Happy Birthday Theo, Give Us A Reason To Celebrate
Mar 15th, 2013 by 'holic
“For us, anyway, every game is a Cup Final now, and Swansea is always a difficult place to go. We’ll need to repeat the game we had at Bayern Munich. It’s as simple as that.”
Arsene understands the importance of this weekend’s fixture only too well. With another enforced week off to follow, courtesy of the World Cup qualifiers, the trip to the Liberty Stadium assumes an importance that simply should not be underestimated. With Chelsea and Tottenham facing London derbies, albeit both at home, on Sunday we have a chance to apply a little bit of pressure on our rivals for a Champions League berth.
The situation squad wise is not too different to the trip to Bavaria in midweek. Bacary Sagna, Jack Wilshere, and Lukas Podolski are joined in the treatment room by Kieran Gibbs. The loss of Gibbs is balanced by a return for Nacho Monreal, and I hope that will be the only change to the eleven that started in Munich.
Swansea are reported to be close to full strength, although Chico Flores and Kemy Agustien will be missing. They have proved to be difficult opponents in the last couple of seasons, but we may have turned the corner with our FA Cup replay victory in January having come within three minutes of winning the tie in South Wales.
Since then however Michael Laudrup has led his team to a Carling Cup triumph against the Bradford City side that accounted for us. The Swans hold ninth place in the Premiership comfortably, and in fact are just seven points behind us, so they are as close to us as we are to our neighbours. That sobering thought should focus the mind. They have lost just twice at home this season, and both were in the last calendar year. This won’t be a stroll in the park, but a little bit of the belligerence we displayed in Germany should turn things our way.
The ‘holic pound has enjoyed a wonderful week both in Germany and at Cheltenham, so I would like to round the week off in some style. I can see us trading goals with the hosts before coming out on top 2-3. I really wanted to say 1-2, but Bergkamp’s the Man has threatened me with physical violence if I tip that scoreline again!
So have a great weekend, particularly if you are down in Wales celebrating the Arsenal and England rugby union grand slam double. On second thoughts you might be better getting back across the bridge before celebrating too noisily.
Take care ‘holics, oh, and many happy returns on Saturday Theo. Birthday present for us all please. Ta.
275 Responses to “Happy Birthday Theo, Give Us A Reason To Celebrate”
3 points any which way.
3 points at least! Ta.
Crucial match.
3rd??? Yes please.
4th???? Yes please……
This could go on and on and on………….
5th, no thanks. π
Holic, I will respectfully suggest that your “underestimated” should read “overestimated”.
Of course, while glorying in your winnings, how much you care about that cannot be underestimated. π
I think the media have not given Arsenal enough credit for Munich. It was all set up for an Arsenal crisis story and they confounded the script. If we could win tomorrow we have got a real chance of catching the two sides in front of us from the capital- I can’t bear to say their names.they have got fixture and travel issues that will catch up with them at some stage.It won’t erase all the problems if we do but it will give some welcome perspective.
Cheers for that mate. Keep the proper Back 5 and we aint conceding. 0-2 for me. Same as Scouse Cunts.
I did think about that Esso, then decided Michu has a bit of a hold over us…
Plus the odds are much bigger and I’m a greedy git π
Please don’t break me little heart again, so soon, you schizophrenic little Gunners.
Keep the team as unchanged as possible, that’s what I say.
3points will do just fine.
Nice one ‘holic.
A clean sheet has to be our priority, the emphesis on the deep back line that was instrumental in our win in Munich must be kept. Whichever Pole is between the sticks has to be protected, limit them to shots from outside the box and cut out the avenues through or over the back four. Get that right and we should be OK.
Line up;
Polish Keeper.
Nacho BFG Kos Jenks
Arteta Ramsey
TR7
Santi HFB Feo.
Swansea like to play, let them come and hit them on the break, that’s how they beat us at The Grove and it’s only right that we return the favour.
0-2 (our new score)
Feo and Santi to do the damage.
COYG’s
Sorry H2H, but three points has to be THE priority. Couldn’t give a monkeys if it is 0-1 or 5-6 π
3 points please.
