No Disaster If The Reaction Is Positive
Nov 10th, 2013 by 'holic
Well that wasn’t what we wanted to see, was it? Reports of a bug sweeping through the squad prior to kick-off proved to have a degree of veracity to them. Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky were ruled out, Mikel Arteta and Serge Gnabry played a part despite also suffering.
The loss of the BFG and little Mozart proved pivotal. The goal by which United secured the points arrived from a set piece, headed home as Robin van Stapleton got the run on a static defence. We have conceded goals like that before, but the German giant would have strengthened our resistance to such a sucker punch.
To that point I thought Arsenal would have been pleased, happy to draw United on before attempting to damage them on the break. For once though the Gunners slick passing game was not quite at the level we had hoped beforehand. Rosicky’s absence meant a start on the right flank for Aaron Ramsey, but he knows his best work is done in the centre now and so we suffered a little from a lack of width as he constantly looked to move infield. Ironically in the centre Mesut Ozil too was having a hard time.
We had a scare when Wojciech Szczesny was clattered into by Phil Jones, and not long afterwards Mathieu Flamini collected a fifth booking of the season for a challenge surely meant as a warning to the same player. His absence against in-form Southampton in a fortnight will save Arsene from another selection problem, providing of course that both Arteta and Ramsey are fit to anchor the midfield.
If we had shown a lack of urgency and belief in the first-half at least we displayed greater desire in the second, and particularly after the arrival of Jack Wilshere as a substitute around the hour mark. Half chances were created from corners and crosses in open play. The decision to summon Bendtner, albeit with only twelve minutes remaining, was an obvious one. The best chance to nick a point from the match came in added time when not for the first time Bacary Sagna delivered a superb ball in from the right but the Dane waved a leg in the vague direction of the ball and his big moment was gone. Arsene saw the game thus,
“We lost too many balls and we rushed our game in the first half. In the second half when we played our game we played in one half and they counter-attacked a few times but we didn’t find the opportunity to equalise. We had the opportunities but we missed always a few inches to push the ball in the net and they were well focused to defend and defend and then try to catch us on the break. That happened once or twice in the game.”
It is fair to observe that this was a disjointed performance by the Premier League leaders, but at the end of a week in which Liverpool and Dortmund were also conquered, and given also the bug alert on matchday, I think it was perhaps understandable that we lost our ‘unbeaten away since March’ tag. United were not at their best either, save Rooney whom we had eyed covetously in the summer. He deserved the man of the match award but would someone please nail the odious sod early at the Grove. Mathieu, we have another job for you.
The week that was going to expose us as title fraudsters has ended with two big wins out of three, and three goals scored against one. We are top of the two leagues that are priorities for us. We went into November with some claiming that would not be the case tonight. We go into another infernal international break needing somehow to convince them all over again.
What is important now is the reaction to a rare defeat. Bring on the Saints.
285 Responses to “No Disaster If The Reaction Is Positive”
Great write up Holic.
Nail on head.
First 8)
Now, to read.
Son of a!!! X_X
Blimey it’s the quick and the dead round here…
…well in lads.
Ghosted in at the near post!
Speedy Gonalezes you lot.
4th??
Greta write up Holic we deserved more from this game but it wasn’t meant to be.
As the saying goes you can’t win them all!
Lads put in a shift in the second especially nothing to be ashamed of!
What a run as well!
Still top but as you say Southampton needs to be beaten!
Ok 8th will do 🙂
*pops back in*
Nice one ‘holic.
*heads out again*
Fine account Holic.
An open bottle of Ardmore 10yo is on the bar to toast our bouncing back against the Saints.
Forward Arsenal.
-more
+beg
Cheers for the post Guv’nor. Can’t have been much fun to put together, and thanks for drawing attention to such positives as we can take.
Trips to Old Twatford are almost never pleasant. It’s a horrendous antediluvian shithole, and having to share the journey there and back with a train full of of yappy knuckledragging Cockney Mancs is pretty tedious at the best of times.
Still, it’s one more trip to cunt corner ticked off the list for this season. Onwards and upwards.
I am an obsessed cunt who really should visit my doctor.
Well said ‘Holic.
Fuck ManU and their jamminess up the goatass with a rusty razor!
We’ll get them on the return and that will be that.
Let’s face, every now and then top teams lose to midtable dross and this was no different!
UTA
A fine write up, Holic, even at this hour on a disappointing but not disastrous day.
Much as I’m sick and tired of losing to that mob, we were not outplayed even if we lacked that bit of sharpness to create the goal we needed.
Not a great surprise given two tremendous performances in the last eight days. The fixture conputer has not been kind in drawing us away from home after every Champions League group game.
Injuries and sickness proved too much today, as did the sight of van Pursey trying to rape the fat granny shagger in celebration of his goal. Is it just me, or does he look really ugly in that ManUre shirt – ungrateful twat.
Positives today were a much improved Vermaelen and a very promising cameo from Gnabry.
Still top of two leagues heading into yet another Interminablelull is not a bad place to be.
Be wary of the LWC challenge though folks, as they craftily drift down into seventh position.
Waiting to strike, they are. Honest. 😉
Hey and heh! Snowy. 😉
Conputer = conputer, in case the pun was missed ! 😉
Sorry Holic,
I didn’t see it that way.
If ever you think your genuine contenders for the league – you always get a result against a team as poor as that. And that is one poor Manu team!
We were shocking in the first half, and only really played when Jack came on. For all our play we didn’t have the ability to ever really threaten them – primarily because they had two players of absolute brilliance up front and ultimately that was the real difference!
I wanted to think this team had real cajones – jury still out I’m afraid!
Onwards and upwards. Im sure we will come back.
Fuck RvP.
As much as I hate RvP (fucking loathe him ) – Im glad he celebrated like he did. Worse than getting his “sympathy and respect”.
Fuck off cunt.
I agree Sajit, the breakup is complete 🙂
This is it. Come back from adversity. Nobody has ever been a champion without doing that, so come on Arsenal!
Work meant that I had to resort to the radio commentary and MOTD. We did not really seem to get going today. It was all a bit toothless. 60% possession at old toilet is worth noting. Only 2 shots on target is not enough, and not the first time we have had such a stat. As much as I love our football there are times when I just wish we would just hit the bloody thing.
The bench looked incredibly short of real game changers and it will be pleasing to see players return to fitness ASAP.
I thought the goal we conceded was a soft one. Not something we would be proud of.
Still, mid November and we are top of two leagues. The medical staff are still working overtime and hopefully we will have a few fresh faces back for The Saints.
Keep the faith.
Joe has a point but I think we ought to remember excellent a title winners of the past who have suffered disappointing defeats. I remember walking away from Highbury after being seen off by Blackburn before a run started which took us to the double and our excellent form this year started after a very disappointing defeat at the Swamp. There are signs that against Chelsea and United we looked overpowered in the early stages but the Chelsea game was a reserve fixture and we had plenty of chance to get back into this. But in both games we lacked the BFG and we are a much better team with him. If there was a negative it was the very weak performances from Ozil and Cazorla who did not influence the game in our favour at all.
