Three Wheels On My Wagon
Nov 28th, 2016 by 'holic
but I’m singing’ a happy song…
The Cherokees don’t like it one bit, but we’re still rollin’ along. I was reminded of the New Christy Minstrels classic first by my meandering route to the match, then by Arsenal’s performance as we defied a very lively and combative Bournemouth team and (I always feel free to call it when we have won) another dreadful refereeing performance.
The early journey to town could have been worse. Replacement buses can be tedious, but at least I had only to switch to South West Trains to reach the capital and take in lots of places I haven’t seen in years through the carriage window on a pleasant day. It set the tone for the day. It wasn’t ideal, but eventually it got me where I needed to be, though I have the utmost sympathy with the commuters crammed into those awful carriages day in and day out during the working week.
The pre-match warm-up had to change as well. Guinness was rested for a week in favour of stomach-settling port and brandy, thank you Conor who will never ask what I am drinking again! News filtered through of the line-up. Matthieu Debuchy? That was a surprise. The pairing of, is it Elaka or Xhaneny?
The open nature of the match from the off promised much and chances fell to both teams. Ozil’s blocked effort and Smith’s drive just wide of the post signalled the ambition that the combatants had brought to the field play. Combatants the visitors certainly were, with two bookings in the opening minutes for ‘challenges’ on Alexis and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The latter had a mixed bag of a match, with some of his distribution again disappointing, but his willingness to run at his full-back all afternoon gave us something that has been lacking in recent weeks. the opening goal arrived from that flank but courtesy of a woeful backpass from the Cherries skipper, Cook. Alexis is not the player to put clear through on goal. We half chuckled/half cheered the lead.
There followed two penalty appeals that raised the temperature in the stadium. I’ll confess to having no clear view of the Alexis incident from forty yards away. I did have a very clear view of the Bournemouth penalty when Wilson clearly threw himself into Monreal and dropped to earth. Free-kick to the Arsenal, surely. To the incredulity of all around Mr Jones awarded the spot-kick that Wilson himself converted.
In between those two incidents a moment that stirred memories. In the ill-fated number two shirt Debuchy, making his first appearance in nigh on a year, sat back on the turf, once more gone in the fetlock. His early departure drew a sympathetic round of applause, but the feeling that Arnautovic is his Dan Smith now hangs heavy.
Gabriel’s deployment at right-back mystified those who shared in some wickedly funny chat at half-time. Mustafi is well-versed in the role at international level and the Brazilian clearly looks more comfortable in the centre. Full marks though for his undoubted effort and a couple of tackles that some latter day full-backs would have smiled at.
The second-half was as lively as the first and I could watch Mesut twisting away to create the second goal, eventually headed home by the new Dad Theo, all day. Mesut and Alexis spent the second-half trying to set each other up but just failing to connect so many times. They are all but on the same wavelength again and we will be a very dangerous side when they fully click again.
Thereafter things got tetchier than in the first-half as both teams felt aggrieved at a mystifying officiating performance. If Mr Jones has a top flight fixture next week then the PGMOL are doing things wrong. Benik Afobe, formerly of this parish, got half an hour off the bench and impressed as Bournemouth gave as good as they got. He drew a tremendous save out of the alert Petr Cech.
For Arsenal that new pairing of Xhaka, and particularly Elneny, gave a solid account of themselves. There were brief spells in the match when our fluidity returned, and hopefully we can build on that in the coming weeks. The ‘holic pound was secured at the death when Ozil put Giroud in on the byline and his perfect cut-back presented Alexis with an open goal and a brace on the day.
The post mortem proved once more how important the social aspect of the day is, and will forever prove testament to the all-healing powers of the ‘real’ Taytos. Thank you to all, friends old and new, who made it yet another thoroughly enjoyable experience. Anyone got a spare wagon wheel they don’t need?
51 Responses to “Three Wheels On My Wagon”
Well i am assuming i am first here today.
