Thoughts Of A Young Mind
Sep 23rd, 2013 by 'holic
If I have settled down to write a review twenty-seven hours after the event before then I don’t remember it. There is not much point in a conventional summary as you will probably have seen at least the highlights by now, and probably read a cross section of reports too. A diary entry is in order, so with apologies to Sue Townsend here are the thoughts on a day up the Arsenal from me, mental age 13 3/4.
Some may think the pre-match ritual of a Guinness or two a tad repetitive. You would be wrong. It is while necking with friends, although they may change from week to week, that you find out more about them as individuals, and about their experiences both with the Arsenal and in life. Yesterday friends from Sweden, France, Ireland and doubtless many more places added a little more richness to each others lives. Yes, even when contemplating the visit of Stoke!
The game itself, obviously, changes from week to week. This was one of the better days, eventually. Even if we were not at our very best there is still enormous pleasure to be gained from watching the Arsenal midfield in action at the moment. It’s not all about the magical touches of Mesut Ozil and his immediate rapport with Jack Wilshere, again a target for rotational fouling which reportedly drew the appropriate response from Mathieu Flamini (thanks for the link, Cent). When Matty signed I was guilty of tweeting that I was looking up at whelmed. I was wrong. That should please my friend from Oxfordshire who took issue with me at the time.
If Flamini has provided something of a surprise, then how could one describe the transformation in Aaron Ramsey this season. I expressed desire beforehand that he should make an impact on Stoke.
How much more would we all get from it if Aaron Ramsey were to add to his impressive tally of six goals in seven appearances this season.
It took the lad five minutes to silence the mindless visiting morons who taunted him from the visitors section. He covered every blade of grass on the pitch. He has become a leader by example, and is one of the biggest reasons for us to be top of the Premier League, albeit only five games in.
Having allowed a soft equaliser a big up to the defence who came up with match-winning goals themselves, Bacary Sagna and Per Mertesacker completing a very good day for us from set pieces. Few left early. This was a day for applauding the team for their collective effort before heading for post-mortem pintage with yet more top people.
Surely that is the same every time, you may continue to think, but no it isn’t. You depart the second home in different spirits every time. Sometimes, as on the opening day of the season, one departs with a heavy heart. Then on others you leave with a spring in your stagger. “Could it be? Dare we dream again?”
I love going up the Arsenal, me.
368 Responses to “Thoughts Of A Young Mind”
Cheers Holic! Quality photo from the Neighbour on twitter as well.
It really is
Well in Esso!
Have to try and find that photo then.
Great stuff ‘H. Top day out.
Love the Flamster.
Great pic Neighbour 🙂
Thank you ‘Holic, a nice post. Chuckling at the piccie on Twitter too.
Somehow I was glad I had to train to catch. I was rather plastered.
Never had a second to breathe, I seem to have pint after pint coming to me without saying a word. Didn’t even have a chance to switch to spirits.
First half of the train journey was very comatose, but I managed to eat a bit, and eventually, after about an hour, felt brave enough to drink the mini-bottle of wine.
Mind you, today didn’t feel as painful as I feared. I think it helped that I didn’t have much to do at work.
Great day out indeed tabs.
Cheers Guv!
I feel honoured to be mentioned in the post, do I now qualify to be addressed as a ‘media whore’? I really hope so. Any enquiries or bookings should be referred to my lawyers/agents at Sue ’em Grabbit and Run Chambers.
‘a’ train not ‘to’ train. The brain hasn’t FULLY recovered yet 😉
Awake at 5am here in Sydney after flight from London
at 12pm on Sunday. A mate sent me a txt of the result that i readily checked when we landed in KL. very pleased that we kept our winning run intact. Over the moon that Rambo scored and gnabry got a run out. Typical that after 6 years of living in London, the day we move back to OZ that we go top of the league 4 hours into the first leg of the journey…happy days nonetheless!!
Well worth the wait, nice one guv’.
Over the relegation spaces?
Good read. Haven’t lost your way with words at all, guv.
Spaces? Places. I’m drunk
I love it too Holic and hope I can continue to go along for many years to come.I also quite like straightforward victories especially when I have two of the scores in my Fantasy League team!
Very impressed with Flamini ,Ramsey and Giroud yesterday. I have been a major critic of HFB but he fought a valiant battle against two thugs yesterday. The body check by Huth on Gnabry showed him up for the lumpen Neanderthal he is.
Very sensible debut by Ozil. He is in a honeymoon period at the moment but he has obvious class and senses the rhythm of the team very well. Nice to be top and long may it continue.
Let’s not forget 2 ‘holicpounds in a week!
Congrats, Maestro. I’ll never doubt you again 😉
Another fine post Guv’nor. I hope the brief delay before posting allowed you to recover completely from anything that require recovery.
Like Cent I am honoured to be mentioned, if obliquely, in the post. I claim no foreknowledge of the Flamster’s impact, indeed I was concerned that he had previously had one good season and then left. I am delighted at the impact he is making; perhaps the general excellence of the squad that we had during Mattieu’s previous spell served to mask the value of his contribution.
Long may the run continue.
Incidentally, I rather disagree (which won’t surprise many) that we should rotate massively for tomorrow night.
It has always seemed to me that Wenger’s teams rely on confidence, perhaps too much so. In the earlier part of his tenure – you remember, more than eight years ago – Arsenal regularly used to start the season like a runaway train, before having a couple of bad results and collapsing in November. Some years they recovered quickly and mounted a serious challenge for the League title, some years they didn’t and went on a cup run.
The way we have recovered from the disaster that was the Villa game is a particular cause for delight (although I thought at the time, listening on the radio, that we made a pretty good fist of playing with 10 men when we were 1-2 down).
I remember one season in particular when the collapse came straight after we put out a second team for the League Cup, against Ipswich if memory serves well, and got badly punished for it. So, I’d go for minimal rotation – rest the HFB certainly, he must need it badly; give Jenks and Nacho a game, rest someone in midfield, perhaps Rambo, and give Woj a night off, but for me, not much more please.
Stuff the title, stuff Big Ears, the quadruple is on, lets give it a real go.
Well in Esso!
Nice one ‘holic.
Couldn’t agree more. A Guinness or two on me pre or post the game v Norwich!
I agree with Pangloss.
Mass rotation is not the way to go, we
are on a great run, confidence is high and winning begets winning, it becomes a habit, all the best teams know this.
Uply – I’ve just had a look at the You Ropey League table. Congratulations and enjoy it while you can – the Optimists are after you
🙂
It’ll be great to see the hair again pontus 🙂
Thanks Ollie, not for me to boast that followers of two consecutive ‘holic pounds would have turned two quid into 24 quid. 😉
Great win, good positional play by the team to restrict Stoke to one meaningful shot in the second half when they were on top of us. Yes it can be pointed out how Stoke dominated the possession, but with no scope for rotating much of the team at present, those playing currently are basically all that is available, so tiredness must have been a huge factor in how the team couldn’t command the match yesterday. Love the way Flamini marshalls those around him – Wenger has a tricky decision to make over playing him or Arteta when both are fully fit. Gnabry showed a lot of promise at times, Giroud looked as if not having a match this midweek will do him the world of good.
It is while necking with friends, although they may change from week to week,
Makes you sound a right hooer
I love going up the Arsenal, me.
And that.
Pontus, please don’t mention going to the Norwich game 🙁
In my day necking meant snogging on the sofa.
But you guys like to do it at the Tolly, were you wearing your rainbow laces ;-).
