Win tickets to Young Guns Enclosure in Emirates Stadium!
Apr 15th, 2014 by 'holic
We’ve teamed up with Arsenal to offer a lucky 12-16 year old reader a pair of tickets each to the Gunners’ Premier League game with West Brom on Sunday 4 May 2014.
The tickets will be in Arsenal’s ‘Young Guns Enclosure’, which has given thousands of young supporters the chance to watch each Category B and C weekend match at Emirates Stadium this season for just £10.
Thanks to the generosity of Arsenal’s partners Indesit, the Gunners will be making available a total of 500 complimentary tickets for 12-16 year old supporters to the final home match of the campaign. More details can be found at Arsenal.com/JuniorGunners.
For the chance to win a pair of tickets just answer this question:
Which young Arsenal star recently became the first player born after Arsene Wenger joined the club to feature for the first team?
– Serge Gnabry
– Gedion Zelalem
– Yaya Sanogo
So if you and a friend (must also be 12-16) want to be at the final home game of the season send your answer to competition@goonerholic.com before midnight on Tuesday 22nd April. Please include your name and email address so Arsenal can contact you to make the arrangements if you are the winner.
For more information on Arsenal’s Young Guns enclosure and how to get hold of tickets, visit www.arsenal.com/yge
376 Responses to “Win tickets to Young Guns Enclosure in Emirates Stadium!”
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Umm, I’m 12 and I have a hormonal problem so I look close to 50 is that OK? Excellent for the junior goners again. Thanks ‘Holic again.
Oops goners? gooners
Holic, e-mails from the club this morning announce that this match has been moved to 1.30pm on Sunday 4 May for TV schedules.
Arsenal fans – always ahead of the game, but behind the TV schedules!
Like a trophy.
FFP suddenly get’s interesting;
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/news/10766475/Manchester-City-to-be-made-to-pay-a-high-price-for-spending-spree-under-Uefa-Financial-Fair-Play-rules.html
Uefa could really make a statement now. Sanctioning these teams, say by way of a transfer embargo, would be a step in the right direction.
But how ridiculous would it be if they just fined clubs that have bottomless pits of resources?
Waste of time hitting them with fines, H2H. But that is exactly what they will do because UEFA then get the sheckles to keep the gravy train on the road. They will tub thump about greater sanctions to come much like the EU and USA are currently doing to Russia but nothing will come of it.
I’ve been pretty sceptical from the start, Bath. The last few years will all boil down to this decision. Fuck it up and FFP will be just another empty slogan.
A fine is absurd and a waste of time (but probably the most likely outcome for the reason Baff describes above).
A transfer embargo would be interesting and more equitable.
And therefore won’t happen.
If any teams are going to be kicked out of their competitions you can bet your last dollar that it will not be any team from any of the so called “major leagues”.
Speaking of transfer embargoes, what’s the latest on Barcelona?
Last I saw they’d had a two-year embargo stuck on them, which would be a tad inconvenient to say the least as they’ve got a couple of players who want to retire at the end of the season.
They are appealing apparently, and will be able to make transfers until the case has been heard.
I think.
Ask N7 – he’s our resident legal eagle (apart from Wolfie when in civvies).
Pangloss: from what I have read, Barca are going to appeal the decision so that they shall at least be able to buy/sell players this summer pending a final verdict.
Ah, zico beat me to it!
@ zico
Not really my field, but I gather that any transfer embargo will be suspended during appeal. That’s certainly the case with Barcelona:
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/barcelona-transfer-ban-spanish-giants-will-be-able-to-sign-players-this-summer-after-confirming-appeal-9234814.html
Also just came across this article, which is very interesting:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/datablog/2014/apr/15/atletico-madrid-shrewd-transfer-policy-financial-fair-play
If we look beyond the issue of the manager (who will likely be gone either this summer or in two years time), tactics, etc, there are two elements which need to be at the core of our medium to long term strategy:
(i) resolving our ridiculous injury record. Frankly, I don’t care if we have to start beheading physios at half time – just fix it, because it nullifies any other improvement we make – apparently this season we’ve had 50% more injuries than the next least fortunate team in the Premier League; and
(ii) spending. Take a look at the first chart in the Guardian link above. We are never going to be at the top of that chart, but right now we’re at the bottom – an area from which virtually nobody wins major trophies. We should shoot for the middle. Three or four summers of material investment – doesn’t have to be £100m spunked in a single summer, just £30-40m per year – and we’ll have a team that can really go places, assuming we buy correctly.
I feel I should add the now regular caveat that none of the above is Wenger-related. Whatever your position on him, he will be gone at some point in the near future, and it’s important that the next man inherits a team that isn’t riven by injuries and under-investment. We will never be a truly competitive club until we fix these problems, and the age of austerity is supposedly now over.
It’s time for us to put our house in order.
As for the FFP stuff, I will be stunned if it’s effectively enforced, but will lead the cheering from the rooftops if that happy event comes to pass. Fines would clearly be a total joke.
And Chav$ki will get caught next year when they have to make a loss less than £37.2m over 3 seasons instead of the current 2 which their modest profit of 2 seasons ago allows them to meet.
It means that they either have to liquidate assets (Torres? Luis? Hazzard?) before buying their alleged target striker Costa.
Alternatively if they decide FFP is toothless, they could just say “Fuck it” and go back to their big spending from years ago.
I suspect Maureen will be agitating for the second option.
The only thing that encourages UEFA to actually try to enforce their rules is the prospect of further teams ignoring them if they are seen not to punish $hitteh and PSG effectively for their obscene expenditures to hoover up talent.
I wonder where Monaco are in this equation?
Thanks zico, Lars.
If fines are imposed then FFP might as well not exist! Oil money clubs and others fulled by infinity cash flow will always find a way to get past it and UEFA will be getting richer so who will complain?
Thanks bath, must proof read next time 🙂
No time for Wham preview. The ‘holic pound is nervously punted on 1-0 at 15/2.
See some later. Currently racing through the gloriously sunny home counties. Diabolical thirst brewing 🙂
(Takes ATG more literally than he had intended)
@17 Presumably, the people who might complain are the people who called for FFP in the first place. Anyone remember why FFP was brought in? I’m hanged if I can.
Platini brought it in in response to the hoovering up of talent by primarily Chav$ki and $hitteh, hastened by similar activity at PSG, Momaco and briefly Malaga. All this was seen to be destabilising the established hegemony and was to be quashed but dressed up as an attempt to prevent the ‘good guys’ bankrupting themselves, like Leeds, in an attempt to keep up.
Preview: courtesy of Zico
“Just fucking win, Arsenal”
Ends.
My two pennies?
Barker were always going to appeal.
The warnings are being sent out re; embargo’s that clubs cannot do what they feel anymore
FFP need’s clarifying for us to determine if we will benefit or not!
Tonight? Let’s not take it for granted lads! Top four is out of our hands!
We need the right level of determination going into tonight’s match! Going back in front of the Toffees will give us that psychological advantage!
Let’s get our smack on tonight!
Bite sized chunks folks! 😉
I think FFP is also partly an attempt to control spiraling player wage inflation.
In a world without oil clubs, would a 31 year old right back be asking us for over £100k a week?
I think not.
