The Midfield Options Hold The Key For Gunners?
Sep 19th, 2014 by 'holic
Villa away. Say it quickly, and it doesn’t worry at all does it? We have had our ups and downs there over the years, but by and large a place we have gone to with some confidence. Now say it slowly. Express it differently. We are away to the team second in the Premier League four days after stinking the place out in Dortmund. We have two full-backs, and three strikers, ruled out by injury. Seeing both sides can be painful, which may be why some shy away from doing just that.
Let’s start again. Beaten for the first time in fourteen competitive fixtures on Tuesday night, Arsenal are not in intensive care. Villa do look as though they will provide a stiffer test than we might have anticipated pre-season. They dropped their only points in four starts this season in a goalless draw with Newcastle. Apart from that they have beaten Hull 2-1, and won away fixtures at Stoke and Liverpool, both by the only goal of the game. The latter is the result that caused raised eyebrows. A fluke? We may well find out at around ten to five on Saturday.
As for the Arsenal, the back five pretty much picks itself. With Mathieu Debuchy and Nacho Monreal ruled out it must be Calum Chambers, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, and Kieran Gibbs in front of Wojciech Szczesny.
The midfield, however, must be causing Arsene more sleepless nights than the one inflicted on me by thunderstorms last night. If last Saturday is a guide then Arsene’s persistence with Jack Wilshere in a central role is fully justified. We are struggling to find form with Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, and Alexis around him, and ahead of either Mikel Arteta or Mathieu Flamini. Stick or twist? Arsene has Santi Cazorla, Tomas Rosicky, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lukas Podolski, and even Joel Campbell as options if he wants to tinker. No more than gut feel tells me a change is possible at Villa Park.
It could be a big afternoon for Danny Welbeck, a likely starter up front and seeking that all-important first goal for his new club. He had chances against both Manchester City and Dortmund, so hopefully this wil be a case of third time lucky for the new boy. He could come up against someone called Senderos. The name rings a bell from somewhere. If Danny has a better day than the in-form Agbonlahor then we could be within a point of them at the final whistle. Thankfully this man won’t be playing for Villa.
The ‘holic pound, as ever, seeks value in the away win. 1-2 at 8/1 looks pretty tempting to me. For those that are making the trip, particularly those on the ‘rum special’, have a blinding day, but not literally. Those of you who, like this scribe, will be chasing streams, I wish you happy hunting.
Have a great one ‘holics.
240 Responses to “The Midfield Options Hold The Key For Gunners?”
Claret & Poo.
Thanks for keeping it respectful tonight, all. 😉
Don’t mention it, Mister.
Cheers ‘holic.
Villa Park is as good a place as any to bounce back from Tuesdays debacle, fortunally for us the boys from Aston are a better team when they re playing away.
Not gonna venture a guess as to the eventual scoreline, I just want to see a better all round performance then what we saw in midweek.
Come on you Gunners.
Nice write up. I liked I forget who’s tip of Welbeck to score tomorrow, will have that as my punt I think. A tough game, but one we need to win and against tricky but inferior opponents. Champions remains the realistic ambition from me for the season, so I fully expect us to get done what we need to.
Looking ahead, cos I love the first kids cup game, how’s this for a team?
Ospina — Bellerin, Chambers, Hayden, Gibbs — Flamini, Rosicky — AOC, Cazorla, Poldi — The Panther.
I’d be excited to see that team play 🙂
Not expecting an easy game tomorrow by any means. If we want the three points we’re going to have to play a lot better than we did on Tuesday, that’s for sure.
Good preview Guv’nor.
Those on the sunny side no doubt believe that an unexpected lousy performance is probably a one-off. They probably think that a good team doesn’t suddenly become a bad one overnight, and may even feel that a team struggling to find form will, eventually, find it. Who knows, they might even consider that tomorrow is as good a time as any for things to click – better than most time, given the bad taste that Tuesday left in the mouth.
I know I do.
COYG
Villa Park is a ground at which we have traditionally done well. We’ve had some disappointing draws but many good victories and I believe tomorrow will bring another.
Arsene is still tinkering with the team mainly because of injuries but also because we have yet to convince for ninety minutes. I think the Guvnor’s 2-1 looks a very sensible suggestion and if we could choose I guess we would all take that with goals for Ozil and Welbeck assisted by Ozil.