I am a hooer, Cynic 😉
Well I watched it on TV and was underwhelmed by our performance but thanks to the artistry of MO’s free kicks we got away with it. I thought we were missing the creativity of Cazorla and Rosicky but was pleased to see the good job done by Gnabry who must be one of the best third choice starters going. Giroud done good too but we seemed to switch off for long stretches which is a danger sign and an indication some players may need to be rotated. If Gnabry can do a job then why not Akpom et al.?
Another fine piece of writing, Holic, and every word so true. For my part I have just got back home after yet another cracker of a weekend in a place where I am starting to feel every bit as home as I do in Stockholm. Cheers everyone, it was a blast as always!
Theo out for a fortnight, apparently.
Can the teams around us please start copping some of these injuries?!
Nice, balanced post “Holic, as per usual — A request — I am flying to the UK from NZ on the 5th of next month, and will be at the home game v Norwich. I will comence the drinking part of the day at the Tollie, and hope to rub shoulders with you and perhaps a few others from this fine establishment. Do I have your permission to introduce myself and buy you a pint of Irelands Finest?
holic@26, but only in the meeja…
excellent post, very well said. love the flamster’s approach, a well-deserved motm gong, and the “rippizeyesout” stare reported is magic.
not unlike our mesue, levitating kozzer in the last drinks, that was a massive heh.
some rotation should happen, leave out jack and hfb, play arteta, ozil, and ramsey (flams on the bench). gnarby, TGSTEL, and ryo up front (hfb, theo on the bench). jenks and nacho with verms and kozz (bellerin and per on the bench). the new italian job in goal (fabs on the bench). should be enough to get it done.
mesut. damn, not mesue.
also, i hope some of that necking was young[s] 🙂
I thought Flamini looked good, always yelling to organize the troops during set pieces and always good in the tackle. Sticks up for Jack too who I can’t see getting through the season without more than a few knocks. Jack seems to have a bit of Gervino (he’s gone so I can’t be arsed how to spell his name) in him as he tries to take the ball through defenders and gets stonewalled a bit….he most often gets the free kick but injuries will mount.
Thought Gnabry played well, just tried to move the ball along during his first official outing with the big boys.
All in all I think we’ve played better at times but the results weren’t always there when we did. Take the three points and move on.
Good Evening everyone. Holic, such a sweet post! I hope you realize, through your ongoing generosity, we weekend regulars at the bar have something going special, here as well. 😉
Thanks abb 😉
IF, I will be offended if you don’t 😀
Lars, you were a monster yesterday. Thanks. Hope you are back in one piece 🙂
Nicely done, Flamini.
It’s scary to think who would have played in Arteta’s absence if we hadn’t picked him up.
Bang on, Holic.
Always good fun – even on one pint !
Pleased to say that I also commented when Özil signed that Flamini might prove to be just as important a signing for us, albeit in a very different way. So far he has not disappointed – our ball players have not had a protector for a long time.
Good to see the return of And Lester amongst the usual familiar faces yesterday. 😉
Imp Fail,
I’ve never been aware that permission is needed to buy Holic a Guinness. 😉
😉
Great to be top, but we haven’t actually played anyone likely to be competing with us for top 4 yet (and that includes the neighbours), so let’s keep it in perspective till we’ve been to Manchester or SW6.
Gnabry looked classy, but a bit hesitant on Saturday. When his confidence builds he could well be challenging for Theo’s wing position, not just filling in.
I liked it when AW sent out the juniors for the League Cup and that would be my preference for Wednesday. A couple of seniors thrown in perhaps, but with our dodgy injury record we need to protect our best from unnecessary risk, imo.
Öskar
Family holidays and the fixture computer ensured that yesterday was my first appearance at The Grove this season. The early kick off also did me no favours at all. Under 10s football meant a mad dash to the station with the little fella. With the man of the match trophy safely tucked under his arms he managed to get changed in the car with his seat belt on. We arrived at the ground 20 mins before kick off. This ensured that a quick stop at Fat Harrys completed the pre match arrangements, now for the main event.
There was a feeling of expectant anticipation as we entered the ground. Faces had smiles, voices were positive. This had not always been the case last season. It’s amazing the lift one quality signing can give. What followed did not disappoint. Rambo silenced the cretins in the 5th minute. It was only when I watched the highlights later that I saw the enormity of the smile across his face. I thought we were sloppy for their goal. It was not something that we should look back on with much joy. Then up steps the BFG and the second goal from the second set piece. Amidst the jubilation up goes the shout. “Big Fucking German, we’ve got a Big Fucking German.” Ben looks at me and smiles. “I can’t sing that one, can I dad?”
A half time meet and an abridged de brief with the Guvnor and AL follows. We seem to being watching the same game.
I thought we cruised the second half and never really looked in too much danger. We were clearly that class above but a third was definitely required. Two new faces sat behind me discussed the potential outcome. In their most serious analytical voice one says, “if Stoke score it could end up a draw.” His mate replies, “yeah, but if we score, we could win 3-1.” If they are their for the Napoli game I will see if they want to play cards for money. Sometimes buffoonery just reaches new levels.
The final whistle arrives to conclude a comfortable victory. For me there were many standout performances. Great to see Ozil make his home debut. The man just oozes class. Rambo was just awesome. Absolutely everywhere and a great goal to start the proceedings. What a fantastic example he is to all in the game. I hope those that gave him all that abuse last season are now able to see through the egg all over their faces.
I guess I was as shocked as anyone when I realised 5 minutes into the game that Gnabry was playing. I thought that first half he looked a little nervous and struggled with the pace of the game at times. Second half it appears that he had been told to play his natural game. He continued to grow as each minute passed. He looks a great prospect.
Final word has to go to General Flamini. A learned and respected coach once said to me that football was as much about what you do when you don’t have the ball as it is when you do have it. I think he was spot on. If you watch Flamini when he does not have the ball it is an education for any player. He was not stop. Marshalling, encouraging, cagouling and directing. He just ran things and gives that layer of protection to the back four that we have been lacking for several seasons. Long may it last. I am sure that those around him will benefit massively from his presence.
The return journey home started with a trip to the shop. £70 for a junior Ozil shirt??? I was waiting for the “spend some fucking money” song but at that price he may have to put it on his Christmas list. A quick stop at the Tollie to say hello to some regulars. Red tape prevents 9 year olds from being on the inside of the Tollie railings. It was good to catch up with everyone all the same.
An excellent day out and always more enjoyable with one of the kids. That will make Wednesday even more pleasing as all three of us head up the M1 for the trip to the Baggies. Another away ground for them to tick off. Me???? I can’t wait.
Bring it on.
Great report, Bath.
Good Gooner education you’re giving your kids, I’m honestly jealous(in a good way) of them, they get to watch Arsenal play in the flesh at such a young age.
Wednesday can’t come soon enough for me, hopefully the boys can give your kids a performance to make them love the Arsenal more.
Excellent report Steve T. I only wish I could give my daughter that experience…don’t take it for granted, mate.
BMBD
@43: Cent, you meant Steve right? Are you the Brad Pitt type of celebrity that can’t remember faces and who said what? 😉
It was a great match and I’m glad we got all the points in well-contested game against a team we’ve always found hard to beat.
Seeing as Man City, who blew past Utd this weekend, were unable to handle them the weekend before should put the result in perspective. A long way to go but I like the clinical performances we’re putting in so far. Does the heart good.
Should we buy a massive rabbit’s foot and hang it in the Emirates to ward off further injuries? Could work…
Not for the rabbit…
BMBD
An unregistered player?
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-ladies-deducted-three-points
Was it Gervinho? 😉
‘holic, best moment of the match for me was when Ramsey ran past the Orc section after his goal, motioning them to shut up. He would have been totally justified in giving them a two finger salute, but he has much more class than that….