When I get a minute I need to get my head round FFP! 😉
A fine is only one of several possible sanctions:
http://www.uefa.com/community/news/newsid=2064391.html
Thanks for the kind ones in the previous drinks, re my post @200 in the drinks before, damn these new posts are coming fast and furious.
Ned, well I don’t recall that so I guess I’m not that old. 🙂
Not getting a lot done at work at the moment, I must confess. Too many thoughts on the game tonight.
It is indeed Lars, but my point was that it would be a pointless punishment for those of means the likes of the oil drenched clubs.
In other news;
Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo, 34, says former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson ruined his “purity” when he got Park Ji Sung to man-mark him during a game between his former club AC Milan and the Old Trafford outfit.
Full story: The Times
How bloody close did he mark him? 😉
Heh @ 30!
We really need Everton to bottle a couple of their games…at least the 2 Manc clubs games, if not more…and we really need to step up and win ours…how did this happen?? anyways, onwards and upwards!!
Lars
Good find indeed, so UEFA are going to fine the rich clubs and by that time they’ll be filthy rich themselves so they can start their own club UEFA FC?
I have not really read enough about this FFP but you are guaranteed there will be loopholes which will definitely get exposed.
As for tonight well…… :O
As Bath mentioned above:
“Just fucking win, Arsenal”
Peter
I think the Southampton games looks good as well, I reckon they drop points there as well.
H2H@29: no arguments from me on that point, just wanted to point out that fines are by no means the only punishment available.
Wenger: “Imagine the worst situation – we lose Fabregas and Nasri. You cannot convince people you are ambitious after that. You cannot pretend you are a big club.” – Arsene Wenger, then loses those two players who wanted out.
It is ironic that Citeh who have been financially doping themselves for about four years are at risk and Chavski who have been doing it for over ten are apparently OK. I understand this was because Abramovich converted their huge debt into equity. While this financial chicanery us allowed there will never be a way of curtailing the activities if the vulgar oil clubs.
The likes of Martin Samuel believe that FFP is iniquitous because it preserves the status quo and stops the likes of Jack Walker turning a club around. It’s a valid point but the big concerns that fuelled FFP were, as I recall, the inflation that these nouveau riche clubs injected into the system by buying new teams at vastly inflated fees and salaries. This has a knock on effect on all the other clubs.
Tonight the new Holic mantra applies – JFWI!
ATG: since Soton lost to Cardiff this past weekend I’m not feeling so sure bout that one tbh…
anyways, flying home to N8 while the match is on tonight…let’s hope when I switch back on its the result we want
tbh, I kinda like the Walrus (esp as he stuck it to Maureen lol) and would normally support him..BUT NOT TONIGHT!!
Can you imagine if Suarez was at Arsenal and wanted out, they’d of capitulated
I’m trying to get an idea of why UEFA started with FFP, in the hope that this will give me a way of judging how likely they are to follow through on it.
Most of the stuff I’ve seen – on Wikipedia and the article that Lars posted a link to – seems to be pretty much motherhood and apple pie. UEFA appear to be saying that they are doing something because the current situation is obviously unfair, or words to that effect. That’s lovely, and I’m sure we all want things to be fair, including supporters of the oil-fuelled clubs, who’s idea of fairness is probably that they keep everything that they’ve got and other clubs are free to go and look for a sugar daddy of their own.
I’m not completely convinced that UEFA really mean it with FFP and are going to follow through. Against that, and giving me reason to hope, is that UEFA have imposed a pretty swingeing penalty on Barcelona in the shape of a transfer ban. Sure, Braca have appealed and the ban won’t come into effect until the appeal goes through, but if we assume that UEFA are vaguely competent and have consulted vaguely competent lawyers, then there’s a reasonable chance that the appeal will be dismissed and the ban will stand.
Admittedly there are some rather large assumptions abiove, which may well be wide of the mark, but on balance, I believe my default position of “Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst” seems appropriate.
Meanwhile, back to tonight’s match…
COYG
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/apr/15/world-cup-stunning-moments-dennis-bergkamp-wonder-goal
I heart God.
This might help Holics!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/news/10766491/Uefas-Financial-Fair-Play-rules-explained.html
Wenger claims “We SHALL win a trophy this season!” yet “throws” and shows utter contempt towards competitions i.e. FA Cup and League Cup, in favour of the more “bigger” prizes/competitions, in which they never come close to winning neither, so completely, and utterly, pointless!
Seeing him try and take the League Cup more seriously now, after years of contempt, and still not winning it, is such an ironic thing. So desperate to try and make it look like his “project” as finally come to fruition.
Get somebody else in to give it a chance and take us back to the heights Wenger can no longer do. Or WON’T do.
Someone who hasn’t won a pot for years, in a position to chuck any competition under no pressure from the board is way beyond words. Lack of squad depth?
Who’s to blame for that then?
Cheers Lars.
I guess you’ll be off to the pub soon.
Give the Sweedish massive my best.
“It is unacceptable for a big club to go 4 years without a league title.” – Arsene Wenger.
No League Title for Wenger for 10 years, and trophyless for 9 and counting…………
Good guess, H2H – I am off just about… now!
Another hour and a half for , it’s dragging now!
From the previous drinks:
Dr Faustus @ 64, thank you, but I can only aspire to reach the levels of eloquence you attain every post 🙂
Bosnian Gooner @ 67, appreciated 🙂
Goonertown @ 68, haha, tell me what you think 😉
LTHG @ 70, thank you for your kind words, I’d say the three of us did ourselves & this bar proud 🙂
ATG @ 72, thanks mate 🙂
People claim no player is bigger than the club. And that’s true. But they also claim the team can cope without a big player leaving. Time to move on. But then why is it different for a change in manager then?! A player may not be missed. If replaced. So surely a manager can as well eh?
The Club’s a laughing stock. Sooner it goes tits up, and Arsenal learn the hard way, the better. The more cunts who re-new their season tickets (mainly the Wenger brigade) etc (and yet still complain), is the reason the board and Wenger get away with it continually.
Tollie-bound. Laters muchachos.
*ignores troll*
Bath
Is there a troll in the bar? Where? 😉
When you got a manager and board of directors happy and content with winning nothing and finishing 3rd and 4th, you are never gonna be successful again.
Nice article that N7, a bit laboured but good all the same, not too sure what the author was trying to prove by quoting Vanilla Ice though. Wrong Iceman. 😉
That was one of those “remember where you were when…..” moments.
It was a Tuesday, that meant Mellow Moods, which was a weeky gig I used to play in a place called The Temple in The Hague. The downstairs area had been transformed to a viewing area so punters could watch the game before boogeying the night away, the one thing I’ll never forget was how the commentater, Jack van Gelder, completly lost it, as mentioned in the interview, reduced to a screaming mad man only able to utter the name of God;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdtdV_heCpo
George Graham said on his arrival as Arsenal manager: “If you can’t think big, or act big, at a club like Arsenal, you may as well crawl under the carpet….” Wenger needs to crawl and rot under his Aubusson. It was a shame the board never shared Graham’s ambitions too, restricted to a shoe-string budget and strict (at the time) wage policy which got thrown out the window when he was sacked. If the board bent over backwards for Graham like the twit Wenger now, he would of been even more successful! Particularly when Graham made Arsenal a lot of money for his successes.
