Top Of The League – For A While
Aug 18th, 2019 by 'holic
The first home game of any Premier League season is a social event. It’s akin to Lord’s Friday, Ladies day at Royal Ascot, Wimbledon etc.. Yesterday was no different. I was outside the Twelve Pins at five to ten when Esso of this parish rolled up. An enjoyable few drams and it was on to the Grove to meet another dear friend before ascending in the mercifully not busy lift to take a seat in the West Upper, compliments of another very fine Gooner and friend.
There was a new look to the side. I thought Calum Chambers was unfortunate to lose his place after the clean sheet at Newcastle but David Luiz, about whom I know a lot of us have reservations, had a very solid debut in my humble opinion. These days £8m doesn’t usually buy you much. He looked worth a lot more. I’ll happily eat a portion of humble pie if he performs like that for most of the season.
The other new boy, Dani Ceballos, could not have made much more of an impression. It is probably dangerous to make assumptions based on one performance but he is a proper footballer. One who enhances our chances of at least a top four berth surely?
We are also giving youth a chance. Reiss Nelson did little wrong in a fine first-half display before making way for our record signing, Nicolas Pepe. It was Joe Willock who once again caught the eye and he is making a very good case for further starts.
The only surprise at half-time is that we were not already out of sight, let alone coming in level after the thug that is Barnes had equalised a remarkable Alexandre Lacazette opener from a Ceballos corner. It’s true that Bernd Leno probably made the save of the match from Tarkowski’s header from point blank range, but overall our football was pleasing on the eye and packed with attacking intent, and Pope was by far the busier goalkeeper throughout.
Another bonus was the performance of Nacho Monreal. His legs were reportedly going last season. He was rampant in the opening half but sadly strayed a fraction offside when teeing up Nelson for what may have been our second just before the break. I hate to stoke the VAR fires again, but in the stadium yesterday the information immediately appeared on the big screens and the correct decision was arrived at. What’s not to like?
I’d still like the referee to be mic’d up just so we could hear Mike Dean say “it’s Arsenal, disallow it!” His leniency with the Burnley cloggers, and Sean Dyche’s post-match comments, were a not entirely surprising part of the day.
The second-half offered perhaps less fascination. Pepe showed some glimpses of why we were prepared to pay so much for him, and it will be interesting to see if he starts in the the table-topping dual at Anfield next week.
We secured the points when Ceballos won a dual and freed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to cut inside and fire home a fierce drive at the near post. In truth he should have had a second-half hat-trick, but let’s not get too picky when we have six points out of six.
Unai Emery proved his cautious nature following this point. Sead Kolasinac was introduced for Lacazette, a likely scorer of a third goal. Then Lucas Torreira replaced the excellent Ceballos, likeliest creator of a third goal. It proved ok, but Burnley were encouraged to apply late pressure with the aid of some questionable tactics.
They were however thwarted and we adjourned to our taverns of choice for yet more thoroughly enjoyable drams with wonderful Gooners. A special word also for our very own Bath who accompanied me on a very leisurely, often interrupted, stroll back to the station. I was not a victim of the drams but breathlessness. His kindness will be remembered.
As ever, a wonderful start to the season and hope again springs eternal. How the next two matches will test that newfound optimism.
106 Responses to “Top Of The League – For A While”
Arsenal News 24/7
[…] Original article: https://goonerholic.com/2019/08/top-of-the-league-for-a-while/ […]
Holic
Glad you enjoyed the game and were able to summon up the puff to get through the day. You will steadily get fitter as the season wears on but this is pre- season and Bath’s help may be needed for a while yet!
I think we watched the same game but I can’t agree about VAR. there was a total lack of spectacle, drama or information. People sitting at home would have been able to dissect the action. We had no idea why the goal was being queried and what the action showed. You mention Wimbledon and Lords. Look how they involve the crowd in disputed decisions. We sat there like spare dicks at a wedding!