Whatever, we are good enough to win this and I hope tomorrow we will do just that
Good stuff, Holic – nice bit of juxtaposing.
Is Keown out then ? That’s a relief, bet he’s still better than Senderos. 😉
You calling me a juxtaposeur Trev? 🙂
If I was selecting the team tomorrow, I’d probably take Ozil out of the firing line for a week, and maybe give Jack a well-earned rest (I know he’s generally been playing well, and his ankle injury on Tuesday was much ado about nothing, but he’s had a tough run of games and might benefit being rested till the Spurs game next weekend).
I feel we should have enough quality to beat Villa, so we need to match them with desire, pace and physicality in the first 20-25 minutes, then let the class take over. Obviously the back 5 selects itself, my midfield 3 would be Arteta, Ramsey and the Ox, with Cazorla and Sanchez flanking Welbeck up-front. Let’s hope we can finally be on the right side of someone doing a “Didier” on Senderos (i.e. Mr Welbeck!)
ttg – Thank you for the whisky in the previous bar; I’ve put one behind the bar for you.
I look forward to the opportunity to get to the root of our differences sometime in the future. I suspect that trying to do so in these generally convivial surroundings is not a good idea, and is unlikely to be successful. I shall try to resist the temptation to make the attempt.
That’s better than just a poseur, H. 😉
Will do boss! Nice balanced preview too!
For me Ozil needs to play in the middle he is wasted on the flank, I would also like to see Joel being involved at some point he’s a great talent too. Hopefully Rosicky will be on team sheet too.
A round for everyone and for our first away win this season!
thanks, holic. a nicely reserved preview. i have no clue how tuesday’s going to affect us, or if villa’s new place in the table will be worry to they who go to battle. as always, i just want to see effort and concentration, no lackaday play. and if we lose to a team that’s better than us, well, there’s no shame in that. that it will end up causing a hands in the air meltdown in many sections of the fandom isn’t a problem for this genteel bar…we already know what people are going to say here about things, right? 🙂
and if we win, well, it’ll be calm and happy and drinks around, courtesy of the swedish wallet, among others.
on a side note, caught a bit of shaft on tv last night. richard roundtree is the *man*, he does give great ‘stache. bear grease on the bar for anyone so inclined…
I will just drop this here and run along; http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20140919/wenger-i-can-accommodate-all-my-no-10s
El P:
We’re jumping ahead of ourselves a bit with the League Cup starting XI when we’ve got a much bigger game against Villa still in front of us. The only thing I’d like to think is that we’ve got a decent-sized squad now (especially with keepers, midfielders and strikers) so really, none of the regular first XI starters of the last few weeks need play. As for defence, apart from Bellerin and Chambers, I don’t want to see Per, Kos and Gibbs anywhere near that Lge Cup squad with Spurs, Galatasaray and Chelsea to follow.
My Lge Cup XI would nominally be: Ospina; Bellerin, Chambers, Hayden, Monreal (if fit, otherwise a youth-team boy); Diaby, Zelalem, Rosicky (c); Campbell, Akpom, Podolski.
I know it could be seen as sacrificial, but we’ve beaten Premier Lge teams before with sides like that, and the Lge and Champions Lge are at an early pivotal stage and need our full care and attention.
No need to be ten..tative Cent 😉
Nice preview Holic. Right team selection and right attitude by the players = the right result. They are due a performance!
ah, a nicely dropped penny. great little interview, thanks. funny how arsene’s mind works, imagine using a a model being able to accomodate all those players and win a world cup.
let’s rip’em, boys!
that’s “as a”, not a stttutuuttuuter.
Pangloss
Any differences are only in how we see the resolution of challenges that our club has and I suspect there is not significant difference between us. I certainly don’t come on here to agree with every word said, the interest is in exchanging views with people who care about the club and exploring their ideas .
I’ve been very grateful particularly here for the good sense talked when results are going against us. This bar brings a bit of welcome perspective in an age where there isn’t a great deal of it about. You certainly add perspective to a lot of situations where some rather OTT ideas are being expounded.
I have found the bar a more agreeable environment in the last twenty four hours but there would be no fun if we all thought the same!