I’ve just realised – it’s the half term holidays, isn’t it?
Is there a garbage collection operative in the house?
SACK THE BOARD AND WENGER!! It is the only way forward if Arsenal are to win trophies. Lie to the fans. Just because Wenger wants to do it his way and bring on shit kids and basement/bargain buys just to save a few bob, who are too young (or old and has beens or never beens of will be) and not good enough, then blame the lack of success on “Lack of maturity.” A self-inflicted, repetitive wound..
And people defend Wenger (Arsene knows brigade and apologists) stating the board are letting Wenger down in regards to transfer money. Wenger is the man behind it!! He wanted to move to the stadium and do things on the cheap with his “Experiment” (his word) and brain-washed the board to the point they are now BOTH to blame.
Per, The Bully 🙂
https://vine.co/v/MJPJ9pEAijl
After we won the FA Cup (un-deserved playing negatively and shit, something Wenger hates and slates other clubs who do that against us whom we struggle) in 2005, we have had to watch Liverpool, Chelsea and in-particularly, Man United, sweep the lot between them, i.e. CL and the PL. What a wonderful place to be in! And people reckon us Arsenal fans are spoilt! What the fuck does that make United and Chelsea fans then eh?! United dominated the 90′s, and now the 2000′s!
And who can forget Avram Grant, reaching his first CL Final in only a few months, someone who was inexperienced and might not even had the right coaching badges etc. Something Wenger had taken a decade to do in reaching the final, and still not won a Champions League! In fact, the only manager to reach all 3 finals of each European competition and lose!
5.
The number of goals we have scored in our last 6 games. Meaning we are average less than one goal a game in that time.
I hope we can exceed our average and make ‘holic’s prediction of 1-0 a reality.
People also brand Wenger a genius. Truth is, the bloke is an idiot! Why would a genius make the same old simple and many mistakes eh? Bunch of Wenger (magic) ass-hats. And does a so-called “genius” go a total since they have been at a club of around a DECADE without a trophy?! And does a genius who has had such wonderful, world-class players at their disposal, have such a shit general record in Europe and never won a CL and back-2-back league titles?!
Bloke wants to admit defeat, gain respect by clearing off to Japan or France and take the board of directors with him. Prove how “good” he is by building a young/youth team with a small club over there for peanuts. Then if he makes them world-class, THEN we can say he is a genius. What a prick. Fucked Arsenal just like he did with Monaco. In fact, even worse. At least they had the balls to drop kick him into touch where they replaced him with Tigana. Who went that extra step and signed the right players in order to achieve success
h2h@53, i LOVE that clip. thanks.
anyone seen much of norcal lately?
People are also quick to harp on about how we wouldn’t even be where we are today without Wenger. Damn right about that!! Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Same people, however, aren’t as quick to notice that the past 9 seasons, which have been crap, are also thanks to Wenger.
You’re welcome scruz.
NorCal was here the other day under the monniker Dr Sleep.
Wenger himself, stated he would be happy to finish second for the next 20 years. And yet he can’t even achieve that! What kind of loser mentality, particularly for a big club is that?!! Not to mention people defend the fraud for not winning anything for 9 years is down to no money to spend. If he were such a great manager as morons claim, then why would he need money to win trophies?! He can’t even win ONE trophy! And besides, it isn’t even just about winning silverware. It’s the whole mentality. Rotten right through the core. Top to bottom.
i’ll go back and check, thanks h2h. i am hoping to convince him the fa cup final is worth driving a few hours to watch (and hopefully celebrate) at maggie mcgary’s (as bt8b shows above) next month.
every time i watch that god clip i laugh and revel in that man’s passion. it’s downright spiritual. speaking of spirits, a drink’s on the bar for you…sazerac rye, a wash of vieux pontarlier, and a twist of a sorrentine lemon.
Sounds yummy, cheers. 😉
Good post @ 13 – totally agree.
Our future in the hands of the Fence-Painter(s).
*shudders*
NorCal has been auditioning for work with the Feelgood Foundation in another place.
He is in rude health. 😉
Kallstrom starts
Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Arteta, Rosicky, Kallstrom, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud.
subs
Fabianski, Bellerin, Jenkinson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Sanogo, Akpom
Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Arteta, Rosicky, Kallstrom, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud
Oops – sorry Lurky
No Ox, no Ramsey in the starting line-up.
Vermaelen at LB. No Gibbs, no Monreal on the bench.
Interesting.
Not much pace in that line up. But wwet soam will probably play deep anyway.
A bit worried with TV at left back.
zico, that’s my luck. i never hear where those auditions are taking place.
sigh, guess i’ll just have to keep using the paperclip on the happy train medicine cabinet lock 🙂
Oh, I’ve been wondering why noone was drinking in the previous bar all day …… Doh!
Agreed, N7,
It is imperative to fix the injury situation whatever else happens.
It was interesting after my injury piece a couple of weeks ago that only one person really reacted at all aggressively to it. He/she appeared to be someone with a very detailed knowledge of what goes on at the medical centre.
Given the totally non-accusatory tone of my piece, i’ve been quite irritated by the style of that response and one point in particular.
This person said that Goonerholic was among those who had a chance to put questions to the staff during a tour of the new centre, and that those questions were all answered.
I told him that I had supplied Holic, as requested, with my theory and that noone had offered any real response at the time.
Well, they still haven’t.
That sort of “we do everything possible and analyse everything here, and you don’t know what goes on, and we only have average numbers of injuries so you’re wrong” reply is not really a reply at all.
It smacks of someone being very defensive, and that usually happens because someone has something to lose.
I may be wrong of course. A slightly more illuminating response would have been nice. Sad if a genuine possibility is being ignored because someone is defending their territory.
West Ham: Adrian; Reid, Tomkins, Demel, Armero; Noble, Nocerino, Jarvis, Diame, Downing; Carroll.
No Nolan, but decent starting 11.
h2h, i do like we’ve got speed on the bench, though. hit the spammers when they’re tiring. would love to see me some akpom in a 4-4-2 with giroud, aaron with kimmy in the middle and ox/santi on the wings. how’s about by the 65th minute, please?
@75 H2H
Exactly. No pace at all.
I might be wrong but this looks like it is the oldest Arsenal starting line-up in a while.
Trev,
I’m surprised that you’re surprised.
Said before, so bad is their record, I would sack them all tomorrow to see if our injury situation got any worse.
A bit like “burn the witch” type approach. 😉
And what the hell is the point of fining people because they continually spend too many hundreds of millions of pounds ?
UEFA could always just hear the appeal before the next window opens and ban them anyway. How’s that for lateral thinking.
Chelsea appealed their ban and got all their business done before their commuted sentence began.
Complete farce.
how about they fine the teams some ungodly amount, *and* prevent them from adding during the windows? unless there’s something against double-dipping.
Zico, i’m not really surprised, just annoyed that this person seemed to be very close to what happens and was so dismissive of an honest and, I think, original bit of thinking.
It does seem to be the response to most things that question the status quo.
