Tally Ho, And Don’t Sink To Their Level
Nov 2nd, 2012 by 'holic
And so we come to the moment Bloggers were anticipating with varying degrees of enthusiasm. For one who prefers to avoid using words that I wouldn’t want the grandkids to read this is going to be very difficult. Especially after a few Guinni.
Manchester United, away, once a fixture that often determined who finished first or second in the Premier League. For the first time in a few years it now has a very real edge to it again. Forget the fact that Mike Dean has been appointed to referee the fixture, which usually renders any bet on Arsenal doomed to failure. Never mind that we are going into the game without Wojciech Szczesny, Kieran Gibbs, Abou Diaby, and possibly Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Gervinho from our strongest eleven. To be fair United are without their best defender, Vidic, England’s Jones, and their smart summer midfield capture, Kagawa.
It should matter not a jot who is in for either side. We have seen in the past week that United have a squad from which they will always be able to field a very difficult to beat eleven. Regardless of a couple of obvious worries for us tomorrow, and I am talking positionally here, we should still be fielding a team capable of improving on a dreadful run of seven defeats and one draw at Old Trafford. Given we adopt a positive attitude we have a midfield trio of Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere, and Santi Cazorla capable of prising open any defence. A possible front three of Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud, and Theo Walcott (don’t cut your nose to spite your face, Arsene) have all the qualities you need in attack.
Applying those qualities will be the key for us. Let’s be honest, we do need to step up a level to get a result. It will involve a raised level of effort in terms of closing them down from front to back and not allowing them the time and space to tear us apart on the break. Maybe that is not a reasonable expectation twice a week for nine months, but putting in everything, and then a bit more, should be a given for fixtures of this magnitude.
Then there is the reason why this fixture has regained the spice of yesteryear. If anybody should know what to expect from Robin van Stapleton it is our defenders. Bacary Sagna should have an idea of how to play him when he ventures out to their left, and his clever movement in the box must be burned into the memory of Per Mertesacker and the skipper. I am obviously working on the basis that Le Boss won’t bow to public opinion and switch Sagna to the left and play Carl Jenkinson at right-back.
It would obviously help the situation if the supply line down United’s right could be stemmed. Andre Santos will need all the help he has been missing in his last couple of outings. Poldi, Arteta, and little Jack should be alive to any situations developing down that flank. If the treacherous grey haired berk* is denied a supply we may avoid what seems the inevitable goal against the side he left in such acrimonious circumstances.
It is not only on the pitch that our handling of the berk* will come under scrutiny. Arsene has suggested in his presser that he hopes for us to give him a good reception. In truth he knows that won’t happen. Fergie mischievously suggested something similar, because the respectful Mancs don’t abuse former players, although Paul Ince would be among those to differ with the hypocritical berk*. Of course not Fergie. You are just giving yourself room to manoeuvre when the scum you won’t turn on sing their usual vile abuse at Arsene.
Of course we will be in no position to cast the first stone from our greenhouse should the first verse of that Robin Song get an airing. I’m not daft enough to think that me adding to the near universal Gooner condemnation of that opening verse will change anyone’s mind about singing it tomorrow. I would ask just two things. If you are tempted to sing the first verse, imagine you are there with your Mum on one side of you, and your wife/girlfriend on the other. Behind you is your sister, and in front of you watching every move is your Grandmother. Still think it is banter?
Instead think about launching straight into verse two, for that tells the berk* exactly what we feel about him. It will still offend a lot of people, if that is your intention, but it will be a statement many will understand completely, and not the sort of vile falsehood we have accused the hosts, among others, of perpetrating over many unpunished years. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, is a really poor justification for being so insensitive.
Six pint sermon over, it is on to the ‘holic pound. Perhaps this week it should be the ‘holic 50p? Let’s be honest, there is a reason why United are hot odds-on favourites and we are as high as 9/2. I am looking at the anytime scorer market for a bit of fun, and because barring substitution I will be in the hunt for ninety minutes. Thomas Vermaelen will be looking to lead by example, and I have backed him at nines to hit the target. Don’t forget if you fancy four box tickets for Arsenal’s Champions League match against Montpellier then have a ten pound punt with Gunners Gaming, preferably via the banner ad above so they know ‘holic sent you. Thanks.
The Week Ahead
It will be a busy week on Goonerholic, one way or the other. There is the Champions League game at Schalke on Tuesday, and a competition to be won. I’ll start that in the Schalke preview on Monday night. I suspect the prize will be very popular. A clue?
Have a great weekend ‘holics. Oh, and by the way, berk* is obviously an abbreviation of Berkeley Hunt, which in turn is obviously rhyming slang for Mr and Mrs Hunt’s little boy, Isaac.
533 Responses to “Tally Ho, And Don’t Sink To Their Level”
Drink, then read.
Easy.
Zico
Seconds on that one and please that was rather revolting in you previous comment.
Now to read the post!
Santos doesn’t do it for me ‘H.
Too slow and ponderous against Valencia, Nani, or anyone else they choose to rip down the left.
Keep it tight for 70 minutes and then hit them on the break.
1-0 to the Arsenal.
Arthur,
I’m a peasant – I’m supposed to be revolting. π
You are not alone zico. On current form I wouldn’t let him mark my Brazilian homework.
π
*lauds and abuses*
Really expected to be first, guess I hadn’t refreshed the other page for too long.
*then goes to read the blog*
Nice one gov. His disrespect to “us guys” not withstanding, there are chants to offend more than just the individual. Those should perhaps leave the game.
Lets pay our game and control the midfield. 3-2 to the Arsenal. Lets flush the old toilet.
RVP needs to know we have lost all respect for him.
But that chant definitely hands the moral high ground back to RVP and his hideous manager
I think zico mentioned that your piece would have less missspellings that his, ‘holic.
Now I can’t believe YOU spelt Wilshere wrong π
Heh @ 10
That’s why I refer to him as Jack 8)
And ‘manoeuvre’.
OK, now I remember. Six pints, he said π
Ollie, my autocorrect always changes Wilshere to Wilshire. I forget to go back and fix it half the time. Perhaps the same as ‘Holic this time. π
I didn’t know Henry Gaylord Wilshire (the only one I can find through Google) warranted an entry in the dictionary ahead of Jack Wilshere. Bloody Americans then.
Great piece Holic
Van Persie will get the stick from the start and I would feel sorry for him in any way!
“Out of my huge respect for Mr Wenger, the players and the fans I don’t want to go into any details, but unfortunately in this meeting it has again become clear to me that we in many aspects disagree on the way Arsenal FC should move forward.”
Still hurts a lot of fans!
You try spelling it with an e every time when you live in Wiltshire, you pedantic berks*
Correction I wouldn’t….
Played ‘holic – that’s a sweetly gifted three you’ve picked in the middle there ‘h – though i do worry that they may come up a little short – but what can you do? (Stack heels and/or long studs – maybes.)
Plus am almost in agreement with Zico @ 3 – ‘cept i say – keep it tight for 45 minutes, then hit HIM in the break.(FrimpongedInTheTunnel.)
Up The Arse!
Nice write up Holic.
And you too Zico.
I think were all agreed on Santos. I would probably still make a marginal case for Kos over Jenks Zico – as I just think he’s a better player despite the howler against Reading although I do accept Jenks has been outstanding this season so far.
I see us playing deeper and much tighter leaving little space in front of the back four. Vito is a real liability and Fergie will try to exploit that most and make sure he’s tested. Thats why I think we’ll play more of a counter attacking game.
I know the NLD is always “the one” for many fans in the year – but for me its always the Manu fixtures. We’ve lost 6 out of the last 7 and already find ourselves adrift from the leaders so I feel its important we get something tomorrow.
Nice one ‘H .
I shall “laud” you for the preview save for the semi get out you offer Andre the Elephant. Fucker should get fit, then I’ll start offering him the benefit of the doubt.
As regards the CvC stuff I certainly won’t “abuse” you but I will disagree. I have no idea of the words to the two verses you mention, but I do know the chorus, and I have no problem with it whatsoever. Falsehood? Who says so? So he wasn’t charged but there was enough behind it for him to spend 2 weeks in the clink. True or false, who cares? If the chant pisses him off , great. Moral high ground? Pffft. Since when has football been about the moral high ground.
The bloke is a berk ( π ), he needs to be told he’s a berk, and how the travelling support wish to communicate that he is a berk is entirely up to them and the manner in which they do so will receive my full support.
Second verse, chorus, you say tomaytoes, Oi say tomartoes. Everyone knows what I mean.
Your a berk* Robin, you’re a berk*,
Your a berk* Robin, you’re a berk*,
Your a berk* Robin, you’re a berk*,
Oh Robin, you’re a berk*
π
But what’s your excuse for forgetting the ‘u’ in manoeuvre, ‘holic ? π
heh at 21.
Nice one Holic. 9/2 might be worth taking. Stranger things have happened.
If the travelling hoardes simply turn their backs, it may send out a more subtle message.
It may, however, offend any Japanese in the crowd.
Hey ho.
Ah got ya π
Was wondering why I didn’t know the words!
Well H we’ll just have to agree to disagree. I certainly don’t think the chant is disrespectful to women.
A bit of column A, and a bit of column B for me, regarding that chant.
To be honest, I only heard it when we played Cuntski last season, and I had no idea what it was about initially.
I can live without singing that first chorus (or verse, whichever you choose to call it), but I don’t think it compares in any way to the explicit chant that lot generally aims at Wenger.
Ollie, my phone is Chinese. It the bloody Chinese. π
Ha, NCA! π
Second verse good. First bad. If it only offended him then maybe (still probably too much), but it doesn’t. So it’s not.
Evening all. Rather nice Chardonnay going down right now ….
…. Cue the usual suspects
Two vile crimes can’t be separated by degree, just because of the respective ages of the violated.
And I live in Manoevre House, pedant π
Welcome back Dr C – you’re spending too much time with 140 dodgy characters these days …..
Is it a book on poultry farming?
H’ and all the rest.
I’ll say this.
I have no problem with the abuse AW gets.
I have no problem with the first verse either.
I say this because I was brought up in terraces where “may every Hapoel supporter die today” was a regular everyday chant.
Therefore I don’t mind the abuse, and I will do anything to throw any player playing against Arsenal off his usual game.
And as for that song hurting women, well, I know of plenty of songs that hurt plenty of people, but they take it on the chin and make sure they give it right back and stronger.
The only thing I would not tolerate is racism.
Other than that – all is fair in love and war.
It’s the explicitness that makes a bit of a difference (as I mentioned it was possible for me to not have a clue about what the RvP chant was about at the start, not that it makes it right).
But hey-ho, since I refrain from chanting it all the same, I’m not going to try and defend it anyway.
Your house is wrongly spelt, ‘holic? π
In the terrific top forty?
Ollie,
House spelt incorrectly might explain why he doesn’t always arrive at the correct destination on return from the Tollington?
Where is Pedant, anyway?
Eggsactly Nonny π
What’s the problem with the Robin song?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbyYr6L5xQM
“Two vile crimes canβt be separated by degree, just because of the respective ages of the violated.”
No they can’t, you’re right. However, the song sung at AW has absolutely no bearing in fact. It is completely fictional. The song sung at CvC is rooted in something that actually happened. Whether he did what was alleged nobody can say. I think he is a berk therefore I choose to suspect the worst.
heh zico
We have a bit of an ” Indian summer ” going on here in Northern California. Supposed to be close to 90 degrees (32 C) on Sunday. London is going to be a shock to my system next weekend. Maybe I can at least bring some sunshine!
Rooney is a berk and he knows it, too. The diving cheating hair plug toss job.
Dr C,
I once met a girl named Chardonnay……;)
A quick back-drink and I see I missed the Reverend Al’s tactics.
Heh, your monsigneurness.
Well, California is a different climate, isn’t it?
