There Are More Questions Than Answers
Oct 26th, 2012 by 'holic
A week ago I was enjoying a weekend break in Cornwall. Fine views, fine sunsets, and even finer dining were experienced. Little did we know a trio of plagues were about to descend on all our houses. Norwich away, Schalke at home, and the AGM were sent to remind us you have to pay for your pleasures every now and again.
Ahead of us is the fork in the road that the home game with the bottom club has become. Take the correct turn at the Grove this weekend and we have the opportunity to navigate our way back to the fast lane. Should the unthinkable happen tomorrow we will have fewer points after nine matches than we had last season. A draw would see us equal that title-wrecking introduction.
Warning aired, it is time to take a more positive view of the coming week. Listeners to this week’s Arsecast will know we discussed the prospect of a return for Jack Wilshere against Queens Park Rangers. I said then I doubted he would start but would get a second-half airing. On reflection it must be a possibility he will get the first hour rather than the last half-hour? Seeing his name on the teamsheet would give at least the supporters a big lift.
Also possible I suppose would be a recall for Bacary Sagna on the left side of the back four, should he be deemed ready to return. It would temporarily solve the headache selection facing Le Boss at right-back, where Carl Jenkinson has excelled so far. Although it is unlikely could I also make the near-heretical call for Laurent Koscielny to replace the skipper alongside the BFG? I can be proper controversial after five pints, but how many would strongly disagree with that?
The next question is who should partner Lukas Podolski in the front three? Yes, the LFG is still undroppable but will need to regain the appetite he displayed for the defensive side of his role before Wednesday. The early press conference means we have no news as to the availability of the Ox, who would be on the right hand side if he is fit, surely? If he doesn’t make it Arsene may consider there are worse opponents than Queens Park Rangers for young Serge Gnabry to test himself against. On the Arsecast I said Olivier Giroud should get a run in the side now. At very least he gives us a reasonable chance of holding the ball in attacking ares and getting midfield players forward in support.
So, where to punt the ‘holic pound? You will notice I haven’t mentioned the visitors thus far. That is quite simply because it doesn’t matter who they pick or how they play if the flat-track bully Arsenal turns up. If we come out with the mindset we displayed against Southampton, for example, we will win handsomely. Let them frustrate us and it will be a different story. I have to believe the eleven that wear the cannon tomorrow will be sent out in the frame of mind to put a bad week well and truly behind us. The odds on my fancied 4-0 are skinnier than normal because of the visitors poor form, but a pound investment should still get you about half a gallon of Guinness.
I’m looking forward to meeting up with a number of you tomorrow for pre and post match cocktails and canapes in the usual place. We have guests from across the pond and Singapore as well as the usual places, and given the number of skirt and furry purse wearing picts who will be there I suspect some malt to flow as well.
Now, last question. How do you fancy watching the Champions League game against Montpellier from the luxury of the Gunners Gaming box? Arsenal’s Official Betting Partner are running a fabulous prize draw in which you could win 4 hospitality places in the GunnersGaming Box for the game on November 21st.
For every £10 bet placed up until November 18 one entry will be received for the draw with the winner randomly selected at the end of the qualifying period. What’s more, if you are new to GunnersGaming they will give you up to a free £25 matched bet subject to conditions to start you off.
As usual click on the banner above so they know ‘holic sent you. Thanks.
246 Responses to “There Are More Questions Than Answers”
First!
Second!
Third – the new trophy
“If we come out with the mindset we displayed against Southampton, for example, we will win handsomely. Let them frustrate us and it will be a different story.”
Very true. It would probably not hurt to score first for a change either, we can’t keep allowing the other team to draw first blood in every game.
I was here first – but I was waiting on Lars. 🙂
Worried nobody was there to pay the tab, Dr Z? 😉
Skirts and furry purses, Holic! Double heh.
As ever I am less optimistic than you – I think it’ll be 2-1 to the Gunners, fingers crossed you are correct.
Looking forward to some liquid central heating and good company under the brolly.
@ 6 – precisely!
Learning at the feet of the master, BtM. 😉
Timely suggestion of Sagna at left back tomorrow could be a winner, at least in my co-optable imagination. Wilshere and Koscielny in the starting eleven also are imaginative choices with much appeal for all who need a psychological boost at the moment. Koscielny in particular is one we can’t keep out much longer and Vermaelen is certainly the one who must give way. I hope the Tolly brolly is good for keeping out the raindrops because it sounds like that could be important.
Don’t know where you get your forecast from (or where for 😉 ) but doesn’t look very rainy to me.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2646003
We’re no longer in Kent, you are a century late 😉
Cannot see AW being as inventive as the Guv’nor, I think our starting 11 will be more like:
Don Vito
Cpl Jenks – BFG – Kos – TV5
AOC – Artie – LJW – Gerv
OG – Poldi
Heh @ 10.
Glad to hear it!
zico@5: ok, if you say so… 🙂
I don’t think Sagna will play at left-back, not in his first game of the season. I’m quite sure it will be Santos with a very small outside chance of the Coq being deployed.
Holic – did I hear on the ‘cast that you send bits to Toulouse?
Hello Ollie. Thanks for the weather forecast. In that case the greens should be fast. 🙂
As for being a century late, I admit I normally am guilty as charged, but somebody on here yesterday said rain was likely so I assumed nothing had changed …
4-4-2 bath?
And no Santi?
I thought I was the one who was drinking 😉
Cognac, I can’t tell you that. I would have to kill you…
Great preview mate! Make sure anyone tomorrow of the jambo persuasion is encouraged to re-attend for LWC’s, when I will be bringing someone just dying to make their aquaintance.
Joe the Lion!
@17
Ooops.
4 -4 -1- 1 with Santi for Gerv.
Opens another bottle – must have been off, that last IPA.
@19
My faither was a Jambo. And my daughter-in-law is a Jambo. Does that count?
Excellent preview Holic. Just listened to the Arsecast, and may I also congratulate you on a top-notch performance. I couldn’t disagree with a word you said.
As for tomorrow, I don’t think it’s heretical to think of dropping (or at least shuffling to the left) Vermaelen. I don’t think the Defence should have been disturbed after the largely excellent defensive display up at Eastlands. It was, and we paid for it against Chelsea. Arguably, the Defence has not been the same since.
I must admit I hadn’t given a thought to Sagna playing at LB. Certainly a possibility. Whatever, Andre the Elephant should not play.
With you on the right hand side. If the Ox is not fit, pick Gnabry ahead of Ramsey. Giroud up front would I think be the choice of the majority.
As for Jack, it’s difficult to make that call without knowing how far down the road he is in regard to fitness. My instinct is that your first instinct is the right one. Stick him on the bench, and bring him on for half an hour if things are going either very well or alternatively very badly.
Not a word about Mannone? It won’t happen but I’d give Martinez a go. Do we really have to suffer another 90 minutes of Mannone?
3-1 to the Arse.
PS I wish Arshavin was as good on the pitch as he is on the Arsecast!
yeah, baff, I thought YOUR formation was quite inventive 😉
Esso,
Just ask your friend what he was doing on 19th May. 😉
Methinks the Hibee will be more up for the derby than us, Esso…
Nah, he won’t 😉
Thanks TaBS.