P-S ‘holic, I think Gibbs will be available, I know Arsene said something to the contrary in his presser, according to the training pictures posted on the dot com Gibbs trained.
Normaly I’d agree with that ‘holic.
But I don’t think the gung ho, we’ll score more then them, attitude quite fits this current team. Make sure the back is solid and the front will take care of itself.
That said, ofcourse I’ll gladly take a 5-6 scoreline. π
Evening holics. Holic, I want Gervinho and OX to start. They made an impact @ Munich and too many folks have written them off. And Fabs in goal. Petition to follow shortly π
Ox, Gerv and theo in the middle. If nothing else we can out sprint them to all the throw-ins and goal kicks we give them! π
Cheers ABB.
Not a petition I would sign I’m afraid, Nursie.
They’ve been way too hit and miss for me, Bayern were tiring when they came on, so I wouldn’t read too much into their appearances there.
Although as late subs when Swansea are running out of steam is always an option.
Hey NorCal, Cheers to you as well, lad.Hope you’re off tomorrow! π
H2H, Gervinho brings a certain flair to the game, can’t put my finger on it…but if you look at the defenders faces as they try to mark him when he is approaching goal, they understand what I mean. He has the abilty to make them look like a fool. HE NEEDS GAMES! As for The OX, people are saying he hasn’t played well this year. I would counter with, ‘he hasn’t played’ (hardly). This young man just needs regular play and fans to back him π btw, looking forward to your company tomorrow. And that goes for all the other fine chaps here. Tis a tradition I cherish π
Ox seems to be suffering second season syndrome, but I have faith that he’ll come good. Yes he needs game, but this is not the time to be utilising players who are in a slump, we need our best players to be at the top of their game for every game untill we reach our goal.
I’m afraid I’m yet to be convinced by Gerv’, you’re probably right about his ability to confuse defenders, he baffles the fuck outta me too. π
A bit too erratic for my liking. But nothing would please me more if he proves me wrong and goes on a good run of form and makes a meaningful contribution.
I got quite a few things to do tomorrow, but I’ll be doing my best to be here in the drinks by kick off.
Of course three points is the priority, anything less could be disastrous with Totts and Chelski both having home games – albeit derbies where anything can happen. BUT we do NOT want to lose our goal difference advantage over Totts and need to REDUCE Chelski’s present advantage.
This year could easily come down to goal diff, and I remember watching that exhilarating ten minutes against WH and hoping they would keep up the pressure and score as many as possible while in the mood. They didn’t, they slackened off (job done presumably). Understandable if we’d been winning by the odd goal (to protect the win), but when 4 or 5 goals clear I want MORE.
Oskar
Oskar.
Wasn’t that the game that got stopped for a good ten minutes due to a player getting knocked out?
It killed the momentum we had and the game was done by the time it got restarted. (if memory serves)
I think Gervinho made fools of some of us here with his performance in Munich. He looked more than useful, nearly scored (or nearly assisted, whichever way you look at it), and generally looked a decided nuisance.
He had a dreadful barren stretch prior to Africas Cup duty, but he did actually score a few early on in the season … so is it possible he’s coming good again? As a late substitute when the Swans are tiring he could prove just as tricky as Bayern found him. But I wouldn’t start him.
I’m expecting tomorrow to be Santi Giroud’s day.
Oskar
Could be H2H … my memory, like my eyes, can’t quite focus at such short distances sometimes!
Oskar
Norcal at 19 – ill have some of that sir!
And im looking to see Kos stuff that wiley Michu character.
My crystal ball is resting serenely at the bottom of the Delaware where its lousy predictions can no longer haunt my dreams or jinks the match!
Three points bar keep. Win pretty. Win ugly. But win we must.
And for fucks sake Arsene – start Rosicky!!!!!!!
A reminder, Oskar:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21038749
“But I donβt think the gung ho, weβll score more then them, attitude quite fits this current team. Make sure the back is solid and the front will take care of itself.”
My thoughts exactly H2H.