If Eddie Howe was auditioning for the job, he did get most things right. His team played well specially first half, did not lose heart even when going behind, stuck to their task and till the end looked even par with the Gunners. That is telling something for a team who are in the lower half of the table.
The Arsenal on the other hand were okyish is there is a word like that. Good in patches, average in others. Xhaka had his best performance to date and Alexis was Alexis. Monreal and Gabriel average but Kos and cech brilliant. There was never truly a time when we felt comfortable and that is a measure of how well Bournemouth played.
in the end 3 points is all that matters but if we are in for the long run till may, we need to be far better than what we played yesterday. Onto Southampton next.
Shootout at the last chance saloon?
Excellent point about Howe “auditioning”. He does look like a good fit. There may be more to the rumors than we know.
Our wide play is a little disappointing. Monreal sometimes seems stretched, but that, I think, usually is a result of having to face a dynamic winger like Man U’s Valencia, and not getting enough help from our left wing. This was not happening when Alexis was there–the guy gets back and helps. Iwobi and Ox switch off. Yes, Ox and Theo are better on defense this year, but they aren’t very good at it. On attack, their final ball isn’t good enough often enough. At this point, I honestly think Gibbs could play left wing as well as Ox, which is not to say Gibbs would be great there either. I hope it’s something they can work out in training.
Speaking of working things out, why do players remonstrate with the referee? I don’t mind when opponents get carded for it, but it infuriates me when Alexis or Giroud (our two worst offenders in the whining department) pick up a stupid card for bitching at a guy who is never going to change his mind. It almost cost us an ECL knockout stage spot in Zagreb. Wenger ought to hammer that terrible habit out of his men.
Off the wagon train but spared by the Cherokees? Very good. 🙂
MOTD highlights and your match report show we coulda done better but did well enough for now. Where would our goal difference be at this point without Giroud who is not getting enough credit for his off-the-bench contributions.
Enjoyed the write-up just as much as the match. Congrats on the Holic pound. Sounds like I missed an enjoyable ‘social aspect’. Hoping to be present for West Brom’s visit and to down the long promised Steve T tipple on that occasion. (Three years is a long time to wait).
Elaka Xhaneny?
Wasn’t that the bird with the pointy shoes in From Russia With Love?
Fine report, Holic !
Sorry to have missed you yesterday – I was taken by surprise by the replacement bus service on my line and too late to get there.
Amazingly, I saw the same game as you, even though I only have a miserly 40″ of non-plasma LED to call on. Maybe Chris is onto something here ……… an extra 20″ or so might have shed light on some of the most ridiculous refereeing decisions I’ve seen in a long while – I doubt it though.
One very good refereeing decision over the weekend was to dispatch the loathsome Mourinho to the stands again. If he spends much more time up there, he’s going to have to get a season ticket !
He was, of course, the self proclaimed “Special One” on arrival for the first time at Stamford Bridge, a title he self modified on second arrival, having been gently booted out of Real Madrid, to the “Happy One”. Not that many onlookers noticed in the environs of that particular bus stop in Fulham.
His rabid attempts to open a bottle of water on the touchline at Old Trafford at the weekend, would seem to suggest he is now the “Specially Thirsty One”, although nearer the truth of the matter is that he is just the “Absolutely Fucking Stupid One”.
The attempts of some radio presenters today to claim that his sending off was a harsh punishment for such a harmless offence, is in stark contrast to the piss taking which followed Arsene Wenger’s expulsion for a similar offence at the same location.
Mourinho did not, it goes without saying, kick his bottle with the same finesse as our own boss.
I suppose it did show that Mourinho has at least found some bottle after copping out of the legal battle with his erstwhile lady doctor last season.
Mourinho must indeed no longer be the special one if he cannot get away with doing the same thing as Wenger without sanction, as used to be his great privilege. Not that Wenger ever did anything worthy of the sanctions required for Mourinho, mind you. 😉
Good stuff, ‘H. I hope you thoroughly enjoy the profits from the Pound.