@81 Zico
This type of approach?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2xlQaimsGg
How much would you fine the Qatari Foundation then, scruz ?
exactly like that Lurky 🙂
i dunno, trev, half a billion pounds? as much money as they spent on transfers in the affected years, x10? x100? at least that’d make it interesting 🙂
World class troll ignoring to everyone above.
*wipes spit off sleeve*
BTW, anyone got a stream?
CG
http://sportz-hd.eu/
I think that this game is the most important game of the season so far.
Win tonight with this depleted squad and the pressure will ease, important players will come back, there will be more time (one week) to reanimate between the games, we will consolidate.
Lose or draw and I am afraid the top 4 finish is over.
@75 H2H, I share your worries especially with Podolski’s tendency to forget about defensive duties. Now we can only hope for the best.
This is a real chance for Kallstrom to show his reach experience. He used to be one hell of a shooter from a distance…hoping to see something from him that confirms the reputation.
Worried about Gibbo, we need him badly.
I just posted under my old name….cheers ATG
AW:
“Ramsey & Chamberlain are not medically available. Gibbs is out. I don’t have much choice tonight.
Who would have guessed that.
Why always us? Why?
Are we not Arsenal?
Please do not say we are Devo.
Right another thriller coming our way?
Come on Arsenal!
Lurky, we play again in five days.
Come on boys!!!!
Real shame about Rambo and OX will really miss them tonight!
Bamm
Kallstrom to make AW look like a genius? Nah, too far fetched.
Kos is back so naturally Gibbs AND Monreal are out.
Beyond a joke.
Sorry, but if you can’t stay fit for half a game, time’s up.
cOYR
Big game for many reasons
Canons outwards
Great strike H2H
I wasn’t even thinking about the assist 🙂
Here we go!
Come on!
COME ON YOU GOONERS
COME ON YOU REDSSSSS
COME ON YOU REDS! wipe the floor with these wet spammers…
nice holdup work, og. first corner to us.
if they mention we’re two points behind everton again, i am going to scream.
COYR
Come on lads pick it up
JFWI boys.
Nice stream ATG, even if I do have to watch adverts for expensive toilets that can rinse your ringpiece!
do they give these announcers a set of talking points to drive into the ground? just fucking DIRE to listen to.
porco, wolfie will be along anytime now that you’ve mentioned it.
Rosicky wake the fuck up!
Get ya foot on it giroud!!!!
What a ball by poldi
The HFB shoulda done better.
I think I quite like KK. He definitely adds something to our midfield that it hasn’t had for a long time…height and strength.
Heh Scruz
agreed h2h, porco. he should have done better, and he does add height and strength. he is holding off noble well there.
Well done TV
Sagna is so out of form.
Riding our luck there
oh. watch that diame lad. too easy, though he scooped it over.
We look so fragile
so glad downing’s dreck.
Come on lads! Stadium rather quiet.
We’re looking like the away team ….
Hope their senseless running will leave em empty later!
Fuckity fuck giroud
Come on a striker you need to take these wtf was that?
Weak effort. 🙁
To be fair Giroud was a leg offside….!
slam it og, slam it. FUCK.
What the fuck Giroud?????
COME ON ARSENAAAAL
Giroud that’s absolutely terrible.
And why with three attackers with the ball on the left wing does it go back to the centre back ?
working it nicely, keep up the pressure. that’s how we’ll get a goal.
A little bit more effort shown, niiiccccceee.
That’s more like it…………COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
good work, boys. keep it up. great getting the ball back after losing it deep.
This style arsenal would suit denilson perfectly
Sideways and sideways and back and then do it all again
good hustle, bac.
Come on lads put the effort in come on!!!!
Fuckity fuck
FUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCK
That was fuckign awful! WTF was that all about!
Oh dear oh dear oh dear.
fucking fucking fuck.
There we go.
Ah.. we seem to be lacking that hunger again…!
Another comeback needed only this time we have to score 2.
Come on boys. Just…
Handbrake needs to come off and just go for it
Nice shot Kimmy….!
better, from kallstrom. come on, reds!
Poldiiiiiiiii
POOOOOOOLDDIIII
Rosicky is so good he plays a 1-2 off their player!
………and POLDIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!
At last they have woken up! Get in the Poldi!
Why is he not striker
seriously, aussie, it doesn’t matter how many we lose by. take it to them. come ON.
LOOOOOOKASSSSS
Fuckin A!!!!!!
took a slight deflection, but fucking well done lukas. five more like that, please.
Awful hair Giroud…. and shot properly FFS!
If we sqeeze them we can beat them no questions asked we need to fucking put the effort in and put some pressure on them!
Just heard Kallstrom’s cross. Who annoyed him?
Thank you, thank you.
Agree scruz as suggested @ 153 ?
Giroud needs to stop challenging like a four year old girl.
Can we please leave Podolski on the pitch as he is the only one who has any clue where the goal is.
Really nice take – thank god.
Maybe Poldi should play up front and Giroud should lay it off to him.. that would be interesting!
OG needs to stop smiling and start working on his shots after training!
BB
I think Sanogo should come on is he fit?
yeah, 153 auz.
chuba chuba chuba chuba chuba…
Please tell Vermaelen that full backs generally play towards the side of the pitch – not like he’s never done it before.
And Nutty would never have allowed that run through our left hand side that led to their goal.
Our aggression is non-existant.
Sorry, but I’m sick of seeing us get pushed around. Just get stuck in !!!
Switch to 4-4-2,
Stretch the platy and have more then no one in the box to aim for.
It’s not rocket science, is it?
All those passing through the middle is breathtaiing when it comes off, but that isn’t often enough.
Wenger talks about going back to basics, well there it is……
trev, that goal was due to bac not tracking jarvis all the way into the box. he trailed him, then went towards goal. had he stayed with him, he was in front of him, and that header would have been away by bac.
kallstrom’s glacial pace certainly played a role, but if bac tracks back it’s a nonissue.
Question.
Does Paul Merson always talk like a Care in the Community patient?
I don’t know but if Giroud doesn’t buck up, I guess Sanogo would have to come on.
But it’s not like Giroud is not trying, it’s just that his shots just don’t come off, he’s laying off passes and holding the ball good enough.
I would play Poldi down the middle just to shake things up!
Did you notice Poldi’s facial expression after he scored? No smile, no celebration. Should we be worried?
Girouds “effort” just before the Spammers scored was pathetic, what was he thinking?
i noticed that too; i thought the goal had been called offside at that point. not worried.
No bosnian – poldi is just telling arsene why dont you play me at striker with my hammer boot.
I dont like to defend anyway so just leave me up front to knock em in all day long
He was trying something that his current form gives him absolutely no right to. Maybe this could be Sanogo’s time cuz the OG sure as shit doesn’t look likely to score.
181@179, that was.
Bb@178. – yep spot on poldi down the middle whay not
H2H
No killer instinct in his body language! He fluffed it that’s all to it! A striker should be netting that no questions asked!
Bosnian,
I’d be worried. The guy has a mountain of German caps but apparently is not good enough to play for an Arsenal team that can’t score in a brothel.
He needs a run of games in a position or a system that suits him. Him scoring record for the number of games he’s played is very good. Seems everyone else gets the benefit of the doubt but .poldi is axed ‘cos he’s not a good defender.
Was he supposed to be a good defender when we signed him ?
Well make or break I suppose we need to push them all the way!