We’re far too inconsistent – and we end up bleeding points by trying to play a game that simply takes a higher level of skill than this team possess.
I think a temporary change of style might be the most efficient way of getting points. While we got a result against Bayern, I felt we played poorly in midfield when we got possession. We gave the ball away far too easily which was so unlike us. But what was also unlike us, was the way we harried and hustled – and closed people down yet this yielded results!
Only Barca believe in playing without a traditional defensive unit (in a purely defensive sense) at the back – and thats because their forwards players work their bollox off to win the ball back before a team even enters their half. If Lionel Messi can bust a gut doing his defensive duties, then there’s no excuse why we shouldn’t either.
With your kind permission Holic – Stillmans column over on Arseblog is required reading, as ever.
Gervinho makes himself look a fool far more often than he makes defenders look foolish, therefore he should stay benched.
It’s all coming back to me now, H2H. π You’re right, that injury – just 3 or 4 minutes after our fifth goal – must have spoiled the moment. I only remembered wishing they’d get back to it and improve the goal diff while we had a chance.
Anyway I have to get back to the cricket where McCullum is proving his usual irritation.
Oskar
Gervihno it is, then.
My kind of lunatic, anyway. He’s got eyes everywhere but not where humans supposed to have.
Homer,
That was a bit tongue -in-cheek at 19, as those 3 are more apt to dribble out of bounds than put it on goal. I like all 3 in varying degrees but a front line with those three would be very fast but also very very sporadic. I do think that we can hit the swans on the counter I just not sure we need 3 speedy guys to do that.
Against Bayern, our first goal showed what a sweeping move can accomplish even with Giroud leading the line.
Cheers.
Ox, Gerv and Theo up front ?
The Scatter Gunners. π
Norcal understood (i was thinking it was a sort of backhanded compliment you made) but roger that.
In any event, i think Feo is due. Put him up there and let er rip?
!!
And heaven help me but i thought Gervs move in the box agaisnt BM was insanely good. (But … Was it intentional?…ha!!)
Fuck it. I dont care if if peter wood hill plays up front wearing mo more than lime green Nikes and a banana hammock bearing a cannon on the package — As long as we get three points – im in.
If you please.
A little late for me these days but, like one or two above, Lady Nina and I couldn’t resist a little look at the Test Match.
Nina likes the cricket and has played a bit with the ladies herself. She’s quite handy with a ball but not always too vigilant about guarding her crease.
I, myself, have always been a middle and leg man. Always a good platform to knock one into her gulley.
Pardon my drunkenness!!
Ah Tally-Ho, there, as we speak, is another kiwi gone.
Kiwis, Swans – out to stuff any kind of bird this weekend.
Still laugjlhomg at 38.
Thats killer stuff!!
PHW. Heh.
Trev, those three up front constitute the Shot Gunners.
It’s no laughing matter, young man.
Lady Nina and I have had good and bad times inspired by the cricket.
On occasion it has all got rather complicated as she has one fine leg and one short square leg, and she likes to play with at least two slips which, frankly, make it rather difficult to find either of her legs at all.
Getting past the covers can be fun but I do get alarmed when she tries to introduce a third man into the proceedings.
That’s when, I’m afraid, I have to say “Over!”.
Get beaten and get him out !! The way forward !!!!!
Absolutely agree with H2H
Sit deep, limit them to long range efforts, close them down and take our chances on the counter, because we will create chances on the counter. DO NOT play the high line
We started off the season playing like this, for instance, against Liverpool. I don’t know why we changed later on
Morning all. Brief visit.
From the last post some really good accounts from those who went to Munich, especially Lars, Austrian and Ollie.
Keepers. Neither in my opinion are good enough. We go with what we have but with all that in the bank I would expect a top class gloveman veteran the sticks next year. Shezza has suffered from the clubs lack of ability to bring in an experienced and quality back up.
Today is a massive must win. Nothing else will do. A poor performance will undo the good that Munich brought us.
Between the sticks even.
That will teach me to rush.
Morning Steve and Harsha.