Otherwise I’m very much with you re Ceballos and Luiz . Looking at what we achieved in the window , given that we also picked up Tierney and will see Saliba next season it was a great effort by Raul and co. Ceballos will hopefully maintain this standard but Real will not have room for him and we will exchange him for Xhaka and Mustafi ! Have faith in Raul!
Nice one, ‘Holic. You’ll get stronger as the season goes on.
I’d swap Xhaka and Mustafi for Ceballos in a heartbeat, TTG. Not sure Real would, however.
Thanks TTG, I guess we had different views on the VAR. The assistant’s flag was up and it looked close at the time. Shame they don’t show the video.
Cheers Ned. Let’s hope Real get Pogba and Eriksen. I think Ceballos will be something.
It is a pleasure to read your report, ‘holic and get the details of your outing as you used to write them. Also great to hear how much you and friends enjoyed the day. Here’s to a return to a dram of the feelgood factor. 😀
Thanks Guvnor. An enjoyable
day for many gooners was also
an enjoyable read.
I’m with you on Luiz, I had and
have doubts but he was useful
against Burnley.
To be honest I thought we
handed control to Burnley for
about 15 or 20 minutes of the
1st half but then controlled the
game much better 2nd half.
No matter as we won and our
first two win start in 10 years!
On to a tougher test next week.
And let’s hope Ceballos takes to life in London, ‘Holic. He could grace our midfield for many a season.
Thanks for another fine report. The real test for Luiz (and for Arsenal) will be against Liverpool when he will have to contend with the pace and trickery of Salah and Mane. I hope Unai will set up the team a little deeper and concentrate on counter attack. We have conceded at least three goals on each of our last three visits and Unai must find a way to plug the leak and get at least a point from the match.
Ceballos was really good and it was easy to see why he is rated at Real Madrid. His real test will be whether he can replicate that form against bigger teams. Wish we had an option to buy.
The youngsters were terrific again and I hope they get more chances in the league. Finding game time for them (including for Martinelli and Saka) will be a challenge.
Looking forward to Saturday’s match with some trepidation.
Excellent report Guvna. A fine day out. I do enjoy a leisurely post-prandial passagiata with good company.
I’ve softened my distaste for VAR since I rewatched the full match and then the MoTD highlights. It is without doubt going to reduce the number of wrong decisions over goals, offsides and penalties and increase inter-referee consistency, something, let alone intra-referee consistency, that we’ve been crying out for for decades. Nonetheless it is not by any means perfect. There remain grey areas and fine margins which call for a subjective decision and which will remain contentious. Having had a heated disagreement over VAR (not the only disagreement!) over a fine late lunch with the saintly BtM of this parish, I do revise my position (I believe young Lars calls it the Swedish Reverse – though many would think that is quite another thing entirely) and think it will be beneficial in that respect. Whether it outweighs the potential disbenefit of the loss of that orgasmic moment when the ball hits the back of the net, qualified previously only by a judicious glance at the linesman by those of a more phlegmatic nature, is another thing entirely. For the TV viewer it seems likely only to be beneficial as the pictures will be shared instantly even if unofficial views, while the decision is made. For the fan in the stadium, at least at this time, emotions are thrust into aspic. “Is it? Or isn’t it?” They must show the analysis live and they must share the communication between the referees and the remote controller. Can football not learn from other sports?
And BtM,
Simpson
Gemmell, McCreadie,
Greig, MacKinnon, Baxter
Bremner. Law
Wallace. McCalliog. Lennox
I hate to stoke the VAR fires again, but in the stadium yesterday the information immediately appeared on the big screens and the correct decision was arrived at.
Watching this at home, VAR took an age to confirm what BT concluded in seconds. It might have felt instantaneous to you, but trust me VAR was a mile behind and it dragged out for what seemed like half my lifetime before the offside, correctly spotted by the lino, was confirmed.
We had a delay to the game that was not necessary.