Roll on Southampton.
COYG
Any time ‘H.
It will be a brandy and port anytime!!!
Great to catch up with you and the others yesterday.
Fine account, Holic.
Many congratulations on your fruit-bearing wager.
Port and brandy eh? Sounds like a good old fashioned cockle warmer. Much needed yesterday to be sure.
Top man Lambay,
I thoroughly enjoyed yesterday, which I wasn’t too sure about at all.
I shall miss you against the Baggies, BtM. Ironically I am with the grandkids much closer to there than the Grove. Consider joining the Zico visit against Stoke?
Cheers H!
Stoke game shaping up to be a right old shindig.
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!
Nice one, ‘Holic.
Back in the day, brandy and port was known as a Portuguese Daisy, was it not?
Perhaps that is also the new name of the formerly Special One.
The Alexis incident was no penalty, as the trip occurred just outside the box, but it was a clear free kick. Monreal penalty was nonsense. Bournemouth would have had a justified penalty for Mustafi’s push, but Elneny’s ‘handball’ was ball to hand and the shout against Nacho for the same offense would have been harsh as Francis lifted the ball towards his hand when a ground pass would have played in the overlapping attacker, so I suspect a penalty was being played for.
One of the shoddiest displays of refereeing for many a day.
The reflex lowering of the arm slightly allowing the ball to hit Nacho’s arm qualifies as a penalty, imo Ned. A case of two wrong decisions probably balancing out, but with zero credit to the arbiter who got both wrong of course.
Monreal does indeed seem stretched at times, Chris Siple (#3), and it’s happening too often. Mane, Barrow and Valencia have all given him the runaround this season. Not sure what the answer is because Gibbs has proven vulnerable too many times to be fully trusted with the job. I like Nacho, but perhaps we should be looking for an answer in January?
“Very good report Holic crafted on a long circuitous route home no doubt! I tip my hat to Bath re the Ox who frustrates me and pick up on Chris’s point. I do like to see the Ox run at full backs and he did so with intent albeit it little end product. My frustration was twofold, one that he wasted so many passes and secondly that ( especially in the second half) his tracking back was non- existent. Note how Sanchez who had run his bollocks off already worked back after he went to the left wing.
This is a problem that Iwobi has too. Thus poor old Nacho invariably has two people running at him . Last season Sanchez played there all season and Nacho coped much better.
I also suspect the git Arnautovic has much to answer for as Holic suggests. Debuchy had a very sound start to his career but has never been the same since that petulant push into the hoardings that received very little censure at the time.
The final observation was about how tiresomely pedantic Jones was as well as inaccurate in his decision- making. Every time we see a ref like this my mate and I turn to each other and lament that the ref has never played football at any level and has no feeling for the game.
If he still had a job he would work for HMRC and he makes love once a month with his socks on( for two minutes) . His breath smells and he has a small todger which explains the situation in the previous line. He also needs to go to SpecSavers.
Just to cheer everyone up,
Ollie G has been added to our number on the premier injuries website.
Tweaked his hamstring against Bournemouth.
Let’s hope it’s not too serious.
I guess we will find out at Arsene’s press conference tomorrow for the Southampton match.
Thought the Oppo played well yesterday,unlike most teams who come to the Ems,at least they came to play.
I think we are getting stretched a bit defensively down the right side due to Mustafi having to go across too far from the middle,to cover Jenks/Gabriel.
Something he doesn’t have to do with Hector.
As for Nacho on the left,he never was the quickest going round,but it seems this season he has lost another half a yard.
We have always had good full backs,Mcnab/Rice,Dixon/Winterburn,
Lauren/Cole,we just need to find a good young left back to partner Hector for the next 10 yrs. !!
In my rant against Jones I didn’t address the Eddie Howe situation. I think that he will still be unproven when Wenger leaves unless he gets a much bigger job than Bournemouth. If he does get a bigger job it would have to be with a club like S***s or W*** H*m who will never be as big as us but will allow him to progress. That might make him ready to follow Wenger but it is a huge pressure to follow the great man and only a very experienced man should be asked to do it.
