Goalden Boot Auba’s Brace Buries Burnley Boo Boys
May 12th, 2019 by 'holic
An extremely rotated Gunners starting eleven lined up for the final match at Turf Moor. Only Nacho Monreal and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang survived from the team that started at Valencia on Thursday. We know the reason why, but clearly we had given up on producing the goal fest that might have made for a remarkable day.
As early as the third minute Burnley goalkeeper Heaton handled the ball outside his area and was duly booked. From the resulting free-kick Aubameyang hit the post, maybe with his arm, on a day when he was looking to close the two goal gap on Liverpool’s Salah in the race for the golden boot.
Barnes produced the first threat for the Lancastrians when he out-muscled Mavropanos only to head wide. He would bully the Gunners back line for much of the contest.
Heaton saved when Aubameyang tried his luck once more. The Gabon striker was looking hungry, although to be fair those around him struggled for cohesion in the opening half. Barnes again responded with a close range volley which was parried clear somewhat unconvincingly by Leno. His strike partner Wood beat the Gunners goalkeeper in the 28th minute but fortunately the ball crashed off the post to safety.
In the 34th minute we had to make an unwanted substitution of skipper Laurent Koscielny for the injured Konstantinos Mavropanos. Three minutes later Tarkowski’s header from a corner flashed past the far post. The same player was booked for cynically chopping down Alex Iwobi shortly afterwards. After the break Lowton was booked for another rash challenge on an enraged Iwobi. The Gunner needs to get a lecture in discipline from his peers before Baku.
Ever more thuggish as a team, Burnley’s Wood pushed Koscielny through a far from robust hoarding and we held our collective breath as the skipper climbed gingerly back to his feet. Of course according to the pint of gravy slurpers we were always cheating, which warranted their usual pathetic chorus of boos. They truly are the Lancashire Stoke.
Seven minutes after the break they were silenced when Aubameyang sprinted clear of the defence, placed the ball to the left of Heaton, and inside the post. Against the run of play, in all honesty, we were ahead. In the aftermath there was a yellow card for Matteo Guendouzi, allegedly for unsporting behaviour. Hopefully he celebrated wildly right in front of the boo boys!
Burnley 0-1 The Arsenal
Henrikh Mkhitaryan, again enjoying mixed fortunes on the afternoon, then saw a shot saved by Heaton. This was much better from the visitors who were finally taking control of a difficult game.
Aubameyang tried yet another strike only for it to be partially blocked by Mee and bounced into the hands of a relieved Heaton. in the 62nd minute Eddie Nketiah came on for his U23 pal Joe Willock, a surprise inclusion who enjoyed a half decent game. We were looking to seal the deal, as they say.
In the very next attack Aubameyang’s spectacular far post volley from Iwobi’s inch perfect chip put him level with Salah on 22 goals. News followed that Salah’s team mate, Mane, had also reached that figure. Would one of them score again to clinch the golden boot?
Burnley 0-2 The Arsenal
In the 65th minute after the ball had ping-ponged around the box Barnes met Gudmundsson’s short cross with a glancing header. Surely just a consolation? Or were we about to collapse from a strong position?
Burnley 1-2 The Arsenal
Mkhitaryan’s turn and shot five minutes later showed we still possessed an attacking intent, and when the Armenian teed up Aubameyang the striker incredibly missed the target from the centre of the six yard box. Would that cost him a precious prize?
Cork then only received a yellow card for raking his studs down the back of Guendouzi’s leg. Mike Dean has red card players for less. To complete the Stoke comparison the hosts brought on Crouch in the 83rd for an entirely predictable, but ultimately futile, aerial assault.
There remained a sting in the tail for the miserable locals. It was delivered by Eddie Nketiah who ‘megged Heaton in added time to equal Alexis Sanchez’ goal total for the season. Well done the 19 year old who was starting to wonder when his chance might arrive again. The perfect end to a decent afternoon, even if we remained in 5th place in the table. We have one more chance to clinch Champions League football once more.
Burnley 1-3 The Arsenal
So to the changing room to celebrate the share of the golden boot prize by Auba, thoroughly deserved.
153 Responses to “Goalden Boot Auba’s Brace Buries Burnley Boo Boys”
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Oi!
?
well i for one love the title ‘hol
pearls before swine
no sleep till baku
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhdRjEJZRrw
well no. 5
is a bit corny
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtV6RxeYfKg
Fuck Chel*ea!
you appear to favour the elderly bald man
you sure ye haven’t
on whatever journey you’re on
unintentionally landed on an Arsenal site
what’s Liam Brady’s middle name ?
i’m on a journey to Bakuuuuuu
and you are on…
ha ha ha
glue?
well
that’s me told
sniffer, eh?
i know your kind
Cheers cba. I tried.
Full of a roast turkey dinner and white wine, I am rounding the weekend off with some delicious firewater.
I trust you are too?
glad to hear it ‘hol
my drinking habits are none of your concern
ya nosey bollix ?
i’m a very private person ?
.
