Arsenal And Villa Both Need The Points
Feb 22nd, 2013 by 'holic
It’s thirty-two years since a visit to Arsenal by Aston Villa attracted so much media interest. Those who were at Highbury as Villa clinched the title in 1981 will have a variety of memories of a remarkable event, be it the appearance of Pele, or the mass pitch invasion at the final whistle. It is one of those days I will never forget.
This meeting has an altogether different significance. This is not a fixture designed to deliver the supreme triumph, but more a meeting of two sides absolutely desperate for the points for entirely different reasons. Two managers who have attracted rich praise to some degree will attempt to lift the cloud that hangs around them at present. On the weekend that League Two Bradford City attempt to land the COCup two of their top-flight victims come face to face in a Premier League encounter, both needing all three points on offer.
Forgive me if I don’t concentrate on the situation that Paul Lambert finds himself in. Highly regarded for his work with Norwich City, it will not be lost on anyone that his current employers, just one place above the drop zone, are five points adrift of the club he won successive promotions with in 2010 and 2011. There are however signs of an upturn in Villa’s fortunes. Their last two games have seen them earn a point at Goodison, and all three at home to West Ham.
I don’t need to go into detail why this has become a big weekend for Arsene Wenger. Consecutive home defeats in cup competitions have merely added to the importance of finishing fourth in the Premier League. A week before the North London derby Arsenal cannot afford to fall further than the current four points behind the little club up the road. Indeed, with Tottenham visiting Upton Park on Monday night we could apply some pressure by narrowing that difference to a single point.
The Gunners go into this weekend with both first-choice full-backs missing, but Carl Jenkinson and Nacho Monreal should fit in almost seamlessly. Thereafter it will be interesting to see which of the three central defenders misses out, whether or not Tomas Rosicky will be trusted to inject some attacking tempo in midfield, and if Olivier Giroud will return to the starting line-up after being dropped to the bench for the Bayern Munich debacle.
The ‘holic pound? Who knows what Arsenal are going to turn up, but at some stage there has to be a reaction. I’m on 4-0 on the basis it could just as easily be that as 2-1, 1-0, 1-1, or any other score. It is never easy to predict a scoreline, but with these two sides it really is a lottery. That is a hail Mary of a bet, but the price of a Guinness should reap at least a gallon and a half if it comes off.
Now I know a fair few of you are going tomorrow, and I am looking forward to meeting an old friend who is over from the Cape for the game, as well as a pretty good showing of ‘holics. The one thing I know we will share is a willingness to get behind the team tomorrow. Opinions are obviously divided at the moment, but it is important that supporters do what it says on the tin while there are eleven against eleven on the pitch.
The pressure is building, the games gaining in importance week by week. This is the pointed end. Squeaky bum time. The longer that is the case, the more likely it is that we will yet salvage something from this season.
Have a good one, ‘holics.
308 Responses to “Arsenal And Villa Both Need The Points”
Get in……..
Walking in an unfamiliar part of town today I saw a house called Walcot Villa, which was number 23. So I suppose if one believes in omens, a bet on Theo to score first in a 3-2 defeat is the bet to have π
Podium?
So now I am ready to bet the score will be 2-1 π
Well in Steve T!
Nice write up Holic. Another vital fixture that we dare not lose.
Taking the little last tomorrow do the Tollie may well be out of reach due to their draconian rules around kids in the garden. That or I tell her to stick her football socks down her top and to half inch some of her mother’s slap.
6 nil to the mighty Gunners. We are owed a performance.
(and even if it becomes 11 against 10 π )
Little lass even……
Jeepers, Ollie just stole 2 CL spots…UEFA conspiracy !!!
Great post ‘holic. Hope to see you (and the Belgian conspirator) tomorrow π
heh snowy!:D
See you tomorrow.
Is it colder upstairs?
Are Belgiums less volatile?
Have I thought this through?
Good stuff ‘holic.
I was there for that season’s finale and on the pitch at the end of it, an unforgetable day indeed.
As for tomorrow I expect us to go balls out to get the win. Villa’s defence is pretty shaky and we need to get at them from the off. I applaud your calls to get behind the team and I fully agree, however, I feel a lethargic start, which has been far too recently the norm, will not be tolerated by the home faithful. We need a responce and we need it from minute one.
Lost in the doom and gloom seems to be the fact that although everything is not as rosy as it should be, we are actualy better off (in the PL) then we were this time last year when we were a full 10 points behind the swamp dwellers from up the road. A win tomorrow and those cocks will be sweating and the St Totts day celebration planning commitee can start looking for a hall. π
To all those going enjoy your day, I’ll be with you in spirit(s), with a stiff vodka here in te bar.
COYG’s.
Good stuff holic. Avid reader here – not much of a drinker π
I have a question for the patrons of the bar. Does anyone know why they only use one ball in the premier league but not more.
What I am trying to say is when the ball goes out of play in the league we have to wait for a ball boy or the keeper to go get it. In the Champions League there are balls all over the place so as soon as the ball goes out of play a new ball gets thrown to the keeper/corner taker and so on. This might be one of the reason the added time in the CL is usually less than in the EPL.
One would think that having more balls available would help teams like Arsenal when the bus-parkers try time wasting.
Does anyone know why this is? And if you havenΒ΄t noticed – check it out tomorrow.
IcelandicGooner
I don’t think that is correct.
Ahhh a fine day ‘h: Pele, orange balloons, Atari, a pitch invasion that prevented the Villa team coming back out on to the pitch to celebrate their league win (i think) – and didn’t we secure thired that day?
To going after fourth and beyond (ish).
Heh AL, remember the guy who dived into the ballons before kick off?
I had forgotten about the 1981 game. It was a pretty inglorious way for Villa to clinch it but they didn’t seem to mind. Interestingly in the picture the man second on the left is Brian McDermott who scored our second goal.Like many of us he looks a lot different now!
I hope the crowd can be as positive as they were on Tuesday night when they were magnificent. It would say a lot about the type of supporter that we have at our club. Several blogs are suggesting that people stay away or boo at a pre- arranged time but with a side who habitually start badly any obvious disaffection could prove disastrous .Some see a longer game and a regime change emerging if they do something drastic but I think the future will look much better if we manage fourth place or even third. Next week’s game will be a whole lot more difficult if tomorrow goes badly. We need an injection of confidence, our big players ( metaphorically ) to stand up and a bit of momentum like we obtained from the win over the Scum around the same time last year. That is why I hope Rosicky plays and Theo, Giroud and Podolski start up front. We need tempo( therefore no Diaby ) and I would play Ramsey in the holding position rather than Arteta who struggled on Tuesday. Above we all need to remember who we are and what we represent as a man once said. I’m expecting a white- knuckle ride but frankly as Holic says who knows what to expect
COYG
Fine preview Guvna but I’ll take 1-0 to the Arsenal, in the words of that fine old song. As 7am says, JUST WIN.
