Arsenal Look To Build On A Great Foundation
Dec 7th, 2013 by 'holic
Everton at home. A match that offers an opportunity to consolidate our title aspirations after yet more results went our way on Saturday afternoon.
Beaten just once in the Premier League this season, the visitors appear to be making strides under Roberto Martinez. Their defensive record is second only to ours. An easy match this will not be, but I doubt Everton will be relishing meeting the form team in the top flight.
The Arsenal squad is likely to remain unchanged from Wednesday’s win over Hull, although it is also likely that three or four players who started that match on the bench will return to the starting eleven.
A win would take us seven points clear of Liverpool and Chelsea, although Everton would point out a triumph for them would put them level on points with our two rivals just four points behind us.
The ‘holic pound is once again pointed at a good old-fashioned one nil to the Arsenal, and if you shop around you will get 15/2 against that. I hope to see a number of you there.
Image courtesy of Arsenal Football Club
The club is dedicating the match on Sunday to The Arsenal Foundation, the Club’s charitable arm aimed at transforming young people’s lives.
As part of the day, Arsène Wenger and the first-team squad will generously donate a day’s wages to The Arsenal Foundation, to help support even more projects in the UK and overseas that enable young people to fulfill their potential. Supporters too are encouraged to get involved.
Further details of what is on offer during the day can be found here.
For more information visit www.arsenal.com/
To make a donation, visit www.justgiving.com/
360 Responses to “Arsenal Look To Build On A Great Foundation”
Another first?
Fine preview Guv’nor. Fine preview. So fine, I’ll forgive you for encouraging people not to read my rants at the end of the previous bar.
Go out there and play your best lads. I rather think they will, and I think it’ll be good enough.
COYG
Nice one ‘holic.
This one will be tough, but they all are these days, aren’t they? The pundits on FoxNL are calling this “een knotsgekke seizoen” ( a whacky season) and they’re not wrong, there seems to be twists and turns every weekend.
Compared to all the other so called title hopefulls we are consistant, there’s a new attitude in this team, a humility that insures we don’t under estimate any of our opponants, something we have been guilty of in the past. If we keep this up and play to our strengths we should be able to do what we need to do tomorrow.
All of you in attendance, enjoy your day, I’ll be here or here abouts in the bar cheering the lads on.
COYG’s
Top three. But I haven’t played anyone yet ! 😉
4th??? Really?? Never been this close to 1st
Now back to reading
And thanks ‘holic for a truly heart-warming photo.
Big Friendly German indeed.
Ah – I see it’s from the AFC site – thanks anyway.
Your rants in the previous bar were rather good, Pangloss.
N7 – good stuff @337 in the previous bar too.
Holic,
“Everton appear to be making strides” –
as in tailoring trousers ? 😉
A fine if succinct preview, and I’m going to recycle the pun from the last bar too – 15/2 on 1-0 against the Toffees might be Werther gamble.
Ok, I won’t fudge the issue, I was proud of that one and it was Original. 😉
* coat now please *
Splendid results for us today — and we didnt even play.
If we beat Everton we will be 15 points clear of Yanited!
Moyes reckons they can still win the league. If they can,we can.
Lets do it boys!
Special Twat looking a bit forlorn — no doubt it will be someone elses fault that they lost.
I really have enjoyed the footie today!
Sweet punning there Trev.
Defences win titles
10 goals conceded after 14 gamws , with a series of 2-0 clean sheets is beginning to look impressive.
Let’s see MOTD view from whatever parallel universe they inhabit tonight.
I think H2H has nailed it @3 above.
I’m getting a bit fed up with the British pundits (actually, I could end this sentence right here) going on about what a strange season this is.
All the signs were there last season, when even those pundits were willing to admit that the champions weren’t a particularly strong team. Those pundits have also not been shy telling us how tragically abnormal it was for Liverpoo not to be sweeping all before them. So, whatever is strange about this season, it can’t be Manyoo, Chel$ki and Manciti losing and drawing a lot of games they ought to be winning, and the Scousers being thereabouts. So, the only thing the pundits might conceivably be finding odd is that Arsenal are sitting at the top of the table. Well, they can f*ck right off.
That’s all
COYG
10 IP
Well said,
it’s never his fault when they loose, but he’s fucking Napoleon Dynamite when Gazprom win.
He is knob cheese.
Do we have many Holics attending? Look forward to a pre and post-match sherbet. I’ll be wearing by lucky, clean sheet hat. 🙂
Universal thirst?
I wonder if the brainiacs on MotD will work out that if we beat Everton we won’t have to beat the fossil fuel twins to stay above them.
Top 15¡ Looks like Yanited would finish in this position. And Arsenal will finish @ Liderowania!
Now to read.
H2H@17, what a bloody good point. Who’s on MoTD tonight? It wouldn’t actually surprise me that much in Linneker pointed that out to Hansen or Shearer. I have to admit to watching this video clip on the BBC site: Robbie Savage: Arsenal or Manchester City for title and I thought he talked a teeny-tiny bit of sense. Probably time for me to have a nice lie down.
Thanks for the kind words Trev@9. Impressive chocolate puns, you are quite right to milk them.
COYG
Good evening hölics & hölices,
Report reaching me proves the Dutch cunt looked like a goat under painful mensuration after today’s game. Any doctor in the house? Please give us further details.
Nice link pangloss.
So finally one of the pundits has learned the difference between can and will. #Shearerisaknob
1 nil to the Arsenal, you say?
Give me your hand and I’ll start chewing now….
17 H2H
exactamundo! that’s why tomorrow’s game is massive.
It could buy some insurance points in case of an unfortunate slip-up against one of the global warmers.
But, unlike our title rivals *cough* who played worse than us in easier CL groups, AFC still have to have one eye on the Napoli game midweek, we can’t throw everything at the toffies tomorrow.
19
As for Robbie Savage, given an infinite amount of time, a chimp placed in front of a typewriter could produce the entire works of Shakespeare.
or even be bought by Real Madrid.
.
Time to keep on pedalling in this downhill segment of the bicycle race. And no giving away a thing.
23 DC.
The time to worry about Napoli will be after the final whistle tomorrow, until then we do indeed have to throw everything at Everton.
Wonderful day of results. Now rumors are swirling that RVP put in a transfer request. LOL!!! We need a striker right?
If RvP has put in a transfer request, it’ll serve United right for signing someone who lets a little boy decide his life for him.
Maybe the little boy wants to go to Barcelona now. He likes the look of those Gaudi shirts.
Even if we get ourselves in situation of choosing between Fabianski or Frimpong to play as a striker, courtesy of potential injuries in the striker department, I would never, absolutely never consider having RvP back.
