Awayday Gunners Surrender Tamely Again – Why?
Apr 7th, 2019 by 'holic
Unai Emery made two changes from the team that started against Newcastle on Monday. Mohamed Elneny was surprisingly preferred to Aaron Ramsey and Henrikh Mkhitaryan replaced Alex Iwobi. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang remained on the bench. In the absence of Ramsey and Laurent Koscielny, Mesut Ozil was handed the captain’s armband.
In only the second minute Alexandre Lacazette was sent sprinting clear and his cross found Ozil who cut the ball back only for Everton to scramble the ball out for a corner. As he crossed Lacazette was clattered by Zouma and spent a while thereafter hobbling around gingerly. It looked a nailed-on penalty, but Kevin Friend ruled otherwise.
Our next attack ended abruptly when Guendouzi left a foot in on Digne and was the recipient of an early yellow card. We were behind on ten minutes to Everton’s first chance. A long throw, that should have been signalled as a foul throw as Digne overstepped the touchline, was flicked on by Jagielka. Calvert-Lewin headed it down and Jagielka was unmarked at the post to apply a simple finish. We erroneously appealed for an offside flag that was never coming.
Everton 1-0 The Arsenal
When Gomes sprinted into the box he made a challenge on Sokratis Papastathopoulos that looked as equally poor at least as the Guendouzi one. Astonishingly the referee did not see fit to punish the offender. When Sokratis tugged at Calvert-Lewin he did, quite correctly, see a second yellow card which means he is now going to miss our next two matches.
Suddenly bereft of confidence the old Arsenal away form was returning. Painfully we knocked it sideways, sideways, then gave the ball back to Everton. It is hard to fathom how this was happening given our recent excellent form. When at last we did find Kolasinac in space on the half hour he ballooned his cross into the Gladwys Street End.
As we sought to make inroads again Lacazette was body checked by Gomes, living a charmed existence. When Zouma smashed through the back of Lacazette the officials decided to award offside and no action was taken against the Everton defender. When Monreal appeared to be thrown to the floor by Richarlison the hosts got the free-kick. Guendouzi was pinged for winning the ball cleanly off Gomes. It wasn’t just me. When Lacazette was tripped and we got a free-kick the travelling faithful let out a loud ironic cheer.
The half-time whistle brought to an end a miserable forty-five minutes of football. Not surprisingly Unai Emery went for a double change at half-time, with Ramsey and Aubameyang replacing Sead Kolasinac and Elneny. We switched to a flat back four and immediately looked more dangerous.
Ramsey all but equalised when volleying Pickford’s poor punch just past the joint of post and crossbar at the near post. Then Gomes brought the Welshman down from behind and finally saw the yellow card he had seemingly craved all afternoon. Was the performance of The Arsenal and the officials about to improve? To be fair the latter was.
A diagonal cross by Mustafi found Lacazette who attempted to direct a difficult header wide of Pickford but find the hosts goalkeeper he did. At the other end Ainsley Maitland-Niles gifted a chance to Bernard but Leno spared his blushes with a sprawling block. Everton were starting to look a threat again although rarely troubling Leno for all their endeavour.
Sokratis made two excellent blocks in quick succession to deny Sigurdsson. Again we responded through Mkhitaryan, who had struggled for the main part, but who cut in from the left and hit a curler just a coat of paint beyond the far post. It was becoming end to end. Sigurdsson drew a save from Leno with a close range sidefooter. Richarlison sliced wide when unmarked beyond the far post.
Emery’s final substitution saw Alex Iwobi introduced for Ozil. The Nigerian immediately danced between two defenders to set up Lacazette but he miskicked at the vital moment. Time was running out and Everton used up a few seconds by sending on Theo Walcott to a warm reception from both sets of supporters. Richarlison was the player hooked.
Calvert-Lewin’s rapid burst down the left flank was brought to an abrupt halt by Mustafi who quite rightly saw our third yellow card. Calvert-Lewin had appeared to be suffering from an inner ear infection but there could be no doubting that this was a genuine tumble. When the visitors disputed the award of a corner Nacho Monreal too saw yellow. Walcott’s far post strike was blocked sparing him the do I or don’t I celebrate problem.
Bernard was withdrawn to eat up a few more seconds and Lookman entered the fray. We were ending the second-half as poorly as the first. Goodness knows where The Arsenal of recent weeks went today. They simply didn’t show up again. It must be baffling Unai Emery as much as it is us.
