Time To See That Response, Gunners
Jan 19th, 2018 by 'holic
Finally I get to watch my first live match of the new year as one of the form teams of the moment faces a side who must be praying for a result as their season threatens to barrel-roll out of control. Crystal Palace have lost just once in their last twelve Premier League matches and visit an Arsenal team without a win in five games in three competitions. Perhaps I should point out that the one recent blott on the visitors copybook was caused by our 2-3 triumph at Selhurst Park in Christmas week, our last win anywhere.
There is some encouragement in the team news. Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal are fit to return to bolster the defence. Mesut Ozil may also be available after his latest absence. With Aaron Ramsey also fit there is a real midfield conundrum facing Arsene Wenger. Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been suffering illness this week and could miss out along with Sead Kolasinac, Santi Cazorla, and Olivier Giroud.
Assuming that we stick with a back three then Koscielny and Skhodran Mustafi will probably be joined by one of Per Mertesacker, Rob Holding, Calum Chambers, or Mathieu Debuchy. That will allow Monreal to revert to left wing-back opposite Hector Bellerin. The midfield pairing between them is anyones guess. Perm any two from Granit Xhaka, Mohamed Elneny, Aaron Ramsey, and Jack Wilshere.
Mesut Ozil, if fit, and Alexandre Lacazette should definitely start. That leaves a place for who? The imminently departing Alexis may not be in the right frame of mind right now. It’s such a shame, but totally understandable, that his stay at the club is seemingly ending in a degree of acrimony. Danny Welbeck and Alex Iwobi are more likely to be contesting that final starting berth. What a shame we haven’t been able to get Aubameyang over the line yet. The prospect of him potentially forming a two pronged attack with Lacazette is mouthwatering.
The manager appears to have to say rather too often of late that we need to show a reaction to every disappointing defeat. That reaction is most definitely needed here and in the weeks that follow if we are to turn our season around.
Palace arrive having escaped the relegation zone under Roy Hodgson’s management. Only a missed penalty prevented them from ending Manchester City’s unbeaten run this season three days after our triumph in South London. Their last away defeat in the Premier League was by a single goal at the other end of Seven Sisters Road on bonfire night. Be prepared to be patient against a very organised and efficient team that is a far cry from the one that started the season with seven straight defeats before they beat Chelsea 2-1.
The ‘holic pound
Palace look good value at 6/1 but I have a feeling that with a few wise heads back in the fold we will be able to follow up our win at Selhurst Park. Hopefully that will coincide with a confidence boosting goal for Lacazette. I’m on 2-1 to the hosts, the bookies favourite scoreline, at 15/2. I am looking for the double against Palace, having cashed out on 1-3 in the reverse fixture for a healthy profit.
I hope to see a few of you at some point of Saturday which promises to be another sociable (if sadly cold and wet) day! Here’s hoping we really do kick start a return to form leading to another Wembley Final. That is a topic for another day, however.
Have a great one, ‘holics.
118 Responses to “Time To See That Response, Gunners”
Cheers H! Love ya mate.
Have a great day tomorrow me old china. Big up any ‘holics and arsebloggers you bump into.
Top man Esso. Birthday bash for Dubs and I tomorrow. ?
Oh fuck me! So wish I could be there. There in spirit you know that.
Cheers H.
Nice preview. Any win would do nicely. A Lacazette goal would also go down well.
UTA
2-0 to the Arse is my own happy
prediction. Thanks for the preview
Guv as always.
Oh and a goal each from Laca and
the blessed Ozil – a prophet without
honour in his own corner of North
London.
Cheers GSD, and OM. ??
Healthy profit? Birthday bash? Is that even allowed? 😉
many happy returns, holic.
I’ll be there in spirit
Excellent article posted by PT in previous drinks, linked again here … https://t.co/KvLw19348h … especially the section on how academies work. I wonder what the plan is for ours.
Interesting preview with a necessary degree of optimism because we flipping need it at present. Anyone following our transfer dealings in recent years will be suffering from complete befuddlement partly because of the ridiculous pantomime that social media makes it nowadays.
I was at Selhurst for that win and very cold it was but we made hard work of beating a side we were clearly superior to.The difference on the night was Alexis . But if he plays tomorrow I will be very conflicted. It would be a daft decision. So we will probably take it .
Palace were very cautious over Christmas but may have more confidence now. I thought Kolasinac was back but we should be much stronger with Nacho and Koscielny back. We won’t find goalscoring that easy and I do hope we can get PEA across the line but I’m sure Dick Law lives on and keeps telling the other parties to fuck themselves thus sabotaging negotiations.