Anyway, it is good to know that if we win tomorrow, we would be top of the league after City and Chelski matches to matter what. That is how important tomorrow’s match is.
Good Evening, everyone. Big hi to my mate Esso.
Holic, Have not seen much of Everton this season, so appreciate the heads up about their defense. One nil sounds doable, anything more will be gravy. Curious who Arsene will pick to start, but that’s half the fun, guessing 😉
RVP sad and frustrated? I am crying crocodile tears ad I write.
Not a fan of the chant but this is hilarious
http://i.imgur.com/bzXxL3N.jpg
Robbie Savage and Shearer the two pundits have the combined brainpower of a dandelion. I find I watch them to wind myself up. Not good for the blood pressure but it is nice to see a lot of the bad guys struggling. Pity Sunderland are a bit pathetic and even then the Swampies needed a referee ignoring a clear penalty to win.
Angst aside I think the key to this year’s title might be away form . Citeh have dropped many points already to lesser teams and Chelski have lost three times already. Liverpool have lost at Hull. We are by far the most fluent team away from home having won fourteen of our last sixteen I think and that includes a win at Bayern which isn’t on anybody else’s CV. Huge games coming up but a great incentive to win them.
I fancy another 2-0 win
So many times in recent years we’ve played the late game of the round after rivals have dipped out the day before, only to screw up the chance to make up ground or stretch a points advantage … but I’m feeling ultra confident (okay, quietly confident) that we will grab the opportunity with both feet this time and be 7 points clear at the top by tomorrow night.
Pity the spuds came from behind AGAIN, but excellent results elsewhere prove they’re all vulnerable. And best result of all at OT. Or was it the best? It was a laugh, but Manure are less and less of a threat to us every game, so Chelski’s loss and dropped points by Manshitty now look far better.
But 15 points clear of Manure by Christmas? Who’da thunk it! I wonder what odds you could have got on that in August.
Öskar
Big big game tomorrow. We now have a run of very tough fixtures which for me could Mao out the rest of our season.
Nice preview Holic and I think you are spot on re it being a tight match. But these are games that we have to dominate and take charge of. If we can do that then I think we can run out convincing winners.
Interesting the comments re RVP. I accept I am in a minority of probably one but I would take him back tomorrow. A player of that quality could be all the difference when we reach the business end of the season.
May see some of you tomorrow? Must be time for beer and a burger in the Tollie???
2 nil to the mighty Gunners.
I think we will drop points tomorrow. Coz of karma. I’ve gloated far too much today.
If for no other reason, and there are many, RvP is now too old to play alongside Arsenal’s young gunners. He’s yesterday’s … (insert derogatory noun of choice) as far as The Ems is concerned.
Öskar
Mao out, Steve T? That’s all Chinese to me. 🙂
Öskar
Interesting that of the high- profile departures life has gone sour or at least become problematic for RVP, Fabregas, Nasri and Song. None are certain to be with their existing clubs next season. What is that about greener grass? At least Chamakh is enjoying himself!
TTG. Don’t all four now have champions medals??? Not too shabby. That said the only one I would want back is RVP.
That RVP transfer rumour broke last week. Some ManU fan on twitter says that he’s not been injured at all, just refusing to play after putting in his transfer request…
Would you really want that kind of disruptive influence back Steve?
I don’t think he was a disruptive influence cannons. If Moyes wanted to sell him in January then I would happily take him back.
As I have said, I accept I am very much in the minority.
I have most respect for those players who stick with just the one club for their whole career. Tony Adams, Paul Scholes, Steve Gerrard, Gary Neville, Matt Le Tissier, Jamie Carragher are some recent examples. These are the kind of guys every club needs … http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_one-club_men
Of our current crop I fully expect Jack Wilshere to be a one club man. Perhaps Gibbs and Szczeney as well.
Öskar
At the moment the media has us linked with both him and Song who’s being booted out of Barca, lol. Going back in time in a red and white DeLorean if we re-sign those two I reckon 🙂
I think RvP blew the bridges with Santos saga and his obvious ecstasy . As much as he is a brilliant footballer , we could be just getting the crock back.. No thank you.
But then again, the crowd forgave Flamini…
If we could have him back for less than 10m it might be good business. But AW doesn’t buy players the wrong side of 30 very often. And he’s cup-tied.
Öskar
Watching MotD (on delay)
Savage is hilarious, although not intentionaly.
He has just said;
“As Alan deluded to……”
Now, we all know Shearer is deluded, but I think he meant alluded. 🙂
Haha, sometimes Savage can hit a nail on the head 😉
The media will link us with almost everyone. Lazy journalism at its best. Can’t see RVP leaving the mancs. I never was a big fan of Song I have to say.
I expect a tight game.The blues will try to pressurise the gunners and expect less room and space for the gunners. Expect the danger men in Arsenal to be heavily marked.
This is agolden chance for the gunners to stretch the lead but it aint going to be easy. Expect bone crunching tackles and hopefully no gunners gets injured.
Everton will maintain a high work rate through out the game.Hopefully if the dm inArsenal are stifled,the others will come up to score.
I still maintained Arsenal were robbed off the title in 2008 through the deliberate injury on Eduardo. This time the gunners shd focus on the job and and not be side tracked shd a similar incident happened. You never know.
Seems that Dortmund lost at home to a man-down Leverkusen tonight. Them losing a bit of form spells further good news for our CL qualification chances.
Not that I am in any doubt that we’ll top the group, mind 🙂
—-
What an excellent set of results we’ve had, going our way today! Winning the next three PL matches will be excellent for the team’s confidence. I’m very much looking forward – and not with a little curiosity – to seeing how we’ll fare in these three competitions this year.
COYRR
RVP couldn’t come back because of his ridiculous wages. Would I take him back? Probably
I believe I cast my vote with Steve T. If that Dutch bloke could swallow his pride…and help the squad, I believe i’d take him back. I find myself mellowing on that Spanish bloke as well.
Kinda like an unfaithful spouse, i’d never quite forget, but I could be persuaded to make my peace…a nice shiny PL title would be a good start.
Good comments, Oskar. Welcome back, Sajit.
Win the next match.
BMBD
Not sure about the rest of you but I for one am starting to question the cleverness quotient of headlines such as this one in which “Gunner” equates to “going to” and it could just be the denseness of my thick head but I’m really not so sure about that.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/354722/Laurent-Koscielny-Arsenal-are-Gunner-keep-it-up
was looking at the table. impressive stats from the toffees. lost just once this season. conceded just 3 goals more than us.
hoping we give them a real stuffing. we need this game more than the mancity game in my opinion.
anyone know the arsene vs martinez head to head count.
can remember how his wigan side was a pain some seasons ago.
but somehow i have got a good feeling about this one. COYR!!