Sigurdsson ambled off to be replaced by Davies as the board was raised indicating five added minutes. In the last of those we had one last chance from a corner. Of course it came to nought. Everton were worth the points for their second-half performance, but oh Arsenal. What happened, again?
159 Responses to “Awayday Gunners Surrender Tamely Again – Why?”
Our remaining away fixtures do not inspire confidence.
We’ll have to depend on the others to drop more points than us if we are to get into CL spots, which is unlikely.
On another note, whatever happened to Torreira? Is he injured?
Could have used him in midfield today.
I think Torreira was still suspended?
Last of his three games?
We played better second half but Everton were better organised and wanted it more. We could have lost by 3 or 4 goals.
That we are no good away from home is clearly borne out from our performance today. Europa again next season unless Wolves and Everton go ahead of us.
We obviously didn’t play and in trying to get back into the game we gave Everton so many chances and we’re fortunate not to lose by more , if Arsenal had the amount of chances Everton had I would be so dissappointed to only score one (1) , on to the next game .
They’ll be disappointed with that.
I am.
the worst collective game in a while. ugh.
iwobi looked bright when he came on. aaron, not so much.
The game I saw Guvna. Agree on the foul throw and the officials. The referee and his friends should be disappointed with that too but of course they won’t be.
I often say that results are very dependent on which Arsenal team actually turns up. The first half was dire. We played statues for their goal. Poor defending.
Rambo gave us more drive in the second half. I can only assume that the officials had already decided that he was not allowed to start. As always when we lose, the officials were appalling. Playing against 14 is never easy, especially when they are that biased. Of course it’s their fault!! How could it not be???
Starting Elneny who hardly plays a game with young Guendouzi is irresponsible by Unai, Ramsey should have started the game. If he’s on the bench he’s ready to play.
Offensively we were rubbish Ozil, Laca, Kolasinac and Miki no where near their level.
We need to be compact instead we get torn apart like a bunch of newbies!
Mot a game most would want to watch again, unless post mortem analytics is a hobby. First half team far too lightweight. Leno, Sokratis and Iwobi escape blame. Highlight was Iwobi robbing Theo in the corner nearly at fulltime.
Ref wasn’t great either in certain situations no need to be sarcastic about it…
Steve, I know that your position on referees influencing outcomes is immovable.
However I take the alternative view that it always has been the case that great teams win despite refereeing errors and we are not by any stretch of the position, that team. The referee today gave Everton the benefit of the doubt and every 50:50 decision. We were penalised when we returned fire with fire in midfield and that was in aprt why we were so ineffectual. The yelllow cards restrained our aggression.
On the other hand, when we were fouled going forward, Friend tended to wave play-on and never went back to deal with the offenders. It doesn’t require the nuclear decision of awarding an erroneous penalty or overlooking a nailed-on one to influence a game’s outcome, it only requires the balance of small decisions to flow in one direction.
However we were indeed also very poor, were second-best all over the pitch and deserved nothing from the game.
You seem to have read something I didn’t write, Steve. I pointed out clear and obvious errors, and so often, in the first-half. I credited them with getting it right in the second-half. Nowhere did I say it was their fault.
Where did I not call us out for playing badly which was clearly the main reason?
H. I’m alluding more to the comments in the drinks, both during and after the game.
Bath. My position is far from immovable. I just get very bored when people seem to me far more interested in blaming “ biased “ officials when our shortcomings are plain for all to see.
Officials make mistakes. No doubt they did today. But many decisions are open to individual interpretation. I also believe that the officials are honest in their interpretation of the game and to suggest otherwise, as some do on a constant basis , is just burying your head in the sand and ignoring the real issues.
I call it as I see it. I don’t have any particular love of officials. I just find the constant highlighting and blaming them when we fail, just a tad tedious.
Today we were garbage. Second best everywhere. I would guess that the officials got far less wrong that those in red and white today???
I find your refusal to accept that ref decisions and bias can affect results, tedious too, Steve. We will agree to disagree on this. However, I am in full agreement with you and almost everyone in here is that we played really poorly today and fully deserved the result.
Ksn. When have I ever said that an official’s decision can’t affect a game? To save you looking, the answer is never. Let’s not forget, we have been the beneficiary on more than one occasion this season. What I won’t accept is that they are biased. If you honestly believe that officials are biased against us you are saying that they are corrupt.
I just get bored beyond belief hearing that it’s always their fault if things don’t go right. Personally, I would rather focus on what we do on the pitch, our performance, our set up and how we can improve. For me, we should spend far more time wondering why we have such an appalling away record than trying to scrutinise every single decision.