I do sir – he was roared on by the faithful as he ran to the centre-circle where the balloons were held under a huge net – then he dived in …
we knew how to make our entertainment in those days!!!
pardon – our “own” entertainment
H2H —
I just checked arsenal player, and the Liverpoo game. And as best as I can see the ballboys are stationed behind the goals on either side. As soon as the ball goes out of bounds they leap up and fetch the ball. They do not seem to have another ball waiting to be thrown to the keeper.
Remember the Chelsea – Swansea ballboy incident – that wouldnΒ΄t have happened if there was another ball ready. I know it was a cup game but same rules apply there it seems.
Anyway, maybe IΒ΄m wrong but you should watch for this tomorrow and IΒ΄ll be the first to admit if IΒ΄m wrong.
2-0 to the Arse.
Thermals packed.
Come on you reds.
Indeed, indeed. π
I’ll keep an eye out for that, Ice’ G’.
*Looks like I’ve turned you into a rapper. π
3-1. This time it’s the ARSENAL with the 3.
Cheers all. Have a great day at the Tollie all.
H2H
Hahaha — I could go by the name Vanilla Ice G. :
Cheers to you all. Please win tomorrow.
Multiball was dropped because it was open to abuse. Ball boys would give home teams who used the long throw a beautifully dry ball at every throw in, while away sides would get a wet ball and so on. A team could also ensure that an opponent who was under pressure got no respite, with rapid ball returns, while delaying things if they were under the cosh themselves.
I’m glad they got rid of it.
@27
Thanks for that. I donΒ΄t agree with being glad they got rid of it, but it answers my question. Does not seem to bother UEFA in the CL but neither does racism.
Nice preview Holic.
I was there that day dodging all kinds of mayhem on the North Bank.
As I remember, we beat Villa, and Ipswich lost, leaving Villa champions, Arsenal happy enough with the win on the day, and what could have been some very ugly scenes on the pitch, a liitle better tempered than they might have been.
A string of police horses was thrown across the half way line to keep the two sets of invading fans apart.
Before kick off, a large gang of claret and blue disguised North Bankers had got themselves escorted by the police right into the middle of the visiting Villa crowd at the Clock End.
As the resulting fight was quelled by the police, a gang of gawd-knows-who arrived back at the top of the west side of the North Bank and proceeded to pile down the terrace, literally smack through the area where we were standing.
You did not choose where you finished up that day – you were carried off your feet by the surge. If the result had gone any other way than it did, the outcome could have been very ugly.
There, I’ve avoided all mention of the players, the manager, transfers, let downs and paucity of options. Not bad.
Thought you would enjoy a tale of terrace shenanigans, Abb. π
See some of you tomorrow under a Brolly – or probably inside if the weather forecast turns out to be true.
Time to release “The Rosicky” for the remainder of the year. Last year, after RVP, he was the guy that made it happen for us. Let’s cut down on the tippy-tap and go forward with urgency, right from the opening whistle. COYR.
Yep, let’s start in the first minute at 0-0, for DDB10’s sake!
I’m feeling a comfortable win tomorrow, with OG and Theo filling their boots.
Any win will do though.
Will be interested to see the first XI.
COYG
4-0 I’m on that!
Have a great day tomorrow.
Just got this tonight off Twitter, so feeling quite OK with life;
Amy Lawrence β@amylawrence71
@esso260589 @arseblog Cheers. And anyone who has Tappa Zukie and Echo and the Bunnymen on the side will do for me!
View conversation Reply Retweet Favorite More
Woj
Monreal, Mert TV Sagna
Arteta, Santi (Or TR7) Jack
Poldi, OG, Feo
Sorry Jenks, not Sagna.
Occasionally read espnsoccernet largley for humor, and its often so bad is like watching a car crash. And David Hirshey is old beer buddy and I think he’s bloody brilliant.
But, there’s some article over there by some arsehole named Miguel Delaney that is a TOTAL hatchet job on AFC. What the fuck?
Nothing about net spend by QPR or Liverpool or Spuds or Pompey and their lack of titles.
Idiotic. That’s what it is. A total smear campaign.
And I can’t log in over there to give that foolish blogger a piece of my mind.
Drat!
Hello all. General consensus seems to be a win to us and of course I am inclined to agree. I think a large bounce back after two poor performances in the cups. 4-1 to the arse !!
Greetings from a hot and sweaty Auckland. First England to beat NZ. Fell off a roof yesterday and broke me leg.Got a gig tonight and will be my first ever in a seated position. Then home for the 4am kick off! Dont know why I bother, but cant help myself — a glutton for punishment maybe, but I love the Arse. Clear the gloom boys! DEATH BEFORE DISHONOUR!
Ooooook, I have now had a few beers with tabs and zico and am now about to enter the realm of sleep. I am ridiculously happy to be back in London, I must say. Let’s all hope for a proper performance tomorrow, I’ll be down the Tollie post-match and hopefully we’ll get to celebrate three very important ponts together.
Sweet dreams all and UP THE ARSE!
NZ 11/3 as I write this Failage, and well on the way…
Walcott Villa 23, A Bet? That would be our strikers next season, with Villa taking Arshavin’s number 23.
Easy win tomorrow, could be a cricket score.
Oskar
That is WE are well on the way.
Oskar
No wonder my bum is so squeaky, ‘holic. π
Thanks Oskar…..Which one are “WE”?
Regardless of my opinion of Arsene and his methods at this point I am fully behind my Gunners. (Full disclosure: I believe it is time to go the route of the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL.)
I hope TomΓ‘Ε‘ starts the game because, like Gedo, I am tired of the tippy-tap and am fully in favor of more direct attacking. Something has got to give.
This is a game we should win, but those types of games without a proper decision are mounting at an alarming rate.
Great post ‘holic, as always.
I will be watching our Gunners stateside with pint in hand. Let us hope for a happy buzz tomorrow. I want to take it to Tottenham.
Big club my arse…
Ready for my arsenal to show up, hoping they show as well as holic does. Go go gunners!
Aah, Failage, WE are England … in our house anyway. π
Update: NZ 185 all out, England 115/3 and still 27 overs to go.
Oskar
Good morning chums
Morning Holic. Morning everyone. Bloody freezing here today. Wrap up warm. Flask of Tommy soup being seriously considered.