Holic,
Good post.
Can anyone confirm that we were playing 4-4-2 on Sunday?
Gnarby, Ramsey,Flamini, Jack
Ozil, OG.
From my observation more like 1-4-1, abc:
Flambé
Gnu – Rambo – Jack – Özilla the Hun (not necessarily in that order)
OG
Öskar
That should of course have been 4-1-4-1
Öskar
Just to echo a couple of thoughts already expressed here:
8 ball:
“Well I watched it on TV and was underwhelmed by our performance but thanks to the artistry of MO’s free kicks we got away with it.”
bmgedo:
“All in all I think we’ve played better at times but the results weren’t always there when we did. Take the three points and move on.”
Spot on both of you. In fact, haven’t a certain shithole in Manchester received a few EPL trophies over recent seasons whilst doing EXACTLY the same?!
It’s not always about winning pretty or winning ugly. Sometimes it is just about winning full-stop.
And finally:
“Amidst the jubilation up goes the shout. “Big Fucking German, we’ve got a Big Fucking German.” Ben looks at me and smiles. “I can’t sing that one, can I dad?””
Fucking brilliant! What a proud, proud moment for a father. Congratulations Steve T, you are clearly doing the 2nd hardest job in the world (after mum, of course) in the best way possible. I salute you and offer you whatever you are drinking (on Lars’ tab, obviously!) Enjoy these moments, as you surely are, as, before you know it, he will be singing songs that YOU didn’t know!!!! HAHAHA!
🙂
Holic@36: It was the solids I had at opening time that made me last the distance, without them I would have been under the table at 5PM 😉
Steve, I have to say I just love reading your accounts of match day experiences with your kids. Have a safe trip tomorrow and bring us back a victory!
Well in Guv & I share your sentiment re: Flamini, but thanks goodness we’re proved otherwise.
@18, 31 & 42 all nice drinks.
Hopefully we can nicely ‘bag’ the baggies & dispose them well tomorrow. And as Scze rightly said, ‘the momentum is with us’. Rotation, highly required now.
And just to announce that am on a 22 pints run already this season, thanks to OG & RAMBO – 2 pints for each goal. I hope they don’t do a hat trick on same day.
Brendan Rogers (actual quote, no puns):
“Luis Suarez is champing at the bit …. He’s even hungrier than before”.
Must be good to have a bright manager, eh ………. 😉
It would appear from Brendan Rodgers’ enthusiasm over Suarez having served his term that either he is the possessor of a very dark sense of humour or Liverpool have developed some new headgear for their prodigal son. And after Bendtner’s mask and Rooney’s bandage, why not? He certainly has the teeth for it. Whether this is to protect opponents or because his teammates have demanded he be in harness as a condition for allowing him back into the fold is unclear. All will no doubt be revealed. Rodgers himself is uncertain about when – whether to include him in the squad for the CC match against Man Utd on Wednesday or wait for the weekend when he has been entered in the 3.30 at Haydock.
Whatever. What we can be certain of is that, come January when Liverpool are once more languishing in mid-table, the cheeky chappy will be “chomping at the bit” to be allowed to graze on the green(er) pastures of the Bernabeu, Camp Nou, San Siro – anywhere but Anfield – or the Emirates, please Arsene.
Trev, he probably thinks he’s the funniest man in the world.
Another tick in the David Brent requirements column.
SteveT@42 Just read this – nice – always a pleasure.
Your summary of Flamini’s contribution brought a smile to my lips – “cagouling” – for cagoule see here: http://thecagoule.com/peaceful-hooligan-head-jacket/
I think you mean “cajoling”.
Although I’m not sure that was what he was doing when he had words with Wilson – allegedly.
Yeah needed to stamp authority in the league once again.
Hands up who feels Wenger should build two separate teams around Cazorla and Ozil respectively. I know we have not had much luck with this two team building lark in the past, so for those reasons I am willing to give up on the idea. But still. Would be good.
Goonertown@59 – What’s the idea behind “building two separate teams”? I can’t say I’d be a fan of having two genuinely seperate teams within a squad of 25, nor of having two different styles of play depending on whether Özil or Cazorla was playing.
I’d be amazed if two such good players were unable to play together (unlike, say, Steeeevie Gerrard and Fat Frank) so I’m much more in favour of the idea of having a team built around multiple players. It would make it harder for the opponents to kick a single playmaker out of the game, or even to keep him out legitimately, and would reduce problems if one or the other were injured.
For my money, our lack of success in the past has much more often followed attempts to build the team around a single player – think the Dutch Skunk; think that Catalan bloke; think Vieira or Henry if you go back a little further. The good times rolled when we had a team built around Henry/Pires, Berrkamp/Ljungberg andVieira. Obviously things are easier when you have as many acknowledged world-beaters together as we did then, but I don’t think it changes the principle.
Afternoon all.
Firstly, well worth the wait Maestro & cheers.
When Arsene joked with the press about Flamini & Ozil costing £21m each maybe he was being little bit serious.
Take a look at this for example….
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BU2kopdCYAEFYX9.png
Not necessarily to be condoned but when facing morons like St*ke, is this the nasty bite* that our midfield has been lacking since Vierra & GS moved on?
* That comment was in no way meant to be associated with you-know-who from Merseyside or wind-up our very own Uruguayan beaver dis-liker, H2H.
PS: Great post from Trev on pre-historic St*ke in the previous drinks. Spot on mate.
Re, my last drink:
“61 and never again….”
Ooops! Should have pressed the links in Holic’s post before posting mine which will now look like a cheap imitation.
Oh well, at least that link is so good it’s worth posting twice.
As you were people.
Hey everyone. Steve T., if you can stand one more wee bit of praise … 😉 Always a real pleasure reading your Arsenal adventures. Ollie, good job on twitter, keeping us entertained both pre and post game. Heck, the whole lot of you are pretty darn charming! Now Goonertown and Pangloss re 2 separate teams; Gooner Terry was an advocate of something similar, but I think he was just referring to defensive partnerships. Personally, with our mounting injuries (Theo!), don’t see it as an option.
G’day all.
To those who doubted, Flamini is a beast. A monster, even. 🙂
http://agauchepress.com/wp-content/uploads/creature-black-lagoon-headshot3.jpg
@47 8ball
I think we’d have noticed it wasn’t Gervinio from the hairstyle even without the alice band.
BUT it does set up an almost rerun of 1989. Bristol travel to Liverpoo on Sunday and win means we (daughter is in the C.O.E.) are WSL champions, draw or lose and Liverpoo finish top. Anyone got a copy of George Graham’s pre-match teamtalk?
CoR @45, hahaha, of course I meant Steve T. It seems Brad Pitt and I have more things in common than I realised; we used to be handsome celebrities loved by the ladies but now we are handsome celebrities loved by the ladies and we’ve both mixed up a name or two at one point or the other. Brilliant.
Thanks, TS.
Trev @ #55
When it comes to Brendan Brent quotes, the jokes write themselves.
Download and listen to the latest Tuesday Club podcast for more ripping the p*ss from the intellectually challenged one.
Hahaha anyone else thinking that on new training photos Mesut is just a slightly uncomfy with Serge hugging him from behind?:D
Eandy – No, I’m thinking how TGSTEL manages to sport a hairstyle worse than Chamakh’s.
Apparently, today is the tenth anniversary of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABb2At3Lhq4
(TEN YEARS??? Bloody hell, time flies…)
Fine report maestro. Makes me very sorry to miss that epic Tollie session. Though I’ve never seen you necking the regulars. You are very subtle in your embrace. 🙂
Absolutely fucking brilliant:
we’ve got a printer at work which default is ‘recto-verso’ to save paper.