Some decisions will go for us and some won’t. That’s life. So unless they make real howlers, I would rather reflect on what we can and can’t affect that. Get our own house in order first and deal with our very obvious shortcomings.
That was not good. And Everton looked the most winnable of the three crunch away games. Can’t afford to drop another point from here on in.
I will ignore the refereeing issue. Friend isn’t very good but he’s not biased. We lost because-
We picked the wrong team to start the game
We picked the wrong formation and got overrun in midfield
Our midfielders passed very poorly and didn’t boss the game like Gueye who would be my man of the match
We dealt with the throw badly from which they scored.
Everton had more drive than us through the whole game and should have won by two or three .
Ramsey has been terrific since his transfer to Juve has been confirmed. He is becoming an increasingly hard act to follow. Speaks volumes for his attitude. But Mesut did throw his coat at one of the Everton coaches so don’t say he doesn’t care!
I didn’t see the game and so am grateful for the report, Holic and the additional colour provided by the drinkers. I think I’ve read enough to realise that 90 precious minutes remaining on planet Earth don’t need to be flushed down the gurgler watching the game on tape.
On a positive note, I won’t have to spend 6 hours in a jam on the way home on the M1 as I did the last time I went to Goodison Park with the team. And even better, the sun was sparkling on Loch Tay today, so there is that.
amen 19
almost sorta nearly kinda thatly here
.
walked to the bar
then…
…walked home after
the draining interlude
not mentioned once
laughed constantly
in the best of company
.
chicken jalfrezi all round
and
thumping tunes on the stereogram
.
.
.
as ever
UP THE ARSENAL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k3I2fh-8VQ
and for
a bunch of old tarts
the hour and 1/2
return journey
oddly tested neither knee nor constitution
so
sláinte
?
only took me
hour and ten
on the outward
but i’m not a fat free loading
home brew craving
shower o shites
.
cheerio now
and be nice to steve
he’s a very nice man
who deserves niceness
ya cunts
Have you ever seen your granny making water
Down by the auld mill stream?
She pisses for an hour and a quarter
And you canna see her arse for the steam…
fuckin genius
?
cheerio again
In the where are they now if they are in North America department, Gedion Zelalem made his MLS debut today for Sporting Kansas City and was substituted with his team trailing 1-0 at about the hour mark. Vito Mannone, having signed for Minnesota United a few months ago, has played all five season opening matches, including 3 wins and 2 losses, and his home debut next weekend coincides with the opening game at the club’s new stadium where I will be in attendance.
Great write up, Holic.
Bath has said my piece above.
Yes, we were awful today and we suffered again due to the lack of quality in our squad. We started without Bellerin, Koscielny, Ramsey, Torreira and, to the great disagreement of some, Xhaka – quite a lot of missing quality to cover.
Kevin Friend however, and Steve will doubtless disagree, was as awful as we were. A series of very soft yellow cards left our players seemingly afraid to play with the necessary aggression, while fouls of the same nature by Everton players went unpunished. He basically intimidated our players out of the game.
Just my opinion, of course, but the lack of fairness seemed obvious today.
How does a linesman miss 5 Tottenham players standing offside at a free kick against us and why, therefore, is a foul against one of them (Kane) not discounted. When Zouma today clattered Lacazette in an offside position, the offside is given against the victim.
What exactly was the difference between Gouendouzi leaving a foot in on Digne, and Gomes taking out Sokratis by treading on his foot ? The very same thing for which Mustafi did receive a yellow card.
How did the linesman and referee oth miss Digne overstepping the line to launch the throw that created Everton’s goal ?
Can it really all be just coincidence ?
If it is, where are all the other coincidences that “ level this all up at the end of the day “ ?
And just for clarity, I do know Steve T, and I agree with cba that he is a nice man.
We’re just going to disagree about today and that’s fine.
No offence, mate ??
I must admit i was filled with foreboding when we took the field at Goodison Park against a rejuvenated Everton side without our Commander in Chief at the heart of the defence, and our 2 integral defensive midfielders,along with our most influential box to box player in recent games,who after recent muscular issues,was only on the bench.
Asking a still very immature Guendozi and a very willing but clearly technically deficient Elneny to play in midfield was asking for trouble.
Conceding a clearly avoidable early goal,would have further eroded the fragile confidence of a side that to me didn’t really look like they had that self belief of a team supposedly challenging for a CL place next season.
