Walcott And Giroud Off The Mark Against Stoke
Sep 12th, 2015 by 'holic
Arsene Wenger named an unchanged side for the visit of Stoke City to the Grove. That meant of course that Theo Walcott retained the striker’s role with Olivier Giroud remaining on the bench.
The Gunners started strongly and in the fourth minute Alexis Sanchez was denied by a wonderful Butland tip on to the post. The rebound fell to Theo Walcott who hurriedly volleyed it wide. Next to warm Butland’s fingers was Alexis again, as his free-kick drew a smart stop from Stoke’s seemingly in-form custodian.
In the eighth minute Alexis finally got the ball past Butland but was denied this time by the far post. Seconds later Theo missed with a close-range header before firing straight at Butland.
Stoke seemed unable to get any meaningful possession or serious forward motion until on eighteen minutes, Shaqiri’s free-kick was punched clear by the imposing figure of Petr Cech. So easy were the Arsenal back-line having it that next up to test the visitors was Laurent Koscielny, who tried a thirty harder again superbly saved by the Stoke ‘keeper, and seconds later Cazorla too was denied by Butland.
Butland was threatening one of those days when visiting goalkeepers have the performance of their lives, but finally Stoke were unhinged, ironically as they themselves attacked. Francis Coquelin won possession and the ball arrived at Mesut Ozil. The German magician’s magnificent through ball sent Theo scampering in behind the defence to nudge it beyond Butland.
“I probably should have scored many, many more“, admitted Theo post-match.
Within a couple of minutes Cech showed good concentration to save an effort from the edge of the box by Joselu, but it was a rare foray into Arsenal territory. Unusually a match with Stoke was not being broken up by rotational fouling, which made the thirty-eighth minute booking of Ozil for an innocuous tug on Pieters all the more baffling.
In the minute added on a wonderful counter-attack ended with Ozil’s attempted cross blocked after he was put clear by Alexis. In truth we should have been home and dry, rather than leading by our only home goal of the season to date.
The second-half was just six minutes old when Theo narrowly missed out on a second with a near post flick having been fed by a cross from Nacho Monreal. Then Alexis and Ozil combined to put in Aaron Ramsey on the right side of the box, but Rambo slipped as he attempted to drive home.
Stoke finally responded and Cech again had to be alert to deal with Shaqiri’s effort, followed by a double block by Bellerin to deny the same player on the hour as the match opened up, with Stoke applying themselves to the search for an equaliser.
Pieters tugged back Ramsey to prevent the counter-attack but did not receive the yellow dished out too Ozil for the same offence on him. Can we not expect consistency, if only from the same referee in the same match?
Just over twenty minutes from the end Ozil was denied by Butland at his near post following a delicious exchange with Cazorla, and within a minute the ‘keeper again denied Theo when a second goal looked likely.
After a coming together between Arnautovic (who lest we forget shoved Mathieu Debuchy out of last season in the corresponding fixture) and Gabriel tempers flared momentarily. The Stoke man had started the shenanigans but found Gabriel a far from docile recipient of the dark arts.
Olivier Giroud came on for the final fifteen minutes for Theo, and immediately missed a sitter from point-blank range. A couple of minutes later Cazorla fired narrowly wide after making space for himself.
As the clock ticked down on came Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Mikel Arteta for Ozil and Alexis. Not exactly a tactical masterstroke, but shortly afterwards Giroud finally headed his first home goal of the season from Cazorla’s free-kick to secure a second ‘holic pound, bless him. Santi was surely the Arsenal man of the match, although second to Butland on the day?
With little over a minute remaining Butland produced possibly the best of a string of quality saves to keep out Koscielny’s glancing header from a free-kick. In added time we were denied a blatant penalty when Pieters hauled down Giroud as a chance for a third presented itself.
So at last a home win recorded, and perhaps a little confidence restored by the strikers ahead of next week’s visit to the bus stop in Fulham. That is usually a pivotal fixture in our season, but tonight it looks far more crucial to Chelsea’s season.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend, ‘holics.
147 Responses to “Walcott And Giroud Off The Mark Against Stoke”
Fast out of the blocks, ‘Holic.
Just saw a headline that said “Jose Mourinho walks off tv set”
My first thought was, “I hope it was situated at the summit of Everest”
I have seen nothing of the game, having been out all day. So best get reading the report…
Sounds like we absolutely Pardew’d them. I suppose it’s too much to ask for our game to be Game of the Day though.
Cheers H.
How can you come up with such a top notch report so fast? Black magic or black label maybe…
Thoroughly enjoyable week-end so far!
The beeb is running a 6 minutes interview of a dishevelled special one well worth the watch here: http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34233979 . They’re in the deep end of the hole…
A few interesting stats from https://twitter.com/Squawka :
Theo Walcott has now scored 11 goals in his last 11 Premier League starts for Arsenal. Clinical finish.
Santi Cazorla’s game by numbers: 90% pass accuracy 7 crosses 6 chances created 4 take-ons 4 shots 1 assist Dazzling
Cesc Fàbregas’ game by numbers: 0 tackles won 0 aerial duels won 0 interceptions 0 assists 0 shots 0 crosses
Twenty minutes after the whistle, I think Ned. 🙂
Were we rubbish or brilliant? The report suggest brilliant, comments elsewhere suggest rubbish.
We were brilliant Cynic, just oh so very wasteful. Should have been out of sight by the first 20 mins. Other than finishing, you cannot single out any player putting a foot wrong and in the end, both our strikers scored a goal.