I needed to print something with single side (only 2 pages), so I unchecked the option.
It STILL printed recto-verson.
I have tried different tricks, but after 5 attempts I have given up, it looks like it resets to default as it prints, no matter what.
What a waste…..
Save the fucking planet indeed…..
So Theo out for longer spell, with TR getting back probably next week. We really must have done something terrible to piss injury gods off this much.
Oh Thierry 😀 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D234xFv6mVw
Eandy @ 70 — Is that Park in one of the photos??!!! I thought he was loaned out somewhere like last season’s second half.
One positive — if we are to see some positive at least, perversely optimistic creatures we are — of these short term injuries would be few of the key players would not participate in internationals now: Santi, Theo, Poldi, Ox. And maybe TR7 and Aaron will abstain given the situation their national teams are in. This October international break has historically been a killer one for us in recent seasons …
Bendy has always scored some good goals in the League Cup — I think his only Arsenal hat-trick was in a League Cup game — and hopefully will have enough motivation to make a case for him as a viable alternative. He has been truly gifted a new chance. If he throws this one away as well, that would be the end of his career…
Kieran Gibbs: “Since my thigh strain at the end of last year, I met someone new who has taken a good look at me physically. I owe him credit at the minute because he has kept me fit for the last eight to 10 months. I have to thank him for that”
Well, it looks like there are more and more players in the squad, that search for a private doctor outside Arsenal and it looks like it helps them.
I remember that RvP did the same thing couple of years ago, which helped him to stay fit for three and a half seasons after that. There is no sign on serious injury to Fabregas since he left the club, but at Arsenal he was fit for two weeks and injured the next three. As so on.. Bad luck? I don’t think so.
On contrary Diaby, Rosicky, Wilshere, Vermaelen, Arshavin, Nasri, RvP , are just couple of examples of constant never ending injuries.
Don’t want to blame anyone particular at the club, but something is clearly wrong in the medical department. It is a big shame for a club that seriously implements newest training methods, best practices, food diets, builds modern facilities, to have such a big injury list, year after year, and to do nothing about it.
eändy, yeah, three weeks minimum: http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/theo-set-for-minor-abdominal-procedure
a minor procedure. must have been a pull, rather than the runs, when he came out the other day.
Interesting extracts from the new DB10 book
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/sep/24/dennis-bergkamp-teletext-arsenal-joy
Dr. Faustas @ 77: TGSTEL did a memorable hat trick in a CL home win against Porto. That Porto side had Hulk and Falcao among others on it, and Gunners blitzed them 5-0.
Good memory Bayonne. 🙂
Bayonne Jean @ 81: thank you, totally forgot about that! We were trailing 1-2 from the first leg despite Sol scoring a goal. And Bendy got the hat-trick courtesy an injury time penalty. Was Falcao in that line-up? Cannot remember him playing that match.
@83 above: okay checked the match line-up and Falcao indeed was there. Must have had a poor match. Remember Arshavin having a great game…
Dr F, one of the unwritten rules of the UCL is that no matter who you are, once you put on that Porto shirt and enter The Emirate you are in for a heavy defeat!
Hello all. Great ” Report” Steve T. Hope tomorrow is as good a time for all involved.
Cheers
Don’t know if I remember correctly, wasn’t Falcao faking a penalty in the first match. I know I went mad with the referee then, but can’t remember why. Maybe even there wasn’t penalty after all, but clearly remember Falcao, mainly because the previous season when he was playing in South America we were seriously linked with him, but the deal never materialized because of Arsenal offer being couple of millions short. His club wanted 10, we offered 5-6, can’t remember for sure.
After we trashed them at the Emirates, I remember saying to neighbor, Wenger knows, this Falcao is not worth that couple of millions more.
One of the few things I later regretted saying to the neighbor, as he rarely misses a chance to remind me of that whenever Falcao scores. And he scores a lot.
Evening all,
Preview free zone for a couple of reasons, not least because I haven’t a clue what the team will be.
The ‘holic pound will appear in the drinks once I have seen the sides.
Lurky,
Just lost a long response to your @78 – far too much to type again but basically, yes, I agree.
Five months seemed a crazy amount of time to diagnose Vermaelen’s plantaris injury, and the prognosis for Podolski’s hamstring injury has ranged from “3 weeks” a couple of hours after the injury happened, to around 5 months by the following morning.
You would have to assume that he suffered a serious tear to the tendon to be out for that long. Even then, if the tendon is going to heal without surgery, that would not take more than 12 weeks, leaving a further 8 weeks for him to return to match fitness !
Injury states can clearly alter, especially in the early stages, but that is some discrepancy.
Medical facilities at the club and access to top specialists are surely excellent. Somewhere in the diagnosis, treatment and recovery process though, things do seem to get a bit inconsistent.
It’s surprising and a little worrying that players feel the need to address their fitness requirements outside a club like Arsenal, and also that we seem to suffer too many muscle injuries in training.
The damning evidence is that many of our injury prone players seem to play elsewhere without problems.
Swindon 0 Bus Stop Dwellers 2
So sorry, ‘holic, even Torres scored. 🙁
Evening Guv, I’m so bored at the moment, I wish the game would start now. Here is my guess at the side we will put out there;
Viviano
Jenks, Per, Verm, Monreal.
Flamini, Arteta, Eisfield.
Gnabry, Bendtner, Park/Ryo.
Bench: Fabianski, Sagna, Kos, Mesut, Akpom, Olsson, Gibbs.
Early on today Lars posted a clip of RVN ‘s famous penalty miss against us which was ten years ago today. The duplicity of the Skunk was awesome but I was very unhappy with the performance of Steve Bennett the referee that day. Note how quick he is to book and then send off Vieira ( it was the game where Keane seems to sympathise with Vieira over RVN) and then look at the penalty he gives in the last minute. It was the era of Mike Riley and co who must have been worth 15-20 points a season to ManUre. Thankfully he missed but when you look at th sort of guys we had out that day- Keown, Campbell, Parlour. Vieira, Edu, Lauren ,we didn’t get pushed around by anyone. And Manure always tried to kick us up there. With the acquiescence of the referee
Trev @89, that is exactly what I would say if I was speaking proper English, not the limited version I picked up from foreign (for me) movies and music. Cheers.
Cent, that is my guess too.
The defenders pick themselves.
Arteta, Eisfield and Gnabry are almost certain to start in midfield.
Flamini /Frimpong and Ryo/Park are the other choices for the remaining two places.
The Greatest Samurai That Ever Leaved will start upfront. Chuba and Park/Ryo as a 70 minutes subs for TGSTEL.
Ozil as a sub if the thing aren’t going as planned.
Is it enough for a win? I think so.
trev, it’s not uncommon for american sports teams to have stars going outside their regular medical system for extra or particularized treatment from professionals with whom they have a good working relationship; usually these pros don’t want to become part of the team setup, and are content to augment services. some become part of the team.
alex mckechnie was working with, for example, shaquille o’neal back in the early 2000s on an abdominal problem, and had some unusual methods that were not part of the lakers’ team setup. they worked a treat, and he later became a trainer for core strength with the team. now he has moved on.
kareem abdul-jabbar, as another example, did yoga with non-team practitioners for years, and it helped him be one of the longest-serving and most successful basketball players the nba has seen.
so i don’t have a problem with individuals working outside of our established medical system. i’d prefer if our system was strong enough to help the lads work off knocks and not get long-term injuries, but if there’s particularizing going on for gibbs that he is happy with and keeps him injury free (knock on wood, corna, and salt over the shoulder) i’m thrilled if he keeps going with that program.