I do hope we can win but am a little bit lacking in belief at present. Go on then 2-1 to the Gunners. Holic Pound comes Home!
The ‘blessed’ Ozil is a credit to the club, Matt. It’s his evil twin The untouchable Ozil who remains inviolate to criticism regardless how little he contributes most of the time that I find fault with.
Funny no one seems remotely interested in trying to sign him in this window. Appalling that we would even consider totally unbalancing the dressing room by agreeing a new contract that would see him receiving at least double any other player in the squad. This cannot possibly end well for anyone but Ozil.
I see Lucas Moura is being pursued by Manure and the LWCs. Why aren’t we in for him? An Arsenal ‘type’ if ever I saw one.
C
Celebrate that birthday in style, ‘Holic.
Three points anyhow is all we ask for here at Castle Ned.
SCuz@previous dirnks: 🙂 Idiot wind could be our anthem.
If Sanchez goes, he goes. That the deal could be stymied by negotiations breaking down over the size of the fee Mkhitaryan’s agent gets tells you everything that you need to know about football today.
One thing about Sanchez is that he is the sort of player who can score you a goal out of nothing. Every top team needs someone like that. Can’t see anyone else in the squad fulfilling that role.
@16. That is C as in covfefe.
Funny no one seems remotely interested in trying to sign him in this window.
United decided Sanchez was a far better use of their cash, and it’s hard to argue with that decision.
If I was Ozil, I’d be fizzing that Sanchez has hijacked my move, but our Ozil is no doubt quite delighted he’s able to stay in the comfort zone, with an improved contract, because he missed out. Happy to be staying where there’s no pressure on him whatsoever.
Anyway screw football.
Who knew Goldie Hawn could sing?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMWbeAP-4MQ
If Ozil signs a new contract perhaps he wasn’t just showing up to get a move. He has been excellent this season and is certainly worth twice tge salary Theo was getting.
Perhaps getting a move didn’t work, TTG, but the salary increase fall-back is no doubt better than nothing. Whether he will keep putting the effort in we shall have to wait and see.
Better than being in jail I guess … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJEwo_gwO9M
Just for a change Danny Welbeck is injured and Sanchez has left the Arsenal team Hotel. A chance for Nketiah? We find ourselves with only one fit senior striker.
Cheers ‘holic, hope you have a good day out. A Saturday kick off at 3pm
with a few bevvies to follow is how it should be.
It’s a sign how our star has fallen in that we are not exactly brimming
with confidence that we can get the maximum out of this game. We did play some good stuff at their place just a short while ago but still contrived to gift them 2 goals. Here’s hoping our reinforced defence is just that.
Hopefully the drawn out saga of Sánchez will conclude shortly. I suspect “super agent” Rainola is endeavouring to screw a huge payout for himself to conclude the deal and Arsenal ( being Arsenal) resisting as far as they can.
I think the guvn’a will have a bit extra cash to splash across the bar –
2-1 is a good call as any?
@24 – This is a club that is supposed to be a top four club with aspirations to win the title.
It’s a total joke.
Chris, Cynic
I don’t at all buy this idea that
Ozil doesn’t bother – not sure
what it’s based on as I don’t
see it when i watch. Certainly
there have been games where
he doesn’t play at his best. But
who* is there in our side that
you can’t say that about?
I’m honestly perplexed at the
stick he gets as he is a class player
who has actually adapted and
improved since he joined us.
But then I guess you’re probably
equally perplexed about other
players so each to their own as
always of course.
* I realized as I wrote that bit that
Nacho is possibly the only one
who should be honourably
excepted from that – a model of
consistency for 2 or 3 seasons now
Seeing as there’s a birthday involved I’d have took a punt with the holic pound on a scoreline starting with a 6 😀
Although…. Chris Kavanagh. Hmmm. Untried and untested. Could be interesting.
Have a good ‘un Guys
TTG @ 24
“We find ourselves with only one fit senior striker.”
At least it’s £50 million quids worth 😀
Matt #27, I am equally curious why Ozil’s blank periods are so easily excused by many here. I agree he’s a class player, but only occasionally which, to me, puts a huge question mark against his actual worth to the club.
He has been playing at his best for a couple of months or more now (showcasing for potential interested clubs?), rather like he played well for us during the first half season (2013) after joining us when I assume he was inspired enough to demonstrate his best for his new club.