In any game at any level,you have to win the midfield battle first especially away from home,to give yourself a platform to dictate the game.
In that regard unsurprisingly,we were never at the races.
Injuries and suspension have hurt us right at the worst possible time,
and notwithstanding a very difficult double header against Napoli in the EL, we will need all hands on deck at Vicarage Road next Monday night,against a flying Cup Final bound Watford side.
Unai has a lot to ponder in the coming days.
mess wi steve T
ye
*wheezes*
mess wi
*sharts*
me
.
.
and
as a man
with recently flamboyant piles
.
sharting is NO joke
Two games in a row where the refs were absolutely appalling, and gave us nothing.
Happens too often to just dismiss as errors, do other rival teams find themselves on the end of such treatment so regularly?
We were poor with it of course, but in the first half, Friend did his best to stop us playing, and our players happily obliged. When I see such things happen regularly to the likes of Spurs, Utd and Chelsea, I might start believing these things are all part of the game and even themselves out
shiting through the eye of a hot needle there
for just a wee while
is a difficulty
gladly ive only squared up to
recently
.
.
.
anyhoo
#teamsteve
.
[none of this pertains to steve T ]
dirty minds
cba, if you’re having difficulty shitting through the eye of a needle,
an obvious remedy is to try a bigger needle ?
Sorry – now don’t get the needle, or … you know ….
Re: Vito Mannone. It turns out he is now a Reading player on loan to Minnesota United. A bit hard to imagine how he is maintaining his balance what with one foot on each side of the Atlantic, but straddle away don Vito.
Just discussed on MOTD. Clearly, it was not a foul throw. I would also suggest that we’ve all now learnt something new?
Law 15 The Throw In
A throw-in is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball when the whole of the ball passes over the touchline, on the ground or in the air.
A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in:
if the ball enters the opponents’ goal – a goal kick is awarded
if the ball enters the thrower’s goal – a corner kick is awarded
Procedure
At the moment of delivering the ball, the thrower must:
stand facing the field of play
***** have part of each foot on the touchline or on the ground outside the touchline *****
throw the ball with both hands from behind and over the head from the point where it left the field of play
All opponents must stand at least 2 m (2 yds) from the point at which the throw-in is taken.
Evening Trev. I hope you and yours are all well.
Funny enough, I’ve not given any comment on the performance of any of the officials. What I have commented on is those that seem to want to blame the officials and use it as a mask for our own failings. That’s what grates with me.
As you will see from the above post, it appears that none of us knew the laws around something as simple as a throw in? Who would have thought it???
Just on the bookings you’ve mentioned. I don’t remember what Nacho got booked for. The yellows for Guendouzi, Sokratis and Mustafi are all certain yellows for me. I’ve not heard anyone moan about any of them.
Just to repeat, what continues to frustrate the life out of me is those that will constantly seek to blame officials to mask our own short comings. I remember not too long ago a ref being blamed because he was going to be shit. He was being blamed 48 hours before kick off. I’m just bored with the excuses
cba, me and you fella. Let’s go. Guns pointed outwards and time to take On all comers. If they’re brave enough that is????
steve
“go home yer drunk”
????
.
eff off ?
and johnny come nerdies
were saying
the throws weren’t valid
but
i watch the games
with ex professionals
one ounce of your foot renders it A Ok
apparently
TO THEIR DISGUST
secretly though
my people will talk to your people
100%
.
.
.
.
“Mary , step up – just put the grandchildren s food within reach”
“They aren’t paying for it the wee Glasgow shites”
.
.
IVE BUSINESS TO SORT
Fair enough Steve.
I played football for all my playing years under the impression that both feet had to be behind the line at a throw on. Can’t argue with your reproduction of the rule above though .
So let’s discount the throw on, the other discrepancies I mentioned remain a mystery.
One other one today: Aubameyang was booked for donning a mask as a goal celebration, Jiminez for Wolves today was not.
These inconsistencies go against us time after time and when they happen twice a week, every week, it is not mere coincidence.
Why remains a mystery.
All the best to you and yours.
beware people
me and steve together
AWESOME BITCHES !!!!
poor punctuation
.
.
Awesome
BITCHES
fuck
you’re all the bitches
and
me and steve are awesome
.
i fuckin hate the internet
ahhhhhhh
.
.
.
.
shit the bed
Above awesomeness cba. You’d better believe it.
