Patching Up The Walking Wounded For Cardiff?
Dec 31st, 2013 by 'holic
It would seem that all leave has been cancelled for the medical staff ahead of the New Years Day fixture against Cardiff City. If I understand Arsene’s words at the press conference correctly then we have lost Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Kieran Gibbs, and Olivier Giroud to injury. In addition the boss said decisions would be made later today about the availability of Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott, Thomas Vermaelen, and Nacho Monreal.
I would be surprised if one of the latter pair in that list isn’t patched up and played in Kieran’s place. Two of the other three would ideally start ahead of a midfield trio of Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini, and Santi Cazorla. That leaves a decision to made between Lukas Podolski and Nicklas Bendtner to lead the line. Poldi would be the popular choice but would require us to alter slightly our approach as he is not as strong a target man as Giroud. His finishing ability tips the balance in his favour.
Cardiff arrive with David Kerslake in temporary charge following the sacking of Malky Mackay. In their last outing they surrendered a two goal home advantage to Sunderland. They showed enough decent form earlier in the season to ensure we do not treat them lightly, but they will be missing the experience of the injured Craig Bellamy.
The ‘holic pound is pointed at a repeat of the 3-0 win we achieved in the reverse fixture a month ago. Shop around for 15/2 on that one.
May I take this opportunity to thank all of you for dropping by in 2013, and to wish you and your families a happy, and more importantly healthy, 2014. We have lost a good friend this year, so if you could raise a glass to Gooner Terry at the appropriate time that would be a fitting gesture.
Thanks again ‘holics. Be careful tonight.
315 Responses to “Patching Up The Walking Wounded For Cardiff?”
1st!
Wooo hooooooooo! Now to read the post.
Cheers Holic!
Just posted this on previous drinks;
Quite a good piece to chuck into the Ozil debate;
http://www.squawka.com/news/2013/12/30/how-arsenals-classy-creator-proved-his-vitality-without-even-playing-vs-newcastle/2013123048176
By James McNicholas AKA Gunnerblog.
Lurky, I’m confident Monreal, Vermaelen (both ill not injured), and one of Rosicky and Walcott will all be available tomorrow. Monreal will play LB, Bendtner will start as may Podolski on the left.
Copy and paste from previous;
Well, it certainly has been a year full of ups and downs, highs and lows, in outs, in outs and shake it all abouts. 😉
Footballing highlight for me, without a shadow of a doubt, the home game againt Southampton last month. Not necessarily the greatest game ever witnessed, but it afforded me the honour and priviledge of meeting the guvna himself and a whole bunch of ‘holics from near and far, top gooners all.
Here’s hoping the new year brings you everything you desire. Happiness, prosperiety and most importantly good health to you and yours.
Cheers.
4th and first time top 10.
Happy New Years in 25 mins in Sydney Australia.
All the best holics
H2H pipped me at the finishing tape
Sorry Aussie.
Sp*rsday night footy for you I’m afraid mate. 😉
Nice article Esso, cheers.
Good preview Holic. Hard graft from whoever plays tomorrow should see us through.
Good link Esso. Sums it up pretty well….the man is not a defender or a grafter, simply a wizard.
Cheers Esso.
Anybody who is up in thirteen hours time, if you would also raise a glass to ‘holicdad it would be appreciated.
2.20am 01/1/11.
Hogmanay wishes to you bath. Will you be first-footing anywhere?
Consider it done, ‘holic.
Solid write up boss, a happy new year to gunners everywhere and to a new year of promise for the boys at the Emirates 😉
Another great piece Holicmeister. The games come too thick and fast at this time of year for me to get over one before the next is on top of me. I think it’s the lack of rythmn, what with being off work on strange days of the week and playing games on silly days too. So, Cardiff, is it? Tomorrow’s Wednesday, which is, at least, a sensible day to play a game.
What with the recent run of injuries and illness, it’s time for the squad to show its depth again but I’m beginning to become accustomed to a warm confidence that they will do just that. I am concerned, however, for the ‘holic pound which I fear is fated to go the way of so many of its predecessors.
Three points tomorrow, please, lads. A feast of festive football bringing a hat-full of goals would be nice, but I’ll settle for a scrappy win.
COYG
PS Sorry to be reminded of your sad anniversary, H. I will be sure to raise a glass if I’m still up.
Best wishes to you and yours for 2014 Guvna. Toasts later.
Nope, no first footing round here.
WoB and I will be having a quiet night in with a nice bottle of red wine followed by a wee drap of Highland Park.
Down here in Oz we have already raised our glasses – several times. So here’s one more – to Gooner Terry.
And later too to ‘holicDad
Greetings one and all.
So we have some injury problems for tomorrow? These things happen. If we want to be taken seriously as title contenders I would not expect that to be a problem for a squad like ours. We should have more than enough to cope with a Cardiff side that is currently in tatters. We all knew we would be short as and when OG picked up a knock. Now it’s time for others to step up to the plate. I would expect nothing less. Out of the five that are doubtful I would be surprised if three don’t end up making it. No excuses tomorrow. Get the job done and move on to the next one.
Sadly I am working this evening and back in for 10 tomorrow morning. Unfortunately that means I will not be there to cheer the boys on or to share a swift half with the Tollie regulars. To all of you and yours I wish you health, happiness and prosperity for 2014. May the good run continue and may we all get to pop a few more corks come May.
Holic, thank you to you and for what you have created. I can’t put it any better than Trev did for the Holic stone.
All the best to you all.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/50739/arsenal-train-ahead-of-cardiff-match
No sign of Monreal, but Theo, TV and Jack all trained today. If Naco not available suppose TV will slot in at left back?
Or Flamini.
@H2H
Not being funny but don’t want to see Flamini there, looked like he was playing from memory against Newcastle, and TV did n’t exactly cover himself in glory last time he was forced to play left back, but would be the better option to me. Really hoping Monreal will be available. As its illness rather than injury still a chance he might make it.
Me too, Esso.
Just don’t think TV is a good bet at LB.
Jenks on the rightand flip Sagna over to the left seems like a nice idea. Everyone have a safe New Years Eve and a great New Year.
That sounds the best option to me too duttlenheim tho I do have fond memories of Flamster’s run in that position on our run to the ECL final.