Van Persie is 31 this season and on 300k
a week for another three years. He’s also a total Cnut who showed enormous and very public disrespect to the club and manager.
Let him rot where he is. You reap what you sow.
Cheers ‘holic! Have a good ‘un today mate – know what I mean?
N7, I can’t believe people are even entertaining the thoughts of taking him back.
Will do Esso, cheers mucker 🙂
Morning all. Match day is here. Kids football first, shower and then off to the Tollie. It’s what the weekend is made for.
I would take Cesc back without a thought. The one I can’t stand is Nasri because he kept running his mouth long after the fact.
have fun at the match everyone. Can barely hide my envy ….
Interesting DH. I wouldn’t want him anywhere near the place. Apart from anything else, I don’t see him getting in the side at the moment.
Cesc is a gooner. He does stuff like tweet support for Pat Rice, Arsenal ladies and stuff alot of our fans don’t even do. I think you are being a bit harsh on him. And he’d definitely get in the side. I like Arteta … He’s not Cesc
I like the Catalan fella too, but I don’t think he’ll be back any time soon. The Dutch skunk would need to make a massive gesture to be accepted by “us guys”, but I don’t think his departure came as any surprise to Arsène Wenger who seemed to have recruited Giroud and Podolski as replacements well in advance. On the other hand, I believe that AW thought he had a very special, almost paternal, relationship with Fàbregas and was almost broken by his exit.
I think I’d probably have either back, subject to the conditions alluded to above, but in practice, both ships have sailed and are well outside territorial waters by now. Actually, I’m rather happy about that as a new ride is much more fun than rehashing an old one in the hope that it goes differently this time around.
COYG
of all our former players I feel the most for cesc. He is a shadow of the player he was with us. His game has fallen disastrously. he is not playing with any joy. he just doesn’t make the difference at barca.
song sitting on the bench makes me happy. but not cesc. he should be a much better player. hope that wenger gets his son back soon 🙂
Would I take RVP back if he decides to leave Manure? Read his lips http://i.imgur.com/p7jtQVN.jpg
Well what a tasty set of results yesterday, we MUST make hay today in a game that is going to be a nail biting affair, Everton are not Hull and we must remember that for 90 mins. I think Holic’s 1-0 is about right.
Can’t say I would welcome either of our former captains back in the fold. The fans would never accept the ageing Dutch guy and we seem overflowing with talent in the mid-field. We have moved on and I don’t think the atmosphere in the dressing room would be improved with either’s presence.
Popped into the Tollie with two friends on Wed’s night and will be there again today with Gooner Kevin. Our trains are terminating at Finsbury Park today so have persuaded Kevin to try the Tollie and hopefully meet a few Holics. Please look out for me in my red beret!
As always COYRs
Heh Cent
I couldn’t move my lips like that but I think I would say exactly the same 🙂
Delia,
I will definitely try to remember that Everton are not Hull today – for the whole 90 minutes. It would be really embarrassing singing ” You’re not City any more” at them, after all.
As for making hay – that’s always a tricky one in mid December, but those old Norfolk habits die hard, eh ? 😉
Datsyuk, I’d gladly do that a thousand times if it gets the message across to the skunk.
While all four leavers have found silverware it is arguable if they have advanced their careers or in a good place psychologically. The RVP of last season would be an asset to any team but sometimes there are more important things than ability. Cesc would be generally welcomed back but would he impair the balance of the team? Certainly he isn’t a priority. I suspect none of them will ever play for us again
Heh @72
Huge match today against a quality side. How we attempt to negate Lukaku will be key. Ozil showing more consistency of late, hopefully Giroud’s rest in midweek will have aided him. I feel sorry for Bendtner as he was outstanding in midweek but I can’t seem starting today, but at least he proved he can be a viable striking option.
Cesc? yes – but as back-up for Arteta.
Song? – maybe, but only if we need a player with his qualities. Barca only bought him off us to destabilise us, they never needed him unless they were going to covert him into a CM like they do with other DM’s.
Nasri? no, and his form has come back under the new manager at city.
JvC? Never.
Fine preview H.
Going to be tight.
I’ll take 1-0 to the Arsenal (cue song).
COYG
I think I may be in the minority today in thinking we may well win in quite a comprehensive manor 🙂 Just a feeling !!
Up The Arse !
It will have to be a tight game today lads, but make no mistake – I want revenge after their Stoke impression in the 0-0 with them toward the end of last season.
2-0 please. Or maybe 3-0. Is that greedy?
Ok, a bit unlikely but if Aston Villa win by four today they go above ManU… into ninth. ManU are also, not too far from halfway into the season, closer to the relegation zone than the top spot. The are only one point closer to third than 17th.
Think about that for a while.
And then giggle for a bit 🙂
Trev, hope we don’t come unstuck?
Think the game today can be a really, really good one. I do think we’ll win it, Everton being a more attacking side this season should reasonably suit us better than the more defensive style they’ve had (at least away from home) in recent years and in particular in that 0-0 that Porco mentioned.
Feeling a little skittish about today…or is it skiddish?. I swear that must be the most confusing english word. Well 3points anyway anyhow. Even half a goal would do. Cheers all
Cheers, El Magnifico.
Chippy, you’re not alone on that, mate.
Lars,
I’m giggling like a school girl 🙂
8Ball.
They substitute the word “gunner” for “gonna”, no one really, behalf maybe the queen, uses “going to” in that context. I thought it may be a UK slang thing, until I remembered that Gloria Esteban/Miami Sound Machine sent us the warnimg that the Rhythm Is Gonna Get You.
El Mag’
Definetly skittish, skiddish would be the state of your underwear after squeaky bum time. 😉
H2H. Lol. I feel for those you mentor
“Move ’em on, head ’em up,
Head ’em up, move ’em out,
Move ’em on, head ’em out,
Set ’em out, ride ’em in
Ride ’em in, let ’em out,
Cut ’em out, ride ’em in!”
El Mag.
Mentor?
Like anyone would listen to me. 🙂
Raw hide, SSY? There must be a cure for that.
Well we’re in a bar. Everyone listens to everyone in a bar…hehe
El Mag.
I own a bar, believe me, it doesn’t help. 😉
Just in case it passed you by (as it almost did me), the draw for the F.A Cup 3rd round is later today.
Berbatoss just scored the most nonchalant penalty is seen in ages.
That little boy inside RVP is wiping his snotty nose while Moyes dries his tears 😉
Back to us, I still fully expect us to win the game but Everton will not make life easy for us and that is just the way it should be.
On the train. It’s nearly Tollie and match time.
Happy days.
The Streets of Manchester!
A Malcolm Glazer production!
Starring – David “Oh what a dream” Moyes!
Also starring – Robin “Poo Poo’ Van Purse!
