Arsenal To Bounce Back Again?
Dec 13th, 2013 by 'holic
“What we can learn from Old Trafford is that it took us one half to be completely ourselves. I think we have learned from that and we will go into the game on full cylinders.
Arsene promised a quick start from his team at Manchester City in his press conference ahead of the Saturday lunchtime meeting of the teams lying fourth and top in the Premier League. The most potent attack in the top flight versus the best defence. The club with the best home record against the club with the best away record. This is the sort of fixture that can define a season if a positive result is achieved. So who else is up for it?
At the time of writing Bacary Sagna’s participation depends on a fitness test although the boss declared himself optimistic about the right back’s chances of being available. Carl Jenkinson has three appearances behind him and gets better the more he plays so we can afford not to rush Bac back (I’ve always wanted to write that, really).
The all-important engine room might well be bolstered by returns for Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere. There were some tired looking legs at the end of the Napoli game. If everybody were going into the match fit and fresh then starting the best eleven wouldn’t be an issue as we have nine days to recover before facing Chelsea in another huge clash. That doesn’t appear the case and we have options to field the fittest eleven without lessening the strength of the side.
Manchester City are likely to recall Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure, none of whom featured in the impressive win at Bayern Munich on Tuesday. Arsene somewhat mischievously suggested that he doesn’t envy City when he looks at his own squad. At the back and in midfield I can understand why he would be bigging up his charges, but who wouldn’t want the striking options available to Pellegrini?
The ‘holic pound seeks goalscoring value again. The final score could be anything, so I am looking at an anytime scorer punt. Aaron Ramsey is on a roll and one bookie has him at 5/1. That is irresistable. I’m on it.
If you want to hear more of my nonsense, including why I am bullish about our Champions League last sixteen chances, then do listen to this week’s Arsecast over at the always excellent Arseblog. You might think I am too full of nervous laughter ahead of two huge matches. Not at all. One hundred perscent confident here. Well, almost. Maybe.
That’s it for now. If you are going to Middle Eastlands let them know what the best traveling support in the Premier League sounds like, as usual. I’ll be thinking of you as you make that early start on Saturday morning. The good thing about a lunchtime kick-off is you can get back for a decent night out nearer home, hopefully buoyed by a good result.
Have a good one, ‘holics.
385 Responses to “Arsenal To Bounce Back Again?”
Just win the next match.
Even read the preview and listened to you ‘holic on the Arsecast. Brilliance all around. 🙂
Cheers!
It’ll take your mind off the cricket….
Cheers ‘holic! Enjoy the pints tonight mate.
And Hello Pip!
Hello Esso and Ollie, hope all is well with you both!
Struggling on Dude.
Great to see you Pip. Hope all is well.
Pints and food Esso, not my favourite combination, but probably safest. 🙂
Top notch as always, ‘holic.
Bring on the first of the FFF’s.
I think this one could actually be a no lose situation, i.e that if we are defeated no one in the media will really be shocked, but if we can manage a draw, or say it softly, a win at Middle Eastlands then punditry as we know it would probably go into meltdown, plus the boost that it would give our squad may indeed be season defining.
Arsenal Bloody Arsenal.
Nice on Holic.
I have to say I’d back Bac to come back back to his battling good form.
BTW, are you the new Dr Who? There was clearly an instantaneous bit of time travel from your good self on the Arsecast. 🙂
Excellent preview ‘Holic, now to listen the Arsecast.
Great respect for Pellegrini. He managed to squeeze Villareal in the semifinals of LoC (8th wonder) but he didn’t count on Kolo and Jens.
He’s no peasant like Mourihno or Pulis…or Bruce…or Pardew…
…but he must bend over tomorrow nevertheless.
“…You saw me drinking alooooone…!”
So, are we all backing Bac to be back at the back, for back to back games?
Give me my coat……… back.
Nice preview Guv’nor.
Bac is back to help our back to the wall rearguard and we shall be back to our best, even though Holic is not backing Bac to score. God help us when Trev gets started 😉
H2H. That sounds like an opening for Trev. The great thing about Bac though is the lack of back openings he allows.
On the other hand, who needs Trev when you have this crew around? 😉
If Bac were a baseball outfielder chasing a home run, the announcer might say “Bac goes back and puts his back against the wall. It’s gone.”
Nervous about this one.
I know we CAN do it, but we’re going to have to be at our bullish best. I’m worried a little about the fitness and psychology of our team. After two very wearying, and ultimately disappointing, results, it’ll be a big big ask to pull off a result against a deeper team, on a high from their victory in Munich.
All set up for a memorable victory, then.
COYFG
This should go down well;
http://news.arseblog.com/2013/12/club-announces-ticket-price-rise/
If Keith Olbermann was calling the baseball match with Sagna in the outfield would go thusly, “and Bac goes back, back, back…got it on the warning track. ”
Nice preview, Guv. I believe a draw is fair, so let’s go for the win. 8ball @1, we’re gonna have to talk about you stealing my thunder ;).
Win the next match.
BMBD
Great piece, Guvnor, as we have come to ecpect. Here’s hoping the boys also give us whatvwe’ve come to expect.
COYG
pic.twitter.com/mNFz6Rv8no
Just shoot the ball at Hart a lot.
Odds are that he will fuck up some of them.
Sorry try this;
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BbY7B73IcAAgp1L.jpg:large
Courtesy of JILL ARMSTRONG @touchofpowder on twitter.
As I’ve written before I’d be very content with a draw in what is highly likely to be an excellent match. Citeh have a big advantage in terms of preparation despite what Pellegrini said but we might have Sagna, Walcott, Ramsey and Wilshere back and even possibly Monreal starting in a role in front of Gibbs . That means half the team could be fresh and my hope is we have Flamini playing in front of the back four where his experience and attitude will be key
My head says 2-0 to Citeh, but my heart says 1-1 and I’ll back my heart!
Kos has been doing fantastic work recently. Time for him to rewarded by scoring our winning goal?
Lonestar, You are of course correct about Bac catching it on the warning track. What could I have been thinking?? 😉
@TGG – In case you missed it on previous drinks, many thanks for passing on best to PHW via Sir Chips – much appreciated.
I like the team attitude this season, gone are the stupid Cocky comments and the excuses of last season.
The team seems to be a true team and they are acting like a true team in both good and average performances.
Gone are the days when we are unsure of which arsenal team will turn up and I think the midweek CL loss was more about trying to nick a point with this game more on his and the players minds.
I think the boys will be absolutely pumped for this one as this city squad will be our main rival for the title.
Can’t wait for the match, should be a cracker.
P.s – how good is the Ashes down under (always wanted to write that here)
Aussie – you cant be very old mate.
Its a dreaded 2am kick off here in sweltering Auckland. I have sneaking feeling this could go our way. Of course we could lose 5-0, but we would still have done better than the spuds!
