V Is For Vermaelen, Van Persie, And Victory
Nov 19th, 2011 by 'holic
This game was brought to you by the letter V, and the numbers one and two. Midway through a particularly busy Saturday a wonderful game of football broke out, and credit both sides for the attacking intent on display.
A brief summary, because I’m sure the vast majority of you saw the game live, and the rest will have poured over the conventional reports. Arsenal could have been four up in eleven minutes, and one desperate clearance in particular, by the impressive Martin, caught the eye. Then we were a goal down. “We’ve got a big flipping German” crumbled under a challenge from the agricultural Morison who applied the finish. I’ve seen fouls given in that situation, and sometimes not. I would have expected van Persie to hassle the defenders at the other end in similar fashion.
Did I just mention van Persie? Set up by the on-song Walcott and an outrageous dummy (*cough) by Gervinho, the skipper made it 30 goals in this calendar year, and we were level. The aforementioned Martin made another couple of crucial last-gasp clearances. We went in having absolutely murdered Norwich, 1-1. The second-half produced more of the same. All that was missing was Norwich scoring against the run of play, although to be fair they played their part, trading counter-attacks with us.
That they didn’t score owed much to the Arsenal defence. From being a wide-open shambles at times in our early away games there is some seriously good work being done in our half of the pitch. In the absence of a recognised right-back Laurent Koscielny moved across, and Paul Lambert could not have paid him a bigger compliment than sending on a winger in the second-half to attack Andre Santos on the other flank. The Kos also made some carefully judged raids into enemy territory. Well played.
Inside him the “big flipping German” recovered from a moment that would have affected a lesser character to form an impregnable aerial barrier with his partner, the truly outstanding Thomas Vermaelen. The Belgian gave one of the best individual performances I have seen from an Arsenal central defender in many a year. His was the head that delivered so many clearances as Norwich sought to expose our once-familiar frailties. Yet he found time for some seriously impressive bursts into the Norwich half to instigate attacks.
Alongside them Andre Santos had another of those performances. Just occasionally his positional sense lets him down, and he is obviously working out just how often it is wise for him to be caught upfield when we surrender the ball, but his enthusiasm and appetite for getting involved has rubbed off on those around him. Ahead of the back four Mikel Arteta and Alex Song are displaying a disciplined approach and providing much needed cover for those behind them.
The points should have been secured when Gervinho rounded ‘keeper Ruddy, only for the Norwich custodian to recover and block. They were delivered by the skipper, in a similar position, who elected to dink a sublime little chip over the advancing Ruddy. Those two goals earned van Persie the man of the match champagne, presented to him by Vermaelen, who in my eyes would have made an equally deserving recipient.
The only blemish on a thoroughly entertaining game arrived in the bloated shape of the hosts second-half substitute, Grant Holt. The lardy front man’s first act was to back into a defender and fall over clutching his face. In embarrassment I expect. He repeated the less than acrobatic tumble in the box and even Phil Dowd felt compelled to book the porky incompetent. That aside though there was much to admire about the approach of the City starting eleven. Lambert is making a name for himself as a manager, and it is easy to see why.
Arsenal, for today at least, are into the top six. They continue to show a fabulous work ethic, and as such look a better side than in the second-half of last season. I’m really looking forward to seeing them in the flesh again next week. Well played, indeed, you Gunners.
359 Responses to “V Is For Vermaelen, Van Persie, And Victory”
And Now From Norwich, It’s Quiz of the Week.
Quizmaster: “Well, ‘Holic, to whom do Arsenal owe a very big vote of thanks?”
Holic: “Bert van Marwick – and that’s my final answer”.
With memories of Giorgio Chellini, the Italian ice-cream dump-truck’s demolition of Robin’s ankle fresh in his mind, Holland’s boss spared our captain any possibility of further horse placenta baths by resting him in their 3-0 defeat in Germany. Robin’s chocolate leg duly expressed its gratitude with a gateau-a-deux of gastronomic proportions. But more of these tasty morsels further down the menu.
Arsenal trundled north-eastwards up the A12, towards fenland, hoping to instill a bit of Norfolk Punch and pluck the locals’ birds into the bargain. Following promotion, the one-time Citizens of Norwich have looked good and were Nestling nicely in ninth spot in the table. So this was no mere apperitif for Arsenal, this was a main course and travelling Gooners were hopeful of a bellyful.
With a “cheep” from Phil Dowd’s whistle, lunch was served and Arsenal were nearly two to the good within four minutes. Walcott winged away like a sparrow at Carrow before slipping a peach to the chocolate leg. Uncharacteristically, the leg pushed the ball past the left post. What a gobstopper!
Then from one of the first of many Gervinho mazy runs and crosses, Walcott’s attempted pass into the pudding bowl was slurped clear. A Van Persie banana soared just past and then, the icing on the cake, quite amazingly, a one-in-a-million clearance off the line foiled a bountiful left foot effort by Theo. All Arsenal.
But this is Arsenal we’re writing about here. One-way traffic. No pressure. And so, minutes later, true to the season’s recipe so far, we mixed in our secret ingredient, our sauce du jour, a defensive cock-up of kipper pate proportions. BFG was the boy who turned yellow…..then sea-sick green when, with no danger apparent, he let their lone forward round him easily to put Lambert’s lame-brains one up. All credit to Norwich. But will we ever learn?
Despite some fine work by Norwich’s Ruddy goalkeeper, Rockin’ Robin could not be held at bay for long. Another right wing romp and cross from Walcott, a swan lake-like pirouette from Gervinho and the chocolate leg was there with goal number one and thirty for the year. A Taylor Made holic-like swing was the new celebration.
One each at half–time was the least Arsenal deserved, but it had not been one-way traffic and there was some concern that the second course might cause indigestion.
Arsenal’s mid-field had NOT brought their passing game along. Arteta was the main offender and every wayward ball had Her Nellieness imploring the return of The Sultan of Swing., the Passer of Peaches. Gervinho had brought neither his shooting boots nor his heading head and missed the two easiest chances of the day before being substituted for BennynJoon..
But Song, also too prone to giving the ball away cheaply, made amends and had travelling fans singing like canaries, with a through ball that the chocolate leg chipped home beautifully. The Real Delia! Two great van Persie goals and a set-up for three away points on a day when four teams above us were locked in battle against each other.
Arsenal contrived to lose another goal late in the game with an unnecessary free-kick, just to ensure that Aresene (and thousands of others watching on faraway screens) bit his nails to the quick. The Canaries made a bit of a canary of the kick, travelling Gooners duly gave them the bird for sh*ting in the nest and the moment passed.
Dowd’s whistle signaled full time and our first win with Dishonest D in charge. Aviva Arsenal!
Robin Van Persie is currently worth his weight in gold canaries. Chamakhattack and Park need to start shouldering some of the weight though and I suspect we may see both in mid-week. Benayoun looks like he can contribute more. It’s great to see the Verminator back and it’s SO good to be a Gooner.
So, the Crisis Continues. A Norfolk punch with a canary yellow lemon twist, barman please.
2 for the price of 1. 🙂
Nice one Holic, and welcome back BtM.
Nice to be back, Dr Z. Shanghai, Mumbai, Chennai and Auchtermuchty have taken their toll on my Goonerholic time. Wrong, I know, but there it is.
Excellent post, barman. It is SO good to see Tommy V back in the side. A new signing indeed.
The Man is back 😀
V if for Vth drink. In Roman.
And nice to have you back BtM indeed
Great post by the way, BtM.
holic-like swing 😀
O if for Ollie 😉
And great write-ups both.
Very nice summary ‘holic and BTM is back!
A is for another win!
BtM great piece too!
It wasn’t an easy game fair play to 1Norwich they got stuck in but they played within rules and there are where they should be in the league. They drew with Liverhoof before the break.
Per needs to know it’s better to hoof it wide. However possession is the name of our game and he got tricked this time around. Overall as Arsene would say he did very well.
I’ll drink to this V for Victory long may it continue!
And a massive round all AROUND!
haha zico. It’f true
I see Borussia just beat Dortmund in Munich.
It will certainly be a massive moral boost for them, although on the other hand maybe it’s a game that will have taken its toll.
Our game on wednesday (is it?) should me spectacular.
Borussia beat Dortmund?
They beat Bayern.
I think I need a drink.
Nevermind the other typos. Bah.
Ollie I was gonna say Borussia beat Dortmund, what ever is Ollie having please barman!
I knew it that pint of Wisnioka is taking it’s toll!
:):):):):):):)
Ollie, you need a good sub-ed 😉
How MANY have you had, Ollie?
I stopped at 3 today. A mini temperance movement, me. 🙂
Completely sober.
Worked this morning, watched the game at home (first 50 minutes), went to see the bank, watched the last 40 minutes on tape, then basked in the glory while surfing the interweb still sober.
I quite fancy a non-virtual drink actually, though I need to do some work tomorrow too.
Bordeaux 2-0 down to a promoted side. Looks like the slump is back….
Vantastic post, Holic, Vermastic headline.
Woohoo, BtM is back! Now to make myself a cuppa and the read the BtM report 🙂
Well played ‘holic
ReeeSult!
Quad still on!
UsuperedS!
Evening all. Welcome back BtM …. like Lars I’m going to settle down to read the second report of the day….