.
but importantly
how’s the oul bellows holding up
no joke that dave
proper top shelf
The bellows still need a service but the bug and fever are long gone. I was told it will take time to recover and maybe I might not get back to where i was. We’ll see. I am buggying my way round 36 holes on Friday for the first time this year. That will be a test, even in a buggy.
well fella
that’s the right direction
as ever
love and hugs
sent from me and herself
and of course
the girls
and
considering they’ve four legs each
that’s a heapin helpin o huggin pilgrim
.
.
i hope ye have a grand day out
and
just
as
a
matter
of
interest
WHO DO WE HATE ?
Well done, Auba. Well done, Holic.
It’s a very private person you are, cba, and I’m thinking we’re all the much better for that. My good friend, a Mullingar man, was a much less private person than yourself and situations often got ugly as a consequence. There’s much to be said for privacy of the personal kind.
36 holes in a buggy won’t be so bad. It’s the 150 swings of the club between stops that are the bugger – so – “let the club do the work” (ever hear that one? 🙂 ) Never works for me though.
And enjoy.
WHEN DO WE HATE THEM?
NOW!
Love the hugs. You’re a good soul fella.
? btm
i start out with the best intentions
remember they’re the wrong ones
go back to the house to change
but time passes
and vulgarity ensues
in the interim
shush yer face 18
i’ve cultivated a contrary contrariness
don’t tear it down
ya soppy cunt
mullingar btm ?
pronounced
mulllllin garrrrrrrrr
.
.
as an interesting aside
should a lady be generously upholstered
on the lower leg
here
the saying would be
“beef to the ankle – like a Mullingar heifer”
love and hugs?
eeeek
corny mugs
ye run outta oul skinheads to look at , peaches
you never do , i’m sure
Fine report Guvna. Looking forward to the highlights. I trust the cratur is slipping down nicely. ?
btm
ye never answered me before
oul Scottish songs
oul recordings
early 20th century
any on youtube ?
i wouldn’t know what to type in
i’ve tried
shit the bed , bath
can you point me to oul Scottish tunes ?
i get the worst of Ireland
when my Scottish numpties stay here
and play brock
they need educated
i mean that in a nice way
not
as in
The Sweeney
Nice stuff H. I missed the first half as I was still on the way home after an exceptional weekend away in Newcastle. 2 trips to St James’s Park were very enjoyable indeed. As were the times in between.
A nice way to finish off the season. If only we’d managed to get the one more win from that sad bunch of results in recent weeks.
Many congratulations to PEA. A great achievement considering how we have performed at various times this season.
Nice to see some of the youngsters getting an outing. Some serious decisions need to be made about the playing personnel for next season. As Bath commented earlier, I tell be nice to see some of them become a more permanent fixture next season.
So, on to Baku. We seem fine up top so we just over 2 weeks to complete a crash course in how to defend.
Bring it on.
As old songs go, this one’s tough to beat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMmtBgMaF5I&list=RDRMmtBgMaF5I&start_radio=1
The technology wasn’t around for recordings of the old timers unfortunately but there work lives on through voices like Eddi’s. We were too busy inventing steam engines and the likes to be bothered aboot songs sung in pubs 🙁 . There’s little around.
hah brilliant
but as regards the tune
nope
sorry
i’m an honest man
that’s not what i’m lookin for
thanks anyway
there has to be an archive
baff ?
i’ve fuckin records of thirties recordings of Irish tunes . In America too but I suppose as ye pointed out recording equipment wasn’t on the back of every horse and cart . So . I dunno .
*HELP WANTED . AGGRAVATING SCOTTISH GRANDCHILDREN NEED SCHOOLED*
Ah well, the eight goal gap was reduced by two – not quite the 400/1 result but apparently some encouraging signs in the boy Willock and Eddie continues to score at all levels to which he is exposed.
Enjoy your golf day, Holic – at least the forecast is for warm and dry.
May all your rounds be paid for by BtM and may all your hugs be offered by girls with no more than two legs.
After a season of “if onlys” in the league, we will be back in the Champions League if only we can beat Chelski in Azerbaijan, that hotbed of, well, UEFA jiggery-pokery one suspects, unless I’ve missed an obvious reason for staging a European final in an unconnected town that’s not even in Europe.
Yep, that is the obvious reason. ?
*bats eyelids at trev*
i shoulda said eyelashes
but i don’t have any
the english stole them
*blows a kiss and waves back to cba*
no eyelid battering or lashing here though
I reserve that for the girls
but only the two legged ones ?
Well done to the boys,never easy up at Turf Moor.
Well done Auba,although i do admit like a few others,that some of his misses have me scratching my head in disbelief.
I was very surprised to read that when the young Greek bearing no gifts, limped off early doors, that Unai had to make his 28th first half injury substitution,which is a PL record.
We have only been outscored by City and Pool this season,but have equalled our worst defensive record since the 83 – 84 season.
I don’t necessarily subscribe to the theory that the defence is bad,more that the midfield doesn’t give them enough protection .
But all in all not a bad season considering the loss of key personnel for long periods.
17 days now for the Supporters to twiddle their thumbs, and the players to rest and hopefully get rid of any injury niggles before the final game which will decide our fate for next season.
so
yer going back on yer original order
Mr Trevor
good intentions don’t paint multi-legged girl’s toes
.