We really need a return to form for a few of the midfielders – Carzorla, Wilshire etc. Arteta looked a bit tired to me in Naples. Perhaps he needs a cup of tea and a lie down?
Team selection crucial in this one. No doubt Citeh are a genuine title contender, but we can do them!
Jenkinson would be a mistake — hope Bac is back.
I’d take a draw right now, but as I said, after a couple of slightly off colour performances, I think we will win. COYRRR’s!
Aussie @28.
Ashes is an unmitigated disaster as far as I am concerned.
The failings of the English are well documented of course – but the Australians are alone in world sport in that they are bad losers and even worse winners – never gracious in defeat. and overly prone to saying na na na na na, in victory.
Johson is a prize one.
Wouldnt mind having Haddin in the England team though.
Cricket is a game for gentleman, and gentleman are in short supply in Oz.
Fair play to the aussies if they win — but they’ll never be popular!
I’m quietly confident about this one, I know they’ve been unstoppable but I keep getting this feeling we will win tomorrow. Frankly I’m more worried about the home game vs Chavs than tomorrow’s game but we take it one game at a time, right?
I think Arsene will pick Sir Chez, Bac(if he’s back), Mertcielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Flamini, Ozil, Ramsey, Wilshere, Giroud to start the game then introduce Walcott and Cazorla later.
Beating City and Chelsea in consecutive weeks. A tough assignment. But not any more difficult than saying Kačaniklić three times fast. 🙂
Thanks for the blog ‘holic and all that it enables.
Love you geezer.
Evening all,
Another fine preview Holic – can you actually do them with your eyes closed yet ?
@16, and others –
I have but one question –
If Bac is back at back, how come he is still not part of the spine of the team?
I guess because he’s only at full back, but we can always fall back on him if needed to fill in right back at the back.
Simple really, innit ? 😉
Heh @ Trev!
Holic yet again TOP MAN!
I have secured those tickets! This man is unbelievable! What can I say?
True gentleman and a top comrade! 🙂
Wisniowka all the way!
Top Man is not enough! I owe you a barrel of the finest!
Now stupid me booked tickets at the cinema to watch the new Hobbit film and it starts at 1pm and I’m taking my little one to see it as it’s his Birthday weekend!
I’m at a cringe when I type this but I will have to miss the game perhaps it would do a world of good for my heart! Sod that!
I have no idea who is in which zone – red, green or otherwise – regards tomorrow, so no point guessing a line up.
I imagine Dr Wenger will have his white coat and stethoscope to hand in the morning and will choose accordingly.
Or, he may announce the team while slapping his thighs in a pair of lederhosen, and choose accordionly.
Whoever makes the starting eleven, I hope they go out and go right at $ity from the start, with no instructions to contain or keep the handbrake on. At all.
There is really nothing to lose in this fixture, and we are far better equipped to win it than try to draw it.
Whatever the result, the fact that the Premier League allow the TV companies to muck about with fixture schedules to the extent that we have had to endure this week is plain wrong.
This league is supposed to be a fair competition, and we can’t all afford a stockpile of players like Man City.
63 hours between a vital away Champions League fixture and a top of the table Premier League clash degrades the latter. Especially when it is not the same for both sides.
My team would be more adventurous and maybe stupid for someone, but I don’t care sharing, because it’s fun and I am not the manager anyway.
Woj,
Mert. Kos
Gibbs
Sagna,
Flamini Wilshere
Monreal
Walcott
Ramsey
Ozil
I would give Ozil the striker role. The positive side is that it would mean less defensive responsibilities for him, more creativity with one more midfielder in our selection, but more vulnerability for us on defending corners because of Giroud’s absence.
Wilshere to build the attacks instead of Arteta. Positive side is that he is more mobile and unpredictable, negative is tat he is far less defensively aware and he is- unpredictable. Risky but worth trying. This is the only game this season I don’t want Arteta to start.
Monreal not only to track Zabaleta but to provide extra width on the left, where they won’t expect us to be dangerous. Cazorla roams to much from the left to the middle for my liking. With Ozil and Ramsey in this formation we are well covered in the middle so would like Monreal to act as a classic winger as he can.
Build the attacks from the left, get the ball to Ozil who will drag the central defenders out of position, provide space for Walcott to come behind Gael or Kolarov.
Veuillez!
Please note that I am bored as hell, since I have a nasty cold and will stay in bed until it’s over.
Any good movie suggestions?
Lurky i suggest a series
Once Upon a time! 🙂
I’d love to see the game with that lineup, Lurky. I’m a relative Arsenal newbie. A New Yorker, I married an Englishman in 2001. We only started watching games regularly in 2001.
Perhaps because I am still ignorant, I often wonder why Arsene doesn’t give his squad an opportunity to play different positions.
I’ve only started reading Goonerholic. I enjoy the posts and the comments.
I meant we started watching games in 2005.
Cheers ATG, decent IMDB rating, although fantasy is not exactly my coup of tea except maybe when composing my starting line-ups 🙂
Cheers MJK and welcome to the bar.
I was going to say something about how nice it would be to have our right back Bac back, but I can see from Bac-drinking that it’s already been flogged to death already.
Happy with a draw me.
COYG
And some really good news.
Bacary Sagna to sign a 2-year contract extension with Arsenal in the next few weeks, confirmed by Arsene.
Thank God Lurky ISN’T the manager.
That would be great news about Bacary if true.
Allez Arsenal!
Bac-breaking news !
Another Lurky Leak ! 😉
Dkg, you’ve just ruined my potential managerial career.
Trev, the link.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/bacary-sagna-new-arsenal-contract-2923231
Re: Mary Jo @41-42. Welcome to the world of virtual drinking! Now all you need is a snappy moniker. Maybe MJK?
Whoops I see Lurky came up with that one already. *blush*
I’d take a draw, draw against the top teams, win against the rest should put in a good place long-term. Would like to see a win either against either MC or Chelsea to keep the confidence up and scuttle our recent December form. It is one thing saying we can win the league but now is the time to put up the results. Can’t wait. COYR!!!
Monreal is a starter tomorrow. Gibbs gets a rest.
Sagna fit to start too, so it would be
Sagna Mert Kos Monreal.
Not bad.
Esso
Sorry should have acknowledged your thanks- my pleasure to do it.
Great news about Bacary especially if he does play tomorrow.Might be bad news for Jenks with Bellerin improving so rapidly. Re tomorrow I think Giroud is nailed on to play . Fancy a headline reflecting Walcott’s status as an expectant father in the Sunday papers.
We need to play with the solidity we did in Dortmund and attack like we have regularly away from home.
COYG!
Thanks for the welcome, and MJK is fine.
“The great thing about Bac though is the lack of back openings he allows.” (8 ball – #16).
Say what??
Öskar
Steady, Wolfie.
