Our entire midfield are getting pressed and bumped every game and as technical as they are they get bumped off the ball physically.
We don’t have a left back. Vermaelen is not good going forward from there and is suspect in his positioning.
Giroud had a great game and should have taken the peno. Arteta wanted to win it after a poor performance but just made it worse.
Arrrrrrrggghhhhhh
Homer. You can have a go at me if you have some facts to debate. During first few games of the season we played against the most defensive teams excl Liverpool and our defense looked great. Faced with half decent side and we shit like toddlers. I cannot accept that players like cazorla, arteta and our back four are rubbish. But something is wrong with their handling. There is hardly any pressure on the all. Hardly anyone closing other teams. Everyone is happy to sit back. Something is really wrong. Clearly wenger still cannot teach defense in a decade
This is a funny team.
OG will come good. He already is in fact. Theo looks Inspired. He meeds to pass more.
Taking off Le Coq for Ramsay was mistake.
Ramsay i hate to say looks a shadow of what he should be.
Its time for that little e periment and the Diaby fiasco to end. Send them packing and get a proper B to B mid that can actually stay healthy.
Shulda been a 2-3 win for us.
Ruiz that diving cheat -was no pen.
The late pen to us was harsh.
But thats football. We will be sitting 8th or 9th by Mon.
Lets see what fight this squad has in it.
And lets all get ready for playing on Thurs nights next year.
Firstly, Fulham are a decent,if unspectular side. A couple of decent players,they will finish in mid table. They are not Madrid. Arsenal should always beat Fulham,especially at home.The best defence in the league,eh? mmmm…..
OG was impressive, very pleased for the guy. Arteta was, I thought, mostly very good, but made a crucial error for the penalty, and of course missed at the death. Takes a huge sack of balls to take it under the circs,though.
Extremely disappointing result however you slice it. I am not usually an advocate of chequebook management,but really, we need some better players. Once again, for me at least,Arshavin made a difference,though as ever his introduction was far too late.
Gutted to see the way we dropped two points today, we could’ve and should’ve won it. We played much better on the 2nd half, and it raise a question, what took the lads so long? We’ve seen too many games played like this manner over the last few seasons. Can we have urgency start from the first whistle? That what frustrates me the most with Arsenal these days because I know we’re capable of going to any game and scoring goals.
Hope Arteta doesn’t lose his confidence over this, please not our vice captain too…
On the positive side, Giroud was immense today, slowly but sure making his name on the scoresheet. I have no doubt he still has a lot to offer. Walcott had a good game also, his cross rate is getting better and better but I really hope he can works on his dribbling skills and penetrates the defence more often.
I say bring on the LWC!!!
COYG
Something also comes to my mind. If you have a central defender playing left back and your 7m pound left back sitting on bench, it tells something about the state of the squad. I am sure the likes of Ramsey should not be anywhere near first team and players like arteta and cazorla should be rested a bit. They cannot play every game. But who replaces them ? Rosisky or diaby ? Both who cannot stay fit and their recovery time is close to 3 months for any injury? Problem is the players are tired and that is impacting our fluency.
Indiangooner, I’m not gonna criticize how you choose to express yourself and you have every right to your opinion. However, if I may be so bold, may I humbly suggest that every now and again you try to embrace a positive instead of fixating solely on the negatives, it would make it a lot easier to have a debate with you, because I feel that some of the decent points you are making are lost in a sea of negativity. I don’t mean to be rude or offend, it’s just a suggestion.
Any roader, I’m done with football for today.
Enjoy your day, ‘holics.
At 2-0 I thought this is just what this team needs, a comfortable win, perhaps a clean sheet and a chance to get back into their rhythm and restore confidence. By the end, I fear the confidence will have taken another ding. It would have been better to have not been awarded that penalty than to have missed it. At least the team could have walked off with a point salvaged rather than two lost.
Couple of quick after match thoughts.
It becomes more evident that selling Song was a mistake. Hoping that Arteta can take his role was just that- hoping.
We do not have player of that profile in the team. And do not even think of Diaby, sad story that is.
Ramsey is useless as I said thousand times before. I try to see what Arsene sees in him, but just cannot.