Good morning, all.
Nice preview Guv, the history aspect made it all the more enjoyable.
Trev, thanks for the history post, too.
3-1 to The Arsenal.
@ 13
Does anyone know why they use only one ball in the premier league but not more?
I think you will find that this peculiar fact is a source of relief to our back four. π
Back to the post. 1981?
A redhead in Dublin. Those were the days……
See you later, H.
As it happens Steve, I have packed a couple of flasks π
Greetings
It’s essential we make a good start and capitalise on our early chances. If Villa go a goal or even better 2 behind they are likely to fall apart. Boy do we not only need a result but a good performance to give us all some hope for next week!
Off to make up my flask, it’s snowing here .See you all at the Ems, wrap up warmly.
We are due some goals, simple as that. I would hope that the HFB will be under instruction to locate his mean streak, bully the Villa back line and fill his boots.
Our centre backs will need to have a think about how they want to deal with Benteke, who I am quite certain will be looking to impress (reportedly a player with aspirations of becoming a Gunner).
Oh, and a fast start please FFS.
Feels like a while since we’ve had much to smile about, let’s hope it’s ear to ear grins come 5pm.
Gunners Gaming by Betsson.
Just wondering if that has anything to do with Take a Bow Son …
Holic, I would expect nothing less.
π
Come on Arsenal. Doncha go losin’ again now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDPjYZxi0n8
Any of you heading to the tollie don’t go hiding inside. I may be placing orders from roadside.
Morning all. Is this train still moving?
About what time Steve? I will venture out when I need to…
Reports coming out that there is a burst water main on the south side of the Emirates, supporters are being asked to try to get in early.
streams π http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=187675&part=sports and hey everyone!:)
Arsenal: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Monreal, Arteta, Diaby, Wilshere, Walcott, Giroud, Cazorla
Subs: Mannone, Koscielny, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Gervinho, Podolski
Interesting lineup, guessing Cazorla will start as a left sided attacker, allowed to go pretty much wherever he likes, Jack as our attacking midfielder, Diaby as the balance player. Looks alright, hope we will have width enough.
Would like TR instead of Diaby in for this match but looks alright to me too Toby.
Can’t say I agree with Diaby’s inclusion, but wish him all the best non the less.
Pretty strong looking bench.
I dearly would as well, Eandy, but if things aren’t going according to plan here’s to hoping we will make an early change for once! But hey, Diaby is a brilliant player on his day and perhaps he will have one of his good ‘uns today. He can at times give the same drive forward in midfield that Rosicky does, only with longer legs.
Agreed Toby, I just hope he would do that more often, he showed what player he can be early in the season against Liverpool…performance like that today would do π
Diaby is a brilliant player on his day
Unfortunatly that day comes around as often as February the 29th. π
Only joshing, come on Diaby, show us what you’re all Abou(t).
Heh, well, I’m sure we will be fine today. I’m even putting my neck out saying 3-0 to the Arsenal. Giroud (from a cross from Jenks), Wilshere, Nachos. In that order.
Considering I got into bed around five this morning and with way too much alcohol in me, I feel quite positive right now. Perhaps it is in part because I just watched Stoke lose a game of football.
That was a horrible game. Stoke don’t even play football. Shawcross got away with a yellow and Huth got nothing for literaly twonking Senderos in the face during a corner.
I can’t fucking stand those Orc cunts.
…which makes it all so much sweeter that they lost.
Agreed though, the 90 minutes leading up to the loss was not very well spent by me. Must give Fulham some credit for a few quite nice attacks though.
Stan looks like he’s on drugs….
Jelous! π
COME ON YOU REDDDSSSS
Ooooh, unlucky Jack
SAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNTTTTTTTTIIIIIII
Santi! Good start. Good start.
SANTIII!
Santi scores within 5 min. π
And agreed regarding Stan. Definitely
morning, all.
a first this morning: i turn it on, and we score.
celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music…
Great start, just what we needed.
I must say though, I can’t ever remember seeing so many empty seats for a PL game at the Grove.
Lovely goal from santi..villa are there for the taking.All we have to do is stop cocking up in d back. .
and of course my stream dies. firstrow isn’t supplying, and wiziwig is paltry. any particular useful ones?
We look so open when we lose the ball even high up the field. Ah, well, we’ve survived this far, and hey, at least it makes the games more exciting…
Open game here.Great to watch but Arsenal need to calm down and pass the ball around.Can’t afford to concede here..
(found one, whisper it).
End to end stuff, but where’s our defence?
At this rate we are going to concede any moment now.Full backs are getting bypassed with the greatest of ease..
h2h, looks like they are pretty successfully bypassing our midfield. so the defense scrambles.
nice ball from jack to theo, too bad the cross wasn’t on.
Problem is, there bypassing everyone, way too much space conceeded.
Oh well, we’ll just have to score more then them.
Giroud trademark over the top of the defence ball but isn’t he the central forward?In recent games he’s barely inside the box trying to finish chances.Someone needs to remind him that he’s a forward and not an amf.
lol, h2h. it’s the wild, wild west of arsenal!
We are not pressing them at all ..come on guys…some effort!
In this system that we’re playing what purpose does diaby serve?Clearly he’s not the dmf as arteta does that.He plays at a slow pace not helping our attack.Goes half hearted into tackles though for understandable reasons..He really is a liability now..
The space they have on the right hand side is ridiculous.
Nice save Woj.
Defense is day dreaming again! Massive gaps come on Arsenal!
chezza great save. villa defender in on giroud from the back, no card?
Just escaped there..Good save from sches..Ffs calm down guys!Slow the tempo and start pressing better ..
great knockdown to jack, who skies it.
I’ll have that
I think we comfy ith the 1 nil lead! No pressing hand brake on!
Diaby wake the fuck up.
diving fuck.
Diaby off where’s Rosicky?
That’s better.
great work by tv in the box after diaby gifts it.
great one touch play, very nearly curled into top corner by theo.
H2H
I think he heard ya! π
Arteta not having a good game so far.
I wouldn’t be surprised Arthur, I’m screaming at the TV here.
Arteta needs to sort his passing out as well!
Stan is in attendance. Bout time!
villans go to ground easily.
atg, it’s those new boots. he’s getting used to them.
Stupid Abou, stupid
Of dear me Diaby!
Dawdles all day on it, loses it then hacks the guy down
Diaby pls wake up.wait scratch that Arsene,pls sub him off now he’s on a yellow card.
Diaby will get himself sent off!
Then I remembered we usually play better in the second half!