Well played Theo – possibly the best game for Arsenal that I’ve seen from him. His first touch has improved incredibly.
The fact that every time we win a hard fought away game everybody else wins is starting to get on my nerves.
We can’t close the gap if they don’t lose… Why are they THIS inconsiderate?!
Chocolate leg chip, my favorite flavor.
Snir, we will gain points on Liverpool or Chelsea or even both tomorrow. We gained three on Newcastle today. And we gained two on Liverpool before the Interlull.
I see les Girondins could not quite cut the mustard this evening, Ollie 🙁
I am watching Barcacunts. The Spanish league is an absolute joke.
That’s more than I’m doing, Holic!
Keep egging the mustard joke… 🙂
Indeed, ‘holic. There’s something wrong with this world when mustard wins over a glass of Bordeaux.
Now 4-0, and it should be 10. I won’t insult pub teams by comparing Zaragossa to them.
Very happy we vanquished any valiant thoughts the vile Canaries had of emerging victorious over the visitors. My view; we verified the very notion that vim and vigour in volume could be vexed from the very first kick. A valiant victory verily.
Views on our valued victors who had Norwich fans going vamooose:
Szcz -Stayed in his area, not a vagabond moment in vain
Santos – Valid defending to stop vandals down his flank
Koz – Like a vapour playing right back as if he’d done so since Victorian times
BFG – Lacking the velocity to recover from his venturesome slip, otherwise like a big german vegetable
Vermaelen – The variety of his skills had the opponents looking like what sits upon a ventroliquists knee
Song – Vocal with a veneer of calm throughout
Ramsey – From the valleys of course, Aaron was vibrating throughout the middle of the pitch
Arteta – Verifying his purchase, the vermillion shirt suits him well
Walcott – This version of Theo is a winner, plays like a veteran at 22
Gervinho – Always in the vicinity of the action his vice seems to be scoring after doing the difficult part
Van Persie – Videotape was invented for Van Persie he personifies vitality this season like a volcano
Djourou – A vacant expression for 55 seconds
Wenger – To those who wanted him to leave in August, he’d leave a void that you can’t imagine
😀
A Veritable feast of verbiage, Tim…
Well played Tim – a severe case of the verbals 😉
Nah, it doesn’t embed.
So you can delete the previous:
Tim….What a virile and voluminous chap you are!
Volubile too.
Or rather : verily.
And so, the GT Rollers revival, after an “interesting” start to the season, continues….. on top of the mini-league of also rans, they now set their sights on Milken Alcohol. Not for the first time…
Verdant?
Ollie – which team was that in the photo?
Just realised that there is a (rather under utilised) forum section of the HT League…! Moderation??
Standard Liège, Dr C.
And oh yes, I forgot about that fantasy football lark.
Of course I do realise that having RvP has captain does not offer me advantages as everybody has him. Still, I stuck to my guns from the start.
It’s just that him combined with Gervinho should really have got me Millions points today!
F*** me, ‘holic is top of the arseblog league?
Lars – I meant Utd and City 🙂
‘Holic knows.
The banner is at the printers 😉
Haha 😀
And great editing work, although I feel guilty that the picture is bigger than the one in the main article!
right, time for Match of Ze Day (well just for our section and maybe the Wigan Blackburn game if they show it, apparently there was some entertainment there).
And after Match of Ze Day….Jour de Foot (for a second I forgot the title, thinking, no, it can’t be Match du Jour!).
3 red card for Nice who played the last 5 minutes with 8 players it seems!
Apart from Bordeaux result, Lyon lost and Marseille are now losing (unfortunately to Montpellier, but still, the lesser of two evils though, even if it’s nearly like being happy that Stoke beats Liverpool, says….)
G’night folks!
Good Evening Holics
Great result but not an experience I intend to repeat. Surrounded by baying City fans in the Barclay Stand was intimidating but that’s another story. Glad to be home in one piece.
Decked out in neutral grey and purple, bus pass in hand, I caught the 10am bus to Norwich. Joined up with my friend and took our seats in the sunshine. The pitch was perfect for wengerball and we made a great start, pacey play down both flanks and it was only time before we put one of our early chances away. RVP was wasteful and Martin’s clearance ( down the other end) could so easily have gone in the net.
So it was in horror, after15 mins, I watched the Mert , right in front of me, make a hash of what should have been a simple clearance.He let the ball bounce and Morrison muscled in and we were one down. Up to then there was only one team in it and it wasn’t City.Did the forward hold Mert back?
RVP then had a really good chance which he failed to take and I began to think it was going to be one of those days, all possession but no result.
We were in complete control of the game, TV5 made a fantastic run and Martin made another clearance off the line. Then Theo made a great run down the right ,perfect cross on the ground and our hero had a tap in. I sat there in silence whilst those around me groaned !
After we scored Norwich got into the game, Morrison’s pace causing a few problems and their mid-field got a grip of the game. TV5 was called into action , covering for Santos and our midfield were caught in possession too many times.
Our attacks started to break down in the final third and our corners were worse than useless( a constant gripe of mine).Still, we were keeping the crowd quiet and half time came with me thinking we should have been 3-1 to the good.
The second half started much the same as the first with us making the running but it was Gervinho who was wasting the chances. He should have done better with a header and he made the wrong decision having dribbled into the box but instead of shooting when he was in a great position, he tried to find RVP and the opportunity was lost. Rambo had a chancee at the near post from a great cross from Theo who was on fire. Gervinho had the best chance of the second half when he took the ball round the keeper but hesitated and failed to put enough on the shot which gave the keeper time to recover and make the save .
Then came the winner after about an hour, Phil Dowd waved play on after Rambo was floored , Song picked up the ball gave it to RVP who chipped the goalie. The Gooners went mad and I was left sitting on my hands amongst the groaning City faithfull. Job done!
I still thought we needed another goal . Arteta was not having a great game and we were giving away too many free kicks. Norwich missed a really good chance from a cross from the right and it was nail biting time but we held out and the locals were forced to admit that they were beaten by a better team .I held my counsel and my friend and I headed for the City and the late lunch.
See you all at the Ems next week .
As always COYRs
Ollie – see where selling your soul will get you? 😉
Like you, I have entrusted myself to RVP and Gervinho. Our time is coming……surely Gervinho touched the ball when “dummying” for RVP?
Good one ‘holic. I’m sure you could have scored on that Gervinho “dummy.”
Hooray for Sesame Street and the letter V. It appears that the letter V is replacing the letter D as the most ubiquitous in our team. Come on Arsenal and keep on delivering the goods. 🙂
Delia @ 48. Very nice roving report.
Quick come back before logging off:
Shawcunt and the whole Stoke team shows that Movember should be banned. Give money generously please, but don’t grow these horrible moustaches.
Eurgh, horrible cunts look even more horrible with ridiculous ‘taches on.
And how the fuck did the ref/linesman allow the goal from the Pedersen ‘corner’ ? Yakubu never touched the ball.
No one talks about it but this is the first time we went 5 wins in a row in the league in over a year. Last time was 10/2/10-27/3/10 when Phillips equalized at St. Andrews.
I’ve been saying 5 league wins in arow on the trot all day Snir!
Hopefully that becomes 6 when we play Fulham next week 🙂
And ‘Holic, where’s my congratulations lol? ‘raises eyebrow’
Wind, when I said no one I meant no one in the meeja.
Last paragraph SG – should cheer you up. This team looks to be changing the Arsenal story re the media and everyone else. When we’re mostly solid at the back and creating bucket loads and winning away – What’s not to like? UREDS!
Great report from behind enemy lines work Delia
http://gu.com/p/33fma
Great report Delia and cheers on making it out of there safe and sound. 😀
And welcome back BtM, a true bard of the match reports. May Her Nellieness learn to better appreciate the strength of our new midfield. 😉
Bah! 3 am drink.
Thanks AL, but it really isn’t that special when it comes from Amy Lawrence. She’s a gooner! 🙂
Last paragraph in The Telegraph report SG –
Arsenal have now won five straight Premier League matches and Van Persie has scored the winning goal in every single one of those matches. “I was okay, not great,” shrugged the Dutchman, ruing his misses. Heaven help the rest when he finds his best then.
Now, THAT’S special.
Thanks mate.
Why is next Saturday such a long time from now?
A pleasure – it’s good to hear the tune is changing
OO to be ah Goonah!
Nice one ‘Holic, good to see BtM (dual persona, Stuart Hall) back 😉
So fattened up like a Matthew’s Christmas Turkey, surely it was no surprise to see Grant Holt crying “foul”.
Another step in a great recovery from early season calamity. Level tonight with Chavs and Spuds and ahead of King Kenny – I thought we were supposed to be going down ?!
Pundits, pffff . . 😉
Heart warming to see some happy drinks.
And whoever gets the century should raise a glass to BtM for a fabulous first ball.
A great piece in the Guardian recalling a famous Arsenal v Norwich match back in 1990. If you were that day (I lost my voice in the North Bank) you’ll never forget it.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/nov/19/norwich-arsenal-minute-by-minute
Was this the voice announcing the football results as I was listening over the short wave as a young boy in California some 40 years ago? I can’t be completely sure but I like to think so having seen this clip:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15804993.stm
@bt8b
That’s the same bloke that I’ve heard since being a tot – he definitely was on the short wave all these years too.
