Gunners To End Home Goal Drought?
Sep 10th, 2015 by 'holic
Stoke City at home. Not a fixture to get the juices flowing in recent years, but perhaps there is a little more to look forward to now. Stoke have made attempts to improve the quality of their squad and the summer signings of Ibrahim Afellay and Xherdin Shaqiri caught the eye.
Afellay settles into the Stoke style swiftly
Afellay has settled quickly into the Stoke way of playing, and along with Charlie Adam will sit this one out after both were red carded in the Potters home defeat by West Brom in their most recent outing. They have lost both home matches so far (Liverpool also won 0-1 at the Britannia), but are unbeaten on their travels, drawing 1-1 at Norwich and coming from two down to hold the neighbours at the brown and sticky end of Seven Sisters.
Mark Hughes also faces late tests on Mame Diouf, Marko Arnautovic and Glenn Johnson before naming his squad. The odious Shawcross remains sidelined after surgery on a back injury. Peter Odemwingie is also out with a long term injury. Expect a recall for Bojan Krkic or Jonathan Walters in place of Afellay. Which one gets the nod will tell you much about Hughes’ gameplan.
As for Arsenal the selection issues remain the same as for the trip to Newcastle before the break. Jack Wilshere has failed to progress as expected and misses consideration after he suffered what is hopefully only a minor setback. If Theo Walcott gets the nod to start ahead of Olivier Giroud we will have to adapt our approach accordingly. In this event anticipate more attempts to thread the eye of the needle around the edge of the visitors box.
Our shortage of Premier League goals of late, five blank sheets in our last six home matches, suggests another afternoon to test the nerves. Arsene, in his pre-match presser was doing his best to remain upbeat on the subject.
“We have created the chances and that’s what we want to continue to do. It is about the efficiency and the quality of our game, we can score goals and I am not worried about that. We have Alexis, we have Giroud and we have Walcott.”
The ‘holic pound
I will take him at face value then, and be positive with the ‘holic pound. 2-0 to the Arsenal is around 11/2 favourite with the bookies, and although that feels a little on the slim side It will still be a welcome return if it comes in.
The brevity and earliness of the preview is prompted by me having a day on the golf course tomorrow. Doubtless while I am carving up large chunks of prime Cotswold countryside there will be some momentous news to come out of Shenley. So be it.
Have a good one, ‘holics.
103 Responses to “Gunners To End Home Goal Drought?”
Cheers Holic.
Top Class as ever..!
If the team are as sharp off the blocks as you ‘h I shall ensure I am in my seat early – I fancy a release of some pent up goal scoring frustration – Jon Moss on whistle – 3 points
First live game for me this season, hoping for a good result and knowing I will have a good time with friends old and new. Bring on the weekend!
Frankly I like the Orcs to have 11 brutes relying on knock downs from giant throw ins. Then I can despise them and the culture of that odious club. Bringing in class and elegance is just not their way.
2-0 sounds about right. To us of course ?
Enjoy your golf tomorrow H,
A bit of vitriol aimed at the Boss over the Welbeck saga.
A few disbelievers over his protestations that he truly felt Welly was close to returning to full fitness.
It appears that the rehab had gone well,right up until the final push,when in AW’s words,he couldn’t take the final step.
So they opted for surgery,which is always the last resort.
No good moaning over spilt milk now,it is just an opportunity for someone else to step up.
I also have no issue with the Boss defending not spending money for the sake of it in the Transfer window.
He has always stated that he will only buy a player if he can improve the squad,not just add to what we already have,or to make up the numbers.
No one knows who we were trying to get in the TW,regardless of what the press and the so called insiders might suggest.
So we live with what we’ve got,and i still don’t resile from my feeling that we are playing for top 4 again,if we do better than that i will be pleasantly surprised.
Early goal for us very important on Saturday,to calm the nerves and boost the confidence.
Stoke won’t make it easy,but they do have a lengthy injury and suspension list,so no better time to play them.
They have a poor record at our place,but then so did the Hammers. !!
I hope all those going to the game,get something to cheer,and those watching/listening from afar,don’t have to spend too much time biting their nails before the first goal finds it’s way into the Potter’s net.
Thanks Joe. Hope to see you soon.
Cheers A.
Lars, have a blinding time over here. Sadly I’ll miss you, having opted instead for the bus stop in Fulham next week.