Cheers Lurky, looks like Frimmy wasn’t involved in today’s training that’s why I left him out.
Heh @ “The Greatest Samurai That Ever Leaved” I’ve forgotten where I saw that first but it still gave me a chuckle.
i saw at the .con kris olsson was in on training; it wouldn’t surprise me if he got a start, or was on the bench, therefor.
no jack, at all.
cent, it made me go look for old richard chamberlin pictures from shogun days…
Assist
ping?
Well in, Scruz! I was fully expecting Lurky to get that goal.
Scruz @98, a quick google shows me who you meant. I’m I the only one who sees facial resemblance between Flamini and Bendtner in the squad photocall?
Trev,
Our injury record just baffles me as well. I really don’t understand how we are always hit with an injury crisis every year. Diaby aside we seem to always have a number of muscle tears and strains. We always miss our mark of how long injuries will take. I don’t really pay attention to other teams injuries but our communication about them are always very vague.
Frustrating to say the least.
Fellas, John Cross wrote a piece (prior to the Marseille game) about our injuries. His theory is that our squad is too small, making rotation a limited option. One thing I learned over the summer, is this; If we fans see there is a problem there is no doubt in my mind that the club does too. Whatever the cause(s), hope they get a fix on it soon.
abb,
our squad is too small – it doesn’t take John Cross to work that one out.
But, Arteta is yet to play due to a thigh strain picked up in training – Walcott is now out for 6 matches (at least) due to a “small abdominal problem” acquired in the warm up on Sunday – and cast your mind back to William Gallas, yes, even that long ago, who tore a thigh muscle in training doing extra shooting practice that kept him out for 14 weeks !
That is not right.
The good news ? There is no truth in the rumour that Diaby smiled in training today and his ears fell off 😉
I’d believe the “small squad” no rotation theory in say January or December. These are professional athletes who have just begun the season. Yes we had to play qualifiers so we have played a couple more games than some, but we shouldn’t have the number of injuries we have because we didn’t rotate the first 5 weeks. Our squad is “small” because we have 7-8 players out with significant injuries. If the were not injured we would be 2 deep at each position.
Thanks guys, now I’m really perplexed. Perhaps warming up in the pool (heated), might be a good idea. I also read that stretching too much in a warm up can be harmful. Really don’t know what to think, but it really is an alarming situation, for sure. 🙁 btw Trev, you’re one funny dude 😉
We’re just a brittle squad of players who “don’t like it up ’em.” That or Colney is built over a Druid burial ground…
BMBD
I have heard theories about the fact that the Em’s and I would guess also the pitches at London Colony are very firm as it suits our style of play. I do wonder if that might be a cause, especially when we then play on other surfaces that are less firm.
Poldi’s occurred straight after halftime, before he had warmed back up when he sprinted 50 yards. Some are just part of the sport, but ours seem in the extreme. Part of being an Arsenal supporter, we go to the extremes!
norcal, that’d be ‘arsene boss & the extremes’, yes? famous for such ditties as “where’d our poldi go?”, “özil love”, “bergkamp! in the name of god”, and “nothing but heartaches”?
The one and only Scruz!
Hello all,
Re injuries, the lack of rotation theory doesn’t add up to me. I don’t recall the injuries stacking up pre 2006 when the squad picked itself and rotation was at a minimum.
I’ve heard other theories about ‘playing style’, inept medical teams, training methods, etc. I really have to say I have absolutely no idea.
The ‘playing surface’ idea is interesting, but again doesn’t seem to cross all the ‘t’s and dot the ‘i’s for me.
But if a player does his hamstring after a few minutes on the pitch then the warm ups have to be examined closely.
I read somewhere that Arsene brought in a group to perform an independent assessment but I really don’t know if that truly happened. Either way, I never heard anything else about it after that.
Mondo. It looked like Podolski didn’t have much of a warmup before incurring his injury on his first run of the second half. This is not part of any trend, but something that seemed obvious.
Lurky@78, the special treatment Gibbs has been gettting is apparently yoga. He’s done it for about 12 months with great results – maybe the rest of the team should be following suit…
Peppers –
That’s a mighty long post for someone who doesn’t understand that it’s not hackneyed if it’s true…
BMBD
bstrum. Yoga should as well be recommended for all of the ‘holics. It is very therapeutic for both mind and body. Some of the yoga people even have a sense of humor about it. 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unZlXcNZA0w
Too much stretching is bad, Abb? Now I’d say that’s a stretch. Everything in moderation though, I suppose. 🙂
Whenever I feel like yoga or stretching or any other form of physical activity I lie down until the feeling passes.
As a fully paid up member of Athletics Anonymous I also have the option of ringing a fellow member who will immediately bring a bottle round to help me over such traumas.
Öskar
My choice (vs WBA)
Fabi
Jenk, Sagna, Verm, Nacho
Arteta, Flamini, Ozil
Gnarby, Bendy, Ryo
Sub : Viviano, Per, Ramsey, Gibbs, Giroud, Frimpong, Esfeld
Sagna is chosen because we will have jenks and Flamini as backup if he is injuired. Ozil is chosen because he do not play many games since season starts. Bring on Ramsey, Giroud if we are behind. Rest Ozil (Bring Esfeld) if we are breaking away .
Just my two pence.
Cheers for the info 8 ball. I guess I was vaguely referencing a string of hamstring (har har) injuries a few seasons back. But then again I’m the opposite of an anorak–I mean, sometimes I can’t remember that I cant remember that i forgot something.
I’m an antirak.
Morning all,
And cba,
We’re away
Today
At WBA.
A tribute to you, sir. 😉
Trev – Re: The Diaby Wings of The L.Colney Infirmary. I bow to your vastly superior knowledge of anatomy and physiology, of course. I also think that bad luck has a part to play in our injury procession during this opening spell of the season. Plus, as others have said, the fact that our small-ish squad puts pressure on those who are fit to keep playing when they are little bit in the red zone. None of this helps. I still find it hard to believe that our state-of-the-art medical facilities and the personnel who man them aren’t among the best in the country. Anyway, what do I know?
‘Holic @ #88, how about this for a semi-educated guess on our starting XI?
Viviano
Jenks, Tommy V, BFG, Nacho
Flame
Arteta, Eisfled or Olsson
Gnabry, Bendtner-san or Chubs, Ryo
Bench to include: Fab, Park, Bellerin, Ozil
UTA!
I have absolutely nothing to say today.
Which, of course, doesn’t stop me from saying it.
Morning Trev Et al.
People having a go at our top-of-the-line medical factilities?
Guys, that’s so 2012 😉
How’s everyone doing this fine day?
I can’t wait to see The Greatest Samurai That Ever Lived play against WBA! Might even whip up a fancy photoshop image and throw it up on Twatter later 😀
So, no Özil against West Brom
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-name-squad-to-face-west-brom
What Yoby said @123.
🙂
-Y
+T
Randy @125, Özil was never going to play tonight. Like HFB, LJW and Feo.
Darn iPad, Tsk.
-R
+E
iBath, you and Eandy got something going then?
Looks like my predicted line-up may not be too far wide of the mark. Thought Ozil might’ve been on the bench in case we were chasing the game in the second-half but not now. Perhaps Park will prove to be our ultra-secret match-winner? *cough* *splutter*
Heh TS, I love these long distance pen pal relationships. Much more sanitary than the Guvna’s regular necking with multiple partners. 🙂
On second thought, looking at the squad I feel like maybe Akpom might start so only if he actually gets on the field and scores I’ll make one!
Surprised to see so many of the first team on the teamsheet. Should make for an interesting match later.