VAR must change, or go. To coin a phrase 🙂
I am in rural South West France on holiday at the moment so missed the game. A helpful local pointed me to a highlights PL package show on French TV called ‘Match Of Ze Day’. Honestly. Cracked me up. Sean Dyche sounds even more ridiculous over dubbed in French btw….
Top o’ the league to you ‘holic.
And many more.
Appoint bath VAR tsar and get it over with.
Sokratis has said that it may be easier to defend against Liverpool than Burnley. He must be really thick to invite so much pressure before a big game. Just the motivation that Mane, Salah etc., need to up their game.
‘holic
fuckin really sorry to hear about yer travails
though not surprised to hear baff
was a goodun on yer sojourn en route
he’s top shelf
you’re top shelf
he’s Scottish
you’re half Scottish
.
he’s Scottish
.
.
he’s SCOTTISH
.
.
.
HEEEE ‘SSSSSS
.
.
.
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEapAwYycd8
???
when unrelated nonsense dictates yer gait
nora came to mind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfsRsSdfQCk
best of luck big man
(you know i fwuvv yoo baff too dont yoo)
though when my liver rejuvenation is completed
and modern medicine kneels
i’m gonna so make fun of doctors
.
.
.
from the grave obviously
cheerio fer a wee while
and youngsters don’t fuckin listen to any cunt
tells you look after yerself
if you wanna die with yer organs
in mint condition
still in their original box
a mint condition death sale for to have
DO look after yerself
but if you don’t
and you shouldn’t
wrip open the packaging
and see what they can do
vroom vroooom
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9piNUYzhQ0
You are the real cba and I claim my £5
he’s top shelf
you’re top shelf
Yeah but which one’s Razzle and which one’s Playboy?
the mighty pan G ?
yeah
yeah this is me
had my guts scooped out
by an i scream scooper
got minus energy levels after the slightest exertion
so
.
.
.
away an fuck off an bring me health
my family seem keen
.
.
.
.
cynic ……… genius
considering im bullshitting about my nonsense
and if people want to make capital of it yeah
herself went out and sat my homebrew chair
back kitchen
the fermentation had stopped
so the bubblers weren’t bubbling
not a subtle metaphor
she went home to get clothes and stuff
.
.
.
i won’t be brewing anymore
i had to come up to the north again today
hopefully back Donegal again tomorrow
but
young gooners
should you have been so misguided as
to enter this den of elderly
.
remember what i said before
.
.
God in his infinite wisdom of not existing
suggests enjoying yerself
obviously with Highbury in yer heart
which did exist and you world war one shaved
haircut side parting short arse fuckers should think on that
last year i’d a been at the ton
next weekend
.
snoozey
I’m nicely
Is now the time I’m accused of racism
Is now I’m accused of sectarianism
Is now I’m accused of please get better and stay off the painkillers
for instance today
a couple of people ended up talking to me about Israel
outside my local bar
I was waiting on a lift from a friend . I hadn’t been in. I didn’t have a pint in front of me . I merely commented on them commenting on Israeli flags being flown all over the north of Ireland in the summer . I said I thought it was ridiculous. They disagreed . But they really disagreed .
i fall asleep all the time now
i think my subconscious sleeper dictated more snoozing
brutal stuff is about
i have dropped this tablet twice
grandfather joke
see you next month
A top of the table clash this
Sunday – a meeting of 100%
records.
Nice to be in one even if it
is only August 🙂
A trawl though the Arsenal
news reveals little of note.
Mus to Roma on a season’s
loan with an option to buy
at 23m from an unreliable
press report. Not ideal for
us that option bit.
On the ex Gooner front
reports of Licht joining
Augsberg for the season.
Mavididi to move to
Benevento (?) in Serie B.
And Alexis having a medical
with Inter before being
loaned out.
Good luck to them all. Even
Alexis I suppose.
Josh hath spoken. His cup runneth over.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49401513
Thanks for the link Bath.
Certainly his mouth works.