I always liked if his voice went a bit higher (just like today) when he’d read ‘Arsenal’ as it meant we had scored a few. A classic voice and a great connection to the past.
Thanks, Tim. I also noticed his voice going higher for ‘Arsenal’
in the Norwich City 1 Arsenal 2. Very significant when the radio is all you have to go by. What a marvellous voice and a great man to go with it by the looks of him. 🙂
He’s one of those constants – will be strange not to hear him any more on the BBC. Didn’t know you grew up in California….what part? I lived there in the late 90’s.
Wow. Short wave radio. That is a blast from the past.
‘This is London. Here is the news in Welsh for our listener in Patagonia.’ Cue Lillibullero.
Golden days.
But James Alexander Gordon was always the preeminent reader of the latecomers’s reading of the football results.
NBN, James Alexander Gordon’s name rings a bell so maybe he was the one I was listening to all those years ago. I hadn’t heard Lillibulero in years until reading your post and checking out this youtube clip. It starts at 1:09 but the clock ticking off the seconds to the top of the hour always seemed like an integral part of the music:.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuJ5_j4U6HQ
Tim, Near Santa Barbara was where I grew up listening to those short wave broadcasts.
Just watching MOTD and feasting on the displays of VP (obviously) and our lad Theo.
How dangerous does that wing wizard look at the moment?
Tasty moment no. 1: Cuts in from the wing, shapes to shoot, his marker falls flat on his arse. Curls it in towards an empty net only to be denied by the most ridiculous goal-line clearance I’ve ever seen.
TM no. 2: The assist for the opening goal. Creamy little touch round the marker, nip the other side and lay it on a plate for captain Vantastic.
Meanwhile Stoke are putting a smile on my face by losing at home to QPR. Timmy has been thoroughly schooled in the Pubis style of being a niggling, clogging, obstructing cunt.
So WE win, Stoke lose, Barcodes lose….who will drop points out of Pool and the Chavs???
Watch this space goal-hunters….
Not much I can really add to the above and what was said post match in the previous drinks. A good away three points. Bar one howler we did not look like conceding. Wasteful at times up front but far more positives than negatives. I thought Theo was outstanding. He goes missing in far too many games for me. That type of performance is what I want to see from Theo.
Beat the sausage suckers in mid week to qualify, then Fulham and it will all be heading in the right direction.
Keep the faith.
Can’t find any torrents for MOTD today 🙁
Lars – Here you go mate, not a torrent, but MOTD nonetheless 🙂
http://motd2u.blogspot.com/2011/11/match-of-day-hd-720p-19th-november-2011.html
Steve, check your inbox.
My goodness. I’m utterly shocked.
Song, Ramsey and Arteta misplaced 11, 15 and 8 passes respectively. That’s 34 misplaced passes by our midfield three alone.
Not to mention Santos and Kos misplacing 18 and 12.
I can’t remember the last time we lost possession so frequently.
Snir, thanks a lot!
Patient Gang Goolie watch: 41 days to go, and counting…..
Mr C? Did I miss anything last week? Where is Dr C? Did you get your license suspended?
I only want one thing for January.
TH14.
*The boss gives Wind the nod to start warming up….. a few sprints up and down the touchline….*
Did you miss anything? ???? Not much, Snir, not much 😉
Mr T and I have been promoted to consultant status to reflect our higher level of professional non-qualifications…
Slackers.
Oh my head 🙁
Morning all.
So give me a round up of what I missed like Pravda’s presser digest 🙂
Did anybody else notice Dowd telling Bennet to put his hands behind his back on 82 mins?
That was hilarious, one of the funniest moments of the season.
A quick summary: Dr F has gone mad. The Quackery will prevail!
Well hello there….just got back from a weekend football tournament. Exhausted and gutted I missed the game but I found a download and I’m going to watch it now 🙂
Mr C, that is a rather adequate description of what went on 🙂
Delia, nice match report from behind enemy lines.
Glad to see I’m not the only one who despairs at our lack of threat from a corner. When was the last time we actually scored from one?
Oh, and Dr F is mad all right. But all will be resolved, you’ll see. 🙂
a misplaced pass – up the middle
Yo Zico. Had that conversation yesterday (I despair too).
Haven’t bothered looking at all our goals, but some reckon our last goal from a corner was……….Busquets (og) vs Barça.
zico, the last ones I can recall was Everton at home in early February this year when Koscielny headed home from an RvP corner and then the Busquets own goal at Nou Camp a few weeks later.
I despair of stats Ollie, especially when we had 20 shots, 14 on target and only 2 goals produced. If you then add in all these corners which are clearly aimed to avoid all our big players, then we are all doomed
Anyway can I suggest that we give Lars a gift for all our drinking to forget – passes down the right to Theo
looks like it might be going out for a corner
hey holics- what’s going on? Doesn’t anyone want the century?
and the new signing takes a shot…
in off?
scores!
Good work AL 😉
oh- well. Terrible to miss an open goal like this on your debut. My confidence’s shot now- see you all later, holics. I’m off to hang around with marouane- he would understand how i feel. Toddles off- muttering…
great write up, by the way, holic. Avid reader of your blog, first time contributor. And your latest can’t- hit-a-barn-door striker. Cheers all. BMBD!
Thank you Guv’nor – have an early one on me if you can manage it – and whatever anyone else can force down ’em on this marvellous afterglowing Sunday morning …
Still basking
Thank you w. Bad luck with the solo strike, AL is in a rich vein of form at present.
Think I had better wait awhile before having another beer, thanks.
I’ll leave it in the pump
Ureds!
And apologies Wengerer for pinching it off your toe. Newishboy Wind went through something similar several times before clocking up his first big C yesterdee.
I’ve heard word that he’s still out celebrating that fact
Afternoon All ,
Great write up , Holic , I saw pretty much the same game . Thought we were a lot better than some are willing to give us credit for .
Stand out players … RVP oozed class in everything he did , Walcott had one of his best games in an Arsenal shirt , TV5 was , as you acknowledge , colossal , and Kos’s move to full-back was as seamless as we could have wished for .
I thought we pretty much dominated the game , certainly for the first half hour of each half . Yes , we missed a hatful of chances necessitating a greater chewing of fingernails than should have been the case , but the creativity in the side was back , we used both flanks with speed and invention , and it was very gratifying that we no longer appeared to try to simply “play our way through the middle” , an often flawed approach so prevalent at the back-end of the Fabregas years .
The Big German certainly made a massive cock-up for their goal , but those of us who endured 8Ball’s link in the run-up to the game , which took us back to the 4-2 defeat on the opening day of the 1992-93 season , will have been reminded of TA’s calamitous error which led to a goal . It happens to the best of them . Per recovered well , and I think that it was his towering header which cleared their dangerous free-kick at the death .
Oh , and did I mention I got the score right ! 🙂
The only downside of a very good day , Gooner Bruv was on the scene which meant another Leo . Paying for it now .
Beecham Bomb please Barman , and whatever anyone else wants .
Fuk it – if i’m in the bar on me own i’ll put something on The-o juke box
The pictures are very, very good
http://youtu.be/LGuIy6s84KE
Nice stuff above . Great stuff Btm and Tim , and great report from the Ground Delia .
Well in AL , hard luck Wengerer and welcome .
You heard right AL, just got back in from a wild night, been ‘on the lash’ as some people might say 😉
Thanks for the nod, Catalan @ 83, but my desire for the big C has been saited (for now 🙂 ) in yesterdays ‘Losing Carl Jenkinson, Norfolk ‘n Good’, check it out lol.
Hopefully Van Persie’s desire for goals will keep on increasing, I honestly don’t know what we would do without him, Gervinho and Theo play their best with him at the arrow head of our attack.
Finally, Wengerer @99, 101 & 103, I am the person here in this bar most that understands your pain the most, I hit the post/crossbar or experienced Gilberto (Cannons of Rhetoric, Camberwell Gooner, the list goes on lol) pinching the goal of van Persie at Old Trafford (Me/Wind) in EVERY blog in the recent posts list bar this one and the afore mentioned ‘Losing Carl Jenkinson’.
Chin up, with a bit of dedication and patience and skillful lurking, you’ll get there 🙂
tabs my main man, heard the news? 😉
Ah – a coupla swells – drinks on me gents – till Lars turns up anyway
Cheers AL .
Certainly did Wind ! Hearty congrats , first of many 🙂
Thanks, really appreciate it! 🙂
Enough work for a sunday, time for breakfast.
AL- it’s ok. We’re on the same team!! Seriously guys- how hot is van the man right now? He’s getting to the messi and ronaldo levels really!
ooops! Hope i haven’t jinxed anything there… touch wood! And thanks wind, or should that be wind? I’m inspired now! ( starts warming up for the double century! )
oh- and thanks tabs. You’re an absolute legend! I’ve still got your bta series saved up- to lighten up things at times. Although van perfect is really lightening up the world on his own now! Do we even need the sun anymore?!
If I’m around Wengerer, I’ll be happy to assist, in the final act or in build-up play 😉
The drinks is growing from game to game, getting stronger and you feel there is some mental strength inside there.
‘Holic, great writeup. In the words of Basil Fawlty, vealy, vealy good.