.
.
just say what ye like
i don’t judge
fella in here earlier
OBSESSED with elderly skinheads
again
didn’t judge
.
.
.
i find it increasingly difficult
and
occasionally impossible
to remember who sang what
in what band
facing what direction
.
it’s a real chore
(Americans use that word)
.
.
.
it’s becoming a nuisance
.
.
i don’t believe i’m in my dotage
but it fuckin feels like it
took me a quarter of an hour
to remember this song
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9pLpzNPiB48
and bloody
des lynam
when
i fuckin forget
.
.
unsettling
.
but
i imagine this is the time
i write the great 21st Century Irish novel
and
the fuckin plastic paddy kilty grandchildren
freak out
when the millions
go to the Goonerholic Home for oul Tarts
cynic is on the front desk
no messing
I’m doing some undercover surveillance on CBA . I was in Cushendall today. I enjoyed a fine pint of Guinness at lunchtime and have had some excellent Bushmills this evening.
I was very pleased that our rotated team did so well against Neanderthal man’s boys today. This is the man Merson suggested as the next Arsenal manager. Pleased to see Auba come through unscathed and for those who are chipping away at his profligacy he has the best shot conversion rate in the league and possibly in Europe. Which suggests all good strikers miss lots of sitters. Remember TH14 in Paris??
Nice to see United collapse so pathetically and S***s limp into fourth.
I really would like to see a huge clearout of the mediocre this summer and a place for some of the young tyros who are soooo much better. I also hope Mavropanos can finish a lot more games next season. He really is a delicate flower on the evidence of this season
beautiful place m’lud
Thanks for the report ‘holic and enjoy the rigours of the golf. 🙂
Cardiff may have been relegated but they put Man United in their place on the last day. Admirable.
Arsenal win important for giving a shine to the season and for keeping the momentum rolling. If we are going to Baku we had best start looking for a caravan and some camels, and stock up on fresh water.
Thanks for the report Guvnor.
A decent result to end the season, which is
something I suppose. We ended up 7 points
better than last season. And Eddie’s goal made
me laugh at the end
On to Baku then.
And I nicked in like Auba to bury the 50.
@58 from Bath in yesterday’s post
Exits for Cech, Ospina, Licht, Jenks, Mus, Xhaka,
Elneny, Mhki, Ramsey,Welbeck.
I agree on all of them but it is quite a churn especially
in midfield.
Also agree with Willock, Nketiah and Nelson to get more
game time – I would add Smith Rowe too.
And I want a CB, MF, Winger and LB too.
We have several uncertainties too – what to do about
Kos, Nacho, Iwobi, Mavro, Kola, Calum and Ozil
Mavro – out on loan, he needs to play.
Calum – keep as back up DM.
Kos and Nacho – a risk but I’d keep both
Iwobi – very little progress, let him go please
Kola – a wing back who defends poorly is a problem
Ozil – make him club captain and see if Cynic will
chip in for a pay rise
Losing the 10 players above and then selling Iwobi
and Kola too seems unrealistic for one summer but
anyway I hope we do it. If not it will just be the same
inconsistency next season.
OM@32: The churn might be less than you think. Of your list, Cech’s retirement has long been known, Ospina effectively left a season back, Ramsey and Welbeck have been shown the door and Jenks has been up for sale for seasons and is a fringe player at best.
That leaves Lichtsteiner, Mustafi, Xhaka, Elneny and Mhki.
I suspect Lichtsteiner will stay as a cool, old head to mentor younger, hotter ones. (He was the first to go to Iwobi yesterday when there was some handbags with a Burnley defender.)
Emery shows no less desire to play Xhaka than Wenger did, Mustafi is a much better player than his mistakes would make you believe, but Gazidis wants to take him to Italy, apparently.
Elneny is surplus to requirements especially if Chambers returns to provide cover at DM and would be playing regularly at some other PL clubs.
Mhki remains a viable squad player. Like most players in that position, he finds it difficult to be consistent when he is in and out of the team.
Of your uncertainties, Mavro is one for the future. Calum deserves his chance, but I bet you will be calling for a Elneny like sale at the end of next season. Kos and Nacho have the senior pros all squads need. Definite keeps for the coming season. Iwobi has not progressed too much this season and stalled in the second half; one more season to show he can kick on (I fear he may be Theo v2).
We could certainly upgrade Kola, but he only goes if we can and getting rid of Ozil would be mad now we have a front two who can make the most of his skills.
oops, OM@52…
Thanks for another excellent report Guv’nor. Reference to Sanchez’s feat made me smile. Is he really being paid 500k a week? Sanchez was doing well because because of the way we play and has gone to pieces in his new team.
We played well yesterday and deserved to win by a bigger margin. Congratulations to Auba. He could have easily been the solo winner of the golden boot if only he had converted a few of the sitters he missed during the season. Still very lucky to have him at Arsenal.
Ned
I do think if Kos lifts the EL Cup at the end of the month,that he might call it a day and go back to France.