Doest it ever snow there, NorCal?
Let me try another tack, in answer to TaBS and Snir.
Any term applied to another that causes distress, be it to Jewish people when some still use the y word as a derogatory term, or to Arsene’s family when he is supposedly ‘humorously’ linked with a heinous crime, or van Stapleton’s family (I don’t give a shit about him personally) when he is accused of a crime for which he was cleared, is in my view unacceptable.
Reading public forums and social media sites these songs clearly cause offence on a wide scale. That is exactly the reason so many have changed their attitude and the terminology they use to disparage the cunts up the road (whoops!).
I am not the judge and jury, just expressing an opinion with which you are free to differ.
I don’t want Arsenal’s name to be dragged through the mud tomorrow, as it surely will because of our media profile. Years of Wenger abuse has gone unchecked, but you do know the media will be all over us for singing that song, just because it is us.
My last word on the topic.
I hope.
And AL, I am all for Frimponging the cunt.
To the extent that if he, as a substitute, cannot break the berk* in the tunnel, he should start the match, do it on the pitch, and we’ll take our chance 10 v 11 π
Hey Holic, I had to mentally prepare myself before reading your piece. Never should have doubted you. Class all the way. If you were a character in George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’…no, better yet, if George had met you first, well he might have had a cheerier outlook on life. But he didn’t, hence forth his tale for the ages was born. But we have you. No ‘1984’ here, thank you very much π
Hey Holic, I had to mentally prepare myself before reading your piece
Quite the professional blog reader, abb! π
Holic – the song has been sung at Anfield and is so loud during Reading’s second goal that it is in every highlight reel, but the media haven’t been on our arse yet. Maybe they won’t after this game too?
Like I said, I can bear any abuse directed at anybody, apart from racism which the y word clearly is.
You know how much I value your opinion and Goonerdom, but on this case I’ll have to disagree because I’ve been raised differently and like I said, all is fair in war.
If it means it will throw him off like it did Nasri, I’ll sing it at the top of my lungs.
Arsenal FC above all.
“Last weekend, Lawro took on former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan and his Strictly Come Dancing partner Natalie Lowe.”
In this sentence from the BBC website the language doesn’t make it clear for me exactly which dancing partner is the partner of which other dancing partner. To avoid all confusion I would suggest rewriting the sentence in one of several ways, the best option in my opinion being:
“Last weekend, Lawro took on former Natalie Lowe of Strictly Come Dancing, and her partner former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan.”
That is all, unless someone wishes to argue the point. π
Hi there Ollie π
Whoops. One too many formers in that sentence, just to start off. :blush:
Agree – the Wenger chant has been disgusting for years, and what we chant tomorrow can kill any moral compass we propose to have.
“You could have been a legend” would be the perfect song
or “Eight years and you fucked right off” would be more than fine. Better still ignore the disloyal sod and let’s get on with backing our team on the pitch, our current heroes, sing for our players and our team. That’s what our 11 lads need more than anything.
Cheers all…I think we’ll win 3-2, this Man U backline is full of holes and I think in De Gea have a keeper who is capable of falling to bits (cue Giroud getting stuck in).
Fair enough ‘H, I can see that we’re not going to agree, but I don’t think any comparison with the “Y” word is in any way apposite.
A racist term is bound to offend whole swathes of people and is completely beyond the pale.
If we’re disallowing the CvC chant on the basis that it will offend his family, then that would rule out 95% of all chants aimed at opposition players, managers and referees.
Have just finished catching up on your previous blog Holic,and i have to say,if you had a swear box with double payment for the unmentionable C word,you would probably have enough dosh for a deposit on a nice semi in Swindon.!!
Having said that i cannot understand why Holics are bothering to even discuss the pariah.
To me it is a complete waste of time and energy.
Far better to spend our time discussing team selection,tactics,who needs to be on the bench,when to make crucial substitutions depending on the state of play,for what is a massive game on saturday.
I find that far more enjoyable than expending even a moments thought on an ex player.
Our record up there lately is truly appalling and we will need to play like we did at City to have any hope of getting something from the game.
Sady the City performance shines like a Beacon as our only truly standout game this season
If we take that mindset,and the Boss has the City game playing on the TV screen in the Coach all the way up to Manchester,to remind the players of what they are capable of,then perhaps we can look forward to an enjoyable Sunday.
Cheers
The Sweeper
Sadly, Tim, we have our own ‘kepper also capable of falling to bits π
As it happens, abb, 1984 is one of my favourite books. I’m due to re-read it I think. It becomes more frighteningly relevant with every passing year.
I can’t see how a verbal assault is unacceptable and a physical one is ,Holic .
He turned out to be a real twat,but his biggest crime was allowing us to have faith in him.That he didn’t live up to our expectations of him is not his problem ,its ours.(As Arshavin would tell you .If you asked him.I think)
‘kepper Ollie?
Is that where you live? π
Evening George. Great to see you here.
You are not familiar with the universal get out clause that is the ;-), are you?
Of course I don’t champion the use of violence against the berk*, honestly π
The song is factually inaccurate anyway as the woman came from Del Monte.
‘Holic, although apparently on a swearing ban you do realise you used the naughty word earlier?
Don’t think the grandkids will crawl through the drinks in years to come, Nonny π
Holic, ‘1984’, oh know just what you mean. But the politics and inhumane behaviour in ‘Animal Farm’ scare me even more. “All animals are created equal. Some animals are more equal than others”. And so led to their undoing.
Evening Clive,
I’m getting confrontational on six pints. I would counter your glass half empty view of our performances with the opposite.
The only poor performances came on day one, with new players yet to knit, at Norwich, and in the first half on Tuesday.
Other than that I have enjoyed watching us this season. Even against Chelsea and their outstanding midfield we only lost because of two hideous individual errors.
I am going to drink the last of this massive half that remains in my oversized jar π
Oops, apologies.
Off to watch Weller at the Beeb.
George Orwell, now we’re talking.
βFootball has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disegard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence: in other words it is war minus the shooting.β
George Orwell
Of course some animals are more equal than others, you’d look bloody silly riding into battle on a snail. Horses ftw π
Heh, ‘holic 58: busted π
Oh Tim, Brilliant. Yes, I do remember that quote! Maybe Kos read it before Reading, and took it to heart. There’s a burgeoning rugby player there, I think π
‘holic: glad you wiped the Schalke game out of your memory π
Tim
it is war minus the shooting
Some of our players are taking that last bit too literally π
Now Nonny… π
Great preview ‘Holic – Agree with all that you write, even if you are having 6 Guinnii spelling problems! π
Feeling a little apprehensive if I am honest. TV5 and his unpredictable performances are worrying enough with the likes of Shrek and The Rotter playing, but Santos gives me the shivers every time he goes near the ball. Not the good kind either!
Theo, I feel, will actually start the game on the bench although whether this is as a result of his contract antics or sheer tiredness after his exploits against Reading will be another conversation for another day.
So, if Theo is on the bench and Ramsey plays in his place whilst Santos takes up residence on the left hand side of the park, I see us with two potential weak points…BOTH FLANKS!
And THAT is was worries me most. Fergie simply won’t miss the obvious possibilities that these weaknesses offer and the likes of the Valencia and Young will surely be given orders to stick to the touchlines using their pace to attack the full backs and The Rotter will surely find lots of space to work his creative bones tucked in 10 yards behind them as they do so.
In truth, we need Ramsey and Podolski to play absolute blinders, TV5 and Per to do their thing and JW10, MA8 and SC19 to take every chance they get to try and thread in Giroud on he counter. I don’t see us taking the game to them at all, in fact I hope we don’t even try, as the spaces that would be left in behind Santos and in front of Sagna could prove to be fatal, but a tight-squeezing, hard-pressing, fast counter-attacking effort may just be enough to get us out of the Theatre of Nightmares with a point or even 3.
My pound is going on Giroud to score at anytime and for us to win 2-1 @ 55/1, give or take.
Fingers crossed.
Finally, as for the singing of certain songs at The Rotter, I personally hope that we show him the kind of class that we Gooners have, thus demonstrating EXACTLY why such a classless piece of money-grabbing shite should feel totally at home in his new surroundings and why the Mighty Arsenal simply wasn’t the club for him. “Us Guys” have more class in the dirt beneath the nails of our little fingers than he has in his entire Kangaroo tendon rebuilt body.
Of course, leaving my class to one side for a moment, I hope he goes down injured in the 3rd minute, misses the rest of a trophyless season for the Mancs and cries like a beaatch when we take home the three points too!
A Guinness if there are any left please sir!
@Ollie….I realise Mannone has some serious flaws, but a better back 4 ahead of him. Hopefully the difference will be our outfield 10 do a better job of protecting Vito.
I wouldn’t want De Gea as our first choice, I’m shocked he has that job at Man U – obviously they’re conceding his age as a (legitimate) excuse but it’s unlike them to have a keeper learning on the job. I think time will show he’s not ever going to be consistent enough, I hope the same won’t be said about Szczesny. For now I remain firmly on the fence.
Nonny that reminds me: where is Mr Snail? I haven’t seen him around here in a while. Hope war isn’t the reason of his absence.
To be honest Tim, I’ve not followed the Manc games, but I hear that Fergie has rotated the ‘keeper position a bit.
Is it possible that De Gea doesn’t even start?
He’s probably been stranded on damp but drying pavement after overnight rain and been crushed under someone’s welly. Happens a lot round here.
heh Nonny. Poor Snail.
Ollie of Kepper house,
Where I live does indeed get snow but I am inland surrounded by mountains. The coast is more temperate. My town is only a few hundred feet in elevation but we are surrounded by mountains. Skiing is just an hour up the road.
This is a warm spell for us this time of year. We have the extremes here. Up to 115 (46c) degrees in the summer and down to the teens (-7C) in the winter and everything in between.
ABB,
My daughter just read Animal Farm for school. I had to re-read it for old times sake too. Great book. 1984 is too scary for me to read again. It is too close to reality is some places.
@Ollie…very possible he won’t start, I don’t think either of their first 2 choices have claimed the position as their own.
I’ve probably seen United half a dozen times this season, can’t recall seeing their defending looking so chaotic. They do have lots of injuries but it is the only way we can get a result I think – by having a go.
Thierry Wrightkamp wrote above that ” I donβt see us taking the game to them at all, in fact I hope we donβt even try…” but we usually see more of the ball at Old Trafford. I think Ferguson for years has been happy to concede possession to us confident he had enough strength in the spine not to concede, this season I bet he won’t want that at all and he’ll push for a quick start and an early goal. I actually think we need to take the game to them as an early goal for us could see their defensive worries creep in again.
For me, Podolski having his best game in a while is key….he needs to work his marker and be prepared to drag players around. The last month he has looked inhibited (hurt was the rumour).
For the first time in a while we have a squad where goals could come from outside the box and on the counter, I fancy our chances but not if it gets cagey.
NorCal, Hear you. Just wish he had written more. And JD Salinger, too. When I first read ‘Catcher in the Rye’, I felt he was speaking for me. All my doubts and inadequacies.
Tim – I really want us to have Theo or Ox on the right.
Ramsey gives us possession there but not enough incisiveness.
JW to control the game.
I just hope the last week gave JW and Santi enough time to improve their understand because I don’t know if others noticed but against QPR, Santi was very inhibited and wasn’t in the game because everyone was looking for JW and not involving Santi enough.
Tim@79
I agree regards Fergie deciding that this year letting us have the run of the pitch is probably not going to be in his thinking, but I just think tha playing an attacking game requires Ramsay to get back more quickly than he is able when we lose possession and – agreeing entirely with your point regarding the need for him to have a good game – iPod to cover a fairly ridiculous amount of ground if he is going to continually dig Santos out of the cack! If the word coming out of the unofficial channels has any truth to it, Podolski simply doesn’t have the ankle to run like he was for 90 minutes. Now THAT is a worry.