Ttg,
If Theo scores the winner playing at CF tomorrow, your headline:
“Walcott’s a Winner Playing Father Up the Pitch”. 😉
Welcome to the bar, MJK.
I think the reason Arsene doesn’t change players’ positions a lot is because the way he wants us to play the game requires a lot of telepathic movements and understanding from the players, these movements and understanding takes quite a while to fully develop among players and changing the system every week doesn’t help that development. I believe this also explains why he doen’t seem to rotate much, doesn’t throw players who have been injured for a while straight back into the team(except if said player is an exceptional talent of course) and why he loves Versatile players.
Heh @ Trev.
We win, we lose: None of both would be surprising really. I’ll take a draw. A win? Fine bonus. I don’t care who starts. All I want is attitude and football that shows belief & qualidee (hehe).
Well #COYG!!!. We’re well up for this one. Fans and players alike. Its been 8yrs+. We can’t ever be dissapointed in our team again. Never again. I’ll be cheering till my lungs break 2moro.
N:B Cheers to my boys that read this blog and never comment. Keep my seat for me tomorrow. Mayb this will get you to comment.
This is the kind of fixture we’ve been known to play well in, and a win would not surprise me. But like most I’d settle for a draw.
A great idea, Lurky, to rest OG, but I’d make Theo the striker. When Pellegrini sets up to defend high balls aimed at Ollie G the last thing he’d want is through balls to a speedster getting behind his defence. Shitty’s defence is its weak point and a complete change of strategy could rattle them.
As for the Ashes I’m both a born Brit and a naturalised Aussie, so can claim victory either way. But I do feel better when we Brits thrash we Aussies. Clarke, Haddin and Warner are all pricks of the first water.
Öskar
Welcome MJK.
Arsene Wenger does use players in different positions but more recently more of necessity than some wish to experiment.
When the squad was generally younger and less experienced it used to happen more, and particularly playing potential strikers on the wings to let them learn how to beat defenders in one-on-ones.
Bendtner, Diaby and Walcott (still) were regularly used on the wings although neither of the first two was ever going to be a winger.
In 2006 we had EIGHT different left backs but all due to injury and non-availability.
Last season, Aaron Ramsey was used at right wing, right back and in midfield.
As our options have become better though, it is less and less likely that players who have been bought expensively for a particular set of talents, are going to be swopped around just to experiment.
With a pressing game, a lot of movement, covering and combination play is necessary, and difficult to perfect. Players need to understand their positions and responsibilities, so swopping positions is not realistic.
Hope this doesn’t come across as condescending.
Oskar. I was wondering how long it would take for someone to notice that. 🙂
Dinner out, a nitecap, a sound sleep and anticipating awaking to even greater anticipation of the big game. Bliss. 🙂
MJK contd,
Cole, Traore, Gibbs, three of our last four left backs all began as wingers.
Song has been played as a centre back, as has Sagna.
Djourou was used at centre back, full back and in midfield, although he often didn’t appear to know which he was playing when.
Gallas played centre back and left back, and Flamini first time round was a right back as well as a midfielder.
Jack Wilshere has played as a holding midfielder, an attacking midfielder, a right winger and a left winger.
Probably the most famous switch of all was when AW converted Thierry Henry from a winger to a striker.
Come to think of it, Wenger does swop players’ positions all the time.
And Wolfie has played around at every position known to man ! 😉
Funny that comment was made at “69” !! 🙂
Trev at 69 and 70.
That was a LoL. If only youd planned it. Thougj its actually better down to serendipity methinks.
Welcome MJK. Youve found the best bar around!
Cheers Homer. 😉
That Bac is back at the back makes the stress in my back, go away and back to where it belongs.
And that Bac will be back for at least two more years in the back makes me want to back the Gunners for back-to-back glorious seasons – given their solidity at the back … Wait for it … Because of Bac. At the back.
Now, ill back slowly back into the corner (in the back of the bar).
Whew!!!!
Not that i dont back Jenks. In fact hes quite good at the back. But there is only one Bac in back. Okay – Now im really done.
Cheers Trev and all in the bar at present.
I likes me 2-1 to the mighty Arsenal. Feo is sooooo due. Give me a goal!
Trev.
You forgot Gervinihio who Arsene used as a winger/striker when he really should of been deployed to chase the pidgeons off the training field.
Welcome to the bar, MJK.
Not to mention Cygan, Stepanovs, Jeffers, Squillaci, Chamakh, Bischoff, Danilevicus etc etc, all of whom should have been Left Back in the stands, or Right Back where they came from…
Öskar
LOL, H2H!
Welcome MJK. Kinda rings like MK Dons…only better I’m sure.
Just win, baby!
BMBD
Esso#29 – not sure what you mean.
IF#31 – Aussie cricketers have had plenty of bad days in recent times as well, but this series in Australia is not one of them.
Plenty of good sledging between these two teams.
Funny stuff in general.
Had no idea other countries disliked the Aussie cricket team personalities.
Find it hard to believe you can’t like this nice bunch of Aussie blokes.
Even the Ausies think Clarke is a prick, Aussie…
“A fairly large proportion of the Australian population has always hated Michael Clarke, seeing him as an image-conscious metrosexual who’s been given an easy ride. An even greater proportion of the Australian population hates Shane Watson for being an image-conscious metrosexual who whinges a lot, throws away promising starts and who is forever getting injured. Being as both Clarke and Watson are Australians, OF COURSE each is going to hate the other.
It’s basic statistics. Chances are most of Clarke and Watson’s team-mates hate both of them. Why wouldn’t you? The rest of us do.” … http://www.kingcricket.co.uk/why-its-no-surprise-that-michael-clarke-and-shane-watson-hate-each-other/2013/07/17/
Öskar
Mind you Don Bradman was also thoroughly disliked by his team-mates and he did all right. Well, all right in another era when he only played timeless test cricket (so no rush, aye) in England and Aussie, and only against England (71% of his tests) plus a series each (all in Australia) against India, SA and Windies (all of whom the Aussies usually beat by an innings and many) and when quicks were so non-threatening that no toss-winning captain in Bradman’s era ever asked the opposition to bat first!
Lots of other reasons why the Don was definitely NOT so superior as people like to make out, but this is a football blog and any mention of cricketers should be restricted to the Arsenal greats Dennis and Leslie Compton…
Öskar
This season has show we respond well to defeat, n we get to finish business early.
Cheers to the regulars, and regular irregulars
Oskar – your cricket summaries were both inciteful and thoroughly entertaining.
Yes the metrosexual millionaire spoilt brat has tended to take over world cricket, but luckily is Aussies yearn and remember the best days of DK Lillee, smokin Joe Richards and the great Englishman Ian beefy botham.
All moustache and beer, smokes, a punt on the horses and definately moisturisers or hair gels in sight of the dressing room.