If anybody needs me, I’ll be in the corner drinking a coffee as I continue my overtime work…
I know Bath but same as TS, I thought he might be at least on the bench should the game not go way in our favor. Anyways, big chance for lot of youngsters to show what they are capable of.
Especially looking forward to watching Eisfeld, Ryo and Gnabry. Shame that Zelalem cannot play.
Fucking Auntie Beeb
http://gossip.ladyarse.com/arsenal/2013/09/25/arsenal-ban-bbc-from-using-their-shirts-in-drama-which-mocks-fans/
Morning all.
I’ve had a quick butchers at the squad and still haven’t got the foggiest how we will line up.
As for our injuries, we’ve been here before and to me it remains a mystery, strange that we didn’t seem to have so much bother with them last season. I thought we had really turned a corner, only to find that round the bend as a street covered in banana skins and broken glass.
Its never easy, is it?
Morning all, having peeped the 18-man squad(thanks for the link, Eandy) here’s another crack at our possible starting eleven;
Viviano.
Jenko, Per, Verminator, Nacho.
Arteta, Flamster, Eisfield.
Gnabry, Bendtner, Park.
Ryo instead of Park for me Cent 😉
Is Bendtner going to start you think?
Afternoon all. First of all, thank you for all your kind words. Trust me, nothing is taken for granted. The nice thing for me is that neither of my two take it for granted either. They both get it.
Very much looking forward to it this evening. It may be a bit of a rush considering how the M1 is and the time of day.
I will be surprised to see any of those that started at the weekend start tonight except perhaps at centre half. If Viviano does not start then you have to ask what the hell he was brought in for. The rest will be a mixture of first team players needing game time and kids.
It will be a long old day, but I really can’t wait.
Bring it on.
Interesting comments re injuries. For a club so meticulous in all other forms of preparation I am amazed that there does not appear to have ever been any real analysis as to why we seem to pick up more than our fair share. There has to be more to it than just bad luck.
Was indeed top frontline reporting, Steve, looking forward to the view from the Hawthorns. Enjoy mate.
Cheers buddy. I will be back with some thoughts in the small hours.
CoR, I think Park will get the nod ahead of Ryo by virtue of been more experienced and Bendtner, from all indications, looks set to start if not complete the full 90mins.
Nice one Steve.
——
Something to pass the time;
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1782031-20-iconic-arsenal-players-and-the-fan-chants-they-earned
Away day Gooners, I’m sure you’ve all read about the initiative by The Club to subsidise tickets to away games; does the initiative get a thumbs up or thumbs down from you?
TS,
Agreed about the small squad forcing fatigued players to play and causing injuries.
The thing I struggle with is the time that some of these diagnoses take, given the facilities at their disposal, and the often ever expanding recovery times our players seem to suffer.
There often seems to be a marked lack of confidence or certainty in the players’ rehab programmes.
Like you, I’m sure the staff are highly qualified and recommended. Makes it all the more surprising and frustrating.
Maybe there is bit of a too much precautions taken Trev after what happened with TR7 and Jack respectively.
Rushed back to play too soon only to make their absence incredibly long in the end. Maybe thats why players are out longer than they probably need.
Still, does not explain the yet again unbelievable injury list we seem to have right from the start of the season. The squad which is playing is doing great but that cannot last for much longer before they will get way too jaded.
Trev – I wonder if we are talking more about a marcoms/PR problem in terms of the info coming out of the club regarding injuries as opposed to a medical prognosis issue?
iBath @ 131 – Heh! I want to give you both a big cuddle.
More extracts from Dennis’ new book http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/dennis-bergkamp-autobiography-reveals-rows-with-arsene-wenger-that-marred-his-latter-days-at-arsenal-8837562.html
By the way, did anyone see this Vertonghen incident in the Villa Spurs cup match yesterday?
http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/tottenham_hotspur/176286/caught-with-his-pants-down-aston-villas-nicklas-helenius-debriefed-by-tottenhams-jan-vertonghen-video.html
Can someone tell me how this is not at least a yellow and penalty kick, or a red card and penalty kick, with ref in full view ???
If Pulis were his manager, his comment would be that “Jan is not that kind of player”…..
Yeah I have watched that and immediately thought “If that was Koscielny doing that, he would be sent of and it would have been a penalty”
Sp*rs are really getting away with some stuff as of late..
@ 149, Well certainly glad that was brought to my attention 😉 LOL! Sometimes it pays to be a female 😉 Now speaking of cheeky, you lot are ready to quit your day jobs, some funny stuff today! 🙂 Cent’ebrity, @ 144, Food Voucher is not too shabby. Wonder if you can apply that to alcohol 😉 Today will be a blast from the past,, with both Nicks playing (Anelka), should be very entertaining fare.
Abb, I think the food voucher can used to purchase alcohol, I’m sure the club knows that Guinness fully qualifies as food to some of our fans, not least the regulars of this bar.
I hope our present Nick can out-Nick our past Nick and Nick a goal to win it for us.
Steve T,
Have a good trip, and nice report from Sunday.
Here, here Cent’ebrity, Cheers to that! And what Trev said @ 153. Drive safe Steve T. I mean nothing ever happens in the first 5 minutes, anyway. Oh wait … 😉
Well, that Nick Helenius certainly seems to have a bit of the Greek in him. 😀
Effin’ TV executives decided to show Man Utd v. Liverpool. What could they have been thinking???
Steve T. Happy away day and hope the kid finds it educational as well as fun. 🙂
Hey @ 155 ! Ta all. Will see you on the other side, as ‘real’ world duties, preclude me from joining in here @ match time. So catch a good stream and enjoy the game. Really should be fun for our youngsters! Good luck Arsenal, oh how we love you!!!!
We got Poo v Manure too 🙁
I’m using a macbook in the bar, what is the best way to stream games on it?
Is it veetle or something like that? Do I have to downl;ad anything?
Any assistance would be highly appreaciated.
H2H,
I usually catch streams from here http://www.wiziwig.tv/index.php?part=sports
usually going for sopcast or acestream ones, but that ones require aditional software (sopcast player or ts player alternatively) and usually quite good connection for it to run smoothly.
There is usually a vast selection of flash streams which do not need any further software installed, but the image quality is usually quite bad.
Thanx Eandy, I’m familiar with Sopcast, flash, ace etc but they are all for PC’s.
I’ve never streamed on an Apple before and was wondering what the best way to do it was.
h2h, sopcast is made now for mac.
http://www.sopcast.com/download/mac.html
be aware that you’ll be used as a download site, too. you can minimize, but not eliminate it.
here at work i did that for a bit, then overnight people were using my computer to serve porn. my network people were distinctly unhappy. now i use wiziwig and watch flash streams, no matter how crappy. the games usually bridge lunch, so timing is perfect!
OK cheers scruz.
So basically Sopcast acts as a kind of spyware?
Scruz @ 162 – that certainly makes for a tough work conversation…
I use http://firstrowus1.eu/
I certainly hope it is not one of those clandestine proxy servers like sopcast. My IT folks have not complained as yet.
BMBD
H2H – I have also used firstrow on my mac.
BMBD
Evening all. Here nice and early. Just sat in Morrisons waiting to feed the kids.
They don’t know they’re born.
😀
Bring it on.
OK, cheers gents.
I’ll use Flash tonight just to be safe.
Fabianski, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Monreal, Hayden, Arteta, Eisfeld, Ryo, Bendtner, Gnabry
Courtesy of @arsenal on Twitter.
The ‘holic pound is on a good old-fashioned 1-0 to the Arsenal.
Gnabry will score today. I hope Bedtner does too.
Go, Ryo, go!