Oooh nice one two!
nice little passage of pressure there, back and forth across their box. like to see a second in before the half, 2-0 to us.
SHOOT FFS!!
Lovely stuff Jack.
Is wilshere playing on 1 leg?why the hell didn’t he shoot on his right. . great chance missed cause of his dawdling..
Sea of empty seats…does it have anything to do with difficult travel situation around the Ems?
Great start great goal, but then we allowed them back in a game I think at one point they certainly had better possession percentage and Szczesny had to make a couple of decent saves. TV seems to back as well great few blocks there and seems to be awake for those.
Far too much space on the left wing Monreal not really keeping up yet but semi decent performance.
Far too much passing and not enough shooting. Where is Podolski why didn’t he start? And Roiscky!
Hoping for a better second half!
1-0 to the Arsenal.
But don’t think that’s going to win it.
Midfield is pressing up the field but if that is broken or bypassed we are not stopping them until they are at our 18 yard box. Need a better balance.
And shoot FFS.
Eandy
I don’t know cold day today!
Get Diaby off and TR7 on, sorry, I don’t want to get down on our players, but I agree with what Mr Drunk said above, he brings nothing in the position he is now being asked to play.
Villa can consider themselves pretty unlucky to go in behind for the break, they’ve created the better chances. We need to be way more direct and need to add a bit of ruthlessness in the attack.
We’re one up and I’ll take that for now, but we need to show a lot more all over the park in the next 45. But we’ll be OK because we are a second half team, right? π
Anyone else noticed Jack has been a bit slow today?
ok, here we go. better from ya in the second half, lads.
ATG – it’s not Monreal not keeping up.
The gaps are created by Diaby not covering his space when he joins the attack.
Both FBs are practically on the 18 yard box when we attack and if we get dispossessed the flanks are, the first place opposition should look for.
Arteta on the other hand does help Carl.
well won by nacho, great cross, noone there.
morning, snir. good points, igr.
First change of the half – switching between Mikel and Diaby.
Mikel now in charge of the left half of the field.
Our passing is more accurate! Keep it up, lads. Cent, don’t see anything amiss from Jack other than a bit unlucky.
Really like having Santi on the left I must say, to talk about the positives. If we had more drive in midfield it would be even more efficient I think. Rosicky on soon.
This team is really missing the presence of Cesc.There’s absolutely no one who’s willing to play a proper through ball splitting the defence.Endless side passes and some inspired run into the box from jack isn’t exactly that difficult to defend against once the opposition get used to it. .
C’mon you reds, this IS the game to rack up needed points for goal difference.
that makes it an all spanish left. add rozza to the diaby spot, and on we go.
Only bad thing having Cazorla on the left flank is that he doen’t release Walcott as much with those through-balls. Walcott a bit invisible.
COME ON YOU REDS
only 12 minutes until arsene is allowed to make subs.
Heh
Hold up, what’s this?
Ramsey on for Diaby
Ramsey on for Abou O.o
Commentator saying its another injury to Abou
Villa are countering quite well.Our midfield and nacho are completely being bypassed.Arsene pls don’t wait till ur usual time and bring tr7 or coquelin in place of diaby. And just as i finish commenting diaby is substituted.about damn time.
oooh, aaron on for abou.
come on, aaron!
ten minutes early, by my watch.
and atkinson gives a foul to us in a good position.
Oh OG, great feed by Jenks though.
ooh, closer and closer we get. come on you gunners!!!
damn, great spell of pressure, love og’s touches.
CUNT
Fuck
What a fuck up by Wojtek fuck me!!!!!!!!!!!!
WTF!!
They’re more dangerous from our corners then we are. π
excellent work by arteta down the left. santi and theo switching, too.
christ.
where is podolski and rosicky come on!
That was coming.Sliced open by a counter where we were so open for some insane reason.Have the guys out there forgotten that they were in a lead and have to tighten up at the back?
so, the ollic pound is still on at 2-1, eh?
damnably.
Please, TR and Poldi, Arsene!
scruzgooner i’d prefer if he were in the receiving end of those said touches and lay offs.His primary role is in the box.
FFS they’re strolling through us like wed’re not there.
COYR’S
Subs Arsene SUBS!
Poldi for Jenks.
All or nothing
Poldi for Jenks
wow, poldi on for jenks, statement of intent.
Villa are way more threatening and much more likely to score than us at the moment.every time we dawdle at their half and give them the ball they counter at great speed against our invisible defence.
poldi for jenks? ramsey to rb?
COME ON ARSENAL
OOoooo Giroud
OG, off his game.
Oooooh !
Well considering our defence is already invisible guess it doesn’t matter that poldi comes on for jenks.Hopefully poldi finishes any chance that comes his way but wait wat a header from og!so close..
WHY WHY WHY???
There was our chance! π
everything so nearly.
What the fuck poldi come on!
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSS
SAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNTTTTIIIIIIIIII
Santi to the rescue!!!!!
Poldi how could u not get a touch to that?!
SANTIIIIIIII!
Wow
Get the fuck in there Holic pound just increased by 99%
Good job the midfield know how to attack the box because the so called strikers can’t be arsed today
oh no!
DON”T SWITCH OFF!!!!
Lovely pass from Nacho too!
YES SANTI! GREAT GOAL!!!
Heh, scruz is about three minutes behind. π
agreed, abb. excellent choice to hit the trailer.
scruz try this one http://offside-streams.blogspot.co.uk/
LOL. 85:45 now.
Thank goodness for santi pls defend properly ffs remember how u guys withstood sunderland..
4 mins ET
chezza, nice grab.
Kos on for Theo.
Kos for Feo (who did very little)
wait, how do you know that, h2h? π
oooh, wasn’t even paying attention, in off my noggin.
I’m from the future.
whew!
Yes!!!!
Thank fuck that’s over.
chezza claims it, hits it high…
Done and done! yay!!
The Ollie Euro pays out big. π
hooray! now my day will be con calma, and sweet. none of this kicking the cat shit.
Holic pound scores as well, well done Holic!
Scary game for my liking. We really looked like loosing this.
Sighs and relief for us! Hopefully this is something we can build on!
Defending was shocking at times I think we can consider ourselves lucky in a way!
COME ON ARSENAL!
that’s the ollic pound, h2h. he’s already got the olliempics, why not?
That was a huge scare.Ending the week on a somewhat high.Not at all good.tbh i expected us to really respond to the disappointments of the past few days by thrashing villains but guess i was too optimistic..
well, i am off. time to have a second cup of coffee. i’ll contemplate a scum loss after everton’s today and by the end of next weekend we’ll be well in third.