Sorry Oskar- that was meant to say “no” moisturiser or hair gel in the dressing room.
A few too many schoners today at the local.
Early kickoff means early departure for the pub. Just a quick brekkie to get through and then I’m off. This should be a good game, but I do fear that Man City being much more rested will be decisive. If I was offered one point right now I’d probably take it – but then again you’ve got to be brave enough to take risks to win stuff so maybe not.
News of Bacary signing a new deal is, if true, fucking excellent. Given what he’s shown this season I think he may well have one more season in him as a right back and then he’ll probably move inside when Bellerin/Jenkinson/A.N. Other is ready to take over on the right.
Bac on track for upper levels of legendary status.
He came from Auxerre
but he’s our player
Bacary Sagna.
Re: Homer @73. That back pain that went away. Are you sure that wasn’t the pain pills? 😉
Have a good one today everyone. Win, lose or draw I’ll be enjoying watching the Arsenal and listening to our fantastic away support. If we can snatch a point or three we are really ahead of the game, but I wouldn’t put it past us.
Their best eleven
Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Kompany (c), Demichelis, Clichy, Fernandinho, Yaya Toure, Nasri, Silva, Aguero, Negredo
Walcott starts, no Arteta
Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Wilshere, Ozil, Giroud, Walcott, Ramsey
Evening all, cmon you mighty gunners!!!!!!
No Santi either. Gibbs not even on the bench
Nice starting line up
Pleased to see nacho get a run
Demichelis is one of their best eleven, Lurkly? I’m ‘avon a larff.
Good afternoon Holic and Holics.
Here we go – in the words Holic used about the next round of the ECL – let’s knock out the biggest guy (in the opinion of most pundits on the PL) in the room.
COYRs
Go win, Arsenal.
My bad 8ball, Nastasic is better od course, I was focusing more on where their strength is, in the attacking department.
Lurky, I’m hoping to be ‘avin a larff when Theo runs past him and Demichelis is holding his hands on his head with the ball in the back of the net. I really shouldn’t be larffing ahead of time. 🙂
I’m liking that team selection very much. COME ON ARSENAL !
Hey all,
and come on you REDS!
This is winnable. COYG !
Well in, Lurky! And good call.
Good day all. We always play our best against Citeh so this should be one of those games you’ll look forward to watching again.
C’mon Arsenal! Enjoy the game, where ever you are.
COME ON YOU REDZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Afternoon all.
OOooooooooooooooo
Oo Jack should have get that on target..
SHIT
fuck
Ball watching
cracking finish from Aguero tho
Is Ozil playing?
Hes not seeing too much of ball so far
Wilshere really needs to toughen up. Not good 20 minutes from him.
Was a well worked corner, simple but effective. 🙁
OG keeps beating the offside trap…….
Come on Arsenal!!!!!!
Cmon reds lets nick one back
A bit too careless in pocession.
COYRRR
Keep it tight, get to half time. Start making passes stick. We look leggy.
They’re pressing our midfielders very hard. We need to start dealing with it.
We need a much better game from LJW
N7 agree we look flat
Forgot Ozil was playing.
THEOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Get in!
Love It! theo!
FEEEOOOOOO
Ah, Theo welcome back! 1-1 🙂
Ozil only needs one touch!!
You fucking beauty Theo.
Brilliant Ramsey. Genius Ozil.
Feo pings it off Demichelis’ head! What a geometrician!!
come on guys..focus!
Monreal third big mistake ffs.
Precision pass by ozil
Things just not coming off for LJW..means he will score a winner:D
Rambo is playing citeh on his own.
No one else taking responsibility or providing leadership going forward.
Onside all day long nacho
Is it just me or is Flamini playing really high up the field?
Get to half time
Nice bit of passing by us. More please!
They are some attacking side
FUucksticks
FUCK FUCK FUCKITY FUCK
Ok, get Wilshere off.
kos down. 🙁
and Kos down
Kos injured! Absolute nightmare moment!
TV on for Kos. Looks like a bad injury.
Oh shit, that doesn’t look good.
time for TV to step up
Time for TV to step up.
You can do this TV! Believe in yourself!
heh H2H
Wilshere has got to start tracking zabaleta
What Eandy said, 😉
Nacho not getting much help on the left. All the danger down the rigt
Kos has a cut to his knee not a twist or other
Never offside!!!
That’s twice.
Thanks for that update Aussie.
Not impressed with the officials
Not too shabby but definitely not too good. Need to stay focused and take our chances when they come.
Come on TV5. This is the moment for you to shine.
Going forward we’ve done well although OG is isolated with his lack of pace but they’ve murdered us in midfield going forward. We look well off the pace especially Jack. Might be better to bring Arteta on for Jack and push Aaron forward. Theo has done really well. We need to get Ozil on the ball more. Like the goal when he gets it he makes a difference . Awful blow about Kos.
Not bad, considering we are playing with 10 man. Can’t remember Arsenal player playing this bad first half like Wilshere is. Out of pace, constantly giving the ball away, dribbling into cul de sacs, not tracking back. AAArgghh I am angry at him.
Gnabry should be given a chance at HT.
Agreed ttg,
Özil needs more of the ball and Jack needs to either step up his game or be subbed, kinda nightmarish first half for him.
I hope Kos is not in for lenghty absence, big blow..not only in this game but also ahead of Chelski.
That was some half, the PL at it’s best.
City are no mugs and look good going forward, I tink against anyone else they would of been out of sight already.
As for us, we need to stop giving the ball away so cheaply, keep the ball and who knows what can happen. City are playing a high line and we’ve got the beating of their offside trap, even if the linesman doesn’t seemto realise it.
City haven’t dropped a point at home……… yet.
COME ON ARSENAL!!!!
what Aussie said @ 156. That said we can’t keep allowing Silva time and space in front of the back four. We will eventually pay a heavy price if we do.
LJW needs to improve rapidly after the break or he’s the first change the mgr needs to make.
Rambo is the only man who’s stood up to be counted.
Were making citeh look good by giving them so much space.
For all our talk about attacking, we’re standing off them as though we’re afraid.
We should have started Gibbs and Monreal down that left hand side. Wenger out of options now to deal with zabaleta – Cazorla won’t track any more than Wilshere has. Got to rollick jack at half time, only option
Anyone else feel like they’re watching this on man City TV?
It’s only 2-1 you bunch of cnuts, and if this lot were so great they’d not have lost all those away games
All things considered (fatigue, bent Lino, away, Kos injury) I reckon we’re doing OK.
Monreal not looking as solid as Gibbs defensively.
Big big test coming in this second half. A point would be a great result the way things are going.
But our defense is going to have to tighten up or we’re going to concede a couple more.
come on you RIPROARING GOALSCORING Gunners
Certainly the decisions are going with the home side N7.