No matter who starts, we are the Arsenal. This is winnable.
Come on you Gunners!!!
not really, h2h. by downloading and installing it, you’re basically agreeing to host/serve video, at least as a redirect. but it won’t kill your hard drive/system, or make your computer into a zombie bot.
hah..arabic commentary, this should be fun 😀
hayden as dm, that’s interesting.
Geez, don’t West Brom have any fans?
nicely crossed after a good run from ryo. nick is down injured, ran into the post.
chuba time?
good ball by Ryo
nope, nick’s tough. has to be, with that haircut.
and that had to hurt ..ouch
Not risking another stream here, so have found a radio commentary on Radio 5SX.
One problem which may prove insurmountable is the co-commentator – Phil Bloody Brown ! 🙁
Bendtner has apparently run straight into a goal post and injured himself. Couldn’t make it up !
Hey – at least St. Nick is hustling.
May take a bit to get back into the swing of things.
wba corner. they’re not playing badly. let’s see some good marking, lads!
that was an ambitious waste by tv5. 80 yards crossfield? hmm.
so far we are not really in it, too many misplaced passes, and their keeper had yet anything to do.
Can anyone tell me if this game is any good? I’m listening on 5live and the commentators seem to have plenty of time to casually shoot the breeze about other football clubs while they watch!
how was that not a corner? did jenks shank it that badly?
eandy nailed it, porco.
and yeah, that should definitely be a corner scruz.
that was just a *killer* pass by nick. too bad whoever it was couldn’t get on the end of it.
freekick wba 25 yards out, just right of straight in front. hits the wall and over for a corner.
fabs tips over from the corner. hayden down with a head injury.
how that is not a foul on gnabry is beyond me O.O
it is comforting to see how well the young’uns play with the oldsters. mr. wenger’s methods are taught well from early on.
oooh. bad tackle by hayden. could easily have been a red.
ouch, very commited from hayden.
lol, eändy. very.
He proper dived in there with that one.
completely missed the ball, too, cent.
yeah, no one could complain should ref opt for red card instead.
Hayden lucky not to see red.
Assist?
how the fuck is that a yellow for nacho?
ah, now i see.
while wba are playing well in the middle of the park, and pretty tight on defense, i’m not seeing them scoring easily. their final balls are poor, and their shooting is crap as well.
Jenks trying to do too much, keep it simple lads.
Well in, H2H.
well honestly scruz, our midfield is not coating themselves in glory either, we lack creativity to impose ourselves upon the game so far
gnarby taking the corners, interesting. oh, that was close. he has a soft, flat delivery.
oooh completely misjudged corner by wba defense, sadly also by our attacking placers.
i’m not convinced by iceman with hayden, e. maybe bring in flams and push arteta up a bit, he should be able to teach iceman a thing or two.
gnarby is standout for me, with the defense (mostly).
*players
man, these wba players go down *easily*.
good free kick, well saved by fabs
halftime. no guts, no glory. wba outplayed us at times, it’s clearly not our first team out there. i’m curious where our creativity is going to come from, maybe kris olsson should get a run out in the second half for eisfeld (who really did nothing in the first half).
I’ve been most un-impressed by Vermaelen, he is always over excited anything the ball is near him, he is not comfortable on the ball and that has resulted in us not been able to build anything from the back. The kids need to be told to calm down and play their natural game but I wonder how they can do that when their Captain is clearly not calm.
TGSTEL hits the post
http://i.minus.com/ibkwEKUgvsH2H3.gif
Cent
That sounds like standard Vermaelen fare, sadly. He’s a skittish, flighty thing who makes wild misjudgements in pressurised situations (e.g. the air kick against Man U which gave the ball to RVP, who said thank you very much and scored).
porco, what do you think changed? he wasn’t so much like that in the first season with us. but since he came back from his injury layoff, that’s exactly right.
Esso. That’s an ouch!
Scruz, I think been captain hasn’t done him any good. He always seems too eager to not do something bad when he’s on the ball and when he’s not on the ball he tries too hard to justify his ‘hardman’ tag.
COYYellows.
Haha, I’m back and I brought me pompoms, C’mon Arsenal!!!
If Vermaelen plays one more of those long balls I’m slapping him from here!
cent, i think you’re right about the captaincy giving him an extra urgency to “do good”. hopefully that will mellow with time and experience, and not cost us too much.
welcome back, abb!
we’re definitely playing with more urgency this half.
there goes tv5 for his yellow. no need to make that challenge.
thanks scruz! listening on player.
Somebody slap some sense into our Skipper!
BBC says Theo needs stomach surgery. Can’t remember what his original diagnosis was …
fabs keeps it scoreless. great save going to his right.
Scruz, search me mate. That said, I think even in his first year he wasn’t a spectacular CB but covered it up by hauling ass up the other end of the pitch and scoring the odd important goal.
You don’t just turn crap overnight. His deterioration has to be psychological more than anything else; some people have resilient minds, while others think too much and probably have low self-esteem coupled with a high level of self-doubt.
Get In!
the iceman cometh! 1-0
EISMAAAAAAN
Get in!
Against the run of play but what a fucking good move this was COME ON ARSENAL!
I see Alex Iwoti, who wears number 60, is one of our substitutes. Can you run fast when you wear a number like that?
GOAL! Eisfeld! ♥
that’s the second great throughball bendtner has put in this game. welcome back.
well said porco.
8ball,
He had the surgery in Germany today and should start light training in 3-4 days time.
Nice assist by Bendtner.
abdominal muscle wall surgery, right trev? not actually on his stomach?
Correct scruz.
Posterior abdominal wall muscle, not gastric surgery.
Missing my first game in at least five years, maybe six..no stream at work. This is literally killing me. Glad to see were up. COYR!!
Get in Iceman!
Oh, see Trevor beat me to it! Always good to have a MD in the bar 😉
Thank you medical experts. I’m sure Theo’s food will taste better because of it. 🙂
Alex Iwobi is the nephew of former Nigerian international Jay-Jay Okocha who was played for and captained Bolton Wanderers in their best years in recent history.
really slow stream, porco? 🙂
this one works for me Gedo..somehow http://cricfree.tv/live-football-streaming-chs1.php
Bollocks!
1-1 :S fuck
fuck.
Well, we’ll just have to score another one! C’mon you Yellows!
Indeed abb,
Not gastric, not drastic – fairly alimentary stuff to the abdominal wallcott. 😉
how the hell did that happen? i step away from my computer for a moment, and they score?
well, we’ll have to see how he makes it back, eh trev? he’s not ready, yeti.
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Trev, how do you do it! 🙂
So close for the ‘holic pound 🙁
Yeti, scruz ??
Or did you mean the abdomenal snowman ? 😉
that’d be eisfeld, wouldn’t it, trev?
@246 I was hoping that made it 2-0 such a slow stream it must have been. 🙁
sorry, trev, i couldn’t stomach another pun.
I think we need some subs!
Cent. Jay-Jay Okocha is one of the great names and was an excellent player so if nephew Alex can approach that level he will be doing very well.
oooh, almost, gnarby. you had more time, lad.
wba are actually good for this scoreline. it’s us i doubt at the moment.
Sounds like Mert has been a lifesaver, Fabs too.
another nice ball from Bendtner..almost.
nick has learned to pass. he just turned one that was worthy of giroud, though not quite as accurate.
Any lurking WBA fans here, just remember this isn’t Arsenal’s first team. 😉
fucking red!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hopefully arteta has been taking notes from mesut.
Not sure where WBA fans are nursie, certainly not in the ground, the only full section is where TTF are.
great cross by jenks, 3 in the box missed it.
brilliant cross by Jenks, shame noone connected with it.