Another idea is to completely rotate the squad and bring in everybody who hasn’t been playing and maybe a youngster or two. We are at home against a newly promoted team with no manager. We have enough to handle that don’t we? A Poldi – Bendtner – Theo front 3 is fresh and could get us a couple goals.
Nice teaser, Holic.
I fancy Nacho will make a remarkable comeback, with Vermaelen sitting on the bench ready for battle. If the very worst happens, Bacs to LB and the Corporal at RB wouldn’t be a completely new solution. I think Bendie will get the nod to start the game with Poldi coming on 64 minutes at 45 seconds in 🙂 Great time to give Super-Serge a run out too (as a substitute unless Theo’s also gone in the fetlock).
Lurgi precludes travel and I will be receiving first footers but not venturing forth. It’s going to be bloody cold up here tonight, so I’ve delegated the coal and kipper carrying duties to Her Nellieness. WILL be at the Spuds game though.
Happy New Year to all Holics everywhere. May it be laden with silver and more signings like Mesut.
Another top piece! Whatever eleven we put out surely we’ll have enough to see off Cardiff!
wwww.notanotherarsenalblog.wordpress.com
Any guesses as to who will fill out the bench vs. Cardiff if everyone is ruled out? Flappy, one of Bendtner/Pod, Gnabry, and….?
More intriguing is who is available and who will play vs. the neighbors. Do you reinsert Giroud or continue resting him? Do you dare take out Chezza for Flappy? Etc. Here’s where AW earns the big £s…
BJ – expect Fabianski vs Spurs. The “Flappy” monicker is old, tired and passé I’d say. I’ll be getting behind the lad and hope to see him play.
I have a feeling both Arsene and the LWCs will treat that match more like a Carling Cup tie. Spuds need points in the league just as bad as we do and will want to rotate.
Sp*rs will go for it.
They’ll wanna be in the YourHopeless league again next year. 😉
you might be right H2H. If Villas Boas was still there, he’d rotate. Sherwood is still looking to impress his master though which could affect his decision making. If Arsene rotates heavy, get ready for a host of articles about foreign managers not respecting the oldest competition in the world 🙁
I don’t think AW will rotate heavily on Saturday. He will be very aware of the need to maintain morale to maintain our league momentum as well as the value of the FA Cup as an attainable piece of silverware. I think we can expect a strong team even if we use the ‘cup keeper’.
Likewise for Sherwood, it’s a much win from a proving himself perspective – I don’t expect either team to put out a Carling Cup selection.
As to Cardiff, I think we can put out a team capable of winning even without the crocked and the doubtful.
Nice one Holic –
Terry and Holicdad are on the list of toastees for tonight. As is Pat Rice.
3-0 sounds good to me. Cardiff will be a rudderless ship having sacked the cream of managers – Milky Mackay.
Would like to see Gnabry feature in this one, at least off the bench, or a start if we are really down to the “bare bones”. His running at a newly promoted defence could pay big dividends, and he works back quite well too although a possible combination of Gnabry and Jenks on the right hand side may be a little raw.
It may be better to take duttlenheim’s suggestion and simply “flip” the full backs – Sagna left, Jenks right – and rely on them to perform like the good “burghers” they are.
Damn, this management thing is complicated – a sort of Malky Malarkey 😉
“Bare bones” is unfortunately what my knee appears to be down to. I did try to think about doing Finsbury Park to The Emirates on crutches but it is just quite literally a non-runner.
Have given my ticket to my Emirates neighbour for tomorrow so he can take his son, in return for his moving and being very helpful whenever I have managed to get a spare ticket for my daughter.
Tottenham is also a goner for me – hoping – or should that be hopping ? – to hear about a surgeon’s appointment on Friday.
Good luck to all those who are going to either game – I’m missing you all already, and safe, healthy and prosperous New Years to you all – near and far.
Big thanks to Holic for another year of tip top hosting – your health, Sir.
Sorry to hear that you are still heavily crocked Trev – so you are clearly not an option at LB. 🙂 Hope you are skipping along again soon, mate. All the best.
Re the Spuds: Paulinho is out for a month apparently with his ankle knack.
If Bendtner were to be injured by an Irish defender, would he be suffering from Nick knack by a Paddy whack ?
No …….. I thought not 😉
Thanks bath.
Could be a long one – replacement seems to be the only option left 🙁
Get well soon Trev …
Thanks fellas – but there are very good Holics who are unwell or missing loved ones.
Please extend the sympathies to them – I’m not unwell, just inconvenienced. 😉
Sorry to hear about the knee Trev. Good point about unwell ‘holics too.
No names, no pack drill, but thinking of you.
In fact I am thinking of all of you. In 2013 I have reached the highest highs, and the lowest lows. Life, I believe it is called. We have all lived it.
May you all experience mainly highs in 2014.
Neighbours arriving in the next hour for bubbles and nibbles and then settling down for a bit of music and Hootenanny.
Whatever you are doing I hope you enjoy your celebrations, and Trev, I would keep the dancing to a minimum this year 😉
Auld Lang Syne.
Trev – that sounds painful. Been carrying a bit of a dodgy knee since my footballing days all those years ago – I think my teammates went out and celebrated when I had a choice between operation or stopping and chose the latter. Nowadays it occasionally gives way on me on the stairs but otherwise OK.
The replacement – just the knee, I assume?
Have great day tomorrow those going – start 2014 how we mean to continue – with a drink (and a win of course).
cheers, holic. lars speaks for me in the previous drinks @175. thank you for creating such a fine establishment…holicdad would be proud of his son!
here’s to a 2014 full of joy, health, and maybe a title or trophy.
Slainte to all the holics for a prosperous and healthy new year. A raised glass in memory of those no longer with us and also to those who are under the weather at this time, wishing you all a speedy recovery. Last but not least a toast to the Guv’nor for putting this medium here in the first place….none of us would be here without you. Cheers and COYRRR.
and trev, clearly you’ve not injured your punny bone 😉
happy new year, and good luck with the knee!