The introduction of Gnabry suggested a fit and firing Theo might have been very productive but while the Guvnor suggests the introduction of TGSTEL was an obvious move I’m afraid his involvement underlines the fact that we must send him packing at Christmas. He seems a largely malign influence at the club and is some way short of the quality needed to play at this level.
But perspective is needed and we sit in a position few if any envisaged after the Villa debacle.
I am an obsessed cunt who really should visit my doctor.
Geat write Up.
Is there anyone think the presence of TV5 make the team nervous from the start. PER’s calmness inspiring is way under estimated.
Just finally watched the game after a tortuous day not knowing what had happened. Excellent write-up ‘holic, I agree with your analysis one hundred/cent. But I do have this to say:
FFFFFUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKK
Proud of the team, especially the likes of Sagna who gave it all today. Maybe just not quite enough left in the tank at the end after a grueling week. As several in this bar mentioned during the build-up, the first goal was always going to be crucial today. Could’ve just as easily been us. OT is a terrible place to try to come from behind, and we were a whisker away on a couple of occasions. Thought we defended quite well on the whole, certainly worked very hard.
I really really thought we’d score today. I believed right up until the end that we could at least equalize.
Fuuucckk.
Thought Vermaelen looked quite solid, which is encouraging. Had some excellent moments, especially in the first half, and aside from one cheap corner conceded in the second half he was pretty invisible. I still think Ozil should’ve taken that free kick…but TV5 acquitted himself pretty well today. I’m sure I wasn’t the only Gooner who had a spasm or two when we learned he was going to be thrown in.
All the same I can’t help but wonder whether Mertesacker might’ve been able to reach Rooney’s corner before the slimy Dutch cunt.
Loathsome as it is to lose to those odious little bastards, it’s not the end of the world. Still top of the league, still have lots more to play, and two out of three ain’t bad, to quote an old ad. But next time, must wipe the floor with their sorry asses. AN 8-2 drubbing will set the equation straight. Can’t believe some people are already slating Ozil as slow. COYG!
Hmmm. I’d rather lose at OT than at home to Newcastle, or draw at home to WBA, or lose at Sunderland!
Not too much damage done.
Öskar
Cheers Holic.
Agree Oscar.
Hard for me to get too bitter about this one. Frankly I expect to drop points at the Toilet every season — and to make them up back at the Home Of Football.
We werent outplayed — it was as expected — tight, and could of gone either way.
Having said that we looked sluggish and disjointed — no real surprise after two massive games. Same for them I guess, but I felt United were close to the top of thier game, while we were some way off our best.
United have the best strike pairing in the EPL in my opinion.
Forget Liverpools pretenders.
Our midfield,so superior on paper, failed to gell on this occasion.
Its a marathon not a sprint, right?
Keep the faith — and fuck the Manc loving media — as the Sage Of Toxteth says, lets see where we are come Feb/March.
I remain quietly confident.
Morning chums. Good work overnight. Thank you for ignoring the troll.
He’s a fucking muppet aint he?
Muppet is too kind Esso!
Too kool watching Krul cruel the cruds. Heck of a performance, and I immediately subbed him into my fantasy XI. 🙂
Öskar
I is so sad. been avoiding the media. cant stand any criticism of the team. lets win our next match and get back on track. hopefully we get back poldi and theo soon.
Mancwankfest has officially started!
I don’t give a toss about them and the media hype for that matter!
They can all go and !%&*£$”! self’s!
As Arsene said the best response is a win but we have to wait a while for that!
Patience and more patience and even more patience is required.
Bloody internationals!
If Arteta was ill why take off Flamini?
The subs yesterday made little sense, such as using Bendtner wide left when Monreal has been doing the job from the bench, but such is life. The selection and the way we lined up was odd too IMO and we only started to get a foothold when one of the anchors (Flamini) went off and there was a rejig.
Never mind. For once the international break comes at a good time.
Onwards and upwards. Cheers ‘holic.
The headline really says it all, it is always the game after a poor one that really says something about a team’s real strength. In some ways, the Southampton game is a bigger test than ManU away because it is one where we are expected to win against a team that many still see as vastly inferior but in actual fact have impressed greatly not just in the past few games but really since since about the same time as we got going last season. Winning that one is quite crucial, much more so than the game yesterday.
Nice summary, Mr H. You saw the game exactly as I did.
When Van Pigsty scored, inspired by the sheer excellence of recent Holic pound predictions, I announced to a rather disinterested wine bar in Stortford – “not a problem, this game is going to finish 2-1; they’ve got their goal, now we need to get our two”. The regulars yawned. I will need to nurture their interest in Goonerholic.
We had our chances but were not at our best as an attacking force. Disappointing to hear that some of our number were nervous. What? Mesut and Santi were challenged to string more than a couple of passes together. For the first time ever, I was willing a Santi substitution in the direction of the bench. Jack’s introduction had a big impact on our play and, to the last minute, I thought we’d get the draw we deserved. Alas.
Goonerholic has armed me with two excellent phrases should I bump into Manc neanderthals of the home counties variety today:
– Moyes is building an Everton with chrome
– All of the top teams lost points to mid-table strugglers.
Ladies, gentlemen, thank you. 🙂
@Lars, spot on. Southampton game will be a bigger challenge. Loved your post immediately after the game in last night’s drinks.
Yeah, not too much to be disappointed about, we lost to a lucky goal with a team shorn of fitness by multiple games and illness and we still made them look ordinary, I think with key players coming back and one ultra key player leaving 😉 that we will see a nice resurgance and at the very least I expect a top two finish this year.
Fuck my old boots Steven Howard has got to be the most boring one eyed wanker known to journalism, He only gets wheeled out after we suffer a defeat to spout his no nothing, tired old bollocks that suits the agenda hes already written.
Cheers, BtM!
Chippy he’s obviously a Manc what can you do? Not a lot if you ask me don’t let them get into you. I’m not reading any match reports because I don’t need one I’ve seen it with my own eyes and I don’t need the read the other shyte either….. Arsenal showing weak signs bla bla bla
1. Top of the League
2. Beat Dortmund away
3. Illness to key players
4. Still top of the League!
5. They can go and shovel it up Van Pursey’s chocolate leg!
According to Arseblog News, Özil is now a doubt for the Germany internationals because he is also ill. Not a very far-fetched assumption then to guess that he was affected during the game yesterday as well which would then explain his lacklustre performance.
Have you noticed that no one these days asks BTM if he is Stuart Hall anymore……….
I’ve already heard quite enough from this man, thank you veer much.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/24893598
No more “testimony” will be required or helpful.
Thanks ‘Holic.
I’m going to put the timidity down to flu and the real possibility of a spurious red card, rather than nerves. So onwards we move, top of the table :-).
goonsterham lincoln you are quite right to praise Sagna who was tireless and effective all game, and Vermaelen who came right in and did the job very well. We will need Vermaelen to do that again, and maybe quite a lot this season.