Effor lads come on!
scruz. If Poldi doesn’t smile after either of his next two in the second half, it could be a trend. 🙂
I hope Wenger spelt it out to the team:
We. Must. Win.
Trev
Never
Trev @102 -sadly have to agree
COYRG
Aussie, you might be right. Lets just hope he will continue hammering them in the 2nd half as well.
Poldi has had the chance to play down the middle on a number of occasions, he wasn’t exactly great.
Subject for another date, for now.
COME ON YOU REDSSSSSSSS
H2H with you in 4 4 2
But Poldi and Ox
Not watching so I cannot comment.
But I’m hardly surprised. Both that our defending is crap and that Poldi scored.
What the hell is going on out there though?
Or porco one other way he could put it could be something like
just fucking win !!!!
Dear KK,
Stop giving the goddamn ball away would you.
Thanks ever so much.
PR
Agree H2H – but its west ham and just leave him there way up front for his hammer boot
At least it sounds like they players are making a go. Not just sitting back getting stuffed like for Liverpool and cheslki.
C’mon you gunners!!!!!
Come on Rosicky !!!
Spot on Aussie.
Homer try wiziwig.TV lots of streamsy
playing mildly so far. just missing passes above their box, let’s get organized and play quickly lads.
Thats better boys
Quick fizzing passes
Come on
nice break, great work by og at the right side. corner to us.
Yeeessssssss
At last OG come on that was a touch of class!
Finally …………………GIROUDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!
OK GIROOOOOUUUD
All is forgiven. 😉
another corner. keep up the pressure.
Oh god it’s OG
Wow great touch OG
BEAUTIFUL.
Girouuuuuuuud!!!!!!!
Has he just rediscovered his touch??
one hell of a first touch. nutmegs the keeper. kisses his hillsborough armband and points skyward. total class.
Bugger the street’s been taken down anyone got another?
do not fall asleep now, you gunners.
per is whacked. fucking spammers.
Stream not street!!!
I need a stream if anyone can help…
Arsenes wrinkles across his brow seem to have disappeared.
many thanks cognac!
OG on the score sheet! I almost don’t believe it.
Really … =)
good, meat snack is up and running. GET THE THIRD, YOU REDS!
i will say that og bookended that whole sequence. he held the ball up for the play that led to the first corner, and ended up scoring after the second. *that* is why he’s valuable to us.
Come on Arsenal!
now wet spam are going to be draped all over the ref. bastards, true fat spam spawn.
GET IN.
What, we haven’t scored 3 already? I mean, it is Fat Sam after all. Where’s that laughing Walrus pic when you need it?
Come on Arsenal!
BMBD
nice one, poldi.
A little late Kimmy….!
Oooooooh santi
Wow…. Cazorla’s shot looked in!
COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well played Santi glad he took a shot that whisked the post!
OOoooooooo Santi
oooooooh, santi. GO you red muthafuckas, GO.
Sorted
Sagna come on!
This is torture…we seriously need a third goal…
Sagna was slow to that ball come on!
FInally…some tenacity and fight in this team!
COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rosicky looked reall bad it has to be said not his day maybe!
Ramsey on for Rosicky!
Come on ref you cuntproder.
Ramsey for TR7
Ohhh Ramsey….!
great ball to aaron from og, bad first shot back, aaron.
sammy’s boys playing hit and hope. let’s put in another, damn it.
POOOOOOLLLLLDDDDIIII
Come on Poldi! GET in there!
COME ON!
POLDI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What did i say???? 🙂
Won’t say I told you so but I told you so. 🙂
The hammmmmer
Ohhhhh yeahhhh
What a team goal that was
And Giroud was a Pre-Assist 😉
POLLLLLDDDDDDIIIIIII
Now that’s what I’m talking about!
Let’s go for another!!!!
Great header from Ramsey it has to be said whenj he came on we came to live again!
Play the guy up front but not on his own with his back to goal.
That was really my point H2H. He’s not a lone striker granted, but put him in facing the goal and he’s great.
Ramsey is such a player!!!
Rambo’s headed through ball. Sick.
Poldi. Is. The. Man.
I hope he at least smiled after that one???
Home another fist in the air! Eagerness more than a smile!
Is Carlton to replace Joe then?
oooh, aaron working hard chasing. love to see that.
Trev.
In a 4-4-2, he’d be the dogs two veg’.
Home? Jesus apologies Homer 🙂
Fantastic.
Keep it up boys!
All good ATG.
All good.
Well played Santi!
Just Give it to poldi
Poldi working hard too come on!
Nice one Poldi – a bit of beef 😉
That’s the way Poldi!!!
Has AW lost the plot Lucaz is still on in 90th minute
goodness i hope this puts paid to the fat spam hoodoo rumours.
Rambo what a fucking great player!
Heh @ cognac
AW listens to us cognac. 😉
Back in the top 4
Good mental strength
Great result. 🙂
Well done Poldi – more please.
Important win. Good job. The pressure is on Everton now.
beautiful result. bad goal by them, but what lovelies by us. great fight by our boys.
Poldi’s laughing Homer.
Maybe upsetting him at Wembley has geed him up.
I think we had to concede first to wake up only then we started applying some pressure and passing the ball!
Rosicky did not have his best game and when Rambo came on we started to play real football!
Nice gestures from Poldi and Per!
Job done.
Now get the walking wounded back in the team and go for it.!!!
Job done!! 4th is ours,FA cup too…am happy,for now…onwards and upwards my beautiful Arsenal
Sam Sam pick up thy musket
And get thee back to bubbleville
5 live a gooner suggests Clough to replace AW whenever – what say you guys
Özil back on Sunday.
If Källström plays we’re gonna have three umlauts.
No team has ever lost a Premier League game with three umlauts.
Just fuckin’ win. Well done lads, just what the doctor ordered. Simples ain’t it 🙂
Cognac,
I thought he was dead ?!
that’d be brian, yeah cognac?
Trev heh
trev 🙂
Ooh you guys
Don’t shoot the messenger it was not me wot sed it
Poldi’s celebration improved after the second goal. Differences forgotten, we are friends again (just don’t mention the WAR!).
Rambo is the player we missed so much in our title chase. His creativity is just amazing. Hopefully Ozil will be back on Sunday as well.
And BTW, I think KK had a decent game tonight.
You beauties!
Well done lads.
I think Poldi showed exactly what he should be given the chance to do more: stay on for the 90 and bully defences.
Giroud looked a bit rubbish…up until he buried it like he was on top form. Lovely, emphatic finish.
Santi had a game to remind us of his class, which makes the recent negative comments about him silly. Typical of today’s reactionary coverage, where every bad game means you’re not the player you used to be.
Rambo just picked up exactly where he left off. No warming up, no ‘playing yourself back into form’, just gets on the pitch and plays as if he’s never been away.
Well chuffed.
You could not have picked a better opponent than FatSam the Hutt’s cloggers, after that draining afternoon/evening at Wembley. Any side with even one or two players having a tiny bit of pace would have made it a different result, but who cares? If Gunners were not so worn out and injured, this could have been a cricket score for sure.
Three points; I know it’s hard to root for Pubis, but let’s see something from the Eagles.