I have a face for radio..
Heh Holic 🙂
@25, I thought Esso was bringing a Jambo. Is there a Hibee as well? My God, it’s an Embra takeover 🙁
24zicoinexile
He was there mate. Travelled over in a fuck-off stretch limo complete wiht bairns etc. Said ’twas a brill day apart ‘from the fucking result’.
Cant wait to introduce the pair of youse.
Kingfisher’s gone, gutted. Have to be up early. Open some Cobra? Stoopid fucking question. Where’s the fucking bottle opener?
I like Kingfisher better than Cobra.
First drink on arriving in Mumbai was a Kingfisher and somehow it was one of the most pleasant beer-moment I’ve ever had.
Kingfisher on draft is better than Cobra. Not sure there is a huge difference between the bottled versions.
Nestling a nice pre-prandial St Peters IPA in my mitt.
Heh @ 29 – brilliant. Another generation traumatised.
LWCs is a non-starter for me though unfortunately – Roxette’s old man has a very special birthday that night.
Another time, hopefully.
Finishing off my training session ‘Holic – not a twinge. 😉
Hughes is probably the worst manager in the history of football. Incompetent, uneducated and arrogant little sod. If Arsene can’t beat that gnome then we are in deeeeep trouble.
One – nil is not enough, we need to destroyed ’em.
Knickers down, Leslie!
On the Laphroaig. This stuff makes you believe in the bible. It is the eighth wonder of the world.
This warm down could last a while 😉
I have just been letting fly at the Arsenal Truth blog where someone who doesn’t go to games or even have a Sky subscription is advising everyone to boycott the matches for he rest of the season. A funny way of being an Arsenal supporter methinks.
I am glad you have steered clear of the AGM.I wrote a very bitter piece for the Online Gooner next week but what matters tomorrow is a morale- restoring win. I don’t want us to go to Old Trafford again in crisis.
I like the idea of switching Sagna. Fatty Santos played about as badly as any Arsenal left back I can remember and Gibbs is sadly missed.this is a position we have always been strong in but Santos is no heir to that tradition. Although Farfan was a very tasty opponent.
I’d like to see Jack start. I don’t like the idea of him coming on if we are trying to chase the game and Giroud needs to know he will make six starts in a row to ease the pressure on him. Ramsey is better from the bench and I also prefer Koscielny although playing Vermaelen in front of the back 4 and freeing Arteta to play a bit more forward might work too. But 3 morale- restoring points is the order of the day. I’m taking my PA. The last game she saw was Spurs at home and thinks we play like that all the time. Where are Theo ,Rosicky and Yossi when you need them?
With so many ‘holics on site the lads must step forward.
Give us a show to be proud of. A fire in the belly, Sagna header against the LWC’s last year, we ain’t gonna take this shit anymore performance. Run, fight, tackle to the final whistle display, leave it all on the field..
Turn this ship hard to the right and get us the three points. Piss on the boys from Le Groan and show the league that this week is now behind us. Statement time.
Nice one Holic, see you tomorrow. Zico will look just fine with the thermal long johns under his skirt. 😉
Tabs – I would go with Martinez, but I got shouted down last time I suggested him – just because he was ineligible !
I was at The Ems for the League Cup game when he played and he was excellent.
Handling was assured and he just carries himself, with confidence, like a proper keeper. I don’t care how old, or young, he is. The defence, like the rest of the team, needs a lift. For that reason I would change the keeper and, like Holic suggested, play Jack from the start, not when we are attempting another Houdini act in the final 15 minutes.
4C degrees on the car when I got home just now.
A return for Willie Warmuz tomorrow in goal maybe ? 😉
NorCal,
We don’t need to piss on the boys from Le Groan, Tabs normally throws his chewing gum at them ! 🙂
Ian Mathers @iancmathers
@esso260589 these Jambo cunts are in serious trouble …. feckin plotless, clueless, classless and skint
Noooooooooooooooooo Esso 😉
Trev,
Well I hope Tabs has properly warmed up his muscles of mastication!
And that he is a professional Gum slinger. 😉
Gum slinger 🙂
From the Pun slinger. 😉
Trev,
Make you right on Martinez.
As regards the gum-throwing, sadly I can’t take the credit. That was another fine Holic who last time I spoke to him wished to remain nameless 🙂
Smacked Pedro right on the back of his neck from fully 15 yards. I was merely there to applaud the very fine aim!
See you tomorrow.
There has been no point to the Hibees since Pat Stanton, Peter Cormack and Alex Cropley left. I.E. 30 odd years of pointlessness.
I remember a nurse who was a gum slinger. Heh.
Understand the Tollie has issued a profits warning for tomorrow…they state this is due to an invasion by Caledonan hordes 😉
Aye we are girding wir loins as you squeak!
God I’m gutted I cant make tomorrow gonna be some fine people in the Tollie. I know one thing, and it is the truth and written in the stars. Mark Hughes will cry tomorrow. Bitter, bitter tears.
Essp, that MF deserves to be utterly humiliated and exposed as the fuckwit he is – I sincerely hope we achieve that tomorrow.
– Essp
+ Esso
Good evening,all.
Nice preview,’Holic. In as much as i’d love to see Sagna at leftback as well as drop the skipper for Koscielny,i can’t see Arsene dropping Santos or the skip talk more of starting Jack,i do think he will start Coquelin and bench Ramsey though,Gervinho might also be dropped if either of Chambo or Theo is fit enough to start,Giroud and Poldi looks like they will definitely start the game. No matter who strolls onto the pitch wearing the canon on their chest tomorrow,i will definitely be cheering for them all the way from Nigeria. COYRRRs.
Evening all. Nice work holic. The title would suggest that we are somewhat clueless at the moment. Perhaps this is just the right time to get things back on track.
There are some interesting thoughts re team selection. I think that if fit AOC starts. I like Tabs do not see LJW starting. He will be on the bench and only get a game if we are coasting. He will make is full return at Reading on Tuesday in my opinion.
Some interesting thoughts re Martinez. I must say, I am with those above that would play him. Why not give him a go. He can not be any worse than Santos at left back, he just has to remember that he can not pick it up out there. It’s a controversial one but I would go with it.
We need to play with a lot more pace tomorrow. Half of the problem against Shalke was the lack of pace. The breaks seemed to just break down as we had no one with the pace to go at or passed defenders. For that reason I would not be at all surprised to see young Gnarby get more of a run out. Or perhaps Andre could just play in his car if we want pace from him???
Tolly brolly here I come.
Keep the faith.
Hey Cent. Think you are right there. AW is a tad conservative. Hope all is well with you.
Heh Steve T. Interesting LB option – hadn’t considered that one.
Hey Holic, Oh those pesky questions, eh. What’s been holding Poldi back, lately? Why are subs brought on way too late? If we start Gnarby (who I believe is a real talent), we must be prepared for his defensive failings. Jacks’s thighs deserve a start 🙂 Kos and Sagna need to get the opportunity to remind us why we were in love with them last season. To be brutally honest, I’d feel more confident if we were up against Citah. 🙁
Great post ‘holic and the match is more interesting that we actually have more than 12 legitimate players for the starting 11 at last.