Roy Keane red card?
I’m sick to death of the DM debate. We don’t have one, not one of the highest quality anyway. Neither Mikel nor Flam fit the bill, and playing the two of them together severely limits our attacking power. So I say neither.
Against a team we should logically dominate let’s go all out attack with 4.2.3.1 … Rambo and Jack as 2 boxtoboxers, Santi and Danny as wingers either side of Özil (if we must) or TR7, and Alexis up front. With occasional switching around of Alexis and Danny just to confuse the enemy.
Ox’s speed and Poldi’s striking nous kept in reserve if required late.
Öskar
Interesting quotes by AW in your #16, Cent, especially pointing out that Özil played all his WC games on the wing without a word of criticism. Did quite well too.
Now, if only he could bring that form to the weekly grind…
Can’t help pointing out, and I know it’s not an apples with apples comparison, that Costachav, in just four games, has already scored more goals than Özil has in a season+ for us. No, he’s not a striker, but he IS expected to score much more often than he does. Also irrelevant, but interesting, is the fact Arsenal’s wages bill now exceeds that of the chavs. Say, what?
Öskar
Some of the Newcastle fans appear to have seen the light.
http://sackpardew.com
Their methods may not be the best but at least their hearts are in the right place.
@24 Oskar, please check before you post something like that, mate.
If you refer to that Teleport story, well, they compare the two wage bills but from different years.
Arsenal wage bill is not 190m as reported in the article, as the club announced 166m back in April this year. Since then it is only 5-8m higher, because we bought some players, bit we also got rid of some, so it is no way that it is 190m as reported.
As for Chelsea, really don’t know if the 176m reported is true, but I wonder do they add loaned players salaries into calculation, because they have 30+players loaned and pay some part of their salaries.
Anyway, Chelsea did a remarkable job this summer, in getting rid of some expensive high earners they didn’t even use, like David Luis, Torres, Ashley Cole and even Lampard, something we often fail to do. It took us three years to get rid of Bentdner and Park for example.
We failed to sell Podolski this year, who is one of our highest earners and we don’t use him that much in the games. We are going into a right direction with the “deadwood”, but I wonder what is on Arsene’s mind with Arteta or Flamini, for example. Will they get new offers like the rumors suggest or maybe we will move forward.
With all the imponderables I reckon it’s impossible to know for sure, Lurky. Just a bit of mischief I thought might amuse some here. 😉
Podolski one of the highest earners? I don’t think so, he’d be about tenth in the list at about half what Özil and Alex pull down.
Öskar
Which arsenal side will show up at villa.
Will it be the arsenal team who are completely pumped, don’t stop pressing as a single unit, pass quick and move in beautiful triangles creating multiple chances as was the case v city in a great draw.
Win lose or draw that was a top effort.
Or
Will The dortmund arsenal team turn up.
There has been a lot of good solid discussions on here in recent weeks about this arsenal squad and the potential options or type of team AW may put out. I actually see this as one of our major flaws. The fact we are still tinkering with the team, injuries or not shows the team style of play seems a bit lost.
One of the key elements of dortmund the other night was the fact they actually have a style. This could be said of chelsea, city, Bayern, Real Madrid or any on the top echelon of clubs. It is certainly the case with atletico – they have a working style that actually works week in week out.
It is not much different to top echelon pro folders who home the if putting style and their iron play and their driver swings.
They are all looking for one thing.
The ability to repeat a certain quality under pressure.
Like it or not rant and rave as much as you like, we simy don’t have it and haven’t had for some while.
They have a nailed on style that they continue to work on until it is crisp and tight. I am actually not sure what our preferred or current style of play is. We seem a bit all over the shop to be honest on a week in week out basis.
Our back line looks as if they have just met other on the onset of most free kicks. I actually fear every free kick outside our 18 yard box as so many seem to just go in. The back line and goalkeeper just stare at each other as if to say ” was I supposed to go for it”.
Watching highlights of szcezney in dortmund the other night also does not create any assuraty for our back line. We have seen his poor positional play on too many occasions. He truly is unsure of his positional play and displays poor decision making on quality aerial balls and one in ine situation. He always seems to end up way too far out.