Just watching a bit of Lpoo vs ManU…apart from being really drab affair so far..it is hilarious to see United playing Fellaini upfront after spending like billion pounds in last two summers XD
Typical Arsenal Cynic. Dominant in terms of possession. Created a hatful of chances. Result always in doubt until Giroud’s late header.
We’ve seen the same match umpteen times at the Grove.
Le coq. Another solid game.
Liking the look of gabriel. Takes no shit. Does the biz.
Well done Arsenal.
Good one Maestro.
Just watched the Moaninho interview on the Beeb, linked by Matt@5. I have to say that if Mourinho wasn’t such an odious little shit, I’d feel sorry for him. Fair play, he didn’t turn on his players, he just seemed completely confused. I don’t recall any other manager just looking so lost; obviously, blaming the universe for being out to get you is a sensible response when you just have no bloody idea what the hell is going on, which is the situation poor Jose finds himself in. Long may it last; I for one hope that Chelsea keep him on just not quite long enough for the stars to align again.
Not playing particularly well, second in the table (for now), Chelsea in meltdown, Jose Mourinho looking as though he has only the vaguest idea which way is up, seven points ahead of the scum (although they have a game in hand). What’s not to like? Oh yes, five points behind Man¢iti – never mind; early days… No champagne football from the Gunners at present – things can only get better… Wilshere/Rosicky/Wellbeck out injured – that means 22+ players fit and available… No new signings in the window… meh.
COYG
@Holic/Cynic: Don’t remember being so dominant at home since March tbh
@Pangloss: There isn’t a game against Chelsea I wanted us to win as badly as the one next week.
Congrats on the pound, Holic, and the speedy report.
Coquelin has to share MOM for me.
Theo was awful – stayed strong for the goal but otherwise did nothing of quality at all. Put one free header over the bar from four yards – always runs ibside whenever Bellerin needs someone to show wide – stands and watches where Sanchez scampers and presses.
With a quality striker we could have won 8-0 today.
Still a decent overall performance and three good points on a day when Chelsea HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA !!!
For avoidance of doubt as someone who was there, I thought we played very well today until we got close to the Stoke goal!
Butland was superb he had a faultless game and we missed a lot of good chances with almost everyone culpable.
Cazorla played well but I would have given MOTM to Coquelin who I thought was superb. He recycles the ball so well and keeps sides on the offensive so Ramsey and Walcott can waste great approach work. Nobody had a bad game but Stoke were totally outclassed . I thought Walcott took his goal very well but Coquelin won the ball superbly and Ozil’s ball was perfect for Theo who showed the strength he doesn’t always and finished well.
Cazorla hit two divine free kicks at the end. Giroud potted the first and Koscielny forced a great save from Butland just before the end. The downside was hearing that Citeh had scored as we trooped out.
Thanks chaps.
I’m reading my screen in braille as my eyes just melted watching Liverpool and United.
What a pair of utterly shit teams.
@Cynic: Unfortunately De Gea is the best signing of the season so the plonkers will keep riding high in the table while playing backwards and sideways with the occasional punt to Fellaini.
Many good performances overall — if somewhat wasteful from Theo and Rambo — but Santi, Coquelin and Bellerin were the top three IMHO, without taking anything away from Ozil’s sublime assist and Theo’s well-taken goal.
Chelsea has relatively weak Maccabi at home while we travel to Croatia for our Wed CL fixture. No easy away fixture in CL, and balancing the sides would be tricky.
Away at Zagreb we may want to rest Coquelin and Ozil, starting with Arteta at DM, Rambo at his preferred box-to-box, Santi at #10 and Ox down the right. And probably Debuchy at RB. At home they would most likely would want to play attacking football so Theo starting down the middle may get a few chances from counter-attacks.
Dr.F
In Zagreb I suspect we will rotate our full backs but he plays Cazorla, Sanchez and Ozil everywhere! I think he may bring in Ox and Giroud but won’t tamper too much. Ramsey is an asset in Europe but I thought he was a bit wasteful today and Arteta would do a good job away from home in a double pivot.
It’s a pity after a Wednesday CL away game we play on Saturday lunchtime. We can only hope the crisis has deepened more there in the interim
TTG @ 18: You are right that Arsene would probably never rest our three best players in PL/CL. It is a hard decision as a lot of our rhythm, penetration and cohesiveness depend on their interplay. At the same time I seriously doubt Ozil playing for even 70 odd minutes at Wed night how effective he would be on Sat morning.
Also don’t get this about FA. Why a Saturday noontime PL match between two teams who are playing Wed CL? Do they want English teams to not progress too far? Who could not have this been the Sunday evening game that weekend? Puzzling… TV conflicts could have been resolved that way too.
Dr.F
Totally agree with you and I’d follow the same thinking. But I wouldn’t bet against Oxil starting both!
I think the TV issues arise because BT Sport and Sky are trying to outshine each other. It’s BT’s pick and they have the Saturday lunchtime slot so naturally they want the big game.( they are showing the CL exclusively over here too). Our clubs get caught in the crossfire .
I suspect it will be a charter plane back from Croatia to Luton and no training on Thursdsy but it’s far from ideal for players and even for this off to Zagreb who want to go to Stamford Bridge.
I’m going to Lords!
Snigger. Pieters sure was involved in a lot of tugging.
I don’t worry overmuch about England but I must admit we have three excellent English goalkeepers when Fraser Forster returns to fitness. Joe Hart is in possession of the jersey but Butland was terrific today.
One other thing that I omitted to mention before was Sanchez’s work rate and attitude. One piece of pressing and work rate in the first half was quite brilliant and he is a great example to Theo who doesn’t have quite the same work ethic.