TTG, you can put lipstick on a pig, but it will still be a pig…
Good to see you Clive, and thank you. I agree. The strikers who would improve us weren’t available. Pray for January 🙂 I was a bit surprised we couldn’t persuade someone better than Flamini, bless him, to come.
Fine preview H. Enjoy your day following a little white ball. We’ll miss you on Saturday. Here’s hoping the Holic pound nails the score.
Was there ever such an apt simile for lipstick on a pig? 🙂
Thanks Holic, good stuff.
I won’t be joining the Tollie crowd on Saturday either as a I’ve been offered a seat for Erin by the chap who sits right in front of me. Shame to miss zico, Lars et al but I don’t get the offers very often and she loves it too much to turn the chance down.
Enjoy your golf tomorrow – see you for one soon.
I’m going one better than the pound – 3-0 to The Arsenal.
We’ll miss Shawdross as a focal point for our ire but any game without that dirty git is better for his absence.
Thank you bath. I will miss you too. About time we did the full eat first then watch the match gig, with other reprobates. Maybe Bayern?
Evening Trev. Zico is down too? I made an error of judgement then. Bugger. How is Erin? Hope all is finally slotting into place.
Thanks Holic.
We had a fairly minor episode at the weekend and finally saw the consultant yesterday. All the serious possibilities seem to have been ruled out at least.
I seem to remember seeing that zico is down but that could have changed I guess.
Would be good to do an ‘eat first and watch the game’ thing some time for sure. Haven’t seen Bath for a chat for a good while now.
January? Flippin’ blummin’ January?
This is January.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X50KJp-oq9M
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qglQ0aiEGA0
little surfing fer t’ladies
meant sumfin’ got surfin’
oy
I have to say I’m a bit puzzled at Jack’s continuing absence.
He reportedly picked up a hairline fracture to his leg in pre-season, if memory serves, and judging by the initial predictions of how long he would be out, you would have to assume that was to the lesser bone, the fibula.
This weekend will be his sixth or seventh week out and, presently, he has no return date. He has now had a setback – so what could that be. A hairline fracture of the fibula should be no more serious in terms of recovery time than a fairly serious grade two ankle ligament sprain – so fairly comfortably back within six weeks.
A setback could only really be some related soft tissue injury – but we’re supposed to be really good at conditioning those now – or the bone isn’t healing.
Feels uneasy to me.
Real football is almost back. Thank maker!
“the”.
That’s how long its been … I forgotten how to right. 🙂
As far as I’m concerned AW can be as misleading as he likes when asked about our injuries. It’s hard enough competing with oligarchs and mafia types for major signings without admitting which squad members are currently semi-permanent fixtures in our physio room.
Sad to say I think Jack’s days may be up. Our Diaby Mk2 is reaching the point where enough is enough, and maybe Draxler or a. n. other should be seriously considered.
Öskar
Nice preview holic. Hoping the team finds its striking boots and could be comfortable if we get an early goal. Looks like the weather will just hold for your “walk in the country” holic – here’s hoping for a few chip ins 😉
Hope to make it “up smoke” in the next few weeks and share a scoop or two with fellow reprobates.
Talking about surfin’, cba, which I know you weren’t, here’s sumfin’ on the same theme – Kiwi group Hello Sailor whose lead singer, the great Graham Brazier, died last week. In memoriam… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE-3Zm0Esso
Öskar
in memoriam
.
it’s sadness outta proportion
for other people
who aren’t a fan of a band
when someone dies
lord knows when
Tommy joined Johnny Dee Dee and Joey
i was fucked off
big part of my life
.
anyhow
anyhoo
antipodean geniuses
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YmenLzDtTXY
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1FT-4sNe-as
herself is still
prowling around
the scent of jalfrezi
up her shooter
hooter
.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zb4vzDl4zws
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=HvnWcb6mu4Q
.
more stuff for the elderly pan G-replacement
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vTZK8MgA5tg
*tumbleweed*
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=-Z4kPGcmyPI
.
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=BsDI1XsylfE
*picks nose and farts triumphantly*
.
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=kw3Bz-D5U8M
*bedtime*
.
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=SbyAZQ45uww
B.B. King. One of a Kind. And you can’t mistake that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2OXNThMj7s
*have tried*
*minimal success*
.
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=wMlhWvIh7U4
.
*gave up*
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=aVAVuHLH3vg
.
YES
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=pFWy8iK6h0I
.
they tried too
cheerio
Not the kind of person to rejoice when a player gets injured but the news of Courtois out for at last two months made my day 😀
Nice one H.