Some on here or maybe many seem to think he is the best keeper in the EPL.
His blocking of flamini on the goal line recently was near comical, except for flamini who didn’t think it was funny at all.
I am not sure which matches if his they watch.
The truth is at this point in time ( yet again) No one actually knows and probably not even AW himself which arsenal team will turn up to the villa match, and that has been one of our problems for a while sadly.
As someone on here said very well the other night, the main times this team shows up is when it is all over or we are playing for nothing.
I would think the team has had a total bollocking after that pathetic display in dortmund and perhaps this will be one of the matches where the arsenal team me tioned at the top if his post actually turns up.
Which arsenal side will show up at villa.
The one with ten number tens in it, probably. Which to people of a certain age sounds like somebody asking for a packet of fags.
Don’t care who plays, just win the bloody game. Sick of draws already.
Tough one to judge but there is no point being negative just few hours before a game. Funny thing is I was really confident last Saturday, Tuesday was ermm I can’t remember us paying on that day. Definitely day to forget, nothing else. Seemed to have awoken some weird demons in me
Full backs need to be on high alert today please don’t wonder up too far up the pitch.
Simples Arsenal till I die!
Delightful to see Mourinho talking about FFP points deductions. He is such a cunt that it is almost endearing. The sort you’d happily see get hit by a bus, but then you’d kinda miss them when they were gone, but not really.
UTA
Gregiore @17 – team looks good to 🙂
Is getting ahead, but not much more to do for today’s game but wait, hope, and bite nails. Think we win today, but I reckon we go through the ringer watching it. So the gentleness of the kids cup is a welcome distraction here.
Poonward
Expecting a big game from Sanchez today.
I think Holic was right to urge caution in drawing too many conclusions from a set of figures that are not fully revealed. Swiss Ramble produces an excellent and detailed analysis and really only a financial analyst who understands the vagaries and particular accounting rules which apply to football, like the treatment of assets can make full sense of them.I will wait for his analysis but I will make two observations.
One is that the ratio of wages to turnover is one of the key metrics. In football where wages are so high.Chelsea should not be near us in terms of turnover with a ground with almost half the capacity and they are not yet a mega brand partly because they don’t have the support base of other major clubs. So the finite amount of wages while interesting needs to be viewed in relation to the total income of the club. That is why Gazidis and his merry men have been beavering away trying to maximise this income and why the restaurant facilities at Highbury House have disappeared to be replaced by offices. Let us hope their endeavours continue to prove successful although success on the field makes their job much easier.
The other point is about cash reserves. I’m not sure I understand how cash reserves can increase but profitability reduces unless you are ring fencing the reserves and deferring tax. In past times transfer deals were often timed near the end of the tax year to reduce profit and therefore tax. It clearly makes sense to spend on an asset and thereby reduce your tax bill but I am intrigued by the relatively meagre profits being made on such high turnovers. This is not an ROI that many businesses would be happy with. I think we have speculated on here that we had a net spend of just below £ 40 million in the window so profits might be heavily affected by the timing of deals.
Whatever the case I expect the AGM to be the usual search for clarity of intention about the ‘ cash mountain’ which I am sure Sir Chips as a senior banker can explain to us all. Certainly I’m not sure how heavily increasing cash reserves serve any businesses well unless they have major expenditures along the way. I think Arsene’s prudence has put us in an enviable position but we are a football club first and foremost and we all hope that success in that area will be the goal of our club.
Hi All
Well we sit here again and the finger nails have already gone. I believe a rest for Ozil may do him the world of of good. He seems to be suffering from a WC hangover with Per, not sure about Poldi as he seems to be not allowed on the pitch unless he is in his home country.
Santi and Ozil are NO good as wingers and that debate is over, so play them behind the striker or not at all. The Ox, Poldi or Joel would all be a better choice as a left winger and give cover to Gibbs.
COYG
Nice post ‘holic, great read on the train down to Plymouth.
ATG from the previous drinks, congrats on winning that Paul Vaessen book mate 🙂 I was going to enter, but I have no idea who the player was. Looking forward to hearing how Blogs’ pronounces your name! 😉
@36 – nice post and agree.
Cannot for the life of me understand why Joel campbell is not given the left role you describe.