Greetings Holics, been a while.
Please someone should do a song for José. The title is
“NAIver say ever”. And let him except another song next week
Arsenal would ram José into his dead bus.
What I loved most about the boys today? Urgency.
That would prove vital throughout the season.
Good night.
AD
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.
I’ll go and see what the Guvna thought now (congrats on the bet, sir).
Fine account Guvna and good observations from those above me in the bar.
COYGs.
Good stuff ‘holic!
3 points + First home win of the new term + 5 points behind the greatest “doped” of them all + Still only in 2nd gear + Third place behind the £100Million plus net spenders = Not too Bad!
Up the Arse all day and all night! COYBG!
My brother who had seen Stoke at Norwich recently warned me that Buttland was quite a keeper and so it turned out at the Ems. We might have had 5 or 6 but for his outstanding display coupled with our attackers leaving their shooting boots in the dressing room.
I really enjoyed the game, there was plenty of movement, first time passing played with forward momentum at good pace. All that was missing was the side failing to take the numerous chances that were created.
I thought Le Coq , the lovely Hector and Santi were the pick of a good team performance and the more I see of Gabriel, the more I think he should be Kos regular partner.
We now face 4 away fixtures in 11 days so some rotation will be necessary. I will be away in Croatia so will be bar hunting on my hols to catch the games at WHL and the bus stop in Fulham. Those of you fortunate to have tickets please sing a song for me.
COYRs
Good one H,and a few quid in pocket as well,not a bad afternoon all round.
Only blunted by City nicking a winner at the death at Palace.
But they were so dominant anyway,and i did expect them to win,so if they had dropped 2 points it would have been a surprise.
Aguero injury might test them up front,if he is out for a period of time.
Very little to be gained from analyzing our game against Stoke.
They were to put it mildly,pretty woeful.
Far greater tests await,starting next Saturday at the Bridge.
What i do think is that defensively,Gabriel has earned his place in the starting lineup.
I firmly belief Arsene has unearthed another gem,who injury gods permitting,will be a bedrock at the centre of our defence for years to come.
Everything you want in a defender,great pace,good in the air,tactically aware,and more importantly,uncompromising in the tackle and in the air, in the hurly burly of corners and free kicks coming into a crowded box.
He is also our lucky charm at the moment,because he has yet to play on the losing side in an Arsenal shirt.!!
Per is going to have to wait his turn,just as Debuchy has,now that Hector has made himself undroppable.
That competition for places has been lacking recently,and i loved Arteta’s interview,where he said he was happy to be back in the squad now he was fully recovered from injury,and was ‘ happy to be fighting for his place ”
So none of us knew it at the time,when Arsene bought Gabriel in the last Jan transfer window,and Petr Cech this summer,that they might just be the 2 top class defensive additions we needed,to get us back to the holy grail for winning or challenging at the pointy end for the Title,which is conceding less that 30 goals a season,something we haven’t done for a long long time.
Now if only we had a top class striker. !!
I am just wondering if those fans that were crying for Fabregas last year still want him. Happy that Wenger didn’t sign him then and way happier now?
Good match, good match summary, and good new new local spot for my viewing pleasure including pre- and post-match bike rides through perfect late summer weather. Not to mention Chelsea meltdown. What is not to like?
29 chances created has to be a plus, and 3rd in EPL while still struggling to convert them. So not all bad. In fact quite encouraging.
Our strikers will have better days and will surely find the target more regularly soon. Although I’m still waiting to see Theo and OG playing together, and wonder whether that forced rivalry isn’t causing a degree of anxiety in both currently. Meanwhile some contributions from midfield wouldn’t go astray – Alexis, Özilla, Santi, Rambo et al, how about you guys? When Kos and Coq blast away from nearer half-way it starts to look desperate.
I fear Özil’s subbing had more to do with the Dinamo game than AW acknowledging his regular late fading. Despite a lovely over the top pass of the type I’ve wanted to see more of for Theo’s goal it was another dismal day for Özil who, yet again, played his tastiest football for Germany while collecting his meal ticket from North London.
Öskar
Is 2-0 becoming the new 1-0?
Öskar
Kos wuz robbed. Twice. I say pair Mertesacker and Gabriel and put Kos at center forward. He is maybe our best header of the ball anyway.
One thing of note was that Koscielny made a lot more forays forward than we’ve seen before. Could put that down to Stoke not presenting any threat going forward, but have to think that Gabriel’s inclusion in the lineup just frees up Kos to be more of a threat.
@SanAntonioGunner: Mourinho built his team around Fabregas last season. He’s a great player but with us and Barca he’s always been a great player over half a season and a passenger in the other half. Given his central position the entire team suffers when he’s not playing well. Chelsea won’t recover until he recovers or gets benched but I don’t see Mourinho ready yet. We all know his plan B: we can expect a tightly parked bus at the station…
On another topic it’s funny how we’re now debating the unfairness of benching some players when a week ago there was a collective meltdown about not buying an outfield player.
Nice one ‘holic.
Watched the game on a dodgy stream but when I actually had moving images to watch it looked as if we we’re playing very well indeed.
The optimist in me is thinking that the goals will start to flow in soon, we should’ve scored plenty more.
Next week we play the worst defence in the league so we should be able to get at lest three or four passed them.
best player on the park was Butland and he conceded two goals says it all really
well played to the Arsenal once our strikers get some confidence we could see some magic
Hello Holic and Holics!
