Can Gunners Hit Top Target On Charity Matchday?
Dec 9th, 2016 by 'holic
“We had a very difficult start and since we have responded very well. I feel the team is on the way upwards but we have as well to show that first of all we can improve, that we have the desire to improve as a team, and as well, that we can repeat the performances week in, week out.”
Fine words from the boss in his pre-match press conference, but as we have seen for ourselves we do not repeat week in and week out. More importantly we have to continue to show that when we are not at our most fluent we can still dig out results, and that is an area in which we seem to have made great strides this season.
This weekend sees what is probably the least attractive home fixture of the season. There is no denying, at supporter level at least, that neither us nor Stoke hold the other in high regard. They are likely to play to frustrate but they do have the players to hurt us on the break. This may be another afternoon in which we will have to dig deep to get a result.
Fortunately our form against them home is much better than it is at their place. We have won the last fourteen matches in which we have hosted them. Mark Hughes is well aware of that fact but believes the tide can turn for his in-form charges.
“In the past as a club we’ve struggled to get results at places like Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge but we’ve been able to do that in recent times. This is the only one left standing so it would be great to get it out of the way.”
The team news for us is fairly positive. There are no new injuries, Francis Coquelin returns after suspension, and Hector Bellerin may be passed fit to return to the squad. The Spaniard’s return is welcome news although to be fair Gabriel has not let anybody down in his couple appearances in the role. It wouldn’t be a huge surprise if the six changes we made in Basel were reversed and the side that eventually drubbed West Ham is given another chance to show that was no fluke.
The odious Shawcross and fellow defender Cameron are ruled out, but ironically a couple of weeks after Mathieu Debuchy limped out of his latest comeback his assailant Arnautovic has been deemed fit to play. Stoke have lost just one of their last nine outings and conceded just five goals in that run. They are just two points behind sixth placed Manchester United so will be no pushovers.
The ‘holic pound
The bookmakers have a repeat of last season’s 2-0 home win as their favourite, but the scoreline hasn’t repeated in this particular fixture since 1947 and 1948 when we twice sent them packing 3-0. That scoreline holds some appeal again with Alexis and Mesut Ozil on the same wavelength at the moment. I have a little wager on that 3-0 at 9/1.
With Chelsea not playing until Sunday that scoreline would be enough to put us on top of the Premier League, if only for a day.
The Arsenal Foundation
Arsène Wenger and the players will be donating a day’s wages to The Arsenal Foundation on Saturday for a 10th consecutive year, to raise money for projects that use the power of football to inspire young people around the world.
Supporters will also have the opportunity to get involved, with a number of special fundraising activities planned. Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis said:
“Our annual charity matchday is an important part of what we are as a club. We are in a privileged position where we can make a meaningful difference – both with the funds we raise and the power the Arsenal name has to inspire young people. We want to make the most of that opportunity.”
The charity match day is always a matter of pride for us as supporters and it is a day on which we too can do our bit. Please take some change for the collectors if you can afford it.
And of course wherever you are watching it, have a good one ‘holics!
96 Responses to “Can Gunners Hit Top Target On Charity Matchday?”
Single malt please
Preston FA Cup tickets on sale next Friday. 5,700 of them and very reasonably priced at £24 (less for kids and OAPs).
No charity for the Orcs. Pound them into submission and quickly.
Jeez, H
Quite the sales pitch: This weekend sees what is probably the least attractive home fixture of the season
I take whatever fixtures I can get past Roxette….. 🙄
See you tomorrow
Roxette?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nyeSGaBcrA
Credit where credit is due to our markeing man, Dr Z, a 3-0 Orc trouncing will be highly entertaining and well worth the price of the flight down from the Kingdom.
Enjoy the day, and if you see Steve lurking behind an umbrealla, be sure to have him buy a snifter for your good self, Holic and Bath.
The very one Cynic
@6 – Steve will probably want you to share the snifter – insist on one each! 🙂
z@4, why do you *think* you got this one past her? just wait until you try to get a sexy home fixture by her…bzzt. unless it’s a new tap or light…
Heh scruz,
She asked what was on in London and I said “The Orcs” – she thinks I’m going to watch the Lord of the Rings….
Sorry I will miss the Crail Bunnet tomorrow, BtM – next time I hope.
Fine preview Guvna.
We are going to have to work hard for the three points tomorrow and I fear that a one goal margin is the most likely outcome. In truth I will be delighted if we get any kind of win.