Defensively they have indeed appeared weaker than usual and, if I am honest, they only really have 3.5 players that seem to really know what the attacking element of their game requires too. The big worry I have is that the 3.5 they do have will find it very easy pickings if left up against our 3.0 in defence!
Truth be told, whatever the result, if we actually give them a game and don’t play like we did against Norwich and Chelski Rovers, I will be a contented little bunny!
I am the only guy in this bar with a bullet in my guts……
Cheers for the geography lesson, NCA.
Agree with you on the game scenario, Tim.
Good points though, TW.
Heh at the catcher in the rye.
And goodnight to all.
Oh Holden, You made the teenage me, very happy. Long May you rescue other adolescents π Goodnite Ollie!
But where do the ducks go in winter?
@65 “minus the shooting” – maybes George had something like our last league away-day V Naaarich in mind at the time – personally, i think we’ll be a lot, lot betterer at the toilet…
UReDS!
Joe@503 in previous drinks (I had a lot of backdrinking to do)
Kipling Road was a typical East End street. People were in and out of each others houses, with each others’ property all day long. Oh, they were a cheery lot. Cheery and violent. I remember when he was little, Doug was keen on boxing, but when he learned to walk he took up putting the boot in the groin.
Zico@87
Not sure if they “Duck out” or “Duck off”!
Sorry π
Whoa, just got home from the pub and find I have a shitload of back-drinking to do… Guess I’ll be gone for an hour or so π
AL – back on the upbeat – you had me worried for a bit last Saturday π
@ 87 Why they fly south, don’t they Holden π
Wherever they ducking want to!
AOC healthy or not? Is he a game time decision?
NorCal@94
If AOC is fit, surely he has to start in place of Ramsay. On top of his workrate, attacking ability and pace, surely he has a fire burning in his gut to get in amongst the United players after last season, too?!
Not sure if he is fit though.
I fly South, not for the winter per-se, but to escape Roxette and her fetish with retail outlets – usually co-incides with a home game.
And I’ve never had a bullet in my guts.
But I could be a phony. 8)
TV5 clears the ball forward …….. The follow thru blasts a certain someone squarely in the nutsack while shotgunning his nasal contents all over himself causing him to aspirate and trip over his ego thus breaking his chocolate leg…….the prick.
No Zico, You are an original. Start working on your epic novel, kiddo. I’ll be the first in line to buy a copy π
NorCal@97
We can only dream!
I think that TV5 would love to do a “Vinnie” on him…You know, show the world what a “handful” The Rotter can be for a defender!
In?
Oooohhh….Set myself up there!
Whilst TV5 was doing a Vinnie, Thierry Wrightkamp sneaks round the back of Shrek and Rio and finds the top corner with a half-volley on the turn from a ball that took a deflection off Mike Dean!
BEUATIFUL STUFF!
Great finish Lester!
Just took the ball off my toes π
And well, AL.
And back Zee – for the manks you’ve gotta be – ‘aven’t yer???
Comebak-Chamak to get his second brace in a weeeeeeeeeeek – as a second half sub! Oh gawd i’ve gawn a little giddy … i must have me the smelling salts
Intrigue at AFC. No pics of Vito or AOC training. Can’t remember the last time no ‘sighting’ of our goalie. Is this a mind game between Arsene and Fergie. It’s not like Woj is ready to play, or is he. Hmm. To be cont…
Holic @63
I don’t think apart from the Norwich and Schalke games,that i ever said our performances were poor.
My take was that apart from the City game,nearly all our efforts were mediocre.
Nothing we have done except the City game has really had me purring at the quality i know we are capable of.
Ever since Diaby limped off after 15mins against Chelsea,we have not had the same balance in midfield.
it is a shame that yet again we travel North to our Nemesis, missing
important players through injury.
I doubt very much if their will be any changes to the lineup that started against QPR,Walcott/Arshavin after 120mins in midweek should be on the bench,and i think Poldi will be playing as an extra full back to support Santos,much like he did at Liverpool with Gibbsy,where i thought his defensive work on that left side was absolutely outstanding.
Ramsey should play right side to protect Sagna and force Utd to play through the middle.
I think our midfield holds the key,but it will be a question of whether Jack can last the full 90mins,because if he can’t,then Utd can exploit the space once he departs.
As always the fundamental element in all of this,is our ability or not,to retain possession when we have the ball.
You can sometimes get away with sloppy passing against the lesser teams ,but against the big boys it can cost you dearly.
We saw what an attacking mindset can do for you when the Spuds won up there a few weeks ago,whether AW will be as brave,i guess we will find out at 12.45pm tomorrow.
But win lose or draw,as long as we leave our BLOOD on their pitch then we cannot ask for more.
Cheers
The Sweeper.
The Sweeper@106
“But win lose or draw,as long as we leave our BLOOD on their pitch then we cannot ask for more.”
EXACTLY! Well said sir.
Clive,
Didn’t the Ramblers leave the oppositions blood on the pitch?
If it was good enough for them …. π
“But win lose or draw,as long as we leave our BLOOD on their pitch then we cannot ask for more.”
Thats the vibe I love to hear Sweeper…..!
Thats it all…in a nutshell….!
I am now empty. I have fully deposited all the used refuse from the ol’ Quackeru squarly on CVC’s locker. They probably wont even notice the stentch above that usual smell of old trampford stadium. I also left a wee-treat for sir shrinkydink, well it was more of just a weewee.
Lets enjoy tomorrow and show our class on the pitch.
Oxon,
Thanks for that.
I repeated it because it was a party piece of Christopher Hitchens and given the philosophical exchange between Tabs and Faustus on religion……and the comments from some of the ladies about the “peoples front of judea” (which I think was started by Dr Feelgood), I thought it might be somewhat appropriate on a friday evening to inject a little humour.
Christopher Hitchens Joe? A very wise man.
Hope you’re a fan?
Evening Z,
Re the Ramblers,The opposition left a lot of our blood out there as well mate,it was a very very brutal league.!!
Remiss of me not to compliment you on some excellent posts recently.
Joe/TW,thnks guys,it’s the least we can ask.
Interesting enough pre-match review Holic, I’m indifferent to the prick but I think tomorrow will be the exception to that usual choice of mine to ignore him. I mean, something like Christmas only comes around once a year, the same applies for this sort of fixture right? π
I would like to be the first to suggest Manchester United 3 ARSENAL 4.
Heh, bt8b.
For the second time this week I want Gooners leaving an away ground with a stunning victory to their credit, singing “Five against Arsenal? You should have scored more!”
Very diplomatic ‘Holic. Nice one.
Here’s to a famous victory.
Slainte.
A very big fan of “the Hitch” Tabs.
When mentioning his name – I smiled to myself as I somehow knew you’d appreciate that given your similar stance on religion on the previous thread..!
For me, religion has an awful lot more to answer for in history than any atrocity or any insult traded on any football field. But I didn’t want to get too heavy into a discussion on what is, afterall, a football blog. But lets just say – I’m a devout atheist.
Bath,
May I kindly ask you to name your top five whiskies sir…?
Nice peice ‘holic. I have to say I totally agree with you about the song, it demeans us all as a group.
We called others who sung it deluded over the years, many defending him to the hilt. Seems to me beyond hypocritical if we now chose to chant it ourselves, even though he did leave us in a dispicable way, I still don’t think it justifies it.
Many are quick to complain about the way Wenger is treated at their shit hole and rightly so. It’s also easy to condem the likes of Terry and Suarez for using racial abuse. What’s the difference? None at all as far as I can see, abuse is abuse plain and simple, it’s sole purpose is to offend and wound and it should matter not a jot if the context is race, colour, creed, religon or sexual preference, the world would be a better place without it. If it’s just banter, then Terry calling Anton a b***k *berk is too, you can’t have it both ways.
I’d prefer we didn’t waste our breath singing about him at all, let’s get behind our lads instead.
Whatever happened to good old fashioned booing and hissing?
Let’s just call him a *berk and have done with it.
Or
” we love you Arsenal, we do!”
Or
“Na na na na na na, na na na Giroud!”
No problem
Macallan
THE Glenlivet
Highland Park
Benromach
Bunnahabhain
I liked Ollie’s suggestion that we should sing about DB10 and LJW10 throughout.
I’m feeling very left out of this debate, having managed to miss out on the offending song entirely. On that basis I can’t comment on it specifically.
In general, there are two comments I would add.
Firstly, Snir, always love your passion mate and you, being an Israeli, will have a fair idea of what war is. But this is just a football match.
We are all rightly appalled when any fan is killed in relation to a football match, so let’s not confuse the two.
Second, I am as pissed off as anybody with van Persie’s departure in the summer and the nature of the whole bloody episode.
However, I’ve always hated the Wenger paedophile trash, not only for the unjustified hurt it would inflict on Arsene himself, but also for the damage and upset it would cause his own daughter when she was old enough to understand.
I don’t know what the van Persie song under debate says, but if it causes harm to his innocent children then I would have to count myself out.
As for van Persie persienally, sing what you like. Hard to see how it will affect a two-faced, lying ingrate who was having his new house finished in Manchester while kissing the Arsenal badge and stirring the fans to cheer him more. Berk*.
We are as one Joe, and I certainly did appreciate you mentioning him.
Huge hero of mine. Unbelievably bright, unimaginably well read, fantastic orator, fearless in his opinions, and never took himself too seriously.
Thanks Ollie btw, for turning my drink into an arse today.
Evening Trev.
Hello baff. Just polished off a Chivas Regal. Wouldn’t normally buy what I consider to be overpriced blends, but it was on special. Not bad at all. Wouldn’t pay full price, but getting some honey and butterscotch, both favourite flavours of mine.
Evening Major, trust all is well.
It’s one of the more respectable blends, Holic.
No shame in that if you got a good price.
When it comes to slumming, I prefer Teachers myself.
Trev – Of course, I don’t want anybody dead, all I’m saying is, that over the course of the 90 minutes, do what you gotta do to help your team win.
If it’s to sing vile songs, then so be it. As long as it helps my team, I don’t care what the influences on the other sets of fans are. We’ll deal with that after the 90 minutes.
Evening bath.
Evening Trev. Sorry I missed you last weekend.
Just watching Freddo get his just deserts on the water.
Snir, think my ‘second’ point is more important in this case.
Whatever, enjoy tomorrow. I have a sneaky feeling Ollie Giroud is going to cause them a bit of damage tomorrow.
Cheers all,
Just 12 short hours until kickoff. A nooner for you makes an early 545 for me. Enjoy your nightcaps and let’s all pull for lads as one tomorrow.
Have a good night everyone.
That would be very, very nice, Trev.
Bath – Wonderful……
I have to expand my tasting to include Benromach. You have mentioned that more than once and its something I will pursue.
As for the others – we’ll they’re all classics and I would expect no less from you good sir.
Unusually, as an Irishman – I’m a big convert to Scotch but of late Ive discovered a few treasures. My favourite whiskies are :
Bushmills 21 – you may as well be drinking silk!
Bowmore – 17 and 21 (in a portwood finish).
Lagaviullin 16
Scapa Flow 14
And Bushmills 10 as a staple.
Hitchens used to drink Johnny walker black label, a 12 year old blended whisky which he described as “the breakfast of champions” and “the official whisky of the Iraqi Baath party”……..to somehow legitimise the gargantuan quantities he himself consumed…..with a twinkle in his eye, a smile and an incomparable sense of humour…!
NYC Goons:
Just got news that Blind Pig has got electricity and WILL be showing the game tomorrow.
However, there is still no subway service below 34th street.
But atleast thats some great news.
Sajit, glad to see power is slowly coming back on line. Hope you get a proper viewing of the game!