Travel plans kiboshed a few weeks ago by sudden and serious outlay on a new set of wheels – the bean counters at work removing airline privileges hasn’t helped either.
Simply delaying the inevitable Guinness flow to a later date. 😎
Fore!
Nice one, ‘Holic. Enjoy the golf, the cruelest game. It lets you hit the perfect shot every now and then to give you hope you could be really good at the game and then has you hit shot after shot that shows you are not, but somehow it never lets the hope die.
You have to go back to August 1981 for the last Stoke win at our place, a 0-1 at Highbury in the old First Division before a crowd of barely 28,000. Pat Jennings between the jumpers for anyone who might have been there.
A little bit of Arsenal-Stoke trivia: The scorer of Arsenal’s first goal against Stoke was someone whose name will not be on the lips of many ‘Holics south of the border, Sailor Hunter. (Woolwich) Arsenal, still playing at the Manor Ground, Plumstead, won the First Division match 2-1.
Hunter was bought from Hearts for £165 — no problem with splashing the cash on strikers in 1904. He played one season for the club as a centre or inside forward (1904-05), scoring four goals in 22 games before being sold to Southern League Portsmouth. He later found his shooting boots at Dundee in his native Scotland, scoring 46 times in 61 games and wining a Scotland cap. He went on to be a long-serving manager of Motherwell.
Clive’s on the button for Saturday: an early goal to boost confidence. Then let the floodgates open.
Clive: well spoken@5!
Holic: ah, shame. Oh well, I’ll be back 🙂
Trev: I’ll be just a few rows above you for the game. Managed to get myself a ticket in block 91, row 17 for tomorrow.
BTW Holic, I remember you telling me about that pub that used to be on the corner of Seven Sisters Road and Isledon Road. If you haven’t seen it, on this page are some pictures from then and now:
http://www.derelictlondon.com/autumn-2015.html
Lars,
I’m usually in Row 19 – tomorrow could well be 18. 😉
Cba@23 – I’m confused. Which is the potential replacement?
Balls, that means I can’t throw popcorn at you without you seeing who it was!
Our record against Stoke is very good at home.
I’ve seen it all before though. Teams like stoke have a few good players, but do they have the fluidity to take on an in-form Arsenal?
I tink not! (yes, tink)
🙂
” big drunk in drinks big shocker! ”
sorry fellas
head further up me arse than usual
small holiday required
.
.
.
+1 thunder T re gsd
hope all’s well chez dino
top fella
.
.
cheerio
UP THE ARSENAL
Small Andrew’s Liver Salts for Mr Arsed, please barkeep, and something a little stonger for him this evening.
Is the Interlull nearly over yet? Yes!? Great. Three weeks of football until the next one, then.
COYG
Courtios injured, well chelsea need not worry after all they have Cech right, oh wait, hahahahahahahahah.
As per a lot ITK’s if Jack’s injury is longer it could very well mean a perma crock for him. It is sick to think that he just might end up being one. I pray to god that he recovers and prove all what a wonderful player he is and can be.
Everton play shit before us and what better than shit dropping points, we winning and then lvg and deluded brendan line up a nice 2-2 draw with 4 red cards shared too. Now can palace as well do a favour against city or are we asking too much. You never know it is that kind of a season. COYG.
Ahh, meaningful football back again and a review against an old foe hailing from Middle-Earth. Cheers Guv’!
3 – 1 to the Arse and dropped points all around for the also-runners! Notably Palace to take something from the “greatest doped of the them all”!
De Gea now does a 180 degree u-turn and signs a new 4 year deal with Barings Bank United. There must have been 200K good reasons a week that’s made him do that! Welcome back the prodigal keeper! I hope someone’s told his WAG whose still waiting for him in the Madrid flat?! Please change your mind Sepp Blatter; the ethical world of Association Football needs a leader like you whilst the rest of us simpletons focus on more trivial issues such as Mustard Gased refugees and migrants fleeing parts of the world where the owners of Citeh and PSG hail from. You couldn’t make it up if you tried! Salut!
Diagram of Sepp Blatter’s organs for the physiologically inclined. 😉
https://www.loxahatcheeriver.org/images/septic-2.jpg
Dapper Dan: the De Gea new contract quotes in plain English:
Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea has signed a new-four year contract with the club.
The 24-year-old Spain international almost joined Real Madrid on transfer deadline day, but the necessary paperwork was not submitted in time.