We miss Rosicky and Gibbs badly.
Giroud and Walcott can make a beautiful partnership , only if we do not sell Theo, which I am afraid will happen, because of the PHW’s board and their imbecile policy.
Painful times to be a gooner. Lets stick together.
On the train on the way home. Another must win game goes south. I lost count of how many second balls we failed to compete for.
Only a few positives for me. OG had his best game yet. Good to see Theo not being frightened to have a strike. Not much else I’m afraid. Too slow and too predictable at times and 3 more very poor goals to give away.
Arteta had his worst game in an arsenal shirt. For all the joy he has brought I will forgive him that. But yet again our distinct lack of depth is brutally exposed as we had no one on the bench who could replace him.
All very much same old same old same old same old same old same old same old same old………. etc etc.
In the end I don’t think we deserved anymore than we got.
That was rather depressing. Before Fulham took the corner kick that led to Berba’s goal, I was saying to my mates that I had a bad feeling about this. Not that I can see it coming, it’s just that I felt we were beginning to show complacency in our defending.
Not to dwell on the negatives, I thought Kos, Theo and Giroud looked good today.
The OX should have came on earlier I thought, and TV looked rather awkward at leftback, although he did not commit any horrendous mistakes. Arteta should also receive some help in that midfield pivot, we can’t rely on him putting up a flawless performance every week. We always knew this season if he gave the ball away our team will be in trouble. Surely Wenger sees this too, which was why Coq was thrust into our starting lineup tonight.
I feel disillusioned by our performances lately. And I am quite an optimist by nature, or so I have been told. I really hope we’ve reached our nadir, and can start an upward curve in terms of performance and result. There’s still lots of football to be played, but we can’t keep performing short and hoping we can snatch 3 points. Next week will be huge for many reasons. As always, when our backs are against the wall, we will really see what our Arsenal is made of. Let’s hope we’re made of explosives and heavy artillery, and not self destruct.
Painful times indeed!
Ramsey was awful today and has been for a while now. He was superb against City and now a shadow of himself. The best we can win this season is The FA or Capital One cup and pray we end up in the top four.
fulham did actually look quite a bit better than us for spells, but not just that, they were comfortably better as if they’re comfortable coming to this stadium when the opposite should be the case. this is why i said we’re looking like a mid table team; that’s what fulham is.
positives are that we did look imposing on corners. if we decide that we are going to actually try to score from set pieces in the future, that will be a nice change of pace.
speaking of change of pace, did we write off arshavin too early? i wasa always a fan, but his reticence to do the defensive work was exasperating. but it seems like almost every time he’s come on this year, he’s had a pretty big impact. the guy is still class, and he seems to be able to run too for part of the game. actually i’ve seen him perform some quality tackles in the past so his defensive ineptitude is somewhat exaggerated, but his problem has always been disinterest or laziness. anyway, i just like to see his technical quality in the side because it’s lacking in a number of positions.
@269: Don’t rule us out yet, we can still win all four π Call me crazy or anything you want, but it’s not the end. They are tough jobs to do but still doable.
What a goal from Villa. That Benteke dude looks impressive
Great viewing for the casual fan but brutal as a supporter. We seem to switch-off and switch-on throughout these matches…it’s maddening to watch.
Some of our problems early last year and so far last year have been with our fullbacks. With Gibbs out we are a different squad. Not only can he recover but he poses a threat going forward that pins back the opponent’s attack. We all like TV as a player but at left back it just doesn’t seem to work…..we still should have been able to hold a 2-0 lead mind you.
What is better, TV at left back or Sagna at left w/Jenks at right? I think the latter would work better for us. Yes Sagna would be out of position technically but TV doesn’t look comfortable there.
Finally, can we just boot the ball out of the danger areas instead of trying to be cute?
There were some good performances but i
whoops, didn’t finish the sentence guess there was nothing more to say….
Villa tearing up the Red Cunts
Not going to cry myself to sleep over a draw, even if it feels like a defeat.
Good to see Giroud showing what he can do. Give him the service and the goals will come.