Holic got the score absolutely right!well played sir..
Murphy’s Law finally came good eh Holic! Love the fight in the result, come on Arsenal, only 1 point behind those LWCs!
i thought holic was on the gallon of guinness punt, 4-0?
That dubious Sceuz, Ollies on the otherside of the channel and that’s Euro territory.
Scuez!?!? π³
You are correct scruz, ‘holic had us winning large.
Important win today. I wonder another way to inject the urgency of moving forward and attack to the players’ head other than opponent’s goal. Next!
Scruz even if we finish in 3rd i really worry that that would just extend the status quo.Arsene and the board would simply pat each other on the backs and just say job well done..We really need some drastic change.Whether that is in the form of a manager change i don’t know..
Wenger aht. Moyes in.
Ha!
What really baffles me is lack of TR usage in the game like this, to be frank we never really had control of this match and to be even more honest we did not play particulary good. I might be biased but I just think that leaving TR benched is too big of a luxury right now, especially that even with lack of game time, he still does posses the ability to turn matches in our favor.
I really hope Arsene will play him in Munich.
But that can be discussed tomorrow, right now .. I am going to enjoy this win and celebrate it with bottle of fine Moravian red Zweigeltrebe wine:P
long time since I dropped into the bar, throw up a few pints of the good stuff please guvnor and whatever your having yourself. nowhere near as an emphatic win as I would have hoped for but 3 points is what was required and they duly delivered. The pressure is back on those above us and we all know how they love the pressure, mind the gap my arse!
I must have missed the part about the ‘holic pound being correct?
H2h, the ollic euro, then, not to be confused with the ‘holic pound.
again, “celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music…” i imagine there is the early part of a conga line at the tollie.
Happy with the points, but I feel the performance raises more questions then it answers.
Feo was invisible, OG not at the races, this ofcourse happens, but is worrying non the less.
Can we please now draw a line under Project Diaby. Yes I know he’s a fighter and he does his best to come back and everyone thought he would of been a great, but the simple fact is, he isn’t. He is not dynamic, he slows down play, he dawdles, surrenders pocession way too easily/often and quite frankly looks scared to commit to 50/50 challenges. Dan Smith robbed us of what might of been, but by continueing to gamble (because that’s what it is) on him is robbing us of starting with a full strength team. Sorry Abou.
Diaby injured? Where did that came from?!
Important win, we need more of the same.
If Diaby is injured, I hate to say it but based on today’s performance that may be a blessing in disguise. Need Rosicky vs Spuds.
Also worrisome is the vulnerability on the break; if Gunners play like this vs Defoe and the primate at Shite Fart Lane could get cut to ribbons.
Eandy @ 221: Baffling to everyone I think. Whenever he plays he looks to be teh difference maker, and a bit of run would see us really playing more controlled and high tempo game. May be Arsene is looking forward and finding him too advanced in years for his taste, he has never really handled very seniors in the team that well. May be the injury sustained at the Euro really put him off. I hope he starts in the Derby instead of Diaby/Ramsey.
A good win but lots of inefficiencies in both defense and attack. Theo had a poor game, Giroud lacked composure and made a few bad decisions, the lack of DM cover in counter-attacks was worrying. TV5 continues his very patchy form, and Szczesny demonstrated once more the significant improvement he needs to make in terms of concentration when Arsenal is dominant. True test of a goalkeeper.
I agree that Rosicky will move the team forward better than Diaby but I think the most important thing is the player mindset has to change. We were slow, looked satisfied with one goal lead but only after their equaliser we woke up and play. Can we please do that for the whole game? Surely it isn’t something too much to ask, is it?
H2H @ 226: Sadly have to agree about Diaby. Had great hopes, especially the way he started the season, but the continuing recurrence of injury is not helping at all and playing him in place of say a much more convincing TR7 slows us down.
I think the next time he comes back from injury the best bet would be a half-season loan to make sure he gets to a stage where he is playing at ease and at his physical best before he walks into Arsenal team. And we should not count on him.
On the train home. 3 points is 3 points but we made bloody hard work of that. Yet another poor goal to give away. It seems we can’t even defend our own corners now?
Home and beer. I don’t half need a drink.
Ambydex @ 230: I won’t say the team was satisfied, they were looking for the goal, but were too inefficient and had no organization. Preceding the goal there were a couple of counter-attacks where were caught.
Also the team really needs to improve on the conversion of corners, at least creating chances with them. There was one where Theo curved the ball towards the near post and there was no one. Between Giroud and TV5/Kos we have players who are well capable of scoring goals if the right delivery is made and the team has a better plan to stretch teh opposition defense from corners.
Diaby went off moaning about his hip and hamstring. My guess is he us out until 2015. In fairness his jog down the tunnel was probably the quickest he had moved all day.
Steve T.
Was the stadium as empty as it looked on tv.
By empty I mean lots of unfilled seats.
There were empty seats dotted around the lower tier. Big gaps in the upper. Corporate is just corporate. They do what they want.
OK mate, cheers for that. On tv you could really see the gaps, I can’t remember seeing that many before.
Plenty empty seats.
Fuck ’em – fairweather fandangos.
3 points – normal service will be re-established next weekend against them LWCs.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a black and white friend to attend to, and it ain’t no zebra! 8)
I just don’t want to hear Arsene’s post game mental strength and the team showed character stuff.
We won, that is enough. Roll on the next game. And the game after. Win whatever can you win, and do not say that this team has mental strength because it doesn’t.
And, when this season is finally over regardless of the position, Arsene, please…
a decent goalkeeper, Begovic or Mignolet if premier league experience is required.
a DM as a must, as we all saw today and against Bayern, Arteta is not that kind of player.
And last but not least a striker, because today I’ve finally lost it with Giroud. I wonder how many of us would have bemoaned if Bentner made those bad decisions and stupid shots today. He is a decent forward, and is working hard, and I appreciate that, but that is not enough. Simple as that.
Rant over. We actually won.
H2H.
3 games in a week. I have one of the cheaper seats and all three would have set me back about Β£140 if I had had to buy them. If the board don’t start to recognise that then the gaps will get bigger.
Zico. Fairweather?????? I seem to remember a certain roughty toughty scotsman uttering the immortal words, “its Fucking freezing.” Glass houses and stones spring to mind.
Nice to see BTM out of rehab.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsene-wenger-press-conference-transcript-1725111
AW finally admits the priority was to qualify for the CL and that it wasn’t told because “you can’t say you’re not going for the championship” at a club like Arsenal.
He also said that in order to compete for the top we woulda had to raise ticket prices.