The name Duttlenheim has served me well the last 5 years. FC Duttlenheim was the club Arsene Wenger played at as a youth. Anyway, after living / working in New York City, Chicago, Boston, MA. Phoenix, AZ. , San Diego & San Francisco, CA. the last years, I’ve recently transferred to Portland, OR. I plan on staying here a while as I’m getting too old for all this moving bullshit. More importantly, the missus is sick of it. I created the name Arsegonian ( Arsenal + Oregonian ) for all my Arsenal / social media escapades. Hit me up on twitter @arsegonian. I’d love to follow any holics that use the site. Goonerholic thanks for maintaining such a great website and also thanks for the follow on Twitter. When I got up for work this morning and saw the note on my phone, it made me smile. I NEVER smile getting up at 5:30 am for work. Happy, Healthy and Trophy Winning New Year to everyone!!!!
Currently flying the computer in the office…just happy to have a job.
Later tonight I will raise a class to GoonerTerry, ‘HolicDad, and IJ (my favorite uncle).
Sincerest best wishes to all (even spuds…well,…ok, even spuds) and many thanks to you, ‘Hols.
You are a special bunch (thinking of you Nursie…I know, Guv’, no pack drill, but she’s special).
BMBD
Have just been thrown out of the village pub to enable them to prepare for tonight’s all ticket party! Being ticketless, I will be spending a quiet evening with a bottle of Rioja(Gran Reserve).
Worried to hear of the queue at the sick-bay, tomorrow’s starting line-up and bench may stretch resources to the limit. However, I’m sure one or two regulars will be patched up, still I’m hoping to see Gnabry who has a goal or two in him.
See you all at the Ems tomorrow, don’t forget to take serious wet weather gear!
To all Holics near and far Happy New Year and good health and happiness in 2014.
As always COYRs, let’s stay TOTL and make it an extra special 2014.
Does this joint play requests. Would like to dedicate Willie Nelson’s classic, ‘You Are Always On My mind’, to the holics. Not in a romantic way, of course! Just in a matey sort of way, 😉 Happy New Years to you and yours, wherever you may be.
Trev, hope your post-op nurse is lovely and believes in pain meds !
Seriously chap, sorry to hear the news. I hear doctors make great patients …. 🙂
Arsegonian, welcome to twitter, nice write up, btw.
Holic, Gooner Terry and your Dad would be pleased to know they are very much remembered with great affection. Raises glass and nods.
As the New Year makes its way inexorably across Asia towards us, it’s time to open the first bottle of the evening and make a first toast to absent friends and wish a speedy recovery to all those who are under the weather. I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year, a major trophy for the lads and a hangover-free first morning of 2014.
Slainte Holic and Holics
and to you, abb, a big hug (matey 🙂 ). here’s to your health!
Good luck in 2014 abb.
My only New Year’s resolution is to comment regularly on my favorite Arsenal site.
Nice preview Holic.
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish a Happy New Year to all patrons of this wonderful bar that the maestro has created and maintained. There’ve been highs and lows but we have so much to be thankful for, the resounding reason before all others being that we’re still alive to welcome in the new year whereas others are no longer with us…
To all of you guys that aren’t at 100% right now, you’re in my thoughts.
I’m looking forward to the new year as a whole but on a more relative timescale, to going to the next two games, hopefully I’ll see a few familiar faces in the Tollie on those occasions, and maybe one or two new ones also 😉
A glass raised to all ‘Holics past, present and future. A happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to all the habitués of this fine establishment, and especially to the Guv’nor.
Hey Trev,
you can be our new LB, as in Left Back at home. 😉
Sorry mate, a speedy recovery my friend.
You have all almost said everything nice that needs to be said. I wish you all the very best in all your endeavours in 2014. Thank you all for been my real friends in the greatest virtual bar to ever grace the universe.
Special thanks to the Guvnor for affording me the opportunity of writing my first ever blog post about The Arsenal. That post was one of the highlights of my year.
Here’s hoping for a healthy and happy 2014 for everyone at the bar. And later this evening, a toast to all those who may no longer be with us, but will always be remembered and loved.
A bit late, but welcome to the bar the gent from the Emareld City.
If this joint does play requests here’s one for abb, not in a romantic way of course, just in an admiring the constant positivity and wishing you every happiness and good health for 2014, sort of way;
*mwah mwah*
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3SjCzA71eM
Come on Arsenal. Now is the time to extend our lead, grab ’em by the cojones and all such stuff. Seriously. 😉
Now is 8.56pm on a wet and windy Hogmanay. Now is the time for them to wish each other “Happy New Year” and don their jim-jams to get an early night pre-match. No sneaking out to the club to have a festive extravaganza.
Well said Esso,
Take care abb. 😉
Cheers H2H,
Good to meet you this year.
Proper Gooner.
The injury list makes dire reading. A dozen of the first-team squad banjaxed.
Late fitness tests for Cardiff game:
Wilshere (ankle)
Rosicky (calf)
Walcott (shoulder)
Monreal (illness)
Vermaelen (illness)
Back 4th Jan (misses Cardiff, back for Spurs in Cup):
Giroud (ankle)
Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee)
Back 11th Jan (misses Cardiff, Spurs, back for Villa in the League):
Ozil (shoulder)
Back 18th Jan (misses Cardiff, Spurs, Villa, back for Fulham in the League):
Ramsey (thigh)
Sonogo (back)
Back Mar 14th (if so would be available for last nine league games)
Diaby!!!! (ACL knee)
No return date:
Gibbs (calf)
And heaven only knows what the ‘holics injury list will look like in the morning. Have a good one, wherever you are.
Connemara cask strength raised for ‘holicdad and all the old guys who graced the Highbury terraces.
But that’s well out of date. Wilshere, Walcott and Vermaelen all trained this morning, would n’t have done so if they was waiting on fitness tests. Monreal is the big worry. Either TV or Flamini will have to go left back if he’s out.
Top man Esso. Great to see you here briefly abb.
Neighbours departed. The longest night starts here. On third bottle of bubbles (saved the premier cru for last!) and feeling pretty relaxed.
Cheers all 🙂
Always read, rarely comment because you guys & gals generally get in what I’m thinking, putting it better than I can…….what a great bar, wish I was more of a drinker but thanks ‘holic et al for the marvelous read this place has been in 2013 & let’s hope our team can bring home the bacon in 2014….this blog certainly will!