This is second time this season there have been widespread bug in our camp….someone should tell the guys to wash their hands more 😀
Agree it’s all about the reaction andlet’s be honest since the Munich game at the Emirates our reaction to defeat has been pretty good!
The sooner we get Walcott, Podolski and Ox back the better as well. If we could have brought one of theose on with 20 minutes to go yesterday it could have made the difference
http://www.notanotherarsenalblog.wordpress.com
Gnabry can make our reaction that much more powerful and flexible.
Interesting to hear Ozil was ill. He was violently ill the night before his debut at Sunderland, just before the first Dortmund game and now. That suggests a rather sickly individual but would also explain his low key performance yesterday.
While there was frenzied debate about signing Rooney in the summer it might make good sense were it possible because I don’t think there is another player who consistently causes us such problems. I can’t think of a bad game he has had against us. He worked bus cobblers off yesterday. Whether he likes being called RVP’s sidekick is another matter!
I never read the Sun in the same way I never read comics any more but I understand Steve Howard is very anti- Arsenal. The Mancs like the fat prat Eamonn Holmes on Sky this morning are crawling out from under their stones and this may re motivate us to finish ahead of them.
‘holic, spot on re the importance of the Saints fixture. They are a much more formidable challenge than United, who, without Rooney’s massive shift yesterday, look like just another version of Moe’s Everton sides. Perhaps Gibbs and JW could drop a latent strain of the Manchester flu on Lallana and Rodriguez when they’re leaving from the England camp before the date at the Emirates.
One thing that has me wondering in the wake of recent matches is the pairing of Santi and Mesut. To date, it’s been more puckering than mouth-watering to these eyes. While skeptics might view this as an instance of too many cooks, have to think that both are very intelligent and resourceful players who don’t need to have the ball all the time to be effective, but need to just figure out the right blend.
One last on Özil: while Mourinho should not be viewed as a paragon of man management, it is worth noting that Özil rarely played a full 90 when at Madrid, while here, that’s all he’s been doing in a highly intense environment. Looks like he needs his minutes managed; just because you pay a lot for the crown jewels doesn’t mean you wear them all the time.
So several Arsenal players get a bug in an Old Toilet – not surprising really.
Shame we sent Campbell out on loan for a whole season – I know it’s only the Greek League but he seems to be doing well down in Athens – two assists and a goal yesterday.
Can’t really understand why he went on loan after reading this:
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1500728/joel-campbell-arsenal-talks-work-permit-boost?cc=5739
Have they already decided he’s not good enough and are looking to offload him? He would surely have been a better stop-gap than a player who is disappointed to still be at Arsenal.
This too:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/11/10/uk-soccer-greece-idUKBRE9A90HF20131110
Errr – Greek defending not so good:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEDSrjuZFz4&feature=youtube_gdata
dkg @ 60: I think Campbell’s last two seasons in Ligue 1 and La Liga had been too inconsistent — with some good performances thrown in — and Arsene probably wanted to get a solid season out of him at a good level on loan before trying him out. It would be interesting where he ends up next year. If we buy one striker in January and Sanogo moves forward quickly enough Campbell may not get a look in. I have only seen bits and pieces, but I remember a match he was playing for Lorient (against Montpellier in their title winning season) where he scored a winning goal and looked really good. I think one loan season in PL would have been a better option this year.
Öz-ill ? 🙁
And what’s wrong with his crown jewels, BJ. ?
Good point about his playing time though. To move from the leisurely passtime of creating assists for Real Madrid as they steamrollered inferior opposition, to playing every game for Arsenal in the hurly-burly of the Premier and Champions Leagues is quite a step.
What do you do though ? Chelsea in the CoCup was the obvious place to rest him, but the number of injuries in the squad and the U21 players even made that impossible.
‘Holics –
The only good thing about yesterday was my Maui mate’s twitpic:
pic.twitter.com/ILUlLH5KyF
You’ll understand my lack of objectivity. Onwards and upwards. Come on you Reds.
BMBD
I’ll try that link again…
http://t.co/ILUlLH5KyF
BMBD
Nice one LG. 😉
Nice on Lonestar!
+e
TR out from czech squad, good news at least, his participation in meaningless friendly like match against Canada is.
I really hope that this interlull is going to help us get back as many bodies as possible.
Good stuff, Lonestar.
Amen to that, Eandy.
On Ozil. Class is permanent. Always takes a while to settle into the English top division. I remember Overmars being fairly ineffective up till xmas in his first season; from January onwards became a essential part of team which went on to make history. I have no worries Ozil will make a big (winning) impact at some stage this season and in seasons to come. As for the Independent headline today – what a bunch of cunts! I used to buy and read that newspaper, now just a rag.
Thanks Trev, Ollie, and Cent.
The kids’ picture was broadcast on NBC during the halftime show…so now I have to keep the game saved on dvr (yuck) for when the grandparents come to visit.
Honestly though, I’m not at all distraught over the loss (bar the fact that it is always HIM who scores…I am so sick of that cretin); if anyone had told me at the start of the week that we’d get 6 of the nine points on offer…I’d have taken that.
The Interlull comes at a good time. We should be stronger afterwards. My only concern now is how does Wenger incorporate those players returning from longterm injury. Theo, Poldi, Ox…the team’s chemistry could change radically depending on who starts. Case-in-point, we SORELY missed Rosicky on Sunday.
BMBD
Nice one Lonestar, super cute.
Well said Esso.
I hadn’t looked at the Indie, Esso, thanks for the pointer. One blessing is that the articles won’t load. Is the writer a cnut or is it just the sub-editor?
A mark of how “Manchester United are back” is the joy that greets beating a team 1-0 at home with 40% of the possession. Fair play to them, mind. We’ve been delighted to grind out 1-0 wins at home on the back of poor performances several times over the past couple of seasons.
It will be interesting to see how this result is viewed in May.
As has been said above, it’s all in how the team respond. I’m optimistic (which I’m sure comes as no surprise) – the team lost a tight Champion’s League tie to a sucker punch and demonstrated a week later that they’d learned from the experience. I anticipate they will do the same in their next Premier League match.
It’s plain silly to say that Southampton at home is a bigger test than Yanited at Old Toilet, but I’m sure the boss will have the team up for them.
COYG
We’d be crazy to underestimate Southampton, they’ve been playing some really good stuff, their defence has been pretty solid too. They let in a fluke goal against the Orcs and they were cruising when they conceeded this weekend.
They also came away from the Toilet with a point. It’s not for nothing that they are in third.
Searching for something amusing during yet another Interminablelull, I found two quotes from right back in 1971, which demonstrate the character of Arsenal and the Spuds and, indeed, how nothing has really changed in the last 42 years.
“Arsenal have got as much chance of being handed the title by Spurs as I have of being given the Crown Jewels. They are the last people we want winning the Championship. Now we mean to round off our season by beating Arsenal”.
(Tottenham captain Alan Mullery at the end of the 1971 season.)