Well it looks like I’m certainly in the minority along with good old Snir as regards the song. People like Holic, Trev, H2H and others all of whose opinions I hugely respect, take a different view so I may have to accept I’ve got this one wrong.
I don’t want to come over as chief sponsor of the song. I’m not. I won’t be skipping to the away juicer of choice tomorrow brimming with anticipation at the thought of belting it out. In fact I think it’s pretty puerile. Where I differ is that beyond RVP and his wife I don’t think its offensive to anyone else.
I’m ready to be persuaded but I don’t think it offends females in general. I think it can be differentiated from the chant aimed at AW, which stems from nothing more than the fetid imagination of a bored Spurs supporting City worker, from chants that invoke race, and from chants that dwell on tragedy such as Munich or Hillsboro.
I take Trev’s point about it causing offence to the family but as I said before I think that stipulation would rule out most chants aimed at the opposition. Is it any different than 3 sides of Highbury telling Beckham where his wife likes it? Not in my book.
Thanks NorCal.. Theres just one way to make what has essentially been a horrible week (some of my friends are still without heat and electricity) better.. Hope we stuff them .
On a side note, this past one week, has shown me how much I love New York. No matter how bad things are New Yorkers jsut get on with their lives.
Love the attitude.
Re: ‘holic @116: Do I detect the slightest hint of remorse at your not having made that score the object of your ‘holic pound? If so, you can always say the odds weren’t advantageous enough after we proved our ability to come up with miraculous scores like Reading 5 Arsenal 7. By the way, did you make a halftime punt on that one??
Sajit. New York rocks!!
Trev – I also think Giroud will cause them a lot of problems, but I really don’t want Ramsey on the right…
Would very much prefer Ox or Theo, to inject some pace to our attacking play.
We’ve been playing at standing/walking pace since the interlull.
Joe. βthe official whisky of the Iraqi Baath partyβ π
Snir. If anybody is going to account for those four goals I predicted we had better include Theo in the team ….
Tabs – that’s exactly why I’m in favor of it. Every chant has a hint of offense to someone (chants about other clubs, not Arsenal), so to say that one won’t sing that chant would make that individual not sing so many others or else he’ll risk being inconsistent.
I value their opinion greatly too, but you could have said, that you got it right since you’re on my side π
Joe, I have tasted Bushmills Malt (no idea what age) once and was very impressed. I tasted Scapa this summer for the first time – nice, a little oily, but it’s a premium price here due to the low quantity produced, I suspect. It’s not the labour costs. We were in Orkney in July and discovered they don’t do distillery tours as they only have a staff of 3! The manager visits once per month from the mainland.
Bowmore was my favourite Islay malt until I discovered Bunnahabhain.
I only discovered Benromach this year. It was closed for a very long time and re-started in the last decade or so by Gordon & MacPhail, the Elgin merchants. Hence it has the merit and rare value of being Scottish owned unlike a previous favourite of mine Glenmorangie which is owned by Louis Vuitton. Mind you the best whisky I ever tasted was Glenmorangie matured in D’Yquem casks – orgasmic. Their Sauterne cask matured has an echo of that very fine and very rare cratur. I’ll never taste it again sadly.
The Benromach to go for is their Peat Smoke edition – especially as you have a taste for the Islay malts. I must get another bottle soon – the missus has aquired a taste for it too and it’s going down fast!
Slainte.
Tabs,
I don’t say either of us is right or wrong, it’s all just opinions.
Hope we all enjoy tomorrow, van Persie wakes up with flu and can’t play. Or that ostrich gets him. π
Btw Tabs, why doesn’t Beckham’s wife like it in your book ? π
Heh Snir, good point π
To be serious though, I think that we all have a line of what is acceptable. I, unlike you, do not think the AW chant is in any way acceptable. I differentiate it from the RVP chant because it has no basis in fact. Some might say that I am drawing a non-existent difference. They might have a point.
Bath, So the missus has acquired a taste for the Islay malts. Happy days! π
Heh Trev, that would take a book! π
Right, it’s G’night from me.
Come on you Reds!!!
8 ball, it’s making the whisky go twice as fast. I need to wean her back onto Mojitos. π
Where do I start Bath…?
Now when I reflect I have actually confused Bunnahabhain with Bruichladdich – which of course means I must now explore even further…!!
If I ask you to try one whisky – it would be the 21 year old Bushmills. That would be my “last meal” were I ever executed, which is worryingly, a distinct possibility given the sacrifices I ask from my wife and kids each and every weekend. It’s a sad state of affairs when your wife checks the kickoff times and plans the family weekends around same…!
And for some reason the 14 year old Orkney still tickles me – and its probably because i now know its a distillery run by 3 people…! That said I did omit the 18 year old Macallan which should be compulsory in any tasting curriculum.
I have tasted Chateau D’Yquem wines on more than one occasion – and they occupy a benchmark that just make the follicles stand on the back of my neck. But I did not know such casks were open to the maturation of whisky and as such – I am grateful for your knowledge on same..!
And I will go for the peat smoke edition of Benromach…….
As Stillman said this week on Arseblog:
“The players are the ones that wield the paintbrush, but the people you experience their artistry with – fleck the canvas with colour….”
We will share a whisky or too yet Bath…!!
Damn. Why all this whiskey talk AFTER I can’t buy them in the UK anymore.
Joe you’re 1 week too late with your question.
Oh. Good morning holics. very early morning anyway.
@147 I’ve had the recent pleasure of tasting a Bushmills 10 year single malt, Bath. And like you, was impressed.
Talisker is quite good too, first time I tried it was after ‘holic tweeted about it.
You fine gentlemen lead me astray with all this whiskey hullabaloo
As I sit here and type – I am actually drinking Tallisker Steve..!
Nice! Salud, Joe. To good health and The Arsenal.
It’s a little too early for me to be hitting the whiskey yet. I suspect I will in about 9 hour’s time.
Oh, to add…
I don’t know if you’re a cigar person, Joe, but I was recently introduced to Partagas D No.4 – goes GREAT with a honey toned whiskey.
Frimpong has the flu. Hope he has not been around any of the others. Don’t need another virus going thru the team. Sheesh.
i know it’s the minority position here in the bar, but i have to agree with snir and tabs. fuck cvc. i might be sinking to the level of the opposition, but he deserves to be frimponged, sung nasty chants to, and generally abused.
of course, i will be chanting it quietly so as not to wake the family.
Some great drinks! Cheers holic, tabs, Trev, Snir,Clive. I can’t decide which side of the debate I’m on actually
But all that is secondary to how we actually play today. I’m very nervous about our left back situation. I want Theo/Ox to start but I know Arsene will go with Ramsey on the right
But if you are going to play Ramsey, why not play Arteta-Ramsey-Wilshere in the middle and Santi on the right side of the front three
This has way more balance IMO. But defensively Santi has to track back in this case
Seeing that I won’t be able to get on the drinks till after the match…
UP THE ARSENAL. FUCK OFF VAN PURSEY.
Have a good one, holics
Glenmorangie matured in DβYquem casks
Fuck, I shouldn’t have backdrunk.
This sounds too good.
Partagas D No.4
Steve-o, he’s gone to BarΓ§a, get over it. π
Harsha, the match preview lists Ox as injured, so he won’t play.
As for Feo, I think arseblogger makes the sensible point why he probably will only be on the bench (sorry, Nonny, I still don’t think it’s a punishment)
Today I shall mostly be at the pub.
Up the Arsenal!
Great write up holic. I must say I am very much with you on this one. Especially having been standing in the crowd at the mad stad. Even more especially when I get asked by my two what it actually meant. Now I am of course fully aware that a crowd will not tone down its language on account that there may be kids there, nor would I want or expect it to. Some things just go with the territory. But I do think there is a line between the acceptable and non acceptable. I also think it is very interesting to see just on here at the difference as to where this is drawn and how people reach that decision.
With regards to RVP himself I will be in a large minority of 1 here. Of course I gave read everything about him leaving. I also witnessed how he behaved last season. Whilst I also think he is a massive berk I also believe he would still be here if the club had won something or shown more ambition. I am not naive enough to think that he is motivated by greed. However, when we again read that 4th is like winning a trophy and in two years time we might be able to compete I just can’t help but feel that statements like these may just have been the deciding factor.
As for today? For once I am not massively optimistic. Andre and Vito scare the life out of me and we are never too far from a howler making life really tough for us. I will have an awful lot crossed.
Some great stuff above boys and girls.
Keep the faith.
Joe @155, sorry had to crash.
I will certainly go looking for 21 year old Bushmills.
And one day we certainly shall share a few drams, though the Tollie’s only malt is Glenfiddich.
Last Saturday, I did tell the barman they had to broaden their range for the Holic custom but he seemed underwhelmed. They do have Jamesons and some other Irish whiskeys though. Apart from Jamesons they’re pretty much uncharted territory for me.
Here’s to a performance worth a few toasts later today!
Sorry. Should read, not naive enough to think that he is NOT motivated by money. Of course he is. I just don’t think that is the only factor.
Right, backed us at 9/2 and Vermaelen to score anytime at 9/1 yesterday. Both irresistable.
Will look at the starting line-up before deciding on a possible Theo to score first for us bet if he starts.
This really could go either way.
Well, may the ‘holic pound come good, for once π
Good luck folks, I’m starting a Mugabe-style media-lockdown.
I might not be back.
Good morning to you all..
Tabs, although we’ve never met, I’m truly humbled that you respect my opinion and hold me in the self esteem as the other gentleman you mentioned whom I know you’ve shared time with in the flesh, believe me the feeling is mutual.
I’m now starting to wonder if I have the right song I mind, if it’s the one I think it is then I feel it’s wrong, I never joined in the Munich 58 or Spurs are on their way to A…… chants, some lines for me are too far to be crossed. If you’re starting to have doubts, them maybe that line has just moved away from you to, I’ll still hapilly spend time with you here and hopefully in the real world in the future.
Snir, I love your passion and admire your dedication. I also believe you to be a very intellegent young man. Some of the things you posted last night rattled my cage a bit, I decided at the time to let it go, but when I awoke they were still sticking in my craw, so here goes;
The only thing I would not tolerate is racism.
Other than that β all is fair in love and war.
So, injuring, maiming, killing, raping, pillaging, homoside and genocide are all acceptable, yet making reference to the colour of one’s skin is beyond the pale?
If itβs to sing vile songs, then so be it. As long as it helps my team
I don’t see how it possibly helps the team, remember Adebayor? Didn’t make him play any worse did it? We sung that song he scored and run the whole length of the pitch to celebrate in front of us, that was an extra fuck you to us if you ask me, he just tried even harder.
Didn’t the manager of this team you profess to be helping ask us to refrain from such behavior, I’m sure he won’t see it as helpful and let’s not forget that CvC has probably got quite a few friends left in our team, I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t condone it either. But this all may be conjecture on my part.
My main contention is that I’ve heard the “I did it for my team” excuse before, I heard it constantly in the 70’s and early 80’s, when Yobbos would explain away their houligan actions with the same rhetoric. History is full of atrocities being commitited under this guise.
Doesn’t the KKK do what they do for the good of their race? I also believe that the Nazi’s used that same line to justify their actions too. The justifacation of hate will only ever lead to suffering.
t’s a damn shame that this side show distracts us and divides us from the real issue which is the need for three points against our rivals that have been deserving of our animosity long before Judas van Staplscum was even born. Please except a drink on my tab and take a good lurk on the passsed peace pipe I’m sending your way.
holic did you get my email yesterday?
Red Nose’s tactics will be to pressure our weak points viz LB & GK…how we stand up to this will determine the result. Don Vito will be busy…hope it is making saves and not picking the ball of the net.
I’m hoping for A similar team performance at the level shown at Middle Eastlands a few weeks ago and then Manure’s weak points will be tested.
COYRRRs
Typo…out of the net.