*heads up gooners*
trev
is smarter than all of us put together
dismiss him
treat him with disdain
.
clever people who do good in the world
SHOULD BE SHUNNED
me and you steve
PANSYS the lot of em
Trev. You and me both. I didn’t know either. I will be surprised if anyone here actually did? Makes you wonder how many other rules that we all believe we know 100%, but really don’t??? Only time will tell I guess?
I’ve not watched any of the Wolves game so cant comment. That said, I share your views and frustrations on the inconsistencies.
.
.
.
.
.
whaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
ding
HALF DONG
Me and Steve, cba
(With punctuation)
hyper awesomeness.
You can join if you ask nicely
and behave
and stop shitting everywhere
would be nice ??
well
*crosses arms *
aren’t you the big boy
Mr Dr Man
.
.
.
i could beat you to death with one beat of my eyebrows
.
.
.
“You are worthless to me now”
(sheesh – smarty pants is all up in ma grill)
steve ?
can ye deal with Einstein here
(i’m all talk)
and
as ye know
i’m a slave to my lumbago
.
.
.
.
no ?
?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HCw8Q6zBSw
He’s a dead man walking cba. No one talks to my mate cba like that. Punctuation or no punctuation.
.
.
.
.
.
.
sweet merciful mother of fuck
i’m guessing Glenn
isn’t a millionaire
unbelievable injustice
and
don’t get me started on Chris
steve
hard as nails is
as
hard as nails does
bless ya me ol china
Great clip cba. Two top tunes.
Steve T,
You are a fair man and we all get the point, we were dire yesterday no questions asked, some times you get it sometimes you don’t but the failings of the Ref’s are there to be seen week in week out.
Despite the throw in which in all honesty I have not seen anyway, we were not getting anything from this guy Laca was kicked shoved etc some of the fouls from oppo should have been punished end off!
It’s a fair game and if one team does it the other should do too!
It doesn’t change jack shit if your and our team played like donkeys! I don’t think everyone here is trying to blame the referee for the shortcomings of this squad that would be silly and stupid if you ask me, however they do change courses of the game and we have witnessed this scenario too many times.
Good example is Chelski scoring the other weekend!
Funny enough taking my son to the game on Thursday I do hope we turn up!
without
yer intervention
university certificates woulda been pulled out
and you know what i think about
both of those bastards i keep
in my grannies hatbox
???
.
.
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg6IbHrvvF0
the Glenn Tilbrook clip
is just amazing
how you can be that good
and not be carried shoulder high
EVERYWHERE you go
Thanks for the report Guvnor.
Fortunately I fell asleep completely
hammered about 20 minutes into
the game after a long days cherry
blossom viewing in the park. The
trees were nice, the food was good,
but the endless bottles of wine were
best.
We’ve won 5, drawn 1 and lost 1 of
our last 7 games. Not too bad.
Top 4 is certainly not out of reach
as others will drop points too and
all is still to play for. Onwards to the
next game where I hope to be a
better supporter and that the team
will be be better players.
one person
is making all that noise
oh oh
Japan’s in
sorry
i’ll lurk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSMO9pocDhc
Good bit of lurking that cba.
It’s a coffee and cigarettes for
breakfast sort of morning here in
Japan. I’m feeling…..
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OsEnZBRFNrs
fuck it
lurking over
saw so many great bands
when i lived in yer backwater country
never / nearly saw squeeze
what a fuckin band
WHAT A FUCKIN BAND
Saw Squeeze live at Camden
Town many years ago – great
band
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=j3R7Op1oufA
i saw Prince
he was good value
loved it
80s odds maybe i dunno
yeah
.
.
.
all i could think was
during the concert
this is just wasted on the english
*burmp burmp burmp*
most o these cunts ain’t heard o bootsy
*burmpt burmpttt burmptttttt *
stupid honky bastards
.
.
níl a fhios agam
osaka M
in the 70s
a top top shelf band
tainted by the association
of a complete famous twat
there has to be gooners on here
who saw the sex pistols demis Roussos
felicity kendals ARSE and The Arse
Or
not
.
.
.
.
.
.
stupid un joined up english bastards
*mind plays music*
.
.
felicity Kendals arse
am on the
what i’d call
straight cider
apple juice / honey / expectations
thisn is 8
packed various oul cunts
into wives and sons cars
a case each
everything will be fine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNK28oc5DQs
felicity kendals arse
her arse
notwithstanding
my homemade is fantastic
aged and free
that can’t be the only reason
surely
Shirley
mind you
fuckin cuntin curry was all me
this morning in the slow cooker
i fuckin need de stop arguing wi meself
on here
place is fulla isn’t it
japan merica even scotchland
hanging about wi english people
it’s not right
nor is it decent
WEIRDOS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiIGGDeN7D0
.