He is a hard worker, skilful, quick and he has one skill the entire team lacks at the moment that used to be important in football
He will fucking shoot from just about anywhere.
Two mouse clicks if you think Yaya Toure’s agent is funny.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/29288865
I can see how the media blew the cake thing all out of proportion but the hand shaking thing too?
Wind
I think he did it very well my surname is not the kindest to pronounce.
I read about him years ago and that Juventus goal stuck in me head. Shame he’s not with us anymore. Great talent!
Come on you Gunners!
No need to wrap them into colourful paper just get me three points for my b’day 🙂
Lars, put your wallet away this round is on me!
Have a good one all you wonderful holics and enjoy where ever you are watching today.
Cake thing, bt8,
The icing on our cake today will taste of Aston Vanilla. 😉
Ah, Happy Birthday, Datsyuk. 😉
Arsenal: Szczesny, Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla, Ozil, Alexis, Welbeck
Subs: Ospina, Coquelin, Diaby, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Wilshere, Podolski
Happy birthday Datsyuk. 🙂
Trev. Aston Vanilla icing with a dash of rum in the ladyfingers?
Cazorla in, Wilshere out then?
Bt8 – yes
Chambers needs to step up at left back. His showing against Man City in the last few minutes didn’t live up to the standard of his play at CB earlier in the season. Hopefully he’s ready for it.
Shame he even has to play LB
Would like to see him as our powerful mobile DM
Happy Birthday Datsyuk 🙂
I think that should read right back for chambers
Aussie. Right you are. 🙂 Correct too, actually. 😉
Late change: Ox for Sanchez according to Beeb.
Off topic but is ryan shawcross the single most filthiest footballer ever to lace on a boot.
Another shocking tackle v qpr today.
Cant believe he didnt break another leg
Come on Arsenal!
Aussie
What time is over there now? My sis lives Sydney.
Come on Arsenal!
Midnight atg
Here we go
A previous happy hunting ground for the arse
COME ON!
Villa apparently have a bug through the camp and multiple players out
Woj another poor clearance straight up the middle
Initial passing looks good from the arse
Villa pressing hard
C mon woj. Get it together.
My lord.
Arsenal lools sooo vulnerable on the break.
Tighten up!
One through ball from villa and we have minimal cover homer
Dead right
We look tentative
Good cross from ox
Arse corner
Ooooh ramsey
The BFG makes me laugh
Must be the only 7 foot 8 human who doesn’t win headers against the standard 6 footers
Yellow for chambers
Villa should of scored from a set oiece headed straight at chezz
Fucking gibbs just watches it float into our box
Show some heart son
Woj!!
Fook our defense looks shaky.
Beautiful ball from ozil
Ramsey loses ball
Mesutttttttttt
How fucking cool and calm is this guy
oooooooooo!!!!!!!!
Thank you Ozil! ♥
Ozil.. play him up front!
😀
what a ball by welbeck and YES! mesut!
Ozil to wellbeckkkkkkk
Sack ozil
Ozil out
Hahahahaha
Neveer in Doubt!
Ozil assist!
GET INnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!
😀
WELBZ!
Oh holics, the 2 players who needed goals! Danny boy, big hugs!
Great stuff what can I say
Oooooooo!!!!!!
Oezil!!!!
Nipples on men, appendix, arsenal corners and free kicks. Some of the pointless things I’ve noticed over the years. Oooh nice goal.ooh another nice one. Ozil proving the manager right and the deprecatory wrong. Good one from wellbeck too. Thats more like it.
Wow
Own goal
3 nil
XDDD
GET IN!
They’re not even giving us a chance to score!
YEHAHHHHHAAAAAAHAHAHA!
😀
Give ozil an early shower AW
Ozil has done what he is paid for
Even better
*deprecators*
Cmon boys
Keep the foot on the gas
Villa not sure what they did wrong
Has Senderos scored for us yet?
Not a bad spot to play your 40+ mil german no 10
Right up front
And right in the middle
Great idea AW
MO last man for us there
Oooh ozil close
Oh ozil just missed a chance.. take him off! 😀
Hahahha!