With guest stars – Patrice “Deep Throat” Evra and Wayne “Carbonara” Rooney!
Tonight’s episode: “The First Day of Forever!”
Have fun Steve.
say hello to all under the brolley for me.
Pre-Assist
Your random stat of the day:
Martinez’s record as a manager against us:
Played 9 Won 2 Drawn 1 Lost 6 GF 8 GA 23
Good stat and well in Ned
Wow. Ghosts in from nowhere. Thanks for the assist, Cent.
Cheers, H2H.
NBN. That is a record we can improve on with the right attitude. Nice goal by the way. 🙂
Well in and cheers, Ned.
I’d be happy to go along with the ‘Holic’s pound today, 1-0 would do nicely sir.
We can only guess whether the little boy inside JvC has called for the social workers.
Heading of to an Irish type of viewing centre *cough* soon to watch the game.
COYG.
good morning from half a world away …
Nerves are starting to build, so it’s beer time.
that sneaky feeling of dropping points that just wont go away!!
Nerves are kicking in. I feel we will either trash them or drop points against them. I don’t feel a low-scoring win for us at all.
GO AWAY!!! 😉
Team : Szczesny, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Ramsey, Ozil, Cazorla, Giroud
Everton: Howard, Coleman, Oviedo, Distin, Jagielka, Barry, Barkley, Pienaar, McCarthy, Mirallas, Lukaku
McCarthy the weak link. Don’t rate him. Wait and see he scores a brace today.
Barkley’s and Lukaku’s physical strength is what scares me. Deal with them and we should be fine.
Confident we’ll win.
Nice one Lurky.
Good to see the “rolling thunder” of the CROW midfield.
Let’s hope we’ll be crowing tonight.
martinez’ best selection is Webb.
Everyone talking about Lukaku like Per and Kos haven’t dealt with deadlier strikers in thier time……..http://gidigooner.blogspot.com/2013/12/match-preview-arsenal-vs-everton.html
Another weak link for them is Mullah Howard in goal. Flushed out of the Toilet. Don’t rate him at all.
He’ll have a blinder 🙁
Hello iLonestar.. Getting much lesser time on interwebz these days :/.
Mertecielny stopped the SAS.
Kos even stopped Messi. That is not the point. He eats SAS and all the diminutive forwards for breakfast.
It is the physical strikers he has a minor problem with.
Arsenal won the last eight matches Webb was the referee.
Lurky – that is solely due to the Arsenal and has nothing to do with Webb. 🙂
Hey all:) starting to get nervous, Everton are going to make it difficult for us.
DKG, Webb stat was just a random one. Interesting and surprising one if you ask me, that is why I shared it. 🙂
It sure as hell surprised me.
Morning all (a very early morning in AUS) and looking forward to this match.
C’mon the reds
I posted it for you to calm your nerves, H2H 🙂
Couple of beers and random stats, that’s what your nerves wants.
Excitement mounting in Oxfordshire.
Up the Arsenal.
COYG
Indeed Lurky.
A few more (not stats) and I’ll be sorted. 😀
COYG!
Here we go again!
COYRRR’s
good morning, holics! nice day for a game.
Nervous! Have not seen our subs. C’mon Arsenal!
Let’s chew these guys up and spit them out
Everton definitely up for it.
any good links out there guys…whats the scores
Both teams look sharp and the arse loping dangerous on the counter.
Where’s the card ffs?
we are defending well.
We need to settle down faster!
On another note, gonna be an interesting FA Cup 3rd round…
Feels like we’re losing, just not in it. Need Flamster and TR.
Surrendering pocession far too cheaply.
COYR’s
why interesting, bb?
Ooo so close for gibbs
Oh Gibbs, almost. Best bit by us yet. C’mon lads!
Ars v Totts #3d Rnd FAC
Quote : Premier League leaders Arsenal are at home to north London rivals Tottenham in the pick of the FA Cup third round ties.
🙂
Cheap mistakes by us, could prove very costly. Need to focus!
yay! another chance to wipe them out.
we got Spuds in the FA cup draw lol
Crap cross from jenks
titi looking grumpy.
We need to take control of the midfield!!
Don’t think they can keep this up though.. very high tempo.
Everton play really really well so far
Come on Arsenal!!!!
Kos MOTM for me so far.
WE need some muscle in there.. they’re roughing it up due to the leniency of webb!
BB, agree!
KOS boss 🙂
Super Kos.
Dirty Lukaku
Arrrgghhhh So cloooooose!
Arsenal starting to find our feet.
OG very close
About time
Much better by us!
Who called out that Howard is going to have a blinder? Be silent next time heh 😀
that was a quick half. we definitely had the better of it towards the end of it.
Finished off strongly. Must start the 2nd half with the same intensity.
Come on you gunners
Gibbs and Jenna hardly had any chances to overlap
Good hard game for the arse.
Well, we could have been up a couple, if only we didn’t over elaborate. Just shoot, please 😉
Well it was a comprehensive last 5 minutes 🙂 Fair play to Everton they were top notch up to that point but we seem to be getting a hold in the game lets hope for a couple of early goals to calm the nerves !!
The fastest half yet and we are starting to find our feet.
Wager theo will get a chance when they are tired.. probably in the 70th 😉
So, 0-0 at half time, Everton with more posession, but only two chances in the half falling to Arsenal.
Can’t say I’m delighted, but still see no reason even to begin to despair. Tiring Everton fans can’t be looking forward to Walcott coming on for the final 20-30 minutes. Maybe I should be as worried abiut Deulafeu, but I don’t know enough about him.
COYG
Sorry Eändy – that was me – he’s shaved off the beard!
Isn’t that supposed to make him weaker?
Howard Webb letting a lot go. English ems are a joke.that tackle against ozil did not even earn a yellow. FFs.
hahah dk no worries 😀 no on to the second half! Come on lads!
DB10
Could and should have added 2 to 3 cards if asked me
I think the key word needs to be patience, we’ll get our chance.
COME ON YOU REDSSSS
This looks like one of those days where we are dominated by a good physical side. Missing Flamini’s bite and Rosicky’s urgency. Not being too negative but I will take a draw at this time.
We are vulnerable on the both wings. No speed at all.
So, why not continue what we do the best, quick one-twos through the middle where McCarthy is the obvious weak link. Risky, but that is our chance.
Here we go no changes to either team
Come on guys, put one in early now please
close!
oooh almost!
more and more pressure on them is good.
Great save kos
nice save, chezz.
Ooooh close
Lovely stuff from Gibbs.
Awesome by arsenal close
Howard with a good save after nice passing by us.
We’re getting there… patience…!
That was a good tackle!!!!
One piece of arsenal brilliance maybe the difference in the match
Yellllllow ffs
how is that not a yellow?