He almost went when Wenger ‘ retired ‘.
He has nothing left to prove at the Club,and it would be a fitting way to go out.
We do have problems in defence,with neither Holding or Hector likely to be fit till October at the earliest.
It’s going to be a very short break between seasons,with our first friendly in the US on the 17th July,players won’t be back from holidays till beginning of July,so not much time to prepare with pre season fitness camps.
Whether any potential new players are waiting to see if we qualify for the CL or not before signing on the dotted line,remains to be seen.
On the other hand if we do qualify,that might mean we can try and attract a higher grade of player to the Club.
But whatever happens,when we line up for kick off next season,we along with the neighbors,Chelsea and Man Utd, are again making up the numbers in the top 6.
When you think that City won 32 out of 38 games without their best player in KDB for most of the season,and they will probably spend another lazy 100 mil in the summer,it’s fast becoming obvious that as long as Pep is at the helm at city,and money is no object,similar to his time at Barca,their domination of the league will continue for some time yet.
Blimey that is very well argued
Ned and I agree with a lot of it
I was only joking about Ozil
as I would certainly keep him.
But…..
I wouldn’t keep Mkhi as a squad
player on 200k a week.
If we have Kos & Nacho we don’t
need another wise old head in
Licht.
Iwobi reminds me of Ox a bit, it’s
always he’ll be great next season.
Best give it up now and let him be
someone else’s project
I am a bit worried about GS54’s point
that Rob/Hector are not back until
October. I thought we’d have them in
August. Might need to think again if
that’s the case.
It wouldn’t be a big surprise if
Pep moved on in the next year.
One more shot at the CL with
Shitty and then off to Juventus?
I hope so, he’s being fat too successful
for my liking in the PL 🙂
In turns of info.ings and outgoings, I’d like to see Unai promoting more youth players. That is the way forward for clubs like Arsenal and the spuds given the amounts spent by others. And add to the youth players with a few free agent signings and gems unearthed by whoever the fuck is supposed to be doing that now!! 🙂
For what it’s worth, I’d keep Kos, Nacho, Kola, Mhki and Iwobi oh and I’d give Danny a pay as you play deal.
That would mean selling/getting rid of Mustafi, Ospina, Jenks, Xhaka and Elneny.
I’d definitely keep Chambers as well. I wonder if Jenks could be redeployed as a DM as well? Just a random thought mainly borne out of a desire to keep him as he loves the club. I remember Fergie playing Phil Nevillie (spit!) In that position, specifically to kick the fuck out of our players. Perhaps it’s time to repay the favour!
The media love in for Liverpool is unbearable. Imagine if they actually won the league??
I’m sure they’d give them a trophy for finishing if they could.
But saying all that, I cannot contemplate the doomsday scenario where we lose to the chavs and the spuds win their final. Unthinkable! It simply cannot be allowed to happen!! 😀
fuck that’s a bright day
sunglasses doing all of fuck
my retinas ?
like fuckin leather come dinner time
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=w7pS9Bbh5as
*spins bow tie*
.
*taps Mic*
.
.
“Is this thing on ?”
.
“I won’t say I was slow developer, but our teacher was quite pleased to have someone her own age in the class to talk to.”
.
.
“I knocked and the woman opened the door in her night dress. I thought to myself at the time what a strange place to have a door.”
.
.
“My next door neighbour said “Is it O.K. if I use your lawnmower?” I replied, “Certainly, just don’t take it out of my garden!”
.
.
.
happy sunny monday everybody ?
blue , my arse
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FYH8DsU2WCk
Ozil – make him club captain and see if Cynic will
chip in for a pay rise
Personally I hope some Turkish club’s chairman who wants to play Billy Big Bollocks will throw tons of cash at Ozil, and at us, and he will be gone before the end of July.
Unlikely but one can dream.
RIP Alan Skirton died on the same day as Doris Day but he was a better winger . I’m sure several here recall him
CBA@65,
You appear to have found a Ken Dodd joke book!
TTG@69,
Sadly, our players mainly seem to model themselves on Doris Day, rather than Alan Skirton.
I’ve always had a thing for headlines with more than five alliterating words.
“Exits for Cech, Ospina, Licht, Jenks, Mus, Xhaka,
Elneny, Mhki, Ramsey,Welbeck.”
Couldn’t agree more. I also agree that half of these exits would have been known about ages ago.
I have big doubts over Mavro. I’ve not seen anything that makes me think he can make it at the top level. Chambers is the same. Another panic buy several years ago. I will be really surprised if he turns into a top player. Then there is Holding. I’m still not convinced. I think he is certainly worth persisting with but we will have to see how he comes back after his injury and how he develops. I would love to see him come good but the jury is definitely still out.
We need to win the Europa Final and get back onto the champions league. The re building then starts. It could be an interesting summer.
TTG
Not sure how many in the bar would remember him,but i have very fond memories of big Skirto.
One particular highlight of very few,back in those golden days of yore in the early 60’s,was against Bolton at Highbury.