Lambert looks sick
Come on lads lets destroy them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That was a blatant hand ball WTF
BB
Bring Ozil for centre back 🙂
Shit its all happening now
We just defended a free kick and first to head the ball clear
What next
More goals or assists from ozil
How does ozil go with the gloves on
Arsene looks concered 🙂
Well done boys
Well done
Take a bow mesut
Speechless lads it has to be said!
ATG I would be worried in his place with MO and DW both asking for a raise tonight
reminds of the one of those Tuesdays but the other way!!!`
WOoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooohoooooooooo
a wonderful five minutes at the end of an ok half hour. now keep it tight at the back and no injuries second half. mesut and Danny, great games so far, and the defense.
Oezil. Well done.
Welbeck with a good one time finish.
Very nice.
Good job guys. Don’t let up, still got 45 more minutes.
I am sure I saw him grab a smoke out from behind his right ear, light up, blow a couple of smoke rings whilst scoring that first goal.
The guys has valium in his veins
one nicely worked goal is apparently all it takes for this team to show us what can be, in that brief spell we were irresistible, keep up the good work.
@104 ATG
At this stage Villa would panic if we did that and score a couple more for us themselves 🙂
Going to risk the ire of many by saying bring on Diaby and Rosicky!!!!
They need a game.
😀
I like it a lot!!!
actually Aussie, I was bit “oh no, he is not going to score this one and his confidence will be even lower” in the very first moment when I saw Mesut clear, but what a calm finish that was.
bb I had the same thought, but figure at 60 mins. get another goal or two first 😉
Top credit to Sczers for keeping it clean with a superb save!
Let’s get a few more in… need to make up that goal difference. They’re going to come at us in the second half… pacey counter will do ’em in!
😀
Eandy, he looks like he plays in slow motion some times
He seems to have so much time on the ball and he very rarely panics with the ball
So far so good!
Hope we keep sticking the knife in after halftime.
brilliant mezut,
would like to see diaby, tr7 and poldi in h2
BB – unfortunately chezza is saving attacks on our goal that he is creating with poor clearances
True BB.
Villa not gonna lie down. They will come out tough.
Keane hates arsenal. Imagine what that villa dressing room was lime at half. ((Shiver))
BB @122 that was close indeed!
No changes then for the arse
aus @126, certainly the first one, dire.
instead i would like to see Joel
and a clean sheet hope im not gonna jinx it
Good pressure up top
Just give it to mesut
Wellbeck seems to coming back deeper to collect the ball on occasions
Great work rate all around
Keep it tight! Don’t give an inch!
Control the midfield and we’ll get a few more.
COME ON!!
😀
Nice shot Danny he is a typical striker wont pass just shoots nice 🙂
Villa just chasing shadows and seem to have stopped
Shame but at least he stopped him
Ffs ramsey
What was that
A barry crocker
Ramsey needs to go to specsavers
just not happening for Aaron currently
I am grateful we did not get their ‘Sanchez’ … 😀
BB God forbid 😀
Dangerous by Chambers… time to rest him maybe?!
First tv shot of diaby on the bench
This is a strange one, they should be pressing instead of sitting back and waiting to counter… golden opportunity for us to get a few more.
Come On!!
What a ball by chambers
Perfect
Lets bring Alexis on
OX brill run!
Dont understand that either BB
They only have one ball at Villa Park ha ha
We are 3 nil up as far as I can remember thats what we do it is a shame
@147 Aussie
That’s a good omen. How often do we see 3 goals in 3 mins and Diaby all on the same day?! 😀
@131 ATG
Joel would be a good player to come on too.. pacey and will keep them on the back foot!
😀
it rather boring because we dont press
Joel for was the world cup player
Come on lads destroy them!!!
Lets be more creative
Poor aaaron seems to have a case of the previous wilshires
Come on Arsenal!!!!!!
Ozil,has spent as much time in the villa box as the villa keeper
How did they win against Poll?
Oezil looks amazing.
Truly.
70 mins arsene
Whats your thoughts ?
poll=pool
Maybe pool are shite too ATG
🙂
Subs please ket the others rest Arsene
With both teams sitting back.. might as well blow the whistle already!
Bring on Campbell/Rosicky/Diaby!
They are itching for a game and will give the others a rest.
Come on!!!!
Triple substitution for the arse
Poldi, wilshire and TR coming
He needs to play Joel come on
Well at least i got one of them subs right!