Let’s give Gnabry a start in place of Ramsey if we can, I’d be thrilled to see what he can bring in 60 or 90 minutes and I haven’t seen a less cohesive opponent that QPR this season in the games I’ve watched. They’re not so much awful but just dreadfully disjointed…whatever the opposite adjective to fluid is would best describe them.
Then again the result is going to be far more important than the performance this weekend, so however we get it will need to do. I’d sooner a scrappy 2-1 if it builds belief than a 5-0 and then we get complacent again in a week. You’re right about a ‘fork in the road match’ (In October no less)…If we somehow fail to grab all the points I’m going into media lockdown for at least a fortnight.
COYR
Hello abb,
Good to see you. The warring Caledonian factions will hopefully calm down now 😉
When have there (n)ever been Caledonian factions?
FFS we invented schism.
No we didn’t 😉
Hey bath,all is well,mate,thanks for asking,i will be off to a three week camp in ten days time so i’ve been quite occupied with preparations of late.
Hi Holic and company. You know Holic, your appearances on Arseblog, do count as interviews. He does pick your brain 🙂
Camping in Nigeria? With the army?
@61
Did we no?
Wha did then?
Baff, read 60 and 61 again, and think. 😉
Lost.
No le comprendo.
Too much very nice Primitivo.
It is not being heretical when you are right, ‘Holic. The BfG and Kos are the best defensive pairing to be got out of our three first-choice centre backs. Then BfG and TV5, then TV5 and Kos.
Bath, Zico: there has been factionalism since the first primordial cell split. Even the Picts haven’t been around that long.
Heh Ned, true – it’s a human trait.
Right -time for some rapid eye movement.
Off to dream of financial fear ploy or summat…..
See you revolutionaries tomorrow, to swally under the brolly…..
Night, dr z.
@bath we are required to do a one year mandatory service to our country after graduation from Uni(preferably immediately after graduation),during this period graduates are sent to work-in as well as learn the cultures-of other tribes/ethnics and parts of the country they’ve never been to and possibly won’t have visited in normal circumstances,90 percent of the time they are sent to teach in primary and secondary schools(depending on individual abilities). The aim of the three weeks camp is to get them in top physical and mental state for the challenges ahead. The army is involved but not quite in the way you may have thought,their job in these camps is to lead in the physical training,maintain law and order and perform other security duties. I hope my little explanation gives you a bit of a picture of the whole thing. I think you find more info if you google N.Y.S.C.
I wondered cos there was another Nigerian who posted on the arses a year ago who had to go up country – I guess it was something similar. Enjoy it – it sounds like a unique opportunity before you settle down to the ‘daily grind’.
Having read in the past week, all the differing points of view about the Arse and their perfomances against Norwich and Schalke,and how we were playing ‘ so well ‘ before the Intl break,i find myself somewhat bemused.
To my mind,being brutally frank,i don’t think we have risen above
‘mediocrity ‘ all season,with one exception.
The league table doesn’t lie,and we are in mid table because on form shown so far,it is where we deserve to be.
I have done a game by game analysis since the season kicked off and have given my report card below.
Sunderland/Stoke,mediocrity at it’s finest.
Liverpool,got away with it after a less than convincing performance and 2 counter attacking strikes against the run of play.
Southampton,doesn’t count,as it was only shooting practise.
Montpellier,mediocre,and got away with it.
City,best and only ‘ quality’ performance so far.
Chelsea,mediocre,and lacking in belief.
Olympiakos,mediocre and again,as with Montpellier,got away with it.
West Ham,contrary to popular belief,i again thought we were average and the game could have gone either way at 1-1,until Walcott came on late and broke the deadlock.
Norwich,diabolical,
Schalke,mediocre at best,and if Schalke had brought their shooting boots, they could have scored 5.!!
So for me,only one top notch performance in 11 games so far this season.
This is nowhere near Title winning form,or even top 4 form.
To me it is painfully obvious that we are still lacking the quality/game changing players that lift the collective team to great heights.
Whether that will change when JW returns to the fold,is yet to be determined,but if i gave you my frank appraisal of the very few current players,that would survive my ‘ Cull ‘ if i was in AW’s expensive shoes,you would hear the screams for many a long mile.
cheers
The Sweeper.
Thanks,mate,it really is a unique opportunity,obviously it has merits and de-merits-just like every other adventure- i’m looking forward to it and will do my best to enjoy it. Thanks again for your concern and goodnight.
Clive,you make valid points,worth thinking about,i’m sure the usual suspects will have a thing or two to contribute to your observations by tomorrow,i’m already feeling sleepy so it’s goodnight from me.
Clive. I feared we were in danger of losing it at West Ham too and felt we were lucky to come out it as well as we did. Liverpool could have been a bit better but the opposition may have just been that much worse. 🙁
Clive @75 I cannot, in all conscience, disagree. Fair points, well made. This season feels like its going to be problematic.
Clive knows.
Be the best you can be.
Are we? Are we the best we can be?
Never be afraid to.ask the question. It does not make you disloyal or any less of a fan.
Until Lunchtime dear holics.
Clive – I think..in clear conscience you’re very close to the mark. Getting used to the idea that we’re not playing like a top 4 team isn’t proving easy. The table never lies after about a dozen games.
I guess the big question is this: Allowing for our level of injuries and form ups and downs is this team a top 4 ‘looking’ team at it’s best? Being realistic by top 4 I fear I might mean 4th, we’ll have to pick up far more points than we have so far against the bottom half of the table clubs to think about being any higher than that.
I think our defending can reduce our goals against by perhaps 12-15 from last year – current pace 29 GA *(amazing), last season that horrific 49.
If that happens I think top 4 (4th) remains very possible. The last 4 seasons it has required 69,68,70,72 points to get 4th, I think it might be at the high end of that this season as more teams near the top will beat one another. Let’s say 72 points.
We have 12 points from 8, we would need 60 from our remaining 30 matches. Thus something like this is needed and be honest I think we will lose 4-6 more league games.
P W D L
30 17 8 5
That would give us 59 more points, 71 for the season and 4th place.
The difference between us winning 17 or 12 (of the 25 we won’t lose) will of course be us finding enough goals. Over the six years we tend to avoid draws more than most top 6 clubs. Hence Giroud has to play every week from now until at least early December to see if he is in fact part of the solution. I think he is as we desperately need a striker to hold up the ball and allow others to take part – I think also with the improved crossing from Gibbs, Jenkinson/Sagna and Podolski we can play to a target man. Cazorla has to have the freedom be very high up the pitch getting his scraps which I think (hope) the return of Jack will allow us to do.
I like numbers a bit too much, but as you can see we’ll know if we even have the potential to ‘look’ like a 4th place side after another 5 games or so. Anything less than 10 points from the next 5 and it isn’t going to be very likely at all.
Our next 5 includes Man U (a) and the Spuds (h), plus QPR (h) Fulham (h) and Villa (a). We need 3 wins and a draw from those 5. Very possible especially if we should manage a point at Old Trafford.
I feel better now, I can sleep at last but fucking hell 3 points are 100% vital this weekend.
Nice post and Arsecast Holic. I would dearly like to see JW start. That would put him in the running for the Manure game. Gnabry looks to be quite a prospect and if he doesn’t start (likely if either AOC or Walcott fit), then he should have the opportunity to contribute at least 30 minutes at the end of the game.