Before I touch on football I would like to mention something that is actually important. Since I last posted I have been on this year’s CHAOS camp. It was a great year with wonderful weather and a group of deserving kids who really enjoyed themselves and got loads out of it. You can tell how much energy they were able to use up (constructively for once!) by the fact that I’ve slept for a month since to recover!
I would like to thank everyone who supported it in any way at all. You are all stars. And everyone who went had a fantastic time!
With serious love and gratitude I say, on behalf of CHAOS, that this is the best bar in the world!
So confident was I of an opening day of the season win (also the first day of CHAOS) that I gave a lot of pre-game stick to the West Ham supporting staff members, which is most of them. I can tell you all that I took some pretty merciless ribbing for days afterwards on our behalf and that there is no-where to hide when you’re camping in a field.
The best/worst piece of work was when some enterprising and determined staff managed to get the kids and staff together in the car park whilst I was inside a bowling alley negotiating terms and paying for two rounds of bowling for 30 kids.
I came out to be serenaded by a 40 person strong chorus of ‘Bubbles’. It was slightly raggedy but nevertheless even I was impressed. And the bowlers of Norfolk had no idea what had hit ’em. Much like us on the opening day…
Having grown up attending Leyton Orient matches as my mates and their parents all went and it was my only chance to go to football I have never really felt that winning is part of the experience. Indeed for 99% of global fans it isn’t.
So I don’t really care if we never win another trophy. And I don’t really care who we buy. And I like the way we run our club. And I’m proud to be a Gooner and to support Arsenal, as we are, without pining for us to be something else. Forget the best we can be- it’s a nice idea but one that ultimately means nothing to me. We are who we are. And that will always be enough for me.
The fact that our stadium is amazing and we have world-class players and play attractive football is more than I have any right to expect. And a far cry from much of the football I have watched and still thoroughly enjoyed. So I am thrilled with our squad and our club and our start to the season.
I look forwards to enjoying and sharing it with everyone on here. Drinks all round! Huzzah!
Nice solid 2-0 win yesterday. Good point by Clive that amid all the furore about our striking options, we erroneously overlook that title challenges are forged even more on solid foundations – and you look at the subtle, but extremely significant steps we’ve been making down that road in the last 12 months: the emergence/promotion of Bellerin and Coquelin, the January acquisition of Gabriel, poaching Cech from Chelski (I like to believe there’s some kind of poetic justice in Courtois now being out for a number of months!!)
Our strength in depth is staggeringly good in those defensive positions now, and I for one don’t think competition for places is a bad thing at all – particularly if players know they are being kept out of the team because we’re playing well and picking up points. It creates a dynamic winning culture – something these ‘dropped’ players will want to emulate when they get their chance. I’m interested to know whether Gabriel is now first choice ahead of Per – something tells me he is, though I think we’ll see rotation in those positions over the coming fortnight…
The key thing is to keep a lid on the injuries (which we’re just about doing), and if so, the sky’s the limit this season. Still think my minimum top 2 league finish – which was scoffed at by many – is more than likely…
Although if I had £40m to spend (and the inclination to do so) I’d buy John Stones. He will be a world-class defender for a decade and there is no side in the league whose midfield would make such potent use of the overloads he creates by stepping out with the ball and using the time the opposition allow our defenders to play incisive passes forwards.
Pretty soon teams would be closing him down as fast as they could. And that creates the space for…
Also, neck on the line time, I think N7 is a prophet who has seen this year’s successful title bid in the tea leaves. I fully expect to be celebrating come May. I think we will win it.
UTA!
Did someone mention a prophet or is my timing out again?
Pontus, good to see you here my friend. 🙂
GSD, lovely tale. He who giveth… 🙂
I foresee that Adepaymemore will become a free agent and thus inevitably linked with a return to solve our striking crisis, having just resolved a striking crisis of his own and replenishing his bank account in the process.
GSD, if the injury curse can be kept at bay, this squad will certainly be in the mix in May. To win the league, we are going to have to put $hitteh to the sword home and away. On our day we are well capable of that.
That’s for another day though, first we have to get off to a good start in Zagreb on Wednesday and put the Chavs in their place at the bus stop on Saturday.
COYGs
I thought yesterday was our best performance of the season so far, although I admit that Stoke were woeful. We were making chances for fun, unlike a few weeks ago and were so much quicker, more direct and positive. The finishing will come and we will batter teams – let’s hope it’s Chelsea, Spurs, Utd for a golden run. Yet away from the sanctuary of the dozen or so around me in the North Bank who are ever positive (I am so fortunate in our seats) I must admit that the determined misery of so many Arsenal fans especially on the internet and on radio phone ins is beginning to get on my wick and spoil the fun for me. OK – I understand that the majority of the fans believe we should have signed another striker. But it is September 13. The next opportunity we have to do something is January 1. Does that mean that every time Theo shanks one or Giroud slides one wide or Ramsey blazes over we have to have yet another weekend chorus of “Should have signed a striker”. PUT A SOCK IN IT!!! We played some wonderful, wonderful football yesterday and I think quite clearly are the second best team in the country at the moment. Back the team, sit back and enjoy the ride, wait for City’s inevitable blip (it so nearly came yesterday) at least for the next three months.
Was Pontus piloted here?
*ahem*
*running away quickly*
There is a technique that staff use on CHAOS camp to get silence from the kids (actually there are loads). You stand in front of the baying hoards…
Me (shouting): When I say CHAOS you say YEAH. (pause) CHAOS
Kids (screaming): YEAH!
ME: CHAOS
KIids : YEAH!