Sometimes I despair at the education system in this country, I really do. Some kids are being badly let down by successive governments.
Care in the community isn’t working…
Wear a tall hat like a druid in the old days
Wear a tall hat and a tattooed gown
Ride a white swan like the people of the Beltane
Wear your hair long, babe you can’t go wrong
It’s been a number of years since Dr Z wore his hair long, but the tall hat and the tattooed gown I will happily sport if we get back to winning ways in the league this afternoon.
Until Munich, I was still licking gingerly at the self-inflicted wounds of our clusterfuck defending at the Lane, but a proper defensive display in Bavaria coupled with the Totts reverting to type at Anfield, suggests that the chubby broad will not be exercising her vocal chords for a bit, yet.
All the signs are that Wenger will keep the same back 5 , and assuming that the appearance of a defensive unit was not a flash in the pan, I can see a traditional scoreline of one-nil-to-the-Arsenal come 4.50pm. Laudrup may be a nice man, and his team may play the game the right way, but I want him to be suffering a severe bout of indigestion this afternoon.
I want us to let them know that their moment in the sun is over, that we are the Arsenal, and that the old order has been restored.
Don’t let me down, boys.
What the z man said…
Morning all.
Swans for lunch, anyone?
Morning all,
I will have to miss this game unfortunately, family over from Ireland so taking them for a trip to London I know in this weather yes.
I will be checking the scoreline from my phone regularly, not an easy game one bit, the Swans have been our bogey team of late and we need to give them nothing if we want to take all three points home.
Enjoy the game Holics!
Come on Arsenal!
Cheers Joe, Harsha.
===
Heh @ Peter Hill Wood
Double Heh @ Peter Wood Hill (Homer @36)
===
Get beaten and get him out !!
I think you took a wrong turn looking for a SM site, your need to be disciplined and expose your schlong is none of our business. π―
===
Rightio, things to do before kick off….. Hurry hurry…………
swan killing saturday.
Kevinarse etc
“Get beaten and get him out”
Yep, fail to qualify for the CL and play the rest of the season with no manager.
Way to go Kev.
You mention PHW around here and it has the speedy effect of a judicial summons. π
Afternoon All,
Nice preview ‘H.
Hehs @PHW π
Long day of drinking ahead, what with the Arse and then the egg chasing.
2-0 to the Arsenal for those of you feeling optimistic. 1-0 to the Arsenal for those of you not feeling quite so chipper.
Come on Arsenal, win win win, and get Kev out.
Well we wont qualify for C/L. !!! Another season of fuck all !!!! Hey ho keep on dreaming Trev ,,,,,,
2-1 win for me Tabs – what is egg chasing ?
Sorry, probably being a bit dim. π
And yes, put Kev in a BBB. π
Not dreaming Kev – if you happened to read a few days ago.
Just trying to stay positive and balanced.
And however bad it gets, I will NEVER want The Arsenal to lose.
Arsenal: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Arteta, Diaby, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Giroud, Cazorla
Hmmm?!? π
Anyway, off to the Juicer, good luck everybody.
COME ON THE ARSENAL!
Trev – egg chasing = Rugby.
I really wish Capital Punishment was brought back for overuse of exclamation marks!
Twat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good to see Chamberlain starting today, the kid needs games. I think he will get a goal today, a strike from oustide the box to be precise.
Off to shower and go to the viewing centre.
Somebody say “hi” for me to Nurse Abb when she comes around.
And,,,,,,,, commas !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good to see the defence left alone.
Not sure about The Ox AND Diaby starting, and the “hugely” influential Rosicky left out.
However, the manager has been watching training and I haven’t.
COME ON YOU RIP ROARING !!!
(oh and the overuse of CAPITAL LATTERS)
and LETTERS !
wtf why on earth is not Rosicky playing …I just cant wrap my head around that -_- anyways COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
Made it, just.
COYG’s.
From Big Ben…..
Come on Arsenal!
Not so sure about the thinking behind leaving TR7 and Ramsey out…
We shall see.