I’m of the opinion that Gervinho and Podolski don’t work together. The structured German mind can’t come to terms with the “even I don’t know what I’m going to do next” approach adopted by Gerv. Podolski’s frustration showed through several times on Wednesday. As soon as they’re in the same part of the pitch confusion reigns. That situation is worsened if Gibbs is not available to provide pace and extra width on the left.
Gnabry, Giroud and Gervinho up front for me today. Give Lukas a week off before the Old Trafford game. Walcott, Giroud and Podolski up in Manchester. Settle on Giroud for the next 10 games and work hard to provide the service provided to the fellow who played up front last season from Walcott and Gervinho – with Wilshere and Santi taking on the service provision duties that Song handled so well prior to his sojourn to the sun.
So basically what you are saying sweeper is we were lucky to win the games that we did and derserved whatever other results (losses/draws). I cant disagree more with you and i think it is too early in the season to be banding the table doesnt lie mantra. Plenty of seasons before last we did quite well in the early games but we all know how it ended. I cant really comment much on the understudy keepers (shea and martinez) as i havent watched them play but i would feel much better if chezzer was back
Clive @ 75, very fair and honest view, strange not a lot of fans see and say the same, truth always hurt I suppose. but I agree with you wholeheartedly. Anyone dare to imagine what would happen IF Arsenal lose against QPR tomorrow ? In my darkest dream I’ve already accepted the worst, somehow with Park, of QPR, in the opposite side just make me feel very uneasy.
Morning
Morning all,
It looks pretty perky out there…
Morning all. Just getting ready for training. I have just taken a look outside and it would appear that the weather has been drafted in to welcome our friends from north of the border. There is a thick frost out here in the sticks. I have just ventured outside and it is so cold that a penguin has just bitten me on the arse.
Wrap up warm boys and girls. It is not ambre solaire weather after all.
Three points absolutely vital today. Just to get that feeling back! Come on Arsenal
To those of you who will be there to witness it, enjoy the day out holics!
Well I picked the wrong night to pitch a tent outside the Tollie. Brass monkeys!
Clive, I’ll go along with some of that, but thought you were too harsh. We were much the better side up at Liverpool, and whilst things were far from perfect at West Ham, we played some good stuff and deserved to win against a side who have been pretty good at home this season. Nor would I discount the Soton game in the way that you do. You an only beat what’s in front of you, and as last week showed, there are no easy games.
The unifying theme is that we are not as good as the incautiously optimistic felt we were a month ago and that we need a bit more from several players if this squad is going to match the standard that we have come to expect – winning that ‘third trophy’.
Got to take three points today. Go win, Arsenal.
tabs: “Well I picked the wrong night to pitch a tent”
Now you’re going to get Wolfie all worked up…
🙂
Morning ‘holics. nippy this morning eh?
Oh wait, the sun’s come out! *limbers up before the brolly jollies*
I dreamt that (a) The Tollington was seving free beer, (b) Arsenal signed Falcao and (c) Mark Hughes was a cunt.
Who says dreams don’t cone true?
Feckin apple
serving, come 😳
The bright sunkight in the West is deceptive. Brass monkeys queueing for reconstructive surgery here.
Morning Holics
It could get ugly this afternoon, QPR will be looking for blood.
I’m not for giving LJW a start but we need to do something different. I would give our little Russian a start in the CMF and would put Cathorla wide right with Giroud leading the line. If Poldi is injured give him a rest. We need him next week and play the Ox on the left, at least he can cross a ball and Giroud might get his head on something.
As for our shaky defence, Sagna could get a start, sad for the Corporal and Kos could come in with TV5 moving to LB. Sounds rather drastic and I haven’t thought what to do with Rambo!
I think we all need to go well fortified, not only against the cold but another disaster could well be on the cards. I sincerely hope not but there seems to be a total lack of confidence at the Club and amongst the fans.We need to be in good voice this afternoon, the team needs all the help it can get.
Just off to catch the train.
As always COYRs
Clive at 75 – Good post. I was thinking about players who should stay and who should go and came to the conclusion that, sadly, the manager seems likely to get rid of completely or drop most, if not all, of the players I would keep.
He’s already got rid of 2/3 of the trio who produced the vast majority of our goals and assists last year with Theo to go next, which when you think about it is almost career suicide for a manager who places so much emphasis on making and taking goals, especially when you look at the replacements. If you’d said to any straight thinking Gooner last season that RvP would be gone in a year and replaced by Gervinho at centre forward, they’d have had you carted away. Because Wenger does it, it is genius rather than the action of someone who doesn’t know what the hell he is doing.
If you add the sneaking suspicion that two of our best performers in defence this season would not be in the manager’s strongest side, there’s plenty to worry about. I wouldn’t normally have too many complaints about Sagna playing, but Jenkinson has done nothing wrong and should stay in the team. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see BFG dropped again, perhaps even today, to ease Koscielny back against “easy” opposition.
Whatever happens selection-wise we are doomed up front because of injury and stubbornness. If we carry on playing Podolski, Gervinho and Giroud together, or Ramsey with Gervinho central in place of Giroud, we’ve had it. He should go with AOC and Walcott wide and one of the three names mentioned central, but it looks like Walcott is out of the frame permanently, fit or not, and we’re going to be stuck with Ramsey or Gervinho in the side for the duration. Maddening.
Last post was great stuff from the author and some truly great comments and debate from ts tabs zico tim nowhere does it better I’m hoping like us all we can get back on track today,hope all u holics have a great day under the brolly.
Last post was great stuff from the author and some truly great comments and debate from ts tabs zico tim nowhere does it better I’m hoping like us all we can get back on track today,hope all u holics have a great day under the brolly.Coyr!
Oops sorry!
5 30am.
Jack’s back.
Jack Frost, that is.
It is colder than a witch’s tit in The Kingdom and very few things would normally get me out from under the tog 16 at this time on a weekend. Jack has been spraying all the cars with his malevolent white graffiti and Roxette will no doubt be paralysed later with no Feelgood around to scrape the windscreen. But the Arsenal are calling and a ticket with my name on it awaits at The Grove.
Taxi, train, boarding card, coffee, iPod, seat 4a. All negotiated safely.
Before I know it, I am on my way to Cockfosters, (wherever or whatever that is, a home for orphaned, unwanted penises perhaps?). The Picadilly Line train is full by the time we get to Hounslow West, with a mass of giggling tourists, slinging their Nikon’s around the carriage with reckless abandon. It’s going to be a wearisome train journey, so I plug in some choonz on the zPod and head off to Yogi’s for a read to pass the time.
I would normally be bullish about events awaiting this afternoon, but recent “performances” means I am less so and the match has taken on critical importance, with everyone uncertain of the demeanour or make up of the Arsenal we will see this afternoon. The side need to go for the jugular from the 1st minute. We need to take the game by the scruff of the neck, bull by the horns, all that stuff. Score first, score early, score lots. We dare not concede first.