“There was no way we were going to be beaten”.
(Bertie Mee after the same game.)
🙂
Lovely pic Lonestar 🙂
And TV presenter Lisa Rogers –
“The international game does nothing for me – it is the Gunners that turn me on.”
http://www.lisarogers.com/images/lisarogers15.jpg
Anyone arguing ………….. ?
Heh @ Trev.
You’d think if she was that cold she’d put a cardigan on really…
😉
Hi snowy 😉
One last one –
“Everyone knows I’m an Arsenal supporter. I watch them all the time, and for someone like myself who grew up standing on the terraces and then jumped over and played with the players I actually idolised was just fantastic.”
(Charlie George – as if anyone hadn’t guessed.)
“To play for the club you support is a dream come true.”
(Ashley Cole – oh dear …. )
H2H @ 76
Southampton.
I was there today.
It was raining.
I’ve decided that we should take that as a cue to piss on their parade…..
Death to the interlull !
Hi Trev *waves*
Bloody great quotes. Perspective is always a most valuable thing.
Speaking of which I have to say I’m pleasantly surprised at the general media reaction to yesterday’s game (in the decent media at least – hysterical click hunting websites are excused from that generalisation).
Coming home from the same fixture last season I really felt that a massive gulf had opened up between us and them, and at the time was wondering how many years it was going to take to get back up there. So it’s a massive bonus to leave the game this season seeing that the gap’s snapped closed pretty quick. For all that people have noted their long term squad issues and that they are supposedly at their worst blah blah, they still are an immense rival with two of the most consistent goalscorers in the Premier League. I don’t think we should belittle our achievement in running them bloody close yesterday.
Heh @ zico 🙂
Almost cba-esque that one zico.
It rained here today
and I’ll be there for Southampton,
no need for a parade,
but take that for a cue to go on the piss. (like you needed one 😉 )
Death to the interlull indeed.
Evening H2H. Saw this earlier this eve – think it will catch on at your gaff?
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/11/alcohol-benefits-no-dangers-closer-think?CMP=twt_fd
I can’t see that working if it’s in a cocktail form, that’s a bit girly for these parts.
Maybe if you could snort it………..
Trev @ 79, wow. As the Commodores once sang, “She makes an old man wish for younger days.”
Cheers, H2H and Wind.
We underestimate Southampton at our peril.
BMBD
Trev
Liked your picture at 79.
Those are a couple of points we could have done with yesterday.
Lonestar, Brick House. Classsic funk. Well remembered that man 😉
For 3 long months they have been missing in action,hunkered down in their underground bunkers, with enough supplies to last them till the end of the season just in case.
Not one of them has been sighted above ground since the middle of August.
Early morning dog walkers,joggers,commuters,holidaymakers,
pub regulars,brothels,kebab shops,public toilets,everywhere the questions are all the same.
” Have you seen one” ?
” No mate,haven’t seen one for ages “.
” I know the world’s a much nicer,quieter place without them,but it is certainly a mystery”.
” Do you think we should send out a search party “.??
“No,don’t go looking for what you don’t want to find.”
Then with one result,the fuckers are everywhere.
They have burst out of their bunkers with a new spring in their step,
the windows have been flung open to allow the stench of 3 months hibernation to dissipate,the washing machines are going at 100 miles an hour,the clothes lines are chock a block,and the plumber has been called in to clear the sewer lines.
Then like the first blowflies of summer,they are upon us,puffing and preening,their sickly bodies newly adorned with all the supporters gear,shirts/caps/scarves,their spindly lilywhite legs cruelly exposed by the club shorts they are wearing.
A low chant is heard on the wind,” Champions,Champions”
The stomp of hob nailed boots is faintly heard down the cobbled laneways.
The elderly and infirm,who have been out on the step enjoying the unprecedented period of peace and quiet,resignedly move back indoors,locking their doors and windows and pulling the curtains tightly closed.
Comments are overheard,
” Ah well pet,it was lovely while it lasted,”
” All good things come to an end.”
” What a shame those Southern softies didn’t turn up on Sunday.”
The lights go out one by one,as the chanting gets louder and louder,and the cobblestones resound with the deafening sound of the oncoming hordes.
Cheers
The Sweeper
My final comment on Sunday – at least it wasn’t this bad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9KXrRUZqtw
Welcome back Clive sir.
Great to see you back Clive.
Thanks for all your help with Terry and Taina.
Clive, the legend returns. Welcome back. I hope all is well in your world and in the world of The Ramblers?
Up the Gunners.
I’ll happily admit I underestimated United, thought this year was the year we could beat them at Old Trafford, but it wasn’t to be. But Southampton?
I’ve been wary of them for a few weeks (Lallana’s been wrecking it in terms of FPL), it won’t be an easy game, but I’m happy I’m going to be at the HoF for it 🙂
Clive! 🙂
Great to have you back my good man.
Welcome back, Clive.
Slide-rule pass across the face of goal…
The Sweeper returns! Welcome back, Sir!
Well in Lars, nice goal to commemorate Clive’s return 😉
Cheers Wind!
Heh at snowy (#80). Nothing my warm hands couldn’t cure mate!
In my opinion whatever resulted in half the team losing their lunch was responsible for us losing the match. Without Merts we conceded the first goal from a set piece all season, and without TR7 we had no go-forward. And those that survived didn’t look a lot fitter … as if too much exertion might have had dire consequences in the lower bowel.
No problem with Rooney getting motm. An outstanding game and the only improvement I could envisage is the addition of white sleeves to his red shirt in January.
Öskar
@58: Ttg, as a still avid comic reader (and wannabe creator), I can safely say that you will find better writing and less fiction in the Sun, and other football newspapers, when it comes to Arsenal. 😀
@66 Great pic Lonestar! And sorry about the failed prediction eh? These things happen 😉
@72: Esso, wasn’t that improvement in performance also because Tony Adams and Martin Keown jacked Overmars up against a wall and told him to stop fucking about and prove that he’s worth the money? I think I heard someone say that a while back…
in comics than in the Sun*
doh!
Re: Trev @79. WTF? No, I am not arguing sir. 🙂
And greetings Clive it’s good to hear from you. 🙂
Lonestar @66. Cuties. 🙂
Evening ( here, at least) all,
Great to see Clive Alive!
I hope this interBull gets us a few healthy. Theo and his speed and movement have been missed. Poldi would have at least a couple bullets so far this year and I was really looking forward to watch AOC come into his own this season. Also, the illness bug defeated us just as much as that shit in the toilet. Ah well, a positive response is indeed in need.
No worries, the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth men will be in the crowd screaming and singing for the lads against Soton. Right, Wind and H2H? We will sing them to victory ( even if one of those voices has a bit of an American twang).
Looking forward to officially meeting so many. And to have a real drink on The Swedish Wallet. 😉
Cheers all.