Apparently it’s important we
understand him so here goes…
Josh is a daddy’s boy who has
lucked into money. He’s
learned to talk the talk but
actually achieved fuck all.
He hasn’t learned that talking
about KSE’s achievements in
the US is an open invitation
for abuse. I hope he learns
that many gooners will react
negatively to corporate
bullshit and being told we need
to understand him.
After tying up Auba and Laca, the most important thing they need to be doing is offering Emery a new deal. If they’re really serious about building for the future, they’re not going to do it with a succession of managers on two year contracts and if he wants to extend it, we should do so.
Top four or no top four, as long as he doesn’t make a total hash of it and finish outside the top six, he should be taking us further than just this year and I don’t think we should be setting him a top four or else kind of target if we’re serious about the longer term.
dave
there a password system for here ?
or do you know of a best intentions
non hilarious Glasgow cunt exclusion method
28 onwards i did not write
.
i went bedward
.
.
.
if there is it’d be beneficial
some might say
so you wrote the rest
and you’re proud of that
yup
okeydokey
.
getting all this out
.
.
.
at least 200 stout gone
50 or more rosé
couple 100 cider gone
two dozen or more NOISY gone too
.
.
.
giving all my carboys and demijohns away too
.
been brewing 40 odd years
i’m really unhappy just now
.
.
.
.
good homes only though
im not irresponsible
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxKqSjssSmc
1000s of £s to buy new glassware alone
all FREE
bath took them all
they can’t help themselves
that’s what they’re like
but baff is the worst
they have to report to him
give him his tribute
.
.
.
.
unbelievable
.
.
.
.
It gives a chaps spirit a real boost to know that people of the calibre of cba still exist on this planet.
This bar is lucky to be graced by his wit and humour.
Shame you have had to swap the home brew for the heavy duty drugs cba, but it could be worse….
Wont be long before you’re out of the treatment room….
Get well soon mate.
Liverpool away next – you might need to medicate your way through that one
ha ?
howdy imp fail
i have no money
but
bigger smiles haven’t been had
on my chops in ages
but
i REALLY don’t have any money
‘holic is loaded
nick his wallet
fucker can’t run the length of himself*
don’t nick baths
safes outta cowboy movies
would be easier broken into*
.
.
.
*
both terrible* jokes
.
.
* troo doh
Pierre
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWuIFB0HjKQ
the mighty dead Chris
didn’t rate her
more of a claudia cardinale man
can’t argue
.
.
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VDS8uArR0A&app=desktop
this guy is from down the road
where the big golf was just held
up the coast
a place just up the road
i was only first at in my forties
now there’s a political onion
not the golf course
just the huge part of the coast
nobody i know went to
not really an political onion
more an orange
or
an
other layer limited fruit and/or vegetable
i’d love a beer
but i’m shiteing haircuts
an throwing up feet
so
fuck the lotta ye
.
.
fuckin up here for hospital appointments
fuckin bollocks
nothing in the house here
nothing in Donegal either
it’s like herself and jock stein
de – swallied everywhere
jock is my grandson
means well
reads this
hopefully stops pretending to be me
obviously he’s a rangers fan
he’s all about the ibrox
.
.
.
before ye cunt on
he’s fuckin 19
he’s fuckin 6foot fuck
and he should catch himself on
cos there’s nothing he can do
ok Patrick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S2ESYUAtWw
Keep going CBA. We relish your wit and wisdom….well your wit anyway.
Interesting interview by Josh Kroenke. I must be warming to him now I have Johnson, Raab, Gove and the rest of the lying bastards to hate. Could it be that as Arsenal is his baby he is determined to prove himself to Daddy? He didn’t say too much but he sounded ambitious in a sensible sort of way. It wasn’t all PR bullshit …just some of it.