He also invariably plays well for Germany (the manager/coach perhaps?) although I see that after being voted Die Mannschaft’s top performer 5 times in the past 7 seasons he failed to run a place in 2017, so not just me and Cynic who are fed up with his inconsistency. 🙂
@30
Chris,
We’ll have to agree to disagree
on Ozil I think as your view is
many miles from mine 🙂
The showcasing thing is a no-win
for players in the last year of
contacts generally, not just Ozil,
if they don’t play well it’s because
they don’t care and if they play
well they’re showcasing!
Course my heart’s not breaking for
the precious little darlings but that
one is difficult for them.
I hear Marco Reus is nearly back to full fitness. I’ve been pushing him for about 5 seasons now and wonder what he could be bought for – given his Arsenal-type injury history. When fit he has an almost telepathic understanding with PEA and has been a great contributor to the latter’s success. He could also be useful tempering his mate Aubama’s personality issues.
Do it like PEA and Reus … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur0g_sIuP_4
Nice preview H. Have a great trip.
Loved the striker nostalgia piece. What we would give for another Henry, Bergkamp, Wright or RVP?
Today could and up anything. Usual rules apply. Who or what Arsenal will turn up? Here’s hoping it’s the winning one.
Enjoy boys and girls.
Interesting to see the spin on Theo. He told Wenger after the 3-0 defeat apparently some Home truths and repeated them to the media. That was honest and braver than he usually is especially when a defender looms over him. The trouble was I was at that game. He was skipper ( a ridiculous choice) and played worse and with less effort than anyone else that night. That took some doing that night ( Ozil was also very poor). I’d respect his comments if we’d seen more of the Adams/ Mclintock/ Vieira spirit as captain and leader on the night but he played more like Wayne Sleep or Julian Clary. If you talk the talk you have to walk the walk
Anyway he’s gone now so we move on
I refer to the Palace game last season
So you say the decision to make him captain was ludicrous, presumably because you can see he’s not a leader of men, but expect him nonetheless to display those characteristics in the game in question?
There was nothing wrong with that interview apart from it was an honest one, and the one thing Wenger hates is honesty when it comes to how badly this team plays.
He did tell some home truths in that interview, and he was only saying what many people were saying during the match, including the tv commentators (I think Gary Neville might have been one, and he’s no fool).
After this game, Walcott started just one Premier League match for Arsenal. Of the starting XI that night, only Emi Martinez has had fewer starts.
There’s no spin involved, just facts.
Adebayor is a complete tosser, but he described Wenger as fake this week. Listening to his “Feo is like my son really he’s marvellous, wonderful, I adore him” stuff in his presser this week, fake is about right.
Anyway… life goes on.
TTG @35.
I sometimes see people saying that Theo was hard done by when Arsene stopped playing him after he simply spoke some honest truths about the team. In that narrative he was brave to name what we were all seeing and has been screwed over since.
The other view that you lay out, that he was the captain of a side that played like they did not care and he was the one who put in the least effort, and that he chose that as the time to speak to the media about not wanting it enough, makes much more sense to me. I can see how that would piss Arsene off to the degree it clearly did. Publicly trashing the team for a crime that you are the most guilty of after you have been given the armband and the responsibility to lead is the sort of thing that gets you dropped permanently.
I reckon Arsene was furious at the second situation and that is fair enough. Rather than that it was the first situation and that Arsene has been petulant – which would not have been fair enough.
I’m not buying any Poor Theo crap. I bet Adams, Mclintock and Vieira aren’t either.
I read the Adebayor article where
he described AW as fake and Maureen
as honest.
I know which of those three I’d trust.
Still, Adebayor’s whining did make
me laugh so it wasn’t all bad.
As an aside from all this, is there anywhere online that has a list Highbury Auction lots and prices realised in said auction? I have had a quick Google* and found nothing much.
*I washed my hands before making this post.
Publicly trashing the team
Which is not what he did but never mind.
“They wanted it more than we did” is extremely mild stuff, it’s hardly Mourinho standard material.
The amount of times that we have all sat in this bar and agreed that 100% effort is the one and only requirement from the players is beyond count. Football fans everywhere agree on this. And it is also one of the few things that is entirely within the players’ control.
So when a player makes a comment to say that they have not achieved this I think that is pretty serious. In this world where we are so into sensationalism and soundbites we sometime forget about substance. Theo used ‘mild’ language. He did not swear or foam at the mouth. But the substance of Theo’s comments was wholly and completely damming. He said (not a quote)… that we did not care or try hard enough.