@104 CoR
Don’t think so. Story sounds apocryphal to me. There was certainly a team meeting after we lost at home to Blackburn in December 97, where TA (this is all in Addicted) had a pop at Paddy and other members of the midfield for not giving the defence enough cover. TA did have a dig at Bergkamp that season to prove he could actually win something, or again so he says in Addicted. The Overmars story that I heard, relates to us losing 3-2 to Coventry on Boxing day in 99, when he was told in the dressing room afterwards by Keown and others that his attitude in that game was bollox. He was sold at the end of that season. For a massive profit.
Ah the return of the prodigal Broom-weilder.
Welcome back, maestro.
Must admit, I’m rather amused by the idea that had Mertesacker been fit, we wouldn’t have lost that goal on Sunday.
It was the kind of goal that we’ve conceded regularly in recent seasons but had pretty much eradicated so far, this. I would suggest though that Giroud has made double the number of clearing headers from set pieces in comparison with our BFG.
However, it was mentioned on Sunday either by Spice Boy or Carragher, (can’t remember which) that “if Mertesacker had been on the pitch, Arsenal don’t lose that goal”.
What a crock of shit.
Per may have been missed, (on Sunday I don’t think he was personally, as Vermaelen did well all things considered) but that wasn’t the reason we conceded that particular goal.
The day I see the world the way Jamie Redknapp sees it, is the day I stop looking.
Heh zico @111. He was actually very complimentary and upbeat about Arsenal in his post-match observations on Sunday. I was quite impressed.
Then again, maybe Smudger wrote his script?
Agreed Zico. I thought Vermaelen played very well too.
I think blogs makes a couple of great points this morning too – in that RVP scored the goal off his shoulder, which from the slow mo replays, caused an exaggerated loop and hence why Gibbo couldn’t nod it clear. It was more of a lucky touch and hardly the “touch of class” that many have been alluding to.
In relation to Giroud, his defensive work, his general support play, all round workrate up front has been magnificent this season (and last). He’s been a wonderful signing and is certainly a type of player we need in the squad. I also feel though, that we need another player with the pace and touch to play counter attacking football. A player who can run at full speed with the ball at his feet and can do something special that general makes the difference when two top sides meet.
Bath,
Looks like you were fortunate on the timing of your trip to Vietnam!
Totally agree Joe @ 113
Giroud is many things but unfortunately for us, is only marginally quicker than coastal erosion.
NorCal @ 108, you know it buddy! 😀
Another day closer to returning to London, and the HoF…
Anyone else think Bitch of the Match award should have gone to Phil Jones, allowing himself to get barged off the ball in the box by that man mountain and serial bully of defensive lines, Jack Wilshere?
Pathetic.
Spot on, Joe @113.
And Porco @118.
Hi holics. Clive, you sure know how to make an entrance, chap. I hereby bequeath the Bram Stoker award to you. Really enjoyed that!
@116 Sounds like Suarez, runs like Suarez, scores like Suarez….. 🙂
Yes indeed Joe @114. Seems that it’s not been as catastrophic there as first feared and as in the Phillipines. Very bad year for typhoons in Vietnam – more than usual and this one very late in the season, practically unknown apparently.
Agree also with 113. As BtM says, it sounds like Suarez to me too. Certainly doesn’t sound like Benzema.
The ramblings of a senior citizen….no, not Clive, but 122 😉
zico the whippersnapper! how dae ye sneak intae pubs son? 😀
Heh Clive @91 – brilliant.
Well played and welcome back, Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeper.
Did not take too long for Really Vile Person to be unavailable for his country did it, what a lovely human being.
So is Carrick. His Achilles seemed ok on Sunday.
Mancy-ness knows no bounds.
Looks like Gnabry is having a great game for the Under-21s’. Already scored and assisted.
Colin, guess which team is top of the league and destined for the next round of the UEFA Cup.
Life’s are not hard to get if you make an effort.
@124 Underestimate not, the wisdom of your elders.
“Lives” even – my grammar aren’t improving with age. I thought the bus pass would help me to read and rite proper.
Thnks for the welcome words everyone,
Nice to be back,although only briefly,
Unfortunately work over the past few months has kept me busier than a Badger during mating time.
Looks like i will only get respite once Christmas is done.
Hopefully by then the boys will have continued to build on the good start to the season,and consolidated our position at or near the top of the table.
We have 7 games in 25 days in December,so fingers crossed we keep everyone fit,because we will need every available body.
I am personally not at all sure the balance of the team is right when both Arteta and Flamini play together,and i certainly don’t envy the Boss trying to pick a team when everyone is fit and available.
On the Utd game,i agree with Dr Z about the goal we conceded,marking was woeful,and the performance overall wasn’t much better.
How the Boss has the temerity to say that a team chock full of International’s who had just become the first English team in 50yrs to win in Dortmund,were ” nervous ” on Sunday,beggars belief.
Utd were there for the taking,but instead we gave them a free pass and allowed them to get a big confdence boost at our expense.
Let’s hope it doesn’t come back to haunt us come Spring next year.
On a personal note,
I must pass on my heartfelt thnks to Holic and all those who contributed to Gooner Terry’s Stone,and to the Bluefields Foundation.
I know Taina and the girls were really really chuffed that the man they adored had made so many friends on Holics great Blog.
He really was a lovely lovely fella.
My heart still skips a beat when i am on line ,and a pop up appears in the bottom right hand corner of the screen saying Gooner Terry is online.!!
It takes me a minute to realise that is is Taina using Tel’s internet connection.!!
Silly old bugger that i am.
Cheers
The Sweeper
Thanks for the opportunity to welcome you back in a more timely fashion than when I saw your previous posting this morning, Sweeper. Welcome back. Good to see you again and hope Christmas and saner times come soon.
COYG
Good to se you back even if for a short time, Mr Clive.
And if anyone wanted to know more about RVP’s character, this is from Theo’s book; http://pic.twitter.com/zEYhCW60dg
Sweeper,
Again glad to see you back, no matter for how long.
Young Wind and I are back at it again for the Soton game and we managed to pull H2H in with us. 😉
Cheers
Mah Nà Mah Nà
Colin
You are so enlightening. Each game and each season is so predictable for you. I am surprised you have the time for us little supporters. I mean you must be flush with cash with all of your gambling winnings. You can predict every result based on last years point total and everyone’s head to head. Why do they even play the games?
We have all heard your drivel. Please find another pulpit. It really is tedious.
Asshole Wenger
Colin, amigo, mio compadre, I am DepressedGooner and even I am far more cheerful and optimistic than you, I think Wenger blamed it on nerves because he did not want to use Spurs excuse of dodgy food.
We are top of the table and I am genuinely prepared to let Wenger have this season and the next transfer window to see if the new and improved Arsenal can stay that way, I certainly do not want us to fail and even if we do I kind of hope I won’t resort to “I told you so”
This is a truly unprecedented time to be a Gooner, we have finally decided that quality purchases don’t come from Poundland, Aaron Ramsey has finally shown why so much faith was placed in him by Wenger, the team and yes even me, I never understood the vitriol coming his way after a potentially career ending injury, but the team has far more confidence now and that is showing in our performances this year.