Hughes will set up his team today to frustrate us. They will defend deep and look to continually break up the game with niggly fouls to prevent us building tempo and momentum. They have Hoillet who has the speed and game skills to hurt us on the break. And from set pieces in particular, they have the limited Zamora, who despite those limitations, hurts us more often than he should. And the boy Tarabt looks half-decent from my admittedly brief glimpses of him.
But that said, it is all about what we do today. We need to find the sparkle we had at the Etihad and the same sense of purpose. We need two good results before the trip to Man Utd next week. Any slip up today and Ferguson will have the scent of B negative in his florid nostrils.
Come on Arsenal, get in about them, remind them why they are bottom of the heap.
Another defeat for Hughes is a victory for all that is right and just.
And as Yogi said The world will look better after a win.
Have a good day everyone, I shall certainly try my best to enjoy it – starting with buggering off to the pub!
Enjoy your day you Tollie Warriors.
Good morning,all.
It’s quite a sunny day in my part of the world,i’ve just requested for permission to leave work by 2:30pm so as to be able to catch the game live,i hope the boys in red make it worthwhile for me. Com on you Gooners.
Zico (from previous drinks)
I think Skunky would have left the UK, all the rumours here in the Land of Low pointed in that direction. According to “reports” from some “ITK” he was quiet excited about the prospect about going to the Old Lady, it was a massive surprise when he joined the club to be teamates with the Old Lady Shagger, no-one over here saw that comin, I really think he did that in the end to save face.
The problem was his wage demands, he wanted to join Juve, they wanted him, he wanted a kings ransom leaving nothing over in the Italians warchest for a transfer fee. They offered Arsenal a few mill, Arsenal refused, deal off. Now he’s stuck, what does he do?
He/his agents had played their hand, a massive come get me for loads of lolly, yet no-one came. Barca couldn’t afford him, Real didn’t want him, Citeh decided they didn’t need him, ooops, looks like that little plan backfired leaving Skunky in no mans land. He’s never been the kind of guy to back down, so he was pretty much up shit creak until his knight showed up to rescue him.
SAF probably thought he could swoop in and pick him up on the cheap (last year contract, no other offers) but once again Arsenal stood firm, remember him blubbing to the press that nasty ol Arsenal were making it “difficult”. The rest, as they say, is history.
If we go back to when the whole sordid affair began, Cuntsie claimed that he wanted to join a club that could win stuff, surely he couldn’t of been thinking of Manure? They were a club in decline, they won bugger all last term, they weren’t the top team in the land anymore, hell, they weren’t even the top team in their city and were out of the FA cup and CL before we were. No, no, no, you can’t tell me the little basterd inside of him wanted to go there, it’s just in the end he had no choice. If it wasn’t for him this season they’d be struggling to be mediocre. That’s my theory anyway.
102 Zico …..thanks for the Caledonian weather 😉
Phone call Roxette / Zico (on his way to the Tollie)…..”windows frozen, what shall I do??” Zico / Roxette..”oh..pour hot water over it”…gets back to the Guinness tasting.
5 mins later phone call Roxette / Zico…”I did what you said, the lap top is completely buggered now”.
I’m really nervous about today.
As ‘Holic says, we’ve got it all to win this game. But there are so much pressure today, we can’t drop a single point, it will be in front of a itchy home support, we played just a few days ago and don’t have the players to rotate that much at the moment, Jack’s a bit early, so perhaps is Sagna, so if either or both of them play, chances are they will be just as jaded after 50 minutes as the rest of the players. So much can go wrong today.
So there it is. Typically Arsenal. The fear of losing right now weighs heavier for me than the chance of winning. Which is never a good mindset to walk into a game with.
I’m just so happy I won’t be on that pitch today.
Having that said, looking forward to the game. After all, it’s the Arsenal, the weather is nice, just got myself loads of Octoberfest ales and a couple of Innis&Gunns. Bring it on!
Arsenal: Mannone, Sagna, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Santos, Arteta, Wilshere, Ramsey, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud
Subs: Martinez, Koscielny, Jenkinson, Coquelin, Walcott, Arshavin, Gervinho
The return of Jack.
Personally I hope the boss airs on the side of caution, but I’m more worried about the fans reactions.
Once again, a player that has been out has gained legendary status, the longer that he was out the better he seems to have gotten in the eyes of many.
Don’t get me wrong, I certainly think he has the potential and we’ve seen flashes of what he can do, I’m just scared that many will be expecting him to come in and be some kind of miracle worker, the expectations are sky high.
We’ve been here before, remember Ramsey’s return? He was going the be our ace in the hole too, hasn’t quite panned out that way has it?
I just hope that the masses don’t get carried away or turn on him if he doesn’t match their (unrealistic) expectations.(Ramsey springs to mind again)
He’s a young man comming back from over a year out, let’s not heap too much pressure on him.
Well, he’s in, good luck to him.
Giroud up front, nice.
Sagna’s back, shame for Jenks. Santos better play well or he’ll be yanked out (hopefully)
The bench looks a lot better then it has lately too.
Wilshere is just on a different level than most other players. He really is. Sometimes I start questioning that myself, then I just think back on that Barcelona game. He was immense. He is one of the best talents we’ve had for ages.
I have huge expectations on him. I believe he can handle that pressure.
But – I don’t expect him to do it all straight away. I think he will show a few glimpses today. I believe this season he will have few brilliant games and a few bad ones. I do NOT expect him to save our season. I expect him to continue to develop in a way that will make him the best player in the English national team in five years. That I expect of him. But it will take time and I’m in no hurry. If we need a world class player whilst waiting for Jack to realise his full potential it’s up to the club to bring that player in.
That I expect from them.
Blimey…I expected Sagna to start, but not Jack.
It seems the boss knows how we’re feeling….
Be interesting to see the formation, at first glance it looks like a 4-4-2, but it’ll most likely be a 4-5-1 leaning towards 4-3-3.
COME ON YOU RIP ROARING, GOAL SCORING SOOOOOOOPER GOOOOOOOONERS!
The season starts here lads. Pull your fingers out and let’s do this.
N7. Good man. 🙂
N7 Gooner, that’s what I needed to hear. Have a drink.
Massive cheer for LJW.
Morning all. Lets go boys. Screw the queens.
Wright Phillips is a little toss pot.
We’ve shown more in tent in the first 15 minsw then in the last two games.
COYRRR’s
That’s the way Jack.their keeper looks shakey.
Better. Lets up the tempo another notch.
Come on Arsenal keep going heads up!
Why do we only play with tempo for 20 minutes.
QPR fane Ole-ing. twats.
Good start but again we seem to let them have too much space and time.
Come ob Arsenal!
Once again started brightly but faded, we looked solid enough in the midfield, but once again we’re coming up short up front.
We really need to shoot more (I know, same ol’ same ol’) because their keeper looks really shakey.
Come on. Crowd is asleep. Team is at a walking pace. No tempo after 20 minutes. Come on!!!!
Come on Arsenal…QPR are so ordinary….
There were at least some flickers between 30-40 minutes….I think?
Their GK is going to keep spilling the ball..so keep shooting for fecks sake
Get someone coming into the box as Jack drives wide for the ground cross, there’s a goal to be had in that maneovure.
One day, Arsene will come at the same conclusion as me 🙂 That Goldi Poldi has to be played up front.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS>
Do the players get fined if the shoot from outside the box?