Rubbish team selection. A team that struggled at home to the team bottom of the league is considered good enough to go to Old Trafford and win? I think not.
Arsenal
Mannone, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Andre Santos, Arteta, Ramsey, Wilshere, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud. .
Subs: Martinez, Koscielny, Walcott, Coquelin, Arshavin, Jenkinson, Chamakh
The *Berks
De Gea, Da Silva, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley, Young, Rooney, van Persi, Mike Dean
Subs: Lindegaard, Anderson, Hernandez, Nani, Scholes, Powell, Wootton. The Fourth official
zico 1 liffey 0
You forgot the additional team-member for the berks, H2H, faulty watch. π
521am….lovely chilly morning…coffee is on
Come on You Reds…..
Right lads. Let’s fucking have it.
We’re owed a performance here after last time round. If we’re properly focused and motivated we can do this lot.
COYRRR
H2H – you know I didn’t mean all is fair in that sense but in a footballing sense of do what needs to be done to win within the 90 minutes.
Not outside in a brawl or anything of the sort.
True, Adebayor did score but I can remember Nasri wanting to get subbed off after 20 minutes so it depends on the actual player.
I just wanna make sure I make the experience as miserable as I can for the Dutchman.
Oh, and what I’d like to see in the first five mins: someone (preferably Jack) leaving their foot in on the Dutch cunt.
Set the fucking tone.
CoMOnU(blues/hoops/yellows etc.)TheRealReDS!
H2H
Agreed. Chanting at the former employee will only amp him up. Plus, the Mancs will love it.
Never show them you’re hurt.
If it was down to me, we’d just crack on and act like he’d never worn an Arsenal shirt. Robin who?
Snir, apologies if I was too pedantic.
N7, that’s what I’m talkin’ ’bout.
COYG’s
Come on Arsenal.
Focus. Hard work. Flair.
GO WIN.
H2H – I’ll take a Guinness, thanks for the offer π
Get whatever you want for yourself. It’s paid for π
Up the Arse.
Good man Snir, cheers.
Why Ramsey???
Our possession game has been way too slow since the interlull… :\
We need to make it faster!!
Although Theo on at 60 to wear out tiring legs worked last week.
I need a drink in my hand for this one.
Ah, Black Sheep!
I can see nothing but a win for the home side, sadly, and possibly by a wide margin. I hope I’m wrong, but I just don’t see anything positive about that team selection.
I’m gonna be needing more the one, Bath mate.
I hate to admit it but I can’t remember feeling so pessamistic about an upcomming game in a long, long time.
Still, I’ve had plenty of misplaced optimism in the not so decent past, maybe that’s a good omen. π
COME ON ARSENAAAAAAL
Good luck lads and ladies.
I’m off ’til it’s over.
Here we go, Good Luck lads! Hi everyone π
Come onnnnn!!!
COME
ON
ARSENAL
And there we go. Shit left back, shit centre back, 1-0
Sick. At. My. Stomach.
Chocolate leg as well, to add further insult to injury
Yup. Our defensive record is a fluke.
Let’s see if Wenger has the balls to change his lineup before the 70th minute.
Not for ten first time, TV makes another costly mistake. He better start scoring to make up.
I’ll be happy if they score fewer than 5. Same old.
So will I CG, especially if they stop at 4 as I had a bet on RvP first goal, 4-0 United at 75/1 after seeing the teams
I was hoping we wouldn’t go behind here. Damn.
Ramsey is actually playing through the middle. What a fucking joke
Way to believe, folks.
And I mean AT CENTRE FORWARD
‘Our defensive record is a fluke’ *rolls eyes*
At least, he’s spending a lot of time walking around in a central forward position. Lunacy
Had enough of this, I’ll go mental if I stay so off I go…
Reckon it might be best to get behind the team, rather than betting against them.
COYG’s
And it’s arrrrsenal, arrrrsenal fc, we’re by far the greatest team the world has ever seen…
Sterlie.
Get. Santos. Off.
Nice save!
Ramesy wakey wakey
Good save Vito !!!
They need to wake up and quick!
Got to fix the left flank quickly.
Better.
Unlucky Aaron
Oooh, nice Aaron.
Vito, God Bless you!
Santos might just as well not be there, they’re skinning him evertime.
Saved again by Vito.
Abb, indeed.
Hey fellas, Just hang in there holics! C’mon Arsenal!!!
Podolski wants a bollocking here. Just not in this game and not helping his left back. Opening goals came after Rafael got right down the flank untracked.
Too right abb.
We’re still in this.
Need more from Podolski at mo
Cazorla is anonymous
And itβs arrrrsenal, arrrrsenal fc, weβre by far the greatest team the world has ever seenβ¦
Charlie, that’s my last knee jerk of the game…
No yellow for carrick? Going in from behind?
Is Eisfeld on the bench?
Our left side is liability, but we are still in this, come on lads, lets pull off Spurs home on them!
Not very cleverley done.
Giroud working hard.
Fix the left flank, get theo on and there’s something for us here.
iBTM.
No.
Subs: Martinez, Koscielny, Walcott, Coquelin, Arshavin, Jenkinson, Chamakh
Hello all. Not out of this but what a crap start. Our flanks are being sliced open. Santos leaves us exposed and has no offensive flow either.
mancs not needed to get out of first gear yet….come on lads!!
Podolski off at half time.
If we have to persist with the fantasy that Ramsey gives us some kind of defensive value, get him on the left where he is needed and get Theo on the right to give us at least a threat of scoring a goal, as we don’t have that currently.
Awful performance and lucky to still be in it.
NorCal.
I agree we’re not out of it, but we’re not really in it either.
lack of pace on counter
not impressed wit capt today
Have we had a shot yet? Dodgy keeper in their net – untested
You silly twat Santi
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Ugh.
Seriously
Heh
YESSSSSSS MISS
YES. Come on. Make your changes at half time and take advantage of the luck.
Hhahahajaha
justice!!!
Both teams are poor
Justice, I thought that was a bit harsh on Santi.
Santos with a Chelsea-like revival in the second.
Arsenal fans chanting for Theo will only make Wenger sit his arse on the bench for longer
gotta earn your pay now Arsene….not good enough so far. At all.
We should be four or five down here.
GET SANTOS OFF THE FUCKING PITCH FOR TAKING THAT SHIRT AT HALF TIME.
This lot are not all that. We’ve made them look good.
Give them the rocket Arsene. And fix that fucking left flank.
What does all that say – that cuddling shit at half time?
FFS.
Right, nonny, fans’ chants are going to make him use a different strategy. He is weak minded, that ArsΓ¨ne.
He has played like a cunt but at least he got what he went for eh? Bloody disgraceful, I hate that shit
Nonny. As much as I like Poldi, something is just not right. Time to make a change. Halftime.
Santos just asked for CVC’s jersey at halftime. Come on. Show some arsenal pride. WTF
How many shots did we have in the 1st?
My granny’s penalty taking is better than the fat granny shaggers. Just the tonic we needed. Off to get my bet on.
A Tale of Two Cunts.
We want a game of two halves.
Lucky to be only 1 down IMHO.
COME ON ARSENAL.
On the juice FUCKING BOLLOCKS!
Nonny – please tell me you were joking about betting against us.
Very uninspiring performance, most seem muffled and stifled. Not sharp at all. Fuck knows what’ll make them tick.
Our attacking play is so fucking slow. We need some pace. Urgently.
Santos and Poldi need to either step up their game or come off, I like Aaron but he has to go, we need width and whipping those crosses in to the box for OG to work with them..no point in having target man like him without proper service.
Jesus Christ.
Ramsey is not a winger. Walcott scores a hat trick and doesn’t get the start ahead of a guy that is not a winger?
Our captain with an unforced error in the third minute off his strong foot. Gifted them an early goal. Why not just slot the ball in yourself for the OG? Nice. Fantastic mental strength there.
Same old Arsenal. π
Arsenal bloody Arsenal. Oy vey.
Forget the first half. Get Theo in for Ramsey straight away and get the next goal. This one can still be salvaged.
what Snir said @278
Van Persie should never have got to half time without taking a clattering.
As for taking his shirt – WTF?! He’s not your mate lads.
Still all to play for. Just fix the most glaring problem and get the goal machine on.
With the deadly dean at his favorite side, whistle happy and penalty giving to his masters, any team needs a few goal cushion, esp. us. Doesn’t look like there’s any motivation, or is it just me?
We’ve been poor and are still in it. 2-1 to us…
Don’t want to be all over Vermaelen but that was awful by him.
United aren’t very good, let’s not sit in awe. Cazorla needs to get up nearer the striker – FAR too much space between Giroud and everyone else.
COYR
Speed ,pace?
Gibbs-out
AOC – out
Walcott- out in the cold
Even Rosicky showed a forward drive last year-out
Jack,Santi not clicking. Santos doesn’t overlap. No width.
Manure aren’t all that, but we we’re completly toothless. I think we’d have to try five times harder just to be tame.
Poldi’s not there again and I really have to question if he’s at 100% fitness. It’s futile to really point out who’s not at the races because non of them really are, it’s a team game and we’re looking like a bunch of blokes who met in the parking lot before the game.
Santos is gonna take a lot of shit about the shirt, but what you gonna do? as I stated earlier many of them are probably still friends with whatshis face, they don’t give half as much a shit as we do, let’s not delude ourselves into thinking they do.
Changes must be made during the break, sort it out Arsene.
He probably isn’t Snir, its emotional compensation, if your team loses then you’ve made a few quid, if they win then you’re happy with a loss.
Sagna’s been immense, Vermaelen poor, why can everyone see but Wenger that Ramsey hasn’t got the pace on the right wing for the overlap with Sagna, pointless. Podolski must have a niggle of some sort with this sort of performance for about the 3rd game in a row, he needs a extended rest to get back to his best.
@280 – Walcott played 128 minutes during the week, he was never going to be able to start.
Gibbs (again) our biggest loss
No shots for us on target π
With ya, snir. Exactly like Chelsea earlier this year. Even with jack in.
The stuff about Theo being tired is nonsense. He’s not exactly been playing to the point of burn out this season
I doubt he will make the changes he needs to at HT. At 2-0 down he might have, but 1-0 is still doable with his selected team (in his head anyway if not reality). I’ll be amazed if he changes it before the hour mark
Wind – emotional my arse.
I wasn’t born in London but I can criticize others.
And to me, betting against your team means you ain’t a supporter.
Plain and simple.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS.
When it comes to betting I don’t give a fuck if the odds are good enough. I bet for money not out of sentiment.
Vermaelen again FFS, what’s wrong with him?
Who does Vermaelen play for. Come on.
Dear Captain time to wake the f*ck up
Vermaelen ffs what are you doing -_-
Vermalen’s again, unbelievable.
Shambles again so far >< COME ON!
@288 – That was Tuesday, the lad is young, and he hasn’t played much this year. He should be plenty fresh. Rather Theo start than Ramsey on the RW.
COYG!
Here comes FEO
TV5 is overrated people. Sorry but it is true and needs to be said.
Theo on. Aaron off.
Ok Theo get to work
And with that in mind re betting, with Arsenal having ridden their luck and replacing a slow twat with a proper player, I’ll be betting in play on us to win.
Ok theo. here’s 40 minutes. Lets go.
Theo, please son, help us out of this hole!
14/1 on Arsenal to win. Nice odds.
Better!
Better better better
OOoooo Giroud. Finally a chance, COYG
shame! come ooooon!
Thats the way Jack!
FFS put it on goal
Fuck sake AS.
Looking better, COYG’s
Santos too hard, damn, nice break.
SANTOS FFS
Snir knows @ 292.
Definite yellow stupidly
TWAT
Cunt
Cleverly subed, he should have been off.
Left side of our attack non existant..really missing Gibbs.
podolski seems so far off da pace
Arshavin should come and score 3
And itβs arrrrsenal, arrrrsenal fc, weβre by far the greatest team the world has ever seeeeen…
Vito!