I just don’t think we’re doing ourselves justice at all.
Agreed re: LJW. Zabaleta has to be dealt with better.
Passes not going our way, jack just his self, not the usual team cohesion. Maybe a halftime change will help, rosicky and cazorla perhaps. Hope Vermalen slots in well.
Are we up for a great second half? Come on Arsenal.
The injury to Kos means Wenger has fewer options re: changing things up, and we do need to change things up I’m afraid
Lets hope TV5 can remember how to play football.
Aussie — no hard feelings — you seem a good sort – Oskar – you know your stuff!
Come on Arsene — Bring on the Comptons second half!
Jack is just no winger. Thats the real issue.
We can still win this.
N7 — feckin right bro — somebody should tell the commentry team that NOBODY looks good in brown lipstick.
Set up poorly for us too. We’ve got to chase a goal, but their attack is so terrifying coming back at us. Hope Wenger’s got a plan.
Here we goooooo
Can’t bring Santi on left wing given what’s going on down that flank. He doesn’t track
Aguero off…..
Fuck.
An early xmas present.
That was terrible
well that was just fucked up …cross ball ahead of defense ..just boot it upfield FFS
Fuckity fuck fuck
Gotta chase it now and that’s far from ideal in this stadium
COME ON GUYS !!
What an unnecessary goal. Ozil!
It’s damage limitation now. We are really suffering after the game on Wednesday
damn ..come on! come ooon!
Come on OG.
What was that big man? Big chance gone begging
oh fuck whyyyy
Must get a striker to ease the pressure on OG. He’s knackered
Hate to admit it but that’s where OG lets us down. The best players stand up in the biggest games
Why was Woj so far off his line
FFS
179 impressive- none taken.
Ooofff and again
OOOooooooooooooooooo
Giroud again.
Come on you reds, this is not over yet.
DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMN
Heavy, heavy legs
Shut up Michael Owen you prick
Ollie still scrapping – good lad.
Giroud’s a fighter!!
I’d love to fucking stick one on Owen
You guys got Owen as pundit.
Condolances.
This ref is bent
HANDBALL!!!
should have been a pen
These are basic decisions
THEEEEOOOOOOOOOOO
THEOOOO!
Wow theoooooo
Real goal by Theo! What a cracker!
Great fight back proud of these boys. Different game since Aguero left
Too easy
Get in!!
Theooooo
COME ON ARSEEEEENAAAAAL
Well said TTG
Should be 3-3
Can we? Could we?
damn
Ffs wheres the fuckon defence
oh ffs
Monreal having a mare
Bad goal to concede. We were on top
BACK AT THEM BOYS. We have more goals in us
we are making it really difficult for ourselves..by ourselves
Feo to hit 4?
You want an analysis of all thats good and bad about Theo?
He finishes the second superbly and then leaves Nacho all on his own to defend the flank. Navas crosses, Silva scores.
ANOTHER NOT OFFSIDE ..fuck you lino ..fuck you
Just give it to theo
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Unlucky Jacky
great shot by Jack
Fucking officials are ruining a great game.
Haha did Jack just give someone a finger?:D
Bent officials
Gnabry getting ready
Flamini off?
Didn’t see that coming
Compare our spirit here to Spurs when they lost
Serge and Feo on the flanks ..lets see how that works
Jack moving inside ..Serge with Theo going to stretch it wide
Nacho struggling today. Gibbo is a better option
What TTG said.
Win, draw or lose, I’m still proud of the lads.
Nacho isn’t struggling Ttg. He’s got absolutely no support from Theo all day long. Watch Theo’s defensive support.
I gave us no chance here, but we’ve been great.
NB on for OG
Nacho is left exposed by Theo..completely
TGSTEL I don’t believe it. Game is far too stretched for my liking but I really love the attitude of our boys although they’ve made some awful mistakes. But we’ve gone at them in the second half and been really unlucky
I was about to say what Joe said(248)
What joe said
Can’t explain why but I am still an optimist we can get a point
Ouch on Woj
Taking of Flamini is leaving us way too exposed. Shitty running through at will. Think it should’ve been LJW off for serge.
What? ..if you want to influence match refs…do not do it so painfully obvious..cunts
City won’t win the league if Aguero gets injured for any length of time. We are so tired after three games so close together. I’d take 4-2 as we are so tired
NB1 @257 nailed on.
Defense in tatters
Out of words why Wilshere was on that fucking field for 90 minutes.
Ok..end of, media lockoff for me from now on.
Game done.
Big, big mistake taking off Flamini.
The score now flatters them.
Ramsey and Wilshere both terrible today and Ozil anonymous. I hope that’s the bad result of the season out of the way. MUST take six points against Chelsea and West Ham over Xmas now.
Benddyyyyyyy
City are running through us because Flamini is no longer on the field. Wenger has sacrificed DCM for Gnabry in an attempt to get something for the game. You get no points whether you loose 4-2 or 5-2 so it was worth a punt.
Nacho hasn’t had any support recently but he hardly put a foot wrong in the first half when Theo was on the other wing . 5-2 is harsh but Citeh have had such an advantage this week. But Arsene really needs to ask if we have strength in depth in all key areas. But overall these lads have given everything and zin proud of them
Offside???
Someone give Jack a cigarette.
Another not offside
wilshere worst player on the pitch today
He’s onside u fuck wit lino. What the fuck.
Ref has linos have been a disgrace, we should have had a pen two goals not given for offisde – weekend fucking ruiend
Walcott the only positive this game.
MEERTTTTT
GOAL Mert…you got to love the spirit
Fuck Off Ref
What 275 lurky said
@ 270 – He doesn’t need a fag, he’s had a pipe and slippers going all game.
6-3 well deserved. They were by far the better team.
Wilshire sadly doin the denilson shuffle back
City forwards free to roam all over the middle of the park
Taking Flamini off tho to have jack marshal the midfield is ridiculous. Since he’s gone off they’ve had complete dominance in centre mid and if truth be told could and probably should have scored more.
At least keep the one player on the pitch that had the discipline to help the defence and take off the one that’s been a liability all game.
We’ve scored 3 away from home and not left with at least a point. Proud of the effort but you gotta be taking something from the game.
So is this now we score, then we let you score. What a joke. Fucked right off.
Wrong Lurky.
Yes they were better, but six is flattering.
Still a proud Gooner . They gave everything today but the decisions went savagely against them and they were so tired it gave them a mountain to climb. Never three goals worse
we seem to crumble when we play the big boys, Chelsdki, Shitty and Manure – we jusdt can’t competet with them fucking disgrace scoreline 6 – 3. It’s like the players are too fucking scared to face these teams.
Okay, we did not cover ourselves in the glory there, but the spirit was awesome, and on another day with competent refs, scoring 3 at Etihad would be more than worthy a point.