Oh good to see the holics @ the bar. Order up gents! Arthur enjoy London (how can you not!) Cmon Arsenal! Hey Centy π
gΓΌten tag, holics, and a fine day it is. ooooh to be a gooner!
Afternoon Nursie.
Hi H2H π
is rozza on the bench?
oooh, ox!
ohhhhthe OX,great stuff!
yeah he is scruz..and hey abb:)
OOOoooo Ox on the bar.
Yes he is Scruz.
Mighty fine effort by the OX. Hey scruz.
morning lads, thanks. hi nurse!
Hey there Eandy!
lagging with my stream..Ox just hit the bar lol π
Good man, Jenks,
angel was offside
woof, glad he shanked that wide, rangel.
I don’t think he was offside, I think Jenks played him onside.
Wtf???
The warning signs are flashing.
Pooh Jenkins
That was ugly.
We need to impose ourselves on the game a bit
Nice effort Santi.
Ooooh. Santiago!
good move
Nice one Santi. Hey Cent π
Nice shot from Santi.
Diaby FFS.
has Abu woken up yet
Diaby off for tr7 please.
Hi Nurse.
Oh there was a terrific chance there. Keep that up!
shoot!!!
Great lob og!
Come on Arsenal
Are you all on a decent stream ?
Walcott can you do it?
I’ve got it live on tv, Trev.
bossing the game a bit now
for gods sake feo get out on the wing
live tv here too, trev.
Trev, good luck with stream. We’re looking sharper now, includ. Diaby.
Oh, must be cos it’s an English game and I’m only in England. π
scruz we may be bossing but as Wolfie might say,without penetration it counts for nothing
Going to list on .com
Phew, nice save Fab..
Offside, though.
Good ‘save’ by Fabs π Practice.
wtf theo?
Tried here Trev? :
http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=191185&part=sports
pressure mounting on their goal.
Nice bit of play there. The juices are cookin!
great og header to theo, wasteful by theo.
Firstrow sports trev
oooh ox
OOOOOOOOOOOoooooooo Ox
Ox off the bar again!
Thanks fellas – give it a try
Cham-bar
Why does Walcott not feel the need to help in defence?
Just imagine how good OX could be if he played more…
a corner well cleared.
Diaby should have just shot on that turn.
great run by diaby, but he has to pass there.
or, as abb says rightly, shoot.
Yes scruz,he has looked livelier as the game wore on. Hope OX stays on.
Abb, Diaby doesn’t believe he can score long ranger, I don’t believe too.
off to make the lad some birthday cinnamon rolls.
http://www.footballstreaming.info/streams/todays-links/
Offside stream has no commentary. It is heaven π
abb friend Abu is off the speed bring on TR
Okay, not great, but not terrible.
Santi and Kos the stand out players for me. Ox looks lively but needs to cut out the sloppy passing, Diaby, well….. meh.
Win the midfield battle, i.e. stop conceding possession and this game is winable.
A bit more effort from the Birthday boy needed too.
COME ON YOU REDS.
Ox looks more comfortable on the center of the pitch. Diaby’s passes are worryingly too casual at times. And I like to look at Theo coming in from the left. OG looks like he really doesn’t know where his team mates will aim to when crossing, and that seems to be undermining his positioning.
One nil to the Arsenal, perhaps, and another clean sheet for Fabulous-Hanski.
All hail the half time talk!!! So tired of FOX saying how great the Swans are…
Is Walcott demonstrating the 10 Lessons of what you should’t do on the football pitch- with and without the ball.
I have a problem remembering an Arsenal forward playing this bad. Both in offence and defence. Get him out!
All he has to do now is to score a brace and I’ll proudly eat my words of course.
Birthday boy off. Santi out wide and rosicky in to the middle. Please.
Keep the clean sheet.
Cheers all.
Yes Derrick, agree. OX looks a real threat there. Diaby’s long passes look good to me. Need to come on firing in 2nd half. Boom, Boom, Bang!