Happy New Year health & happiness to all of you!!!
To all holics and holicesess’ (not sure about spelling..the amount of booze I have indulged already is making me as useful as dick-flavoured lollipop behind the keyboard), I want to wish you happy and prosperous 2014.
And to Arsenal to continue being just what it is ..an amazing Club which is worthy to follow for what it stands for and represents – class, beautiful football and ability to unite people from all around the world to share passionate, happy and also not very happy moments of their lifes…Na zdraví!
I will undoubtedly be too pissed later (entirely on purpose) so here goes;
Cheers Trev for above – love you mate!
This site is the fucking bollox. Top Arsenal people with a deep ingrained respect for the club, the manager, the administrators, the players and fellow supporters, which all stems from the absolute quality of the man behind the site.
Love you all.
Happy New Year to everyone.
All the best to you for 2014 Esso.
Ewww, Eandy @ 69…I shudder to think where you purchase your candy…
BMBD
Heh, Lonestar – just noticed that.
Cheers Esso,
Love your posts – have a good 2014.
Happy 2014 to all gooners worldwide
Here’s a dram to all gooners who past in 2013
Wherever they be
About to drive melbourne to sydney
10 hours!!!
Got to go to work now but managed to send some of you on twitter a DM, wish you the best. Will try to send more out tomorrow.
Lovely drinks and some of my favs since I last was here.
But in truth, there is something very special and unique about each and every holic. Good night all. Sweet dreams.
Still typing straight, bath ? 😉
Have a good 2014, Sir.
Aye Trev, it’s a quiet night in dog sitting for WoB and I. A few drinks in but still to reach for the nectar of the Gods.
All the best to you and yours for 2014.
Nice one ‘holic!
Happy new year!
Hey pontus, you too my friend 🙂
Transfer window is open!!
Time to shine 😉
Guys, I have a request. I will be opening a new website for sports updates very soon and would love it if a)you could get your dose of updates through my site? b) if you could advertise it to people you know.
The content on the site would be similar to what I posted in the last TDD in the bar, just updated continuously.
Holic, if this is breaking the rules then I am sorry and edit this post to the first two sentences only.
First 2014 CET !!
Happy New Year H2H, Lars, Eändy and others on CET or equivalent.
I’ll be fast asleep before the rest of you in UK/Ireland catch up.
Sell NB now Arsene – don’t wait.
Cheers, dk! Happy new year all, for my part I am now off to bed as I have an early train back to Stockholm to catch in the morning. Take care everyone and here’s to a prosperous 2014 for you all!
A three-man back line would be perfectly adequate against Cardiff, especially if Flam and Mikel are in midfield. That would allow five ahead of them including Poldi and Theo on the wings, TGSTEL up front and any two from Jack, TR7, Gnu, Santi or whoever else is fit in the middle.
In other words, all out attack against a side whose goal diff is 34 less than ours. It should be a cake-walk even allowing for the injured.
Öskar
A Guid Ne’er tae aw Holics.
Slainte fer 2014
COYGs
Cheers Bath! And Happy New Year everyone. All the best for 2014.
Champions!
Happy New Year Everyone !!
Arsene Wenger’s Red and White Army !
😉
Happy new year Holics
All, please have a healthy and prosperous new year.
You are the mutts.
Thank you.
Down the plughole, Bath. Happy New Year, Holics.
Yes. Happy new Year one and all!
Another cheers for the barman – runs the best joint around. Heres to a great 2014.
Seriously holics – all the best to you.
Personally, im just glad the guvnor still lets me in the place.
BtM @ 91 – watching BBC Alba here. A richt guid ceildh fae Pertick Toon Hall.
Drills a SZCZ-esque goal kick off the head of an opposing player. The Manc supporting broadcaster gets excited about the possibility of an own goal until the ball swerves crazily in the direction of the opposition’s net.
Happy New Year from Japan!
Bit late, I’m already hungover here but hope you guys and gals had a good countdown experience in your part of the world!
I must say the sudden injury increase sounds like a ploy to give a few players a rest to me. But if it’s not I’m hoping for a speedy recovery to all the walking wounded!
See youse around game time, I’m jumping back in bed 🙂
To ‘holicdad…
A toast to holicdad!
Cheers holicdad!
To ‘holicdad, without whom this could not be possible.
Lays on the assist…
(For holicdad)
Boom?
いいね!今年はきっといい年になります!
風くん[wind]、有難うございます!
🙂
Happy New Yea Holic and Holics. Drunk as skunk and /i don’t believe
I’ll wake up in time for th game tomorro.
Wamnegrrrr aaaaaaaaaahtttt !!!!
Yes and To the holic dad!!
And yeah – what CoR said. I think ….
‘Kaze-kun’, it has a nice ring to it CoR-San 😉 But even though I can’t understand Kanji/Hiragana (?), I know that Kaze = Wind in English from reading & watching a lot of manga & anime 🙂
Congrats on scoring with the 1st Century of 2014! 😀
To GoonerTerry, ‘HolicDad, & I.J.
To all ‘Holics.
To the Arsenal.
BMBD
I feel truly blessed Wind but I couldn’t have done it without the perfect assist!
Great stuff Esso, Eandy, Trev and many others. Virtual bar real friends. 🙂
Happy new year and thanks for the camaraderie to all of you.
And a happy new year to Abb. 🙂
As Van Morrison sang it, the Caravan is painted red and white.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJXVD-nSSKE
Turn it up boys.
A word of admiration for everything that Cardiff City have achieved these last months. Any supporter would have to be tremendously encouraged by their excellent string of results. Anybody but the lunatic owner of course. Now, however, let’s put them in their place.
Respect for Cardiff City today please. No arrogant assumptions about it being easy. There are no easy games until they’ve been won. Only determination and respect for our opponents will win the title in 2014. Let’s start how we mean to continue: 1-0 to the Arsenal :).
Oh – and HNY to all on GMT, EST etc.
Woke up drunk Holics Gol Bless YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mObouU6xacs
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPYYYYYYYYYY
NEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
YYYYYEAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRR!
Lars would be happy even when his poor old arse card is still behind the bar 🙂
holic, I won’t be up for 2:20, but here at 1:20 here’s to holicdad. and to my grandmother, who I am missing dearly tonight.
happy new year, all.