The ensuing silence as they await the next instruction is blissful. It works with anything- as long as you tell them what you are going to shout and what response you expect. I got mass chuckles from the staff and huge support from the kids when, around the campfire one night, I went with…
‘When I say Spurs, You say “SUCK”. (pause)
Spurs.
SUCK.
Spurs.
SUCK.
I got even more laughs when I broke tradition and repeated the word ‘Spurs’ eleven times in a row. Each time I received a loud and thoroughly correct answer from all the staff and kids alike.
If there is one thing to bring people together it is a common enemy…
Satisfying performance from the team yesterday. Good performances abounded with special mention for Le Coq…..he is so much what the team has been missing over these past few years. He simply bosses that midfield area. Arsene has also found another gem in Gabriel – he looks like a monster to play against – simply takes no prisoners. Should be some battle against the gruesome Costa at the bus stop in Fulham on Saturday – cannot believe he will not be a 1st pick over the BFG the way he is playing. He quietly waited for his turn and has grabbed it with both hands. Nice to have squad depth in the defensive area at last!
Sooner rather than later those missed chances will begin to find the net and someone is going to get a hiding – here’s hoping its to one of our “favourites”. Lack of goals from the midfield is unusually poor and not helping – its something that needs rectifying ( just like that – simples this football management 😉 )
@28 – The sweeper has moved the paint colour from deadly nightshade black to a lighter shade of grey. Things are looking up and surely off-white red can only be just around the colour chart?.
Good game, excellent report, Holic. Great to meet up with many at the Toly yesterday
OTD
I don’t think anyone at the match will agree that Ozil had a dismal day. He was very good and is by far the quickest and most intelligent mover of the ball in the side.
He has created more chances in this calendar year than anyone in the Premier League. His work rate was excellent as was Sanchez’s and if I had been choosing who to sub Ramsey would have been for the hook!
Ramsey is the problem in that midfield. Excellent though he can be he isn’t worth a place ahead of Cazorla, Coq, Ozil or AOC in my view especially as he drifts inside too much .
Not sure if the bar agrees but West Ham apart I think Ozil is playing well.
TTG nails it @53.
TTG, agree completely.
Ramsey compounds the problem for Bellerin when he is looking for a ball out of defence. Ramsey is never out wide in the first place and Walcott runs to the blind side of the centre back.
As you say, Ramsey can be excellent and can never be faulted for his work rate. However, he still never does the simple thing when the complicated will do and is the most likely to slow attacks down. The disappearance of his shooting ability from the season before last is a real mystery too.
Countryman,
Completely agree on Özil.
After the sublime assist he provided for Theo yesterday and constant moving and prompting around a packed defence – not to mention his constant running throughout the game – some idiot a couple of rows behind me yesterday, just before he was substituted out on his feet, yelled, “Get off Özil if you don’t care”.
Some people just shouldn’t be allowed out on matchdays.
Quite right, Trev. Anyone who doesn’t see what Ozil brings to the team in terms of vision and passing doesn’t know football.
People only notice the difference in the team when Ozil is not playing. He makes the team tick, and that’s all we can ask for.
Mourinho says he is the right man to lead Chelsea.
Must say I couldn’t have said it better.
Heh ! 8ball. 🙂
Özil should have had a second assist yesterday when he played a perfect first time pass across the box to an unmarked Ramsey who, unfortunately, leant back and lofted the ball into the back of the lower tier.
He is top class. If you don’t get it – your loss.
Ask Joachim Löw – he manages World Cup winners. Picks Özil every time.
“Off the mark” in a couple of ways, non c’est pas monsieur ‘holique
sad to hear of the passing today of one of the great keepers of my early years following football.
Ron Springett was unfortunate to be a top notch keeper when England was awash with them.
He had a great career at Sheffield Wednesday,and was up there with the best of his era,which included Bert Trautmann,Adam Blacklaw,Eddie Hopkinson,Ted Ditchburn,Tommy Lawrence,Gordon Banks,Tony Waiters,
Harry Gregg,to name a few.
Passed away today after a short illness.
80 yrs young.
Hands up any of the old timers on here,who remember the Clubs the keepers above played for. ??
GSD. Strong posts. Well said. Many others as well. Countryman et al.
Agree on ozil – but how can you not?
Totaly impressed by le coq. And hes going to get better.
Watched the milan derby today. Philipe melo. What a train wreck. Le coq is ten times the player he is.
Now come on gunner – lets hit 6 past moaninho and his minions and make statement!
Just want to say that Trev’s post @ 13, and indeed Arseblogs post this morning said everything I could ever hope to.
Agree with Bath – that Le Coq was again MoM. Superb performance.
Lars – hope you’d a smashing weekend. You of all people deserve it mate.
Wasn’t it great watching Sam Allarydce on MOTM 2 tonight…?
I feel kinda privileged getting the inner most thoughts of the 13th highest paid manager in world footie last year @ 4.5m per annum with the Hammers.
What an education……………..about West Ham..!
Countryman
I’ve just back drunk having been travelling to the Riviera( on business!) Your post was excellent and although most of us are disappointed that Messi opted to stay at Barca rather than join us we just have to get on with what we have now and on the basis of yesterday’s game that’s far from shabby.
In years to come we will look back on the Wenger years and realised we were blessed. I very much doubt we will have the same consistent level of achievement after he leaves. So I’m determined to enjoy it but will allow myself the odd moan if justified. But ultimately I’d support this lot in the Rymans Premier. I just hope I don’t have to. ☺️
Ttg (#53) … As I have said several times recently, Özil is playing a lot more consistently this season than previously, and that is encouraging. My plaint is that, with rare exceptions, he plays a lot better for Germany than he does for us.