Fucking waste.
Briliant save Vito.
I’m not his biggest fan but he’s kept us in it.
=========
Fuck Evra the cunt.
how was that not offside? O.o
Bah
Poor Vito, not his fault. He’s played valiantly.
Fucking hell. All those shirts in the box and the smallest player in there scores with a header.
Unless we are going to give it a serious go from now on, I cant see us getting anything out of this.
CUNT was offside, shouldn’t have been a corner if linesman was doing his job correctly.
Also CUNT should have been sent off earlier.
I’m not best pleased.
FUck off Evra you humungous cunt.
FUCK OFF MIKE DEAN
Wilshere off. Rash challenge
Bye Bye Jack.
A bad day getting worse.
FUCK OFF EVRA
Are you kidding me? Cleverly gets a talking to, jack sent off? Fuck Mike Dean.
red for Jack?..for what?
Ok game over!
Santos is caught out time and again.
What ??!!
Come on.
Valencia is an average player being made to look good
Eandy
That was a nasty tackle but it’s Dean in charge as well Cleverley should have been off as well!
Sorry but it’s deluded to think we’ve got what it takes to beat them. If that was true we wouldn’t lose 7 out of 8 at OT.
typical…..11 vs 12 just became 10 vs 12…..or 9.5 if we include Santos
Sadly I have to accept that the score is a fair reflection of the way the 2 teams have played and sadly may also reflect a gulf in class.
Can’t argue with the second yellow there.
Although why wasn’t van Cunt sent off? And Cleverly earlier?
Giroud has had no service at all.
Fucking hell Santos
Folks, you do realise that we were very much in the game until that mistaken offside decision, that Giroud had just nearly equalised?
That van Persie should have been sent off?
And now suddenly we’re utter shit again?
Get a fucking grip.
ATG.
You’re right, but Jack had had a warning too.
Furgusscum took action, Wenger didn’t. They still have XI on the field, we don’t. Take whatever conclusions you want from that info.
Thanks, Ollie.
I dont want to see playing Santos ever again..I have been advocating him long enough but his recent performances are nowhere near the level required.
Ollie – we were in the game in terms of score at 1-0 but we were getting battered really. They had missed loads of chances.
I’m with Ollie, as bad as we’ve been, we were no way outplayed in the second and were actually clawing our way back in.
Nonny, I thought that up until some point, but I got the feeling we were really back into the game. Don’t remember many chances in the second half.
Anyway, still 15 to go. Don’t give us much chance 10 vs 11, but hey-ho, let’s not say the game is over.
Yeah H2H and Ollie, have the same feeling but personal errors let us down, ManUre are not really that good ..we are just making them look like that.
Drink for H2H π
Against the top 3 we have one point first time thru. Not gonna get it done. Will be fight for fourth. Everton and spuds are sadly our competition. It really pains me to say that.
Flag up, thank fuck
Make it a double. π
Podolski off 36 minutes too late
OK AA, IT’S ALL ON YOU!!!
NorCal
I think you can take that as read, even before today.
If the squad had gelled immediately and we’d had luck with injuries a title push might have been on the cards. As is, neither of those things have happened.
Fourth place scrap it is.
I think we need to learn a great deal!
Well, I didn’t mean for you to play cards π
They won’t try to run past andrei ever again! π
WE ARE FUCKING TOOTHLESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They’re taking the piss on our left hand side, it’s embarassing.
In the game? Not what I’be been seeing. How many times has our possession resulted in a serious threat on goal?
I can actually feel my heart breaking
It shambles as usual i have lived with this seven years how long will it last?
N7,
I know but points today would have kept a top 3 hope in play. I don’t see it unless City implodes. Chelsea and united wont melt down. It will be a real scrap. Both Everton and spuds beat united.
Anderson is just as fat as santos yet he has out run him time and time again.
I don’t think at present Podolski offers us any different to AA, sad as it is to say.
A win today would’ve left us 3 points behind but da gulf on da pitch is too wide.
Big. Fucking. Sign.
At least the away support are still doing us proud;
We love you Arsenal, we do…..
The cumulative effect of years of shopping for bargains at Matalan. You can’t put on the same kind of show on a regular basis as if you had shopped in John Lewis, let alone Harrods.
Simple really.
But we have WORLD CLASS TRAVELLING FANS.
You can’t buy that.
The result is not a disaster (losing at OT after shipping a soft early one?), but there are serious questions about this performance and WTF is going on behind the scenes.
Even relegation fodder clubs occasionally put up a fight away at Utd.
Some of our worst performers have been the senior pros as well.
Ooooooooooooooooo.
Deserved a goal there.
Perhaps we missed Gervinho today :O
π Ollie
Reading was bad enough what else?
(as Feo mostly reverted to type π )
YYYEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Finally!
Ahh, where’s the extra Fergie time?
Ollie Gervinio? Who the fuck is Gervino?
Well done Cazorlla!
Took long enough..first shot on goal..and goal..ffs π
Fucking *berk
Santi scores what should have been the equaliser.
You know, I’m really bitter that van Cunt didn’t get sent off, and that the cunts scored a goal from a corner that shouldn’t have been as Cunt was offside.
Did the Mancs deserve the win? Overall, yes, no doubt. But it was back to some fine margins, better than against Norwich or Schalke.
Vermaelen was atrocious though.
Santi, Beautiful goal, sadly too late. Vito MOTM for me. He was the only one who wore the shirt proudly π
Consolation. But really not good enough.
Would it have been different without the early cock up? Maybe. But we are off the pace.
Still cant get off the feeling that they were there for the taking today, but we (again) were not up to our standards shown from earlier this season..shame.
To be honest this is a FUCKING joke!
at least at Reading they made the effort!
Today CAZORLA! NO ONE ELSE PLAYED!
God it is going to be a fucked week. Grumble bitch moan.
I thought Per was good too, abb.
Yep same here, EAndy. Frustrating.
Shocking display can’t go to the shithouse and start playing after 45 mins,never at the races carrying to many,man for man were as good but the gap in application is huge.at 6s and 7s all over the pitch.
See – what did Orwell know!!! Psed we’ll be back. Soon. Ish. I think. Hope.
Up The Arse!!!!!
I didn’t really expect us to win that anyway, Man Yoo away is not a fixture you pencil in a s a 3 point win.
The thing that hurts most is that we didn’t really look up for it, apart from a ten minute period before jack went off. That plus the second goal from a dubious corner killed us.
There’s a hell of a lot of work to be done on the training ground.
Mannone our best player. Otherwise, it was only good fortune and a sub-par performance by the opposition that kept it from being 5-0 or worse.
So we scored because Cazorla made the effort!
Ollie, I will look again but I think CVC was even with Mert on the play that resulted in their corner.
I agree that cleverly should have been sent off and CVC. He was no where near the ball.
H2H
I agree with you!
Man Utd are a much better team than us. They have one of the best strikers in the world, whether we like it or not and Fergie — as much as it pains me to say it — is a better tactician than Arsene.
We’re poor, very poor and I can’t really see that there is anything we can do to change things this season.
Heh, even when I don’t try, I get the assist.
Ollie and abb, agreed. And Sagna, Arteta, Ramsey anonymous, but not dire.
Ollie, Per did his job but Vito was exposed far too often, left to deal with too much poo on his own.
NorCal, it was a minimal offside, granted, but it was pretty clear (remember that the rule is not the feet but any part that can play the ball).
H2H, I think we’ll share a few drinks;)
True abb 410, but I think it was mostly TV’s fault.
He had a ‘mare today.
Back to the drawing board we have to better
The Squillaci Disease spread to Koscielny earlier this season and now it’s fully infected Vermaelen too. Time to offload the Squid before there’s a full board epidemic.
ManU weren’t anything grand today but we were hopeless.
The travelling support was fantastic. Hats off to them.
Off to drown my sorrows with copious pints of Guinness.
It’s not a striker we need.
It’s a kick up the arse for Santi et al.
We haven’t created a chance in four games.
(and spare me the part where you tell me about all the half chances we created against QPR, and the reading game)
The away fans deserve far more than that pish even with Cazorla’s consolation. Fucks sake.
And Snir @ 292, regardless of being born in London at all, I agree, NEVER bet against your team.
Ollie, I rarely point out who played badly, but TV was god awful π
Worst thing is that we were not really outplayed which is the fact that frustrates me. Anyways, Santos ..as much as I like him as a player, should be dropped to reserves until he gets to proper fitness level, we simply cannot afford performances like this. Jenks on right and Sagna as left back would be better option, giving us more width and pace.
Poldi clearly not at his 100% fitness wise, completely anonymous. Giroud had his moments, but without proper service could not do much better. Anyways ..roll on Schalke.
Uttrly abject lifeless cowardly performance.
Except for santi arteta and BFG these closns should all be fined a months pay. Don vito did well enough.
I cant believe how bad that was. No spirit. No fight.
Embarassing.
This is too complicate for me anyway
Walcott had no chance today with the markig!
Santos was bought to accompany Cesc he is a forward type of back person. Not good in a premier league and if cant run back the lets shift him off
Agree Snir 416, it does look like a rocket up the arse is needed. Again.
Sorry. Typo. “clowns”.
Ollie what drugs are you on?
Snir @416 exactly, I said it here earlier some drinks ago, all of our strikers can score, proved to do so, but its the lack of service which is our problem recently, I have yet to remember seeing us being this toothless without creating many clear cut chances through matches like these few games.
No grumbles here, garsguns hits the nail on the head when he refers to a huge gap in application.
And the reality is, they signed our only world class player, who was always going to do what he did today.
A dark room beckons. π
Wind, on the bright-ish side for you (sort of), today might make more tickets for Spu*s available :s
Zico and that is all from you?
My insides are calling right now!
No drugs here, Arfur, I’m perfectly sober, I’m calling it as I saw it.
Not good enough, but not the end of the world people seem to see.
zico, what did that world class player do? Yes, he was there to collect a mistake from our captain. He played OK; but he also should have been sent off, quite clearly. I’ve seen many red cards for what he did.
So meh. Missing him no doubt, but he wasn’t all that today.
Fuck him, with a rusty pole.
Apologies but some of you need to live a life this was shambles!
`
Everybody knows to attack us on the left side, and it’s not only because of Santos’ vulnerabilities. Vermaelen is at fault far more often than Mertesacker.
Hmm..anyways this means no Jack in next few games, so do we field Arteta-Santi-Ramsey in midfield while playing Feo down the right?
This was a match we could have won if we could just play our regular quick passing game and press the opposition, there really was no enthusiasm on display, and the team selection and shape was plain wrong.
Ramsey on the right makes no sense. Yes Theo was rather awful in the second half but even then he was involved in a few movements.
Why play Cazorla so deep early on? Jack and Cazorla definitely haven’t found a way to work together yet, but Cazorla always having the best probability to make something happen he should have played ahead of Jack in the early stages.
Poldi is definitely carrying an injury, he just doesn’t have that pace and verve anymore. Give him a rest, no point playing less than 100% fit player. Giroud made quite a few good runs and didn’t receive the service those deserved. The few times we actually had made an effort to break at pace we looked promising.
Jack was quick and energetic, but Arteta-Jack-Cazorla need to find a way to work together. This was Arteta’s worst game this season, positionally there was no understanding between him and Jack.
A really really poor performance. Man U was rather poor too, but instead of taking advantage of their mediocre midfield and defense we played with no purpose, no pace and no confidence.
They all need their brain wiped though and some mental conditioning.
At times it’s like they don’t care, and you don’t sense that sentiment of revolt in our players (see Sagna when he scored against Spurs last season, that’s the sort of thing I’m talking about) that is very fucking much need.
At the moment I feel that Vermaelen isn’t working either as a player or as a captain.