Thank you all.
Virtual bar, real friends indeed.
Is anybody here looking for a ticket for Saturday? Upper tier, face value obviously…
Holic please PM me!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Happy new year holics!
Cheers ‘holic for keeping this fantastic place up
bit late…but happy new remaining 364 days everyone! looking forward to the match!
Happy New Year one and all !
A very properous and peaceful 2014 to all who frequent the bar.
Trev – whey to go and we kneed you back in super, top physical condition just as soon as you can make it. Good luck with any ensuing procedure and a recovery that matches Theo for speed.
Will be a tough game today with depleted ranks but no doubt a decent 11 will be on the pitch to help us start the year with the right kind of bang.
Hope to see several of you for the LWCs cup tie who are now in their 53rd year of failure and under-achievement.
Holic, thanks again for continuing to provide us with this fine corner of the internet.
UTA!
Happy New Year to all Holics supporters of officially the most successful Premier League side in 2013. Will miss this and the LWC game as I am with Mrs TTG in Scotland. But there in thought.
Let’s build on that 2013 performance in 2014 starting with an efficient destruction of Cardiff today. Focus, hard work and clinical finishing please.
COYGs
Back home now. Off to the pub in a few minutes. Let us hope for a good start to the year both in a footballing sense and of course in general terms as well.
Anything but three points today would be a massive disappointment. Up the Arse!
Have we signed anyone yet? 😉
Only Alastair Hurrah ! 😉
As reported earlier, Alastair Hurrah is currently unavailable due to a
hip-hip injury and a dose of the clap.
Some of us believe he was only signed to keep Sanogo company until he is back – if he indeed has a back – such is the permanence of his injury.
Every morning Arsene pops into The Quackery to enquire about YaYa’s fitness, only to be met with the same, never changing reply –
“No, Mr Wenger, I’m afraid it’S-a-no-go !”
As for Hurrah, he is both unavailable and so thrilled with his new deal, that he is away congratulating himself. 😉
😆
Cheers TS,
Have just been swimming – trying to keep as fit as poss before any op.
Heh Dr T.
*Cheers.*
Actually things are in a little bit of a crisis in The Quackery at present,
Not really helped by these two –
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D71UY0XW2WU
😉
Raising a glass of King edward rum to gooner terry..,happy new year holics…http://gidigooner.blogspot.com/2014/01/match-preview-arsenal-vs-cardiff-city.html
Lars @#127
Don’t say that 🙁
After all, it is a reserve team that hosts Cardiff City today.
HNY to you & yours.
No back paddling please, Dr.T
I’ve obtained an exclusive interview with Alistair as only his agent can.
He says’ what a great treatment room we had nothing like this at Falkirk. YaYa and Abou are great company and have suggested some other guys from Auxerre who would be happy to lie in the treatment room all day for 50 grand a week. I’m raring to go and look forward to joining training as soon a I’ve used my Z on the Triple word in the Scrabble game. Never realised how easy it is to be a pro player. Someone tells me there is a game this afternoon but I think I will watch Zulu in the players lounge. Zulu that’s worth a few points as a triple word! By the way I think I’m the second best striker who ever lived ”
Sounds our sort of lad.
Hehs @bath, ttg. 🙂
Arsenal FC @Arsenal 30s View translation
#Arsenal team to play Cardiff: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Arteta, Flamini, Wilshere, Walcott, Cazorla, Podolski
Arsenal FC @Arsenal 34s View translation
#Arsenal subs: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Jenkinson, Rosicky, Ryo, Gnabry, Bendtner #AFCvCCFC
Citeh 3-1 at Swansea now as well.
That’s not too bad a team, interested to see if it will be Poldi or Feo leading the line.
according to the beeb it will be Poldi.
Oh well. Let’s hope Cardiff cave in so.
Thanks esso.
If that team plays to its full potential it should be more than capable of winning this game.
Hello all,
for those in need of streams, here goes:
http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=232254&part=sports
or
http://livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/207277_arsenal_cardiff/
Agreed that if we play to our potential we are more than capable of winning, shame Mesut is out, I cannot wait to see Poldi being fed the passes by him.
morning all, and again happy new year. four and a bit hours of sleep has me bundled on the couch ready to watch our beloved team hopefully overcome the welsh cityboys. come on you reds!
I hope southampton do one better than swansea today and take the sheen off an oil slick…
Come on you Reds!
cardiff executive box sponsored by the michelin man?
COME ON YOU REDZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Back to business..COYR!!!!!!
COYG!
I’ve been a bit wary of taking potshots at Auntie Beeb since Upply made a reference to my habit a week or two back – it doesn’t do to become too predictable don’cha know?
However, the link to their report on today’s early match – “Man City see off Swansea with stylish win” – has upset me. Somehow, I don’t think an Arsenal away win, playing 100mph Wengerball would be described in quite those words.
Hey ho, Christmas truce over, New Year resolution in ashes.
Three points please, lads.
COYG
Arsene’s in rare sartorial form today.
Sweet stream if anyone needs one
http://janlul.com/stream/index2.html
Looks like pretty shity weather.
theo getting involved early and often.
Handbrake on so far
OOoooo.
Unlucky Feo
why Bac? O.o
Exactly what I was thinking.
ooh, nearly theo.
Nice play, shame Santi
why is bac taking the free kick?
Scruz, you’re a good seven minutes behind mate.
We’ll never get a penalty.
ooh, too bad santi. h2h, you’re watching live on tv or a stream? mine is live, and 2 minutes behind yours!
what do we have to do to get penalty at home?:O
I’m live on tv, and I think your futher hen two minutes behind….
Or a really slow typer. 🙂
you’re right, 7. wow, that’s live tv for us on nbc sports!
Good man Woj!
Why are all the refs looking overweight and clueless?
OOoooo Theo.
Stick bendtner in there and float it in.. it’s one of those days that the condition on the pitch doesn’t make it conducive for the passing game!
Finaly a bit of action…..
COYRSS
Shoot the damn thing ffs Poldi
Not the best half, pretty dire truth be told, but I think a lot of that can be put down to the conditions.
Keep pluging away and hope we can snatch a goal in the second half.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS.