As for what ‘created more chances’ actually means I guess it is in the eye of the beholder. He certainly scores less often than he should and has less assists than many others (including Santi last season). Through 2014/15 he managed 0.24 assists per 90 minutes, compared to Fabregas’s 0.56 per 90. And while our strikers (and MFs, let us not excuse them totally) let more chances go astray than we’d all like to see, could that be due to the quality of the chances offered them? We’d need to compare every ‘chance created’ to form a firm opinion about that … and that way madness lies.
Öskar
Sweeper @ 62. Sad news indeed…Ron Springett a top keeper when there where many top keepers around. As far as I recall:
Bert Trautmann ( Man City ) Famously an ex POW who played a cup final even though breaking his neck during the match!
Adam Blacklaw ?
Eddie Hopkinson (Bolton Wanderers) Think he was very short for a keeper.
Ted Ditchburn (That little club in Mddx)
Tommy Lawrence (Scunts)
Gordon Banks (Leicester City & Orcs).
Tony Waiters (Blacpool)
Harry Gregg (Man U)
Not forgetting our own Jack Kelsey!
Cheers
The facts on Ozil
http://www.turkish-football.com/arsenal-star-mesut-ozil-has-created-more-goal-scoring-chances-than-any-other-premier-league-player-in-2015/
Ned may have more detailed data. This is the statistical data accepted across Europe so it will do for me. I thought his pass for Theo’s goal on Saturday was a great example of his range of passing. But I would like to see him get 8 league goals or more this season
Uply
I think Bill Brown at the Middlesex lot was probably a contemporary of Springett
I also remember
Finlayson – Wolves
Hodgkinson- Sheffield United
Sims- Villa
Bonetti – Chelsea
Macedo- Fulham
Gregory- West Ham
I couldn’t recall most of the goalies around now though!
Springett was a nice man and excellent goalkeeper and his brother Peter played for QPR I believe
There’s absolutely nothing in that article about Ozil’s resemblance to Peter Lorre, therefore it is worthless. WORTHLESS I SAY! 😉
In other news, cricket legend and former Arsenal player Brian Close has died aged 84.
Uply, Adam Blacklaw kept for Burnley in his pomp, and was part of Harry Potts’s great team with Jimmy McIlroy and Jimmy Adamson that won the league in 1959-60 without, remarkably, ever heading the table until the final whistle of the final game. Blacklaw saw out the tail end of his career at Blackburn and Blackpool.
Cheers for the report ‘H. Top day, top performance.
Good to see the tedious and seemingly endless litany of laughably moronic anti-Ozil comment finally being treated with the contempt it deserves in here.
Desperate times bring desperate measures. Odds on Jose getting sacked dropping like a rock?
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34244585
Morning guys!
As anticipated, the Munsters handed us those much needed 3 points.
The Mancs are only above by one goal and city were nearly handed s good old south london roughing up, but for a little slackness at the back in the 90th.
Not going to comment on Theo and Giroud! I’ll let them do their talking on the pitch! I’m sure they are highly aware, what is expected of them from the fans!
3 more cup finals this month in the prem and 9 more points up for grabs. Plus a couple of CL finals!
All of these finals aye? Anyone would think we were setting our aspirations a little high this season.
Anyway, more right hooks from Cech and tough stances from Kos and Gabriel, could earn us more clean sheets! With C&C holding, the others upfront can express themselves, the way only they know how!
Forget tough runs. Let’s just focus on each cup final! That way, we can focus on the game at hand, rather than absorb unnecessary pressure!
Oh and UTA!
Really and truly !
🙂
@72…thanks Ned, Adam Blackshaw escaped my diminishing memory bank. That was indeed a great Burnley team at the end of the 50s.
@70…TTG – that shows the depth of good British keepers around at that period.
The translator appears to be struggling with no longer being “The Special One”. He is becoming more & more paranoid with each dismal result… at this rate it won’t be long before men in white coats come calling for him.
Ttg@69: Those numbers are all you need to underline what Ozil brings to the team. Just imagine, if we had someone on the other end of them to tuck them all away….
If anyone wants a good and funny read on British goalkeepers of old, I’d recommend The Goalkeepers History of Britain by Peter Chapman, a former BBC sports producer and (very) amateur goalkeeper who was once mistaken for Peter Shilton and ended up playing in an England v Brazil press match at a World Cup in which the Brazilian side fielded eleven full internationals.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Goalkeepers-History-Britain-Peter-Chapman/dp/0007291507
Thanks Ned, had a quick butchers at that book and it looks right up my street ( well not literally as I’m originally a North Islington lad and the author is down south around The Angel ). A kindle copy will shortly be down loaded to read whilst I am away for a week in October.
The amount of times we discuss Ozil, the opinions will be divided. Few like me can see him do no wrong most times and some will always wonder why cant he do a bit more than what it appears like. I agree to the comment which says his value is best realized when he is not around.
I do agree he can do better but then that is the expectations he has set himself.
Theo will infuriate as always and i do not think so he will be a centre forward ever. He should play right wing and it helps him and the whole team. Ramsey is not a winger, never will be.
Mou ranting at martinez after the game just showed that he is under immense pressure and it so joyous to see him sulk and whine and cry like a kid. May it long continue.
Leicester villa was a typical old end to end humdinger. Maharez looks some player but then let us wait till the end of the season to judge.