ATG@283. Not so, my man. We’d been putting loads of pressure on them before they scored. Their goal was well against the run of play. We just went right back to putting pressure on them again and got the equaliser. Second half display was superb.
porco, re rambo, he has already come back, this was just a rest. 🙂 imagine how great it felt to be on the pitch contributing like that in your second game back, rather than having to take a year to play yourself into form?
woof.
Rambo is more direct he sees empty space and attacks instatnly this is what Rosicky was lacking and he cand do that as well.
Blood pressure definitely dropping! For now anyways!
Win the next game!
Bang!
Was that offside? 🙂
that’s the wisniowka, arthur 🙂
a dogged goal, that one.
scruz
Always the bloody wisniowka!
Lots to celebrate for us sunnysiders. No-one to complain about. Santi majestic – someone must have recharged his batteries. Källström very solid – good to know he can hack it at this level. Aaron back to give us some forward thrust (if I’m allowed to say that). Kos back. TV5 had a good game – capped by that pass for HFB’s goal. Two for Podolski. Even Arteta had a spring in his step. Maybe West Ham were just piss poor? Carroll certainly didn’t get a look in.
If Mesut is back on Sunday and one of the left-backs (and, say it softly, Diaby?), then a winning run looks very much on the cards.
Well in Arthur.
Bosnian @394.
Classic Fawlty Towers reference….
Nothing wrong with your English. 🙂
What was most encouraging was the way they bossed the game from about 30 minutes. They upped the tempo and WH’s goal came out of the blue. No matter – we soon got the equaliser and then it was basically all us in the second half.
Very pleasing. (I guess I can be more up-beat than most because I missed the semi-final :))
HSH@308: “Bosnian @394” – see the crystal ball is out again, H.
dkgooner, you facking sunnysider 🙂
Even before the goal I thought Giroud’s performance had improved since the last few times he started. He plays two roles and he equally stresses the making others play part as much as his goalscoring and in that respect his work-rate, pressing and working the flanks and creating spaces were solid for the most part (for the first goal his pressing forces Downing to make the pass back to Santi, for the third goal his delivery to Rambo was slightly off but dragging to the wide area he opens up space for Poldi) . Even though the best part of his goal was the first touch, I think the fact that he had scored with the right foot would give him some confidence and probably will be more courageous to use both feet, his first half tame left footed effort he could have easily buried on the other feet.
I thought TV5 was rather good today, dealt with Carroll well, and pressed the left flank very cleverly.
With Kos back the defense look better.
About Jenk, should we have tried him a bit more as an out-and-out right winger after Theo’s injury? He is not a scorer of goals but good pace and a very decent delivery into the box.
Contrary to what I had expected, we actually looked less tired as the game wore on. A fully deserved victory in the end despite a rather horrible first 40-or-so minutes, and we have now come from behind to win (albeit on penalties in one, but still) in two games in a row. Not expecting Palace to get anything from the game tomorrow (if the game had been at Selhurst Park then maybe, but not at Goodison), but at least our win tonight keeps us in the race. A loss or even a draw tonight would have been the end, I think.
Heh Dk, yep, but you got my name wrong. 😛
dk@ 306: I thought Källström was solid too. A few missed passes in the attacking half but that is expected as the understanding with the rest of the team would not be there. Very good positional nous and defensive discipline and was continuously communicating with others, some neat interchanges, and was solid with distribution even after we had upped the tempo.
I thought Rambo looked terrific, and possibly TR7’s one of the most forgettable match.
Good win for the flat track bullies against a team already on the beach.
@308 H2H, thanks for pointing out the ref to Fawlty Towers.
Great win tonight. Everton must drop some points against Saints, Utd and City. CL and FA cup this season will do for me.
And now for something completely different – an Arsenal team that includes Diaby, Ozil and Ramsey!
H2H@314 – sorry mate – I wrote the 2 backwards 😀
Kallstrom a good signing. 🙂 His pace not the fastest but otherwise he is a calm and effective addition to the midfield. Ramsey is a monster. Massive three points. Let’s keep it going and win the next one.
I second that Bosnian. If Everton win all the rest of their games with the opposition they have, it’ll be as unexpected as Tony Blair Pulis being installed as manager of Farca.
scruz – we’re going to Wemberley (again) – who wouldn’t be smiling? (Yeah, I know who, but we don’t talk about them.)
@320 Porco, BTW, Barca do need to reinvent itself…Pulis may be an option. Hahhahaaaa. Come on you Gooners!!!!
And …………….
Only 6 more points to St Totteringham’s Day.
I didn’t see anyone mentioning Sagna’s prefrormance.
Am I the only one not pleased with his contribution? Not that he doesn’t try, he tries hard, it is evident, on top of that he is a strong fella, and experienced defender. But he is kind of always late and slow to cover his flank, can’t put a single cross these days and tends to slow our attacks down.
It looks like those two injuries really hampered .
Don’t want to sound to harsh on him, as I always loved him. I was just wondering is that my impression only or anyone else notices it?
Anyway, decent performances today from most of the players. It is crucial that Cazorla is coming to form. We need the old Santi.
Giroud worked like a horse and got what he deserved, well taken goal.
Arteta needs to stop making silly fouls, but this kind of games against lower opposition suits his style and tempo. Good game.
Mert, Kos and Vermaelen a couple of mistakes, but solid display in general.
Woj was the obvious choice in a game vs this kind of opposition that prefers long balls, but sometimes is so immature, not serious and lacks concentration.
Kalstrom looked really rusty on couple of occasions, but he is a good and most importantly clever and experienced player.
Rosicky didn’t have his best game, this kind of games don’t suit him. The early yellow didn’t help him either. We need the old Rossa again at the dawn of this season.
Poldi, I am sure gave Arsene something to think about.
Don’t mean to nitpick, but I think it was KK who let the spammer get in behind him for their goal.
I’ll watch it again later.
Are you still about Trev? Please forgive me if I didn’t read your piece thoroughly enough, and excuse me not mentioning this before. As I recall it, your analysis of the club’s injury record boiled down, essentially to:
a) Young players are a little more prone to injury as their bodies haven’t filled out and toughened up;
b) Young players are also prone to injuries because they don’t recognise which niggles are serious and often try to play through them, thus making them worse and
c) Because of a lack of depth in the squad (or at least a shallowness of top, top quality players) we have, on occasion, brought players back from injury too quickly further aggravating their injuries.
If I’ve completely missed your point and you don’t want to spell it out to me in words of one syllable, just say so and I’ll go and read the piece again and come back to test my understanding.
Thanks.
Oh, yes, I forgot to say. Great result tonight.
COYG
Lurky
Exactly what i saw this evening as well! Took us a while to get going once we concede we had to give a go!
BosnianGooner
Who on earth would want him there maybe to water the pitch at half time 🙂
He would blend in well with his cap on!
dkg
That’s assuming Spurs beat Fulham on Saturday. Truth be told, St Totts could be as early as this Sunday.
Very pleasing performance. Huge result, and great to see Santi and Poldi stepping up and taking charge: two senior pros who’ve played less football than much of the squad this season and who have both struggled to find their level lately.
We get stronger from here, just got to keep the pressure on Everton. Our away form is as bad as our home form is good, so the Hull game will be a test of nerve.