I dont know why are not trying to shoot from outside the box..the conditions are favourable for that..all in all ..Cardiff look dangerous on the break, we did not create much..should have had penalty (sigh..again).
I can’t believe I’m saying this but we miss Giroud…
heh, even Solskjaer has had enough…can only hope we scrape another one
@180
I can’t believe that some can’t see what he brings to the team.
gaack. halftime for me. way out of sync, almost as much as my “live” show. except for the penalty not given and the two minutes of pressure at the end of the half, that wasn’t as good as it needs to be.
These refs are doing my fuvking head in. How was that not a penalty?
Let’s go for a sucker punch after the whistle blows for the second half and get them to open up some
I don’t know about Bendtner – we need more urgency in their half, give them less time to just knock the ball around – not Bendtner’s forte.
But that first half was just not good enough.
COYG – Wake Up!
Cynic @156,
Excellent stream thanks.
It’s even got H2H commentating. 😉
A little more urgency please lads.
COYG’s.
starting again, let’s go lads!!
We are clueless without Rosicky
Good to hear we’re not missing Özilla the Hun.
Getting better, come on lads.
Yellow for their keeper. About time.
How on earth noone got to the end of that pass -_-
Noone plays for them. 🙂
😀 heh H2H
We been pissed poor.. but we shall prevail!
COYG!
Unlucky Jacky.
Pool and chelski gaining.. come on liven things up a bit!
Bendy and Rocky for Poldi and Flami
Come on bendtner… give us one of your headers!
Poldi hardly made an impact.
Ooooooooooooooooo Per
Fuck me come ooon! almost Mert!
Per again.
Come on you gunners
This Bendtner bloke looks ok – anyone know anything about him ?
So close
Wenger’s got some nice new white sneakers, snazzy.
We are near..
dont tell me this is going to be one of those days ffs
Was that a Per or a Pair ?
Or a pear?
From our shots only one on target, this needs to get better.
ooo Feo close
We’re giving them too much respect.. quit tippy tappying and float it in there!
One of those days
Clinical finishers needed! 🙁
How could that be offside?
BEEENNNNDYYYYYYY
Get in
GET THE FUCK IN!!!!
Told you he looked good.
The Greatest …….. 🙂
BENDYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
He plays he scores its simple as that
Looks like he crocked himself scoring.
TV in.
Oh oh, Nick Knack ! 🙁
OK.. my mistake it wasn’t Bendtner’s head 🙂
Now 5 min squecky bum time due to all the time they wasted.
That was worth £52,000 !
Jesus Christ. NB52. Would you Adam and Eve it?!
FEEEEOOOOOOOOOO
Get the fuck in!
It’s Twee Null ! 🙂
FEO!!
Everyone still slagging Jack off today ?
Never in doubt. 😀
Well done lads, well done. Worth the wait.
Now can we please get the HFB back ASAP?
No cerebral flatulence from Sir Chesny today.
Super Szez
Twee Null it isch. 🙂
Not the greatest perfornance, but showed real spirit to keep at it and got what we deserved in the end.
I’m off for a bit, laters all.
WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE, SAY…..
Woj really wanted that clean sheet, nervy stuff but lads dug deep and won it, hopefully NBs knock is not that bad. His cameos are proving to be quite nice so far:)
Whew 😀
This game is a clear indicator of couple of things
-what Rosicky means to this team
-Podolski is definitely not a CF
-starting both Arteta and Flamini at home against lower opposition is really not the brightest idea
-Wilshere best position is ATM. but we have better ATM’s in the squad
-Kos and Mert are the best central defenders in the world
Brilliant finish from Bendy, to be fair.
Love our defence! Top class!
Now if we could only get a clinical finisher… both strikers out now! 🙁
Wilshere is a cash machine ?
Rozza for Flamini changed the game really…fingers crossed TGSTEL’s fine!
Must be post-holiday amnesia – please can someone remind me who’s top of the league?
Thanks.
COYG
Lurky@244: Also what Ozil means to this team. Badly missed between the lines opening up packed defences.
Ah, H2H@242 obliged in a crossing post. Thanks.
Finally
well thank goodness for that. the last quarter of the game we clicked, ad hats off to nick for giving full measure. nice icing from jack and theo.
we’re top of the league, say…
My heart can’t take these kinds of games….
Ref gave us no calls, denied 2 clear penalties, wrong offsides, we missed so many sitters, failed to convert our many corners….
When these teams come to our ground and you don’t get an early goal, it always turns out like this…
Managed to get that important win thanks to Samurai Bendtner and Feo but I was expecting a 0-0 or god forbid, a Cardiff late winner to fuck my night up :/
Crucial wins without Ramsey, Ozil and now Giroud. I love this team….
As well as the goal, Bendy looked more up for it today than he had in previous games.
Overall, not a fluid performance, though the atrocious conditions didn’t help, but a determined performance across the team. Sort of game that in seasons past would have ended up 0-0 or even 0-1.
Pheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew, Another clean sheet another 3 points ! Made hard work of breaking them down but done what was required, The shape and zip wanst really evident today but that can be put down to the changes and amount of games !
Bring on the Cunts !
Up The Arse,
Yesh… my heart definitely isn’t liking this!
Almost 90mins of erratic pounding, feels like have run a marathon next to them kenyans.
Please PLEASE PPPPLEASE get a clinical finisher!!!!
🙂
Also a tip of the hat to Woj. Pulled out a couple of important saves despite not having much to do for the rest of the game.
I was about to post “1-0 to the Arsenal” when I suddenly realised it was 2-0.
Senile? Of course.
Top of the League.
Will need better performances than that to stay there but if we can just keep going until we have all the crocks back, that’ll do fine.
Bring on the Spuds.
Yeah. I don’t mind seeing Bendtner in there at all. In hindsight, I think he might’ve been a better choice to start this game, with Podolski to the left, Cazorla in the middle and Flamini on the bench. We needed a target man today. Podolski looked a little bit lost up there.
NB. Obviously I’m very biased but it seems like the refs have been ganging up on us of late. We cannot buy a penalty. By my count that’s 3 stone cold penalties denied us in the last four games (Chelsea, West Ham, Cardiff). At home, away, makes no difference. What the fuck
REFs have indeed seem undeniably biased against us. But then this is not new, so we’ll just have to win it despite the fact. Best defence in the league, now just need to score more!