Once again, we find ourselves praying for a top four spot and then a summer in which our (screamingly evident) problems are sorted out. No idea if that will happen, but our failure to replace Alex Song looked daft at the time and is looking dafter with each month that passes.
Onwards and upwards. Win the NLD and the mood will swing upwards very quickly.
Yes they are π
Sham(69)bles.
I disagree selling song was a mistake. He was very error prone.
Rose tinted glasses i think. Arteta is a major improvement.
Peace Indian. Not gonna argue on this. AW’s subs often flabergast me.
But ight now what we need i do is get behind the squad. Not carp and blame the manager.
Was sitting with a reuglar at my local. Whe. We drew and his team – Everton – won. We had a little chat.
He was shocked at the treatment we supporters give AW. Like we have some right to titles. Spoiled he called us. Ungrateful. Even i was yelling nasty things at Ramsay. He said if we ever decide to send AW packing to send him to Everton. Theyd gladly take him.
Then he bought my Guiness, shook my hand and walked out.
We all, as a supporters group, need to wake the fuck up. Viera, TH14 and bergkamp are gone. Their like will never grace the same pitch again. Were lucky to br where we are. We have huge potential and one of the best managers in the world.
Bout time we fucking acted like it.
A round on my tab for all in the bar.
Guiness for me. Heres to stomping the fucking LWCs into next ficking year!
That’s the spirit Homer.
van pigsty hit the crossbar twice within 60 seconds……he looked so sad
Selling Song was not a mistake. The mistake was not replacing him.
And please excuse my typonridden posts.
I often post from m iphone. And inhate the intrrface.
Its foist upOn me from my firm.
Steve Jobs – mayve been a visionary. But the iphone and ipad type faces …???
Bastard.
Homer. Did you really say that we are lucky to where we are? As in we are fortunate and should be grateful????????
Yes steve. Exactly.
A squad full of class players. A top manager. We are well financed.
We are fighting on all four fronts for titles. We are stull in the fight wih 30 plusgames to go Gobs of potential.
LoyL and very brainy supporters – many of whom are also snappyxresses and dashing to boot.
Yep. Id say so
Well, I imagine this is what it would be like in a ‘real’ bar. Not offended by anyone’s take on today and the future of our Club. EVERY comment posted, had some merit. So of course it will touch a nerve or two. But until it is mathematically impossible for us to finish in the Top 3…well you can finish that thought for yourselves π
A squad full of class players Homer????????? Fighting for the title???????
Where I sit, the majority are season ticket holders. The vast majority I recognize from the very first game at the Grove. Next time you are at a game perhaps you could pop along to block 4 and explain to them how we have a squad full of class and how fortunate they are. My guess is that you might be a tad surprised with their response.
Guys – what is Poldi doing ? I don’t see what more he can do. With Giroud even when he wasn’t scoring there was an expectation of goals. With Poldi – what do we expect next ? Do we think he is going to start tearing down full backs on the flanks ? Hope Arshavin/Ox are given more chances.
Homer – someone in the press, I forget who, was comparing Moyes to Wenger and saying “we” (the fans who moan) are ungrateful and spoilt to want him out and wondering why Moyes doesn’t get any stick when he’s not won anything for ages, if at all.
Simple really. There are two main reasons why “we” want Wenger out.
1. Expectation. After almost two decades of solid success under Graham and Wenger, we should be pushing on as a club but we never seem to have the will to push that little bit more. Everton fans are not used to winning and would see top four as almost miraculous. Arsenal fans expect more and to be fair to those who moan, we have been used to getting it.
2. Money. Everton haven’t got any and their owners would sell the club tomorrow if they could find the right buyer. They can’t expect to compete without money, they are doing brilliantly under the circumstances and their fans know this. Arsenal, on the other hand, charge the highest prices in the country, if not the world, to watch their ‘product’. They have sacrified players for profit, downgraded the team substantially over the last five years and have a fat wodge of cash stockpiled in the bank. The manager is a huge part of that problem.
Well said Homer, you could say we’re lucky in the fact that if we have to deal this stringent, fractured board, we have an economical genius like Wenger at the same time to keep us competitive & afloat.