.
hmmmm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jerq87fV1k4
oh and ‘holic
d’ye watch the side men doc bbc
guns for hire or some such
bowie stax prince
time well spent indeed
sorta
.
i think them referring to Steve Cropper as other than a genius perhaps does in a right thinkin mind make them a fuckin arsehole outfit but still worth the watch in my mind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEHMYAiIUhI
conan nose
?
i like bullshitting
.
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q20SoOV0jdM
aww jaysus
he’s on the hooch again
but
you
try and sing this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLKRQbnvLmk
go on
put down yer whelks
have a double double in manzes
and lend us a fiver
?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K7W6dztw-4
Approval of the sane approach of Osaka Matt @64.
Approval, I think (not completely sure) of the rather less sane approach of cba @most of the others.
the just bizarre approach
i have
i dunno
they sound funny
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG6cwkuO4ak
this is what the scots are like
awful
awful
awfae basta s
8 ball
as I’ve said countless times before
yer golden in this household
herself LOVES you
me myself
i’m smitten to an extent
that’s still MASCULINE
.
.
.
*combs toe knuckles*
.
.
no flirting though
herself still looks amazing
i won’t post a photo of herself
she’s a moose
and i’m an ugly bastard
.
.
you know of course
she isn’t
plus if a poll was done
.
.
.
“Let’s face it”
d’ye see all this HOMEBREW bollocks
ain’t no way close
blud innit
naaaah
.
im gonna expose the shit and shite working conditions BIG DAVE makes us work under
.
.
he’s a bad man
lets make him see better
(or chips)
.
.
multi – posting !
.
.
all Dave
crawling towards the ton
YOU GUESSED IT
DAVE
i get 4.75 cent
for each post
B
zarre.
All credit to the lovely cba for a handsome ton of assists, and on to the doubleton.
If the next homebrewed wave crests as forecast
i know not what you are
or whence yer bollocks comes 8ball
we had an agreement
i wouldn’t talk about
Best Sectarian Roller Disco awards i won
yooo sposed to not make funny
you done bad
5
snooze time
cheerio
“and may your God ……
Not normally or much ever in the clever business, me.
Thought we woulda been more impressive than that load we delivered though.
End of spring break and a good night’s sleep is called for to refresh and help make the pain of Everton recede in the memory.
Cheers H! Shit performance and result.
A cracking summary.
I agree with Steve re the refs. We do get our fair share of favourable decisions too, and trying to imply bias is simply ignoring the crux of the problem, which is our concerning lack of ideas and belief away from home.
Arseblogger says it best
Make life a bit difficult for us in the opening 15-20 minutes and we don’t fancy it. Our collection of shrinking violets will do what we do, huff and puff a bit, throw our arms in the air to moan at the referee a lot as if somehow it’s his fault, and play like twats.
The refereeing issue will remain, like much of refereeing, a matter of opinion rather than provable fact. At least half of opinions are wrong.
What is an inescapable fact is that this team remains incapable of scrapping out a victory away from home and this has been a major problem since Arsene Wenger’s last years.
The consequence of that is that we are all going to be disappointed by not achieving a top-four finish. Unless Unai Emery pulls off an amazing piece of psychotherapy, this team will not get the 7 points it needs from the next 4 away games (assuming 6 from the two home games) to make the top 4. I wonder if Stan is concerned.
Steve T
I wouldn’t align with that CBA he’s just a big jessy and would expect you to do all the fighting.
Bath sums up the football dilemma neatly. It’s hard to make a winning case for us in any of the four away games we have left. They are all in-form teams ( to a degree), they all play with an intensity which we will find it hard to match and if we lack any of the key players in our spine ( and we nearly always do ) we will struggle. Frankly it’s hard to make a case for us getting much at all. To imagine that a side that has beaten only Blackpool and Huddersfield away from home since November is going to take seven points from that group of games is wishful thinking.
What is wrong with Mavropanos? He appears to have taken on the mantle of Rosicky/ Diaby and Wilshere!
thunder T
you starting ?
when steve gets back
you’ll be laughing out
the other side o yer face
mr smarty pants man
111
+1
cracker ?
the days already
it appears
turned to buggery
time I fear to serenade the girls
with
speakers out the back yard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oegpo4xNdx0
??????
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYuGlD3XSOw
.
.