Jack had worst game I have seen him play in Arsenal shirt, half of the team looked really knackered.
We will beat Chelsea home..we will.
We scored three at Middle Eastlands.
Not many teams will do that.
Before the over-reaction by the media….7-7 would have been an appropriate score….and how we can rest Walcott after that?
Too much to ask of the team this week but now we must win Monday week.
We continually kept shooting ourselves on the foot. Still top of the league.
By the way……
WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE, SAY………
Andya, as I see you are newcomer, could you please also pay us a visit when we win?..Where were you up until now?
If you have nothing intelligent to say and only came here to moan, then rather zip it and fuck right off.
H2H, yes I agree six is flattering. To us.
Andya – we only lost 1-0 to Man Utd and haven’t even played Chelsea yet (the League Cup doesn’t count).
The surprising and most disappointing part was our midfield got smashed and were not in the game
We gave them too much space and never imposed ourselves. We proved that they’re were vulnerable if you attack them. Too many players went absent and some, like Jack, who didn’t play on Wednesday, had no excuse.
Rambo was just fucking everywhere and continues to be the heartbeat of the team. What a player that lad is. He never hides.
This game reminded me of the Arsenal of last few seasons, too many mistakes to make in a game against such a quality opposition.
Hopefully lads will learn from it and will take much deserved rest.
Right, off I go and also brace yourself, media circle-jerk is coming.
Crazy. Just, crazy
Agree Rambo was excellent. We scored three and might have had two more and a pen with different officials. Agree that taking Flamini off was a bad choice. Jack was poor today and needs to look at a boy like Ramsey who gives everything. Also thought Ches did well and Theo can be very pleased with his attacking contribution. But if he plays we need to think of the balance in the team. I think one of these two teams will be champions
What the fuck was up with that officiating eh?? Fucking hellfire
What’s happened to our defence?
What’s happened to Wilshere?
Disappointing
It’s frustrating but we still have every chance to be very much in the mix after the Christmas/New Year fixtures.
Dutch pundits get it.
i) They say that the score line was flattering.
ii) they questioned many of the officials decisions
iii) They also put down as “unfair” and “competion falsing” the decision to play this game so soon after a CL game, asking why the hell it wasn’t planned for Sunday.
Just had a quick look at the BBC live page.
I must of been watching a different game.
It was always going to be very very difficult today. On the back of two disappointing results, leggy, going to the toughest place in the league at the moment, against a City team full of confidence after winning at Bayern in midweek. Even so we weren’t as far off as the scoreline (and the medja) will make it seem.
Had we scored the first goal, everything would have been different. We had to chase the game the entire time, which let them sucker punch us repeatedly with their truly phenomenal attack.
Defense was leaky, yes. People will get the knives out but they need to remember that we had to chase the game against the most dangerous and inform attacks in the world right now. Their last two goals were almost entirely down to that fact.
TV5 was thrown on in an impossible situation, to come in without playing much at all recently into THAT scenario, to wit, trying to contain their fluid attack when our midfielders were all down at the other end of the pitch trying to get us back into the game.
I know I know but I keep thinking about that top finisher we need. Nothing against, OG, he’s been a workhorse this season and we couldn’t really have asked for more from him. But he let us down today in the finishing department. A really top finisher scores twice today, changes the whole narrative of the game.
We’re close, fellas. We just need that really really good finisher to complement the indefatigable OG.
Oh and has anyone mentioned the officiating?
City had a clear advantage coming into this game having that extra 24 hrs extra after the CL games but give our lads some credit, they never hid all game and the one lino was a joke!! Those offside calls were ridiculous!! If we play like this the rest of the season, then this league is ours to lose!!
Good game lads!!
We r on top of the league!
Didn’t catch the game but sounds like we lost to a combination of an excellent city team who were helped along by some incompetent refs. Oh well! I’ve maintained that the whole point of having a lead at the top is to ensure that you do not have to worry too much about losing at places like the “Shitty Hat”. We gotta ensure that we don’t lose to mourinho’s mugs next monday though.
Toughest thing about the next nine days will be staying off the bloody football websites as all and sundry queue up to stick the knife in.
Onwards and upwards you lovely gunners!
Mertesacker went mad with Ozil just now. Screaming at him for disrespecting the away fans.
Tired minds and legs and bad luck with decision-making all round.
I agree with the Dutch pundits @303 and goonsterham @305.
We weren’t 3 goals worse and the way the game panned out conspired with the fixture list to make the team utterly knackered with 20 to go.
Lick our wounds now and then sharpen our fangs for the Chavs.
Chins up chaps (and chapesses)
Though some Amrut is in order to calm my nerves before I head to school this afternoon for a bloody presentation.
Jack is going through a season of real education, how he responds and how he grows from these experiences would define his future as a player. The main problem in his game is the over-eagerness which would work well against lesser opposition but not against quality attacking sides as his mistakes would be pounced upon. He needs to become calmer and much more clever with the ball and not always burst forward.
Was surprised to see neither Santi nor TR7 was brought in when we were 2-3 or even 2-4 down, they both have the composure, quality and intelligence to make use of the gaping holes in Man City defense.
A bit of an odd strategy by Arsene but clever in a way: if we are to lose doesn’t put too much pressure on our regular shape as this cavalier mechanism is not what the team uses these days. With a bit of better ball retention and some luck with the refereeing decisions we could have come back with at least a point.
@ 305 the only problem is does the manager think we need to add in January? I’m not sure he does. I’ve got a feeling that he sticks with what we’ve got.
Either way I think we’ve shown enough over the past two seasons after new year when we’ve had to chase down champs lge qualification that we can put a run together.
Shitty are good but I just wished we had given ourselves a chance by defending better, especially after we kept getting ourselves back in the game.
I really think we can beat Chavski, I just hope the players believe we can too and don’t show them cunts too much respect.
Lurky @309. What did Ozil do?
Good man Per @309
The sound of bouncing back.
Fade out.
Ignored the away fans. Btw I think he always does that. He never applauds because that is his nature. I really don’t know why Mert went mad.
BTW, I thought TV5 was quite good once he came on.
Unpleasant scenes
Mertesacker reaction.
https://vine.co/v/h2DXPO3LUWp
Well. That was embarassing.
City are very strong. And we looked very weak. The fatigue played a very big gactor i think. My gut tells me this team will win nothing.
OG needs a rest and st. Nick needs a go. Two goals. One incorectly ruled off. And wtf was with our defense. Shambolic.
Sadly the pundits maybe right. On today’s evidence arsenal are not title contenders. Depressing stuff.
Any news on Kos? Deep laceration and out for several weeks according to the Standard.
@319 seemed like Per saw Ozil do something which provoked the reaction. Anyway, another stick with which the media is gonna write us off. Oh well, only the usual Arsenal blogs for the next ten days or do. 🙂
@ Lurky….