After the exertions and hepatotoxicity of the Basel expedition, I will miss out on the dubious delight of watching our boys being brutalised by those oiks/orcs.
I hope y’all enjoy the game and that the Holic pound reaps dividends.
COYG
A Bloody Scottish take over in the Bar this evening.
In only 11 posts they’ve plundered 6,and 3 of them by Z.
He must be getting twitchy at the thought of another visit to the Ems.
But 3 Good Gooners and True.
Let’s trust in the lads to do the business tomorrow.
As usual my Mantra is early goal to get them out of their own half.
Then we dictate the game.
I need those thunderbolts of a thing from his eminence Xhakasterchief 1, C-in-C Snipers brigad, Ems Chapel. I doubt ‘tap-ins’ would do.
As regards the holic pound, I’d be going for a 3-1 instead.
One component going into the selection will be the fact that we play Everton away on Tuesday. I suspect Hector might come back for that one . I suspect we may see the Ox and Theo tomorrow and Coquelin and Xhaka in midfield.
I abhor Stoke and everything they stand for ….which is actually very little. 2-0 appeals to me with Sanchez and Theo nabbing the goals , although I’d love Aaron Ramsey to score against this lot after he was so brutally injured by the awful Shawcross.
COYG!
Xhakabooms would be great, arsenic. Personally I’m hoping to see an inaugural goal from Shkodran leader Mustafi. He managed his first assist against the Hammers, time now to pot some orcs.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Perez (left) and Ox (right) with Theo benched. Something is not quite right with Theo lately, and starting against the orcs may not be wise if he’s carrying niggles.
Zico, that’s a long way to travel for a movie; she must’ve thought free boots came with it. safe travels!
I think theo is wiped by the newborn at home. o he of little sleep..
Draxler seems to be available in January.. should we go for him??
We’ll beat the orcs by 2 goals at the very least!
😀
Morning all.
Nice preview H. So, as always, it depends on which Arsenal team turns up today. Let’s hope it’s the one that enjoyed sticking 5 passed West Ham.
Sorry to disappoint you BTM but I’m not there today. Sadly, the fixture changes mean that my next game won’t be until February at the moment.
Enjoy boys and girls. Have a good trip Dr Z. Shame l can’t enjoy a glass or two with some of the regulars.
Morning one and all.
Steve T is on the button. Result depends on which Arsenal team turns up. I have a feeling it will be close: 2-1 or 2-0 with the second coming very late.
The last time we played Middlesborough immediately after the tie against Ludogorets, we could only get a draw. Midweek match in Europe takes so much energy that the next match becomes a strain for any team. Hopefully, with the six players who sat out the Basle game coming back and Ozil and Sanchez having played only for an hour we should be ok. Stoke will sit deep and counter attack and they have the players to hurt us. Wish us to score early and a 3-0 score as Holic predicts would be a great result but given our recent record of conceding at least a goal, a 2-1 appears more likely. COYG.
Cech, Gabriel, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Xhaka, Walcott, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexis
Bench: Ospina, Bellerin, Gibbs, Elneny, Iwobi, Lucas, Giroud
Good team. Good bench. COYG.
Come on.
Come ON!!
Stoke started well but now all eleven Orcs are deep in their own half and defending.
Mustafi off and Bellerin comes in to good applause.
Hard done by that penalty…
Penalty for Stoke as Allen makes the most of a raised arm by Xhaka. The ref Lee Mason obliges. 0-1. Not going well.
The commentary is so biased you ….
Not playing well has to be said need to dig deeper lads!
Come on!
Theo!!!!
Bellerin assists, already making a difference.
That’s what I’m taking about
Wow Alexis
Wow Bellerin
Wow Theo
What a goal!
Much better!
1-1 at half time, Alexis not looking his usual speedy self. Need to up the speed of passing.
Theo gets his new coffee machine.
C’mon boys three points
Our defenders need to be careful in our penalty area as Stoke players are deliberately going down. Their major chance to score is off a penalty or set piece so not surprising.
Ozil!!! 2-1.
Big O to Lil O
Ozil…can HEad too!
Pay him what he wants!
GET IN!
😀
Ozil times his run brilliantly and loops his header beautifully over the keeper. Alexis assist?
A goal that was brilliant play from both of these players and that header top-class
We love you Arsenal we do we love you Arsenal we do we love you Arsenal we do oh Arsenal we love you
OX with the assist
Come on!