😀
Poldi says thank fuck for that arsene
ROZZA!!!
LG Rozza indeed
With all due respect, fuck Villa.
But thanks Villa
🙂
ATG – do you reckon joel has either been caught smokin or rooting or both, cause he cant crack a game
OLE
OLE
OLE
Aussie fuck knows mate 😀
Arsene used to use the word ” efficient” to describe Arshavin.
When you watch ozil get around the park, he is also ” efficient”
He is in a constant slow jog until he calls in his passing vision goggles
Wow some great passing by the boys
A neat 3 points
I’ve got a theory.. the team that plays in yellow will dominate, regardless of the opposition. 😀
Three goals, clean sheet, no players with their leg hanging off and three points.
Job done.
The boys showing respect for the Villains! 3-0 is enough! Devastating 3 minutes! Up the Arse! Top 4!
excellent effort today across the team, and some special moments. we completely controlled the 2nd half. well done!
Hoping for Fat Sam to do Pool in and oilers to take points off the chavs!
😀
Wel that was interesting.
Woj save early was key i think.
Looks like old swagger is back. Good.
Well done arsenal.
Stay tight at the back and protect the back 4 + allow the attack-minded front 5 players to express themselves in their CORRECT AND RIGHTFUL positions = Job Done. QED! COYBG!
Great work ethic great work rate they helped but we were miles better shame we didn’t push on and used young subs
Woj can’t kick a football properly!
Homer
Just a small detail but Arsenal is with a capital A
🙂
dapper sack him or change them with Danny
Dapper that is
A round of your favorite on Lars CC please 🙂
Fir everyone that is I have to go and paint my fence now 🙂
ATG, I’d like to see David Ospina get a chance! I rate him very highly and very good with the ball at his feet! Drinks all round for the second 3 points of this term! Cravats and Smoking jackets obligatory lads and ladies! 😀
My prediction is Campbell to come on against the saints on tuesday… otherwise I really do not see him getting a game for us anytime soon unless something dire happens to all 3 of our strikers and numerous wingers, and I am counting Alexis as a striker, you cannot tell me he isn’t one!
😀
Throw in Diaby for that match and yes Ospina too!
Give most everyone a break… except for Ramsey, he needs to rediscover his for and you can see he’s itching to score, narrowly missing one today!
😀
So now they’re saying a virus kept all the Villa players and staff out of it… well it may be so, but will still take the win!
😀
Boom!!!!!
Feck!!!
Eazy-Peezy-Japaneezy. Cakewalk. Did take us 25 minutes to wake-up though.
The mugwashers already 1-0 down! Get in there Fat Sam! 😀
2-0!!! 😀
Sack POOL ..fat sam!
😀
Guess I was wrong about the ‘yellow jersey’ theory…!
Excellent interchanges and movements in the attacking third, even though the passing was a bit off sometimes.
Brilliant to see the midfielders rotate to drop in to provide support to Arteta, good strategy that. Ozil, Rambo, Santi, Ox, TR7. Ozil man of the match for me, and a very intelligent performance from Ox who without overplaying did almost everything right, defensively and offensively.
How important was that save from Szczesny!
Hehehehehehe! Midweek Champions League hangover! Welcome you Feckers! What did you say to Suarez Stevie Gerrard you cunt???!!! 😎
BB @ 206: As we had discussed earlier ‘Pool will find it hard this season in PL as they forgot how to balance the CL and PL schedule and this is Brendan’s first foray in CL. In any case the loss of Suarez alone — who not only was very creative but a constant pain with his pressing high up allowing the Pool defense to breath — they will find hard to recover from so quickly.
Balotelli yellow though!
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@ 209 DocFaust
And to add to that, their team have yet to gel too with all those replacements, what with Balotelli they may just have exchanged genius with insanity. Am relishing watching them struggle!!
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DapperDanC @189,
Was that hard to work out was it really ?
Football management is easy ! Ask Sam Allardyce !
WAGNER AAHHHTTT ! 😉
Spoke too soon about the yellow it may be.. and that sterling seems to be coming into form.
Come on Fat Sam.. stop munching those pies and get youse team moving again!