Great jack stepped on.
And that’s a card any day
Now he gets the card
Walcott for Ramsey please. Need some pace somewhere!
Game is getting too messy we have much more class than this!
No width on the left. Santos and Poldi both cut inside every time.
Walcott needs to come in for ramsey, gerv for giroud and we have a match
Fo fuck sake come on!
Ohh dear! Cazorla
And that’s the difference between 3 and 1 point. Cuss word.
Ohhh fuck me we had to walk it in..
Come on Arsenal!
ARTETAAAAAA!
Get in!
People actually in the box! Giroud Arteta Ramsey. Finally!
Gosh, was begining to wonder whats its gonna take to have one go in!
Now see this out. Good three points.
My word ramsey!!!!
Good to see fresh legs on today
Thank you. Arteta. You beautiful man.
What the hell are they doing!
Oh vito….we owe you one
Arteta for Captain please….
Close to heart attack here to be honest I don’t like those sort of ends to a game!
But a win is a win! Glad we got over that hurdle perhaps it’s a sign that we are on the up from now on!
Great to see Jack and Sagna back in the team, both played extremely well and looking forward to next game now!
What a relief!
Right away I got the feeling that the goal wouldn’t stand. Must have been offside.
I’m not one to complain now though.
Brilliant 3 points. As I said earlier, was more afraid of losing than looking forward to winning, a feeling I believe some of the players went into the game with as well, so getting that goal and the three points is enough for me today. Next game, hopefully, we can turn on the style.
Hope Gerv isn’t too badly injured. He hasn’t set the world on fire for a few games, but we need every player this season.
The football Gods have finally listened to us!
57 more points…
Hopefully that will give them some belief today. Clean sheet will do us wonders and Mannone earned a stripe in added time.
Only their keeper came it respectable in the last 20 minutes, we have to stick with Giroud now.
A win finally. Postive side was the longtime absentees making a promising comeback. The team looked more purposeful although it was a struggle to get the three points. You’d think it didn’t have to be. Looks like all goal keepers have a secret pact to keep out whatever Giroud tries to put in. That header should have gone in, at least Arteta did score from that. So, phew. Hopefully the next matches will see the more fluent side of the team.
that was nervy at the end and I have to say we are a little bit fortunate with the result, defensively we still look poor. Arteta’s goal was offside and Granero should’ve scored. having said that, we got important 3 points but things have to improve rapidly.
Arteta was offsides. But screw it. We needed a break in our way.
Still wish we would take a shot from outside the box. Teams drop off our midfielders until the top of the box. Ramsey took one and almost scored. He had probably 3 other chances to just let it fly but didn’t. Part of it is probably due to confidence. Wilshire also had one that Cesar spilled out front. We need to do that more!
Giroud isn’t Van Persie. That’s just the way he is. He isn’t as good. Plain and simple. But he did enough for me today, with a team not playing at their best. I really want him to start the next game as well, preferably with some more pace on the pitch out wide. I feel we will start the next game with Podi – Giroud – Walcott and I belive that might work really well, especially since we have Sagna back behind Walcott, they really did find a special relationship earlier. Not knocking Jenkinson at all, but Sagna and Walcott has had quite a few nice performances together. Just get Gibbs back behind Podi as well and we are good to go.
After all the moaning and groaning….we’re in 4th!! 🙂
1 Chelsea 22
2 Man United 18
3 Man City 18
4 Arsenal 15
I agree NorCal, but it seems like Wenger prohibits everyone but Arteta, Santi & Poldi to shoot from Range, must be so we retain possession..
@161 ‘defensively we still look poor’
I disagree, when Gibbs is in we look better than last year and we’ve the 2nd best goals against in the league even with our 3rd choice GK. Yes we have heart stopping moments, but we look better at the back than City, United or perhaps even Chelsea from all the games I’ve seen thus far. Plus that was Sagna’s first game. Surely the glass is half full?
I’m convinced that Gervinho wouldn`t be able to provide that cross that lead to our goal. It`s time we gave Arshavin back his place in the team.
Shots on my tab for each of the ‘holics who called the QPR goalkeeper shaky, because, erm, you need it 🙂
Have a good weekend holics.
@MIT…fair point…and Gerv would have sliced that shot wide just like Arshavin did too.
If Arshavin is keen and can perform like that I’d love to see him back, but he needs to do it more than once.
Felt a bit low lately when thinking about the team, but I agree with you Tim, glass half full. Give Sir S another year of experience in goal, keep the fight between Kos, Verm and Mert, have Jenks and Sagna to duke it out on the right, Gibbs looks better and better, and Santos is, if not an able back up, at least a character and has some merit going forwards. Perhaps another left back could be in order, feels like it is the weak point in our deference and you should always look to improve, but overall, I’m quite happy with what we’ve got. Again, for me, it all depends on the entire team helping out when defending and also, giving the back four + goal keeper some time to gel. We have done quite a lot of switching around in the 14 or so games we’ve played this season.
Glass half full when it comes to the defence.
Toby,
agree my friend. Giroud did enough for me. Held the ball up made a contribution. Arshavin played well off the bench and even tracked back and defended. Walcott made a difference too. We need at least one player with speed on the pitch at all times. Lets not waste the momentum now. We got lucky today but we also pressed for the lead and made our on luck. Caesar kept them in the game. And Vito made the stop when absolutely needed.
Arsenal is the game of the day on Sky at 8.25 and, as I was out for the game, I need to know if it will be worth watching! Anybody…?
Toby @ 163 — Agreed. It was worth noting that the only two times there were quality crosses in the box Giroud did enough to win the first ball to create chances. Cazorla should have scored.
Giroud also helped the defense a lot, won challenges and possessions in the center and with more fluidity and quality up front would definitely create and score more. Poldi is evidently carrying something.
Very tentative performance from the tam. Jack’s was a nice confidence boosting 60 odd minutes.
Ramsey really works hard, and once moved inside his game opened up a bit. A little bit more pace and accuracy in his passing and he can rotate in the center.
Hope Gerv’s injury is not bad and he is available as an option — if from the bench — for the Man U game.
Finally, Arshavin in these cameo appearances looking a lot more fit and energetic, even tracking back to help the defense etc. I would still like to see him more often. In terms of pure abilities with the ball in the final third, we still don’t have anyone other than Cazorla in his class.
Nonny 171, nothing spectacular, but wilshere starting will make it worth your while
Santos is our weak link and they attacked down our left all game. I can’t even think of a QPR attack on the other side. Santos played better today but still is a liability. He also likes to come into the middle with the ball and thus compresses our attack on the left. Poldi plays better when Gibbs was outside of him.
And when he goes off, Dreamy Feo comes on… cheers KC.
Thats wen things get interesting nonny, qeens go a man less, we get a ‘debatable goal’ and we suffer scares like you wouldnt believe! Cheers lad.
Well said Kenyanconnection, well said.
Right, I’m off to the local version of Oktoberfest. Wish me well, I’ll get quite pissed I believe.
Not convincing by any means but a win is a win and three points we badly needed. Hopefully this will improve confidence and form going forward. Yes we were lucky in the end but sometimes you certainly do need a bit of luck!