Caballero just stuck a leg out and
tripped a Brighton player in the
box. Looked a nailed on penalty to
me but the ref didn’t have a good
view. No idea what the assistant
was doing. Anyway, Chavs are 2-0
up 🙁
Bring on VAR and MIC up the refs… it’s been said before.
cech
hector, kos, mus, nacho
xhaka, elneny, jack
iwobi, laca, ozil
nelson, ash m-n, osp, nketiah,
per, kola, calum on the bench
Not sure how we will line up
but it looks like 4 at the back
4-2-3-1 maybe, whatever that
means. anyway, best hope Laca’s
found his shooting boots
Get in!!!! Monreal.
1-0 nacho!!
thought we’d no chance from
a corner
Iwobi!!!! 2-0.
2-0 iwobi !!!!
great work from nacho again
GET INNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!
The difference Monreal makes to this team is so evident. Not surprising we were so poor when he was missing. However, his performance against Zaha will have to be seen.
3-0. Koscielny. Palace defending set pieces like Arsenal .?
we’re on fire !!!!
We sell Theo and we are 3 up inside 20 minutes. Has he really been holding us back that much?????
?
Lacazette. 4-0. Brilliant team goal.
The Dementors seemed to have fucked off for the time being.
Good to see Laca back on the
scoresheet. Palace look a bit
stunned, I know I am.
The Holic pound is well and truly sunk.
@55
🙂
Perhaps they’re all so happy Alexis
is gone
That Greek defender has improved morale no end. ?
Palace but be really fucking awful if Iwobi can score.
Monreal off. Not clear if it is his ankle or hamstring but nothing serious, one hopes.
nacho pointed at his hammy,
hope it’s a precaution as he feels
he’s wrapped the game up
already
Maitland playing very poorly, giving the ball away so often in his ten minutes on the pitch.
holy fuck
providing we don’t shit in the nest
‘holic is gonna be poured onto his train
https://twitter.com/CPFC/status/954742294640459777
😀
Heh @ 55
URedzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
good save cech
much better without that mutt lover
Mutt can move his butt to the old toilet. Make no mistake, we are going to miss his goal scoring ability. All the regular goal scorers, Sanchez, Theo and Giroud are out and hope the goals don’t dry up. After the first half hour, we looked toothless today. Hope we sign a few good strikers now or in the summer.
Good to see Laca get a goal today
and a good response from the
side generally – we cruised fairly
sloppily through the 2nd half but
still could have had a couple more.
Fingers crossed for Nacho’s hammy
but apart from that it was a good
day
Alexis deal done…on 450k a week.. that’s just ridiculous.
Best of luck to him BUT may they lose every game when they play us with him playing!
Looks like we got Miki as well… now get Auba done.. word is they rejected our first offer but the player wants to go!
😀
May they lose every game anyway 😉
+1
?
Great result. Four goals. No worries. One for Laca back on track.
Shame we did not keep a clean shit. But I’d rather be pleased with what we did do. And hopeful that next game we will have a better squad to do well with…
good luck to theo but never to al*xis
Autocorrect does not like the word ‘sheet’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyC139AlEXU
clean shit
i like that
al*xis is not so clean
Much needed win and three points. Nacho clearly makes a huge difference to our side and he was very good again today. We must play him in the wing back position even when we play a back three because he is our best wide player – giving us width and great cut-backs/crosses. He is miles ahead of Kolasinac if we play a back four.
We look a completely different side when Ozil is in the playing eleven. If Alan Smith’s insider info about Ozil on the verge of signing a contract extension is correct then it is fantastic news indeed. There’s a strange symmetry in the fact that both Cynic & Chris who are the staunchest Theo admirers in this forum are also the biggest Ozil critics. They have often blamed the rest of the team for not playing to Theo’s strengths (or rather his solitary strength ‘pace’) by not passing the ball quickly to him. Strangely they don’t view Ozil with the same prism wherein Ozil creates so many chances but our forward line or melee of players in the box let him down. His and Lacazette’s tuning on a few occasions this season has been breathtaking and it has been rather unfortunate that Ozil has missed a few games recently. Hopefully those two would be involved in many many Arsenal goals in the future.