Winning ugly was hard for us before and with two exceptions this year, one with the most incompetent of referees and one with sickness ravaging the team do not leave me shaking with fear about this season.
I am the most optimistic I have been in over 6 years and members here who knew me as DrapedInDarkness know that to be true.
So please if you are a genuine Arsenal fan, stop being so negative when for once there really is no need to be.
Thanks, Colin.
As you’ve spotted, we have all been brainwashed by Wenger and his sycophant followers; we are deaf to reasoned argument. A man as wise as yourself should surely know that it is pointless to present your finely honed arguments in this company. We just aren’t capable of following them. Honestly, you’d be better off saving your breath.
The ironic thing being that I am far from a Wenger devotee, even at the end of last season I still thought he should leave, but rabbit from hat and I am prepared to see what the future holds.
The difference between us my friend is that I am not brainwashed which is why I can change my opinion and see both sides, you however most definitely only see one side.
I know he’s annoying but stop feeding the troll.
I was taught that reason can work wonders and reverse the dark magic that created them, was it all a lie?
😉
Wenger turns up at Old Trafford and does the same thing every season. You might just as well stick a mannaquin in the dugout
Just quickly dropping in to let you know that I became a father again earlier today – a little boy this time.
All our problems are solved. Give me 18 years and I’ll have him winning everything in sight for the mighty Gunners. Will be starting him with some keepie-up tonight and then building from there. He’s probably already better than Soldado.
The cigars are on my tab.
Congratulations N7 Gooner! 🙂
Don’t waste your time or energy.
He’s not worth it.
I used to get annoyed about idiots, but not anymore.
They can’t help that they were born with a diminished I.Q.
I’m thinking of setting up a fund to help the hard of thinking.
But that will be on another website, (I’ll keep you informed MNB)
In the mean time we’ll just have to suffer the fool, who likes to copy and paste from that sesspit Le …., well you know what’s it’s called.
I don’t mean to call him/her/it out, I don’t have to.
I fully expect him/her/it to respond in the only way he/her/it knows how, by hijacking my monniker, sad but true.
This is me playing nice……..
Fuck it, MNB you’re a sad cunt.
Congratulations N7!!
Congrats N7.
Mr Sweeper.
I fully agree that it was bad form from Le Boss to say that nerves played a part, I respect the fact that he didn’t hide behind the bug or the diminished squad, but still…..
Let the filthy mancs have their confidence boost, it will take the spotlight off us, winning or losing to them will not decide the league. We needto concentrate on beating all the other teams, the ones were we have in the past dropped points to and we will be fine, ell better then fine.
UTA.
@N7 – Many congrats, place that bet now and reap the rewards in the future 😉
NorCal.
Got your mail mate, will reply in full tomorrow.
Congratulations N7 !
DepressedG,
your transformation is indeed remarkable.
The difference between you and Colin / james / Doris, or whatever he is called today, is that you are an Arsenal supporter who really wants to see the positive, and he is not.
ManUre or Tottnum fan is my guess. Interesting that he just prefers to read an Arsenal blog.
Congrats N7. Enjoy every minute. As I’m sure you know, the time melts away quicker than any of us wants.
Good thing he didn’t wait until the 23rd to join the world, something tells me TaBs wouldn’t share. 😉
Congratulations N7.
@ Trev
Cheers mate, I’d like to think all genuine Arsenal supporters even with different opinions, all want the best for the team, Deep…..deep down 🙂
Many congrats N7 on the new arrival. The fact he is a gooner and not a LWC makes him better….end of!
N7. Congratulations on probably already better than Soldado. 🙂
N7
Wonderful news- congratulations. Your lad can join the team when my two grandsons are leading lights in British football. I’ve got them slated in for debuts in 2025 and 2026 respectively. Arsene will be into his 39th season then.
N7,
Many congrats! Seems as though your following a similar sequence to me. The old adage of girls wrecking your head and boys wrecking the gaff rings true I find. And you think when the second arrives it should only be appromimately twice as much trouble at the first. Heh, it was at this point when my real education in life begun! 🙂
Sweeper,
Great to see you back. I think we saw the same game at OT.
I am a sad, clueless, obsessed cunt who really needs to see someone, and fast. See my post earlier. That is my level.
And another congrats N7!
Better than soldado! Ha! Love it.
Congratulations N7!
I hope you’re reading and singing all things Arsenal to your newborn 🙂
Congrats N7. How many more to sire before you have a full team? Personally I’m concerned the one daughter I have will be insufficient to keep me in the retirement comfort I feel I’m due. She married well enough, but sadly seems to have acquired my taste for luxury and SELF-indulgence.
What is the point of interlulls which no manager, player or fan wants for fear of injuries? It’s a feckin’ farce ffs. Have we got anyone so fit they can’t get out of it? I hope not. That they can’t get out of it, that is.
Öskar
Oh, N7 is getting in on the act eh? Congratulations sir! We can always use brand new fresh shiny little gooners in the ranks.
Sorry I haven’t been around for a couple of days all.
Would be grateful if you would ignore the obsessed cunt when I’m not here. His bitter drivel won’t be up long.
Thank you.
Congratulations N7 – enjoy every moment.
N7, congrats!
Sweeper/H2H: I disagree with you re: Wenger saying it was nerves. I took that as a rather unusual form of public criticism of the players and he was not at all using it as an excuse as I interpreted it. On the contrary I saw it as him saying pretty much what you are saying as well.
Congrats N7, awesome news 😉
Sorry ‘holic, was hoping to convert him back into the true supporters fold.
Congrats, N7.
Congrats, N7!
Thanks all, much appreciated.
Can’t wait to get the little man down to HOF. Big sis already has a stone outside (very near the Holic bar stone, in fact), so arranging one for him will be the next order of business.
Not sure if anyone has posted it yet, but loved this from Per: https://twitter.com/mertesacker29/status/400593987913805824
Gotta luv the BFG.
hmm..interesting ..but as it is on goal.com, I take it with bit pitch of salt
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1862/premier-league/2013/11/13/4403825/rosicky-to-be-offered-new-arsenal-contract-if-he-reaches-25
Tomas’ performances were of such standard recently that he should be offered at least one year extension no matter how much he plays.
As game against ManU proved, he is still very valuable asset for us.
Against So’ton, ‘Holic?
http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-fan-homeless-after-betting-his-house-on-gunners-beating-manchester-united-8937139.html
H2H@175 Yes indeedy.
Thx for that N7. What with that and Lucas being up with the fans vs Dortmund, they’re going a long way töö improve Anglo-German relations.
Just back-drinking – heartiest congratulations N7.
Dk @177, Hahahahahahaha
morning, all. back drinks complete after a few days of feeling grumpy and antisocial. well said, holic, the reaction has to be positive!
welcome back, Clive, glad to see you here again.
n7, well done on the little lad. but it’s only about a decade for you to wait before his arsenal contract, and then another half for his prem debut. you know how young arsenal like ’em 🙂
Am generally not much of a twitter fan. Breeds too much knee-jerk reaction and anger, when after a cool down period, often folks regret.