Hope this is not just papering over the cracks….3 more points is just what the doctor ordered
The result was always the main thing today. But for their keeper that could have been a lot more straight forward.
Still a lot to address. We look blunt and it’s not entirely clear where the goals are going to come from.
Defence definitely far better than last year. We have the odd scare but the goals conceded column tells a story. Good to see Sagna back, hope Gibbs will follow shortly.
I sense another rollercoaster ride to a top four spot. I would love to know what has caused the massive collective dip in form and confidence that began a week ago. It can’t just be the interlull, surely?
Pedestrian performance, but points. Grinding out wins like that after a couple of defeats is what starts to rebuild self-belief. Encouraging to have Jack back. So much harder for opposing defences to shut down two playmakers than it is one. Sagna showed the difference between having one of, if not the best right back in the league in the team, and having one who is good but still learning. Giroud and Ramsey put in shifts that win games like this. Painting either of them as mere workhorses underestimates the quality as well as the value of what they do. And full marks to Don Vito for his block of Mackie near the end, especially as he hadn’t had much to do all game. Julio Cesar at the other end showed a couple of times why he was once among the best keepers in the world.
Man shitty for all their money and “talent” are not very good right now.
CG@179: I don’t think we are papering over the cracks. Our game is founded on the four Ps — pace, passing, penetration and pressing. They all require a certain intensity of performance. When that is missing, the play looks pedestrian (if I am not exceeding my quota of Ps). Great players, and teams, sustain that intensity consistently, and irrespective of the quality of the opposition. It is arguably the characteristic that marks them out from the merely very good. Call it will to win, mental strength, what you will. But it has been absent from Arsenal teams over the past few seasons for whatever reason. You see it for a while. Then it fades. Then it recovers. Both within games and over the season.
NorCal@182: two words. James Milner.
Did anyone else notice that once Jack went off Arteta acted like he thought “Fuck this playing as a holding midfielder all day, I want a piece of the action up the other end”. He was immense the last 20 minutes.
Wenger says Gervingo’s injury doesn’t look good (ankle) and we’ll know more in the next 24 hours 🙁 Jack and Bac both had terrific performances (though I feared QPR meant to cut short Jack’s career, more then once with their sloppy tackles). Vito kept us in the game on more than one occasion, impressed he has the inner strength to overcome any insecurities, he may be harboring. As for their goalie, Julio Cesar, I was pained to see him so shaky in the first half. You have to understand, he use to be one of the very best. Always admired him. In the second half we were given a taste of the keeper he once was. Wish him the best.
Tim@185: After Jack went off, Ramsey moved into the middle and played deeper, so he and Arteta could cover each other when the other went forward, as Song and Arteta did last season. I don’t think Arteta was doing a TV5, just charging forward regardless.
@NBN
Appreciate that, didn’t think he was being reckless….more that his spirit was in evidence which was great to see. I genuinely think he misses being a bigger part of the attack, shows his class by performing to his task. Speaking of Song, each week without him reminds me of how little we miss his predictable antics.
The change also resulted in Ramsey looking more useful in the middle, as you’d expect.
In the first half Wilshere had 33 passes and all successful!
Jack is back.
Too close for comfort that.
Arteta was offside, but who gives a fuck, we deserve a bit of luck. Not sure what happened to their keeper at HT but he was a completly different bloke in the second half.
What was MBia thinking? stoopid red card and if QPR were managed by anyone else then I might (but probably wouldn’t) have felt sorry for them. But, as I said on the previous drinks, anything that makes Sparky blubb is good.
I hope the lads can take this bit of luck and use it to go on a good run, but there’s still a hell of a lot of work to do.
Drinks on the bar for those who are so included, enjoy your evening.
included = inclined
Good evening,all.
What a heart wrenching game that was,it looked exactly like Swansea at home last season. Jack’s touches looked sharp and he linked up well with Santi,he just has to get up to the pace of the game now,i say we give him an hour against reading on wednesday and then start him at United. Santos certainly played better than he did against Schalke,Vermaelen raised his game a notch too,was Sagna even out before? He didn’t put a foot out of place and helped out in attack well,Ramsey raised his game too,Giroud caused Qpr problems all day long,Andrey Arshavin made effort to help in defence and played a good cross that led to our goal,Vito made a couple of good saves too,Theo looks a valuable asset for us,i hope we don’t have to sell him,i hope Gerv’s injury is not serious too. Overall the team did just fine,we probably would have scored more if Cesar wasn’t in top form,there is still work to be done though.
Really happy about the three points. That is all
H2H,thanks for the drink,barman i’ll have a boottle of Heinekein
H2H,thanks for the drink,barman i’ll have a bottle of Heinekein.
Actually not 100% sure it was offside. If you look at the replays, then the guy who tried to track Arshavin comes back into the picture about the same time as Arteta heads the ball and he is quite clearly moving away from the the touchline so it is entirely possible that he played Arteta onside the moment that the other QPR defender tried to clear the ball and hit Ramsey (or was it Cazorla? Don’t quite remember) to make the ball fall to Arteta.
Credit also to Mannone for a very good save on the one v one there towards the end. He came up big there and kept his cool. But what the fuck were Vermaelen and Santos doing allowing whoever it was to just run straight through? Vermaelen just stood there, I understand he was scared to give away a penalty but you need to anticipate the run of the attacker and try to just push him to the side.
And for all the good work Jenkinson has put in, I must say that Sagna really showed that he has a gear that Jenkinson (at least yet) does not know how to get into. Sheer class for 90 minutes.
Jack performed really well too. What impressed me the most was that he played in a very intelligent way. He composed himself and played a few simple passes early on to get into the game and gradually got more adventurous. He also showed his instinctive ability to look for forward passes first and other options later. If he can stay fit he will be a massive, massive boost for this team. Almost like… you know, a signing that isn’t old!
And lastly, WTF was up with the ref??? He was bloody awful. Played advantage where there was none, blew up when there should have been an advantage, failed to book that QPR plonker who planted his studs wherever there was an Arsenal foot more than once and then booked Giroud for his first offence etc. He got the red card right but that was probably the lino’s decision.
Anyway, an absolutely vital three points and a thoroughly deserved victory in the end. I’m happy with that.
Yes lars,i almost forgot,the referee was the worst performer on the pitch today,apart from the awful decisions he always got in the way of the players.
Sagna and Walcott — that has become a very very decent combination on the right. Lack of progress for both on the contract renewal, hope we don’t lose either. It would take at least a full season, if not more, to create that understanding between Jenk-Ox and none of them are even close to the finished article.
Man U can be had. Brilliant goal-scorers and certain attitude are getting them out of difficulties, but their midfield and defense have major problems now. Hopefully Gibbs is back for that match.
Assist?
off the bar
Well in tim,i almost got tired of waiting for someone to make a run for it.
Lars – Santos was the most culpable for me on the almost goal QPR had there at the end. Arteta was trying to track the player and get goal side and Santos was backing off guarding the line. Except there was no overlapping run! He was basically marking the touch line until he decided, too late, to help Arteta out. Really poor, and also worrying the way the team became more vulnerable as soon as they had a lead and 10 man QPR decided to attack a little.