De Gea’s previous contract was set to expire next summer, while his new deal includes an option for a further year.
“I’m looking forward to putting a difficult summer behind me and working hard,” said De Gea.
==Someone cocked it up ==
“I am delighted to be starting this new chapter in my United career.
==Someone cocked it up and I am stuck here==
“Manchester United is a special club and Old Trafford is an ideal place for me to continue to develop.”
==Someone cocked it up and I am stuck here but only for as long as it takes my agent to get a move sorted to get me out of here ==
De Gea has not played for United this season as manager Louis van Gaal felt he could not focus amid interest from Real.
Had he not signed a new deal, De Gea could have opened talks in January about a free-transfer move to Madrid for next summer.
Van Gaal said he was “very pleased” the goalkeeper “will be part of the team for many years to come”.
==De Gea will be gone as soon as Real Madrid meets the release fee he insisted on in the new contract==
Bt8B & NBN @ 47 & 48,
Hee!, Hee! Hee! 😀
Ned,
As far as Im concerned – the transfer fiasco over De Gea represented a new nadir in the distasteful topic that is the commercial end of football transfers. To say in this day and age, that you could have had two clubs behave in such a non-professional manner was alarming to any professional person, with any business experience whatsoever, in any commercial field. The “we didn’t get the fax” Vs “you didn’t register the player in time” in the final minutes of the deadline of a multimillion pound deal is right up there with “the peoples front of Judea” Vs “the Judean peoples front” in terms of comedic value and utter farce.
Unfortunately, it merely confirms what many have felt for so long, the game is no longer a place for football people. Now, it is a slimy labyrinth for spivs, agents, sky news and anyone who’s interested in potentially making stupendous amounts of money at the hands of some of the immensely irresponsible people that are allowed to run these clubs let alone the buffoons who are supposed to be administering it.
Because De Gea was in the last year of his contract I expect Manu had to pay him a serious wedge to persuade him to sign a new deal. But when you can spend £50-60m on a teenager, who cares? Its only money. And its only Manu. Priceless…!
Been immersed in the tennis of late and everything is crossed for a Federer win tonight.
I fear for Jack as well, everything seems to point to a long and ultimate sad finale to a career that promised so much from his Youth Cup days. Let’s hope I am well off the mark and there is a happy ending soon, we miss him !
Looking forward to proper footy tomorrow, feeling pretty optimistic and 2-0 would do very nicely. There’s every hope that we can make up some points on our rivals over the weekend and things could look much rosier come 19.30 tomorrow night.
COYRs
The whole De Gea thing looks to me that just ManU fucked him over. Intentionally cocking up the whole deal, telling him they did everything as they were supposed to do but it was not to be..so hey ..why not sign a new deal and stay here anyway?
*conspiracy*
Courtois now reported out for three months…!
There will be no ceching their decline now.
😀
I expect the usual battle that these thugs give us. The recent addition of some ball-players doesn’t change the thuggish culture of the rest of this club and is a thin veneer compared to the core structure and tradition. Just look at the record of the Welsh thug himself.
This will be no walk in the park. Hopefully we will find our mojo, battle through and the Holic pound will yield its reward. However I think the greater strength of HFB will make him a better choice starter up front than wee Feo despite the former’s goal drought and the latter’s brace against the mighty San Marino.
COYG
speaking of keepers, Woj not doing bad in Roma …amazing save he pulled off towards the end of the game against Juve
https://twitter.com/hughwizzy/status/638047288758284288
I say put Courtois and De Gea into a boxing ring and let them beat each other to a bloody pulp for the title of string bean champion.
BBC putting the pressure on Arsenal with these match preview items:
If Arsenal are unable to net against Stoke it would be the first time in club history they have failed to score in the opening three top-flight home games.
The last time Arsenal failed to win any of their opening three home league games was in 1959.
Moving right along …
Interlull has gotten to me. This actual football I hear is going to happen tomorrow might do me some good. it feels like we are starting all over again. Which of course, we are. COYG.
And I recognize that I am guilty of the same, as in calling Courtois and De Gea “string bean” which may offend some people. I apologize if it did offend anyone.
Perhaps we might all be being a bit pessimistic about Jack. After all he’s a young man with his career stretching ahead of him. We were all hoping he could have a proper pre- season and return to the team in rude health.
Trev’s instincts in these matters are way more useful than mine and his pessimism is concerning. I think Arsenal’s ( Arsene’s) policy of being sparing in his description and level of information heightens our concerns. He would probably claim it’s because he doesn’t know exactly what the medical situation is, because the medical team are puzzled. That’s exactly what worries us ??