I predicted a 3-1 but don’t mind a 5-1. The orcs have touched the Lion’s tail. Am still expecting a Xhakaboom in the effin net.
Iwobi on for Ox. One more goal please lads.
Iwobi needs to improve his defensive side and that means work harder. Stoke came close to score off a corner.
Iwobi scores!!!!!
Iwobi with shades of KANU!
GET IN!!!
Way to go Iowbi
Takes his shot beautifully. The look on Hughes’s face priceless.
Why was Alexis subbed? Is he injured?
Giroud on for Alexis Sanchez. He needs to rest especially as the next game against Everton is on Tuesday.
Sanchez is not injured just being rested.
Job done. Well played, 3-1 gets us to the top of the league for the time being.
Sparky is like a wet dog..
😀
Good win! Momentum with us now!
Congrats to topping the league, can it continue? Yes, will it? I hope the bus stop at Fulham stops like a dead bus.
Well played boys. On to squeezing the juice out of Arsenal.
*Everton please ?. How dare the auto complete?
Keeps the pressure on the Chavs alright. Come on you brown paper baggies.
Leicester have woken up on Citeh.
🙂
Leicester chose the right game to wake up…
😀
Nice one Arsenal. Sounded like a confident performance from a mature team. Onwards.
Shitteh toiling atm 0-2 down in under 5 mins.
??
3:0 thank you very much
Leicester that is
1st half, minute 34.
Leicester vs Citeh
Possession: 10% vs 90%
Score: 3-0
Welcome to the premier league, Pep.
City with 76% 1st half possession too.. Hahahah!
What works in La Liga doesn’t work in the Premier League Peppy!
😀
Watford, Burnley, Hull, Palace, Swansea, Leicester and Us have scored 3 goals this weekend!
That’s it.. we’re going to win the Champions League!
You heard it here first!
😀
Nice to hear we will win the Champions League but what is the basis for your statement, BB?
@68 – Because Watford, Burnley, Hull, Palace, Swansea, Leicester and Us have scored 3 points this weekend.
COYG
I have returned from the match slightly soggy but very content with a hard-earned win. My neighbour was in fine form today. With ten minutes to go in the first half he said that an equaliser was coming. He identified what looked suspiciously like a hammy for Mustafi before it was obvious he was injured. And he predicted 3-1. I fear the worst for Mustafi- four to six weeks out.
The switch of Gabriel allowed Hector to resume his season and he contributed the cross for Theo to equalise but the highlight of the day for me was the lobbed header by Mesut this richly gifted and unique footballer. Iwobi’s cameo was exceptional today, by far and away the best I have ever seen him play but I’d like to mention two players for special praise.
I thought Coquelin was magnificent. He played much further forward than he usually does but he contributed in every part of the field. He put fires out for Arsenal and set them smoking in the Stoke midfield. When you play Stoke you have to be a tough, committed individual and Coquelin was definitely that .
As for Theo he has finally convinced me he has changed permanently into an all-action attacker and gegenpresser . He was really involved today . He now has a richly merited coffee machine and had his late dribble and shot been successful it would have brought the house down.
As for Lee Mason, several bad , one good as they say. The penalty was very dubious ( when will Petr Cech go the right way for a penalty?) he should have booked a couple of Stoke players and he is another irritating pedant but he played a great advantage for the third goal. He always does something to stuff us ( remember the Saha offside goal for Everton a few seasons ago?) but today we were too resilient for it to matter.
@ksn
…because of the said scorelines(minus Leicester..they scored 4!) and other anomalies such as Italy beating south africa and Ireland beating NZ in rugby.. Cubs winning… not to mention Brexit and Trump outcomes… to name a few..
It has been that kind of year!
😀 😀 😀
29 goals in 6 games, just short of averaging 5 a game.. must be some kind of record too..
😀
Stoke fans were apparently chanting that ‘ Aaron Ramsey walks with a limp’. That sums up the sort of loathsome club they support.
Stole fans- Aaron Ramsey plays for a club who annihilate you every time you come to the Emirates.
charlie boy adam
elite athlete
if ever there was three
him and
-the hips don’t lie-
pair of em
listed
fetlockgone.com
.
gout
TTG@24 Are you kidding me? They’re such a disgusting set. They need to be relegated to a slump somewhere (the worst place pigs thrive), then they should be relegated into eating the mess in that playground after the pigs complete their fun for the day. Am trying to find the right words for them, but I can’t figure it, maybe there could be an appropriate word in Tamil for them. ?