Eddie Hopkinson was in goal for Bolton,and our lot included, from memory, Billy McCullough,and i think Dave Bacuzzi,Terry Neill and Ian Ure were probably the centre halves,although i think Laurie Brown might have been with us at that time as well,Baker,Strong, Eastham, and possibly Johnny Mcleod,was also in the squad.
I only remember it because it was such a cracking exciting game,which you cannot say too often about playing Bolton,end to end,with big Al thundering down the right wing like a runaway tank.
Again my memory might be dodgy,Ned’s Monks might have to confirm but i believe Bolton had a penalty near the end which was saved with the score at 3 -3,and we then went down the other end,and big Al thundered home the winner for a 4 – 3 victory.
He scored twice that day,and i think Baker might have got one as well,but no idea who scored the other goal.
But Al even though he wasn’t the most gifted footballer,always gave 100% and was always a handful for the opposing fullback.
Great memories.
Clive
It’s uncanny but I remember that Bolton game well. Use had just signed and headed an equaliser at 3-3 when as you rightly say Bolton got a penalty and Ian Mckechnie saved it. Skirton notched the winner .
My first visit to Highbury saw me standing in the West Enclosure with my Dad as Skirton tried to get the better of Jimmy Armfield…unsuccessfully! On one occasion Armfield blocked him off only to see tge ball rebound onto my Dad’s glasses and nearly poleaxe him!
He was not impressed with Skirton on that day but over time came to appreciate the rare power he had for a winger and his goalscoring ability.
It’s sad to lose another one of the old heroes of the past .
mikel arteta
the man behind the mask
Clive@73: September 7, 1963
Joe Baker and Ian Are got the two other goals.
Team: McKechnie, Neill, Bacuzzi, McCullough, Brown, Ure, MacLeod, Baker, Skriton, Eastham and Strong.
Six Englishmen, three from Scotland and two from Northern Ireland.
Bolton were relegated at the end of the season.
Ian Ure. Not Ian Are or Ian Use. Damn spillchucker!
Thnks Ned
That Ian bloke. ???
Pretty bloody hopeless.
Apart from double winning Frank, i am struggling to remember any other quality Scottish players that graced the jersey with distinction from the sixties onwards.
Although i am sure upon reading this, Btm and Bath will trot out a few for mention.
Was Joe Baker Scottish, ??
Ned mentions 3 in the team,so McLeod would be another.
It seems like a long time until Baku.
I am much keener on Holding than Steve. I think he should be a first team player as soon as he is fit, and we need to buy him a top level CB partner.
I want Chambers back next year to have a proper look at him. He played DMF for most of this campaign. If he played instead of Xhaka it would free Guendouzi and Torreira to play a bit more like Rambo as he holds his position and does not lose the ball playing glamour passes. And he cannot possibly be less useful than Xhaka. Plus if he deputies CB then he is much better than Mustafi. Like most of the human population.
We must get rid of Mustafi. And does anyone in Italy want Xhaka? He might be quite good in that league. Not least because he would be hundreds of miles away from us.
Arseblog has mentioned a young Brazilian winger we are possibly in for. That sounds good. I have never liked Zaha but he is the sort of player we need. Pacy and strong with genuine goal threat. He would allow us to get more from Ozil and provide better balance to an attack with too many similar players (I mean in style, not that they are all a bit rubbish)
We are crying out for a new midfielder. Id love a left back as nacho ain’t getting any younger and Kolasinac is a number two. Cough.
Promote Emi. He has earned it and we don’t have the spare cash for a keeper better than him.
clive 78
does making paul allen cry count ?
i vote yes
You’ve confused me cba.
Not that that is difficult to do.❤❤❤
Clive@78,
What about Peter Marinello?
Only joking, of course!
Clive @ 78
Does Charlie Nicholas count?
UTA
Clive @78
Does George Graham count?
UTA.
Well done Noosa
How could i forget Stoller.
Although he did disgrace himself with the under the table bungs.
So not sure his legacy is still intact.
Charlie never lived up to the hype,so he doesn’t get a pass.
As for PM,
Your last line says it all Mick.
Clive,
I think cba is referring to Willie
Young.
And is Bob Wilson counted as
Scottish? He certainly played with
distinction
In my opinion, if we could offload any of Ozil or Mikhi, Mustafi, Elneny, Xhaka, Guendouzi or Bellerin.
We need a CB, LB, Winger. Also I’m factoring in that Holding will be back and Chamber’s may get a run in the squad.
Potential CB targets which don’t come with a Premier League price tag:
Magalhães – Lille (CB)
Sarr – Nice (CB)
Viergever – PSV (CB)
Leite – Porto (CB)
Luperto – Napoli (CB) * This one is a risk as he’s never been outside of Italy
Left back targets:
Koné – Lille (LB)
Tagliafico – Ajax (LB)
Telles – Porto (LB)
Grimaldo – Benfica (LB)
Rui – Napoli (LB)
Potential wingers:
Araújo – Lille (LW)
Younes – Napoli (LW)
Pépé – Lille (RW)
In an ideal world another defensive midfielder:
Soumaré – Lille (DM)
Sadilek – PSV (CM)
79 GSD
That Brazilian we are in for is 17, so not sure he’d be ready straight away?