Bring on flamini!!!!!!!!!! Argh they’re taking advantage of us!
ah, Webb gave it.
flamini, theo, rozza for arteta, jack, and santi.
Game is getting bit out of Webbs hands now
özil almost with your moment, aus.
Webb is baffoon.
and in they come!
Here they come the arsenal reinforcements x 3
wow! you called it scruz…triple change coming up!
THANX WOJ!!
Just what we asked for, TR, Flamster and Theo.
Everything and everyone is being thrown into this game… proves how important this one is!!!
Come on!!!!!!!!!
The major general flam is on !!!!
oh flam almost!
ooooh, close flam!
That’s why kos is not a striker
Hehe Aus!
Come on keep up the pressure!
distin looking gassed.
There goes his tourette’s again…!
Heh, in his Norn Iron accent Alan Green pronounces Howard Webb ‘Hard Webb’.
This would be a great match for our $40+ mil man to make that difference scruz
there u go. aus!!
Ooooooziiilll
Yeeaaaah
Cue OZIL! YEAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Yeeeaaaaaaahhhhhhhh
Ooooozzzziiiiiiiilllllllll
there you have it Aussie!:D ÖZIIIL
Özillllllllllll
What do you know! Yippee! 😉
Great dummy by OG
YEEEEAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thought the same, dk.
and great call, aüssie.
but, fuck.
CUNT
Ah… there’s still time!
FUCK
brilliant by delofeyu.
Piss poor defense gibbo.
Don’t think anyone could have stopped that goal.
But come on!!!! Get in!!!!!
Come on, we can still win this
excellent woj!
We’ll win this!
C’mon the arse….
Noooow
Ooooh Flamster:(
Flamini!!!
Ohhh
Oooohhhh giroud smash
Daaamn
OOooooooooooooo
OMG! Girooud!!! ohhhhh!
ooooooh Giroooud
off the bar, great strike. a game of inches. honors even, then. a hard fought game, a well earned point against a good team.
Fair result, though disappointing.
5 points clear..
WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!!!!
Lookedime gibbs just stood off and ket him have it.
Poor and in the box. Poor.
Draw is fair result in the end I guess but that Girouds shot should have gone in 🙁
Ozil was sublime… !
I consider this a win… could have swung either way.
Bring on Napoli!
Good game.
Fair result.
5 points clear instead of 7.
Ah well ……………..
We needed 3 pts today.
And at home too.
Shame, but H2H knows@249
What a game that was! Disappointed not to get all three points but a draw was a fair result I think.
nbc has Ross fucking Barkley as motm? what idiots are they?
A win against City or Chelski would bode very well for the new year! Will even take 2 draws!
Those games become very crucial now.
Two points denied rather than lost. That was a very hard fought game. An inch or two more swerve on Giroud’s thunderbolt….
Drogba’s spawn could have easily won it for them tooa few minutes earlier.. so a draw’s fair i guess.
BB@258: The key thing in those two games is not to loose any ground. Two draws the bare minimum. A draw and a win better. Two wins best.
Kos MOTM, Arteta. Ozil and Giroud not far behind. Jenkinson had a good game too.
Disappointed with Wilshere. Cazorla is on 70% of his abilities. Good cameos from both Walcott and Flamini.
This is the best Everton side I’ve seen in a while. The Barca loanee, Deloufeu is a baller.
Point gained on our rivals. Not too shabby.
Proper game of football. Would have enjoyed it more were it not for the feeling it was going to be one of these days. Every ball that was supposed to go out for a corner, somehow didn’t, kicks in the air instead of on the ball etc. But we played a really good team who put up quite a fight. When we finally got in the game, I dare say we played better than them, but over the ninety minutes it was really tight.
5 points clear. Happy man.
Lukaku, Deulofeu and Barry on loan for them. But if they keep this up the fight for top 4 gets real interesting!
Interesting as ever to see which drinkers think this was two points lost, which think that it was two points denied by very good opponents and which think it was a point gained.
I’m in the middle group myself. I’m sure that a certain person, he of multiple names and no personality at all will be along soon to applaud our achievement in holding to a draw a team that bettered our result at Old Toilet.
(Is it permissable to feed trolls before they turn up? Please accept my apologies if not, but it’s just soooooooooooo tempting.)
…and so to Napoli.
COYG
Agree with you on Kos, Lurky. Outstanding game against a beast of a centre forward.
Waiting to see videos of Deloufeu’s goal, which I think was a lot better than it looked in real-time. To beat both Gibbs and Woj from where he was required a shot of great skill. May be Gibbs could have got a bit closer to Deloufeu, but not much without clattering into him.
As said earlier, Pangloss, I am with you; two denied.
Disapointed first with Gibbs then with JW. Now I’d want to see Gibbs on the bench against the Chavs & $hitty. He was consantly the weak link in that defense line.
Anyways, we move a point clear. Not too bad. The rest I agree with Lurky@262
BB, you’re falling into the media trap mate.
ALL games are crucial, you get the same amount of points from a win against teams in the bottom half as you do against the likes of the fossil fueled fucks (FFF ©), something all the brain trust couch potatoes can’t seem to fathom.
Everton were good, it’s easy to see why they’ve only lost once, Martinez has got them ticking, they closed down well and made it difficult for us to play our natural game. fair play to them/
As for the goal, i felt Gibbs should of closed him down better, but I understand why he didn’t dive in (penalty risk).
All in all…
5 points clear..
WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE, SAY……
H2H knows!
Thankfully Özil was in position to roof his shot. Blogosphere would have been slagging Giroud for totally missing that cross from Walcott.
Might we be seeing Nacho in for Gibbs in some of the fixtures ahead? My guesses are: highly likely for Napoli; a possibility for one of the two upcoming EPL fixtures.
HAte to say it but i told you so
Sajit, sorry to say, but that’s a fucked up attitude.
H2H I agree with you .. all games are crucial. That’s why we’re top. 🙂
Hence was hoping that we win todays so that we have a large enough buffer for upsets later. (And i expect those to come from the top teams this time as our defence is really holding up)
If we had 7, we could have lost to both city and chelski, and the media et. al. would be calling for our downfall and we could still be quietly going about the business of winning the rest.
We will never be contenders in their eyes.. so we shall have to win it instead!
Real lucky Moyes went the way he did instead of Martinez. 😀
As long as the FFF keep dropping points away, then our head to heads won’t matter.
The chavs are leaking goals and Citeh can spank every one they want at home but are suspect on the road,
we just need to keep on keeping on.
Simple as this.
If we were one down and then leveled up, I would considered this as a point gained. As we were leading I consider this two points lost.
“Arsenal have equalled their points total (35) after 15 matches from the last time they won the Premier League in 2003-04. Only in 2007-08 (37 points) have they had more at this stage of a PL season.”