Whenever I watch Barcelona I see three of the world best players busting a gut to help their team in defense then I watch Arsenal and see Theo Walcott strolling back casually while his teammates are under siege, most times, even Giroud our striker gets back to defend before Theo majestically strolls back. I love Theo Walcott but he makes me want to tear my hair out in anger every other day.
Oh. And at what level of football should a fullback pass the ball back into the middle. No no Jenks. You know better.
Easy on the Theo bashing.
If you get a break you want your fastest player in a forward position, not by his own box.
It’s not like we are under constant siege.
come on guys!!
Hey, Diaby can shot with left……….
Well almost. π
Nice start to the half, diaby.
shoot
I’m with H2H regarding Theo. Whenever we retain the ball our players try to pick out Theo on the counter, I think it’s a tactical ploy.
Good pressurising by Ox
good work Santi!
Santi nice try again.
COME ON YOU REDSSSS
Santi is really up for it today. Come on Arsenal!!
Good pressure by us!
Vorm time wasting already?
What is he doing?!!??
Awwww Aboou
Aigh, abou!
…diaby does it again.
Oh diaby good stuff, but that last touch….
10 minutes to sub time….
Tr7 for diaby please
The midfield looks out of ideas, why would we delay a sub now…
Gervs and Ramsey on …
2 mins to sub time………
Og gets nothing given his way.
Are we playing well?
RIGHT ON TIME
Nice pressure santo on vorm. Subs on, eandy called it.
Can’t imagine what Rosicky has done to not get a chance in a game screaming for a bit of creativity.
Giroud needs to improve his first touch. Argh.
Ach, gervais.
Great run from jenks!
NAAAAAAAAACCCCHOOOOOOOOOO
Nacho!!!! GOAL!
Nachooooooooooooo
Nachooooooo!
NACHOOOOOOOO
Nacho
H2H, I bloody well hope Theo not pressing is tactics. Monreaaaaaaaalllllllllllll
One nil to the arsenal…
The psychology of a goal. Look how confident we look now!
I must say, I am liking this ref.
Nice shot gervais.
Gervais…better.
PHEW, Flappy moment.
Ack theo
Should of done better Feo
Fox soccer commentary actually amazed that Swansea city didnt act like cunts and surround the refree after perfectly okay challenge before our goal..unbelievable.
Ha ha.
They thought they had scored……….
They were wrong, π
Really classy stuff there by Santi and Gervais!
Great pressure arsenal
Gibbsy for Feo
Santi’s role in our goal cannot be over-stated.
The Gibberman on! π
Come on Arsenal stay focused.
Hold that line! (Merikan footie chant) π
Now take your time fabssi.
Come on u gunners !!
I knew there was a reason we had Nachos last night.
OOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooo Santi
Beautiful from Gervinho to Santi!!!
3 mins or 2 stoppage?
Gervinhois back from AFCON finally!
Gervais!
GEEEEEEEEERVS!
FLLLLLLLLIIUIPPPPPPEERRR
BIG KISS to ABB
Germans we luv u !
Holic, Did you see my boy Gervinho score!!!!!!!!!!!!
The subs COMBINE!
great subs by Arsene π
Germans we luv u !!
Impact subs? He doesn’t know what he’s doing……..fair play to all.
Fellas, OX and Gervais did quite well, I may not be in the ‘know’ but my eyes NEVER decieve me π
GERVAIS
So two nil to the Beautiful Gooners?
YEESSSSSSSSSSS.
2-0 to the Arsenal.
Told ya. π
Loving the pressure on vorm we win!!!
just had a near heart attack as Le Tissier yelled GOAL on SSN.
Still punching air here as those rip roaring Gunners go 2-0 up.
Wenger AAHHHTTT KEV !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Schweeeeeet 3points.
Arsenal knows !
Looked solid defensively all game. Well played.
Feeling good now thanks to Flipper – it’s all those enDolphins.
Enjoy abb. π
Arsene knows
Gervinho ya beauty!!!!!!!!
Now for the rugby π
Nice – Cazorla is a joy to watch.