He also says that now we finally can compete financially.
This is in addition to admitting in the presser that he expected a tough time after the move to the Ems.
Hey Steve T and Ms T, just back in from the stadium here, too.
That is, I’m just back indoors here – not that I actually have a stadium here too. ;). And that was seriously cold.
I think season tickets should now come with health warnings and mandatory heart check ups at The Emirates.
We made bloody hard work of that. Reluctant to shoot and follow up – often panicky when we did shoot, and the obligatory unnecessary goal given away by a combination of poor defending and worse goalkeeping. Some of Szczesny’s point blank reflex work is very good, but his decision making is awful. Worryingly, his relationship with his back four seems to be breaking down a bit too.
The last time we had any sort of secure back four was in 2006 when Martin Keown coached Eboue, Toure, Senderos and Flamini to a Champions League defensive record.
If Steve Bould is coaching the current defence, I would reluctantly and respectfully suggest that he ain’t up to the job.
If he is not coaching them, then pleeeaaassse Arsene let him get on with it.
It is not just a problem of the back four. We MUST sign a defensive midfielder with a defensive instinct.
You may have gathered by now that this afternoon was not a relaxing one.
Most importantly though we won and have three nice new points to wave at the Spuds on Monday night.
Good to see some of the regulars today under the Tollie Brrrollie, H, zico, Tabs, Ollie, bath, thirsty kirsty and the Rev AL, and the aforementioned Steve T and Ms T outside the railings. No snowy today, but we had a bit of the real stuff instead. Sorry to miss you Lars – Everton ???
Mystified here as to why Tomas Rosicky did not get on today.
Is there an ITK who knows what has happened regards TR7 ?
Santi getting a lot of adoration from the crowd today, and not undeservedly, but over 90 minutes Jack Wilshere was again the star for me.
Very decent performance from Jenks too.
Def mid, keeper, another centre forward.
We were saying it in August, we said it in Jan and we’re saying it again today.
Concerned that the HFB and Theo goals seem to have dried up, but fuck it – a win’s a win. We just need to get to the summer.
Encouraged by Arsene’s presser: seems to back the “we’ve had no dough” theory. Please, please demonstrate this summer that the fallow period is over.
As for the rest of the weekend, over to you, LWCs, you cock-emblemed, simian bottle-jobs.
Fair enough Snir,
But what does that mean ?
How do you aim for 3rd or 4th place ?
If it is just an admission that we couldn’t spend on the level of Chavski or Citeh in order to win the league, is he saying that we now can ?
I doubt it.
I really like this guy, true Arsenal
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/picture-carl-jenkinson-celebrates-like-an-arsenal-fan-after-cazorla-winner-v-villa/
Trev
Agree with all your points.Wilshere is a treasure and Santi was always creative today. I thought we were decent in the second half but overpassed,although credit to Villa for defending pluckily. Further observations from my seat were that Giroud worked ceaselessly and produced some delightful lay-offs. I thought Monreal has settled in well and made some good left-wing incursions. Good to see him being vociferous with the other defenders.
On the minus side Chez is costing us a goal a game and today he could have cost us two points. I couldn’t believe after an error like that he rucked people for not closing Weimann down. Frankly my granny would have saved it.
As for TR 7 I am incredulous and can only think he might have got on instead of Ramsey if Diaby hadn’t gone off. His ability to commit defenders would have been very effective today.I suspect Wenger thinks he is too similar to Cazorla.
I waved goodbye to Diaby for the season and expect to see him back in October but unsure which year that will be..
Come on you Hammers!
ps-I hear Van Payslip fell into a crater at Loftus Road today. Nothing trivial I hope.
Now, now Mr Terrington.
You know who I meant by fairweather and it was not the types to be put off by the plummeting temperatures.
And it WAS fucking cold. π
Hard fought victory, I wish we took a few more long range shots…it’s frustrating watching the Gunners try and walk it in. Poor Diaby, the guy has pace with his long strides but he doesn’t do it when he has the ball, especially when the hammy goes…..
Re: Prof, I’m surprised that he has come out and said we have the money to spend in the summer, I think it is just to calm down the supporters and nothing else. Tactically, this just gives all of our summer target’s agents the chance to drive up the bids. Maybe he and the Board realize that the days of finding diamonds in the rough are tougher to come by. What if we finish ahead of Chelsea and just behind Man City?…will he just revert back to what he knows given he might feel that those teams spent all that money and we are right there with them?
Re: Chelsea/Man City, I’m thinking I want Man City to win tomorrow to give us a better shot at passing Chelsea.
Will Rosicky ever see the pitch again for more than a cameo? I surely hope not. Cheers all.
Oooooh, Anti Cazorla, Oooooh, Anti Cazorla…
Just kiddin’.
Next two games are what’s this season is all about. Spuds and Toffees. 4 points will do.
3 at Lane.
Where is that Garsguns wimp? π
What a good session, if not a great game…
Yeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaard fought win!
Made hard work of it though. O the jays (jack and jenk) done good, Santi-tastic too.
Certainly were plenty empty spots spotted in the ground. Still, good to see some mighty fine ‘holics there.
Interested to see AW in last prezzer acknowledging that there was money to spend in January just gone. Pffft – after all how else would he have snaffled the LB what made the winner.
Up The Arse!
Down the Arsenal….
The day starts with a pounding head, the inevitable result of the previous night’s carousing with Wolfgang Smallballs.
As this is my 3rd consecutive morning in London, with work and play having been given equal attention, the simple assignment of waking up, getting dressed and sourcing some coffee takes on the magnitude of a trek up the North Face. A shower brings me round sufficiently to put the necessary layers on my person, more or less in the right order and the correct way round. I drape my shades across my eyes to keep out the blinding light, and venture out to join the human race. The world, (despite efforts to put it to rights last night by the combined intellectual strength of The Feelgood Foundation i.e. me, tabs and Lars) is only really restored to corrective order though, once I get some solids into my system.
I’ve transformed overnight into a Softie. π
I delve into the morning paper and see the knives are still out for Wenger. Am I hyper-sensitive or do the hacks really take more pleasure out of digging out our club more than any other? I know sub-editors love any excuse to roll out the “broken cannon” jpeg, but there just seems to be more venom than normal in the latest “Arsenal-in-Crisis” copy, splattered everywhere you look. Then I remind myself that journalists are, by and large, simply parasites with pencils. Cunts, in fact.