Has anyone else noticed this about the bfg? For someone who’s 6’6″ or whatever, his approach to heading is, uh, unusual. He puts a leg back and positions his body on sort of a diagonal, so that he winds up being something like 5’6″ or so, which would be AA23 at full stretch (that’s if Arshavin ever decided to jump). So we wind up with a tall CB who plays way smaller than his height (unlike Verm and Kos, who can leap with the best of them and aren’t afraid to do so). You not only need to be tall, but play tall and strong.
Haha, Drogba strikes a free kick just outside the post and almost the whole of Stamford Bridge thinks it’s gone in – even the commentators go “and Drogba puts Chelsea 1-0 up!”, not noticing that there are no celebrations and that Reina are preparing to take a goal kick. It took until the replays for them to notice that it wasn’t a goal 🙂
Is that Jean ‘Bon’ de Bayonne ?
*gets coat*
Just as I was thinking that Chelsea look increasingly disjointed and even dispirited they give away a stupid goal of the variety that is quite possibly worse than any goal we have given away this season. In my mind this game has been of really poor quality so far and Liverpool deserve their lead only because they have been slightly less crap than Chelsea.
Should Livepool win this game.
Them, Cuntski and ClubInCrisis will be level on points.
The meeja will be disappointed.
Although I’m guessing Cuntski may be their new ClubInCrisis now.
Lars – dont you recognise the similarity of the goal with Terry in the mud
what odds on Luiz getting 2nd yellow/red – he is a lunatic
Snir @ 79, we’re being overly critical here on a day when the team won well and deservedly a difficult fixture away from home, BUT, mis-passing, normally our strength, was a frustrating feature of the day.
The two ace passers, Cesc and The Sultan of Swing have departed. These two passed beautifully, but more importantly always found space and positioned themselves to receive balls, making easier for the others to find them and so complete more passes successfully.
Watch Arteta in the next game. I like the lad but he doesn’t find space and make himself available. I’d like to see him do much more. If you’re reading this, Mikel, raise your game, son.
I’m hoping Chelsea score. One-one and both of these teams dropping two points is our best outcome.
Bah, I jinxed it.
Well done, Sturridge. Just keep it there, lads. 1-1 is fine.
cognac: well, it was certainly on the same scale of shootingoneselfinthefootness.
May be Arteta should take a leaf outta this lad’s book (apologies don’t know how to do smiley face symbol)
Ureds!
This lad ‘ere that is … http://youtu.be/CVMNv8nSEds
I’m not sure why some people want a draw.
I’m happy for Scouse to win this game.
Because I hate the Chavs so much.
But even in the grand scheme of things for us.
BtM – I actually watch Arteta every game and he’s been excellent, allowing Ramsey to feel a lot more free to roam up the pitch and get into the box.
Aaron didn’t get in the box in the opening stages of the season and we had a hard time creating chances, ever since Mikel joined, Ramsey has been a lot more dangerous offensively.
In addition, Mikel has the most key passes in the league and has created the most chances in the league.
All that when he’s being ordered to be the more disciplined in midfield and curb his offensive instincts.
And I’m sorry mate, but if you mean Denilson when you say “the sultan of swing” then I disagree, not only did he pass sideways, he would misplace lots of passes as well.
I just don’t share your fondness of that Denilson guy, to be honest, I can’t stand him.
As for criticizing, I’m not. I’m actually delighted that we won after being so wasteful in possession. I know that we’ll have days like this because of various reasons (improved pressing by the opposition, nervousness on the day, crowd pressure etc.) and we need to be smart to do enough to win those games and we did.
Another thing, did anybody notice that Kos and Santos were barely needed in attack? We created so many chances with 4 players only. The three attacking players and Aaron.
And then they scored, heh!
Chelsea – club in crisis
Ollie @ 136 – with you all the way
Ollie, I’m of the opinion that at this stage it is too early to know which result would be better for us. We’ll just have to wait and see, and no matter the result in this game we have to keep winning games ourselves.
Well indeed, Lars.
But then the defining factor is that it’s the bus stop in Fulham, and I look at their players, and I look at Terry’s face after that goal, and I’m happy that they lost 🙂
Drink for Lars is on me. Well, on his tab 😉
sensible stuff Lars – but i can’t help thinking that Chelsea in a bit of disarray starts to send out the message that, possibly, more than just fourth place may be up for grabs. Early days but …
Up (up and away) The Arse!
Ollie, I have to agree that seeing John Terry flat on his racist arse preceded by Cashley making an absolute mug of himself was rather funny 🙂
Lars @145 +1 +1 +1
Come back Kieran – England beckons
AL: more than fourth is definitely up for grabs.
That sounds like an invitation to a pint Lars – don’t mind if i do, ta … London Pride, please.
I’ll get the next one
UREDS!
I’m delighted Liverpool won.
Because of all the reasons Ollie stated but also because I expect Liverpool to lose more points against the lesser teams so they won’t be a problem to leapfrog.
For now, I’d be glad if Liverpool can do the same to City and Chelsea can regroup and draw with City in three weeks from now.
You never know, a win against City can seriously close the gap. And we’re capable of that, I’m sure.
My new dream for this season: Barca to win no trophies with Real beating them for the La Liga championship, and Arsenal winning a trophy.
Cesc would be declared a jinx and I would laugh my ass off.
(just the thought of that makes me laugh) 😆
A pint of hangover juice please.
Nice write up and some excellent posts above.
The way I saw it, we completly dominated that game from start to finish. Norwich gave a good account of themselves (except for Holt, the fat cheater) but never really bothered us that much, their goal, which was well taken was more down to the blunder of the BFG more then anything else, but fair play to Paul Lambert, he really has transformed them, in a very short period of time, from a League One club to a team that will give many a PL team a run for it’s money.
We are now creating chances for fun, Theo is starting to impose himself on games, his confidence is growing, his first touch has improved and his overal contribution to the team yesterday was the biggest I’ve seen him give. On the other wing, our new friend Gervinihio, will delight and frustrate in equal delight, if RvP should have had a hatrick, then Flipper should have had a hat-coat-scarf-and-glovestrick with all the chances he had. If he keeps putting in the effort and getting himself into those positions then I think it’s only a matter of time before we see his name more frequently on the scoresheet. There’s nothing I can say about our man Robin that hasn’t already been said, Captain Vantastic is on the form of his life, long may it continue.
I really like the look of our midfield trio this term, what they lack in creative genius they make up in effort, they play a little deeper then we’ve seen before, but this is not a bad thing as it affords better cover for the defence. Yesterday their passing may not of been up to our usual standard, but I still thought they were pretty solid. Song wasn’t really troubled, Ramsey looked a little slugish, but still got himself into some great positions and Arteta once again worked hard in his unsung hero role which he does so well.
The return of the Verminater has given the defence a timely boost, he’s just massive, what a player, solid, strong and reliable, not too shabby going forward either. His partner fort the day didn’t have his best game in an Arsenal shirt, after his blunder he looked a bit nervous and shaky to me, he’ll bounce back though and hopefully he learned that you can’t faff about when there’s a player coming from behind you in the PL.
I thought Santos was a bit short too yesterday, in the first half everything Norwich created came from his flank, although he did improve in the second half and you can never blame the guy for not putting in the effort. On the other side Kos put in a great shift as make do RB, looked extreamly at ease in the role too. In my humble opinion our most improved player this year a very important member of the first XI.
Nothing much for Woj to do, but kept his concentration levels up and who among us didn’t huff out a sigh of blissful relief when he dealt well with their injury time free kick?
All in all a great team effort, as we ran out worthy winners. Things are starting to hot up at the top of the table with the Toon and today Chelski (odds on Villa Boas surviving Christmas?) dropping points. Even with our worst start ever to the PL we are still very much in contention and unlike many around us we are on the up and improving all the time.
All aboard the happy train!!!!
Voddie shot time, line them up for the good gents on the bar please squire.
Cheers.
Piers The Plonker on FoxSoccer a few minutes ago:
“Arsenal fans gave me a bollocking for saying Wenger must go after the 8-2 defeat at Manure.
So what’s different? Wenger changed after that game. He panicked, He’d insisted only on youth, now he’s gone for maturity and experience”
So, as always, Piers The Plonker was right and Arsene was wrong.
Is he taking the Piers?
What a self rightous wanker.
AaaaaaaHHHHHH!!! H2h mentioning Woj reminds me that he dummied their centre-forward on about 85mins. A bit naughty but kind of emblematic of the confidence and character and fearlessness this newish team keep showing. Easy to say now, i know, but i get the feeling that they felt all along that they would find a way, between them, to win that game yesterday
And thank Dennis they did
Piers Moron, as he is called in Private Eye indeed.
BTM. For someone so learned I am astounded that you waste your time listening to that oxygen thief.
Gentlemen a small thought (for most of mine are they), our club has been put through the wringer all ways this last 8,9,10 months ( since the CCF, i s’pose) – easily the most difficult time in AW’s glorious reign.
And now we’re here. And i think we should allow ourselves to take the time out to enjoy that fact.
It’s far from perfect, and there are long, long ways to go – but did anyone seriously foresee us being in this good a shape this soon after those early season results, and all that went on in the transfer market at around the same time?