.
nope
not Arsenal related either
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38Vun2LYnoY
ho ho ho
o no
fuckin b sides
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGOEUo_sLxY
no messin about here
ya assortment of big girls blouses
fuckin
moooooooooooooooooooooo
fuckin yes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGFcVgI5r7Y
when i win the lottery
those sexy dancers will dress appropriately
and not give old men the horn
.
sweet mother of god
a tune herself on overhearing
“Ye watchin yer wee girlfriends”
anyhoo
bye bye
stuff to do
.
cows eat like horses
.
.
man alive
herbivores me hoop
yer arm would be down the cunts throats
if ye didn’t have yer high alert engaged
mind you
mon the moooooooooooooooooooooo s
son #2
just played me what has been #1 for months
.
dear sweet mother of god
save us
save us
save us from fake Ernests
.
.
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKiAUYIL0QA
So the question is are the Napoli ultras going to storm the pie shop again or maybe the launderette instead? Wankers the lot of them.
CBA
I’m starting alright!
No way my mate Steve would start on me .
He doesn’t do the dirty work of jessies!
But I am a smarty pants. ???
Brother Barman. Welcome to the fold. Just when I thought there was just me and cba, marching off into the sunset. And thank you Cynic. I don’t think I have come across a nail that has been hit so firmly on the head before. Exactly the point I’ve been trying to make.
Bath. You are spot on sir. Another reason why we should just get on with it and get our own house in order first.
TTG. Love you to bits but you are on very thin ice. My guess is that cba would teach you a right good rip roaring lesson? And he would have my full support.
Funny, no comments on the throw in anymore??? How strange.
?
TTG
On the only bright note from a very disappointing w/end,the under 18’s won 8 nil at Reading to move one step closer to the league title.
They have 1 game left at the end of the month away to Fulham,win that and they will be Champions.
On the Napoli home game on Thursday,i do hope the Metropolitan Police will have studied the shambles of policing at Anfield when the Ultra’s came calling in the Group stages late last year,and have an in depth highly visible presence at the Ems,otherwise it could get very ugly.
As for the away leg,i wouldn’t travel to Naples if you paid me.
Write down the first letter of each paragraph…
http://priceoffootball.com/tag/burnley/
Ok CBA . I will let you off with a warning ! Steve seems to feel you are not a Jessie.
Clive
Yes the U18s and the Ladies should win their leagues. I think the U18s would play the winners of the Northern League for the overall title. And the U18s won 5-0 against Derby tonight ! Apparently Willock was excellent and was taken off at half-time. It’s being wise after the event but he could have usefully played instead of Elneny at Goodison. But Emery understandably didn’t want to pair two youngsters in midfield against Gomes and Gueye. He is a terrific prospect and deserves a chance next season or he should be sent out on loan.
TTG
Okay mate,didn’t realise that.
I think it was the under 23’s that won tonight in what has been a disappointing season overall,given they won the Title last season.
For anyone interested,there is an excellent summation and critique of the Everton game by Adrian Clarke on the Arse website.
I cannot speak highly enough of his regular incisive dissection of all the first team games this season,they are a pleasure to view win lose or draw.
Hopefully we can see the return of both Xhaka and Torreira in midfield soon We were definitely second best in that area against Everton. Although currently with a few injuries I do wonder with the selection of Elneny, given how few games he’s played, if Unai underestimated Everton thinking ahead to Napoli? He does like a Europa Cup. At least he now knows Goodison Park is not an easy place to go.
I’ll be interested to see who’s fit for Thursday. I can feel we’ll play well and get a good result, but then again who knows? COYR
Welcome back to the drinks, Matt. I had been wondering if you had moved to Osaka and changed personalities.
In the middle of the Everton game I found myself missing the presence of Xhaka in the team for the first time ever.
Chelsea’s Drinkwarwe charged with drink driving.
Never mind, it’s too easy.
Should have at least spelled his name correctly so as not to throw confusion on what he was imbibing.
Clive,
You are of course right I , for some reason typed the wrong team in. They have had a funny season in the U23s. They had an awful run of losses , some quite heavy- they lost the fixture at Derby 5-0 for example but in recent weeks , they have done extremely well even drawing at Everton the leaders with a very weakened team ( if only the first team had done that !) .Freddie has started pretty well as a coach . I must confess of the Invincibles he was the player I would have least expected to see back coaching with us, but he reflects very interestingly on each game and player development.
I think Matt above is spot-on re Emery underestimating Everton and this playing Elneny although injuries and bans didn’t leave him many options
Bt8
Don’t be hard on yourself. Drinkwarwe was the name he gave at the police station !