Ideally I’d let Emile Smith Rowe stay in Germany for another season, unless he does really well in pre season. Martinez should be back up GK IMO. Not least as it saves us cash (can’t believe I am saying that given how much money the club rakes in via diverse revenue streams!) Agree with more or less everything you say there. Holding looked class before his injury.
Henry Norris
Why would you get rid of Hwctor and Matteo? Ones a young but seasoned PL right back and the other has tons of potential and will only get better.
As it seems to be that time of year…
Ratings
Cech – 7
Leno – 8
Bellerin – 5
Lichsteiner – 2
Maitland-Niles – 5 (Not a full back)
Mustafi – 3
Holding – 6 (Our best defender this year)
Sokratis – 4 (Far too weak, goes down for anything. Not a warrior, despite some fans thinking he is hard)
Koscielny – 6
Monreal – 4 (Gone off)
Kolasinac – 4 (Not a full back, not a midfielder either)
Xhaka – 3 (The Midfield Mustafi)
Ramsey – 7
Torreira – 6
Guendouzi – 5
Ozil – 2 (Decent player, awful effort this year. Nonentity)
Mkhitaryan – 2
Iwobi – 5 (The new Aaron Lennon)
Aubameyang – 8
Lacazette – 8
Although both strikers need to drastically reduce their missed sitter count, you can’t really argue with the goals. Both appear to be playing with the other one’s legs at times though, I cannot recall so many air shots and miskicks as we’ve seen from this pair.
Manager? I’ll give him an 8, cup or no cup. A few weeks ago it ws being said that he’d really worked miracles to get to probably snatching third, so I’m not going to hammer him for not doing so. He can’t control Mustafi or Xhaka’s brains and he never bought them. He picked them as our squad is shite and they were the best available.
Oska
Penny dropped,thanks.
But can’t have Willie,a useful lumberjack in his way,but not on my list.
And Bob was born in England of Scottish parents, so doesn’t count.
But why he never shot his parents after they christened him
Robert Primrose Wilson,I’ll never know.??
Dexter. I dunno anything about the kid (although I did see he was 17) so I guess it depends on how good he is and how ready he is. You are of course right to suggest that we don’t make any plans based on a player that young.
I cannot believe I am writing this but I honestly think Zaha would be quite a good signing. If the money is okay. We really do need a Welbeck replacement who is better at dribbling and finishing.
We could really do with two good dribblers, our team lacks them badly. Perhaps we should look at the Sky Sports punditry team?
Noosa @84.
Hand him an envelope full of money and he will count it just by weight. ?
Dribbling pundits. ?I can see them now, although my vision could be a bit more vomiting pundits.
https://1.ftb.al/aFV9UhdzGW
Cynic and others. Worth a read. Interesting if true.
I think I’d rather have Fraser
than Zaha. But I agree with the
basic point that we need more
production from our wide players.
Steve T
O certainly believe it.
Are we lethal or not getting enough shots
in ?
Cynic, I can’t argue with many of your player/manager ratings. The thing I liked about Emery is he tried every combination of players I had been wanting Wenger to try. Some of them worked better than others but we were a team with greater flexibility and I think it served us well over the whole season.
Perhaps Reiss Nelson will be one of those wingers next season?
Have a look on the who scored team of the week…
https://www.whoscored.com/Regions/252/Tournaments/2/England-Premier-League
Well, Mustafi makes the Who Scored team of the week!
I think that should get him his dream move to, erm, Anywhere…
I wonder if a Chinese club will come in and offer us 70m for Xhaka? I guess we’d begrudgingly be forced to accept their derisory offer…
Clive@78. Joe Baker’s mother was Scottish. He grew up in Motherwell but was born near Liverpool so played for England. His brother, Gerry, who was born in New York (their father was a sailor, true), was a USA international in the late 1960s.
As for other Scots to wear the cannon, who could forget Peter Marinello, mentioned above, no matter how hard we try.
Steve T@94: Pair that with this:
We only manage 4.6 shots on target a game in the Premiership, seventh best and below even the likes of Leicester and way behind Man City at 7.1. (Data cover the first 36 games).
So we convert exceptionally well, but do not get off enough accurate shots
At the other end of the pitch, we are joint eleventh in allowing opponents to have shots on target, with an average of 4.9 a game. Man City allow only 2.2 a game.
The silver lining is that while our forwards have a good conversion rate, Leno must have had a pretty good season, too.
How good is that Doucoure from Watford as a defensive midfielder? He’s been linked with us before a few times… we have not had a top DM since Gilberto!
GSD. I hear you re Holding and I sincerely hope you are right. For me, he got into the side almost by default. He played well when he was in the side and had started to develop. I just think he has a way to go yet. Any injury of the magnitude that he has fallen victim to is a blow. It would have been really interesting to see how he would have developed throughout the season. I’m looking forward to seeing him back and finding out just how good he can become.
So, from all of that, are we to conclude that our strikers are perhaps more efficient in front of goal than some may think they are?