Me, I’m humbly opening a red and raising one to Arsene, his staff and the boys
UP, up and away, The Arse!
AL, I’ll raise another glass of red with you and another toast to Arsene and his entourage. Up the Arse! Don’t underestimate what they can do, or you will do it at your peril.
oxygen thief
Heh. 🙂
And another one right back at yer bt8bbgfg, you can’t stop the reds
Anybody checked the table recently? We are only trailing Chelsea, Spuds and Liverpool on goal difference, although Spuds have games in hand. Hope we haven’t peaked too early. 😉
‘holic. Like H2H I was interested in the odds on Villa Boas surviving Christmas, with the possibility of a cheeky punt on the negative side in the offing. 😉
I’m with you AL, up the reds! And down goes my glass of red 😉
Customary boos in Parc des Princes at half-time.
0-0
Played Wind
I see Youtube took Walcott off The-O’ jukebox above. Apologies to anyone who took the time to have a peak. If it’s any consolation he looked even better on his spliced together best bits
It’s always difficult returning from an International break to slot straight back in to your normal rythym.
Hence as Snir has pointed out,the number of misplaced passes was much higher than usual.
The same applies to scoring opportunities and mistimed tackles.
It takes me back to my playing days in midfield,with the
Golders Green Ramblers,and the difficulty i had when returning after a Continental break.
My tackles tended to be above the knee instead of below,my elbows were in the head instead of the throat,and my headers were against the cheekbone instead of the nose.
It was a good couple of weeks till i was back in the groove.!!
Cheers
The Sweeper.
Clive…. so your tackles resembled something like this? 😉
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygVgxYa3mlo
Catalan
Souness was a pussycat compared to my gang.
He wouldn’t have lasted 5 mins in our league.
When the Golders Green Ramblers played on a Sunday morning,there were more Stretchers and St Johns Ambulance Brigade officers in attendance,than there were spectators.!!
Cheers
The sweeper.
CG i’d have to respectfully disagree with the commentator there – i thought Souness went just under the ball
i’ll get my yellow card
great analyses from y’all. Personally i think 3rd is a realistic target for us as for now. Plus we’ve got a good run going and a good chance to extend it against fulham and wigan. So all in all- looking good!
anyhow good night everyone. No lurking till i get back!!
managed to get some shots yesterday, on the old iphone, of my mate Arthur celebratin’ just after our second goal went in. It’s fair to say the boy’s a big Gooner
http://youtu.be/QHB5HOv6GaY
Wengerer – I refuse to rule out the league chances yet.
Not yet.
They’ve (City) got a tough month coming up (including playing us, which can close the gap even further), we’ll see how they do this month and then rule out the league or not.
Psed – still basking
Quad still on SG
I know AL, I know.
And for years, I feel like we do have (get ready for it…)……
ze mental strength!
I’ll drink a mental strength pint to that – sir! And of course whatever you’re having
I’m having a pint of Carling as usual…
Until we get that bloody cup!
Good call – sir. Which reminds me i’m all ticketed up for Everton but took me off the ball re Shiteh in the CC cup. I’m kicking meself (but only in a sly, ineffectual na$riesque way – so it don’t hurt) but if anyone knows of a sensibly priced pair going (or a single if it comes to that) please let me know.
Putting this out there late on a Sunday night’s probably not the best idea, but so far it’s been a fine footballing weekend – so fukit i’ll give it a go …
Hi holic,were always here for a good read ta mate,snir @172 love it we are starting to believe again!
Garsguns – I always believe, I’m a more optimistic person than AW himself 🙂
I just don’t rate United, Chelsea or anybody else in the EPL apart from City.
Maybe that’s why the disappointments make me literally sick…
Shiteh are big, fat, full almost unstoppable looking oil tanker – set fair (ahem) for the title – they might yet hit a rock though
aye!
Cheers snir lets hope the gaffer stays optimistic
If they finish this month with 10 points then they most probably will win the league (they’ve got Anfield, Norwich at home, Stamford Bridge, Arsenal at home).
AL, let that rock be us…
Back after a few days gents and jillies, pleased as punch at all but young jenks’ outcome of the interlull. Onwards against Dortmund in the midweek!
a pint of afternoon porter, barman, if you please.
Throws in quickly from the right sideline, towards the top of our box…
Everyone must be in the offensive half, I get the pass back from the keeper, turning up the right side…
scruzgooner, Is afternoon porter suitable in the nighttime? If so, what significance has the name?
that sounds good to me SZG
He’s calling for it
Nothing significant to the porter, it’s just afternoon here, and I feel like a porter 🙂
Plays a neat pass to bt8b, who switches it to AL, while I streak (clothes on) up the pitch towards the d at the top of the box…
a bit o’ tippy tappy with bt8b
Black as night here, scruz. But I’ll join you in an evening porter. 🙂
Plays it square back to AL with scruz breaking down the wing …
Most excellent bt8b, care for an anchor porter?
Jukes the halfback onto his heels, waving for the ball…
he takes it on his chest (he slipped over as the ball was coming along the ground towards him) and pings it wide into space
Dummies
off the ball
Haha Clive. I played for the Arsenal Supporters Club in the seventies up GG way. Highlight was the day Terry Naylor’s (ex LWC player for those that don’t know him) cousin decided he was going to impale the referee who had just sent him off on a corner flag.
One, he was an opponent, two, he was the cousin of a lillywhite cunt. The referee found himself with eleven bodyguards that morning is all I will say. 😉
I run on to the ball and rainbow it over the center half…
Anchor is a mighty fine old brewery scruz. Did AL find you yet?
Sorry boys. It was 191 when I started that…
‘holing volleys it for the goal!
Lol…oh, but what a goal…
great strike outta nowhere ‘holic
Ha ha ‘holic. And the best goals are the unintentional kind. 😀
Bt8b, indeed. A true California pleasure…
*Kings of possession attempt to string together 90-odd passes on the way to 300*
scruz: We haven’t heard from PiK in a while. Maybe he has been enjoying a bit too much California pleasure?
a true arsenal move, 90-odd passes and a walk into goal…
ps ‘holic i promise i was trying to hang back – but when they keep going in – well, what can you do?
Bt8b, PiK is always enjoying that pleasure… Last I heard he was trying to beat the continuous waking drunk record of 14 days, set back in the 70s by the Mick’o’Time.
@al, let’s have them keep going in, then!
Some long-distance lurking music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ftpvtrg9Rw&feature=related
I think PiK is partial to a bit of a smoother vibe…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdQJ3Q0uhYE
and isn’t that one of yours dr.f’s theme song?
He hits one from deep – but looks to cover in midfield – carrying a slight pull and not sure he’ll complete the half
al, nicely played with the bad gam, I will carry it forward against the hordes…
great choons chaps but it’s deep into injury time over here and i’m spent. Best you bring on fresh legs.
And may the pretty good times continue to r-roll – cheers
dribbling longer than a twoyearold cutting teeth…
A few short weeks ago it was time, in the opinion of far too many, for Arsene Wenger to go.
He could no longer ‘do it’ in the transfer market; he could no longer spot a decent player; all the players that he did sign in the summer were, either, not up to the job, or panic buys.
Carl Jenkinson, making a massive step up in class that he probably didn’t want, and certainly didn’t expect, at that stage, has transformed himself in two months into a player that we were all very disappointed to lose for a while, following his injury last week.
Carl not good enough ? Tell Bacary Sagna.
AW was roundly ridiculed when he suggested that Robin van Persie could be in the same class as Ronaldo and Messi.
Are the mockers still scoffing ? Choking, more likely, although it is debateable whether anyone is quite as good as Messi.
But RvP is producing his stats in the Premier League, not the mockery of a competition that is La Liga.
Mr Wenger still apparantly knows a thing or two – and don’t underestimate the contribution of that other “old has-been” Pat Rice.
How many other management teams could have turned the start that we had, into the set of statistics that represent our last twelve games ?
Oh, and don’t forget that they’ve done it with a collection of crocked no-hopers and panic buys 😉
Looking around for an outlet…everyone’s covered (or, knowing the bulk’o’holics, UNDER covers)…
agreed, trev. And I think it will continue to get better as the season progresses, putting the AMG lot into further shame.
It is sad, too, to hear the boss lament the loss of cesc and na$ri this way..
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/284895/I-can-t-carry-on-like-this-says-Arsene-Wenger?
Playing it back to the keeper, back pedaling to get into position…
Aaa and, the halftime whistle blows…in for another porter and a smoke…
Mini-crisis at chez 8 ball seems to have been adverted for the time being. 7 year old dropped the 8 ball management’s new Ipad shattering the glass and causing much consternation as well as technical issues causing me to miss the last half hour of scruzgooner and entourage’s gallant move toward 300. Nerves seeming to have been calmed I am back online for now, but for how long??????
Re: scruz @216, If that is a representative sampling, I have to say I approve of the man’s musical taste. 😀
Probably Wolfie is the best candidate to appreciate the long distance lurking music @215 but that will have to wait until British morning when I will be on the 21st of my 40 winks. 😉 😉 😉 😉 😉
Whoops, I already spent 5 of those 40 winks. G’night all. 😀
averted it should have been @226. Not looking to put household crises into an advert by any means….