More telling than Per being angry is the BT caption ‘Arsenal Unrest’…the media just creaming themselves over us losing by a scoreline that didn’t really represent the whole match (8-7 would be about right).
Media blackout until we stuff Chelsea
@322. Stick to write us off… Ugh…
Homer – by that logic, on the evidence of Sunderland v City last month (or indeed, most of their away games so far), City aren’t title contenders either. Ditto Chelsea on the evidence of last weekend’s game against Stoke. You don’t base things on one game.
Got to beat chelski to keep up morale!
That game is extremely important now.
Which pundits?
What do those cunts know?
The team with the most points win the league. not the team that can only win at home. Guess who’s got the most points, plus we’ve played just as many games as City. How do they explain that?
Surely im just depressed.
Agree with those above.
Horrible officiating. And if st nicks first wss off the. So was negredo’s. No hand ball? That three goals right there.
Arsenal worked hard. Very big effort and they gave their all. Ramsay looked threatening and jack was quite decent.
Still, we were rolled. Black eyes coming.
Respects to those in the bar. Im out – and going for a sulk.
We will still be at the top. Nine days are enough time to recover, analyze and also stew a bit from the hurt to motivate themselves.
No no. You guys are right.
Im in a funk. Nothing rational coming from me today.
Heh, Chamakh scores against the Chavs.
Good to see Chamakh is trying hard to cheer us up anyway.
Good man, Homer.
“Two things we learned”
(1) Man City are fantastic in attack but very shoddy defensively. This means they’ll put up lopsided scorelines one a regular basis, but it also means that until they shore up the back, they’ll continue to drop cheap points. We have been the more consistent team, which is why we’re still top.
Against that defense we should have scored more today. Walcott did well but OG should’ve put a couple away. We made enough chances to have made the game much closer. The refereeing was poor but even so we should have taken at least 2 more of the chances we made.
Which gets back to the “need a striker” point. Don’t think we’ll get one in January, but it’s clear to me that we need a better finisher (and clear to Wenger too, otherwise he wouldn’t have spent the summer chasing Higuain, Suarez, Ba). That’s no slight on the HFB. His finishing has improved, but it still lets us down, especially in big games. We’ve asked an awful lot of him, and overall he’s done wonderfully, but he needs help.
(2) We are still a little timid in the big league games. Tired today, yes, less than confident after two disappointing results this week as well, but we coulda/shoulda beaten Man United and we looked scared today.
Prepare yourself for the anti arsenal pundits to wank themselves senseless.
I think H2H @ 303 has it spot on – every time we got within touching distance of city the officials gave them a little hand. A litany of bad decisions against us that probably cost us three goals, and was there a single bad decision for city? Disgraceful.
Beyond that, didn’t really understand taking Flamini off and feel it swung the game back to City after we’d taken charge. I understand why the boss did it, but it came a bit early, for me.
Jack had a stinker but we’ve all seen Ramsey have games like this a couple of years back – stick with it.
Thought Gnabry was lively and theo looks good to go. Rambo was everywhere and Ozil’s ball for the opener was genius.
Don’t really understand some of the dooming I’m seeing on the web – no one is going to win at City this season, it’s not an important game. Chelsea at home is important. City at home is vital. We were massively up against it in this one given fatigue and the ref and the lads never gave in, huge mental strength on show – felt quite proud.
That said, we’ve shipped 8 in 2 and that simply cannot happen. Need to tighten it up again and I really hope Kos comes back soon.
N7 knows @335.
I have had time to digest our game today – sorry guys if I have been a bit negative, just feeling hurt with the score line (EAndy – point taken!)
Going to the Emirates week on Monday and hope we get back to our winnings ways. No listing to TalkShite or watching match of the day tonight. Need to occupy myself and not listen to the media slating us.
Will leave Holic to sort out that one out! If I wasn’t a Gooner that would have been the game of the season.
We made too many mistake with our passing and individual errors lead to 3/4 of their goals.They had more power and pace and put away their chances. Had we taken all of ours and had we been given the deserved Pen and the off-side decisions, a point might have come our way.
A number of our side disappointed, Nacho,LJW,Ozil and the HFB in particular.There was little protection for the back four. Feo took his chances and looked up to speed, Gnabry’s cameo impressed me but Arsene took a big gamble with the Subs, in an effort to get back into the match, sadly a gamble which didn’t come off.
Just hope the confidence and togetherness has only been dented and not crushed. We will all be at the Ems on the 23rd cheering them on to victory against Chelski. See you then.
As always COYRs
N7 knows @335
Beat Chelsea Monday week and we’re in a two horse race with a team who struggle to win their away games.
I’d certainly have taken that in August. The chavs game is the big one for me: want to see Arteta, Gibbs and Santi return and Theo make another start.
Would also be grand if Poldi were to be on the bench. We could have done with him on that left hand side today.
N7’s got it covered.
A drink on the bar for the optimists.
A half full one. 😉
Picture of Koscielny’s knee going around Twitter. Evidently he said, “It stings a little.” A decent cut, deepish bruise as well. I’m no doctor but it doesn’t look that bad?
N7 @340, was exactly thinking the same about Poldi today. I think against Chelsea I won’t mind seeing TR7 start and help us press early. Giroud is not the greatest finisher to begin with but I think we are asking too much of him to hold, press, link up and score and should use more of the flanks with cutbacks and crosses. Someone else needs to organize the high- up pressing.
Cheers H2H. 2 halves for me please.
I am confident that with theo in the side we will start to see the best of Ozil. I don’t think he’s been a big enough influence for us in the big games but his game is based on providing assists.
Hopefully with Theo’s pace and running in behind full backs Ozil will get the opportunity to get his head up and cause some pain.
Top ’em up properly there H2H 🙂
This bar has standards.
N7, you’re a champ. Made it through the summer with your ohm-ing, surely we can survive this!
This is a team that learns from its mistakes. In the end, it’s not the most costly mistake to make. We knew we would run into adversity sooner or later. Need to turn it around but so far it hasn’t cost us too much. A tough week but we’re still top of the league, into the CL knockout stage. Onwards and upwards.
I may be totally alone in this, but I thought Ozil had a pretty good game today.
The third goal is being blamed on him because it fits the narrative, but if you actually watch it with any kind of objective eye it’s Flamini’s error – the pass is fine and he’s in acres, he just gets his balance all wrong.
At the other end, he popped up with a great assist to equalise when we were really under the cosh, and then continually showed up between the lines throughout the second half, pulling their back line all over the place. We could have had seven or eight today – not sure our problem was in Ozil’s area of the pitch.
All of that said, he should be clapping the away fans.
With you there totally N7.
You know it goonsterham!
At the end of the day, I think most of us felt we might well lose this game given the circumstances. I certainly don’t think our title chances will be defined by results in Manchester, given the frequency with which other teams are dropping points.