The u21s won 2-1 at Newcastle tonight. It means they are still 100% for the season. Bielik played again at CB I notice. It is interesting that Reine Adelaide at 17, has made the 25 man PL squad. It would be ironic if we have landed a top signing in the summer without the rest of the world realising it!
It appears that the influx of young players into the U18s and u 21s has strengthened the youth set- up even if not all of them are fit or registered to play yet.
cba, you never fail to surprise. Who else here would know The Clean? (*21)
You probably also know the Front Lawn? Mutton Birds? DD Smash? Or how about this classic from Downunder (and a bit to the right) … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPIhhqM4b4s
Öskar
£200k a week for a keeper, how times have changed! Ned will correct me, but historically keepers used to be the cheapest buys in most teams. Probably stemming from the playground were the worst players usually ended up between the jumpers.
Öskar
Sorry Behind, but you are talking about the bloody pulp…
and I am talking about love.
Not of De Gea or Courtois, I assume?
Can’t resist one more Kiwi classic … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBMY9XGEI_I … recorded for the Footroy Flats movie based on a Kiwi cartoon strip.
Öskar
*Footrot Flats…
I have removed a handful of posts, all linked to one, I felt not suitable for this place. At this stage just a warning. I would prefer not to see any overt examples of racism or sexism etc. grace the drinks. Thank you.
Thank you Lars. What a place that was!
Looks like Arsenal might be looking for a new chief scout shortly. Brian McDermott may well be taking the MacAnthony shilling.
It will only be in the form of a loan that will need to paid back eventually, but MacAnthony will be all over Twitter talking about all the shillings he’s put into the club 🙂
Thanks for that, Cynic. Shame in many ways.
All who foolishly follow the ‘holic pound I got 6/1 this morning at BetVictor.
Steve Bould trained with the team yesterday because numbers were low- seriously!
Let’s hope we haven’t got an injury crisis like we had before Liverpool
Up yours Moaninho!
Now down to business …
..Up The Arse!
😀
Moaninho and co. looked awful today; he will have them stoked for next week’s fixture. And canny selection by Martinez; he gets his original selection injured early so he can bring on Naismith for a hat trick.
Come on!!
How are we not 1 up??
come on nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!
bring on Giroud… take off Walcott!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
aaaaaaaaaaaaaargggghh
Finally!!
Get in!
Nice finish Theo
should have gotten a hat trick….. now make up for it!
Get in Wallcott!
Le coq. Ozil. Theoooo!!!
And how is that a yellow card? John Moss needs to find a clue.
Thats pretty poor.
Wake up arsenal.
Yea we do need a damn striker. This is horrible.
Wow, so many chances have gone a-begging. Hope we score another one, send in gunnersaurus.
girouddddddddd!
ye!
Get In!
😀
OG!
Thank God.
Finally Giroud. Come on fella, we need you in good form.
Substitutions pays off, it was about time to get Ozil off and put Ox in. If I am Arsene I will consider subbing Ozil around 70-75 minute mark almost every game, especially if we are winning. Completely fades out in the last 20 minutes of most of the games.
Second ‘holic pound of the season, yahoo! 🙂
‘holic, kudos to Jack Butland, and at the end John Moss, for securing the wager.
And Palace concede near the death to City….
That would do girouds confidence some good, was a well taken goal. As a rule, choke city mofos should start with yellow cards on all the a*holes so they don’t get into ridiculous challenges. Good one holo, your prediction came true.
Report posted. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Perfect forecasting Holic! We were outstanding at times and we’re going to get even better. I thought Theo’s movement was excellent and competition is doing a lot of good to Ollie’s desire.
Oh and the Chelski forums are a riot! They’re at each other throat, wishing for Di Mateo’s return and pleading for 100s of millions to be spent etc.
Sneaks in a cheeky far post header, very very very late in the game.
So late, everybody went yonks ago.
*celebrates wildly*
Le coq. What a player.
Back from the match. Not read any other accounts.
Competent business-like performance. Should have been three up at HT (at least). Butlandis a far better keeper than I previously recognised.
We will continue to improve. I think this team can really challenge this season.
Francis Coquelin was outstanding. Bestrode the midfield like a colossus. Destructive and creative in equal measure. MoTM.
Onward Gooners.
What Homer said. And who can disagree with the author of the Iliad.