Doh! = wasn’t that hard etc ……. 🙁
While I normally feel sorry for those in foreign climes who can’t get to THOF very often you do get to see more of the games live than us. I’ve not seen the game yet but I was very confident beforehand as we haven’t lost there for fifteen years and their team is awful.
There was a Villa wankfest on TalkShite this morning. Four games unbeaten and they were champions elect and now the excuse is that they had a bug running through the side. It’s not that Lambert plays kick and rush with a team of selling platers and they get outclassed by good teams.
Great news Re Mesut and Danny and a clean sheet to boot. Just one point for those screaming for Joel Campbell to come on as sub. He has to be on the bench to do do. I suppose that suggests he will start on Tuesday
Interesting tactical move by Brenda; gone to s back three with Sterling as a right wingback. Sub after 20 mins. Got to admire his ambition and dynamic game-management. 2-1 now!
BB @ 211: I always enjoy watching them struggle.
Song was an astute loan signing by West Ham, knows the league, has enough technical skills. Will fill in well for Diame who had failed to make that final step to consistency to move to a top four team.
@Trev 🙂
Lovren-Sakho partnership coming along nicely.
Lovren’s concussed! Game over with the new rules surely??
@DocFaust
Song doing well currently, no doubt an astute loan. But am willing to wager Enner Valencia will be leaving for a better club next season, fast and with a wonderful touch… he’ll do rather well!
Expect him to get one today, if they don’t take him out!
😀
BB @ 221: Not actually watching the game, even though it is running on the TV. 🙂
Yes, seen a few minutes of Enner Valencia in WHU shirt, but he had an excellent World Cup campaign.
Ttg. When you see the game have a look out for Welbeck. Top class player.
Good confidence booster for Chambers as well in the RB where he will have to play for a while. Especially not doing anything silly after the early yellow card. Some neat interchanges with Ox particularly.
BB @183. Interesting theory. 🙂 Always liked yellow myself.
Dapper DanC. What have you been smoking? Smoking jackets and cravats?? 😉
Arsene: …..Our plan today was to play Mesut behind their midfield and it worked……….
———
Does it mean Ozil is .. a Striker? all these positions are really confusing… 😀
Can’t even smoke a fag in 180 seconds.
Blitzkrieg Bop.
el corporal is on for the hammers. do them, jenks!
Well done Arsenal, it was a really strong performance. Ozil MOTM for me. Good tactical decisions from Arsene, here is hope that the experimental period is over, and everyone is back to the position where belongs.
Jenks comes on for West Ham, looking forward to see him.
Dr F: Chambers is a bit pushy, in the sense that he pushes opponents a lot when he challenges them, which probably comes from inexperience. But as he is tall for a full back it is easily noticed.
Three goals in four minutes took whatever energy was left in Villa right out of them, but props to Sir Woj for twice keeping it at 0-0 up to that point. On another day, the Welbeck goal could have been an equalizer. And the second half was just playing out time. But as H2H says, clean sheet, three points and no casualties suffered is job done.
Thought Chambers did well, but tbh was lucky to still be on the pitch, after making an extremly silly challenge in the second half, luckily for us the ref only had a word with him.
Great win lads just what the doctor ordered 🙂
Funny Alexis was on the bench right?
Hoof lost ha ha they forgot what’s it like to be incCL
and a beautifully terrible header from sahko leads to the points-securing goal for west ham.
Fat Sam raises his arms in resignation… or is it victory.. 😀
Hahaha!
Early days yet, but shades of 2009 here for Liverpool, when they missed a great chance to win the league and then fell to pieces for the next few years. Maybe the press will get on their back for a bit rather than us. Probably not though.
Great job, no more experiments please. And to staying injury free, fingers crossed.
Bt8b
Thanks for your tip- off I shall watch the game with great pleasure. I thought he was an excellent signing at the time and after getting pelters from people on social media Im delighted he has done well today.
A celebratory tipple of your choice on the bar from me
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Robbie Savage: when told he was wrong about Ozil today –
“Well he did well today but I want to see six, seven, eight, nine, ten games on the trot where he does that …….”
So, you’ve learnt to count Robbie – all things must be possible ……
Mesut must be thrilled that Robbie Savage thought he did okay today ….
NO! BBC, NO!