– Beeb
In the first half thanks to Howard this was 2 points lost.
In the second, thanks to Woj this was a point gained.
Realistically, L’pooh and the Totts gained ground, Citeh and Everton we keep at the same distance, we stretch our lead against the Chavs and Manure.
Not all bad.
I really hope Everton finish above Chelsea and Man City because with their loans, they have strengthened Everton’s squad considerably.
Nice business by Martinez but dumb thinking by the money men.
Well predicted Pangloss
2 points lost, definitely. But with a twist.
Being in a position of seven points clear might have invited some complacency into our games against H2H’s FFF’s. 🙂
Today’s result ensures this won’t be the case.
There goes another fucking troll@samuel just go fuck yourself, you idiot. Sorry guys just had to go there. Thought the match was going to be rough, damn wish we could have held on. Oh well 5 points clear what can you say, let’s go guys.
At half time I would have taken a draw. After scoring first on 80th minutes, champion material teams hold on to 1-0 lead especially at home. How in earth was Barkley given so much time on ball. We could have avoided the goal. Overall draw is acceptable but disappointed that we couldn’t hold on the lead for ten minutex
Undoubtedly it’s two points lost, but the sane will not lose their heads. This was the toughest Everton team I have seen since at least 2007. I’ll take the point, take the 5 point gap, stay focused behind the boys, and look forward to extending our lead against Gazprom FC and Mer€ €iteh.
How far back do you think Manure will be when we face them again?
Win the next match.
BMBD
A point gained is better than 3 points not gained/lost…and the thing I notice about this team is that after a draw or loss they get fired up to win, and we will need that for Napoli (come on Gunners…top the group F!) and Man City…disappointed but looking forward to the next games…
Why H2H, as I told earlier in the drinks, I had this nagging feeling that we would drop points today.
Not necessarily saying it was our fault.
I thought we could get 7 points from the Tofees, Chavs & $hitty. That’d do us a world of good. And let’s give Nacho & Rosciky a run of games starting with Napoli.
Just on the way home.
Did not think we were crisp enough with our passing and definitely with the final ball. A draw was a fair reflection. Disappointing to concede so soon after taking the lead. For those blaming Gibbs take another look. He is left woefully exposed and expected to cover two players. You might want to blame the lack of tracking back. As soon as Gibbs gets closer the ball just goes to an unmarked player.
Two points dropped for me I’m afraid. Great atmosphere in the ground even if the Tollie was devoid of holics pre match.
Didn’t see the whole match I was in between dropping my little one to a birthday party. A draw is not a bad result Everton played really well. Good results against FFF and we are still well up there. Had brilliant chances towards the end of the first halfand OG last effort could have gone in too.
Still top of the league with 5 point gap!
Bring on Napoli
Hard one to sum up really,before the game and especially after going 1up you gotta fill its 2 points lost, Then again Everton were very good so you’d have to say it was a hard fought point. If you would have offered me gaining a point on Chelsea and not losing any to City before the weekend looking at the fixtures I’d defo have taken that! Meh to much thinking 5 points clears more than I could have hoped for pre season !!
One thing,he’s got to start Flamini and Arteta at City because if we give the likes of Silva Ageuro and that cunt Nasri the time and space we gave Barkley et all in front of our back 4 they will carve us apart.
Up The Arse!
‘After scoring first on 80th minutes, champion material teams hold on to 1-0 lead especially at home.’
Perhaps, but conversely champion material teams have usually won more than two away games by this point of the season and don’t concede six goals to Sunderland and Stoke. So we’re still as much champion material as anyone at this point.
Ping
Just seen the stats for the first time. All pretty even in the end. I will wait to see it all again before judging individuals. Everton are a decent side. A draw was a fair reflection of the game today.
We have a tough few days ahead. Time now to look forward to Wednesday night.
Still, 5 points clear and a point against a side who have just beaten the champions on their own dung heap. Not looking too shabby is it???
Think you’ve got yourself an admirer Steve 😉
@samuel did I hurt your feelings? What do you want cookies and cream? You stupid ass fool, who is to say this team can’t go to city and beat them or get a draw. Just calm your dumb ass down. The game is over, could have, should have or well it was a draw. You move on and get ready for your next game.
I’m not looking to insult you Sajit, I think we were all a little worried about this one. But the way this season is going I think we should all try to stay positive.
Have a drink on me mate.
Scores.
I’m sure I will get the goal. Soon.
Koscielny my MOTM. What a performance!
I am not sure Gibbo can be blamed for the goal, that was an excellent bit of skill to shift and shoot in one movement and with such unerring accuracy. Very good talent this Barca kid.
I thought some of the early tentativeness was probably an unintentional result of a conscious strategy to catch Everton off-guard from a counter attack very early. Our quick release balls didn’t quite work today and once the team realized that they started to gain control.
Rambo looked off today, missed passed and slow, I was hoping he would get a break in one of these two matches…he can be supremely fit the amount of continuous hard work all over the pitch that he has put on this season he is bound to tire.
On the bright side, Theo actually looked very effective even in closed spaces and with tight controls and obviously he is working on this area of his game. TR7 really upped the tempo as he is wont to do.
For all of Everton’s first half dominance it was Howard who made two fantastic saves from Giroud and Ramsey.
Thanks dkg@284
🙂
COYG
Steve T is a true supporter and a top top gooner, I consider myself prividgled to have had the honour of sharing a real drink with him.
Nuff said.
Scores!
This one is the one, Cent.
Yes!!!!!!
So does that mean Chelsea,Utd,Liverpool, And Spurs are all wanting as none of us have beaten them? It must also mean City are Certs for the Title as they are the only ones not to be found wanting amongst the teams that will make up the Top 4 ? but what’s that you say that same Man City were beat at Cardiff and Sunderland and have only won 2 away games all season !! Grow a pair and get real you plum.
Up The Arse!
I refer the honourable gentlemen to mine @266. No imagination, son no imagination.
Samuel:
Are you an Arsenal fan? just wondering…
Heh @Lurky.
That Deulofeu lad is such a fast dribbler I understand why gibbs didn’t wanna close him down. I’m thinking Wenger shulda let Rosicky play with Santi a few moments more since clearly the instruction was for Tomas to play forward. Cazorla wulda seen more loose balls. Well a point gained for me. We need a striker ASAP. Seems these days anybody would do better than Giroud (forget that last minute shot). Everton are massive this season. Why are they not title contenders?… I didn’t even see Wenger smile @ all thruout I’m sure he will give those midfielders a lashing for being so tentative esp. Ramsey. I wasn’t pleased at all with them. We’re definitely gonna drop points this month. Hopefully others do too. All in all a good game. Pheew, ranting over. Bring on Napoli.