This season Ozil has played far better than Sanchez and it’s better that it’s he and not Sanchez who is staying back at the Arsenal (hopefully for longer than the rest of this season). Ozil is much more an Arsenal type of player than Sanchez. Sanchez was almost an anomaly of an Arsenal player with his individualistic ways. But he was so good on his own that it only helped the team. This season saw a dip in form for Alexis and it’s no surprise we looked so sloppy on the ball because he kept losing it so many times. Ozil on the other hand is much more of a team player and when he is having a fantastic day, at least two or other players immediately start looking better. Also because of their respective styles of play, the chances of Ozil staying on top of his game for another 3 to 4 years are far greater than Alexis. This is not to say that we wouldn’t miss Alexis. We will especially miss him in tight games where you get only one or two chances – he invariably scored in those games. Unlike most Arsenal players he loved taking a shot at goal and scored many fantastic ones out of nothing. We perhaps got his best years with us and like RVP he might have one more good season in him. Sanchez always tried hard on the pitch even during this season when it was clear that he was going to go eventually and unlike RVP, he never uttered a patronizing word (or rather wrote a stupid letter) to the fans. He might have been a difficult presence in the dressing room as various reports suggest but as an Arsenal fan who derived tremendous joy from his performances on the pitch – I would hope that none of our fans abuse him whenever he plays against us.
Another player who will soon play against us is Theo Walcott. I was never his biggest admirer but neither his biggest critic. There are few who believe that it was his interview after the Palace game last season that cost him his place in the side but I personally think it was the formation change which cost him his place over a longer period than the mildly offensive interview albeit as a captain on the day. We have played very few games with a back four since that game and Theo never seemed to click in a back three system. He played many cup games this season but never did anything remotely close to win a place back in our first choice premier league side. I wish he hadn’t suffered that bad knee injury in that famous 2-0 game against Spurs because he was in the form of his life at the time and never looked the same after returning. He seemed to have lost half a yard of pace and that I think was the reason he strayed offside more because he didn’t trust his own pace and made the runs slightly early after the injury rather than his teammates not releasing the ball on time. But he spent a long time at the club and literally grew up here. Arsene Wenger was right in saying that he would always be welcome here and he too gave us some great memories.
Three attacking players have left the team in the Ox, Theo and Alexis so it is imperative that the Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang deals are sealed and sealed quickly. Hopefully our new negotiators won’t f**k it up this time. I also hope that we do sign a defensive midfielder but even more than that a right back/ right wing back because we are one Bellerin injury away from making our already weak right wing even more dysfunctional.
P.S – Adebayor and Maureen are despicable c*nts.
If reports that we got £20 m in addition to Mikhtarian for Sanchez, is true than we have got a great deal as City was offering £20 m only for Sanchez. Mikh is worth around £50 m on his own in today’s market and if Ozil signs a new deal than Arsene would vindicate his decision to not sell Sanchez and Ozil at the beginning of the year. We managed to get decent money for Theo too. If we get Aubameyang now, it would be a great Jan window for us.
Nice post Desi’gner, agree with almost everything you said. Still get this feeling that the boss treated Theo rather shabbily after the interview following the Palace game last year. Although Theo never reached the heights all the hype surrounding his arrival promised, he still provide us with some great moments and goals. Wish him all the best at Everton.
I’m just back from the match which was very surprising. To score afte4 three minutes from inside the six yard box without having to jump may indicate how badly they defended in the first half. Only our fourth goal was a result of superb football but there was a simplicity and intelligenc3 about our football with the brilliant Ozil and Wilshere to the fore and Lacazette running very creatively to create space and pull their defenders out of position. Iwobi ( who I have had an interesting titbit of info on – for another time) worked hard and was effective and Koscielny and Mustafi were better than our recent central pairings.
AMN was less effective today especially when compared to Nacho ( so sad to see him taken off)but it was interesting to see him put on before the Tank who came on for Iwobi late on.
One thing I must mention is the denial of the most stonewall of stonewall penalties for Lacazette. It was amazing that the rather paisley- faire referee could deny it. Fortunately it didn’t matter.
Great effort but we need to play like this away regularly, get Ozil to sign on and sign Mikki and Auba.
The rest can wait until the summer !
Great 3-2 win fir us at Anfield in the Youth Cup AET. The media darling Stevie G fails to take his team past the young Gunners.
Amen brother Desi. Very well put.
TTG. It can’t wait. I agree with what you’re says by but you need to add Jack to that list. Personally I think the understanding he is building with Özil could be something quite special.
I’ve not seen any of the game but was listening to the commentary whilst driving along the M4. Am I the only one who just wishes that if we end the first half 4-0 up that we would go on to score 6 or 7?
I will look forward to the highlights later.
Well. That was extremely enjoyable. This senile old git cannot recall the last time we were 4-0 up at half time. We played like a team for a change and there were no solipsistic prima donnas on show.