Maybe there is hope where none seemed to exist..?
nothing shows the divide in society
more that real football fans thunder T
and soft southern shites
filming yourself
spraying especially bought beer
everywhere
outta squidgy plastic glasses
on a train platform
watch again what my brethren do
not a drop
NOT A DROP
and of course
i was singing that
long before the hugely eyeballed one
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S2ESYUAtWw
interestingly
football songs/ chants/ fuckyous
are 90%sung in the accent that people heard it in
so
in the middle of Arsenal Belfast you can hear
the worst accent in the world
mimicking the second worst
but still holding on to the crux of the first
as the second deteriorates
oi oi saveloy , so it is hi
there’s also people pretending
they didn’t support english teams
even though we all did
and still do
it might be a coincidence
but it was in my experience
it was leeds fans who pretended
they never existed
foreign game an all that
english bastards
if any team existed
that you couldn’t call
english bastards
it would have been The Arsenal in the 70s
(apart from sammy nelson – the dirty other side of the tracks arse baring oaf)
?
.
.
now here’s an interesting thing
some of you might not know
.
northern ireland football jerseys
are burnt on some bonfires in nationalist/ catholic areas
Republic of Ireland jerseys are burnt
on protestant/loyalist areas
.
so it’s a quandary
my accent is that of a man from the North of Ireland
to others it’s fenian ?
you can tell the difference before you hear the accent
by the way
Catholics are way better looking
Protestants have soon to be demolished control
.
and silly faces
.
?
i’m really sick you know
but i am loving waffling
like i used to
Patrick has organized pain management
petit filous with bits in
so i don’t care
but
i’m very talky
except
i’m here on my own
hopefully back home after tomorrow
herself had big plans
but
i ruined them
but
what i find most ridiculous is the fact
that i kept health problems to meself
and
apparently in my mind
what i did was
i created nothing but a delay in disclosing
that i wasn’t gonna come out of retirement
so
it’s a very difficult situation
apparently us people say SITUATION a lot
anyhoo
heres a band who should be famous
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-pIEWA572A
when times were difficult
to use the nonsense troubles word
is to trivialize
do you think a catholic denied a job
because of his name used the troubles description
so
who thunk it up
wasn’t me or mine
just say the words out loud to yerself
the troubles
nobody on the receiving end would have come up with that
.
.
.
but it quickly became the narrative
and
donald j trump is president
of the u s of a
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Te_lCF69Aw
Rhonda ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AqESKOaeGk&app=desktop
i am getting close to the ton
but out of pure
thran ness
i will not conform
and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-R0k2HK5lY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJefPK_UkdM
Morning cba. You do seem very talky.
as you say. Though your new dual
identity is a tad confusing, some
posts are real and some aren’t.
Stylistic impressions will have to
be noted and studied
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmrGImjmUZk
osaka M
them as knows nose
this is me
i am hard to fake
or
so i thought
this is me
strength of a spider
grrrr
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmrGImjmUZk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5tr_L31StI&app=desktop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v5jviTEOaw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFoD2LTCEmg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bta9s0hONRo
no amount of records
will account for the fact
that handsome is not something
could be attributed to me
just now
i am tired
Pokes out a foot and knocks the ball…
…hopefully down the wing…
…where it bobbles and dribbles out for a throw in.
Night all.
Bollocks to sleeplessness.
COYG.
Greetings to all from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, where Mary a word about Stan or Josh has been uttered on my holiday making frivolities.
Nary a word that is. Certainly not Mary a word.
Slides a stunning through ball to bt8, who should be sprinting between the center backs…
In honour of cba
Apologies to ecg for missing your stunning through ball but thanks Ned for being on it.
Congratulations on the ton, Ned and excellent assist there, ecg. Quite like the old days. Nice and ready for the new season.
and so the merry go round continues
?
just watched mini again for the four thousandth time
still one of the greatest bits of telly ever made
just heartbreaking
just fuckin heartbreaking
it’s probably on YouTube
inside story – mini
bit of advice
if you haven’t seen it
just watch the original 1975 show
fuck the rest
Jock, be thankful you are the grandson of a valued friend to us all.
Get yourself back to Castle Greyskull to vent your spleen, lad.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>