I think credit has to be given to the players for two huge results this week. It will remain a mystery to us all why a team that has proved so adept at scrapping for its life over the last three seasons cannot seem to find the same resilience when approaching crunch games in a title run, but that’s a question for another day.
Fourth place. FA Cup. Build again in the summer. That’ll do me. I’m sure there will be twists and turns along the way, but we must stay behind the team to the very end.
COYG
Pangloss,
To quote your own words, I think you have almost completely missed the point with your ‘a)’, and completely invented ‘b)’ abd ‘c)’.
Just in. That was more like our normal selves in the second half. Much more energy and directness. However even when we went one down I felt a spasm of optimism because we had opened them up a few times and squandered the opportunities. Quite unlike the toil against Wigan on Saturday. When Rambo arrived his energy seemed to suffuse through the rest in a remarkable manner. I feel a lot more positive about the trip to Hull now.
Good to see the Guvna, Steve T, BtM and BtM Jr and meet Liam and Liam Jr in the usual place pre-match.
Now let’s sort Hull out.
One round for the way home for everyone still in the bar landlord. I’m having an ealry night tonight!
H2H @325 spot on mate. KK started to go with him and then stopped then started again but too late. He has a nice touch, a good shot and good vision for a pass but boy is he slow. However he has acquitted himself well in the last few days. Useful addition.
However we looked the slowest Arsenal team I have seen in 30 years – when Rambo came on he looked like a whippet! We definitely need an injection of pace.
On the other hand HFB showed good determination and lovely touches and Poldi was more interested than he has looked in a while. Two sweey goals in the second half and should have had more.
A learly ealry night, ATG?
Was thinking about this for a couple of days.
If we end up level on points with Everton and GD makes a difference for that fourth spot which is not that SF scenario and they finish with 2 goals better difference than us…
should we kill that lino that disallowed that perfect Sanogo 90 minute goal, or should we torture him and then kill the bastard?
Just back from the match. A very satisfactory result and credit to the side for producing considerable effort against a typical Allardyce team- ie almost totally lacking in quality but hard to play against.
I have been critical of Cazorla and Arteta ( for different reasons ) this season but they were excellent tonight . Poldi showed he is the best finisher in the club by a country mike and Sagna was redoubtable in defence. Ches was almost never used like the Hull ribbons will be at Wembley in May.
Given what must have been a really gruelling game on Saturday I was proud of the lads’ efforts. It was far from perfect. The first goal was due to bad tracking by Kallstrom and my only sadness was that Santi’s thunderbolt in the second half didn’t give him the goal he deserved. We have opposition like this for the rest of he season and I hope we can put them al in their place.
I suspect we might like Tony Pulis a bit more this time tomorrow. Palace are not a soft touch
Cheers Bath, that’s what I thought, but I wasn’t sure as I was working, with one eye on the screen ofcourse. 😉
Lurky, if we loss out on goal difference then we will have noone to blame but ourselves, as I’m sure Oskar will concur.
TTG, spot on about our upcoming opposition and Palace. Tony Penis has improved them a lot, but as has been said above I would of felt better if they were at home.
Night all.
h2h, baff, the only thing i would add to that is bac didn’t track back with jarvis, which meant he was in the box unmarked and in position to nod in the deflection after chezza blocked nociola’s (whoever’s) shot. bac stays with him as he should and that’s not a goal, even though kk did a woeful job of staying with nociola (whoever).
lurky, i did notice that bac otherwise seemed off the pace, but he showed grit and determination even in the lack of his usual pace. i definitely feel he should get another year as he transitions into a backup, while we bring in someone or develop bellerin (who i think is the long-term #1 ahead of jenks).
Bac did look short of a bit of zip to get back several times when he was upfield and a move broke down. Definitely not the man he was, whether physical or mental. Still owes us nothing and deserves a big payday if he can get one – tho I agree he would still be a useful player for the next couple of years.
Poldi loves scoring against West Ham.
He seems to score against them a lot for some reason…
I wonder if he’ll start against Hull this Sunday?
Interesting comments on Sagna. Now, many in the bar know I’ve got an admittedly non-objective and favorable view of the Bacman. Made of titanium. Rarely puts a foot wrong defensively. Works his socks off. Magnificent hair. Couldn’t cross the road but still gives it a regular go (and has much improved this season, btw).
But, if memory serves, he played the entire 120 on Saturday, and was one of the few on the pitch that day acting like he had a clue what he was doing. In fact, of late he’s been the only defender not regularly getting skinned by opposition attackers(e.g., Monreal, TV5, Merts) and not giving away needless penalties (e.g., Merts, Kols) or silly free kicks near the Arsenal box (e.g., Arteta, Flamini). Not that I’m keeping score or anything.
Its surely just me (see paragraph one) – perhaps he was off the pace a bit tonight, but I’d be slow to infer too much from it. Or could it be that we’ve all come to have such high expectations of him, when he’s off his usual best we all think, WTF man …?
Absolutely H2H. But if goal difference decides it against us I will get little satisfaction from being right to criticise those who kept saying it was fine to switch off when ahead in all those early season games rather than go for the jugular like Poo and $hiteh have been doing all season.
I’m still hoping it won’t come to that. With Southampton and both Manc clubs to play the Toffees will surely come to a sticky end. We just have to keep winning now we’ve remembered how. aided by more of our crocks returning from the physio room.
Food for thought. 1) Apparently today’s team was the oldest fielded by Wenger in more than a decade. 2) Poldi is our #1 striker everywhere but in AW’s selection credentials.
Öskar
CoR@340: Lukas’s bunnies are MSV Druisburg (7 goals in 7 games) and FC Saarbrücken (6 goals in 3 games). He has also got five goals in six games against Energie Cottbus. In the Premiership, it is Fulham, with three goals in four games, then Bolton and Coventry with two in one game, then West Ham, Swansea and Wigan, with two in three, and Liverpool with two in four.
My monks can’t find any record of Poldi ever playing against Hull, CoR.
Evening ‘holics.
A big win. A little sad to admit it, but just stringing two victories together feels awfully nice. I can think about Arsenal now without wincing and reaching for my hip-flask.
Lots of good drinks above, before, during, and after the game. I’ll just add a couple thoughts.
After a shaky start (all in all understandable given our form, confidence, and 120+ grueling minutes Saturday night), we grew into the game and actually bossed them for most of the second half. Felt good to do that. I’m sure we were all shitting bricks after Jarvis’ goal, but the boys buckled down and came from behind with room to spare. We need to remember that we’re actually a pretty good team.
Helping us remember will be the returns of Ramsey and, fingers crossed, Özil too. I thought Ramsey was brilliant today. It wasn’t a coincidence that it was about the time he came on that we really started to run them around. That’s partly due to the fact that they were tiring and we had recently taken the lead, but still. He’s been our best player this year, and as others have already pointed out, he’s showing all the signs of resuming his previous form with no beats missed. He obviously wanted to score badly today. The sooner he does, and gets that swagger back that he had throughout the first half, the better for us all.
Also worth remembering that the Ox (who was rested today after his exertions against Wigan) and Flamini (back from suspension) should be available on Sunday too. So with the possible return of Özil, our midfield is about to receive a big shot in the arm.