With the exception of Piers – the intergalactic douchebag – Morgan.
That said … the twitter pic of the BFG is killer!!
Great news N7, congrats.
Eandy, agree 100%, Rosicky deserves new contract no matter the number of games he will play this season.
He bleeds Arsenal and I am sure that Arsene will find a way to keep him fit and happy with a lengthy contract.
My favorite Arsenal player.
Agree re TR7 – must be signed on – our antidote to the handbrake.
Who said the Germans have no sense of humour? …..ours do:
http://www.givemesport.com/400893-arsenal-star-per-mertesacker-models-big-f-german-tshirt?autoplay=on
Boy am i glad to see the sweeper!
There was a discussion here in the bar, not too long ago, about a release clause in Reus’ contract, some said it did not exist, others said it wouldn’t kick in for a while yet, all very
uninteresting stuff. Not that I care either way, but this may shed some light on the subject;http://www.football365.com/arsenal/9021767/Borussia-Dortmund-attacker-Marco-Reus-does-have-release-clause-in-his-contract
Reus?
Meh.
so i just realized in that post at 182 might be read as some sort of approval of Piers the Intergalatic Douchebag Morgan. It is not, just a result of typing while talking. Had I been chewing gum, i might’ve died. Wheew!!
In fact, I cannot stand Piers the Intergalatic Douchebag Morgan.
Evening all. Work was a proper ‘mare today. Never mind, only a day and a half to go now.
Part-timer 😉
Jackster-units.
N7
Congratulations fella I raise a glass for the little man’s health!
All the best!
Heh Homer.
Is Morgan the squid thing in this clip?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qORYO0atB6g
I like to imagine he is.
Congratulations, N7.
Welcome back, Sweeper.
Regarding my poor homeless Ugandan friend, with three wives, he already had more than enough troubles…losing his home might be helpful.
BMBD
Rolls an interlullian (slow) ball up the touchline in the direction of an unidentified but no doubt more energetic attacking player. No, no Gnabry, it’s …
Lonestar. If he had three wives, maybe he had three homes, in which case being left with only two might not be such a bad thing. Triangulation, however, can be an effective strategy, I have heard, so losing the third one could bring complications beyond his imaginings. Best to lose two of the three, so maybe he can redeem himself against Southampton with another losing bet?
Passing to myself I see. Another dangerous situation to be in. For a player of my limited talents, anyway.
*kicks ball off bt8’s toes*
Gollie, it’s Ollie.
Assist
Lurks in
Bang
Boom or congrats.
where are my manners? Congrats H2H!
We need more people than just Ramsey scoring goals. H2H booting them in for fun is a start. 🙂
*bows*
Classic H2H
Well in, H2H.
*Offers H2H an Arsenal contract as back-up striker for 3 months*
– Payment £5.50 per game, plus fare from Holland
– win bonus £25k
– goal bonus £25k per goal
start date – 23 November, Southampton (h)
H2H. Here’s video of your new strike partner. Giroud can wait.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYNo1S5BkKQ
Cheers lads.
Bath, I’ll be there with my kit, mate. All players get changed at the Tollie…. right?
8Ball, no way I’m playing with Didier Dogba.
heh at doggoal 😀
No relative of mine, I believe he plays for Blackburn Rovers.
Öskar
Dogba. 🙂 Oskar, He might even play for that Canadian club, the Labrador Retrievers.
Heh at Doggoal. Believe he plays for Barking Town and he is boastful of his wags. On thar note goodnight all.
Arseblog says Sanogo is the new Park. Does that mean Park has made a step up or a step down?
I can see the medicine cabinet is very useful as always Holics 🙂
Bloody interlull
H2H
Just lob the ball over Boruc make sure the wind is blowing hard too 🙂
bt8bbgfg
When did Park take a step up? I have never seen him do that.
He’s very injury prone so I have heard tbh only Arsene knows why he’s with us.
“He’s very injury prone so I have heard tbh only Arsene knows why he’s with us.”
Sonogo that is…..
*Sanogo
Arthur, It could be that Sanogo is not the new Park but rather the new Bischoff. I’d really like to be wrong but I guess the phrase is, “Show me the evidence,” or maybe “Yaya let’s see your stuff, and not the kind of stuff Wolfie wants to see.”
Clive: Good to hear from you again. Glad to know it is only work that has kept you absent. Work? Love it. Could sit and watch it all day.
N7G: Congrats. If we could field 11 ‘holicets, all would be swept before us.
H2H: Just mind that Wolfie isn’t your kit man.
Morning all.
Apologies for the lack of a blog.
Hopefully some sort of weekly review will be posted tomorrow night.
Londoners or others who might know:
A colleague of mine is travelling to London in a few weeks and asked me if I knew of any places where you can buy particularly good rum (i.e. bottles to bring home, not to consume on the premises) but since rum and me is not a very good combination (every type of rum I’ve tried tastes bloody awful to me!) I am now forwarding this to you. Any tips, anyone?
It’s not like there’s much football going on, ‘holic.
No need to apologise 😉
I was alerted to this by a link on arseblog today – maybe some of you have already seen it and reacted.
http://www.fifpro.org/news/news_details/2413
I went in to http://www.fifa.com/contact/form.html and posted the following:
Qatar – isn’t that the country that’s hosting the WC in 2022?
Isn’t that also the country that imprisons footballers who complain about their club not meeting its contractual obligations?
http://www.fifpro.org/news/news_details/2413
Do something about this.
Do it today.
I’m not a twitter/facebook user but maybe those who are can set the ball rolling.
PS The “Do something about this. Do it today” was part of my post on FIFA. Intended as a demand to FIFA – not to ‘holics.
Heh @ bt8b @ 209 – great link
and heh @ NBN @ 221 – love it.
no apologies needed H, you’re working hard enough already.
(and Ned and I are enjoying the show)
Fortnum and Masons on Piccadilly, Lars @225. But only if you give him your credit card.
Cheers bath!
I have no special knowledge of rum suppliers but would imagine that, as with much else, F&M stock the top end (at a price).
http://fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=2777/title=research+shows+the+impact+of+the+twelfth+man
Afternoon all,
One for Bath – talking of booze at a price. I just spotted this little factoid in the paper –
“In 2010 a record price for whisky was achieved when a 64 year old Macallan in a 1.5 litre decanter made by Rene Lalique sold at auction in New York for £280,000.The proceeds went to a clean-water charity.”
Don’t blame me – I didn’t invent Interlulls.
I expect you knew anyway. 😉
A good story for anyone who likes to support the underdog:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24931524
Tottenham winning new fans through litigation. Throw the small club into debtors’ prison, I say. 😉
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-24940529
@225 lars
http://www.bbr.com/about/london-shop-fine-spirits
http://www.urbanpath.com/london/spirits-alcohol/vintage-house.htm
One week people. NorCal hits Blighty! Can’t wait. But could you guys get some better weather? It looks cold!