EL Magnifico @ 320: You are kidding about Giroud, right?
If not, you want to watch this match once again, in slow motion…or most of the matches Giroud played this season.
Peter
Trolls are trolls, not fans. Just bitter people that either haven’t been breast fed enough or then until highschool. They’re doomed to have a small wiener too and therefore no self esteem.
@314
Well leave then.
Don’t engage the troll, he aint wurf it.
In that case you should be quite pleased as what they’ve done do far is good enough for a 5 point lead at the top of the table 😉
Totally agree with Steve T re: the goal. Gibbs is overloaded. He needed someone to get round the back of him to cover (rosicky?).
Good point. I’d forecast 1-1 to a few mates beforehand – two best defences in the league, Everton draw most of their away games. Yesterday’s results mean a draw was enough for us and we clearly caught the blues on a good day.
Get midweek out the way then look to contain City at their place before taking all three points from Chelsea at home.
COYG
Feed the Troll and he will score, Feed the troll and he will score 🙂
The more I look at Deloufeu’s goal the better the shot seems. Gibbs didn’t do too much wrong. He might have been a tad tighter but he was pushing Deloufeu to the outside and not diving in, all of which is what he should have been doing. The shot seems to go through Woj, though, so it must have had some wicked power and/or swerve.
@peter 318, no that fool is not a fan, he is a troll. Of course you have to care what they do, because the more points they drop, and less points we drop will ultimately hopefully give us a trophy after 8yrs. How stupid can someone be? What every other team does ultimately affects your chances of winning he league, damn idiot.
Well the way the leagues going as long as those flat track bullies keep on bullying that well may be enough,
NBN knows
Is David still about? If he is, perhaps he might care to answer a few questions that were put to him in this very bar around the time of the Liverpool match at the beginning of November? Failure to do so may result in his being treated with the same sort of disdain as MNB. #stillwaiting
COYG
Decent opposition: Aston Villa, Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion, Everton.
Non-decent opposition: Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Marseille, Fenerbahce.
Indeterminate: Dortmund.
Yet to be determined: Napoli.
Our resident troll is a shrewd analyst indeed, if an unimaginative one.
COYG
NBN @ 331: That was a fantastic goal, and this boy is a fantastic talent. That was truly a rare bit of skill in generating so much power and swerve while in motion and finding the angle in between the defender and the goalkeeper. If any Arsenal player would have scored it we would have been rightly proud.
Well… we could have won it, and we could have lost it (but how the hell did the lino miss Lukaku being a full yard offside for what would have been their winner if Woj hadn’t been incredibly quick off the line?) so a point is not too bad after all even though I did of course want all three and was disappointed to see them get the equaliser. Everton were, however, by far the best team we have played so far in the league and I thought it was a great game to watch, beause even though we weren’t at our best it was two teams that gave it their all and really tried to attack att every opportunity. It does, as I said, irk me that we didn’t win it but hats off also to Deulofolefoefleulofllflouleuoleo for a magnificient shot. I don’t think you can really blame anyone for that goal, sometimes you just have to doff you cap to a brilliant piece of skill. Could Gibbs have closed him down? Well, I thought he did to be honest. But that shot was so quick and had such a diabolical swerve that it was more or less unstoppable.
In summary I am happy we didn’t lose, but disappointed that we didn’t win. I am disappointed that we’re not seven points clear, but happy we still extended the lead to five points. I guess you could say I am experiencing somewhat conflicting emotions right now.
Oh well.
Datsyuk with studs:
LOL I understand
N7 Gooner: @314
exactly
Not a terrible result.
5 points clear.
Interesting how we have managed to get better results against most of the so called mid-tablers than our alleged rivals have.
If this was a real pub…. someone would be out the doors. pronto.
H2H. I agree with all of that at 312. Well, 312 for the moment anyway.
😀
“The only way Arsenal will win the league is if they acquire Suarez”
So, 5 points clear and only one player short of winning the title??? I will take that. AW is clearly a genius and still very much on the right path.
Prawn sarnie anyone???
Merson said that we didn’t play well but got a draw…whereas when we didn’t play well against Villa and ManU we lost…so really, got to be looked at in positive spirit…
Haven’t seen the game as in NY, but seems like we got caught napping at the back there after our goal…tut tut…like against Dortmund…
In other news
AFC are 8 points ahead of the LWC’s
and, oh yes we are……13 points ahead of the red shites.
Who let the oik in?
Samuel, I think you’re lost — bugger off with your moanin’ and bitchin’
Andy Gorams entered the building I see 😉
What Lars said.
Brave changes by the boss. Nice to see us make substitutions to make a genuine attempt to win the game. The General adds solidity, Tommy R injects pace and Theo looked dangerous. The extra minutes under his belt are all positive. He can’t be far away from a starting place, especially with Santi looking off the pace. Nice finish by Özil by the way.
Cracking game of football, by two teams that still seemed to be underrated before today. We are definitely in the mix and Man City and Chelsea appear worse than they were last year…
On that performance Everton are Top 4, but I can’t believe Liverpool are still in it. If something happens to Suarez, Liverpool will fall out of contention.
Loving watching Arsenal play at the moment — makes a change from years of bitten nails, general angst and mild heart failure
Just back from the game. Nice lunch with Lulu and Mrs Woo from the arses was followed by a so frustrating game. Why we didn’t start playing until about 35 mins in escapes me. We needed a couple of kickings by Evertonian thugs to wake us up. was it the Christmas Party last night? Or did someone slip a benzodiazepine into the pre-match tea? Once we woke we could have been ahead at HT but for swift action by Howard on a couple of occasions. Nonetheless I would have taken the draw at HT as we were second best over the first 45.
We made and failed to finish several more chances in the second half and had the better of the half but I still felt we might be stealing three points when we actually scored. My delight at the semi-larceny was of course dashed by a moment of slackness one of several – though the second was a considerable improvement over the first half when the MF were clearly giving the ball away for Christmas.
Over the piece a draw was probably as much as we deserved. However there was a worrying lethargy throughout the team in the first half that must be shed before the next three big challenges. Once we went head to head, we looked the better team but didn’t have quite enough class, luck or time to make it count.
Good to see some fine Holics, hale and hearty in the Tollie after the match.
WATOTL! By 5 points. Now let’s consolidate that against the oil money whores.
@Doctor
Don’t get me wrong. He(Giroud) puts in a good shift every now and again but we need a STRIKER. A striker strikes!!! That is why they a called that. TBH I am not a fan of his @ all. I just like that he does his job ‘to the best of his abilities’. And by saying evrybody seems better than him? Yes I was kidding. But I’m sure that thought must’ve crossed your minds at one point in time or another no?.