The shots on target stats is one that I have often mentioned. At times we play lots of pretty handball football with zero end product. It’s very frustrating and been like it for some time now. Hopefully we can make better use of what is potentially the best strike pairing in the league.
Apologies, thanks Ned.
Re: Player/manager ratings for the season. Blogs today also has a thoughtful and fair set of ratings for the Arsenal players, along with a paragraph justifying each rating. A bit harsh on Emery though saying 8/10 if we win the Europa final and only 5/10 if we lose it. He didn’t say any of the players’ ratings would go down if we lost the final, but that is enough about losing it because we are going to win it, are we not?
Top Scottish Gooners
Frank Mclintock
Eddie Kelly
George Graham
Bob Wilson ( ahem although his family is very Scottish- his uncle was Chairman of Rangers or Celtic and his brother Jock was one of two sons killed in the war)
Next level
Willie Young
Alex Cropley ( sold too soon)
Not so good
Paul Dickov
Scott Marshall
You were pretty on the money Cynic with your ratings in my view
Some excellent posts tonight from a number of the regular denizens of the bar.
The shot conversion stat is interesting. My neighbour at the ground and I often say after twenty minutes ‘ have we had a shot yet?’ and the answer us invariably no. One reason is that Ozil doesn’t put enough of a shift in and is less creative this season than previously . But the three other regular midfielders all bear analysis. Torreira is a deep-lying midfielder , less likely or able to create but very involved in recycling play.Guendouzi played a lot last season and had no goals or assists from open play in the league I believe and one goal and no assists in the Europey. That’s a poor record. He is young but I think he flatters to deceive and we need much more end product. Had Willock had half his games I think we might have had several more goals . No one on here will be surprised that Xhaka is the big problem in my view. He contributed only three assists ( the same as Ozil ) from several more games than Ozil. He also has contributed the most errors in the Premier League leading directly to goals in the past three seasons. He can’t create, tackle , or cover effectively and he is tge main reason we were so poor away from home and we created so little . Our forwards did exceptionally given the service they had.
Emery must address that . Mustafi gets pelters and often deserves it but Xhaka is a really big problem . If we get a sniff for anything over £ 20-25 million I wouldn’t hesitate to unload him.
So we’re good at finishing the
insufficient chances that we do
create. And so good at recycling
that the Green Party want to
sponsor us.
Read Cynic’s and Blogs ratings
– 5/10 for objectivity :;
stupid winking ? thing didn’t
work.
I meant to imply that everyone is
entitled to their opinions of course
I’m not a fan of that blog referred to above. I used to read it a few years back, as it seemed funny and fairly insightful. But that was then…
And giving Emery a potential 5 out of 10 ain’t funny and lacks insight.
🙂
I’d like to relieve Dexter of some of the shitstorm about to come his way.
I too have pretty much given up reading the sainted Arseblog. Two lost readers… he’ll be devastated.
COYG
Guendouzii’s career goals and assist stats make concerning reading for a midfielder who likes to drive forward: one goal and two assists in 3,016 minutes of playing time with us and one assist in 2,093 minutes of playing time with Lorient. He is only 20 and undoubtedly a talent, but Emery has a project on his hands to make him more productive — something that our entire midfield has to be. TTG makes a good point about Willock, who looks the part whenever given an opportunity.
Pangloss
Haha! Thanks. I knew I was taking a risk, opening up like that!
indeed clive 90 re Primrose
though
given Bergkamp’s middle name was Maria
and
who among us could forget
Chippy’s mammy’s mortified foghorn from the terraces
“Liam Bernadette Brady , Our Lord Jesus Christ
didn’t die on the cross so you could run around
out there with yer socks round yer ankles”
perhaps
just perhaps
history is scientifically suggesting
our future lies more with
the Beryls and the Mildreds
and less with the Jessies
.
.
.
UP THE ARSENAL
where’s our
Emmanuel Petunia Petits
our
Patrick Viola Vieras ?
.
.
.
WHERE ARE THEY ?
.
.
.
It was reading the Arseblog thing that prompted me to do mine, in particular the Emery mark. It’s ironic that a blog that was supportive of and defensive about Wenger when he was clearly well over the hill should turn on the new manager so swiftly.
Emery was left an utter shambles of a squad, his chief executive fucked off within weeks and his head of recruitment was eased out of the door within half a season. Add to that his so-called star player going on strike whenever he likes, often during games, and he’s done very very well.
So we fucked up third/fourth but that’s largely down to the fuckwits on the pitch, especially Mustafi and Xhaka.
To get to a final with this squad probably deserves nine and if we actually win the thing, outdoing Wenger in his first season, well…
I don’t actually know what people expect these days, it was always going to take at least three years to tun this lot around. And that was before Ivan and Sven added to the disarray.
Champions League football and a European trophy in his first season? We’d have all shit the bed last May if offered that, so let us hope he delivers. If he doesn’t, it’s far from a failure.
Cynic or Blogs for Head of Decruitment then?