3 points – time to crack open a cold one. 8)
what a result and’arry and the pool both lost: now for a Reading win tonight
And the mugs on fox can’t quite get their mouths around the compliments. And they show an incredibly negative piers fucking Morgan tweet. Idiots.
Oh Trev, my goodness!!! π Yes 8ball, twas a thing of beauty !!!! Yo kev, how ya feeling now ?!
Glad to see Aston Villa beat QPR. Keep it up villa. Hope you stay up.
Just watching the first goal again (and again).
Nacho couldn’t believe he scored, classic!
Enjoy your evening ‘holics.
Time for a footy break……………. Well at least ’til MoTD. π
Well done, boyos!
BMBD
Please Fox. Please tell those idiots to stop with the yelling “the Merican” They just sound stupid. Shut the fuck up!!!!
Great wyn!
By the way, BLG (Baby Lady Gooner) scored a hat-trick in her YMCA 4 year-old team debut (almost had a fouth).
She has an eye for goal and was resplendent in her Arsenal socks (that in no way matched her yellow kit).
She’s pretty darn quick (didn’t get that from me :LOL: )
Oh, and belated congratulations to CoR!
BMBD
FOX asking who was the ‘Difference Maker’ in our game…have your say lads n lasses!
ABB knows! Gervais you beauty:)
What an important win!
The bad thing is that we can’t build on the momentum because of that stupid international games.
Rooting for Fulham and West Ham tomorrow. It is a holiday here, and we all go visiting our relatives, so I won’t be in position to properly scream and yell when Chamack and Berbatov scores their hat tricks.
ABB,
Well played by Alex and Gerv.
Santi was the class on the field today.
Defense looked sound too. Kos is playing far better than vermaelen. Hope he keeps his place.
I’m in two minds about dedicating that win to all the Kevs of this world.
Cheers lonestar.
Have a drinky on me, and a juice box for your daughter.
Santi is my man of the match. Great commitment and very impressive energy — especially after such a high intensity away match a few days earlier — to go with all that skill. Giroud’s work rate and willingness to drop deeper and set up attacks was key too, even though he almost messed it up for the first goal.
As I posted yesterday, Ox would have a key contribution in this final stage especially if we are to play with deeper defensive organization (like today or away in Munich), as we probably should and will. His direct runs with the ball are very important to frame attacks in such a set-up.
Everything turned out well at the end, but not sure starting with Diaby was a good idea especially given his reluctance to commit to challenge and general sloppiness in the first half (no pressing, no attempt to win balls back). Showed some glimpses in the second half and hopefully he will have his game sorted as it is abundantly clear Arsene will persist with him.
Hopefully TR7 was simply rested given the exertions mid-week. Cannot help but think that in the first 15-20 minutes of the second half when we were really dominant he would have made a more telling contribution.
Koscielny had another great game. The defense really looked good. The conundrum would be the set-up against teams who unlike Swans would simply drop deep and we will have to come out to play. The defense have to be more mobile to press up the field then.
Thanks NorCal.
As a proud papa, I had to brag on her a bit. Drinks will be on me as soon as I watch the match.
BMBD
Kevin…..
if you would rather be sitting there having lost that game, I feel sorry for you.
Tremendous stuff! – well not precisely, but just what the doctor ordered. A truly vital win. We simply must start with the Ox, especially with Walcott looking so abysmal in front of goal. Looks like Arsene is still determined to prove he was right about Flappy, but I`d even have Al back if we kept a clean sheet every game. Gervinho, I`m sorry I called you a useless c**t after your last miss. I won`t do it again – if you keep to your part of the bargain.
This season if we play utter crap and get another nine 1-0 wins, I will be ecstatic.
Been at an Arsenal Sweden meeting today, so not in my regular boozer and only have time for a quick visit but fucking hell we needed those points! Not the gretest of games but who gives a flying? Three points is all that matters at this stage. Now let’s hope for some help from Fulham tomorrow.
Drinks on… Well you know the drill, right?
Fuck me, just as well I’m not bothered about the egg chasing!