To be fair, there were some lessons. Firstly that getting your corners past the first defender can be extremely productive. Secondly that Mesut and Alexander could well form an extremely productive partnership. Thirdly that Jack adds considerable dynamism to our forward drives and can handle rugged challenges. Finally that Elnenny can do a job as DMF against a crap team but almost certainly needs to be upgraded against the top teams.
Nice to see the Guvna for a birthday drink.
Steve T
You’re right of course but we are so slow at transfers I never expect too much. At least we’ve got Mkhitaryan now and the poor decision by Wenger to keep Sanchez in August has not been too disastrous.
You are also spot on about Wilshere. He played beautifully today and he combines really well with Ozil. I’m interested to see if we can combine Mkhitaryan , Ozil, Wilshere, Lacazette and Aubameyang if he signs. It will be extraordinarily exciting but we need stronger midfield options.
Not sure where Ramsey fits in and we need a monster DM ( how often do I say this ) . Elneny is ok for squad cover but nothing special but AMN could be.
Cech made good saves today and I admire him but I’d ideally take Butland in the summer.
I did observe after 30 mins that Manure in such a position would almost certainly finish up 7-0 up but that we could well end up drawing 4-4. While the SH was somewhat disappointing, at least we won 4-1.
The Palace fans were singing ‘we won the second half 1-0’, and they did deserve their goal. While it could be argued that we had won the game already and excessive forward effort was a) redundant and b) might have opened our vulnerable defence up, it would have been more reassuring that we are ‘turning the corner’ had we looked as in control of the game in the SH as we had in the first.
Nonetheless an excellent result, all recent events considered.
BTW Liverpool youth team were unbeaten all season until today. We’ve improved this aspect markedly since Joncker left. He was a poor appointment.
Desi @83, I have never agreed with you more. Fine analysis, sir.
Excellent news about the young Gunners TTG. Nothing quite like a win at Anfield!
GSD@79, autocorrect has been exposed as an Arkansas redneck.
bolshie docta in da house
.
i like it
tip
toe
BANG
Lovely Ozil-esque set up cba. Thank you kindly, sir.
*nöds*
.
*evaporates*
*displacing minimal air*
So Mickey has agreed his move. We’re just waiting on Sanchez to agree his now.
According to the BBC.
Not sure I really want someone who cried as he left United though.
*displacing minimal air*
Ah the old silent but deadly.
I bet you’re the sort who farts just after someone gets on the escalator, then blocks it so they can’t get past. And you wait until they’re three or four steps up it so there’s no going back either.
You utter bastard.
see 1ö2
Pogba already asking for pay rise to match Sanchez. His agent is of course Mkhtaryan’s agent so he will know the deal’s details. Now simply representing his boy.
Possibly only first in the queue. Just what Pep predicted. Can only be detrimental to dressing room harmony.
mkhitaryan
.
“the Irish blue-eyed camel”
Hahahaha!
racist
Agree with Steve T that 4-0 after 20 minutes deserved a better end result than 4-1. The lack of killer instinct was obvious again today.
But at least we had 20 exhilirating minutes that took me back to The Invincibles who wrapped up many a game early on in similar style. It’s just that at 4-0 today I predicted (to myself) that 4-2 would be a likely result. No one but me seems to worry about GD, although I guess we’d have to be in the mix for that to matter and we’re not
Lovely to see Jack controlling the game, some nice touches from Ozil, Nacho just keeps getting better (hope the injury isn’t too bad) and a GOAL from Iwobi! Not a bad evening’s work at all.
…although the Eagles were more like chickens today.
It is a good job we had the purple patch in the first 20 mins because for the remaining 70 we hardly looked like scoring at all.
As noted by other drinkers, without Ozil we look half the side we do with him; and he does seem to be developing a promising partnership with Wilshere.
Maitland-Niles’ inexperience again showed on occasion — getting caught on the wrong side of his man and giving the ball away with poor passes too often — but otherwise he has the makings of a player.
Good morning all, a cheerful one
this week. Our set piece mastery
and opportunistic finishing in the
6 yard box did for the squawking
eagles.
On to the Chavs.
Good news is that Nacho coming
off was described as “precautionary”
after the game – hopefully he’s
ready to go for Wednesday.
BDNL@90: We were 4-0 up at halftime in the notorious 4-4 against Newcastle in 2011.
But the last time we were 4-0 up at half time was the home league game against West Bromwich Albion in May 2015. Theo scored a hat-trick.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
@83 Desi, great stuff. Spot on.