Ollie jokes a aside lest be sensible! I trust you haven’t lost it!
+ed (needED)
Arthur, I’m not sure what isn’t sensible in all I have said above.
You confuse me :s
Eandy – I remember a spell like this last season where we couldn’t create following the gap that Cesc left.
Arsene regrouped and changed our attacking play to wing play.
Now that we’ve got Santi and JW, we went back to creating from the middle, but we’re having a horrible time splitting defenses. Santi is not Cesc. Plain and simple.
As for the pressing, that bothers me no end.
They harried and chased and made us pass it around our back four, while apart from Arteta, we pressed in standing pace.
Santos should be dropped to the reserves, and it’s shocking that he is our “best” option at left back. Last season I didn’t think he looked as completely off the pace as he has been this time, but for us to be relying on him at this point is a sad situation.
Eandy 432, yes that’s what I’m thinking. Although Coquelin may feature in the equation.
Sorry on the juice but I can still make a difference between good and bad!
Fact is we are TOOTHLESS!
z@426 – succinct and spot on.
433 Doctor Faustus, spot on.
We”re not looking at the same spots, baff π
You need one of those whisky with Yquem. Well I know I do π
Let’s step back, they’re simply a better team than us at the moment. I think we’re close to equal if you have Gibbs, Diably et al available.
They have kept one clean sheet this season, the only way we’d get points today was playing a fast, attacking, pressing game. We failed to do that and Rooney was smart as hell, smothered Arteta from the first kick onwards.
Our best central defender all season is Per, we need to find his best partner or this season will drift away.
Our passing wasn’t crisp enough and expecting Jack to change everything is a big ask right now.
Can anyone from Arsene knows brigade tell me how Arsene is going to turn it around ? Apart from theo there is no pace in the team. How are we going to score goals against organized defenses. After years of false dawn , we are going to finish mid table. So heartless. I feel like crying today. I don’t see a positive light to be honest. I see no leaders. Like it or not , last year the Dutch skunk gave leadership. And hell loads of goals.
Arthur so whats sensible?..Flipping the fuck out? In the end its down to Arsene and players to turn this around anyway. There might been the shadows of that last years battering in players heads, afraid to give it a real go.
No matter what happens in Gelsenkirchen, all I want to see is proper display full of urgency. Players are humans in the end, errors do happen to them but when team is playing like this they shine through much brighter.
I wrote it @81, and it hasn’t been any better.
JW’s presence in the team makes people look for him instead of Santi, and they get in each other’s way.
They have to find a way to improve their understanding.
Jack will just miss one game. The Fulham match. He can play mid-week.
Why no passion in this side? No one to stoke the players. No one?
Jack has passion but he was pretty anonymous today. Vermaelen didn’t lead by example or voice.
The passing was only mediocre today. Not sharp at all. Our left side was piss poor. Need Gibbs back soon.
Hugely, hugely flattering scoreline… Man U didn’t have to break sweat in that one.
There’s a massive gap in quality between us, City, United and Chelski..
I’ve great admiration for our away fans but really despaired at hearing them sing ‘There’s only one Arsene Wenger’.
FFS what more does it take to recognize that the Emperor has no clothes – this club is going nowhere until that is accepted.
No guts, no glory. One thing I can’t fuckin’ stand is warm beer, it makes me fuckin’ puke.
Eandy, Jack would be out for one game only. This is a red for two yellows.
Gibbs-Diaby-Rosicky-Ox-Gervinho (and I will add Poldi to it) … happens to us every year, is this really bad luck or is there indeed a gap between the way we practice and play and train and the physical conditions aspects?
Applauds Tim at 445
That’s the spirit Indian Gooner…write off the season in early November.
For those who are praying for rosiscky and diaby, I want to laugh. They were given new contracts last year despite them not having capability of playing 3 games in 3 months. Wenger rewards injuries it looks like.
Santos is clearly not up to it with his diving challenges that miss and leave him on the ground and out of position. However, I would never ask for his head based on poor performances, but if he seriously asked for CvC’s shirt at HALFTIME I don’t ever want to see him wearing an Arsenal again.
I am the first to admit that Man Utd are nothing special apart from their strikers, but we could’ve and probably should have taken another serious hiding today.
Podolski has not looked anything like fit in the last three or four games I have seen him, and that allied to the Brazilian liability at full back leaves me seriously wondering what planet Arsene Wenger is on at the moment.
How many of us predicted before a ball was kicked what would happen on their right/our left hand side today?
As H2h said, you don’t turn up at Old Trafford and expect to walk away withe three points and we needed a performance to get anything. We got anything but.
Another thing, Ferguson worked out that Arteta is key to our play and he was continually pressurised making it difficult for us to get going. The thing is, Fergie continually out-thinks Wenger and we don’t seem to be able to do anything about it. We have become predictable to a fault.
Since a lot of people expected us to lose badly today (I didn’t), I’m still surprised there is so much misery.
Well not really, but you know.
Right, there’s a bit of sunshine outside. It’s cold but I’m gonna go for a nice little walk.
Bye.
No drive, no pace, no defensive organisation, no creativity in dangerous areas, no incision up front.
A lot of work to do.
Tim , care to explain which players in the team will do a van Persie for us this season ?
Indian. What Tim said.
Also I’m glad you’ve got a fantastic memory that has erased Rosicky’s games from last seaons.
Jaysus….
Indian – are you forgetting the brilliant run of games TR7 had in the second part of the season or you just want to point out everything which gone wrong to add to the doom and gloom attitude?
Also, enlighten me please, who would you like to see as our manager instead of Arsene then? With all the pressure and limitation that position in Arsenal brings? Asking since I see no manager whatsoever who could do better job than Arsene is doing given the resources and limitations he has.
OK. We were shit. They still only scored one goal from a stupid defensive mistake. And well another from another one (even if it shouldn’t have been a corner, granted, we need to fucking defend corners).
Right, better go for good otherwise I’ll be playing catch up all afternoon with the current posting rate!
Now I remember why I don’t come here after losses.
Have a nice walk Ollie. The cool air will refresh you. Something we all need.
Anyways ..I am off ..I am 4th day at home with annoying cold and flu and this game didnt really cheer me up. Roll on Schalke!
BTW, when we are playing this shit, it can help to bring in players who have been playing well and has confidence. Can Sagna and Jenk work together in matches where we are toothless and width is needed with Jenk moving upfield? He has a mean cross — one of the best in the team — and would work his socks off even on a bad day.
Coquelin can also be a decent choice down the wings, if Poldi continues to play this was, obviously carrying something.
How many goals did rosiscky scored last season ? That stretch of games was his first in 3 years and he is again injured since 3 months. Also last year Theo and skunk combined a lot to score for us but none start for us. Look I would loved to be proved wrong. But this year Everton and spurs have started much better. If we don’t inject pace in January then we are in trouble. My only complaint in the team is no pace. I can see santi getting frustrated if he sees no runs by strikers. Ramsey as part if front 3 ? Give me a break.
Ollieeee @ 429 if the rusty pole had been in goal 2day p’raps he could have fucked the ONE world-class striker/skunk they had on display 2day… (thtough hats orf to the big Mannone between the sticks 2day – one of the few to really show , i thought).
Now where’s that darkened room… (jus’ follow the spilt Guiness)
@ Indian Gooner
by ‘do a van Persie’ do you mean fuck off for more money next season?
or do you mean get injured and miss 50% of the season?
I assume you mean score 30+ goals? The answer is nobody, we’re not built to replace that, nor do I think reliance on one player made us a substantially better team last season. Who could we have purchased that will score 37 goals….be realistic.
I think we’ll find our form but again a poor start will leave us chasing all season, I can see us picking up far more points the second half of the season than the first. We’re not going to win the title, nor will we finish mid table. Cazorla and Wilshere have played 120 minutes together, I wish Jack was ready in August – but they will be very effective.
Valencia v Santos was a foreseeable disaster. And a reason to drink after the fact.
Indiangunner — if you are trying to anyway trivialize TR7’s majestic performance in the second half last season you are not a fan, neither do you really understand football. End of.
Rosicky has been very unfortunate with injuries. But in form and fitness he is one of the best creative midfielders in the league. He was an extraordinary little player when we bought him, and last year reminded was what could have been. His contribution was stellar.
One last drink before I go.
Just like last year when we had a poor run of performances, what I think frustrates us all is that we have no passion in the players. There are games where it is just 7-8 guys just going through the motions. We are better than that. We have the talent to be a better team. But we have to work our asses off every day if that is going to happen. Just showing up will not beat anyone, especially manure at the ol toilet. Top class effort is the only thing that will allow this team to succeed. Last year we got away with some games because we had a goal scorer who was in form. This year will be a struggle every game and if we don’t put in the effort it will be a very frustrating season.
Ollie @ 458 — I mentioned in the last round of drinks that we can actually pull this one off. And I maintain if we could have played like we did against Man C we would have won this game ( assuming Mike Dean didn’t referee to his strengths ).
That is why I am disappointed. We haven’t won at OT in six years now, and this year we could have. There really is not that much of a quality gap when both teams are playing to their full potential.
Ok. I am not a fan if I believe Rosisky cannot stay fit for a considerable period of time. We are almost done with ten games and he is still 2-3 weeks away like every week. No one is denying his quality but has he been ever fit ? Reason I sm crying for pace is because we are not a team setup to chase games. We won’t overturn a lot of deficits. Ten games into a season and we look toothless. Can me negative but I don’t see too many positives unless these players get a solid rollicking and we hope Gibbs and Diaby stay fit for complete season.
Bollocks, that’s all I’m saying.
I didn’t say you’re not a fan, but predicting mid-table in November isn’t someone I’d want to sit next to.
Today’s result wasn’t a shock, the Norwich game is the one we’ll lament if we finish a close 5th (for example).
This Arsenal team is, for many reasons, 90% different than 3 seasons ago and 35% different from last season. Continuity is hard to find and coupled with injuries takes even longer. I don’t believe we’ve seen a new identity be formed just yet, I do think a 4-4-2 is likely if we continue to struggle to find goals. Even today Giroud was winning balls in the air and Cazorla was too deep to use that. Another huge issue is Arteta was never an outlet due to Rooney marking him brilliantly – probably the biggest factor in the game. How many times did we need to go back to Mannone because Arteta wasn’t in space? Must have been 20, then we hoof it up and Manchester build again.
Playing with a sweeper may well have prevented the first goal and would make playing Santos far less of a risk, 5-4-1 with wing backs looks much more suited to us than a mock 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1 which is how we’ve played in recent weeks.
Back from blind pig. One regret. We didn’t make them break sweat. Where was the effort?
Much like the away fans; singing arsenal se love you till the end. I love the crowd here.
Eandy, feel better soon, lad. Ollie, hope you’re enjoying your walk and the scenery is to your liking π As for the rest of you, well you have every right to be frustrated. We’ve got the talent (albeit too many of them are sidelined with injuries). But we don’t put up a fight, an honest to goodness display of courage. I once had to wrestle with my 80 pound retriever, who had hold of my 25 pound cocker by the throat. It took 20 agonizing minutes (and me sticking my fingers into the retrievers mouth) to break her hold. Blood splattered everywhere and me with permanent nerve damage in two of my fingers, but I saved my cocker. This is the courage our lads need to get in a hurry! Fight till the end and never ever, give up!
abb, I`m sorry for your experience. This might be useful technique in such cases.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ebR37K8hDg&feature=plcp
abb, you’re an absolute warrior. Respect, I’m actually in awe, the things people can do and are capable of…
Sorry to hear about the permanent nerve damage though π
what we simply can’t do is lose at home to teams like Wigan π
Tim,
I won’t jinx anything
What wind said @482.
Respect, ma’am.