Great result and as we know at this stage of the season it’s all that matters. Swansea is a tough place to go especially after a tough match in midweek. I’ve felt for most of the season that Koscielny should start and while I am a bit puzzled about the leaks that suggest its adios for Ches and Vermaelen ( Wenger doesn’t brief against his players) TV has gone back and Flappy seems to be seizing his chance. I still expect a Spurs implosion ( in fact its started)and Chelsea have so many games to play they must feel the effects. Keep it going lads.
TTG @ 255: The so-called press ‘leaks’ are just sensationalist garbage. Every team rotates, and especially for big teams there should be no untouchables. TV5 got enough chance to play back into form, and Szczesny has played really a whole lot of games and just because they were dropped doesn’t automatically mean they are on the verge of leaving.
Szczesny needed this competition, and TV5 needed a reminder. TV5 should have been dropped earlier. I am sure this would do them both a world of good.
Just got back home from our London trip how did we play today Holics?
Sounds like the second half is worth watching then? Seem to have left it a tad late but who gives a flying toss!
LoneStar, Get thee on Twitter and post some pics! Man oh man, still grinning ear to ear on our win. Agree, Santi MOTM ( I think sometimes I just take him for granted). I have re read the drinks since I last posted. Can’t argue with any of them π Drinking 12% alcohol made me a bit slow π
So where are you getting those leaks from then TTG? #interested
I’m plastered, sooooooo sorry. And I have 3/4 of the can to go. Watch out holics, Party Time. cba, please make a cameo, you too 8ball and Andy Gorham. Hell, anybody. Let’s celebrate!!! Whoopee! π
Diaby won all 3 of the tackles he attempted today, won 1/1 of his aerial challenges, made 3 interceptions and had 89% passing accuracy. Not as bad as we thought but his end product is what’s really missing.
After the game Chesney ran onto the pitch hugged Fabianski and celebrated with him.
Lonestar, congrats on the BLG.
arsabeatbarca
Good on you son! Hope you had one on Lars tab! π
I’m off to the local off-licence in a bit! Need some vodka as I nearly froze my tits of in London. Weather was playing mind games a bit, rain them sun more rain and some more sun and on and on again!
Looking forward to MOTD!
COME ON YOU RIP-ROARING GOONERS!
I love arsabeatbarca
Arthur, as long as I remember abb is not anybody’s son π
hmmm, clears throat. Lurky, of all peeps to remember!!! π
Esso,
the leaks, I believe, are the ones from the – wait for it – Daily Mail of a couple of days ago.
Where they got it all from I neither know nor care. You know as well as anyone what a shower they are.
Thanks esso π
Re the leaks I was assuming that when several journos from different papers pick up the same story (some of them from decent papers) someone has been talking to the press. It may be a distant club source,it may be a disaffected player or it may be as you have suggested sensationalist garbage, But people like Jeremy Wilson in the Telegraph are very careful with the research and he had the story first. I agree completely with the suggestions that they both deserved to be dropped and personally I believe AW will show faith in Ches but TV5 may be our annual export to Barca . Rather like Song last season the stories are fairly persistent and consistent . I would not be heartbroken if he left for the rumoured Β£15 million as he has not been the same player since his long injury two seasons ago. My understanding is his best mates were RVP and Cesc and he isn’t very admired in the dressing room. These are the things you never hear definitively until players leave but it wouldn’t surprise me if he left.
The stories also all say Arteta will be given the armband. I think we need a top-quality defensive midfielder and if we get one he wouldn’y start in my opinion. So I give less credence to that one.
Arthur has tits? Who knew? π
Re the Mail while I hate the paper and they are very negative about Arsenal Sami Mokbel is VERY close to some people at the club. Neil Ashton is the source of most of the misinformation like the rumoured line-up for Munich
Well that’s just smashing, pleased as punch this evening!
2 goals and a clean sheet? Isn’t it?
So that’s one of the more challenging games of the run-in done and dusted. Now don’t all pelt me with your uneaten rolls but wouldn’t it be absolutely typical if we went and ballsed it up against easier opposition?
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behind 8 ball sshssssss keep it quiet