What H2H said. Not the greatest performance, but we definitely deserved the points on second half efforts, so well happy with final score.
Will we have any fit ‘proper’ strikers for Spuds now?
NBN @250,
Missing Ozil is so obvious I didn’t even wanted mentioning it.
Thinking about it, cant we do a Fat Sam and batter the Spuds 3-0 without a recognised striker? I reckon so. Wankers.
Hopefully someone will make a “Wilshere v Cardiff” highlights video because he had a whole hatful of shining moments today. He and Theo were my men of the match. Theo worked his hole off all afternoon, making good runs, running past players, whipping in lovely crosses.
Hence it was delightfully apropos when Wilshere found Theo’s run with a deft flick and Theo finished it off with classic grace to take all the mystery out of this one.
COYG
Esso@256. How hurt is the HFB? My understanding was that it was a very short term thing. Could we see him against Sp*rs? Same with Erzil.
Hoops make that Esso @265*
http://arsenalist.com/f/arsenal-vs-cardiff-city/video-both-goals-from-cardiff-match.html
Thanks to Faustus with his technical advice/assistance with NBC Sports Live Extra, as well as my wife and daughter, I got to watch this game and thanks to Bendtner and Rosicky we got the result we deserved in the end. Nervy, but deserved, and still top of the league. Great day to be a goonah.
Must admit, just before the first goal went in, I was resigned to 0-0. Just as well the lads weren’t. That injury to Bendtner must have been his legs reacting to how quickly he pounced on that rebound – they’re not used to moving so fast. Very well taken.
And Jack’s little flick to set Theo free was sublime. I spend most of most games despairing at his quick flicks which hardly ever seem to come off, but it just shows, it only needs to come off once and it can be the difference between a draw and a win. He’s not yet back to his best but some of his turns and sudden surges today show he’s getting there. As long as AW has faith in him, I will too.
The penalty decision when he was brought down looked stone cold from the side but maybe not from the referee’s angle.
Theo’s claim was a joke – sorry, never a foul in a million years.
Also who’s up for a bloody 0-0 snoozefest at the Theater of Screams? Eriksen stretchered off, Rooney dismembered.
@267goonsterham Lincoln
Don’t know about HFB mate, maybe he will be back, but quite frankly given where we are in the League, we’d be mugs not to wrap him in cotton wool for now.
Or buy someone.
Rosicky is a fine example of the stats insignificance in football.
He rarely scores or assists and maybe is a bad option for your Fantasy team, but for Arsenal- he is irreplaceable.
Back to the first half….why wasn’t Arteta taking that free kick, not Sagna? Arteta has little feet, correct? Remember that pile driver vs. Villa at the Ems from pretty much the same distance?
Brilliant! TGSTEL is now out for ‘weeks’.
http://news.arseblog.com/2014/01/bendtner-set-to-miss-weeks-with-ankle-injury/
Get the fucking cheque book out. Pronto!
This is such a pity. He was starting to contribute to our season.
Hahahaha just seen this and honestly it cracked me up 😀
How to football:
1. Give the ball to Rosicky.
2. Watch him get the plays rolling.
3. Win games.
So sad to hear about Bendtner’s injury when it looked like he was about to kick on to a great contribution to our second half. I hope his injury is short term and he still can be a significant part of our run in because today he seemed like a good luck charm and made a massive positive impact.
On the positive side here’s Podolski’s take on why Arsenal are so together this season:
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/-i-ve-never-known-team-spirit-like-this-
GL, see @64. Giroud (and the Ox) listed as back on Jan 4th, so available for the Spurs cup tie. Still no Ozil though.
Just watched the first goal again on arsenalist – that’s an absolute peach of a cross from Nacho.
Dont you just love the fact chelsea and city fans up and down the country let out a rather large sigh when we scored 🙂
Yep time to spend a few quid, Weve got a real chance of doing things this season but need a little push to help,
As for that lot didnt we beat them last time with about 6 fullbacks on the pitch 😉
Acording to Wenger Giroud probably wont make the spurs game and Ox is around 3 weeks away from playing, To be honest if it wasnt that lot i wouldnt be to fussed about an early exit this year – Could do without the extra games, But as its them i hope we smash em “
I like winning. Said the entire game to my mate that our goals would come late, and that there would be more than one. I did think though that we would score earlier than we did, and that we’d get three.
Was really nervous in the end.
Well done lads. You don’t seem to give up, do you? Can’t remember a single game this season when you just gave up. Except that game at OT, perhaps, but that is water under the bridge now. Besides, we’ll get a new shot at the Utd soon.
Looking forward to it.
This win is a demonstration of this team’s drive and determination. Like many, with 5 minutes to go, I was consoling myself with the dubious merits of sitting 2 points behind the leaders and taking advantage of slip-ups. Glad the team have more mental strength.
Pity Nic is crocked. Took his goal well and linked well before it; gave Cardiff more problems than Poldi who may need to buck up. Adding TR7 is like replacing a flat battery with a new one
Oh Rosit-ski. Give that man a new contract.
Spanks @280, 283.
wot Chippy said @283……true that.
That Monreal cross was amazing, our wide play and crosses in general were brilliant today.
now that’s a happy new year…i feel we need a striker though to assist when Giroud is not playing, we kinda lack the perfect finishing
Heh, of course the crosses from our wide players were better on the day we didn’t have Giroud in the middle nor Ramsey to run onto them.
Now let us put everything together in one single game. Preferably against City.
now that’s a happy new year…i feel we need a striker though to assist when Giroud is not playing, we kinda lack the perfect finishing…
so good feeling to be on top still 🙂
COYG..now to the next match and next win
@244 … Wilshere’s best position is most definitely not the ” 10 ” role. Arsene himself says time and again his best is further back in a deep lying playmaker or box to box role. I agree with him. On the left side of the 2 in a 4-2-3-1 is where Jack should play.
LWCs and Utd looking bang average.
Please let both these clubs finish outside the top four. Would make my year.