Wimp @ 238.
8)
8)
8)
Didn’t work for me either, Zico.
Cheers. You are coming to Soton, Right? You will be the one in the Bermuda shorts?
Yes, and no, that’s Wolfgang.
And there Speedoes.
WordPress failure…..this place is going to seed….. 😉
*They’re*
No wordpress failure z.
try colon hyphen close brackets 🙂
italics breeder!
I fear another italicsgate now 😉
Heh.
Like this?. 🙄
Depends what the next post holds :p
Hooray! 🙂
Cheers Esso, I’ll pass those links on!
Senior moment earlier. Out tomorrow night, so a review of the week will be done at some stage of Saturday. If I can I will try and put together something historical for Sunday too.
Apologies again for the quiet week here. Appreciate you all popping back.
236 8 ball
the tinytotts have to go way way down the leagues to find a smaller club.
Haha bullying an amateur bunch of their own fans.
Watch out Kelloggs cornflakes – their coming for you next.
http://www.indianagrain.com/blog/kellogg-s-reduces-size-of-corn-flakes-packaging
Next – Spurs sue France.
good goon news for our youngsters:
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2013/11/13/arsenals-barcelona-wonderkid-on-fire-after-injury-heartbreak/
bath@229: Cheers. Idlers of the world unite!
Lars: some places for your colleague to start their research:
http://www.timeout.com/london/bars-and-pubs/londons-best-rum-bars
scruz @ 253: Highlights of the U-21 4-2 win against Aston Villa is on Arsenal player and you will enjoy watching it. Afobe on his return after eight months looked good and some of Toral’s passing (especially with Ormond-Ottwell) was really excellent. There was no Bellerin and Zellalem, both away on internationals, and Akpam was on the bench. Very good group of youngsters we now have after quite an extraordinary ‘purge’ in the summer.
Cheers Ned!
scruz/Faustus: Toral did indeed look good in those highlights. He seemed to be involved in pretty much everything that went on. Let’s hope his injury woes are past him.
?
🙂
Dr z @ 247 – how did you do that? :-]
Just mixed up some medicine, Baff. 😉
Potent stuff that! 😉
Not for minors.
Or Miners.
Or Myners.
All mine. 😀
Ormond-Ottwell? Along with Oxlade-Chamberlain we are starting to sound quite aristocratic.
Greetings all,
Welcome Mr. Sweeper & glasses raised to the new young gooner, courtesy N7. Obviously appearing late here, work hasn’t been fair to me but have managed to read all 257 drinks. Love many of the points raised & made as well as the disagreements. Sincerely I think it was a Wankfest at Yanited so the boys ‘did well’ to gift them and all c*nty pundits the celebration they die for. Wenger knew it and made it clear with “we’re angry with ourselves”
For their info, we don’t do Wankfest or C*ntfest like the LWCs or MNB/Colins et al. We’ll surely get a good pound of flesh come the return leg.
Like the Guv’nor said, I am confident that ‘reaction’ will be ‘positive’.
Interlluls, hope it’s got nothing to do with Yanited or the Chavs, they always love it.
Bt8b@263
Don’t forget Ainsley Maitland- Niles!
We are very upmarket now.
Re Dr.F @256
Toral looks very promising. Both he and Bellerin were great acquisitions from Barca . Let’s hope they’ve got newDNA though!
I must confess to having forgotten about Afobe. He probably needs a loan to a Championship side to get regular football. Good to see him looking fully recovered from a bad injury
Evening all,
*performs policeman-like half squat with hands clasped behind back*
May I refer those who haven’t seen it to The Arsenal Gentleman’s weekly piece, over on Arseblog, where he makes a rather spiffing reference to Mr Rooney’s own ‘piece’.
There’s also some pretty amazing / awful stuff from Theo’s book about the Dutch skunk. I thought he was supposed to have been a brilliant club captain. Well, not according to that, he wasn’t.
Be sure to hurry back though – wasn’t there a rumour of a post tonight ?
Come on Holic – we’re all very much children in need, you know. 😉
Interlul in full swing, meh.
I’ll have the England game on the box in the bar tonight, not because I give a toss, just to piss off the locals. 😉
This time next week I’ll be getting ready for the trip to THOF.
*counting off the minutes*
Interlull Friday.
Wotcher ‘holic. Hope everything’s coolio. 1 week to go till we have a pint together again mate. Been a long time – Brighton away January. Anyways so looking forward to it and seeing some familiar and new faces from this wonderful place. in fact –
CANT
FUCKING
WAIT!
Holic embed this, especially for when twatty bollox next shows up;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nH-Pybmpg8
Poor Koscielny (and France in general) had a nightmare it seems. Still he misses the second leg now because of that red card so he’s done for this interlull.
Kos’s red card (undeserved). Good to have him with his feet up next week. NICE ONE, SON. 😉
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GytZ1R4Zo90&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DGytZ1R4Zo90&app=desktop
DOH!
🙂
That one’s been taken down already Bath.
heh, must have been wrongly labelled a videonasty.
Piss-in-revulsion @ 276: yes, like against Barcelona or Bayern or Dortmund ….
Charlie @ 271: Hopefully the French trio would not suffer from the Arshavin-itis of sulkiness and general low morale if France doesn’t make it. But I also hope that France does make it, the Les Blues belong in the big stage just like the Italians or the Germans … and is always nice to see more Gunners impressing the world in the world cup.
I know. Dont feed the troll.
But its funny – I was just watching hi lights of the afc v barca leg at the Ems that ended 2-1. 2d half was just cracking. Will always have a soft spot for AA for that goal alone.
And i recall watching the BM v afc match in munich. We near snatched the third that woulda put is thru. And recall us beating dortmund 1-0 and even sounder a season or two ago.
AW with Arsenal could win the CL and the league this year and the jag-off boo-boys wiould still say, well … Hes shit because we were put out of the cap-one cup. Illogical, silly, very douchebagish. Its funny. Some people are never happy.
Homer@280, never forget that going through a league season undefeated doesn’t really count if you lose a couple of cup games. In fact, winning the title doesn’t count if you don’t defend it successfully.
You know what they say, “You can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time” but it’s garbage, there are some people you can’t please any of the time.
COYG
Night all.
Morning all. I have decided that the best way to deal with the interlul is to head to Twickenham to watch a spot of egg chasing. It’s going to be a very long day and could get very messy indeed.
Thanks for ignoring, all.
Me too Esso. Should be a cracking day with big yin down.
Enjoy the oval balls Steve 😉
I’ve grown? 😀
He is of a different persuasion, z 😉
Heh, I know.
7 sleeps. 🙂
At last >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Interesting to note the disparity between the unbeaten Under 21s and the Under 18s who are yet to register a win and lost at home to Chelsea today 3-0. I think we have a super crop of youngsters coming through and we had out today Crowley , Akpom, Iwobi and Jebb who are rated so highly. Perhaps the fault lies with the coaching but it needs sorting