@Homer I do agree that we were lucky to have seen Thierry, Bergkamp and the like grace Highbury and won trophies for us. But I don’t think that’s an excuse for our club to start lowering expectations. Unless we are Blackburn, of course.
Yes, oil money has stained football, and EPL in particular. But it also means more money is being invested, and is circling within the sport. Steve T always said we have to ask if we are being the best we could be, and the answer simply is no. There are no two ways about it. Had we hung on to our best players, worked on our defensive solidity, and continued to build on our global market standing, I’m sure we will be in a better place both financially and on the pitch. Had we continued winning trophies, what makes you think it wouldn’t be us that GM signed a huge sponsorhip with? Yes, our wage bill will inflate, but surely our revenues from all avenues will increase too.
The board chose to be very passive in the transfer market, while they pocketed huge sums cashing out on their shares. And yet they continue to manage our club. I’m not saying it’s all doom and gloom, but if this is not a worrying sign I don’t know what is.
We have just blown a 2-0 lead twice in a row now. Before that we were having trouble scoring, and some players remarked that we need to stop conceding first to make it easier for ourselves. Well, we all know what happened next…
Maybe I’m panicking too soon, and I hope I am. I guess we will see in due time. Meanwhile Man U climbed back to win from 2-0 down. Surely a worrying pattern this.
“I think this may well be a very entertaining game for the neutrals, but a stomach-churning, nail-biting, headache-inducing rollercoaster for us⦔
Well, I was quite right, wasn’t I?
I am so frustrated right now. I could start a million sentences right now but not finish one of them because there is so much I want to say but frustration would get the better of me in each case. I could go on about confidence, Arteta not taking the pen (but it shouldn’t have been a pen anyway) or what the fuck ever but it just feels pointless at the moment.
And the worst part is that I feel that we are so, so close to something much better. If we could just lose our inhibitions, get some confidence going, just fucking believe in ourselves… I’m not saying we’d win the leauge in that case but we’d be streets ahead of many other teams and we would sure as fuck have won today.
Ah, fuck it. I’m off to watch some tv while trying not to be a miserable bastard. The missus might share my frustrations about the Arsenal but it’s not her fault we didn’t win and she does not deserve me sitting here being a grumpy git. Take care everyone and help yourselves to the drinks I have line up on the bar.
You can not continue to hemorrhage talent and expect to be competitive. Especially if you are not going to replace it.
As Derrick says, be the best you can be. Are we??? Never be afraid to ask the question. Good points made by others above.
Lars, the really frustrating thing is that we have been so close for the last 5 plus seasons. But we do nothing about it.
So Theo has injured his buttocks, has he. No further comment required.
Makes a change him actually HAVING a pain in the arse rather than….
Being… Brilliant π
I remember seeing today a Theo run where he started to use shoulder feints, and dribbled past 3-4 players to hit a left footed curler just wide. That was a potential gamechanging moment. Are we starting to see the Walcott we had hoped he would become when we first signed him? Yes he had always been occasionally briliant, but it is quite obvious that he is maturing his game to another level. To be honest he looked a little bit like our talisman these past few games. Can we afford to lose him now? What sort of message would that bring out?
I wouldn’t disagree so much with the view earlier this season that we will not miss Theo if he goes. But the situation is quite different now. Gervinho has flatterred to deceive, more frustrating than his rare briliance. Poldi is a different type of animal, and is playing wide left as opposed to Theo. The OX is still trying to find his feet, how long until he matures to be a top, top class EPL player? Arshavin is better on the left. So who’s gonna replace him? Santi on the right? Or Ramsey? Gnabry is still a long term project. And who can cross the ball better from the right than Theo? Surely Giroud needs his assists. But will the board, Wenger, Kroenke, or whoever is responsible make sure he signs tha thing??
Yes, it takes two to tango, but Walcott has reiterated his will to stay at Arsenal. With his limited game time, he’s also shown us all what we’re missing with him on the bench, or worse if he plays for another team. What now? I’m an AKB as far as I have known myself, but Wenger is paid tons of money to sort this out. And still, I truly hope he sorts this one out.
Some of you aren’t going to like this, sorry >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>