Just 70 more to go. Fresh legs, please!
bt8b@228, pienso que este canson es mas del sabor di la enfermera wolfie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9B3LEqO-cc&feature=youtube_gdata_player
pero, no se si el bebido di tia beecham’s sabor como cola de cerezas. aunque nunca he oígo que despues dos o tres de los, si es la verdad que wolfie’s pelones di tamaños pequeño exceptionalmente esta mas o menos inflado.
pequeños, lo siento.
SCG@233: AW must run the full gamut of emotions over Cesc. He was clearly very special to him. AW found him young, made him a world class player and saw him as the lynchpin of his team. Yet another manager will get him for his prime playing years. RvP’s performances this season must only worsen the pain, giving AW a glimpse of what he might have got from Cesc at his peak.
‘Holic: What a strike for the 200! Absolute screamer out of nowhere.
Trev@221: Good points, all. If we’d lost 3-1 at OT, which would have been a fairer reflection of the game, and put away a couple more chances on Saturday, we’d be actually be fourth on goal difference.
bt8b@231: Ready to come on.
…waiting for a breaking play…
oops, that should have been “a break in play”…
…checking my studs…
…tucking my shirtin and tying up my shorts…
…damn, they’ve lost the electronic number board…
…but just 60 to go, now.
ned, I imagine you are right, at least he is seeing the fruit of his labor with rvp. clearly, at least based on that article, it has sapped him, and probably *is* making him rethink the position he can leave the team in for his successor…whenever he is done.
but besides this summer’s twain, getting rid of clichy, traore, big nick, and denilson, really does mark the end of the experiment of the last few years.
personally, and this might be heresy, I think that though cesc was brilliant, arsenal couldn’t surround him with the level of technically gifted players he really needed for his ideas to be fully expressed…which meant we were so often lacking when put under the cosh.
as such, we might be a better *team* without cesc, more robust and interchangeable this year, with the obvious exception of robin. and, honestly, I believe that chamakh will join park in reducing the pressure on robin after the turn of the year.
and fortunately the games are played on the pitch, not in the papers, or the boardroom!
SCG@242: Those four you mention, Traore and Denilson didn’t develop as hoped, and AW has never been sentimental about shipping out those that don’t. Clichy has had a couple of wobbly seasons and AW had more faith in Gibbs, so he probably wasn’t too perturbed by Clichy heading for Citeh. Big Nick’s case is a bit baffling to me as he was seemingly played so much out of position so maybe there is a back story we don’t know. That all said there is still a conveyor belt of young talent coming out of the Academy.
ned, thank goodness about the conveyor belt. if I were le boss, I would be looking at those players coming on (aneke, adobe, ozkyup) , those here already but still needing polishing (aaron, ox, frimps, and le coq), and those established, and thinking “what a wonderful mix of talent. were I not to sign a new contract, my successor would be in very good shape.”
oh, and I don’t know what is up with nick, either. Tons of talent, when used rightly, questionable attitude when not. an enigma who may (probably not) never play in the red and white again due to the latter.
SCG, my guess is that AW sees his legacy to be the team he has raised winning trophies under him, rather than passing it on to someone else to take the glory.
Tim @ 66: I was at that game! And think I remember that before the game the announcer said “{Ladies & gentlemen today we have the King of Norway visiting and he’s a Gooner!” Whereupon the Norwich supporters started signing “The King of Norway is a wanker!” …am I correct or was that the Manchester United game of the same year? But I don’t remember the Gooner King coming to Highbury more that once..
Don’t start talking about Cesc. I’m in the middle of a drinking session and do NOT want to get emotional :'(
again Ned, you are probably right. makes me wonder, though, what would happen beyond 2014 should we win, say, the milk cup and the CL ( no one laugh!) this year, or maybe even the league next.
sorry, snir…no more mention, then.
well, half a ton for meeee! next up, follow in wind’s example and chip a century…
thanks scruz…
I still haven’t fully gotten over it…
I just hate Barca too much..
Why weren’t they on that Russian plane?
*boilk*
I have just finished a crazy drinking session and the only thing I could think about was how I wanted this week to be over so we could play Fulham.
I love Arsenal.
Nice post Trev @ 221.
Monday already? How did that happen?
Tonight, Matthew, I will be a villain 😉
You lot up already? Blimey, the Arse never sleeps…
No wicked for the rest, CG 🙂
It’s actually Snir that never sleeps.
Sleep is a waste of time 😀
I’m watching Arsenal reruns… Surely a better way to spend the time than sleeping, isn’t it? 🙂
The good stuff about posts like zico @254 is it makes me trawl back and check posts I wouldn’t have checked otherwise.
Great stuff indeed, Trev.
As Ollie mentioned somewhere above, Borussia beat Dortmund at the weekend 😉
It’s going to be very very to beat them, even at home. They defend in numbers and their counter-attack is potent
I hope we don’t slack off
very very tough, of course
Is tagadabarseblog working for you Harsha?
It’s OK now.
It didn’t open when I checked at 3 Ollie. Now it’s fine
Scuz @223 – thanks for posting that interview. Incredibly candid of AW – humble and touching too. The fellow oozes class
Up The Clarsenal!
Scruz @232. Have you beeb lurking in The Quackery? That is Nurse Wolfie’s favourite song when the patient is “under” and we are operating. Well, that and Lou Reed….
Scruz @242 – I agree that, brilliant as he was, we do seem to be a better team without Cesc…. odd but true.
Morning All ,
Busy drinking done last night across the pond . Well done fellas .
Wengerer@120 – Cheers mate .
H2H@150 – Nice stuff Sir , BM waiting for you on the Bar for when you turn up .
Clive @165 – heh 🙂
Holic@200 – Superb finish . The only striker who is getting anywhere close to RVP’s level . 😉
Trev@221 – Usual Great stuff . Couldn’t agree more .
8Ball @228 – Wolfie agrees 🙂 , Scruz @232 Wolfie no speakie the lingo 😉 , and thanks for the interview link .
Just time to say how sh*t were Chelski ? Very .
I’m with Dr Z . Can I be a villain too ? Just for today mind .
Follow in my example eh Scruz 🙂
I’ll assist in the build-up, whoever’s around will take the glory… 😉
Chelsea = The NEW Club in Crisis
Thrashed by us and beaten by the Scouse at Stamford Bridge, if Man Citeh beat them at Stamford Bridge as well, Chelsea are done for the season in my opinion.
The home record in construction by Roman and his gang of russian gangsters looks like its going to be the worst for them in many a year 🙂
And ‘Holic, when will you acknowledge my maiden century!
No longer the bridemaid ;)…
That’s a bit wrong lol.
Stoke City
Unfortunate with a couple of poor decisions on a weekend of poor decisions in general, but the truth is that Stoke are running out of excuses. The Europa League can’t be blamed for their latest defeat – a fifth in six games – and their brand of non-football can’t be excused as a legitimate tactic for establishing a foothold. On Saturday, three years into their promotion to the top-flight, they completed just 118 passes. Evolution has passed them by
truly (from F365)
A question only the stat. experts on here like SG can answer
…
Coouulldd some of our misplaced passes numbers be down to the fact that we have changed our style of play?
We had a possession oriented style , designed to get the wee Catalan Prince on the ball in and around the oppo’s box – so that he could weave his magic from there. This style required lots of sideways, back and forth, small triangles possession passing.
But now we’ve altered our style of play. With high-five head and Artetetaaa etc., in the team, we have a more direct one – broadly based on getting our front 3 the ball as early as possible – in decent positions still – so that they can get at, and behind the opposition and really stretch them. This style demands that our ball-players take more risks, more often with their passing – and consequently they will possibly give the ball away a bit more – especially away from home when the team is being pressed.
So i’m wondering whether stats are able to register a change in style like this. And could maybe reflect that it’s not just a question of pass completion ( any half-decent pro. can knock the ball 5 or 10 metres back or square – and we’ve had one or two of those lately – well, alriight – one then) but difficulty of pass undertaken, too?
Mind you having said all that SG has pointed out that our midfield 3s passing stats match up pretty well with anybody else’s in recent times.
‘Ere, another fine flip-side of this style changing stuff may be that we now have more potential creators all over the park, and so p’raps look a little less predictable than we have done in recent times.
Now i reckon we don’t seem to need the illusive plan B to fall back on late in games (shoving Big Nik plan B on, on the right-wing) because we’re taking more than one plan on to the pitch with us – sort of thing.
Oops, pardon if anyone reads the above and finds it a bit long and long-winded. Sometimes can’t help it with The Arse
Said in rotten impression of Spiderman under duress voice:
*Must-keep-away-from-here-and-all-things-Arsenal-for-a-bit-they-seem-OK-right-now-me-got-much-to-do*
Up, up and away, The Arse!
Trev@221: spot on, my friend!
Snir, I still think Man City will walk it, all I can hope for is that they lose at least one league game along the line.
tabs@267: “how sh*t were Chelski? Very” – couldn’t agree more. I can’t agree with those who thought it was such a good game yesterday, loads of misplaces passes and stupid mistakes all over the park does not make a great game. Entertaining, perhaps, but not great.
Ollie@271: seeing Pubis fuming in the post-match interview on MOTD was very entertaining. Yes, they could have had a penalty right towards the end (but I am not convinced it really should have been) but should definitely not have had one when Pennant threw himself to the ground. And 118 passes for a whole team in a whole game is shockingly bad.