TTG @74* pls.
I didn’t expect us to be Game of the Day so I went for a bath. Arse holes.
Nicely taken goals so far though.
That was some performance following a midweek CL game. Classy goals from Theo and Mesut, and another from Iwobi which only lacked the graceful out-to-in curve TH14 would have applied to the same strike to be truly Henryesque. And credit to the ref for playing advantage when Alexis was fouled in the movement.
The pen seemed fair enough. Doubters should ask themselves what they would have demanded had one of ours been caught with an elbow to the head drawing blood. Another ref might even have shown Xhaka red, so credit Lee Mason again and no complaints here.
I sympathise with you, Cynic, having a bath is a perfectly natural response to watching orcs and their fans in action.
washing and goal machine
two in one
Ramsey missing today because of hamstring tightness.
Mustafi gone till mid Jan,so along with Debuchy,3 down with the same problem.
Didn’t think we were at our best today,but the difference was composure,didn’t panic when going behind.
Gave the Orcs delusions of grandeur,that they couldn’t maintain.
Everton unbeaten at home and no injury worires,won’t be easy on Tuesday,4th game in 10 days,and with a manager Arsene hasn’t had a lot of success against.
Don’t have the same confidence in Gabriel,and Kos will now have to
realign himself after forging such a great understanding with Mustafi.
Having said that,we do have a good record up there in recent times,so let’s hope we can keep it up.
Agreed Chris. It was a pen. Granit’s elbow was too high. Even though the impact was primarily due to Allen’s momentum.
“Allen’s Momentum”
Title of my new book. spy thriller.
Clive
Everton have just lost Bolasie for the season and I think Coleman has an injury but otherwise they are much better off than us. Notwithstanding our injuries we had a very strong bench today- Ospina, Gibbs, Bellerin, Elneny, Giroud , Lucas, Iwobi .
Arsene will have to rotate sensibly over the Christmas period
Agreed TTG
I think last Christmas/New Year,you and I were back ups for the bench such was our long injury list.!!
Couldn’t do much in the way of rotation,and paid the price with a mediocre run of results in the New year,starting with the flogging at Southampton.
This years Jan fixtures look much kinder,so fingers crossed.
The man flu has gone and we won convincingly again.
The 2 things weren’t linked after all !
How many will Liverpool put past the Hammers?
More ominously for the anti-Arsenal narrative how many will the Hammers put past Liverpool?
I foresee Andy Carroll climbing all over the Poo defence reprising his hat-trick against us back in April … but without the matching goals we managed.
The chavs will be hard pushed to drop points against WBA, but here’s hoping. And I couldn’t care less who drops what in the old toilet, but a draw would be nice.
Chris, John Moss would have shown Xhaka a three match red for that elbow, so let’s thank our lucky stars. And if Theo or Alexis had been felled similarly in the orc box, we’d be screaming for a pen and a red.
Next two matches, on the road against sides that are out of form and desperate for wins, will be very tough. Was actually hoping for Everton to get a result to make the Goodison fixture less of a must win for the Toffees.
with xhaka and coquelin arsenal has a spine now. boy can xhaka ping a long pass with pinpoint accuracy. we have our left-footed scholes, same clumsiness too. coquelin is just plain tidy. he is working up to be the king of interception. the discipline has improved too.
as for Ozil and Sanchez. Pay them what they want for fucksake
Hector’s early return was the silver lining to Mustafi’s injury. At least Gabriel should get a run of games now, which he needs. There are worse CB pairings in the Premiership than Kos and him. With Holding developing nicely, I do wonder if Mertesacker will ever get a game again.
To Clive’s point @82, Koeman’s managerial record against AW is P11 W4 D5 L2. Measured by points conceded per match only two managers have worse records,Ron Jans (PEC Zwolle) and Co Adriaanse (an Eredivisie journeyman now retired).
On that basis a draw on Tuesday night might be in the offing.
The injury to El Mustafí, though painful shouldn’t be much of an issue. Honestly, am more scared of the orcs than the Toffees, we have enough firepower to put at least 2 past their tackle at their place and of course concede the traditional lone goal. As for our records against Keoman, like in one of the drinks above, this is that year when record means nothing, Leicester laced it, Trump is trumping it, it’s left for the big Guns to Gunn every single obstacle down.
Am optimistic, this is the season.
Pings one, Granite-like, to the corner of the box.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>