I think he is more likely to be the next England manager than the next Arsenal one. My guess is the next Arsenal manager will be one of Ancelotti, Tuchel , Emery or Guardiola.
Ttg@18: different times, I acknowledge, but was Nagoya Grampus Eight to Arsenal a bigger jump than Bournemouth to Arsenal?
I’m with TTG on Howe’s prospect of managing Arsenal. The man of whom we had never heard who came from Nagoya Grampus Eight had proved his mettle with Monaco in the French league and European competition and had a record of unearthing and developing top talent over several seasons. I really cannot see Arsenal appointing a coach without any experience of coaching for several years in European competition any time soon.
Spot on Bath.
Besides I can see Wenger signing another contract.
I don’t think mustafi, xhaka & Perez would have signed without some form of indication over his future.
Interesting to see that we beat Leicester 3-0 tonight with a weakened U23 side. It looks like our team on Wednesday might be
Martinez
Jenkinson Holding Gabriel Gibbs (c)
Maitland- Niles Elneny
Ox. Ramsey Iwobi
Perez
Macey Bola Bielik Reine Adelaide Mavididi Willock Zelalem
There are worse starting XI’s in the Premier League than that, Ttg.
Indeed Ned. Good opportunity to see Rambo take on the ‘Number 10’ role and show us what he can do.
great write up
great song
and
amen brother ‘hol to the restorative powers of tayto cheese and onion
aaaahhhhhh the morning crunchy floor
after a roomful o drunks
a massive multipack + loadsa cheap white bread
collide the night before
.
fuckin mighty
I like TTG’s starting line-up for tomorrow, going in spite of the prospect of getting home after 02.00 if there is extra time ( rail replacement buses on the last 2 trains).
Going back to Sunday’s game ,it’s one I really enjoyed plenty of pace and both teams doing their best to get the 3 points. We even used the flanks which is something missing for quite a while.
At last we were given the Granit/Mo duo which I’ve been hoping for and it was pretty successful, may it continue but with the fixture congestion in Dec/Jan I expect AW will be ringing the changes on a regular basis.
Hope the HFB’s injury is just a tweak , we could be short up front if Perez return is delayed and there is no positive news on Welbeck’s injury.
See you all at the Ems tomorrow.
COYRs
“we could be short up front if Perez return is delayed and there is no positive news on Welbeck’s injury.”
Thank you Delia for bringing up the doomsday scenario. 🙂
I hope Gabriel does get a berth in the team against Southampton because his season hasn’t gotten off the ground and he desperately needs the time on the pitch. We will probably need him, especially if the doomsday scenario continues to play out at right back. 🙁
I would have thought it just as difficult to get into the Ivory Coast’s starting XI as compared to England’s, if not even more so.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38128178
But finding myself in a similar situation to Zaha’s I have decided to switch allegiance to the Saskatchewan national side. 🙂
A very straightforward win and I wasn’t as impressed with Bournemouth as certain sections of the press – I never felt that we would get less than three points.
I was impressed with Elneny and Xhaka, thought the Ox was good value and that Walcott was my motm – lively going forward and put in a real shift defensively as well. He should have a baby every week.
I also thought that Debuchy had a nice cameo before going off. Talk about sliding doors – I thought Debuchy was fitting in nicely before another Stoke Orc lumps one of our own but, if it hadn’t happened, we may not have seen the rise of Bellerin. Unfortunately, Holic may have nailed it with the Debuchy / DanSmith reference.
Finally, on the odd occasion that I’ve seen highlights of Bournemouth, that guy Arter always seems to get caught up in some moment of nastiness – I’ve concluded that he’s a bit of a twat, a poor man’s Robbie Savage which is probably saying something!
UTA.