And also, if anyone had a right to moan about the ref it was Wigan. Bloody hell, that “corner” was just a joke.
AL – nice point about the change of style, and isn’t it nice to see? I think most of us had “more direct” on out wish list for this season, and it seems to be happening.
Just imagine when LJW comes back…..
Beer, anyone?
AL, I see where you are coming from and I think we have changed our playing style. We have had to. One trait I have noticed is that we sit back more often than last year. At least away from home.
It’s as Ricey said on the arses after Saturday’s game (Ollie would know), “Get it, give it. If we ain’t got it fight to get it back” .
No more fucking about with the ball, passing only a couple of yards sideways. It’s more enjoyable to watch us play this way IMO
Just finishing up work here. I’ll have a cheeky one Dr C 😉
Darn-it-can’t-quite-keep-away
Hey CG you’re right – this lot, with this style with LJW, nee future Cap’n Jack, thrown into the mix as well is indeed a mouth-watering one
And p’raps a controversial view for some Harsha, but i’ve got to agree, all things considered, i think it’s more enjoyable watching us play this way too
ureds!
Psed Harsha – going on a bit at 272 was my attempt at a considered response to some folk on here clocking then bemoaning the fact that more of our passes than usual were going astray V Norwich on Saturday.
After Fulham this is our fixture list for Dec.
A Wigan Athletic
H Everton
A Manchester City
A Aston Villa
H Wolverhampton W.
H QPR
win 6 of the next 7 (including stuffing those navy blue money grabbing oil drunk who***) and we will definitely be back in it for the League.
COYG
Win the next game ((c) Goonerholic 2009 or something).
I’m not looking beyond that.
I got that, AL
It is understandable that our passes went astray but it’s nothing to be alarmed about.
Although, what worries me more is Gervinho’s finishing. I have heard even when he was about to sign with us that he spurns a lot of clear cut chances on goal. I love what he brings to the team, just that he has to take his chances. His running at defenders is brilliant to watch though 🙂
I remember a certain young winger, M. T Henry, missing a few chances early in his Arsenal career. There’s hope yet…. 🙂
As they used to say about Luther Blisset – better that you’re in the position to miss them then not get there at all (*coughChamakh*)
“then” = “than” 🙁
Aww shucks i ain’t goin nowhere when The Arse chat is this good –
True CG and i just love the way he’s a kind of the reverse mountie – he always gets away from his man ….
hmm *wonders whether that may explain strangeish shape re cranial region, but can’t remember what a Mountie’s helmet (ahem) looks like*
As Harsha pretty much said to be fair
AL@272: A random data point for you:
Against Wolves last season (2-0 away win, mid-November, Cesc playing) 382 successful passes, 118 unsuccessful. 23.6% of passes unsuccessful.
Against Norwich this season (2-1 away win, mid-November, no Cesc obviously) 471 successful passes, 136 unsuccessful. 22.4% of passes unsuccessful.
That said, I think there is something to what you say about the change of style. It takes us back to more the way the Invincibles played, with Pires and Ljungberg breaking fast and getting behind opposing defences wide.
Also, Arteta’s unsuccessful pass numbers are dragged down by his corner taking. Remove those and his unsuccessful ratio against Norwich would drop from 16.8% to 12.3%.
Some many of those at the Norwich game have mentioned that Song and Arteta were sloppier and less dominating than they have been in recent matches. Not that either played badly, just that they were not at the top of their form. Let’s hope that it was just a bit of interrust.
er, So many of those at the Norwich game…
damn you, check spelling as you type…
Lurkers, reveal yourself! 😉
Ned rivalling Snir for stats…..
Wengerer, Scruzgooner, where are you..?
Wind uncharacteristically goes through the middle of the pitch, trying to pick out his team-mates…
Looks around, the barman, the sweeper and tabs are nowhere to be found.
He proceeds carefully against the hordes of relentless germans…
He lifts an high-ball forward, who wants it…?
Great stats Ned – i reckon that settles it. We’re just as accurate as we were but more penetrative than ever (well, than we have been of late – at least) – tries a cheeky back-heel
AL, I have a theory that we’re actually more accurate because we don’t use the full backs as much. Theo and Gervinho get most of the ball on the flanks and they sure are more accurate than Clichy.
And the 20ish% fewer passes this year, over last year, in your stats @ 286, Ned – possibly reflect our more direct approach play this season
AL@294: I’m not sure one game can be considered conclusive proof, but I reckon your general comment is correct.
Wind: A cushioned lay-off to you…
Ain’t that so, re Clichy, SG – flicks it on and gets out of the way
Santos hits 60 yard cross field balls in a way Clichy never did.
Dummies.
Surely someone, somewhere out there
Triple century?
…and it was you, AL. Nice tap-in.
hits him on the arse and …
Hey Ned fair comment re the one game lark – seeing statistical proof of what you think you may have moreorless seen with the naked eye got me a little over-excited
SG – is it true that we use the full-backs less – i assume you mean going forward? If so you’re including 2 packs a day man and Pele’s old side Santos in that? Interesting …
Well in AL, almost undeservingly slipped in there having been a stranger for a few days. Couldn’r resist the cheeky opportunity that presented itself 😉
Afternoon all, some fabulous posts up there including BtM @ #1 (pure pun-tastic poetry), Tim @ #31 (v.v.good) and Trev @ #211 (well played ‘Mr.Arsenal’).
Great result at the weekend (again!). On another day we would have had an easy 4- or 5-1 win.
7th in the league with 3 teams ahead of us on the same points and a chance to qualify for the knockout stages of the CL on Weds night. As BtM would say, ‘The Crisis Continues’….
Talking of Wednesday night, really looking forwrd to the game. For any ‘Holics wishing to share a pre- or post-match beer, I’ll be in the standard watering hole, with the standard pint enoying some well above standard company 🙂
In the meantime, like Dr.z said earlier, I’m a Villain tonight.
Cheers all, drink are on ‘The Lars’. This time on my tab :-0
AL@303: Never forget, ‘lies, damn lies and statistics’…
If anyone in the bar has access to OptaStats, perhaps they could do a longer term analysis for us, especially on the long vs short passes question.
http://www.francefootball.fr/#!/news/2011/11/21/165637_sans-doumbia-slutski-ne-s-en-fait-pas.html
Heh, didn’t know the CSKA Moscow coach was called ‘Slutski’. 😀
Arta noon TS – and unlucky with darting run to the near-post from the blind-side
Oopds, pardon – i see we had 20ish% more passes against Norwich this year than we did against Wolves at the same time last year.
Hmmm surely we’re not dominating possession even bettererererer than we were, and being more penatratititive???
We shall i s’pose – for as Ned sed you prove nothing in one game, and Norwich play good on-the-floor football etc. But you can possibly start to notice patterns emerging
We shall ‘see’ i s’pose
Ollie @#306, perhaps he could apply for the C*ntski role once AVB has been sacked? They appear to be made for eachother, right? 😉
AL @ #307, I firmly believe we are a better TEAM this year that has learnt to close out games and would be a better bet for a cup win than last year’s first XI. We finally have some proper ‘adults’ in the side along with our super-talented youngsters and I think it really shows.
Chaps , Arsene’s full interview with L’equipe .
Completely undeserving of the dramatic headlines from the gutter press . As ever , he is erudite , thought-provoking , modest and entertaining .
Long may we enjoy the benefits of his wisdom .
http://news.arseblog.com/2011/11/wengers-interview-with-lequipe-full-transcript/
Drinks all round .
Have to agree TS – there is undoubtedly more know-how on the pitch than there has been for a while. And that breeds confidence. Even when it got nail-biting and frustrating on Saturday you felt the team kept believing in itself. The players appear to trust one another to do the right thing most of the time. They look like they’re enjoying themselves even when things are tough out there. I can’t imagine them losing confidence in the middle of a game, like we used to only recently.They’ll have off days for sure. But I’m really loving this lot. I’m looking forward to games.I really want to see how far these boys can go – ‘cos at the moment none of us know – and that’s a genuinely exciting prospect. I’m really looking forward to seeing play the best now.
Which brings me to this appeal on behalf of – myself. Sadly i took my eye off the ball re Man Citeh in the Carling Cup. So if anyone gets to hear of a sensibly priced pair, or even a single, i’d be grateful if you’d let me know.
Sorry holic i know i put this up late last night already – but am assuming that many of the fine patrons of this splendid bar never saw that.
pardon – ‘seeing’ them play against the best
Indeed TS309
Not sure I mentioned the thing here tabs, but I did predict the whole bollocks hullabaloo about the AW interview just after I’d listened to a short bit of ‘debate’ on L’Equipe TV on friday night.
Come on Villa I say Bent scores a hat-trick Nananaannnannaaa Harry’s going down, going down Harry’s going down!
And to be fair, i didn’t need to read the interview for that, I only needed to know :
-Arsène Wenger
-journalists
Ta for that tabs
Seems the TEAM is back, et Le Boss is back.
UREDS!
Oops – pardon @ 265 i referred to Scruzggooner as Scuz. I do apologize unreservedly for such an utterly libelous typo. It was in no way intentional. And I offer as my defence the manifold typos/spelling mistakes in just about any posting i’ve ever made in this fine establishment
Yours Marianne faithfully
Add Lustre
AL
I’m just saying… didn’t you notice on Saturday that most if not all of the chances came from one of Theo, RvP, Gervinho or Aaron?