Team news. Sagna out of the team and, if the hacks are to be believed, out of Arsenal come the summer. I am a bit ambivalent about this – I feel that the double leg break has taken its’ toll on Bacary, and whilst we could do with more Arsenal players being infused with his determined mindset, I feel that if we are to get the best out of the squad we have, then we need players on both left and right who can swing in a cross. Not Monsieur Sagna’s strong point. In addition, he has reached the Carousel age of 30 and is soon to be out of contract – typically not a good combination in Wenger’s eyes.
I unburden myself of my excess baggage (no, not Roxette) at Victoria, and go underground for a northbound train. At Finsbury Park, The Pins looks busy and I know if I go looking, I will find the hair of the dog that bit me. In a break with tradition, however, I elect for fresh air and an amble down to The Tollington.
It is bloody cold. I don’t remember London ever feeling as cold as it has these last two or three years, and you would think that being a native of the tundra I’d take this in my stride. But I’m feeling it. Alcohol and age are clearly thinning the blood.
So what do I do? I order a Guinness. Extra Cold.
Yeah, that’ll help. π
Friendly faces.
Holic, Trev, Ollie, tabs, the inimitable and irrepressible And Lester. Steve T momentarily, out wide. I am fortunate to be introduced to the fertile Garsguns who has been making the most of the recent Arsenal-lull. Taking the lead from Camberwell, he has been performing his own Irish gymnastics and it would appear that our club winning trophies will need to become part of Government policy, to control the expanding population.
Soon I am back in the Clock End.
A sudden pang of nostalgia has me thinking about the Clock End at Highbury and a girl I used to know.
Going to watch the Arsenal these days is such a different experience to what it used to be, back then. You used to go to the pub with your mates before the game , go to the match and revel/agonise in real time with those self-same band of brothers and sisters and then celebrate/commiserate with each other for hours afterwards in the pub until you were marched off the premises by a disapproving better-half. Now, for many of us, the 90 minutes match time is an exercise in polite manners amongst strangers. The upside is the disapproving other half is hundreds of miles away…..
Kick off brings me back to earth and Arsenal start brightly and are soon in front. I had ventured the opinion in the pub beforehand that we needed an early goal, and having got one, I expect the roof to cave in on Villa as the flat-track bullies we are believed to be, get to work. But it doesn’t materialise. In truth, we make rather heavy weather of it against a team, who quite frankly, are not very good.
Cazorla stands out, he seems to be everywhere with a full array of tricks and flicks. Jack is also impressive in driving the team forward. Once he adds goals to his repertoire he will be THE player we all expect him to be. But Arsenal manage, as only Arsenal can, to add some farce to the proceedings by conceding a goal from our own set piece. Finally, we are dangerous from a corner. That kind of thing is what we used to expect from the neighbours! Having conceded the equaliser I was already seeing those fucking broken cannons in tomorrow’s papers , but thankfully, Santi delivered us from that particular evil.
So, a welcome three points makes the trudge northward much more bearable. A tight schedule renders a return visit to the Tollie unfeasible this time around, so I press on to Gatwick, and the soul-less Red Lion for my last Guinness. No sooner is it poured, when the word boarding appears on the screen overhead, so I have to make it evaporate promptly. At the gate, a forlorn fucker wearing a Villa top heading for my plane gives me a stern look as I walk past him with my NYC-Gooner T shirt on. He gets the appropriate derisory sneer in return. Enjoy the match report tomorrow morning, Brummie!
Before I know it, I’m touching down in Dunedin, already thinking about the fixtures in March.
I should get home just about the same time as Wolfie is toppling from the table…..
Top notch reporting. zico, top notch!
Nice match report, Zico.
Played Zee – “the Clockend at Highbury and a girl I used to know” – choon!
Heh zico !
Back to Scotland to warm up. π
Top stuff dr z @253. π
Cheers Zico.
Hope it was a profitable trip all around.
Profitable ?!?
Only if he’s got shares in Guinness. π
First on MoTD?
Did nothing happen anywhere else. π
Ha. Yes Trev.
At least Roxy wasn’t in London shoe shopping. π
Good Evening holics. Trev, good match report. I also thought Jack and Jenks did well but Santi MOTM for me. Zico π Enjoyed that! I was too nervy to comment much during the game, felt like if I took my eyes of the TV, the Villains would tie things up. Anyway, a bit bummed out cause I sent Arsene a dozen long stemmed roses (individually wrapped) for him and the starting eleven with a note of encouragement. But it seems FTD has failed me π There will be hell to pay! π Nite all!
Chelsea draw with City, if they do, and is 2nd place out of our grasp
Wheww!!!
3 points. Ugly unconvincing win. But it still counts.
A bit hard on OG i think. Theres a lion of a player and a top striker in there. Hes in the Prem what – 7 months and already hes written off by some?
Excuse me bit thats just buying into the juvenile Football Manager ethos of teenagers and the dreaded fool that piers morgan.
I think Feo has had the time and support hes needed and if hes not there yet he probably never will be. He was utter dross today. Total liability and was also against Bayern.
TR7 needs to play. Period.
My blood pressure cannot tske these tight games!
Cheers all.
Or not?
DanC,
If you’re there, old chap, sounds like it’s time to loosen the cravat, roll up the shirt sleeves, get yourself into The Quackery and fire up the ECGs.
Lots of fluttering hearts in the bar it seems. What you might call the chambers of horrors. π
8ball,
2nd ? Fourth will do me for now, while 3rd would be almost infinitely better.
Not that we have any chance of winning the Champions League next year, but qualifying for it would simplify the summer’s transfer business.
Otherwise there will be even more more murmers of heart irregularities.
Is DanC in circulation or are we trying to find him in vein.
Anyway, aorta be going. π
Go The Hammers!!!!!!!
Oskar
Please calm down Oskar.
There are still two days to go and there are enough overwrought people in here already.
Not a vintage performance.
Sczezney 5
Jenks 7
Merts 7
TV 6
Monreal (with cheese) 6
Arte 7
Abou 5
Jack 7
Santi 9
Theo 6
OG 7 (again mostly for defence)
Rambo X
Poldi X
TR 0 (too much bench-warming)
AW 7 (sub-standard subbing)
Oskar
Okay, Dr T, but with a little help from the Boleyn normal service could be resumed as soon as next weekend.
And about time too…
Oskar
Trev @ 268: The problem with fourth is it doesn’t render itself well to early transfers being done. Many of the targets would wait until after the CL qualifiers are negotiated, which actually is getting harder every year. Udinese was quite a close one. Hence third is so much better than fourth. And I believe if we can pick up the points — ugly/unconvincing wins included, given the schedule of the two teams right above us, we may be able to make third.