Zagreb away next. Time to rotate. Gibbs and Debuchy as full backs, ramsey central, ozil or santi rested, ox and theo as the wide players and giroud upfront. I know we need to win the game but it is more imperative to do so on saturday.
Prepping for the Saturday clash:
*********
Mourinho is quoted as saying: “Let me put it like this: one day I will leave Chelsea and when I do I will continue living in London”….After ruling out the possibility of taking over a team who aren’t in the Champions League, Mourinho is reported to have continued: “We are left with two options, yes? Arsenal and the England national team.”
*********
If the former came to pass, what would Holics do?
We have the chance to twist the knife this weekend.. and that is an opportunity not to be missed!!
Up The Arse!
😀
BJ……It will never happen with our current ownership remaining intact – it’s an absolute imperfect fit. Just pour yourself another glass of Armagnac and relaxez-vous. 🙂
BJ – I can’t speak for anyone else here, but I would try to deal with it.
COYG
BJ – never ever going to happen. Fundamental incompatibility.
Joe: cheers mate, I did indeed have a smashing weekend. But having made the rookie mistake of booking a 9.10 flight out of Heathrow meant I had to get up at about 5.45 this morning – not quite optimal after having been out necking pints until well past midnight!
@81 Intense dislike. NO NO NO.
Mourinho in slight desperation and pique is winding people up. Bath is quite right it will never happen. Arsenal stand for values of dignity and integrity which Mourinho has no concept of . He has also been extraordinarily offensive to Wenger which our board would not forget.
I don’t care how good a coach he is I would hate his pernicious influence on the club.
By the way I notice after the best manager of all time has departed that Dortmund with a new manager are top of the Bundesliga.
Remarkably Zagreb are on a 41 game unbeaten run! I’m assuming the Croatian League isn’t very strong but away from home this is a serious test. We can’t take them lightly on Wednesday.
It is indeed a serious test and we have to be on our best away form because 3 points are essential.
COYGs.
Uply@79: Hope you enjoy it. Read it a few years back now but remember it as a good read.
Ttg@89: Any team that can go through a top-flight campaign unbeaten, as Zagreb did last season, winning the league for a 10th consecutive year, to boot, must be taken seriously.
And Zagreb kept 14 clean sheets in their 18 home games. Our strikers need to pack their shooting boots.
tabs … You are entitled to your view, but I’m hardly alone in marking Özil’s card should do better. In a previous drinks Lurky called for Özil to be loaned out “to harden up” (Lurky’s words), and I suspect others of harbouring doubts. (You’ve been a bit quiet on the subject lately, Cynic).
But forget us dedicated Goonerholics, here is how Özil’s efforts so far this year have been evaluated by (presumably) unbiased observers…
Whoscored.com rates Özil 27th best in the Prem so far this season, with a lower rating than 5 other Arsenal players. And EA Sports Player Performance Index has him in 114th with 7 team-mates ahead of him.
They are the only ratings I can find, so there may be others which rate his efforts more favourably, and I’m not saying they prove a thing – beyond, perhaps, that not everyone shares your view of what constitutes “laughably moronic anti-Ozil comment”.
He could definitely do better.
Öskar
…and before anyone goes off at me for writing yet again on this subject, you can hardly expect me not to respond when my views are denigrated as ‘moronic’. I am impervious to (indeed I welcome) contrary opinions, but not to blatant insults.
Öskar
Finally someone who is willing to apply the rules of football. Sign him up. Please.
http://m.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/34251778
Hear hear.
Öskar
Nine today. Next year we will have a party if it falls on a Champions League night. 🙂
Happy anniversary guv’nor. I take it that’s 9 years for Goonerholic?
Öskar
Looks up, and spots a darting diagonal run…cuts it back into the 6 yard box with purpose…
‘holic
.
‘pparently some copper is a suitable 9th anniversary pressie
please accept this bust of jack warner busting jack warner
.
“evening all”
*ping*
.
“he only pings when he’s punning”
“pings when he’s punning”
“such nonchalance from this young lad”
.
.
.
cheerio
🙂
*escapes with everybody’s coats*
or
just for oskar
*escape’s with everybodys coat’s*
😉
Hullo, hullo, hullo. 😀
Happy Birthday H!
You don’t look like a typical 9 year old, mind… wink!
Indeed, where are my manners?
Many happy returns, Guvna.
What an achievement and with such equanimity and style too. Veritably the DB10 of blogs.
@93 Laughably moronic … again!
And congrats on the milestone ‘H.
Morning All
Congratulations on 9 yrs of top class blogging and bar keeping ‘H. A toast of finest single malt in your honour.
Well in for the ton cba – was that a late night or an early start for you 😉
CBA didn’t even accept the assist! Rude.
Happy returns, ‘olic! See you in December, hopefully.
indeed bath 🙂
indeed bath 🙂
indeed bath 🙂
.
no Up
am sober as a judge
doesn’t happen often here , i admit 😉
perhaps i should laminate me liver
and wall-mount it to mark the occasion 🙂
.
apologies steve-o
twas indeed rude
i didn’t realise i’d done the ton
but still didn’t acknowledge the cross afterwards
disgraceful stuff
not on
*red cards self*
🙂
*disallows goal*
*awards it instead to the dashing young gadabout @101*
😉
Congratulations ‘H.
Splendid stuff from young cba today.
COYG
Nine today! Terrific stuff Holic. You have bestowed a lot of pleasure in those nine years and allowed a great community to form which I am delighted to be part of. Congratulations!
A 9 year old Bushmills is on the bar for you?