Limited fullback play. I guess it has a lot to do with Theo’s improvement and Gervinho’s directness as opposed to the bullshit Nasri used to do.
I took the 3-0 against Wigan at home last season. That was the most dominant game I remember until WBA two weeks ago.
Passes – 522/596
88% success rate.
Attacking third – 177/220
Long – 9/19
Short – 140/161
Forward – 254/317
Backward – 128/131
Square – 140/148
Crosses 1/23 (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
As for Clichy – 2/5 Long
34/47 Forward
Arsenal – WBA
Passes – 578/651
89% success rate
Attacking third 145/178
Long 11/26
Short 163/186
Forward 294/348
Backward 169/176
Crosses 3/31
Andre Santos 73/81
Long 1/3
41/45 Forward
Ollie and AL, it’s good to agree 🙂
tabs @ #310 – Good link, cheers.
Thank you Statto-Geuli @ #320. Tremendous work!
Ollie @314 , yep , fair comment , hullaballoo easily predictable given the scuzzy red-top reporters , but the huge gulf between what was actually said and how it is reported never ceases to amaze .
AL @318 🙂
Hey TS , didn’t see you there . Drink ?
Fair points @ 319 SG.
Now re 320 – i’m not adept enough at this stats lark to fully appreciate what’s on show. While acknowledging that it’s only one game SG – what is it you can see in those stats, and is it anything like my great-auntie Ivy reading the tea-leaves back in the day?
tabs @ #324 – How could I resist? 🙂
AL @ #325 – You’re the boy on form today, highly amusing (again). However, I’m guessing that your Great Auntie and Mr.G are from entirley different worlds 😉
*entirely* before Ollie tsks…
What can I see from it? That we’re basically a team with the same philosophy.
Some things stats don’t show, and one of them is our reliance on the front four to create chances this season.
I said it before that with Cesc’s departure, much like Ronaldo’s departure at Manure, you can’t get a like for like so you share the burden. They gave more responsibility to Rooney, we gave it to RvP and the wingers.
We no longer try to walk the ball in the net (as much as we used to at least), and we create from the wings as much as from the middle.
Gervinho is a steal, and Theo’s improvement is vital.
Cheers for the BM tabs, gladly downed.
I’m not such a statistic fan, me, we seem to have, for lack of a better word, “Americanised” footy over the last few years, we appear to have stats for literaly everything.
THe important numbers for me are that we score more goals then our opponent and how many points we have in the table, but maybe I’m just old fashioned.
A voddie shot with a Weather’s Original cream liqour chaser for all in the bar.
Cheers H2H, delicious but not necessarily the best prepapration for some exercise this evening 😉
Stats, I think, used intelligently can provide some excellent insight into what’s going on with our team. Too many (away from this bar) seem to use them as either (a) something to hide behind or (b) as a way to justify poor argument… same thing really. Just a personal opinion of course…
“used intelligently”
I told you they were useless to me. 😉
Cheers H2H , voddie shot with a weather’s Original cream liquor chaser sounds interesting . Will give it a go . Hmm , nice !
With you on the stats malarkey . Football will never be a stats led sport (or shouldn’t be) .
I guess they’re an interesting tool in the modern manager’s armoury . That said , if I watch a game and decide that (in my opinion) Player X has had a good game , no amount of “stats” will dissuade me from that view .
That’s the way I see it too tabs.
Point in case, Aaron Ramsey had a briliant game against Chelsea, yet he only scored 2pts on the FFL, a stat orientated game.
OK, maybe not a great argument, but it’s the one I’m sticking with until I can drink some more sense into me. 😉
Snir – Please note that I consider you to use stats intelligently, just in case you were wondering 😉
H2H @ #331 – Heh! 🙂
Another long day, bah.
I’m off now.
Guys, make no mistake about it. I’m with you on stats. Didn’t use them a lot or even took notice of them, mainly because I thought it’s overreacted. Americans record everything, and the stupidest things too, sometimes I think they record the breaths each player takes.
I just look at them to notice certain patterns and TBH I started taking notice of stats because AW does. I mean who am I to disregard stats if the great AW uses them so frequently?
And H2H, I agree re Ramsey! I’m contemplating replacing with either Walcott or Gervinho because of that and the FFL system should be changed.
But when I use stats I don’t use goals and assists only as a way to recognize patterns 🙂
just want to say I was mostly pulling my own plonka due to my inability to understand what stats say, rather than stats per se. Although i do share many of the reservations re stats expressed by others in the bar.
And from what i’ve heard from you SG i know you use stats to back up your theories (as at 328) – rather than the other way round, which seems to me to be the right way round. And as someone else has already said – that can be useful
Come on you Villans!
psed sp@rs have got the leg-breaker in waiting A. (silent ‘h’)Cu*tton in midfield. Are they desperate?
Come on you Villains. 😀
AL, Congrats on 300. You deserved it since ‘holic cheated you out of 200 last night. 😉
Come on Villa, help us out a bit!
I was just going to say that Agbonlahor is getting a brace, but is that a singing bush Ekotto has planted on his head …
What the fuck are Villa up to??? They don’t even seem to be trying ffs…
There’s football tonight?
I wouldn’t watch it and I’m not watching it so there :p
But if Lars is around, it would be rude not to have a drink 😉
By all means Ollie, you know my tab is always open!
Well in AL @ 300, following in ‘Holic stead I see… 😉
Thanks NBN for the cushioned lay-off, but it was someone else’s time to shine. +, I was doing the hustling on the pool circuit on the Tottenham Court Road today 🙂 so I was busy, least I could do was to try and set someone up lol.
Hopefully Sp*rs get smashed 😀
40 minutes played, Villa have created a grand total of fuck all in the way of goal-scoring chances. In a word, they have been shit.
Cheers bt8b – and i just wanna say that it never ever entered my head at any point ever that something underhand occurred at 200 – i’m certain the landlord wouldn’t stoop to that
Ollie i share your distaste at having to possibly watch that lot. I confess though it’s on the radio in another room and i creep into check on any potential sp*rs demise every now and then –
“There’s only one GabrielAgbonlahor – although it sounds like there are more”
UrEDS!
…and then they give away a goal from a cross that they should have defended easily.
Re: Tabs @267 I figured Wolfie was used to an occasional walk on the wild side. 😉
Re: Snir @320 Don’t you need a bit more punctuation in between all those numbers? Just sayin’ 😉
AL, The landlord is a gentleman and a scholar so I am agreed with you 100% on that score. 🙂
Holic
So, we were both in enemy territory in successive decades.
Golders Green back in the 60’s was a Jewish stronghold,i think they owned about 90% of the Real Estate in the Suburb,commercial and private.
Of course it went without saying that it was also a Spuds stronghold.
I worked in the Woolies at the Green,and the manager,asst manager and over half the floor staff were all diehard Spuds.
Having said that,they didn’t object when i came to work regularly in Winter,wearing my Arsenal bobble hat.!!
The Spuds ruled the roost then in North London,so they could afford
to be condescending about having a Gunner in their midst.
As to the Sunday morning soccer league we played in,we originally wanted to call ourselves the Golders Green Psychopaths,but the Commitee wouldn’t allow it,as they said it would frighten the other teams,notably the Hendon Hotshots,the,the Colindale Crusaders,the Burnt Oak Bombers and the Edgeware Eagles.
Frighten them,the fuckers were even more violent than we were.!!
In fact is was so bad,that we took to wearing shinpads,front and back,long before Big Raddy made it fashionable in the 70-71 season.
I don’t think we played a sgl game where both teams finished the game with a full complement of players.
If they weren’t sent off,they were carried off.!!
But for all that,everybody turned up week in week out,it was like a Badge of honour,you couldn’t quit or you would be seen as a Coward.
Having said all that,remarkably,there was no animosity between the teams after the game was over.
They respected each other for getting stuck in and having a go.
I played there for about 4 yrs,even after i left Woolies,and even after i left and played elsewhere,i never again played in a league where i spent more time on my arse than on my feet.!!
Cheers
The Sweeper
Phew 8ball @351 – we nipped any potential conspiracy theory sprouting legs in the budweiser there and then, then
Nip of Budweiser – or anything else old bean?
SG@320: Thanks for the numbers. Another piece of evidence to support the general consensus emerging here.
Various. Nothing wrong with stats used sensibly. But you have to know what you are measuring, how accurately you are measuring it and what the limitations are in what the numbers are telling you. Just don’t get obsessed by stats, and especially don’t get to the point where you only manage what you can measure. In a game of football, only one stat really counts, the final score.
CW@352: What Sunday morning league was that?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Win your ticket for Saturday here…
Oh Hutton plays for villa now does he? Good buy Alex
hey wow- you guys already got past the third century! Got to catch up on the drinks here- hope i don’t get too pasted to take 400…
@ snir- wonderful stats you’ve got there. Yeah, after cesc everyone seems to be taking creative responsibility. Even song’s got 5 assists already! I’ll start hoping for the title if we’re close in january…
and on that note- i’ll bid good night again. Happy drinking y’all. BMBD!!!