Great cross by the Corp’.
Ain’t that the truth, our away fans are smashing!!! H2H (sorry I left you at the end) 🙂
Well, another 30mins to go. It could go either way.
damn.
and of course i have to run to a software installation.
keep the fires burning, ‘holics. COME ON YOU FREAKIN’ GUNNERS!
Vermaelen played better in the second half, someone must have had a word, or he had it with himself, which ever way, more of that please.
this would have been a perfect match for Zelalem, we are lacking in creativity department badly.
Barca flash back.
oh my gosh Nick, why wait that long:( what a ball from Gnabry.
Gnice ball by Gnarby though.
Good work undone by some sloppy passing.
If this goes down to pens, Arteta would have come in handy.
OOoooo unlucky Chuka pops
Bendtner should stop trying nutmegging people and keep stuff simple :S
Fourth round v Chelsea
Let’s go guys COYR!!!!
Oh offside! Sounded close …
Bendy the ballboy destroyer…..twat,
well saved Fab
Bendys last injury was his hand. He could have kept up with his cardio, at least. Want him to do well for himself as well as the team. But when I think of the money he’s been collecting, and not keeping fit …… argh
whew, crossbar!
hanging on…
Woah, living on the edge now.
Hector to the rescue?!
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!
C’mon you Gunners!!! Hold onto PK’s!
PKs …blergh
Well that’s it.
Penalty kicks…..again.
Good workout for the young ‘uns…
Well done boys. Now go on and win it in PK’s!
Fab to be a hero?
I suppose playing 90+extra time was last thing Arsene wanted for Per to do, hopefully he will be fit for trip to Swansea.
heart beating 190 per
calmly done by Bendtner.
Cool from Bendy
Goal and assist for Bendtner !!!
darn :S
Gnot Gnice Gnabry 🙁
cool from Olsson
YES!
Ha Ha well wide.
yes Chuba!
OK APKOM
FAB!
YESSSSSSSSSS
nacho! we are through! 😀
Fuck yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
youth gone wild!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
chelski it is 🙂
Hardly a deserved win… but who gives a hoot.
Bring on Chelski
Steve T and Son go BESERK !!! 😉
Great for Steve and his lad.
well Bendtner showing glimpses that he might be useful for us. Gnabry good in flashes. Akpom will come good aswell.
Sadly Ryo which is one of my favourite youngsters from our set up looks far from ready. Too many wayward passes and did not create much.
Hopefully Arteta is not seriously injured.
It was NEVER in doubt! *whips out Cigar*
Aaaaah well in Trev, beat me to it.
11 away wins on the trot
They all count 😀
Macheteeeeee!!!
Hehe … my word!
Got to hand it to Monreal that he was up for taking the last one. Shows some character. He had a good game too.
Holy shit. I didn’t see a second of it and I’m as excited as you could want.
Just what Bendtner needed – 120 minutes – that should have got some weight off 😀
Steve T.’s kid must have loved it. 🙂
Loads of confidence gained, can only bode well for the squad.
🙂
Right, not seen any other scores, so I’m off until after The League Cup Show.
Laters gooners.
Mr Bendtner will have earned his money for the first time in a long time tonight.
To be precise, £433.33 per minute.
Lucky chap.
Couldn’t watch and be in the bar but want to add to congratulations to a very young Arsenal team, who have never played as a unit before and who to a man gave their all for the shirt and dug out a victory in very difficult circumstances 🙂
COYG !!!
Well said chris, I’m sure! Can’t wait to see this one!
A win is a win nerve racking for the younger ones!
Either way this wasn’t our first squad on-wards and upwards!
Great win, quite the thrilling penalty shoot out. Apparently we’ve been drawn at home against Chelsea. Tie of the round against Mourinho’s outcasts.
Good result for the kids and yet ANOTHER victory where sheer determination and a bit of luck gets us through. I thought that Per and TV5 actually looked alright together in the second half. TV plays a VERY different game to Kos so they probably needed the first 45 just to figure out exactly who goes where and when.
3-1 loss against Villa on the opening day of the season, a young side with a decent smattering of experienced players around them, grinding out results, top of the league and through to the next round of the COC…
Sounding more like a certain United team of the 90’s by the minute!
Trev: For the record that is £7.22 per SECOND! Fat lazy but VERY lucky fuck!
I think Arteta just had the cramp. It was a shame NB52’s legs went when Serge put him through with a perfect pass. Otherwise I thought he did a decent job, linking up the play . The team defended very well as a unit and accrued valuable playing time together, hopefully not at too great a physical cost
I see Gervinho scored for Roma.
What a legend!
An African Perry Groves.
Thanks nurse, I hope you enjoy on Player although the first half was forgettable, the second half onwards is definitely worth another look
GO Gervhino !!!
I thought we’d lose it when Arteta went off but the youngsters, Olsson and Bellerin held things together really well.
Eandy, I thought Ryo gained in stature as the match went on. During the first half he looked very timid and short on confidence. But as the match went on he created lots of space for himself and troubled Reid countless times with his pace and trickery. His crosses with both feet were also quite dangerous, and could well be assists on another day.
His shots were far from target and there were a few wayward passes. But that is understandable for a player coming back from long term injury, and obviously still short on confidence having to prove himself in a foreign land. His final ball/end product will get better, and I thought it’s very encouraging that well into extra time he still has the stamina and pace to trouble West Brom’s defense.
He will get better. He has the ability to dribble, and you can’t buy that kind of pace.
Just trying to get the events straight today.
Somebody ran into a post, somebody pulled down somebody’s pants in the box, somebody scored a penalty kick, and Bendtner was involved in two of the three. Not a bad haul! 😉
Derrick
He is young he will learn! 🙂
oh Chris! Gervinho scored, assisted by the great Totti! What a marvelous day, indeed. 🙂 Thank you lad, for whispering the good news to US!
Great result tonight. Baggies are always a tricky enough tie, so kudos to a young team. Gnabry has been impressive in both starts so far despite his peno miss. He shows maturity for his age in retaining possession, taking the right option and working hard defensively.
And credit too to Bendtner. He was obviously out of touch but still managed an assist and a goal. He’s a valid option until we get another striker so its important he gets encouragement. If he regains some form I feel he’s the best option we have if Giroud gets injured.
We are on BBC1
Arsenal form in last 20 matches:
WWWWWDWDWWWLWWWWWWWW
Kudos to Arsene. There is absolutely no other manager in the world who could have done it with so many injured players.
As for the game, Mert, Fabianski, Jenkinson and Monreal, magnificent.
Apkom and Belerin, great cameos. The future is bright.
Bendtner may have changed his haircut but he looks the same player he was couple of years ago. There is decent player in there, just needs to play and think faster.
Vermaelen wasn’t even on the penalty takers list. Worrying.
Abb, Gervais is going to be great for Roma. I am still sad we lost him.
As I said earlier, I like it when AW sends the juniors out for the League Cup. And I like it even better when THEY WIN!
Well done the lads.
Öskar
Great write up Lurky. As for Gervinho, sigh. Wished he gone to Juve, at least. 😉 and now Conti might sell Pirlo, what a blow to Juve, that would be.
Lurky, I personally didn’t want Vermaelen to take any PK, except if everyone else has had a go and there was still no winner.
Cent, not that I want him to take a penalty, but, as a Captain, I thought he should take responsibility and not let 17 and 18 years old kids to do that for him. Just saying…
Abb, just for you, Gervais goal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rdgz0R0xBXw&app=desktop
Good win young guns!!!!!
Lurky, not his typical goal either, huh. Thank you xx
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