Of course there could be other candidates …
The Guardian article by Richard Williams, demonstrating increasing levels of ball possession due to Premier League financial imbalances and talent discrepancies, is well worth a read:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/may/14/premier-league-2018-19-tactical-review-press-and-possess
“Between 2003-04 and 2005-06, when it first began collecting the data, Opta recorded three instances of Premier League games in which one team had 70% or more of the ball. Two seasons ago there were 36. Last season there were 63. This season there were 67.”
And the same article brings up the counterexample of Wolves:
“Elsewhere, the most striking aspect has been how certain teams have thrived on not having the ball, turning the new situation to their advantage. Wolves have been the supreme example of that, so good on the counter, so impotent breaking down lesser sides that they have picked up more points against the top six than the bottom six – and are more likely to win a game with less than 40% possession than with more than 55%.”
Cynic
Bang on the money!
Everyone has done the marks thing.
Everyone has done the sell/buy thing.
People are doing the what was best/worst this season before we have played the Final. Why? There is only one best if it happens.
What the feck do I write about?
Not everyone H
This ridiculous interlull is down to the other European leagues not finishing till 25th May.
Can we have a mini ‘ countdown to Baku ‘ clock. ??
14 days to go.
What the feck do I write about?
Anything as long as it’s not Game of Thrones.
@124
Come on H. You know the drill.
Drink 4 pints of Guinness, have a fish supper, write whatever you want (no pressure, it’s basically an interlull). Finish off by telling us whether the Holic pound is on baff, cynic, blogs or A N Other for TD.
Then wait overnight for cba to bring us up to 50 drinks and you’re laughing.
Simples.
It’s doing it twice every week that blows my mind.
Cynic @126.
Spoiler alert. Arsene wins. ?
Our next centre back
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X8VWYZC6HAo
You heard it here first
Not sure why getting kicked in the face merits getting into Kannemann’s highlight reel but some of his tackles looked like a red card waiting to happen. Just saying.
GSD – With THAT back four?
Vermaelen’s contract with Barca ends this summer. We could get him back for free!
Best of luck to Tommy.
But Barcelona will be needing
a back-up CB. We mus be able
to help them there.
I always like reading about fish suppers and fish suppers of yore. Fish suppers associated with anticipation of the Arsenal defence throwing a net over the opposition attackers. One-nil to the Arsenal and another fish supper consumed. Ah, very satisfying!
One pint of Guinness will do for now. The three others can go in my back pocket for later consumption.
bt8b@30: that was my immediate reaction, too, but Kannemann has had only one straight red and four second yellows in 211 games. The question is why a 28-year-old Argentina international centre-back with more than two years left on his contract is available for just £5 million?
Ned, Bt8
I think he looks a nutter. But not in a good way
But Stan likes cheap he has a big shiny stadium in LA to pay for
Maybe he has a release clause ?
Cynic, I get that Unai needs time to sort out the terrible mess we were left in, but I don’t understand your insatiable Theo-esque jizzfest over him. Ultimately he has failed to adequately improve our defence or our away form, failed to get us into the top 4 when the others around us were struggling so much, somehow turned Xhaka and Mustafi into worse players than they already were, managed to convince the club into signing D.Suarez… I could go on.
The positive has obviously been the Europa League run, and even then we had some pretty embarrassing defeats along the way. Would we have beaten Atletico in another semi this time around? Impossible to say but I have my doubts.
5 out of 10 for the boss. Needs more time but also needs to provide clear and tangible improvement next season.
“insatiable theo-esque jizzfest”
there’s a pun in there somewhere
but I don’t have the balls for
that tackle so I’ll just pull out now
So Chelsea travels all the way to America three days after the league season ends, two weeks before the Europa final, to play a friendly, and Loftus-Cheek injures his Achilles. Who did the green light on this, especially since the Chavs were odds on to be in that final from the beginning of the season? Did Abramovich rely on Gazidis for advice?
Hardly a jizz-fest, I just don’t get the apparent lack of faith and impatience with the guy when our previous manager was given the benefit of the doubt for ten years of failure with better players.
This thing about turning Xhaka and Mustafi into worse players made me laugh though.
If he’s really that untalented a coach, five out of ten is about six marks too many.
‘holic
what can you write about ?
.
write whatever the blue fuck
you feel like
whether
AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
or
oooooooooooooh
.
.
Mr and Mrs Dury’s wee boy Ian
knew
write about what hugs yer heart
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqrQ-ZI29Pk
.
.
tissues and mint imperials
.
.
interesting imitations attention attempts
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY8bdQRpmGU
.
.
one for the learn ed berks
of course
i jokke
.
dino
.
twat
pomposity
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_aKiDZRGRGo
be nice to people dino
swat teams
mostly heterosexual
will harumphh
.
.
.
Insatiable jizz-fest commences the silly season I see. Not sure what is a mint imperial but it sounds like an insatiable quantity of money could be involved.
Re: That Chelsea trip to America, does anybody know if their route back home passes through the Bermuda Triangle by any chance?
5 out of 10 is bollocks.
This season was always a write off and anything was a bonus as far as I’m concerned. Just look at Manu, who’ve got loads more financial clout and resources! How many managers are they are now?
I like Emery, he is awful, but…. 🙂
From the heart. Bollocks too. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>