I see the asylum doors were left open, i wasnt very confident going into this game. I jinxed it when i sat down to watch the game since the only games i miss when we are playing we lose. We were down but it is not the end of the world, we have a game to win in midweek. Media lockdown for me until our next game
Sometimes it looks like the players have done what I have, just accept we’re in the 4th – 6th bracket. They know they’re not going to give any of the big guns a game before they get on that pitch.
I said it earlier this season, our league position is completely accurate and I’m afraid nothing much surprised me today. Shoot me down and call me a doomer if you like but if anyone thinks we would have got something today ‘if only it hadn’t been for x/y/z’ I just can’t find it in me to agree.
This time last year it was our worst start ever, now we’ve just topped it with even fewer points. Just pointing it out, nothing more.
first time in the drinks and all I can say is that our manager is tactically naive .If you see your team is not good enough for the challenge (and I think we all knew that including arsene) you must change your formation in order not to lose and take advantage of an odd moment in the game ,simple as that .I have tons of respect for Wenger but nowadays he seems to be carrying on only through stuborness and french pride.I hope you’ll excuse me for my spelling mistakes .
ouzo for me … greek gooner / arsenal till i die
What would I do without spurs?
Fulham and Wigan helped us today but we really need to step it up.
Always the same…Chelsea, Spurs, Everton drop points when we are despairing a bit. Could have been a much worse weekend.
sajit @489. I knew there had to be a reason for their existence. Like the dung beetle.
Bath @ 476. Concise!
BtM, aye, scunnered.
We’re 2 points off 4th, in 6th.
Stop panicking.
Next weekend we beat Fulham, Spurs lose to oil city and we’re in 5th.
Pings the ball up the field.
*runs like fuck*
beats the full back, rolls it into the box
takes it to the byline, clips it back towards the pen spot.
Slow down Bath, we don’t run on the pitch.
Strolls towards the goal…..
stops the ball on the spot so that….
get in
oh….:)
You ‘trapped it’ 10 yards. Nice one Tim.
Lies in crumpled heap but lights cigar and swills some bubbly.
Yep. Too many players in one spot. I’ll take the assist. Sorry I messed up your one-two.
Stan Kroenke did become the major Arsenal shareholder after he was thrust upon with Danny Fizsman’s stake. He was given those shares just to escape the clutches of Usmanov. Maybe if Stan had bid and won them in the open market in direct competition to Usmanov he would have more incentive to prod the club to be more active in the transfer market. I don’t think Stan is as guilty as most of us fans charge him to be.
NLD, Area 48, Row 3, Seat 148 – Β£148. Merde. :'(
Well in Tim.
And as I have just found out, relativity is in the League Table.
Not what I was looking for at the start of the season, but we’re in a scrap for 4th again, and not too badly positioned in that respect.
Heh, once more, a few drinks before the goal, I see Tim at 495 was seeing that too.
Drink for you, a double for the goal!
Wind don’t worry. Really, I’m 100% sure you’ll get sorted.
Even if it should come to the week before the game, no bother.
I have now sorted myself on Tx (slight impatience, I’ve gone for upper tier after all), but I have zero doubt we’ll find something for you.
I would even say there’s more chance of 2 or 3 of us buying a ticket in your name than you missing out π
Ollie – We’re not in any scrap, just like no other team is in any scrap.
There are 28 games left. 28!!!!!!
The real scraps for position being after Christmas.
The position in the table means nothing.
QPR might be last today and stay up.
Man U might be top today and finish 3rd.
We shouldn’t even look at the table now ’cause it means absolutely nothing.
Plus, while we’re playing like shit for the past couple of weeks, City had a similar spell when Yaya was out and they came out as champions.
We’re still in it. 9 points is nothing. We were 11 points off in 09-10 and we were in that title race till the 33rd game (were 3 points off Chelsea, who won the double).
If we get to Christmas with a 4-5 point deficit, then it’s all to play for.
And yes, I know it looks odd to say after today, but I trust AW to find an attacking balance to make sure we do create chances.
Just like he did last season after the first month when we couldn’t create a chance to save our lives.
Yes, Snir. I’m just seeing the current picture. It’s just my way of trying to point out we’re not yet mid-table/relegation fodder.
Today was very disappointing (caught a few minutes of Dortmund vs Stuttgart 0-0 but a lot more intensity, I love German football), but hey-ho it’s November and people get easily depressed, me included.
Drink of your choice, Snir.
Snir, a drink of choice for you on the bar.
A beacon of optimism in a sea of doom. π
Ollie beat me to it, so give him one (or five) too.
Cheers H2H!
Oh I see PSG are 2-0 down at home to St Etienne and Ibrahimocunt has been sent off.
Happy days.
2-1 now, I’m still a jinxing pro ;s
Heh
Game over. No team left unbeaten in the French league.
Baffling really. We have better players man for man than United yet fail to put together a performance. We have been watching Arsenal put these displays in on and off for the last seven years. For me it has to be the way they are sent out play. Looks to me that teams are pressing us all around the park and as yet we have not learned you have to earn the right to play. Out biggest failing as a side since Paddy left. Come on Arsene. It is not all a question of quality. Graft and fight are a big part of it.
Ollie,
Looks like the walk was refreshing..
It’s not over in November but we expect a better effort going forward. Could be worse or better. It is where it is and I support the Arsenal to make it better.
Forward
Proud to be a Gonner.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Keep the debate respectful please. Supporters on all sides of the divide will be hurting, and rightly so.
I may be a Gonner, but I’m proud to be a Gooner. π
Ollie @ 511, π
That was a really dreadful performance
I think TV5 is a liability in defense. He should never have been made captain. It should have been Sagna or Arteta.
I say drop him and play Mert with Kos. I know Kos has been horrible past few games, but I think he’s a real defender in the making
And Santos, FFS
On the attacking front, Wilshere tried but Cazorla was absent in the first half. I love Cazorla but he is no Cesc I have come to realize – He doesn’t ask for the ball and create. Giroud is a target man, not a striker who can take a touch and finish. Poldi is good but not world class I’m afraid
Arteta and Sagna are the only outstanding consistent performers we have in the side
Conclusion after 9 games: Forget the title. League cup/FA cup our best hope
Pissed off.
Sorry to be so long winded, bath. π
i’m not sure fergie out-thought wenger. it doesn’t take a genius to realize that cazorla and arteta mean everything to our strategy of retaining the ball. the difference for me was that the united tactics were simply to press us high up the pitch and not allow balls in to cazorla or arteta in midfield to link up the attack.
what i have a problem with though is that high pressing when it comes to united means kicking the back of the legs or shoving over the man receiving the ball. i know lots of teams do it and get away with it including us, but our pressing certainly didn’t do anything like what was done to us. as support for this, they were given 5 yellow cards. and honestly, how does that idiot send off wilshire for that second reckless (albeit fairly innocuous) challenge, while cleverly gets no second card? i just fail to see what logic the referees apply to some of these awful decisions. it’s clear we were out of the game completely, but it’s hard to watch the games with the officials doing what they do, especially for united.
once again the injuries are really mounting, and we seem to be particularly susceptible to them. whereas someone mentioned on here earlier that of chelsea’s first team there have been 6 missed games due to injuries, that’s 6 in all total for all first teamers. this cannot continue.
and for the love of everything holy, why is it impossible for a player to switch sides on the field. jenkinson is clearly up to the standard of the first team and in fact one of our more reliable players, and he demonstrated it after these 9 games, but even if santos deserves to be on the field, i don’t think he deserves to start over jenkinson or sagna. why not move sagna to the other side? it’s lunacy.
there is much more to say, about podolski’s form, giroud’s movement, which just pales in comparison to that of rvp, and other issues, but what is most discouraging is that i’ve never witnessed such abject incompetence on the scoring front in an arsenal side ever before, coupled with the near apathetic performance at united? i’ve never seen the team so disinterested in playing, which includes last year’s drubbing at OT, for the bigger games. it always seemed to be the minnows that we struggled with. this year seems even worse, the players either don’t care or are in complete awe of united, and this is unacceptable.
Hey all. Been back-drinking and, whilst I see a lot of doom and gloom mixed with a bit of positive slant, I have got to be honest and say that this was all so fecking obvious that I am stunned anybody even bothered to feel let down after the final whistle.
Ok, to qualify, here are some snippets of what I said here in these very same drinks yesterday:
“…TV5 and his unpredictable performances are worrying enough with the likes of Shrek and The Rotter playing, but Santos gives me the shivers every time he goes near the ball. Not the good kind either!”
“Theo, I feel, will actually start the game on the bench…So, if Theo is on the bench and Ramsey plays in his place whilst Santos takes up residence on the left hand side of the park, I see us with two potential weak pointsβ¦BOTH FLANKS!”
“…Fergie simply wonβt miss the obvious possibilities that these weaknesses offer and the likes of the Valencia and Young will surely be given orders to stick to the touchlines using their pace to attack the full backs…”
“In truth, we need Ramsey and Podolski to play absolute blinders, TV5 and Per to do their thing and JW10, MA8 and SC19 to take every chance they get to try and thread in Giroud on he counter. I donβt see us taking the game to them at all, in fact I hope we donβt even try, as the spaces that would be left in behind Santos and in front of Sagna could prove to be fatal, but a tight-squeezing, hard-pressing, fast counter-attacking effort may just be enough to get us out of the Theatre of Nightmares with a point or even 3.”
I didn’t need to be exactly psychic to make those predictions, but what truly worries me is that neither does Wenger. Ok, the “tight-squeezing, hard-pressing, fast counter-attacking effort” simply wasn’t there and, although surely Wenger has to make the players want it enough to go out there and do it, the players are the real problem here.
TV5 did NOT do his thing (or maybe, on current form, he did EXACTLY his thing), Ramsey and Podolski did NOT play absolute blinders and the midfield trio simply didn’t seem to have a clue where to go apart from down blind alleys or backwards.
Ramsey at right wing is a complete bollox of an idea that has failed to work every single time that Wenger has tried it so far this season. TV5 is in need of a right fecking SB sized boot up his arse. Podolski is still, it appears, playing through an injury that, whilst it is not being spoken of in the press at all, is clearly real and hampering his play, making him the better part of totally fecking useless for 5 games now.
So, this is what I don’t get…
We don’t buy any players that aren’t “Super, super, duper, pooper, scooper quality” so as not to inhibit the progression of the kids. When we are clearly lacking in three or even four positions today, where the feck were the kids?!
Why was Gnabry not used on the right wing? Could not possibly have done any worse than Ramsey and would have at least provided some attacking threat to give United something to think about down that side.
Why was Jermaine Meade not given a shot at left back? He seemed fairly composed and organised against Reading. Didn’t wander out of position or go missing for 10 minutes at a time like the fat fuck we did put out there today.
Why was Thomas Eisfeld not used in place of JW10? Ok, maybe not from the start, (although I would not have been completely against the idea) but it was obvious that Jack was feeling the effects of his long injury lay-off after about 30 minutes or even when it was obvious we were simply offering the wanker in the black the chance he so dearly wanted and, had the change been made at half time, 11v11 may have been a little more interesting.
And somebody, one fine day, will tell me what Jenks did so wrong that he isn’t even in the running for a shot at left back, let alone right back. Seriously, can he REALLY be as bad as Santos? I genuinely think not.
All in all, very predictable, very one-sided and very worrying. I am starting to genuinely believe that, if we can all see what is going on and see where the problems lie, why is Wenger failing to do the same? Is it time for him to…No, can’t quite say it yet.
But you know what I mean?!
Schalke doesn’t look such a fine proposition right now and crashing out of the ECL at the group stage may well provide the impetus for the January bonanza that is so obviously required, although I seriously doubt it.
I want my Arsenal back…
Matt Foley@530
Great minds and all that π
@TW
can’t think of anything i disagree with there.
i decided to write more than a few sentences, and ‘holic goes and puts up a new post like lightning. missed the cutover.