Oh, N7, they will. Since, apparently, we’ll win the league, and Chelsea and City seem to be able to get the points with their thick squads, and Liverpool have Suarez. That’s four teams by my counting.
On the way back from the game, great result & great spirit from the lads, things looked bleak towards the end (potential draw) but we kept on attacking, pressing the issue and were rewarded with two great goals 🙂
Really is a shame Bendtner sprained his ankle (Ben ‘Time-Waster’ Marshall’s fault) because compared to other games he’s played in this season, he was so much more involved, especially in his pressing of the player with the ball.
Don’t know exactly how long he’s out for but I doubt he’ll be sold in this transfer window, can’t really see him passing a medical with the state of his ankle but I hope he can continue to contribute to this team, and maybe at the end of the season we’ll be able to see him off with a medal or two to his name 🙂
I didn’t any part of the 1st half but the watching the 2nd half I felt it was only a matter of when and not if we will score.
I wasn’t expecting Podolski to do any more better than he did upfront, it’s quite clear that playing in the middle of the front 3 in the 4-3-3 system we mostly play doesn’t suit him just as it doesn’t suit Theo.
I think Theo himself is quietly coming around to the above fact too, he stretched the game well for us today until the last few minutes when we switched our formation and he was, as seen on TV, clearly instructed by, I assume Arsene through, Bould to play through the middle with Nicklas. Theo also worked his socks off all day so credit to him. Its quite clear he is working hard to improve his game and add things that don’t come naturally to his game. His finishing has gone up another level, his shot accuracy/power is getting there too.
I would have started Bendtner today if I was picking the team but I guess Arsene knew he could come on in the 2nd half and still get the job done if Poldi doesn’t do it. Credit to Bendtner for putting in a shift today. It’s a bit of a tricky situation with him especially now he is injured but I would give him a 2nd chance if we can’t get top quality striker in this window.
I have seen some people claim that Arsene made a tactical mistake by playing Flamini and Arteta together and not starting Rosicky from kick-off. I believe Rosicky is at a stage in his career where 2 games in three days is a bit of a stretch for him so it was logical to start Flamini, give TR7 a rest and if by 2nd half we had no breakthrough then we bring TR7 in. It’s a bit of a gamble but so also is TR7 starting 2 games in 3 days.
A word too for Nacho Monreal, he came in and did a very good job. His cross for the first goal was excellent. His crosses are generally better than that of Gibbs and I’d like to see him start more games but I understand the advantages of having a settled back four.
Generally, a great team performance, it wasn’t always pleasing on the eye but the boys kept on plugging away and got rewarded for it. Don’t underestimate the impact wins like this will have on our rivals watching our games hoping to see us lose only for us to score late and break their hearts. Fergie’s Manure teams did it to me so many times I almost never hoped they will lose games. I imagine wins like this will have the same psychological impact on players from our rival teams.
On to the next game. Up The Arse!
ManU lose! heh!
Meanwhile, Fortress Old Toilet continues to crumble. Another no-lose match resulted in yet another dawn for the Tinies; I guess one day it won’t be a false one, but not this season, I think.
Any bets on the running order for MoTD tonight? I anticipate $hitti, Chavs and Man IOU all being on before us, probably Liverpoo too.
COYG
Assists…
Boom
St Nick !!!
And Feo … Feo is about to let it off the chain.
Please do NOT let me down!
Well done the arsenal. And please – can we resign TR7 asap??
Thanks for the assist, Cent. Laid it on a plate… couldn’t miss…
COYG
Heh
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bc6tNp6CAAAr_XC.jpg:large
Well in Pangloss.
Well in, Pangloss!
Cheers, Pangloss.
Heh @303.
Cheeky bid for Welbeck this January? I would like him at Arsenal. So underrated.
Well in for the triple ton, Pangloss. And an assist for Cent.
@cent, I felt the same way too. Thought bendtner should have started and just have poldi/theo on the wings. Now that both nick and Giroud are injured what do we do. Something has to give though, we most likely will need another striker. Question is what kind of striker can we get? I really feel we can win this thing this year.
Just got home, stayed behind to watch the mid-table clash at Old Trafford too.
We got what we deserved in the end, we didn’t play well but we dug in and kept going and that Sagna header that lead to the goal was the work of sheer determination. It reminded me a little bit of his goal to make it 1-2 in the first of the 5-2’s. Feel quite sorry for Bendtner to be honest, he worked hard and played quite well and then the goalie lands on his ankle after he’s scored and he’s out for a few weeks. Jack deserves a mention, he really got going in the second half and starting bossing the game.
Cent knows about Rosicky, he can’t start games in such quick succession.
Not much more to add, really.
The other game served up two nervous teams who displayed little quality. Rooney is either not 100% fit or he’s had enough and his heart’s not in it anymore because for most of the game he ran very little, didn’t get involved and was generally invisible. De Gea should have saved the second goal. Smalling and Valencia are atrocious at defending. However, how Webb failed to give the penalty when Lloris schythed down Young I will never know. But this will test ManU’s patience, how many more chances will Moyes be given?
Pangloss, we’re atually up first on MOTD, this is from the MOTD Facebook account:
Thought our #14 will score the first goal of 2014 but TGSTEL stole the show
A perfect new year gift from Le Boss: a new contract for Rozza
Coo, thanks for the info Lars@311. I’ll believe it when I see it, tho’ (which won’t be this evening as I’m off to work in Cardiff bright :-/ and early 🙁 tomorrow morning).
Hmmm, next three League matches are Villa(A), Fulham(H) and Southampton(A). Select your preference from:
Poor team away, poor team at home and over-achieving team who should be ripe for the plucking away; or
Tricky away game against a team that’s already turned us over at our place, London derby in which the form book means nothing and this season’s surprise package away.
I guess it will come as no surprise that I’m going for option a).
COYG
It is in! 😀
Used the urinary so many times during the match today but hardly did a drop of urine come forth. Ah! We finally combed them to my relief. Thanks guinness my prediction came to pass.
Greetings and congrats to all hölix. Would go with a Poldi-Walcott-Gnabry triology upfront against the LWCs come 4th.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Young was probably the reason it wasn’t given – He’s made Refs look proper Charlie’s with his last few Dives, Probably went against him ! Even so for Webb not to give Man U a pen is astounding 😉