Homer @ 265: Yes, OG gets a bit of unfair stick. But today was one of his poorer execution days, worked hard and had some very nice lay-offs and flicks but made a couple of really poor decisions in the penalty box. I like the attitude — a mixture of confidence, seriousness and humility. Often the case with late bloomers and I agree with you that there is a potential ‘season defining’ striker in there.
Cazorla first to score 10 goals in debut season since TH14.
Oskar
Dr Fau,
I think that’s what I said. π
Classic MOTD.
Hansen on Arsenal: “the structure is all wrong”.
Directly below him, an infographic shows us in 442, with Arteta on the right wing.
First time I’ve agreed with that golf-happy twat in years.
Oskar@274.
Apart from Poldi and Ollie G ???????
Indeed N7.
No words needed, I just gave a haughty sneer of derision and a discourging shake of the head.
Great photo of Jackie-boy
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BD0eMnyCIAAu4op.jpg
Steve T … I was referring to League goals, sorry. Poldi and OG have scored more, but neither has ten in the League yet.
Actually their joint record is very encouraging. Giroud has already scored more than TH14 in their respective first seasons.
Oskar
Just home. Bloody cold. Bloody important three points. Fine company at the Tollie pre-match. Sad to miss the post-match round up. Will probably feel better for that tomorrow π
Now onward to the marshdwelling vermin.
I’ve been very critical of Giroud simply because he is our main striker and he has missed some good chances but I was very heartened today by his work ethic, the subtlety of his lay- offs to others and his all- round attitude. One good header which he might have directed in and a few miscues but I thought he made himself a handful for the Villa defence. As ever Arsene needs to build a squad with real competition and opportunities for rotation and some variation in approach work.
I am very distrustful of these stories about Falcao and previously Cavani. It’s done to raise supporter morale and sell renewals of season tickets and its patently not true.
Basically although I don’t like Hansen and his attitude to us at all,we have a real issue with team set- up, lack of key roles in the team and some performance issues and he identified some of these. We desperately need a defensive midfielder and in the absence of one we ought to consider Vermaelen,a good alternative to Ches with experience and a mobile predator( not impressed with Benteke today) . We then need to set the team up with more protection for the back four.
Today again we were much better in the second half. Although we scored early the first half was even- ish and the second half a bit of a siege. I’d prefer it the other way around! But I really enjoyed today mainly because the support for the team was great again. There were many empty seats but maybe the absence of the faint hearts worked in the team’s favour.
Arteta-Monreal-Cazorla
Commonality in that combination? Que cosa puede ser?
zico @ 253, absolutely immense mate, like I was there π
N7 @ 279, the blessed one π
Thanks for the win, Arsenal.
We needed that.
Win. The. Next. Match.
BMBD
Lonestar. I’ve heard moose farming is a growth industry in the north woods. Vegetarians like llamas and really quite friendly. Until they spot any uppity Kanadians, that is. π
I’m sorry ‘Holics. I have no life and I stopped taking my medications. I mean no harm but I just can’t stop my Tourette’s outbursts.
I’m sorry ‘Holics. I have no life and I stopped taking my medications. I mean no harm but I just can’t stop my Tourette’s outbursts.
I’m sorry ‘Holics. I have no life and I stopped taking my medications. I mean no harm but I just can’t stop my Tourette’s outbursts.
I’m sorry ‘Holics. I have no life and I stopped taking my medications. I mean no harm but I just can’t stop my Tourette’s outbursts.
I’m sorry ‘Holics. I have no life and I stopped taking my medications. I mean no harm but I just can’t stop my Tourette’s outbursts.
Goodnight Canada
8Ball –
Unfortunately, the ranching/farming operation has gone to pot. Not literally, but why mess with the imagery. Work is insane (actually in the office this very moment)…baby will be here shortly so little time left to herd animals, watch games, or join in the drinks with any sort of regularity.
Like the Arsenal, I’ll muddle through somehow…Hope all is well with you and yours.
Come on you Reds – let’s stuff the scummers.
BMBD
Oh, and well done, Zico.
BMBD
well in, zico. sounds like a man out standing in his field.
And for the ridiculous schat’n’fund, old al has a quote fer ya: “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
I see some things in here never change -Dr T with supreme puns, and some fool in Canada.
Same as it ever was…
Something extra in your OJ?
Gone are the days when ‘holic wrote a match report on the evening of the game. Must be some bad influences around π
Morning all, great to see more ‘holics yesterday! An altogether much better Saturday.
Including the return of AL and baff, and garsguns/Dicky Law!
I only saw the back of Steve T as he exited the pub though.
wind 286, except we won, so it’s not as if you were there, jinxwind! π
See you soon hopefully for more victories.
Super photo indeed N7!
Great write-up zico. How did you get from being extremely cold to wearing an apparent T-shirt in the evening before boarding though? π
Go on, lurkers, help yerselves!
I don’t agree with the sentiments of this link but the stats are quite interesting.We’ve had the most counter attacking goals(I’m assuming offensive) in the premier league this season.A sector that I seem to remember great performances in the much earlier Wenger days.
http://www.bsports.com/statsinsights/au-revoir-arsene-wenger
That was some through ball ,Ollie.I literally didn’t see it coming.
Heh, well in washed up, telepathic understanding is where it’s at!
Just watched highlights from yesterday and I have to say that even though it didnt look like that to me during the game ..OG once again proved that he will become some player for us.
Yes, he did not score but apart from one bad decision when he really should square the ball to Jack, he was immense and real handful for Villa defense. I seriously dont get the slack he gets, no one could expect him coming in and scoring 25 goals in his first season, he works hard and even in goal terms, for his first season in EPL, he delivered and I have a feeling that with some polishing he might become to be our very own Drogba in coming years.
Heh Ollie @ 298 (or whatever number it becomes once the Kanadian gets wiped) – Gatwick North Terminal was about 20 degrees warmer than the Tollington beer garden.
Also the t-shirt had 2 layers beneath it π
1000 apologies to Baff and Ms Baff for omitting your presence amidst the friendly faces above in 253 – how could I forget that hat???
Well in Ollie.
Heh zico @302 : forgiven.
No slurs on the headwear, now!
I just posted a drink that seems to have been swallowed by the ether… Guess I’ll have to try again in condensed form:
Had a great day out yesterday, had enough beer to not remember leaving the Tollie. Great to meet friends old and new, the company was top, top super quality.
Right, let’s see if this gets through π
Heh, I seem to have inherited number 300 now!
Sorry washed up. Great assist though π
The wallet is still bulging.
Well in Ollie ,I literally didn’t see it going either.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>