Having said all that I’ll take a grinding 3 points any day. Hopefully with the players focus on the result above all else and push on from this at Manure next weekend.
It doesn’t make much difference if kos comes in for verm because their both as bad as each other at the minute.
Bearded, I fully agree that Santos was the biggest culprit though I see my post sounds like I blame Vermaelen more.
198 Dr F
Tend to agree re that right flank.
I wonder if our recent struggles and lack of pace might nudge us towards making a couple of concessions to Walcott, getting his deal tied up and starting him in a few games.
Can I just say one thing?
I feel this over-analysis of the modern game is a bit funny/ludicrous/ridiculous/take your pick.
For crying out loud, we have conceded 6 goals in 9 games in the PL. Much less than United or City, yet we lament our “poor defense” time and time again.
I’ll just say this.
No player in any level, can play a perfect game with no mistakes. Not even Messi.
No defender in the world can play a perfect game.
Football is a game filled with mistakes. You just have to capitalize on them/make sure you recover from them.
Come to think of it – EVERY sport is that way.
Chillax, people.
Besides Jack that was a performance without a soul and a clue what to do. It was not bouncing back but bouncing all over.
In the last four and a half hours of our football we managed to score one and it was shitty goal by all standards, offside or not. That is absolutely unnaceptable.
Maybe Reading will pay and then we pay a visit to theatre of nightmares.
Same ol’, same ol’.
Don’t ever say that my good friend Snir can’t do irony! 🙂
Snir knows @ 206.
Hey SG is back.
Still think we will win the league?
Still looking forward to the NLD cos ‘their defence is awful?”
Seen Santos lately?
CG – I don’t do knee jerk reactions football wise.
Only knee jerk reactions from me come from the transfer window 😉
Leland Sanford – yes I do.
There are 87 points to play for.
We need 70 to reach 85.
That’s 17 points we can lose.
That’s plenty.
Five losses (!!!), two draws…five draws, two losses, etc.
I don’t know about you, but last time I checked we conceded the least in the PL.
I’ll take that.
Told you it would be 1-0.
What?
Oh 🙁
Silly,
I didn’t know there were shitty goals?
Still counts. I was glad to see 3+ players on the box to score that shitty goal.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not thrilled by our creativity right now. I think we can improve, greatly. It will start with more creativity in the midfield. Someone other than just Santi. Wilshire gave us a good look today. Also give OG a run of games. He is doing the little things right and he is not hiding or even afraid. He helps both going forward and defending. Get Gibbs back soon. He provides width and pace. Theo or AOC need to start on the right.
I’ll take shitty goals all season if we get the points. End of.
If anyone wants to watch MOTD in a bit and want a good stream, try this one:
http://www.filmon.com/channel/bbc-one#BBC-One
SG@206: Hear! Hear! The commentator on the stream I saw the game on was banging on about the “fragility” of the Arsenal defense. I couldn’t understand how QPR hadn’t run up a cricket score given how Zamora and Wright-Phillips were ripping our back four to shreds to hear him tell it. What was it QPR managed? Oh yes, four shots all game. And none of them scored.
SG @ 206 — exactly! Let us judge our collective defensive performance — it is a fallacy to think that only the defenders are responsible for conceding or not — by the number of goals we let in and not a few moments of wobbliness. Heart-in-the-mouth moments are part of the game.
A bit more creativity, pace, directness and general insouciance upfront and then suddenly the defensive performance by itself would look excellent.
Hahahahaha ‘Holic,hope you had a great day out.
Norcal,well said.
N7 Gooner @ 205: I know I am in an extreme minority here, but I believe it is vital for us to keep Theo for this and upcoming seasons. It shouldn’t take someone as astute as Arsene to convince him about the ‘positional demands’ — with the fluid style Arsenal plays or aspires to play he would score many goals without having to be declared immediately as the traditional central striker. All the previously weaker sides of his game — decision making, finishing, defensive discipline — have all improved significantly in the last one year and I think fitness permitting he is quickly approaching the peak of his career when he would be truly handful.
SG – You’re so right
Last year *(and the previous 3) the biggest concert was goals conceded, it kept escalating no matter who the cast were. This year there are MANY indications of improvement despite missing Sagna & Scz 8 games out of 9 and now Gibbs. We’re in 4th place at present and perhaps punching above our weight but there we have it. The three times above us remain the only three that I think can be better than us this season.
Let’s stick together and see how a still very new attacking approach rewards us in the next few months.
*concert = concern
*times = teams….
can’t type
3 pints’ll do me!
O!
Ca-zor-la not Cor-zola….delusional prick…soon to be unemployed
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20111157
Snir
Are you having any luck procuring a ticket for Wind for the Spuds game.??
I am standing in the Market to pay for any ticket he can get.
let me know
cheers
The Sweeper
PS.Game by game update,
QPR,mediocre,but got away with it.
2 plusses,JW and Sagna,now just need Gibbs and the Gobby Pole to be fit for Utd.
Fingers crossed.
Clive –
QPR, modest improvement in must win match, QPR GK kept it close?
Hi all,
Today’s team selection almost became a headache 🙂
Clive,
Fair play to you.
Please have a drink on me.
Cheers.
Oh my head hurts now.
But Jack’s back. 😉
Clive – unfortunately I haven’t.
I’ve told him.
:/
Zico, too much Guinness?
Steve-o.
Heh, nice to meet you mate.
Too much public transport 😉
Yeah I felt a bit ill on the southern tube back.
Probably more to do with the fried monkfish I had for dinner than the journey though.
And trust my luck to be in the same carriage as some pissed off looking QPR fans.
And yes nice to see you and a good crowd of ‘holics at the tollie today. Even some Arseurs too.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/wojciech-szczesny-returns-in-time-to-face-1402647
The sky is falling
😉
Walcott has to start against utd we need pace badly and evra is a lil suspect bad defender
Tim@225: was Mark Hughes at the game, or was he watching Arsenal v QPR in a parallel universe?
Hughes is mad, citing them being in ‘total control’ …of what? A draw?
Goal was onside by the way, in the frame before when the ball was scooped up QPR player (at bottom) was strolling back from touchline, the 2nd effort-the goal can’t be offside as Arteta scores his own header off the bar. Only the initial forward pass can be in question. Once again..shut up Mark Hughes
See the bottom left gif as it cycles through, QPR player was on touchline – level with Arteta:
http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/in-gifs-mikel-artetas-winner-v-qpr/
LJW’s performance and the 3 points are encouraging things to take away from the game. Other than them it’s a pretty blah feeling I take out of this game.
Sagna’s performance also very encouraging. It was as if he had never been gone. We certainly have depth in quality at right back.
..as opposed to left back 8ball! Santos scares me every time there’s an attack down that flank
Harsha. Santos v. Manchester United scares the living daylights out of me if they turn out to be anywhere near as good as Schalke are, and I have a feeling they are. Santos v. QPR wasn’t anywhere near the heart failure of a few days ago, and most likely of a few days to come.
Coffee in the lounge was a big mistake (why the fuck didn’t I go for a beer?) I have had a very bad night’s sleep despite the extra hour.
While we’re waiting for th barman to come back from Chippenham, Swansea or Cardiff, the new arseblog is up and is spot on, IMHO.
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