Noosa,
Mrs Walcott is a bit distressed by your suggestion ! I always thought we would win because they were a bit short upfront but with that ref anything was possible. He literally handed one goal to them on a plate and I wouldn’t have put it past him to do the same again
I’m a Feo fan and thought he was fairly atrocious, but I had to watch it as a recording which never helps. I’m usually peed off and fast forwarding when I have to record stuff.
Nice report H and some interesting stuff above. Sorry to have missed some regulars. I had the little man in tow as part of his birthday treat and his rugby did not finish on time.
Not the most convincing of games but a win is a win. It is still worrying that we still only managed 3 shots on target? Far too low yet again.
Some very interesting comments about the officiating. I also though the ref had a poor game. Then I listened to Dermot Gallagher on some ref feedback thing on Sky. Now he was a referee i quite liked back in the day. First the pen. As far as he was concerned it was acorn simply because Nacho cuts across the player and therefore impedes his natural running line. Then there was the Mustafi shove in the box that no one saw. We clearly got away with one there. The Nacho hand ball was not hand ball. Apparently the directive is this year is that if the “offending” player is either too close or the balk is hit with such force that it makes it impossible for the player to move his hand/arm out of the way, then it’s not an offence.
The final decision they looked at was the Alexis booking. Having seen it again it’s a really poor and dangerous challenge. He was very lucky to get away with a yellow. It probably should have been a red and would have been a three game ban.
So, whilst the ref had a poor game we might have actually come off better than we would have done had he got the decisions right?
There you go, debate that one. ?
For me, bar the odd performance, we have not really played that well for some time now. We need to get some fluency and pace back into our play. Otherwise we are again looking at 4th at best.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-38140981
R.I.P.
Giroud reportedly injured and out of the game tomorrow.
Brazilian plane crash reminiscent of Manchester United crash. Tragic.
Once more, Tottenham expected more. Could it come down to their fans just not being deserving?
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38128008
Looking forward to tomorrow’s match and hoping for a change in the following statistic from the previous three matches:
# of goals scored: 6
# of shots on goal: 5 (OK, 6 if you count Alexis’ one off the crossbar)
Glass half full view: That’s a remarkable conversion rate.
Glass half empty view: No real need to elaborate.
Lucas is back 🙂
I agree with Steve T that we haven’t played well for some time. We played sublimely against Basel and thrashed Ludogorets but although we’ve not been poor and in flashes ( e.g. Sunderland) very good, we aren’t playing with any fluency. Santi last played against Ludogorets so that may well. E a large part of the reason . He is a much underrated player. But not losing even when below par is a good habit and when the Spanish maestro returns hopefully we might kick on again
Long sleeves and long pants in the arsenal.com training photos. Even some neck coverings. Zika virus threat, or just cold weather?
You don’t think we should take the EFL Cup a bit more seriously, TTG, now there’s a semi final up for grabs and only two remaining threats (on paper)? To ‘allow’ Manure and Poo to win a trophy doesn’t sit well with me.
Yes, we could win with your selection and, yes, I’d like to see how several of them perform, but…
Manure or Poo…
ianure is poo
bit harsh
Chris
I see your point but I was predicting what Wenger would do. Southampton will pick a similar side and given that we could face 9 matches in January and we may lose Elneny and Iwobi to the African Nations Cup I think it is well down the list of every club”S priorities except the desperate Portuguese diva.
I think Wenger also values the chance to give some of the players on the fringe first team football. And imagine if Sanchez played and got a serious injury, the stick Wenger would get
I agree with everything you say, TTG, but three games without facing the two best teams in the Prem and we win the trophy, the easiest challenge we’ll face this season.
A decision I don’t envy AW for having to make.
‘the two best teams in the Prem‘ after us of course.
If any poor soul has popped by for a Saints preview I am just about to attempt one swimming in Chilean merlot and finest single malt. I may be an hour or two. 😉
So, we all agree that the ref let us off the hook a bit then???
Would that be a mermalt or a maltlot then?
The ref did seem to think we were a fish I thought, Steve.
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