A very good analysis of where we stand, here:
http://7amkickoff.com/index.php/2019/04/08/arsenal-are-a-team-caught-between-two-identities/
It’s a quality thang, podna!
thang?
hooligan, eh?
So Delph clears the ball, Kane comes sliding in the process Delph kicking foot ends up in Kane’s ankle causing clear injury. Kane can’t put any weight on his ankle and is helped straight to the dressing room.
Who’s at fault here Delph or Kane?
TTG
Agree on Freddie,he has done a sterling job since being appointed,and his credentials as a player were never in question.
The season has been disrupted with injuries and call ups to the first team squad for certain players on a regular basis,and a few out on loan as well.
On the subject of Invincibles,another top salute to Big Sol,4 months into his stint as Manager at 2nd division side Macclesfield,they had another cracking result tonight,beating Exeter 3 – 2, to be out of the bottom 2 for the first time this season.
6 games to play,and for the first time their fate is in their own hands.
Who’s at fault here Delph or Kane?
The referee?
🙂
Bath
That was an interesting read and I think he has a very fair point. We are an upper mid- table side away from home ( possibly worse ) and innthe league a top four side .That sums it up perfectly. Emery is ahead of the curve but has had precious little opportunity in transfer windows to alter the playing staff substantially.
Like most of us here I think of Arsenal regularly in the context of our own games. those of our rivals and our position in the league.When I get down I remember that we are owned by a classless American gun aficionado who sees us as a profit Centre NOT a Football club that could win any prize in Europe . When I’m more positive I hope that we can escape that categorisation with a great manager, exceptional performance and a modicum of luck and can achieve remarkable things. But while Kroenke remains there is a ceiling on what is attainable and it stops far short of what is imaginable and even feasible with the right financial control
Cynic
I don’t wish injury on anyone but he dived earlier in the penalty box clutching his face when no one even touched him.
It’s a pointless sliding tackle too I don’t think Delph could have avoided it…
“imaginable and even feasible with the right financial control”……..you mean “without the right financial control” in the style of Man City, Chel$ki, PSG, TTG?
Good link Bath,
and clearly a long term away day problem that doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon,and not just in the league but also in some insipid away days in the EL.
With Papa suspended for the next 2 league games for picking up 10 yellow cards,Mr Deeney will be salivating at the thought of working over poor old Mustafi at Vicarage road next Monday night.
I am sure it is a problem causing Unai many a sleepless night,and if it continues,it could well cost us a place in the CL next season.
We just don’t seem to have enough players in the squad that absolutely hate losing,and until that changes,we are always going to be a top 6 side rather than a top 4.
Much work to be done in the summer in the transfer market.
IBtm
Your point is absolutely right. Is there a third way between being financially doped to use a Wengerism and working within financial constraints that forbid investment in a business and restricting spending to a self sustaining model? ( ie encouraging an owner who has notionally increased his wealth from Arsenal Football Club by up to a billion pounds from advancing a penny of his own money into the budget of the club to accelerate team building) . The best English example is that of Liverpool. A team with US owners making significant profits and investing heavily in the team. This includes using opportunistic sales ( eg Coutinho ) to generate funds for team building.
The crux of the matter is how important profit and glory are to you in relative terms – or glory for your football team rather than your NFL franchise or MLS team .
Watched the highlights of the 2
CL games.
Poor defending from Shitty for the
goal and a poor penalty from Aguero.
Good spot from the VAR bloke
though as it was a penalty and the
ref missed it.
Kane was author of his own injury
and Pep saying Delph could of been
sent off was purely heat of the
moment nonsense. Kane may be done
for the season according to Poch.
Liverpoo should of wrapped it up
from 2-0 up on 25 mins. Hope it
comes back to bite them.
CBA@68,
There’s still time, my friend.
I saw Glenn Tilbrook last week at the Poole Lighthouse, and both his guitar playing and vocals seem as good as ever.
On a football note, how sad the Harry Kane has damaged one of his diving ankles!
If we sign Umtiti, I just know every time I hear his name, I’ll be thinking of these guys
https://www.sideshow.com/product-asset/100122/feature
Cynic knows…..
😉
Irritability comes more quickly after a game like that one. Comes to me anyway, and I hope to the players.
The weather here isn’t helping. A Spring snowstorm just began and is supposed to last for the next day and a half. This after we had fewer than a half dozen true Springlike days before now. 🙁
Forza Rossobianchi
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>