I know we’re all meant to be trembling with fear at City after what we’ve just seen, but I feel strangely encouraged. Their home form is very impressive but they gave up chances for fun against a half knackered Arsenal, their keeper is a flapper and I think if we’d played the final 30 with a defensive midfielder on the pitch and had a modicum of luck with the officials we might actually have done them.
I can absolutely see why they struggle away from home based on today’s game and I honestly think if it ends up us and them we have a great chance, particularly as they still need to come to us.
Chin up everyone – don’t let the media and the moaners set the tone. We were decent out there, we fought our hearts out and we’re top of the leeeeeeeeeeeague!
COYG
There was a touch of the Aston Villas to the game today in that key decisions went against us at key times when we otherwise could have got back into the game. AV was a bad day at the office, and I think/hope we’ll look back on this as another. The score is completely unreflective of the difference between the two teams. It does show the value of top class strikers, though. Citeh had seven shots on target and scored six, to our two from six. All the goals from open play on both sides were top-class finishes. But City has forward power and pace in abundance and we didn’t aid our own cause by both giving the ball away too frequently and letting the old failing of individual defensive mistakes, mostly eliminated this season, creep back in. Worse those errors occurred at the most inopportune times. Twice having got back to within a goal, we let them double the lead again in short order. As others in the bar have said, at the start of the season, we’d have taken three points clear at the top after 16 games. Beat Chelsea after a week’s rest and regrouping, and it will all be good.
N7@350: Absolutely agree. With a little bit of nous and defensive solidity we could have won this one playing the way we did against say Dortmund away. Throwing everything at it is no longer our best bet – it had stopped being show many seasons ago if it ever was useful – and I think we need to continuously base our game on defensive solidity, shape and tactical cleverness to facilitate the attacking talents.
Ned. Absolutely. See mine @ 305, 334.
With you on both @348 and @350, N7. Ozil’s pass for Theo’s first goal was particularly outstanding, both in seeing it was on so early and in the delivery. He makes it look so easy that you have to look twice to see the skill in it.
Good on you Andya, sorry for being harsh previously, it just happened too many times that some people popped up here only after we have lost and spread doom and gloom..and thats what I really cannot stand:)
Agree totally Dr F.
When you’re up against a team who are giving you chances it only becomes more important to get yourself solid. Blasting the game wide open only suited them more than us, and we’ve seen them hammer teams in similar circumstances.
At 3-2 we should have gone on to at least a point. It was there for the taking. Even at 4-2 we weren’t out of it.
Heh Bath.
Palace giving the Chavs a real game.
@ 354
I watched the game with a room full of people, not all gooners.
Just before Ozil hit the pass someone yelled “he’s got nothing on!”. Five seconds later everyone was on their feet applauding.
He had far, far more impact in this game than he did at Old Trafford. Partly because City left acres behind Fernandinho (who was energetic, but positionally all over the road, as was Flamini).
Ozil suffers because he makes it look far easier than it is – it looks like he’s not working hard. But he gets results.
Come on Palace.
Agree with you, GL, on Ollie G’s finishing. He had a similar back-post chance, if from a slightly more acute angle, to the one Agüero scored the first goal from. Agüero found the net, Ollie G the stands. He is not a predator finisher, a snapper-up of half-chances. Given how he plays as the forward pivot he should probably have as many assists at the end of the season as goals.
I think we dug in and pressed and when we took it back to 3-2, it seemed that we could push on for the equaliser but for me Silva’s goal for 4-2 was the turning point in the game. Tho we continued to push, it began to look as if our legs were running through treacle.
N7 knows @358.
Tale of Two Strikers.
Someone did make the observation earlier. The value of a box assassin is inestimable at the top level.
Arsene knows. He just couldn’t get a top one in in the summer.
Silva’s goal was also a killer, Bath, because it came just three minutes after we’d scored. And other great finish. Not as easy to steer the ball in the net from where he was as he made it look.
BBC reports that AW ‘accepts’ LJW may have to take a ban for giving the finger to $hitteh fans.
Ned, cheers. And to be clear, nothin but love for the HFB.
I just want a do-over. A slightly different approach, a little luck, better referees, and this game could’ve looked so differently. So many “what ifs.”
Kos’s knee:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/urgh-laurent-koscielnys-injured-knee-2926673?
that’ll be a few weeks.
Agree pretty much with all the above. Having to play catch up all through the game led to defensive errors, I thought we could get a draw, until the 4th goal. Its how they react now thats important. Still top though.
Come on The Arsenal
Chelsea struggle to a win vs Palace at home.
This lot are so very beatable. Monday week is a massive, massive game. A draw w
Chelsea struggle to a win vs Palace at home.
This lot are so very beatable. Monday week is a massive, massive game. If we play like we did going forward today we will cause them bother. Just got to get the defensive balance back.
Wow, the chavs were lucky.
No idea how that happened!
Great and balanced drinks from a lot of people above. Cheers, gents and ladies.
While I’m thinking out loud… Chelsea currently playing a right back at left back and normally struggle with Theo’s pace. I think this could be a huge game for Walcott.
I also think they’ll leave lots of space behind their midfield. If we keep it tight there are definitely goals for us.
I just hope that all those going heed the lesson of today’s linesman: got to stay right behind the team, create an absolute cauldron and keep the pressure on the officials.
Looks like noone had an assist today for Cardiff City.
Followed the game from my phone at the cinema I was glad we equalised so quickly!
I heard the ref was a cunt again? And we played with a massive spirit?
Unlucky but we have to move on and have to beat Chavs at home!
The spirit of this team must not suffer too much!
Maybe with Ozil we found our new Arshavin. Whoopee! Bad old days are here again.
Say what you like about the ref lads, and he was toilet no denying that, but we still got stuffed. Not happy. We let in 6. Fucking 6! Not good. Still shout me bollox off for this club/team as I always have done, but a pretty serious inquest needs to take place, soon.
Fucking 6!
*walks off shaking head*
DFTT
Not you, Esso. Though it sounds like you need a good long back drink. A little ‘holic perspective!
Bad old days are here again.
Yeah, it’s shit being top of the league.
Numpty.
H2H knows @381.
Grounded.
Wilshere in trouble for showing middle finger!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
MNB back with a subtle change in technique, methinks, H2H.
Just back in after visit to mother-in-law. Heard the result on 5Live, not sure I could believe it. Have knurd through the above and still not sure what to make of result. Someone spoke above of “a bad day at the office”, which may well be about right.
Well, all the pundits who have been writing us off all season have been proven right. This Arsenal team isn’t good enough to win the league. The table doesn’t lie. Oh, err, hang on,… yup got it. Please ignore my previous sentence. The table does lie. Oh bollocks, this punditry malarky is harder than it looks.
COYG