And pls someone shuld explain how Lukaku was offside in the build-up to that goal cos I clearly saw 2 of our players touch the ball. Explanation?
And I agree with Lars @338 (and BtM at the Tollie). Everton were by far the best team, bar Dortmund, that we have played so far. I do hope they finish above their noisy neighbours.
-338
+326
Heh @ Cent Now 300.
Well in son, truly well in!! Goal of the month right there. 🙂
Cent
That was a tactical masterstroke 🙂
Hahaha
I agree with everything H2H said at 303.
😀
Thanks for the assist, H2H, Long distance shots are the way forward. 😀
Thanks for the assist, H2H, Long distance shots are the way forward 😀
Excellent counters goal Cent. Well in.
Cheers, Pangloss.
And Bath. Spot on with both posts.
Cent, what a masterstroke, well deserved fella.
As for those who criticize Giroud. I would certainly like to see we sign another pacey striker in addition to him providing us an option of a different approach and strategy.
However, Giroud’s passion, unselfishness, work- rate and clear love for this club- no money can’t buy.
Right, before MotD pick us apart;
I thought we weren’t up to scratch in the first 45, Everton were better, showed a lot more urgency, closed us down well and had the better chances while we gave away the ball far too easily, that was the case untill about the final 5 mins of the half when we suddenly woke up and created a few chances that maybe on another day may have seen us take a lead in into the break.
The second half we started with much more purpose and I thought we were on top. The game got harder and I believe that Webb lost control a bit, there were challenges going in from both sides that warrented a bit more action from the official.
I thought we’d sealed it when Oz scored, but Everton never gave up and deservered their equaliser. Both teams could have added to their tally, but it wasn’t to be. I thought Woj played a blinder, but Howard wasn’t too shaby either.
In the end a draw was probably a fair result.
Just finished watching and then a long back drink.
Agree with much of what has been said. Yes it was an excellent Everton team. They have lacked a good focal point for their attack in recent years, struggling to make do with the likes of Cahill, Anichebe, Jelavic. Lukaku gives them that, a strong man and an excellent finisher. Barry and McCarthy fit in well too. And Deulofeu was a shrewd pickup as well.
My God they were tough today; my elation at Özil’s goal was of the highest order. Fists pumping the air, an odd ache in my throat. I was so fucking proud of this team. What a 3 points it would have been. Such was my elation, such has been the solidity of our defense of late, and thus such was my confidence that victory was nigh, that when they hit back it was a letdown akin to a junkie’s.
So yes, they were excellent; yes a draw is a fair result; yes we drew on a weekend that saw Man City draw, and Chelsea and Man U lose, all to lower league opposition; yes we’re still five points clear at the top; yes we have no reason to be ashamed of our team today, their efforts did us all proud; but still. I fucking hate it when we don’t win.
I suppose the positive is that its emblematic of this wonderful season that I am this upset at dropping 2 respectable points against an excellent Everton. I’d gotten in the habit of winning. This team are in the habit of winning. I can only hope and assume that they are as pissed off about it as I am, and that that will show against Napoli and City in the days to come.
One further caveat. Many excellent observations in the above as always, but I didn’t see anyone mention Flamini’s excellent cameo. Came on shouting, pointed to his lips, pointed to his ears, reminding his teammates to communicate; pointed his arms all around, sleeves well rolled up. Came close to scoring, ran his arse all over the pitch. What a fucking signing he was.
Yes H2H, our passing was off today. Gave the ball away time and time again. None of Cazorla, Wilshere and Ramsey were close to their top level. Some of that is down to Everton’s excellent pressing, but they are better players than they looked today. Interesting that they were the three to come off, and all at once.
Especially curious about Cazorla’s struggle to find his top form. It’s been a little while now and he’s still operating around 70 to 80 %.
MotD highlights didn’t really do Everton justice, although the analysis did.
Hansen finally admiting that Per and Kos are the real deal made it worth watching though.
El Magnifico @ 338 — You are right that in terms of quick-feet mobility and technical ability Giroud is no Falcao or Aguero, of course. But I don’t think he is too shabby either, his link up play in and around the box is quite remarkable for the intricacy and cleverness and he has started to become much better at running at the defenders with the ball , and is developing a very nice cross from out wide which gives us another option as he drags the defense out with him.
I think there is a lot more to come from Giroud ( I had said that early last season and some of us were told that Giroud would never come to much) and I think there is so much more to come from this team offensively. Until now we have just seen glimpses.
There are a few attacking variations in this team that are incubating at this time and if everyone stays fit I think we will see some of the brightest football in whole of Europe in the second half.
Without wishing to sound like Untold Arsenal I have been seriously unimpressed with Mike Dean’s inability to recognise a penalty for many years. When I last checked he was the most likely ref to give a spot kick in the Premier League-and he is often wrong. I think we can remember a few against us over the years. The one he gave Fulham today was quite ridiculous as was his decision NOT to give a much clearer penalty to Villa. The man is a very poor referee
Koscielny vs Everton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zrd1gHXnGr0
Work of art.
Ramsey gets goal of the month.
Koscielny is so ridiculously good. I am out of words to praise him.
Not sure about the exact words but, I’ll only paraphrase what Grimaldi said about him couple of month ago:
“We made a mistake when we signed Koscielny from Lorient at the time. We should have sighed him much earlier”
Everton as expected proved to be tough opposition and were certainly worth their draw. The result was no disgrace though a tad disappointing to lose the lead with only a few minutes remaining. This is how things pan out in the Premier League – you simply cannot win every game, there are some really good teams you come up against.
Just remember we are the Arsenal, we are the best, we are 5 points above all the rest!!
Now onto Napoli and secure our champions league group win.
Can’t help being disappointed at the result but we didn’t deserve to win this one. Everton with Martinez are a completely different side to the Moyes one and they were excellent, particularly in the first half, where they controlled the mid-field and where the accuracy of our passing left a lot to be desired.
Rambo looked to have run out of steam and Santi is still struggling for form. Thought we should have started with both Arteta and Flamini, who put his foot in and made his presence felt when he eventually got on.
The Corporal,the BFG and Arteta were up to par and Kos was just fantastic and my MOTM. Kieran was not at his best and I expect to see Nacho at LB on Wednesday. TR7 and Feo were lively when they came on and will also probably start against Napoli.
Gooner Kevin and I dropped in the Tollie pre match but failed to make contact with any Holics .We should have joined you after the game. The chaos at Finsbury Park Station had to be seen to be believed. There was almost a riot when the gates were closed for 20mins to allow passengers to leave the station (all trains were terminating there today). We finally caught a train to Cambridge, which left a quarter full with hundreds left shut out of the station!
Fingers crossed for Wednesday.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>