Lurky et al: Bac could be excused for being knackered today after the semi-final. He ran and ran against Wigan. He is a warrior. I also disagree about his crossing. It would look a lot better if we were able to get more than Giroud in the box.
Quick thoughts on Poldi. His movement isn’t great, he’s not fast or quick, and he exposes the defense too often. But his finishing is so clinical that he can still score at a very high rate and make the difference in a lot of games. Games like this, against less potent offenses where his defensive deficiencies are less costly, are ideal for him.
I wonder if his lazy defensive habits a carryover from his years at Cologne, where he was God on earth and often played up top? Just a thought.
If he goes, we will miss his finishing.
GHL@345: Spot on about Ramsey. We look as if we have 12 on the pitch when he is playing. Now he is back it is even more obvious how much we missed him when he was out injured, more than Theo or Ozil to my mind.
NBN. I’d go along with that. As good as Özil is, Rambo is something special this year. If anyone needs convincing, take a look at one of his many highlight reels from the first half of the season on Youtube. It’ll remind you in a hurry.
I think with everyone healthy Ramsey and Özil are our best players (though “best” is a little bit of a bogus concept). Certainly our most important in making things happen going forward. Still makes me shudder that we had to try and navigate *that* March without either of them.
Gotta love how the trolls wait until past bedtime before they post their drivel. Regular as clockwork in every drinks round.
Back to the workshop, clockwork, your main spring and balance cock are out of whack again.
Öskar
I may be in a minority, but I believe Podolski to be an excellent if somewhat misunderstood player.
He is constantly berated for his poor or non existant defensive qualities and yet he is clearly an out and out forward!
he is usually singled out when we are on the wrong end of a result,but to my eyes at least, Carzorla, Walcott,Ox and others are just as guilty yet seem to avoid criticism.
I dont remember Henry, BergKamp and Pires tracking back too much either,come to think of it. But everyone knew those guys were the attacking part of the team. Poldi gets no such understanding.
Of course we dont currently have a Viera or Petit patnership to liberate the likes of Podolski,but thats hardly his fault.
I like Podolski and we should surely try to play to his strengths instead of focusing on a part of his game that everyone knew was missing even before we signed him!
I like Kallstrom too!
As for the Welsh Jesus — utterly sublime.
I don’t comment on trolling, clockwork, especially that of an hysterical unbalanced nature.
Öskar
I think it was Einstein who defined madness as spending the night trolling people who aren’t remotely interested in what you are saying!
Trev@330 – fair enough, I’ll go and give the article further study. Apologies – genuine mistakes.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/5571351/Lukasz-Fabianski-will-stay-at-Arsenal-if-he-plays-more.html
Please God, this can’t be true can it???????
Only joking…… I would happily have him stay as a number 2 and willing to fight for his place.
I’m with you impressive on poldi.
Misunderstood attacking player also misplayed and criticised when the entire team are on he wrong end of the game.
Well said.
Unfortunately can’t agree re kallistrom.
He is exactly what he is – a tier 2/3 stop gap and does the basics as you would expect a tier 2/3 player to do
Steve T
Ha ha ha ha……
clockwork
Obviously we have our differences but you have to respect Arsene for what he has done at the club. Yes it could have been different this season but also he’s not entirely at fault here. It would be ludicrous to put the blame just on him.
You have to be reasonable here, and most of all respectful! We won a very important game last night and you’re still angry! You say to one of the Holics you’ll wipe the floor with them. What the hell is that all about?
Grow up or simply don’t bother!
Homer @ 2.12 am – You are not alone.
Impressive @ 5.49 – Too true. We need that solid pairing in front of the back four to do the support work at the back and, whatever their qualities, Arteta and Flamini haven’t provided it.
Reading this:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/apr/15/barcelona-real-madrid-copa-del-rey-crisis
reminded me of another team.
Great win last night 5 more cup finals to go.i was impressed with KK last night agree with bath that he lacks a bit of pace but he’s not afraid to put the boot in something I think we lack.also one of TV5 better performances at left back.onwards and upwards.hope you entered the comp clockwork it’s for ages 12-16 seen as most of the people on here are a bit over the hill to sit with the junior gunners have a good day fella 😉
ATG – There are some “fans” who are going to be really miserable when we win the FA Cup.
It’s another sunny day here in DK.
😀 😀 😀 😀
An English lesson:
should of = should have or should’ve
would of = would have or would’ve
could of = could have or could’ve
Just had to get that out of my system.
By decree
King Cnud (aka Canute – another mis-spelling)
The really funny thing about Steve T’s Sun link is that they want you to PAY to read the whole article.
Pay for The Sun????????
Holic@353.
Impossible request. That would have to involve a man??????
Nice editing ‘holic.
Great blog from blogs today: http://arseblog.com/2014/04/arsenal-3-1-west-ham-3-goals-3-points/
The sun looks a whole lot sunnier this morning. :0)
Just saying.
(Not the Sun btw, DK)
Aussie@358: True – KK is not a “top top” player but good, solid journeymen also have a role to play and, don’t forget, it was his first start and he’s now got 90 minutes under his belt. That will do him a power of good and I’m sure he’ll watch the vid of how he failed to track Nocerino and learn from it.
The spammers’ goal – if we’re going to apportion blame, can we just agree that KK and Bacs BOTH failed to track their man? Nobody’s perfect. I also think Jarvis benefited from one hell of a lucky bounce. At least it didn’t mean we dropped points. That last minute o.g. against Swansea (another lucky/unlucky bounce) still burns in my soul.
Some really good drinks above – too many to mention.
On with my day.
COYG
Waste of time feeding the troll, ATG. He’ll be gone after the cleaner comes in, but we will still be here.
Oh, looking back all but one of his comments have been mopped up.
Good luck with the editing, dkg, you’ll have your work cut out there. My pet hates are people who spell focused with two ‘s’s and who write ‘here here’ when they mean ‘hear hear’.
But it’s more pronunciation that bugs me. I’m from a generation which pronounced words like harass, communal, pergola and respite (among others) with the emphasis on the first syllable. Now practically everyone stresses the second syllable. The same people usually pronounce the last ‘t’ in traits when, being an adopted French word, it always used to be pronounced ‘trays’. But you can’t say they’re wrong because language is a living thing, constantly changing. If it didn’t change we’d all be talking like Chaucer, whose English looks like a foreign language to us today.
Öskar
A win the savour even though it wont go on to be counted among the finest ones.
Kallstrom looked decent but against bigger teams will be found out due to the lack of pace.
Poldi is an enigma, everytime he has a good game, the next game he goes missing which is exasperating. Hopefully he will get a run till the end of the season for he is one player who knows how to score.
Giroud poor but that one moment of magic makes you wonder is it the same guy who did that?
Ramsey, wow i mean not to jinx him but he is good and if he can keep himself fresh and injury free, he will go on to be a great.
TV5 very good, it does feel that the games under his belt is getting him to the good old thomas we all loved.
Per looks knackered but cannot seem him being rested though after the hull game, we play newcastle 9 days later i think.
Overall 3 points , time for palace to do us a favor but i doubt they will tonight, hull sunday will be tough, think we may just get a draw there.
Pick up your glass and join us in the next bar.
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