If there are 113 players better than Ozil I’m watching the wrong league! I also can’t think of the 26 that whoscored have ahead of him, not the way he played at Palace and on Saturday.( he was absent at Newcastle)
I’m struggling to think of five teammates better than him as well. Ah now I’ve got it.
Alexis Sanchez
Superman
Captain America
The Incredible Hulk
Iron Man
He noses in ahead of Batman, Thor and Santi Cazorla?
Congratulations ‘holic on the nine year milestone. What a daily load of pleasurable resfing you and the holics have bestowed.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/jose-mourinho-excuse-generator-chelsea-6266718
😀
congrats on 9, holic. your writing skills and joy of things arsenal have brought me many hours of pleasurable fun. thank you. how about 9 grams of California’s finest on the back bar for you…enough for most parties.
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere will require surgery on a hairline fracture in his left leg and is set for several weeks of rehabilitation, reports the Press Association.
🙁
ttg – You have finally lost it. Your suggestion @116 that Özil comes in ahead of Thor is only made to seem vaguely tenable set aside the even more risible suggestion, which you appear also to espouse that Iron Man is his superior.
On a more sensible note, Oskar has said repeatedly that he doesn’t “fail to get” the Fishgod, more that having accepted his godhead, he feels that he underdelivers when playing in red and white. You didn’t, in point of fact, accuse him of that and I’m disappointed that he rose to the bait.
A drink for you, Sir and one behind the bar for our night-shift Kiwi when he returns.
COYG
PS Does anyone here agree with me that Özil looks rather more relaxed and less fishy than he did when he first arrived?
If my memory is better than Jack Wilshere’s skeleton, he incurred his hairline fracture in the final week of pre-season – six weeks ago.
How has it taken six weeks to decide that a hairline fracture is not healing ?
A simple question. Shame there will be no answer. For all concerned.
@117. resfing = reading
I did look up resfing after seeing my mistake, in the dim hope I might have made a clever double entendre without intending but no such luck it seems. 🙁 Ah well, maybe a song will make amends (?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4e9vtj-lSI
“Jack will have surgery in London in the forthcoming days. This will involve inserting a small plate in his left fibula. Jack is likely to be out for approximately three months.”
What the…… is he Diaby’s replacement?!
Happy anniversary H.
Whatever happened to the likely lads?
Whatever happened to, all of the heroes…..?
Many good men (or women) now posted missing since I first walked through these virtual doors…..shame about that.
Not drinking as much these days myself, I told Roxette – little did she know I was referring to this here saloon. 😎
Congratulations, Holic.
Superb job. Always. 😉
Holic, sincere thanks for the years of dedication and all the enjoyment this place has provided.
9 years and not a sign of wear and tear yet !
Remarkable 🙂
Congratulations, ‘Holic, on nine years hard. Magnificent achievement. Can’t put it better than Trev. Superb job. Always.
Just read the first post for the first time. Two drinks and one your own. But from little acorns….
Great job Holic?? I can imagine the dedication it takes to get this site running. Thank you for 9 great years ⚽️
virtual bar ?
me hole it is !
😉
coupla hours time
after all this arse lickin’
‘ll be tear soaked huggin’
after beer soaked thumpin’
work o’ genius this place 🙂
so ?
pickled eggs , saveloys and wallies !
which one o’ ye ordered cod ‘n’ chips ?
.
🙂
Nine years! Well done and happy “birthday”!
Hehs, cba @131. 🙂
Chips are aff, pal. Aw ra tatties have been diverted to the vodka mash.
🙂
.
s’wat they wudda wanted baff
s’wat they wudda wanted
.
a homemade ‘hic’ to spuds everywhere
🙂
Speaking of Spuds, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHA
Congratulations ‘Holic! May there be many more such 9th anniversaries.
One of the best football blogs around, not just Arsenal blogs.
I learnt more about Arsenal’s history, or for that matter history of English football, than what I could have from a library full of materials.
Special thanks to all the posters of historical materials, in addition to ‘Holic: NBN, TTG, Tabs, Trev, bath, OTD, N7, H2H, Lars and others …
And thanks to everyone for keeping this a sane place to talk about our favorite club in a civilized manner irrespective of the outlandish excesses in the rest of the virtual world.
what pan G said
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Couldn’t do it without the Guvn’r, Dr F.
indeed ned 138
zico – top man !
.
but
give ‘holic some credit
😉
Thank you all for making this place what it is, and for your kind words.
Now to buff up on Zagreb 🙂
‘holic
for laughs
for Arsenal
like many here
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1J8Mc3f3Djk
Chucklin’ 🙂
9 years?? feels like blogspot was yesterday 😉
Best bar hands down, cheers ‘keep!
Title for the tenth then…
Pangloss
Enjoyed your piece and may I reciprocate – drink on tne bar of your choice.
You might be interested to know that I am an authority on the Avengers simply because I have earnest discussions with my seven year old grandson on the relative superpowers of these heroes. He is sadly emerging as a Tottenham fan as a result of parental brainwashing unlike his brother who has been brainwashed by his Arsenal supporting mother ( wonder where she got that from?) so he isn’t a big Ozil fan either but then he thinks Harry Kane is a superhero!
I note with concern reports of a minor earthquake in Zagreb tonight. I hope everyone there is safe
5 quids to see City in Turin: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/man-city-flog-last-minute-6449225
Big club, right…
Congrats on the anniversary ‘Holic! Keep up the good work – I’ve enjoyed coming here to read, debate, agree and disagree with fellow Gooners over the last 12 months. Long may this bar continue!
Thanks again folks. Have a preview. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>